7.1 out of 10

Wicker Park

Ranked 25th best neighborhood in Chicago
41.9047109383023 -87.6746845706147
Great for
  • Public Transport
  • Eating Out
  • Shopping Options
  • Internet Access
  • Nightlife
Not great for
  • Parking
  • Peace & Quiet
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Singles
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Trendy & Stylish

Reviews

3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 2/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
2yrs+

"Wicker Park - Trendy to a Fault"

Wicker Park is SO artsy and edgy – blah, blah, blah. This neighborhood became too trendy for its own good, and now it’s borderline intolerable.

I used to hang out in this neighborhood all the time. It was really diverse, affordable and had a lot of cool things that you couldn’t find elsewhere in the city. There was always good music going on and the atmosphere was cool but not in a trendy, everybody HAS to be here, way.

Somewhere in the last 5, probably more, years it turned into the trendiest neighborhood around. Where there used to be artists, musicians and people of all kinds, there are now people who would normally hang out in Lakeview or Lincoln Park. Yuppies started moving in, rents started going up, and local businesses are slowly being replaced with chain stores. Since when were Urban Outfitters, Aldo and Levi’s “edgy?” The bars have mostly turned into clubby or snooty places that attract a pretty obnoxious crowd on the weekends.

Don’t get me wrong, there are still a lot of good things going on. Myopic Books, Quimby’s and Reckless Records are still around, among other local shops. Subterranean and Double Door still have good music going on. And there really are a TON of good restaurants in the neighborhood. There’s still a lot of hangers-on in Wicker Park too, but I doubt they will be for long.
Pros
  • Interesting things to do
Cons
  • obnoxiously trendy
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"A neighborhood for the trendy and cool folks"

Wicker Park in Chicago is an area northwest of the Loop that is home to numerous art galleries, coffee shops, stores and residential homes and apartment buildings. If you are looking for an area that has plenty of things to do, then this is a good pick. As a whole, the area is still "up and coming," but it has undergone a tremendous change since its crime filled days of the 1980s and 1990s. Today, the Wicker Park area has become an attractive place for real estate investors.

Anyone looking for good out of the way nightlife will find Wicker Park to be one of the more interesting places in Chicago. Having lived in Chicago for many years and having seen the Wicker Park transformation, I am still amazed at how different it has become.

Wicker Park may be named after, yes, an actual park called Wicker Park. But don't get too excited about visiting it. The Park is really not that special and is, in fact, kind of on the small side.

Overall, the best aspect of Wicker Park is all the little shops, bars and restaurants that you can discover. There are many independently owned, mom and pop establishments which help give Wicker Park a more neighborhood feel than many other Chicago areas.
Pros
  • Interesting things to do
  • Real estate investing
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • LGBT+
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
2yrs+

"Art-Lover's Paradise"

Considered by many to be at the core of the arts movement in Chicago, Wicker Park is a neighborhood thriving with creativity and energy. Its array of galleries and shops make Wicker Park an attractive area for both residents and visitors alike. The history of the area dates back to the 19th Century, when the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed many buildings.

Today, Wicker Park has small-town appeal along with its rich urban vigor. Art lovers mingle with fashion lovers as the area offers a diverse an array of boutiques along with its many art-centric businesses. Many hipsters call Wicker Park home, as it is second only to neighboring Bucktown in hipster appeal. The area is also home to some of the city’s most prominent buildings, including the famed Flatiron Arts Building.

John Cusack fans know Wicker Park as the setting of his well-known film “High Fidelity”. Overall, this is a trendy and safe neighborhood with many activities to explore. Rich with a creative spirit, t
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
2yrs+

"It is a 20-something's world"

Wicker Park is to Chicago what the Village is to New York City. Somewhere along the way the young, artistic hipsters decided to call Wicker Park home and the neighborhood has blossomed around them. The bars and nightlife came and the art galleries and retail therapy followed along as well. The neighborhood feels young and comfortable with a vibe that turns towards the liberal and artsy crowd. It is a world built for those out of college who are working and playing in the city they love. Anyone lucky enough to call Wicker Park home will likely fall in love with the vibrant spirit, wonderful nightlife and the great proximity to the Loop and other essential neighborhoods.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
2yrs+

"For the trendy and artistic"

Wicker Park has a reputation for attracting a young-ish, artist-type crowd, and naturally that vibe has brought in the trendy bars and restaurants in its wake. Along the southern side of Wicker Park – in and around Division Street – a number of boutiques, bars and restaurants are in constant motion. This action makes it one of the more trendy places to be in Chicago (along with Bucktown), and it’s not to be missed by the twenty-something set.

