A Weekend in Wicker Park: The Local's Itinerary
Jonathan Barlow
The Neighborhood
Wicker Park is Chicago's creative heartbeat. What was once a working-class Polish neighborhood is now a mix of boutiques, restaurants, and bars that somehow avoids feeling gentrified beyond recognition. The energy is creative without being pretentious.
Saturday Morning — Cafe
Start at Wormhole Coffee on Milwaukee Avenue. The interior is '80s nostalgia — there's a DeLorean hanging from the ceiling. The coffee is serious.
Saturday Afternoon — Explore
Walk Division Street. Hit Reckless Records for vinyl. Browse Una Mae's for vintage clothing. Duck into Myopic Books — three floors of used books in a building that smells exactly right.
Saturday Dinner — Big Star
Paul Kahan's taco joint in the old gas station. The whiskey list is deep, the tacos are perfect, and the patio is one of the best outdoor dining experiences in Chicago. Get there by 6 or wait an hour.
Saturday Night — The Violet Hour
The cocktail bar that put Wicker Park on the national map. No sign on the door. Reservations help. Every drink is made with the precision of a chemistry experiment and the soul of someone who actually likes making drinks.
Sunday — Recovery
Dove's Luncheonette for brunch. Texan-Mexican comfort food, strong coffee, and a jukebox loaded with country and soul. This is the best hangover meal in Chicago.
Wicker Park rewards the wanderer. Leave the itinerary loose after Big Star.