To experience the Windy City like a true local, you have to leave the Loop and head out to a few of the city’s 70-plus diverse neighborhoods. Looking for a sample of hipster life in an artsy neighborhood in Chicago? While Chicago is by no means, a hipster city, you can still check out these top neighborhoods for hipsters in Chicago.
Northwest of downtown, located along the blue line, Logan Square is a multicultural community packed with buzzy music venues, stylish bars, and lots of locally-owned shops that put it at the top of any Windy City hipster’s list.
Get your bearings as you stroll through the heart of the ’hood along Logan Boulevard, anchored by the Illinois Centennial Monument.
Film lovers will want to stop in the historic Logan Theatre, a vintage movie house with full bar, which opened in 1915 and also hosts the annual Chicago Underground Film Festival.
At The Whistler, order something off the always-changing craft cocktail menu and stay for one of many eclectic offerings, from live jazz to film screenings and readings. Cole’s Bar is another popular spot.
The neighborhood’s diverse dining scene includes a wide variety of cuisines, from must-try pizza joints, such as Reno, to Cuban, sushi, ramen, inventive spots like The Whale, and Michelin-rated restaurants like Goosefoot and Longman & Eagle. Hip coffee shops like including Gaslight Coffee Roasters and Four Letter Word Coffee are also draws here, as are boutiques like Wolfbait and B-girls, and a popular Farmers Market.
Wicker Park’s North Milwaukee Avenue is full of trendy music venues, bars, boutiques, and cafes.
Start the day with a perk from Ipsento, Intelligentsia, or The Wormhole Coffee—a funky, ’80s-themed cafe appropriately equipped with a DeLorean from Back to the Future.
Schwa, which GQ Magazine has called “the most revolutionary restaurant in America,” is one of the most exceptional and interesting fine dining experiences in Chicago. With a background soundtrack of hip-hop and rap, guests indulge in an innovative 12-course tasting menu that uses unconventional ingredients including , like quail eggs and jellyfish tentacles. The tiny setting holds only about 25 seats; and. A don’t expect typical restaurant service either: At Schwa, there are no servers—chefs engage personally and directly with guests. The experience is BYOB and reservations can be made Wednesday through Saturdays.
The intimate outdoor patio setting at Handlebar is a charming spot for a scratch-made vegetarian and vegan bite or a drink with friends, and Cebu serves up tasty Filipino fare in a contemporary setting.
Catch some live music at Subterranean or The Empty Bottle, a hole-in-the-wall venue and bar that’s been around since the 1990s.
Located on the east side, hugging Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park is a picturesque neighborhood that’s home to its namesake zoo, plenty of green space, and some of the city’s best restaurants and works of art.
The Art on Clark sculpture tour, which spans Clark Street from Armitage Avenue to Diversey Parkway, highlights the colorful and often whimsical work of six artists, including Nicole Beck and Shencheng Xu. Snap a photo in front of one of the many murals in the neighborhood, too, including a love-themed mural by Matthew Hoffman and “You Know What You Should Do” by prolific public artist Jeff Zimmerman. Too windy to tour outdoor art? Head over to the DePaul Art Museum, which houses an impressive permanent collection of thousands of works of contemporary and modern art. In the summer, check out the Old Town Art Fair, featuring hundreds of exhibiting artists, live music, and a garden walk.
Grab a cup of joe or small bite at Colectivo, a popular spot for hipsters and college students. Head over to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba for Spanish fare including tapas, rice dishes, and paella. Bocadillo Market is another go-to for Spanish cuisine nearby. For a slice of pizza and a pint on the popular backyard patio, try Homeslice, and mix-and-match taco trays are the clear choice at Taco Pub.
