Guidebook for Evanston
Sightseeing
This is the oldest surviving and largest Bahai'i temple in the world.
120 locals recommend
Baha'i House of Worship
100 Linden AveThis is the oldest surviving and largest Bahai'i temple in the world.
Parks & Nature
You can access the lakefront directly off of Dempster, too. It's about six blocks due east.
Greenwood Street Beach
1401 Sheridan PlYou can access the lakefront directly off of Dempster, too. It's about six blocks due east.
Drinks & Nightlife
Space has not only wonderful live music in an intimate setting, but a fantastic bar and the food is out of this world. Reasonably priced and a neighborhood treasure. It's 2/10ths of a mile from the house.
57 locals recommend
Evanston SPACE
1245 Chicago AveSpace has not only wonderful live music in an intimate setting, but a fantastic bar and the food is out of this world. Reasonably priced and a neighborhood treasure. It's 2/10ths of a mile from the house.
Whiskey Thief Tavern
616 Davis StNice bar to hang out with friends.
This neighborhood bar (my old neighborhood) earned my regular business by serving wonderful food around a fireplace, or at the bar, and having friendly wait staff. This was a weekly hangout of mine and is a great place to catch a game on TV. It's worth the Lyft, or just hop the purple line at Dempster and get off on Central. It's an easy peasy walk from there.
16 locals recommend
Bluestone
1932 Central StThis neighborhood bar (my old neighborhood) earned my regular business by serving wonderful food around a fireplace, or at the bar, and having friendly wait staff. This was a weekly hangout of mine and is a great place to catch a game on TV. It's worth the Lyft, or just hop the purple line at Dempster and get off on Central. It's an easy peasy walk from there.
Terra & Vine
1701 Maple AveFood Scene
Cross-Rhodes Restaurant
913 Chicago AveCheap diner with good eats.
KANSAKU
1514 Sherman AveGood sushi in a nice environment.
Insanely delicious and renowned bakery in the area. Closed on Mondays, but stock up on every other day. The bread and myriad options of brioche, whether sweet or savory, will blow your mind. Coffee also available.
20 locals recommend
Hewn
1733 Central StInsanely delicious and renowned bakery in the area. Closed on Mondays, but stock up on every other day. The bread and myriad options of brioche, whether sweet or savory, will blow your mind. Coffee also available.
Need a bagel? Look no further than right around the corner. Non-bagel options are also available.
Bagel Art
615 Dempster StNeed a bagel? Look no further than right around the corner. Non-bagel options are also available.
If you're vegetarian, consider this place a must. It has been around forever, and for good reason: the food is creative and delicious. You won't miss meat one bit. While not vegan, there are plenty of vegan options.
38 locals recommend
Blind Faith Cafe
525 Dempster StIf you're vegetarian, consider this place a must. It has been around forever, and for good reason: the food is creative and delicious. You won't miss meat one bit. While not vegan, there are plenty of vegan options.
Cupitol Coffee & Eatery
812 Grove StBrothers K Coffeehouse
500 Main StGreat coffee and delicious crêpes and omelets. Artisanal Belgian chocolate to boot. Insanely delicious.
14 locals recommend
Leonidas Cafe Chocolaterie
1907 Central StGreat coffee and delicious crêpes and omelets. Artisanal Belgian chocolate to boot. Insanely delicious.
Colectivo Evanston
716 Church StMilwaukee-based coffee coop. Good stuff.
Fantastic tapas and drinks in a cozy, Spanish-feeling setting. I go there once a month.
16 locals recommend
Tapas Barcelona
1615 Chicago AveFantastic tapas and drinks in a cozy, Spanish-feeling setting. I go there once a month.
This is connected to Space, the music venue. The food is so much more than just pizza, although the pizza - and the drinks - are delicious.
50 locals recommend
Union Pizza
1307 Chicago AveThis is connected to Space, the music venue. The food is so much more than just pizza, although the pizza - and the drinks - are delicious.
Ehran runs the #1-voted butcher shop in all of Chicago, and for good reason. If you want a sandwich that will blow your mind, grab a quarter pound of whatever meats he has available - like the corned beef or the turkey - and get yourself a sliced bread or roll from Hewn. Perfetto! I also have a grill at my house if you want to throw on a steak. His artisanal sausages are also insanely delicious, especially the Turkish and/or Merguez sausages. I don't buy my meat anywhere else if I can help it.
Homestead Meats
1305 Chicago AvenueEhran runs the #1-voted butcher shop in all of Chicago, and for good reason. If you want a sandwich that will blow your mind, grab a quarter pound of whatever meats he has available - like the corned beef or the turkey - and get yourself a sliced bread or roll from Hewn. Perfetto! I also have a grill at my house if you want to throw on a steak. His artisanal sausages are also insanely delicious, especially the Turkish and/or Merguez sausages. I don't buy my meat anywhere else if I can help it.
French Kiss Café
517 Dempster StOpens at 11.
This is a little carry-out for sushi. Fresh and a favorite for a quick roll.
12 locals recommend
Sea Ranch Sushi Evanston
518 Dempster StThis is a little carry-out for sushi. Fresh and a favorite for a quick roll.
If you need to try Chicago pizza (deep dish), this is a great place to do it. Walking distance. You can also order in from Lou Malnati's.
