UPTOWN / RAVENSWOOD

If food is your thing (but really, who doesn’t love food?), check out Argyle Street, often referred to as “Asia on Argyle”, home to dozens of Asian businesses and countless delicious restaurants including Danang Kitchen and Ba Le Sandwiches. The Peking duck feast is not to be missed at Sun Wah BBQ, a Hong-Kong style Chinese barbeque spot and recipient of the 2918 James Beard Award.  Thai street food takes center stage at Immm Rice & Beyond. Craving Italian? Check out Spacca Napoli for some seriously delicious Neopolitan pizza, including the classic margherita, or try the bufalaina with fresh mozzarella di bufala.  Uptown is also home to one of the city’s best Ethiopian restaurants – Demera Restaurant. 

Head over to Ravenswood to visit one of the many microbreweries along “Malt Row,” including Dovetail Brewery and Empirical Brewery. Enjoy a distillery tour or stop into the tasting room to sample some of the finest botanical gin and mellow, yet sweet Rye at the Koval Distillery, the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Robert and Sonat Birnecker.  

Looking to get your Sunday brunch on? Check out the Southern-inspired menu at Luella’s Southern Kitchen and be sure to order their chicken and waffles (don’t just take our word for it – Eater & Urban Matter both named Luella’s in their “Tops” Lists for chicken and waffles in Chicago). For a more traditional brunch menu, check out Bongo Room or Eighty Eight Eggs! For those with dietary needs, check out Pick Me Up Café’s inclusive menu that has plenty of vegan & gluten-free options along with options for those without dietary restrictions. 

The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, an iconic jazz institution, infamously known its Prohibition era days as the hangout for Al Capone and his gangster squad, still draws crowds decades later. Stop in to imbibe with some classic cocktails and live music, including jazz quartets, swing orchestras, and more! Carol’s Pub, while without the reputation, is a favorite tavern in the neighborhood, with live music and karaoke throughout the week, still serving Old Style on tap. 

Of course, one can’t mention music in Uptown without mentioning The Riviera Theatre, one of Chicago’s premier concert and special events venues, and Aragon Ballroom, one of the most elaborate ballrooms in the world, “with crystal chandeliers, mosaic tiles, beautiful arches, extravagant balconies, and terra-cotta ceilings” (Aragon Ballroom Website) to create a stunning venue experience. Both venues have a rotating list of musical artists, bands, and acts.   

Uptown is home to the stunning stretch of Lake Michigan Lakeshore known as Montrose Beach, which includes a dog park, bird sanctuary, and just good old fashioned beautiful beach fronts! 

Don’t sleep on Ravenswood. This neighborhood is full of fun experiences along with delicious food and drink options! Home to many of Chicago’s breweries and distilleries, including Dovetail Brewery, Empirical Brewery, Forbidden Root, and Koval Distillery, you’re sure to find something that fits your tastes! Take an art class or workshop at the Lillstreet Art Center or stop into the Chicago Magic Lounge for a magical, and often hilarious, experience! Spend an afternoon shopping local, perusing used books at Ravenswood Used Books, picking up some delectable handcrafted artisanal chocolates from Amy’s Candy Bar or an especially unique or quirky gift from Enjoy, an Urban General Store.

 Like almost every other neighborhood in Chicago, the streets of Uptown come alive in the summer with Farmers Markets and Street Fests! Summer Festivals in Ravenswood or Uptown include:

Farmers Markets:

Uptown Farmers Market

• every Wednesday 2:30-7PM (May 4th – November 2nd) 
• Wilson & Broadway

Ravenswood Farmers Market

• every Wednesday 4-7PM (June 15th – October 12th)
• 4900 N Damen (Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church Parking Lot)

Street Fests:

• Mayfestiversary - May
• Ravenswood on Tap featuring Malt Row’s finest - June
• Pride Parade - late June
• Thirsty Ears Festival - August
• Ravenswood Art Walk - September