The vibe
Lakeview is a big chunk of the North Side between Lincoln Park and Uptown, running from the lake west to around Ravenswood. It's got a few personalities. Wrigleyville is the blocks around the ballpark, which is bars, more bars and people in team jerseys. Southport is the leafy, boutique-y strip with the Music Box. Northalsted along Halsted is the historic heart of Chicago's LGBTQ community, with great bars and nightlife. And the east side is high-rises along the lake.
The Red, Brown and Purple lines all run through, which makes it one of the easiest places in the city to get around without a car.
Best munchies
Dinkel's on Lincoln has been baking since the 1920s, old-school donuts and coffee cake. Diner Grill on Irving Park is a tiny 24-hour counter joint that's been feeding night owls for decades, nothing fancy and exactly right. Broadway, Clark and Belmont are lined with Thai, Mexican, pizza and diner spots, and the bars around the ballpark always have something to soak it up. See late-night Chicago and the Chicago munchies guide.
Things to do baked
The lakefront is right there. Walk the path north toward Montrose or south toward Lincoln Park and sit on the rocks by Belmont Harbor. Browse Southport's shops and Belmont's thrift and vintage stores. People-watch on Halsted. Lincoln Square, with its German beer halls and the Davis Theater, is a quick Brown Line ride northwest.
Movies and music
This neighborhood is stacked. The Music Box Theatre on Southport is the best place in Chicago to see a movie high: a 1929 palace with stars and drifting clouds on the ceiling and the best programming in town. Alamo Drafthouse in Wrigleyville brings food to your seat and enforces a strict no-talking rule. For music, Metro on Clark is a legendary rock club and Schubas is the cozy tavern stage. See the movie theaters guide.
Best lake or park spot
The lakefront at Belmont Harbor, with the boats, the rocks and the skyline down the shore. Montrose Beach just north in Uptown is the big, calm beach, and the Lincoln Park lagoons and zoo are a walk south.
A perfect baked day in Lakeview
Take the Brown Line to Southport and get coffee and a donut from the old bakery on Lincoln. Browse Southport's shops on the walk north. Grab lunch, then head east on Belmont toward the lake, poking into the thrift shops along the way. Spend the late afternoon on the rocks at Belmont Harbor watching the boats and the skyline. Head back west for dinner on Broadway or Clark. Then the main event: whatever's playing at the Music Box. Get there early to see the ceiling. After the movie, if you're hungry, the 24-hour counter diner on Irving Park is a short walk or bus north.
Check the ballpark schedule before you plan any of this. On game days, the blocks around the stadium turn into one giant tailgate, the Red Line is packed and every bar is full. That's fun for some people. If it's not your thing, stick to Southport and the lakefront on game days.
Getting there and getting around
The Belmont station serves the Red, Brown and Purple lines (Purple runs weekday rush hours). The Red Line's Addison stop is right by the ballpark, and the Brown Line's Southport and Paulina stops cover the west side. The Red Line runs all night. The Broadway, Clark and Belmont buses fill in the gaps, and the lakefront path is a straight shot to downtown by bike.
Sesh notes for Lakeview
Lakeview is a mix of high-rises along the lake, vintage courtyard buildings and two-flats on the side streets. Many of the big buildings are smoke-free, so check your lease before you spark anything. The courtyard buildings echo, so keep porch volume low. The lakefront, the harbor and Wrigleyville's streets are public, so the sesh happens at home and the lake is for after. On game days, the whole neighborhood is a crowd, so plan a quiet night in or head to the Music Box instead.
the Music Box alone makes Lakeview the best neighborhood in the city for a stoner movie night. Nothing else comes close.
The good and the annoying
The good
- The Music Box. It's the whole reason.
- Three L lines.
- The lakefront path at the end of every street.
- A 24-hour diner.
The annoying
- Game days in Wrigleyville are chaos. Check before you go, then avoid.
- Clark Street bar crowds on weekends.
- Rents are high and parking is worse.
- Lots of high-rises, not a lot of back porches by the lake.
Next door
The neighborhoods that border this one, or are one quick ride away.
Before you go, read the best movie theaters in Chicago, best late night food in Chicago, things to do high in Chicago, Chicago by season. And see all twelve neighborhood guides.
