Pilsen, Chicago

Pilsen is a great neighborhood, and will hopefully stay that way. It’s been a Hispanic neighborhood for a long time, and in recent years a ton of hipster/artist kids have been moving in.

Pilsen really feels like a community. Neighbors are friendly and families and kids are everywhere. Probably the best time I ever had in Pilsen was at a neighborhood block part on a friend’s street. Everybody from old ladies to little kids, moms and dads, young hipsters, was having a great time. There was food, music and games. AND live Mexican wrestling.

There are a ton of delicious Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood. The bars are mostly corner neighborhood joints. The Skylark is a spot that has become really busy and filled with a younger crowd on the weekends, and has really good food and beer.

Art is a major attraction in Pilsen. First, there’s the National Museum of Mexican Art. Next, there are a ton of art galleries that have opened up near Halsted and 18th Street. No Coast is a really cool shared art studio and gallery that sells posters, clothes, all kinds of stuff. Last, there are murals EVERYWHERE. A walk through the neighborhood is filled with colorful images both amateur and professional.

Farther west there’s local shops, groceries, a couple of decent vintage stores, and the Textile Discount Outlet – a gigantic warehouse filled with every fabric you could possibly imagine.

Pilsen is a largely Hispanic area on the wide side of Chicago. The area has a rich history and was originally settled by Germans and Czechs, but today is home to a large hispanic and Mexican population. As a result, Mexican restaurants in the area have been a focal point of activity. In fact if you are in Chicago and want some authentic Mexican food, then you will want to take a look at the numerous options that the Pilsen area has to offer.

In addition to its restaurants, the large Mexican population has contributed to enriching the Pilsen area in other ways as well. The National Museum of Mexican Art is definitely worth the time and should be on your list of things to do when you visit Chicago. In October, the museum has a great Day of the Dead exhibit that features artists from all over the world.

Anyone looking to see a side of Chicago that is often missed by visitors from around the world should stop by the Pilsen dinner. On more than one occasion, I had dinner in a very authentic Mexican restaurant after spending a couple of hours at the National Museum of Mexican Art. This is a good way to spend an afternoon, as you will get to see some great art and have some of the best Mexican food outside of Mexico!

Even as city neighborhoods go, Pilsen is on the loud side – as well as on the dirty side. Rumor has it that Pilsen is the largest Mexican community in the entire Midwest – and I can't help but believe the tale. Besides that, there is a large artist population here, which has brought with them a number of galleries that are a must-see for any collector.

I would recommend this neighborhood to both tourists (who can check out the neighborhood’s colorful murals and galleries) and locals (at least, those who want to join the area’s artist community).

One of the coolest things that goes on here is the Pilsen Art Walk – on the second Friday of every month local artists play gallery hosts in the area around South Halsted and 18th Streets. It’s completely free and there are about 30 or so galleries that take part.

And as this is one of the most Mexican places around, it’s a good suggestion to take in some of the local food fare at places like Taqueria El Milagro (check out the chile relleno taco) or Nuevo Leon Restaurant (good service and decent prices).

Since many Chicagoans find Pilsen on the sketchy side, take more than the usual precautions. The area where Pilson meets Little Italy is especially unsafe, being full of vacant lots and train tracks. Pilsen is a neighborhood that is best driven to - and from.

Pilson is quickly becoming the new Wicker Park. I have some friends who used to live in Wicker Park, and they hated the gentrification going on, so they decided to move to Pilsen, which I would describe as a half artistic neighborhood, half Hispanic neighborhood. The population may be more on the Hispanic side, but the influx of artists and the whole bohemian vibe has given Pilsen a new life.
The housing prices are affordable, and Pilsen isn’t too far from the Loop, which makes it a prime location for many. There are a lot of art galleries in the area, which I really like, even though I never feel terribly comfortable going in. I just like walking by and seeing all the art. It makes the street feel a little classier, I guess.
For food, you’re mostly going to find Mexican food, and very fortunately it’s mostly very good. Try out Nueva Leon, it’s a really popular place, and there’s a reason, it is excellent. I haven’t been to a lot of restaurants in Pilsen, but Nueva Leon is one place worth multiple visits.
For shopping, there are a fair number of specialty stores, with a lot of stuff you won’t find elsewhere. I’m not a big retail guy, but you can find some gems if you walk around for an afternoon and give it a good look.
The nightlife is not exactly great. The one nice thing is you can get some cheap drinks, and many places aren’t that busy.
The only problem I’ve seen with Pilsen is the noise, and to a lesser extent, the trash. I haven’t lived there, but I’ve seen some loud parties out on the street, and I have no doubt it could drive some people off. I don’t know that I’d recommend the area for a families, but I’d say it’s safe, and has a great atmosphere for the artistic type, and maybe just for that artistic side of you.

I have lived in Pilsen for about three months as I was sort of priced out of Logan Square. I've had friends in Pilsen for years so I'd spent a decent amount of time in the area before I moved. The two biggest things i notice to be problematic are the cleanliness and the noise levels. My neighbors to both the right and left are huge buildings filled with kids and about 3 adults each. This makes for total chaos, trash wise and noise wise. It seems people suck it up and deal with the smells, mostly i am referring to the alleys, which accumulate an unfathomable amount of crazy trash. I know it's a city, it's supposed to be smelly and dirty...but this is crazy. I could write crazy stories about the stuff i find in my backyard. Summer is also tricky in Pilsen because the fireworks never stop. never. If you are sensitive to noise or can't just crank up the volume and mask it this could be really annoying. I personally would not find Pilsen quite as charming without all of it's loud block parties and jumpy castles. Sometimes i feel like i'm living in Sesame Street. As a girl who lives alone, i feel quite safe. I have classes late and have to come home late at night, and still feel pretty comfortable. Rent is cheap, and it's way closer to downtown than Logan Square. I do miss the boulevards though!


P.S. I also find this neighborhood's lack of trees to be a downer.