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Lincoln Square/Ravenswood
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Lincoln Square and Ravenswood are all about old world charm, vintage vibes, and warm, welcoming energy.
These two intermingling neighborhoods share some similarities. They’re both full of quaint and quiet residential streets. They both have strong local communities, which you can see in the family-run businesses and family-friendly festivals. You’ll find craft brewers, small local restaurants, and some unique boutique shopping. There are also popular schools in the area, as well as easy access to transportation, and plenty of things to do.
Still, Lincoln Square and Ravenswood each have their own unique personalities.
Lincoln Square has little hints of history everywhere you look, from cobblestoned Lincoln Avenue to the century-old Davis Theater. There’s even a piece of the Berlin Wall at the Western Brown Line station. In fact, there are glimpses of the neighborhood’s heritage all around — in its German restaurants, Bavarian bakeries, and cozy little beer halls. But at the same time, Lincoln Square has a bit of a trendy side, with a style you might call casual-yet-sophisticated.
Ravenswood’s handsome brick buildings and converted warehouses have made it a great place for makers and creatives to set up shop. You can take an artisan jewelry-making workshop at Lillstreet Arts Center, or hone your guitar picking skills at the Old Town School of Folk Music. The residential blocks are picture-perfect, and the area is great for both families and young professionals. It’s also a hub for local events, such as Ravenswood On Tap, or the Ravenswood ArtWalk.
Lincoln Square and Ravenswood give you a certain feeling. It’s like a glass of wine and a good book on a rainy afternoon. It’s pancake brunch and mid-century furniture shopping on the weekend. It’s a cheap matinee, followed by a stroll through your neighborhood park. It’s a craft beer crawl with a group of old friends you haven’t seen in a while, and it’s a long, slow weekend — in the best way possible.
Backstory
Founded by German immigrants in the 1840s, Lincoln Square began as a farming community. Farmers with flowers, pickles, and celery would drive their wagons downtown every day to sell at the market in Chicago. When electric street railways and the L train were introduced around the turn of the century, they brought new residents to the area. Farmland gave way to small homes and apartment buildings.
After WWII, there were a lot of empty storefronts in the area. The Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce worked to attract new businesses to fill the vacancies, creating a new shopping district at the heart of the neighborhood. A few decades later, the Lincoln Square mall, a pedestrian-only shopping plaza, was constructed. Today the neighborhood continues to grow and develop, with additions like the Ainslie Arts Plaza, and plenty of community events — like summer concerts, a restaurant week, and holiday celebrations.
Ravenswood started life as a planned community — an 1860s brainchild of the Ravenswood Land Company, who had visions of creating Chicago’s first upmarket commuter suburb. Construction began with the addition of a new train station, linking Ravenswood to downtown Chicago, and attracting many new residents.
It took some time to build enough infrastructure and utilities to support the growing population in the area, but eventually things all came together. The L train and affordable electric streetcars made the neighborhood more accessible, and construction of new affordable housing helped Ravenswood continue to grow and diversify.
Even though they have their own histories and styles, Lincoln Square and Ravenswood have developed a nice synergy for local residents. As the pair of neighborhoods has continued to grow, the area has become increasingly popular — especially for anyone who wants the quiet community feeling of suburban life, but also the excitement and culture of city life.
Local Fare
Lincoln Square
- 016 Restaurant: Serbian-American food ranging from stuffed cabbage to pork shoulder stew, made mostly with local ingredients. They serve amazing sandwiches at lunch time, including their stacked muffaletta.
- Bistro Campagne: Great spot for a date. Delicious French food, nice atmosphere, and a gorgeous patio that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Europe.
- Gene’s Sausage Shop and Delicatessen: Think small, family-run, all-European Mariano’s. There’s a deli, a market full of imported food and gift baskets, obviously some incredible sausages, and a really cute rooftop beer and wine garden.
- Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe: If you’re craving a New York slice, this is by far the best you’ll find outside of NYC.
- The Warbler: Elevated comfort food, and a full menu of amazing cocktails named after birds. Check out their Supper Club for an amazing deal — especially with a group.
- Grafton Pub: A fun and cozy Irish pub with a full bar, full kitchen, and perfectly poured pints of Guinness. There’s regular live folk music, check their Instagram for updates.
Ravenswood
- Spacca Napoli: Authentic Neapolitan style pizza. Atmosphere is casual and friendly, and they make their dough every day from specially sourced ingredients. It’s a Ravenswood legend, and honestly one of the best pizza spots in the city.
- Aroy Thai: Try some authentic hard-to-find dishes like spicy and sour sausages, smoky pork neck salad, or pickled green bamboo. BYOB and cash only.
- Spoken Cafe: Dangerously good breakfast and lunch food with a Cajun flair. They serve local coffee and amazing breakfast sandwiches, and are especially proud of their cheesy grits. They also make jams, pickles, and sauces to take home.
Things to Do
- Malt Row: On the north end of Ravenswood, you’ll find a cluster of breweries that includes everything from Half Acre to Spiteful and brand new labels.
- Lillstreet Art Center: A multi-functional art space with galleries of new work, plus classes and workshops for adults and children — covering everything from painting and pottery to jewelry and zine making.
- DANK Haus: This non-profit German American Cultural Center has rotating exhibitions, art shows, German lessons, and pretzel-making classes.
- Old Town School of Folk Music: The largest public music school in the country. You can take music and dance classes, attend workshops, and see live shows. This place has a really warm and one-of-a-kind feel.
- Merz Apothecary: Browse imported European perfumes, soaps, lotions, and other personal care items in a historic shop. Like, seriously historic — it’s been around for about 150 years.
Sights to See
- Winnemac Park: This 22-acre park has walking trails, tennis courts, softball and soccer fields, and a native prairie habitat area. Great spot for people watching or just taking an afternoon walk.
- Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum: A stunning (and massive) Victorian-era cemetery founded in 1859. At 350 acres, it’s the largest in Chicago, and the front gate straight-up looks like a castle.
- Giddings Plaza: A walkable town center full of shops, bars, restaurants, and a fountain. There are concerts and festivals during the summer, and holiday decorations and events in the winer.
Transportation
The neighborhood has multiple CTA Brown Line stations and several bus routes. There’s also the Ravenswood Metra stop on the Union Pacific North line, a fast and relaxing way to get to the Loop, Northwestern University, or the suburbs. Also, Divvy bike stations are a good way to explore the local parks and nearby neighborhoods.
- the Loop: ~40 min by public transit
- the Lake (Montrose Beach): ~25-30 min by public transit; ~45-50 min walk
- O’Hare: ~50 min by public transit
