The vibe
Rogers Park is the city's northeastern corner, the last neighborhood before Evanston. It's one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Chicago, with Loyola University on the south end, the Howard terminal of the Red Line on the north, and courtyard buildings, two-flats and old apartment blocks in between.
What makes it special is the lake. Instead of one big beach, Rogers Park has a whole series of small beaches at the ends of residential streets. Locals each have a favorite and guard it like dibs. The Red Line runs all night, and the Purple Line heads north to Evanston from Howard.
Best munchies
Rogers Park's food is a world tour. Clark Street and Howard have Mexican, Jamaican, Ethiopian and more, and just to the west, Devon Avenue in West Ridge is the city's big strip for Indian and Pakistani food: biryani, kebabs, chaat and sweet shops. That's a top-tier munchies run.
Around Loyola, you'll find cheap student eats, late slices and coffee shops. See the Chicago munchies guide and late-night Chicago.
Things to do baked
Walk the beaches. Start at Loyola Beach and work your way north from street end to street end. Each one has its own vibe. The Glenwood Avenue arts strip by the Morse Red Line stop has galleries, theaters and cafes in a pedestrian-friendly stretch. Take the Purple Line up into Evanston for a change of scenery.
Movies and music
Rogers Park has small theaters and music spots, and the Glenwood Avenue area is the hub. For bigger shows, the Green Mill and Riviera in Uptown are a short Red Line ride south. See the Andersonville and Uptown guide.
Best lake or park spot
Loyola Beach is the big local favorite, with a long stretch of sand and a park behind it. The smaller street-end beaches are quieter and very neighborhood-y. Pick one, bring a book, watch the lake.
A perfect baked day in Rogers Park
Take the Red Line all the way up and get off at Loyola. Walk to Loyola Beach, sit on the sand and watch the lake for a while. Then walk north along the shore, hopping from one little street-end beach to the next. Grab lunch on Clark or Howard, somewhere Jamaican, Mexican or Ethiopian. Spend the afternoon on Glenwood Avenue near Morse, browsing and grabbing coffee. Take a bus west to Devon Avenue for dinner: biryani, kebabs, chaat and a box of sweets to share. Back in Rogers Park, end the night with a walk to the water to look at the stars, which you can actually see a little up here.
Rogers Park is calm, diverse and friendly, with more lake access per block than almost anywhere in the city. It's the neighborhood for people who want the lake without the downtown crowds.
Getting there and getting around
The Red Line stops at Loyola, Granville, Thorndale, Morse, Jarvis and Howard, the last stop on the line, and runs all night. From Howard, the Purple Line heads north into Evanston and the Yellow Line heads west to Skokie. The Clark, Sheridan and Devon buses cover the rest. It's a long ride to downtown, so bring headphones.
Sesh notes for Rogers Park
Rogers Park also borders Evanston, which is its own town with its own rules. If you're heading north for the night, remember that local rules can differ from Chicago's once you cross the border, so treat it like a visit somewhere new. And if you're catching the last Red Line back from downtown, Howard is the end of the line, so you can't miss your stop. That's the good news.
Rogers Park has lots of vintage courtyard buildings and apartment blocks, many of them close to the lake and to each other. Check your lease, keep smoke out of shared halls, and be mindful of neighbors. The beaches and parks are public, so they're for the after. In winter, the wind off the lake up here is no joke, so it's a great neighborhood for staying in, ordering from Devon Avenue and putting on a movie.
Rogers Park's little street-end beaches beat North Avenue Beach for a chill day. No volleyball, no crowds, just the lake.
The good and the annoying
The good
- A whole string of little beaches.
- One of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city.
- Devon Avenue is right next door.
- The Red Line runs all night.
The annoying
- It's a long ride to downtown.
- Some blocks are rough after dark.
- Not much nightlife compared to Lakeview or Logan.
- Winter wind off the lake up here is brutal.
Next door
The neighborhoods that border this one, or are one quick ride away.
Before you go, read the things to do high in Chicago, Chicago munchies guide, Chicago by season, where you can sesh in Chicago. And see all twelve neighborhood guides.
