Guidebook for Evanston
Drinks & Nightlife
Tiny neighborhood bar with a Parisian feel. They are closed Sundays and Mondays, and sometimes close down early. Good house wine, classic cocktails and a simple, seasonal menu.
The Alcove
512 Main StTiny neighborhood bar with a Parisian feel. They are closed Sundays and Mondays, and sometimes close down early. Good house wine, classic cocktails and a simple, seasonal menu.
We love this bar for craft cocktails - the surrounding neighborhood can be rough so don't walk here, and take extra care.
42 residents recomanen
Ward Eight
629 W Howard StWe love this bar for craft cocktails - the surrounding neighborhood can be rough so don't walk here, and take extra care.
This is a brewery with a tap room for tasting and purchasing the beers they make on site. Highly recommended - it's in a desolate area however. We recommend taking a cab.
21 residents recomanen
Temperance Beer Co.
2000 Dempster StThis is a brewery with a tap room for tasting and purchasing the beers they make on site. Highly recommended - it's in a desolate area however. We recommend taking a cab.
This distillery makes whiskey and gin. You can take a tour (check online) and purchase bottles in their tasting room. They are located off Chicago Avenue down a small alleyway.
FEW Spirits
918 Chicago AveThis distillery makes whiskey and gin. You can take a tour (check online) and purchase bottles in their tasting room. They are located off Chicago Avenue down a small alleyway.
Smylie Brothers Brewing Co.
1615 Oak AveNew brewery in town.
Food Scene
Great independent coffee house featuring Metropolis Coffee - roasted in Chicago.
24 residents recomanen
Brothers K Coffeehouse
500 Main StGreat independent coffee house featuring Metropolis Coffee - roasted in Chicago.
Delicious pie and coffee! They have savory pies served with salad for a nice lunch, and of course amazing dessert pies available by the slice or whole. In the morning they have breakfast pastries.
37 residents recomanen
Dollop Coffee & The Hoosier Mama Pie Company
749 Chicago AveDelicious pie and coffee! They have savory pies served with salad for a nice lunch, and of course amazing dessert pies available by the slice or whole. In the morning they have breakfast pastries.
Call ahead for a reservation at night, or walk in to get a seat at the bar - which is our favorite. Featuring northern Italian food. They are closed Mondays. Say hi to Steve the owner!
23 residents recomanen
Campagnola
815 Chicago AveCall ahead for a reservation at night, or walk in to get a seat at the bar - which is our favorite. Featuring northern Italian food. They are closed Mondays. Say hi to Steve the owner!
Lively bar with great food - wood oven pizzas and a menu that changes seasonally. Great cocktails. Eat here before you see a concert at SPACE, located in the same building. No reservations.
50 residents recomanen
Union Pizza
1307 Chicago AveLively bar with great food - wood oven pizzas and a menu that changes seasonally. Great cocktails. Eat here before you see a concert at SPACE, located in the same building. No reservations.
If you like Starbucks, this is nearby. However, we prefer the local shop Brothers K.
42 residents recomanen
Starbucks
3330 Central StIf you like Starbucks, this is nearby. However, we prefer the local shop Brothers K.
Siam Paragon
503 Main StGood Thai and Japanese food, and on Sundays and Mondays they do all you can eat sushi.
Lucky Platter
514 Main StAn Evanston institution. Great for breakfast and lunch.
Coast Sushi & Sashimi
2545 Prairie AveUpscale sushi restaurant - great for a date!
Evanston institution - sarcastic wait staff and art on the walls. "Greasy spoon" type diner.
10 residents recomanen
Prairie Joe's
1921 Central StEvanston institution - sarcastic wait staff and art on the walls. "Greasy spoon" type diner.
Chicago-style deep dish pizza! Most Chicagoans say Lou's is the best (it's a chain).
513 residents recomanen
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StChicago-style deep dish pizza! Most Chicagoans say Lou's is the best (it's a chain).
Chicago-style deep dish pizza - this location has a nice patio in the summertime.
519 residents recomanen
Giordano's
5311 S Blackstone AveChicago-style deep dish pizza - this location has a nice patio in the summertime.
Upscale restaurant with craft cocktails and seasonal food.
23 residents recomanen
Found Kitchen and Social House
1631 Chicago AveUpscale restaurant with craft cocktails and seasonal food.
Very fun Thai restaurant - and it's BYOB bring your own bottle of wine or beer.
8 residents recomanen
Cozy Noodles & Rice
1018 Davis StVery fun Thai restaurant - and it's BYOB bring your own bottle of wine or beer.
Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer AveSlightly upscale Chinese restaurant by famous Chicago chef.
That Little Mexican Cafe
1055 W Bryn Mawr AveGreat Mexican food.
Slightly upscale bar and grill featuring local foods and drinks.
19 residents recomanen
Farmhouse Evanston
703 Church StSlightly upscale bar and grill featuring local foods and drinks.
La Macchina Cafe PERMANENTLY CLOSED
1620 Orrington AveItalian cafe and bar.
Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer AveBest Chinese food in Evanston.
Boltwood
804 Davis StUpscale farm-to-table restaurant.
Blind Faith Cafe
525 Dempster StVegetarian and vegan restaurant.
Funny little restaurant and market - but the best sushi around. Great place to buy sushi grade fish.
12 residents recomanen
Sea Ranch Sushi Evanston
518 Dempster StFunny little restaurant and market - but the best sushi around. Great place to buy sushi grade fish.
Shopping
Wonderful boutique wine shop. The owner is usually working and the staff make recommendations. They serve wine by the glass and small plates of cheese and meats.
