Guidebook for Chicago

Andrea
Guidebook for Chicago

Food Scene

If you're looking for a perfect date spot, I recommend Pl-zen. They have great food, a nice beer selection, friendly service, and a romantic atmosphere.
44 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pl-zen
1519 W 18th St
44 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
If you're looking for a perfect date spot, I recommend Pl-zen. They have great food, a nice beer selection, friendly service, and a romantic atmosphere.
If you're out late and need a burrito, this place is 24 hours and still has good quality food! It is BYOB and can be really fun on the weekends.
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Coyotes Restaurant
1451 W 18th St
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
If you're out late and need a burrito, this place is 24 hours and still has good quality food! It is BYOB and can be really fun on the weekends.
Right on the corner, they serve basic breakfast diner food and mexican breakfast food, and the super sweet owner always gives out free soup!
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parkview Restaurant Grill
2000 W 19th St
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Right on the corner, they serve basic breakfast diner food and mexican breakfast food, and the super sweet owner always gives out free soup!
Burger joint on the corner. I don't eat burgers, so I've never eaten here, but it seems to have a good crowd!
Vio
2000 W 18th St
Burger joint on the corner. I don't eat burgers, so I've never eaten here, but it seems to have a good crowd!
Closest coffee shop, if you want to sit and use wifi, or grab a latte to go.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nitecap Coffee Bar
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Closest coffee shop, if you want to sit and use wifi, or grab a latte to go.
I think Coyote is better, but this place is also 24 hours, and only a 10 minute walk from my place.
53 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Taqueria Los Comales
1544 W 18th St
53 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
I think Coyote is better, but this place is also 24 hours, and only a 10 minute walk from my place.
Chicago's most famous Mexican restaurant, Nueva Leon, burned down last year, so the owners opened this gem! It's cheap, delicious, and has a cute little patio! Highly recommended for weekend brunch.
29 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cantón Regio Steakhouse
1510 W 18th St
29 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Chicago's most famous Mexican restaurant, Nueva Leon, burned down last year, so the owners opened this gem! It's cheap, delicious, and has a cute little patio! Highly recommended for weekend brunch.
Foodies, check out this place!! It's Pilsen's only AFFORDABLE Michelin star rated restaurant! Make reservations for dinner or brunch, or sit at the bar and try one of their 24 always rotating tap beers! Bar prices are standard Chicago pricing, and food is around $25-$30 for a dinner entrée. Open till 2am, food till 1am.
156 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dusek's Board & Beer
1227 W 18th St
156 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Foodies, check out this place!! It's Pilsen's only AFFORDABLE Michelin star rated restaurant! Make reservations for dinner or brunch, or sit at the bar and try one of their 24 always rotating tap beers! Bar prices are standard Chicago pricing, and food is around $25-$30 for a dinner entrée. Open till 2am, food till 1am.
Pilsen's favorite long-standing coffee shop. Great drinks, very consistent. Always busy, but still fairly quick.
134 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Jumping Bean
1439 W 18th St
134 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pilsen's favorite long-standing coffee shop. Great drinks, very consistent. Always busy, but still fairly quick.
Unassuming but very tasty Mexican restaurant close by. Vegetarian burrito has cactus in it! Open 9am-10pm every night.
Chepe's Tacos
2007 S Damen Ave
Unassuming but very tasty Mexican restaurant close by. Vegetarian burrito has cactus in it! Open 9am-10pm every night.

Everything Else

It's right down the street! Pilsen is a very artsy neighborhood and has many art studios, but if you want to see a bunch of art all at once, check out the museum!
222 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo Nacional de Arte Mexicano
1852 W 19th St
222 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
It's right down the street! Pilsen is a very artsy neighborhood and has many art studios, but if you want to see a bunch of art all at once, check out the museum!
Bring a blanket and sit in the sun. :)
60 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Harrison
1824 S Wood St
60 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bring a blanket and sit in the sun. :)

