Guidebook for Oak Park
Food Scene
Great food and cocktails, modern vibe, awesome Saturday and Sunday brunch, walking distance, date-night spot, upscale
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The Heritage
7403 Madison StGreat food and cocktails, modern vibe, awesome Saturday and Sunday brunch, walking distance, date-night spot, upscale
Eclectic mix of New American and Middle Eastern Cuisine. Some veggie options. Great cocktails. Interior is beautifully decorated. Owner is friendly. Great Sunday brunch spot. Wide range of prices with small plates available. Great spot for a date or a dinner with your parents. My favorite restaurant in Oak Park.
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Citrine Café
100 S Oak Park AveEclectic mix of New American and Middle Eastern Cuisine. Some veggie options. Great cocktails. Interior is beautifully decorated. Owner is friendly. Great Sunday brunch spot. Wide range of prices with small plates available. Great spot for a date or a dinner with your parents. My favorite restaurant in Oak Park.
Awesome little bakery that specializes in pie. They also make a killer biscuit, towering breakfast sandwich, and a savory hand pie. Get there early, especially in the summertime, on your way to the farmer's market.
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Spilt Milk
811 South BlvdAwesome little bakery that specializes in pie. They also make a killer biscuit, towering breakfast sandwich, and a savory hand pie. Get there early, especially in the summertime, on your way to the farmer's market.
Chicago style pizza; fun vibe; try the Chicago Classic Pizza
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Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
3986 N Avondale AveChicago style pizza; fun vibe; try the Chicago Classic Pizza
charming chef/owner who has been here for decades; great upscale Mexican food with a focus on moles; great margaritas, outdoor patio (reservations recommended for patio); very short walk
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New Rebozo
7403 Madison Stcharming chef/owner who has been here for decades; great upscale Mexican food with a focus on moles; great margaritas, outdoor patio (reservations recommended for patio); very short walk
Maya Del Sol
144 S Oak Park AveThe best outdoor patio for warm weather; great brunch
Great pub with good food; outdoor seating; walking distance
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FATDUCK Tavern & Grill
7218 Madison StreetGreat pub with good food; outdoor seating; walking distance
Large Mexican restaurant with great food and drinks, walking distance
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Mexican Republic Kitchen & Cantina
7404 Madison StLarge Mexican restaurant with great food and drinks, walking distance
Nice little coffee shop inside a lovely, locally run grocery
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Sugar Beet Food Co-op
812 Madison StNice little coffee shop inside a lovely, locally run grocery
Counter Coffee
7324 Madison StGood coffee, walking distance, laptop vibe
Jerusalem Cafe Restaurant
1030 Lake StCheap eats, tastey food, counter-style service
The Little Gem Cafe
189 N Marion StCocktails & live Jazz
THE burger place. They really only do one thing, and they do it amazing. Go early or do call ahead seating. There's always a wait.
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Au Cheval
800 W Randolph StTHE burger place. They really only do one thing, and they do it amazing. Go early or do call ahead seating. There's always a wait.
Good food with some fabulous Riverside views. Reservations recommended if you want to be outside. Great indoor space too. Happy Hour.
The Kitchen American Bistro
316 N Clark StGood food with some fabulous Riverside views. Reservations recommended if you want to be outside. Great indoor space too. Happy Hour.
Homestead On The Roof
1924 W Chicago AveFabulous outdoor, roof top dining. Farm to table.
One of the best restaurants in the city. Reservations for a weekend (usually 4-8 weeks) are a must.
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Girl & The Goat
809 W Randolph StOne of the best restaurants in the city. Reservations for a weekend (usually 4-8 weeks) are a must.
Parks & Nature
Gorgeous indoor jungle worth a visit. Great for a rainy day activity. Conveniently located right off the Green Line.
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Garfield Park Conservatory - Administrative Office
300 North Central Park AvenueGorgeous indoor jungle worth a visit. Great for a rainy day activity. Conveniently located right off the Green Line.
My favorite beach in Chicago, very large and no where were as crowded as downtown beaches.
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Loyola Beach
My favorite beach in Chicago, very large and no where were as crowded as downtown beaches.
Lovely little park nearby with old trees and walking paths adjacent to the historic Pleasant Home Estate, which make another good stop.
Mills Park
217 Home AveLovely little park nearby with old trees and walking paths adjacent to the historic Pleasant Home Estate, which make another good stop.
Arts & Culture
Well, it's the big one. It can be pricey at $25 per person. Go on Thursday evenings from 5-8 for free admission.
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The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveWell, it's the big one. It can be pricey at $25 per person. Go on Thursday evenings from 5-8 for free admission.
My favorite art museum in Chicago. Great contemporary shows. Cute little cafe in the ground floor. Free music on the garden on Tuesdays. Free admission with an Illinois zip code on Tuesdays.
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Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E Chicago AveMy favorite art museum in Chicago. Great contemporary shows. Cute little cafe in the ground floor. Free music on the garden on Tuesdays. Free admission with an Illinois zip code on Tuesdays.
Great curators for these photo shows; always free
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Museum of Contemporary Photography
600 S Michigan AveGreat curators for these photo shows; always free
Historic Site for art and architecture lovers. Oak Park is a Frank Lloyd Wright town for sure.
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Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
951 Chicago AveHistoric Site for art and architecture lovers. Oak Park is a Frank Lloyd Wright town for sure.
Gorgeous, gigantic public library on Scoville Park. Also has an art gallery and many free events.
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Oak Park Public Library
834 Lake StGorgeous, gigantic public library on Scoville Park. Also has an art gallery and many free events.
Sightseeing
The official place for an architecture River Cruise and architecture museum.
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Chicago Architecture Center
111 E Wacker DrThe official place for an architecture River Cruise and architecture museum.
If you want to be on the river to see the architecture, but don't want to pay $50 per person for a tour guide, just hop on the water taxi. A ticket is ~$7 and can be purchased on line.
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Chicago Water Taxi
400 N Michigan AveIf you want to be on the river to see the architecture, but don't want to pay $50 per person for a tour guide, just hop on the water taxi. A ticket is ~$7 and can be purchased on line.
Entertainment & Activities
(This is not located at Scratch and Sniff; I just needed a close address.) Live outdoor music every Thursday night during the summer in Oak Park, along N Marion St between Lake and N Blvd. All the shops and restaurants are open. Bring some friends and a bottle of wine.
Scratch 'n Sniff
120 N Marion St(This is not located at Scratch and Sniff; I just needed a close address.) Live outdoor music every Thursday night during the summer in Oak Park, along N Marion St between Lake and N Blvd. All the shops and restaurants are open. Bring some friends and a bottle of wine.
Check out the events page at Pleasant Home's website, for some great free local activities like ice cream socials, a monkey organ rally, holiday market, among other things. If you're here on a Friday night in August, I highly recommend the silent movies on the porch with live music accompaniment. It's the most charming thing around. Suggested donation of $5-10. They also do tours of the gorgeous historic home and sometimes have free admission in the winter.
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Pleasant Home
217 Home AveCheck out the events page at Pleasant Home's website, for some great free local activities like ice cream socials, a monkey organ rally, holiday market, among other things. If you're here on a Friday night in August, I highly recommend the silent movies on the porch with live music accompaniment. It's the most charming thing around. Suggested donation of $5-10. They also do tours of the gorgeous historic home and sometimes have free admission in the winter.
Shopping
The Book Table
1045 Lake StThe classic fave for a local bookstore.