7 residents recomanen
The Wine Goddess
702 Main StWonderful boutique wine shop. The owner is usually working and the staff make recommendations. They serve wine by the glass and small plates of cheese and meats.
This store is so much fun for kids and adults. They sell rocks, fossils, gemstones, jewelry, toys - and in the basement they have a fossil museum with dinosaur bones! Closed on Sundays.
14 residents recomanen
The Olive Mountain
610 Davis StThis store is so much fun for kids and adults. They sell rocks, fossils, gemstones, jewelry, toys - and in the basement they have a fossil museum with dinosaur bones! Closed on Sundays.
Nice little gift store and florist. Walk down the alleyway to find them!
Four Finches Flowers & Gifts
2504 Gross Point RoadNice little gift store and florist. Walk down the alleyway to find them!
Paramour Bungalow
812 Dempster StGreat Evanston gift shop.
Lots of jewelry, women's clothing and gifts. Strange hours of operation and they close for a few months each year so call ahead.
9 residents recomanen
The Mexican Shop
801 Dempster StLots of jewelry, women's clothing and gifts. Strange hours of operation and they close for a few months each year so call ahead.
Walgreens
811 Green Bay RdFull service pharmacy with some grocery items and other necessities.
Delicious handmade Belgian chocolates - great for a gift!
8 residents recomanen
Belgian Chocolatier Piron, Inc.
509-A Main StDelicious handmade Belgian chocolates - great for a gift!
Local bakery - they close when they sell out so go early! They also sell their baguettes at The Wine Goddess. Sit out front in their "parklet."
20 residents recomanen
Hewn
1733 Central StLocal bakery - they close when they sell out so go early! They also sell their baguettes at The Wine Goddess. Sit out front in their "parklet."
Galleria in Evanston
1627 Sherman AveGreat shop for Evanston art and gifts.
Taste different olive oils and vinegars - they come in beautiful bottles that say Old Town Oil and make a great gift or souvenir. The original Old Town Oil is in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago.
Old Town Oil Evanston
1924 Central StTaste different olive oils and vinegars - they come in beautiful bottles that say Old Town Oil and make a great gift or souvenir. The original Old Town Oil is in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago.
The Spice House
1941 Central StEvery spice you could ever want! Also makes a good gift.
Fantastic shopping mall. The shops are all connected by a lovely walking path.
22 residents recomanen
Old Orchard Shopping Center
Old Orchard Shopping CenterFantastic shopping mall. The shops are all connected by a lovely walking path.
Essentials
Full service grocery store featuring natural and organic products. They have a butcher, seafood counter, cheese counter and huge wine and beer selection.
61 residents recomanen
Whole Foods Market
6020 N Cicero AveFull service grocery store featuring natural and organic products. They have a butcher, seafood counter, cheese counter and huge wine and beer selection.
The closest grocery store to our house - they have most pantry items you might need, as well as bulk items so you can get the exact amount you need. They happen to be gluten free and natural/organic.
6 residents recomanen
JD Mills Health Food
635 Chicago AveThe closest grocery store to our house - they have most pantry items you might need, as well as bulk items so you can get the exact amount you need. They happen to be gluten free and natural/organic.
Open in the summer - Saturdays only. Located in the parking lot of the Hilton Garden Inn.
Hilton Garden Inn Chicago North Shore/Evanston
1818 Maple AveOpen in the summer - Saturdays only. Located in the parking lot of the Hilton Garden Inn.
Ridgeville Park District
908 Seward StFarmers market on Wednesdays in the summer.
Arts & Culture
Evanston SPACE
1245 Chicago AveIntimate music venue that hosts all types of national acts.
Sightseeing
Greenwood Street Beach
1401 Sheridan PlPublic beach and park a short walk from the apartment.
Beautiful temple that is open to the public. No admission charge.
120 residents recomanen
Casa de l'adoració bahai
100 Linden AveBeautiful temple that is open to the public. No admission charge.
For summer visits - this beach is large and quiet. There is an $8 per day charge, but we have beach tokens you can borrow for free.
15 residents recomanen
Lee Street Beach
For summer visits - this beach is large and quiet. There is an $8 per day charge, but we have beach tokens you can borrow for free.
Lake Shore Boulevard
Lake Shore BoulevardTake a walk along this 2 mile lakefront path and park.
Take a walk through the Northwestern University campus, and stop at the Norris Student Center to purchase a souvenir. There is also a Frontera Grill here, from Chicago chef Rick Bayless.
Norris University Center
1999 Campus DrTake a walk through the Northwestern University campus, and stop at the Norris Student Center to purchase a souvenir. There is also a Frontera Grill here, from Chicago chef Rick Bayless.
Ryan Field
1501 Central StNorthwestern University football stadium.
Rent a sailboat, kayak, SUP paddleboard. Take a lesson, or just watch! There is also a public beach here.
Northwestern Sailing Center
1823 Campus DrRent a sailboat, kayak, SUP paddleboard. Take a lesson, or just watch! There is also a public beach here.
Everything Else
Main station
836 Chicago AveTake the CTA "el" train purple line to downtown Chicago.
Take the Metra to downtown Chicago. It runs less frequently than the CTA "el" train so check online first. This will take you to Union Station, which is a long walk (or short cab ride) from the sites.
7 residents recomanen
Main station
836 Chicago AveTake the Metra to downtown Chicago. It runs less frequently than the CTA "el" train so check online first. This will take you to Union Station, which is a long walk (or short cab ride) from the sites.
United States Postal Service
1929 Central StFor mailing postcards from Evanston!