Drinks & Nightlife

My favorite bar in Pilsen, it's got really cool decor, good food, and great drink and food specials. Enjoy a Bloody Maria on the weekend! (Steer clear of the vegan burger tho, it's boring)
151 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Simone's
960 W 18th St
151 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
My favorite bar in Pilsen, it's got really cool decor, good food, and great drink and food specials. Enjoy a Bloody Maria on the weekend! (Steer clear of the vegan burger tho, it's boring)
Good beer selection (and cheap for Chicago!) and great tater tots! They also have great food for dinner, but it's a dive atmosphere.
73 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Skylark
2149 S Halsted St
73 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Good beer selection (and cheap for Chicago!) and great tater tots! They also have great food for dinner, but it's a dive atmosphere.
DJs every night, and great punches and cocktails! Great atmosphere, though a little loud, and free shot at midnight, when you sit at the bar. Open 6pm-2am open till 3am on Saturdays.
78 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Punch House
1227 W 18th St
78 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
DJs every night, and great punches and cocktails! Great atmosphere, though a little loud, and free shot at midnight, when you sit at the bar. Open 6pm-2am open till 3am on Saturdays.
LOVE this place! Only open on the weekends, this place has a really entertaining and funny live piano player at night. Classier atmosphere than Punch House downstairs, but no need to get dressed up to go here.
Tack Room
1807 S Allport St
LOVE this place! Only open on the weekends, this place has a really entertaining and funny live piano player at night. Classier atmosphere than Punch House downstairs, but no need to get dressed up to go here.
Really great music venue. Small enough that the shows are always affordable, but big enough that you may see one of your favorite artists play here! Events almost every night. Check out their website!
135 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
135 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Really great music venue. Small enough that the shows are always affordable, but big enough that you may see one of your favorite artists play here! Events almost every night. Check out their website!
My favorite bar in walking distance. Great bartenders, great selection of EXCLUSIVELY local beer on tap, and easy to meet people and carry on conversations. Sort of a dive-bar feel, but very clean and cared for. Live music on Friday nights, sometimes.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Barrel
2015 S Damen Ave
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
My favorite bar in walking distance. Great bartenders, great selection of EXCLUSIVELY local beer on tap, and easy to meet people and carry on conversations. Sort of a dive-bar feel, but very clean and cared for. Live music on Friday nights, sometimes.

Essentials

One stop grocery shop!! Sushi bar, hot food, salad bar, vegan options, and great produce section!
200 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pete's Fresh Market
2333 W Madison St
200 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
One stop grocery shop!! Sushi bar, hot food, salad bar, vegan options, and great produce section!
Closest full grocery store. Cheap and good produce!!
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Super Mercados El Güero
2101 W Cermak Rd
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Closest full grocery store. Cheap and good produce!!
Corner store for snacks, drinks, and basic groceries.
La Adelita
2058 W 19th St
Corner store for snacks, drinks, and basic groceries.

Shopping

I'm friends with one of the owners, and they have great vintage clothes. Go on the second friday of the month after 8pm and there are free drinks in the back!!
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Knee Deep Vintage
1219 W 18th St
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
I'm friends with one of the owners, and they have great vintage clothes. Go on the second friday of the month after 8pm and there are free drinks in the back!!
After shopping at Knee Deep, cross the street and see if Pilsen Vintage has something perfect for you!
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pilsen Vintage
1430 W 18th St
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
After shopping at Knee Deep, cross the street and see if Pilsen Vintage has something perfect for you!
Owned by a friend of mine, this vintage store is more modern the Knee Deep or Pilsen vintage. Definitely has a 90s flair.
Very Best Vintage
1346 W 18th St
Owned by a friend of mine, this vintage store is more modern the Knee Deep or Pilsen vintage. Definitely has a 90s flair.

Sightseeing

Pilsen is covered in murals and street art, and 16th street between Wood and Blue Island has a great display of some local artists' work! (don't follow the attached map on this one, it's too far west.)
West 16th Street
West 16th Street
Pilsen is covered in murals and street art, and 16th street between Wood and Blue Island has a great display of some local artists' work! (don't follow the attached map on this one, it's too far west.)
This is a great park! Took my breath away when I first saw the "great lawn" where you can watch bands/movies/theater during the summer months. Plenty of paths to stroll along, and don't miss the Bean!!
1243 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St
1243 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
This is a great park! Took my breath away when I first saw the "great lawn" where you can watch bands/movies/theater during the summer months. Plenty of paths to stroll along, and don't miss the Bean!!

Arts & Culture

Art Gallery and shop within walking distance! Purely Pilsen, nothing touristy about this place!
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pilsen Outpost
1637 W 18th St
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Art Gallery and shop within walking distance! Purely Pilsen, nothing touristy about this place!
See great art on the weekends! Only by appointment on weekdays.
La Luz Gallery
1545 W 18th St
See great art on the weekends! Only by appointment on weekdays.
Great gallery on 18th street. About a mile away, but if you walk down 16th street, you'll be entertained by all the murals!
Prospectus Art Gallery
1210 W 18th St
Great gallery on 18th street. About a mile away, but if you walk down 16th street, you'll be entertained by all the murals!
Most of Pilsen's independent art galleries are on Halsted St. between 18th street (1800 S) to about 2202 S. Halsted.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Chicago Arts District
1945 S Halsted St
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Most of Pilsen's independent art galleries are on Halsted St. between 18th street (1800 S) to about 2202 S. Halsted.