This amount of entertainment is not without its costs, however, and the rents continue to rise in Wicker Park. The working class – who had been here before the trendy set moved in on them – has been pretty much driven out, and the area is now looking more and more attractive to hungry real estate agents.

Residents enjoy farmer’s markets in addition to the diverse range of boutique businesses, and it should be no surprise to find a decent amount of organic shops catering to the environmentally-conscious types that inhabit the area (Crust, an organic pizza place, is among these and waaaay decent).
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Where Art and Trade Collide…"

Wicker Park is one of the youngest neighborhoods in Chicago. For a time it was the designated area of the city for artists, a description it still holds today. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best description. While it is true that Wicker Park is still home to many young artists, it has become developed into an area with more young families and businessmen and that is, to an extent, part of its charm.

I love to visit Wicker Park, and along with the Loop, it is one of the Chicago neighborhoods I would most like to live in. There are a number of great shops, bars, and restaurants, and the people are mostly around my age(25).

Location
Wicker Park is only a few miles from the Loop, and nothing in Chicago seems more than a few steps away. The ‘El’ runs right through the neighborhood, making it that much easier to get around, and cabs and busses are plentiful. Parking I don’t suggest unless you know the area. It isn’t as bad as some other neighborhoods, but you might end up with a ticket if you’re not careful.

Dining
Tons on the menu if you’re hungry. I’m not a big fan of Sushi, but even I like Blu Coral Sushi. I didn’t find it to be all that reasonably priced, but the standards aren’t too pricy, and the expensive stuff is worth it. The Bongo Room is also really popular, and a friend of mine who lives in the area swears by their pancakes. Expect a bit of a wait if you’re there on a weekend morning, though.

Nightlife
I’d say it’s the best part of Chicago if you’re looking to go out. There’s a lot of young people, bars and clubs that stay open forever, and if you live in the neighborhood you can walk most places. If you find yourself incapable of walking, don’t worry, there’ll be plenty cabs, especially if you’re at the intersection of North, Milwaukee, and Damen, which is where a lot of great bars are anyways.
One place that has to be mentioned in terms of Nightlife is the Double Door, which has seen some great musical acts over the years, including the Rolling Stones.

Personally, I don’t think you can do much better than Wicker Park. It can be a bit noisy at night because of so many active people, but it has so much to do, from great little and big stores, restaurants, and bars, that you’ll be happy you visited, and I suspect even happier if you stay.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Wicker Park - Great Food, Good Shopping, Awesome People"

Wicker Park is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Chicago. Known for its hipsters, the Wicker Park/Bucktown area is home to a host of young urban professionals and unique up and coming artists alike. Not only are the people diverse, but so is the shopping. Wicker Park is one of the best places to find hip threads and new designers. The culinary delights in this neighborhood are endless as well and include a slew of treats such as Piece Pizzeria and Brewery, The Smoke Daddy, Bob San, and Penny's Noodle Shop. The list is endless and completely mouthwatering, and the service at each is exceptional. Living in Wicker Park feels like you're part of a small town community in the midst of a big city because everyone treats you like they've known you forever, yet you still get to experience the best of Chicago.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Exciting, expensive and worth it."

Wicker Park is a neighborhood on the North Side of Chicago and is one of the most loved, hated and well-known parts of the city. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the neighborhood cost a fraction of what it does today to live in and was home to a thriving artistic community. However, as Chicago began a phase of rapid growth in the mid 1990s, Wicker Park fell victim to gentrification. Property values increased, the city of Chicago began growing, and the neighborhood found itself populated by an influx of young professionals and families, often moving there from outside the city. No other in the neighborhood has such a large percentage of young people. An array of businesses whose variety is only rivaled in the Loop itself moved into the area. Art galleries, record stores and any sort of strange shop or store a person could think of line the commercial streets. At all hours of the night, the streets of Wicker Park are buzzing with activity. Bars and restaurants are open all hours of the night and day. Taxicabs and cars never stop moving, and the pedestrian traffic alone at North & Milwaukee is overwhelming. This intersection in particular feels more like Lower Manhattan than Chicago, Illinois. The neighborhood's namesake park is gorgeous, and many residents visit it every week, if not every day. Some people might find the non-stop flurry of activity to be taxing, but for young people who have a steady income, there isn't a more vibrant and exciting neighborhood in Chicago.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles

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"They dont get better than this. "
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