7.1 out of 10

Ukrainian Village

Ranked 26th best neighborhood in Chicago
41.8940312642828 -87.6751773447271
Great for
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Safe & Sound
  • Eating Out
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Parking
Not great for
  • Childcare
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Medical Facilities
  • Pest Free
Who lives here?
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Professionals
  • Hipsters
  • Retirees

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"Ukrainian Village - Still Hanging On"

Ukrainian Village is where I live, and is part of West Town. It’s a great neighborhood. It’s friendly and really feels like a community. There are still a lot of Eastern Europeans living in the area, plus a lot of young people moving in as they have to leave Wicker Park and other areas because of the prices.

Most of Ukrainian Village is a designated historical landmark. There are old apartment buildings, churches and cottages that are all preserved.

There are a ton of great locally owned businesses in the neighborhood. There’s also a really diverse range of restaurants to choose from. The bars are all little corner neighborhood places that add to the community here.

Unfortunately there’s been some change recently with the gentrification of the rest of West Town and Wicker Park (see my reviews of them too). Every other building that’s not in the historic district has been torn down and replaced with condos, where, you guessed it, yuppies keep moving in. Some of the newer businesses opening up seem to belong in some other more trendy neighborhood. I have a lot of friends and family living here too, and we’re all a little bit worried that we’re about to be priced and chased out of our neighborhood.

For now, Ukrainian Village is a wonderful place to live or visit, and will hopefully stay a nice, friendly, middle-class area.
Pros
  • great for families
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Hipsters
SteveNike
SteveNike One great benefits of the Ukrainian Village is the active community participation. There are over 700 neighbors talking about what’s going on in the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Watch and on the sister page about the community. http://www.facebook.com/groups/UKVillageWatch/
2yrs+
SharonM7
SharonM7 Can you recommend a rental agent in Ukranian Village. I am looking for an apartment for my daughter who is a student at Columbia College Chicago? She is out of the country until the end of August and I live in Virginia and I need to find an apartment for her for Sept.
2yrs+
Add a comment...
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"A good place to experience a Ukranian way of life"

It is probably too shocking that Ukrainians had something to do with the name Ukrainian Village, and you can still see their influence to this day. The area is known for being home to many people from Eastern Europe to this day, of course, including Ukrainians. Also the area is full of old impressive churches, so anyone who likes older churches with a lot of character will find Ukrainian Village a good place to visit.

Throughout Ukrainian Village there are institutions that are focus on Ukrainian culture, such as the Ukrainian National Museum and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. Both of these institutions are interesting trips for anyone, so don't feel as though you need to be of Ukrainian heritage to enjoy a visit.

Many of the areas local restaurants have Ukrainian food, and there are other Eastern Europe oriented restaurants as well. If you like trying new types of cuisine that you may not have had in the past, then Ukrainian Village is likely going to be a place you will appreciate.

You can be sure that Ukrainian Village is properly named, as you will see the Ukrainian Village flag being flown from time to time. There is a lot to see on a trip to Chicago, but taking a few hours to check out Ukrainian Village can make for a fun side trip.
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Hipsters
SteveNike
SteveNike One great benefits of the Ukrainian Village is the active community participation. There are over 700 neighbors talking about what’s going on in the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Watch and on the sister page about the community. http://www.facebook.com/groups/UKVillageWatch/
2yrs+
SharonM7
SharonM7 Can you recommend a rental agent in Ukranian Village. I am looking for an apartment for my daughter who is a student at Columbia College Chicago? She is out of the country until the end of August and I live in Virginia and I need to find an apartment for her for Sept.
2yrs+
Add a comment...
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
2yrs+

"Quiet and Authentically European"

If you’re in search of an area in Chicago that has an authentic European feeling and appearance, the Ukrainian Village is a must. The boundaries of this community are Division Street to the north, Western Avenue to the west, Chicago Avenue to the south, and Damen Avenue to the east. The Ukrainian Village is one of the neighborhoods found within the West Town community.

Part of the reason the area is able to maintain its authentic Easter European energy is that thousands of Ukrainians still call the area home. There are many stunning churches found here, noted for their architecture as much as their cultural significance. A visit to the area should include a tour of the Ukrainian Village District, which runs along Haddon Avenue and is home to many landmarks.

