Time Out Chicago: Always a bit more crowded than I'd wish, but with reason. Incredible beer selection and tasty food like mussels w/frites. Never had a bad beer there, out of dozens I've tried.
3581 W Belden Ave (at N Central Park Ave), Chicago, IL
Sandwich Spot · Logan Square · 37 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: While cute, this new space is by no means hip. Should you care? Not really—the sandwiches (serviceable), chili (robust) and shakes (heavenly) taste the same no matter where you have them.
Vintage and Thrift Store · Pilsen · 9 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Just off the Pink Line, the store specializes in clothing and accessories from the 1940s to ’80s ($10 and up), as well as travel bags ($14–$30) and vintage luggage ($18–$24).
Chinese Restaurant · Armour Square · 109 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Our favorites are Chengdu dumplings, Chinese eggplant with ground pork, twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu, Szechuan prawns and dry chile chicken. Trust us or choose at random—you won’t be disappointed.
Music Venue · Ukrainian Village · 84 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: This is Chicago’s premier indie rock club, hosting cutting-edge bands from home and abroad. “Cheap Sundays” and free Mondays remove the financial risk from gambling on an unknown bill.
Dive Bar · Ukrainian Village · 54 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Somehow, this Ukrainian Village dive has managed to remain an underground favorite. The local artists and musicians who frequent it hold on to terra firma with cheap drink in hand.
Seafood Restaurant · Lake View East · 61 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: For fried goodness, have the “Thirty-Two Pointer” for an entrée—a crunchy pile of smelts, perch, frog legs, clam strips and fat shrimp.
Time Out Chicago: Take a ride on the river for as little as $4 (b/w Michigan and Union Station). If you use them to commute during rush hour, they're even cheaper, but we prefer a lazy-day vibe.