519 locals recommend
Giordano's
5311 S Blackstone AveIf you need to try Chicago pizza (deep dish), this is a great place to do it. Walking distance. You can also order in from Lou Malnati's.
Good food, and sometimes you happen into live music.
23 locals recommend
Found Kitchen and Social House
1631 Chicago AveGood food, and sometimes you happen into live music.
Farmhouse Evanston
703 Church StFarm-to-table, with excellent, delicious options.
Shopping
Wonderful small business in the area that sells not only area-specific, whimsical gifts, but gifts that play off current topics, tending toward the irreverent and sometimes profane. There is also much that is just plain beautiful, too. As you head over, keep your eyes open for other lovely gift shops on the north side of Dempster.
Stumble & Relish
1312 Chicago AveWonderful small business in the area that sells not only area-specific, whimsical gifts, but gifts that play off current topics, tending toward the irreverent and sometimes profane. There is also much that is just plain beautiful, too. As you head over, keep your eyes open for other lovely gift shops on the north side of Dempster.
YWCA Crowded Closet
820 Dempster StHigh-end women's resale shop at great prices, and in all sizes.
Notice
2112 Central StGracie's
1939 Central StEssentials
Trader Joe's
1211 Chicago AveWhole Foods Market
6020 N Cicero AveJewel-Osco
1128 Chicago AveGetting Around
This is one of several Evanston stops for the Metra suburban trains. It is the fastest and most comfortable way to get downtown. It is about double the price of the "L" train. Buy a ticket before you get on board if the ticket booth is "manned" to avoid a surcharge onboard. You can also buy tickets through the Ventra app. Note, however, that the tickets you buy through the app remain "resident" on the device used to purchase the tickets. In other words, if your party splits up, anyone who did not physically purchase the ticket on his or her phone will be unable to access the tickets.
11 locals recommend
Davis Street/Evanston station
901 Davis StThis is one of several Evanston stops for the Metra suburban trains. It is the fastest and most comfortable way to get downtown. It is about double the price of the "L" train. Buy a ticket before you get on board if the ticket booth is "manned" to avoid a surcharge onboard. You can also buy tickets through the Ventra app. Note, however, that the tickets you buy through the app remain "resident" on the device used to purchase the tickets. In other words, if your party splits up, anyone who did not physically purchase the ticket on his or her phone will be unable to access the tickets.
This is one of several Evanston stops for the Metra suburban trains. It is the fastest and most comfortable way to get downtown. It is about double the price of the "L" train. Buy a ticket before you get on board if the ticket booth is "manned" to avoid a surcharge onboard. You can also buy tickets through the Ventra app. Note, however, that the tickets you buy through the app remain "resident" on the device used to purchase the tickets. In other words, if your party splits up, anyone who did not physically purchase the ticket on his or her phone will be unable to access the tickets.
6 locals recommend
Evanston Main Street Metra Station
659 Main StThis is one of several Evanston stops for the Metra suburban trains. It is the fastest and most comfortable way to get downtown. It is about double the price of the "L" train. Buy a ticket before you get on board if the ticket booth is "manned" to avoid a surcharge onboard. You can also buy tickets through the Ventra app. Note, however, that the tickets you buy through the app remain "resident" on the device used to purchase the tickets. In other words, if your party splits up, anyone who did not physically purchase the ticket on his or her phone will be unable to access the tickets.
This is one of several Evanston stops for the Metra suburban trains. It is the fastest and most comfortable way to get downtown. It is about double the price of the "L" train. Buy a ticket before you get on board if the ticket booth is "manned" to avoid a surcharge onboard. You can also buy tickets through the Ventra app. Note, however, that the tickets you buy through the app remain "resident" on the device used to purchase the tickets. In other words, if your party splits up, anyone who did not physically purchase the ticket on his or her phone will be unable to access the tickets.
Central Street
Central StreetThis is one of several Evanston stops for the Metra suburban trains. It is the fastest and most comfortable way to get downtown. It is about double the price of the "L" train. Buy a ticket before you get on board if the ticket booth is "manned" to avoid a surcharge onboard. You can also buy tickets through the Ventra app. Note, however, that the tickets you buy through the app remain "resident" on the device used to purchase the tickets. In other words, if your party splits up, anyone who did not physically purchase the ticket on his or her phone will be unable to access the tickets.
This station is about three short blocks from my house. During rush hours, it expresses to and from downtown. To get downtown, to Wrigley and all kinds of other places in Chicago's northside neighborhoods during daytime and evening hours, take the Purple Line to Howard Street (the end of the Purple line during non-rush hours). Get out and wait for the Red line, which will make all stops to the south loop.
8 locals recommend
Dempster station
1316 Sherman PlThis station is about three short blocks from my house. During rush hours, it expresses to and from downtown. To get downtown, to Wrigley and all kinds of other places in Chicago's northside neighborhoods during daytime and evening hours, take the Purple Line to Howard Street (the end of the Purple line during non-rush hours). Get out and wait for the Red line, which will make all stops to the south loop.