Younger people will also find a few things to explore in the Ukrainian Village. There are several trendy pubs, burger joints, and restaurants worth visiting. There are also several authentic Ukrainian eateries still arou
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Trendy & Stylish
SteveNike
SteveNike One great benefits of the Ukrainian Village is the active community participation. There are over 700 neighbors talking about what’s going on in the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Watch and on the sister page about the community. http://www.facebook.com/groups/UKVillageWatch/
2yrs+
SharonM7
SharonM7 Can you recommend a rental agent in Ukranian Village. I am looking for an apartment for my daughter who is a student at Columbia College Chicago? She is out of the country until the end of August and I live in Virginia and I need to find an apartment for her for Sept.
2yrs+
Add a comment...
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
2yrs+

"Maintains that Eastern European Edge"

I love a neighborhood that hasn’t gone the ways of extreme capitalism – one that has its share of mom-and-pops style restaurants and shops. In other words: I really appreciate the Ukrainian Village for what it is. It’s a safe middle class haven, and even if it is being gentrified more and more these days, it still maintains a certain amount of eastern European style. Lately, due to all of the renovation going on, people have started referring to this area as “East Village.”

It’s close to the trendy Wicker Park (can’t beat that), and only about ten minutes from the infamous Loop, with Blue Line and Metra transportation available nearby. Lately there have been a lot of new restaurants and shops springing to life, making the Ukrainian Village able to hold its own when it comes to things to do and enjoy.

There are some gorgeous Ukrainian churches (complete with spires) and old-fashioned housing in the area, with more modern buildings thrown in the mix. Visitors with time on their hands should do themselves a favor and take a walk around this eclectic and entertaining neighborhood. And if you happen by, do yourself a favor and check out the Sweet Cakes Bakery on North Damen – it may be a bit pricey, but every bite of their homemade vegan goods is worth the extra change.
SteveNike
SteveNike One great benefits of the Ukrainian Village is the active community participation. There are over 700 neighbors talking about what’s going on in the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Watch and on the sister page about the community. http://www.facebook.com/groups/UKVillageWatch/
2yrs+
SharonM7
SharonM7 I'm looking for an apartment for my daughter to rent. She is a student at Columbia College. She's out of the country until the end of August and I need to find it for her for September. Can you recommend a rental agent in the Ukranian Village?
2yrs+
Add a comment...
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Less Ukranian these days, but still lots to see"

The Ukrainian Village area of Chicago is a very nice, clean, and friendly place. My favorite parts have to be the Holy Trinity Cathedral, A Tavola, and The Empty Bottle.

Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen. It has amazing architecture, and like many parts of the neighborhood, there's a wonderful old country vibe. I know a lot of tourists come to see it, and for very good reason.

A Tavola is one of my favorite Chicago restaurants. It's a little (very little) Italian restaurant famous for their gnocchi. I've taken a few girls on dates there and it's the perfect spot for a quiet, romantic evening.

The Empty Bottle is also small, but has a big reputation. You can always find someone to tell stories about a show they saw there, or an evening that didn't go as planned, but was fun nonetheless. A lot of smaller bands get to play there, so if you're looking for a new band to listen follow, you'll definitely want to stop by.

Overall, the Ukrainian Village is very clean and friendly. Many of the homes have well kept yards, and the streets are some of the cleanest in the city. The neighborhood isn't overly commercialized, so there are a lot of smaller, independently owned restaurants and shops. I know the population, as the name implies, used to be mostly Ukrainian, but it seems much more diverse now. It's really close to Wicker Park, and not far from the Loop, so living there would be a lot of fun, and you'd be close to other really nice areas as well.
Pros
  • Clean
  • Very welcoming atmosphere
  • Beautiful landmarks
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Not a lot of shopping options
  • Not terribly diverse
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
SteveNike
SteveNike One great benefits of the Ukrainian Village is the active community participation. There are over 700 neighbors talking about what’s going on in the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Watch and on the sister page about the community. http://www.facebook.com/groups/UKVillageWatch/
2yrs+
SharonM7
SharonM7 Can you recommend a rental agent in Ukranian Village. I am looking for an apartment for my daughter who is a student at Columbia College Chicago? She is out of the country until the end of August and I live in Virginia and I need to find an apartment for her for Sept.
2yrs+
linuxf
linuxf The Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Watch on Facebook is rated as one of the most racist "neighborhood watch" pages in Chicago. I've lived in the neighborhood for 10+ years & I have comedian friends who use material from that page. "Call it in!!!" You're better off subscribing to the "Ukrainian Village Idiots Watch" page to see what the community is really like. :-P
2yrs+
Add a comment...

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