Chicago Neighborhoods

The community of Chinatown is decorated with traditional red arches and dragons, and a favorite location for all styles of Chinese food, bubble tea, and dim sum. There are a number of pastry shops and supermarkets that offer authentic Chinese products.

Greektown keeps the Greek heritage alive, with the National Hellenic Museum, an annual Taste of Greece, and well-established Greek restaurants.

Pilsen is the home of the historical Museum of Mexican Art, and is a bustling center for art galleries and authetic Mexican food. The buildings here are vibrantly colored. Irish, German, Polish, and Italian cultures are also found here.

The area known as Little Italy features a number of Catholic churches, the Hull House Museum, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the expected Italian restaurants.

Old Town is where the busy heart of Chicago used to be, with ornate upscale townhomes, picturesque landscaping, and a number of boutiques. Second City, along with the Steppenwolf Theatre, find their homes here.

The Wicker Park  and Bucktown area is famous for its numerous art galleries, theatres, nightclubs, and coffeehouses. Thrift and gift shopping are favorites here. Restaurants and buildings in the area have German and Eastern European influences.

Lincoln Park is right by the lakeshore, with good beaches and tree-lined streets for jogging. There are a number of boutique stores and restaurants here, as well as a number of attractions. The Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago History Museum, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Lincoln Park Conservatory, and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool are all here.

Lakeview is a neighborhood with a number of diverse cultural stores and cuisines, as well as entertainment groups small and large. It encompasses Boystown, the home of the annual Chicago Pride parade, features many LGBTQ-oriented shops, bars, and restaurants. The Center on Halstead here is one of the premiere LGBTQ community centers in the world.

Rogers Park is a little like Hyde Park in that it is a college town (Loyola University), features some Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and a number of live theatres. It is also is adjacent to lakeside beaches. There is a plethora of ethnic restaurants here, ranging from Pakistani to Russian.

Andersonville is a good choice for brunch, Middle Eastern bakeries, gastro-pubs, and Swedish restaurants. Its architecture seems to have Greek roots, and the buildings are painted cleanly and colorfully. Andersonville is also home to a vibrant gay and lesbian community.