7.4 out of 10

Goose Island

Ranked 15th best neighborhood in Chicago
41.8981304551782 -87.6582881160471
Great for
  • Public Transport
  • Eating Out
  • Shopping Options
  • Internet Access
  • Nightlife
Not great for
  • Childcare
  • Schools
  • Cost of Living
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+

Reviews

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

"Goose Island - Stinky Island, Swanky Surroundings"

I wouldn’t really consider Goose Island to be its own neighborhood, but it is an island in the middle of the city! The actual island has nothing of interest on it – it’s industrial and smells bad. Waste Management has a facility on the island, so that should give you and idea as to what the smell is like. The river over there is extra dirty too.

The area surrounding Goose Island to the North is filled with newly built condos, a lot of chain stores and strip malls, and yes, the Goose Island pub and brewery. This is where you can taste all of the beers that aren’t usually sold in the liquor store – they have so many varieties to choose from, all seasonal and always changing. If you drink 45 beers you get your name on a plaque in the restaurant. I only have THREE more to go!

To the west of the island is Cabrini Green, or I should say what WAS Cabrini Green. This was one of Chicago’s most notorious public housing projects. They kicked out all the residents a while ago, and actually just demolished the very last building a few months ago. It was a pretty emotional moment for those who lived in Cabrini or who have any connection to it at all. The projects have been replaced by high-priced condos and yuppies, which is VERY weird. Of course, they don’t call it by the same name anymore – I’m sure some real estate “genius” came up with something more flashy.
Cons
  • expensive
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Modern, upscale neighborhood... with beer!"

The name "Goose Island" might lead you to believe that Chicago has a tranquil island within it that is full of green grass, rolling hills, and lots of beautiful geese. Well, if you believe that, you are at least partially correct. Chicago does have a small island, albeit an artificial one. This island is right on the Chicago river. However, you won't see a lot of nature, nor will you see actual geese. In fact, this area has a bit of an industrial feel.

This small part of Chicago has a lot of pretty nice, upscale homes. You will find a lot of new and modern real estate. This is also an area that is pretty accessible to popular neighborhoods like Wicker Park. You likely won't even notice that you are on an actual island due to the fact that the streets look pretty typical.

You might have heard of "Goose Island brewery." This is a restaurant/bar that is located in both Wrigleyville as well as the Clybourn corridor. Goose Island does indeed have some pretty decent beer. It is a pretty big restaurant that has a lot of beers on tap. Also if you go on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, you can get a tour of the brewery and a taste of the beer!
Pros
  • Not really loud, but not quiet
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • LGBT+
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
2yrs+

"Not just a brewery...."

Goose Island is known as known very well as a brewery- and a very good one at that.

Long ago 'Goose Island' was a place that Irish squatters inhabited. It was known as Goose Island because of the migratory geese that inhabited the island.

But now--- it is a good place to buy beer.
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Good beer, cool place to be"

Goose Island is one of my favorite Chicago Neighborhoods. I'm not a big beer drinker personally, but I love pubs and pub food, which you will find in abundance here.

Obviously, there is a fair amount to drink here, but it also has some of the nicer homes in Chicago. I guess some people think it's isolated from the rest of the city because of the river, but not really. Still, the homes and condos here are spectacularly nice, and while not exactly affordable, if you have the means, you should definitely give it a look.

Probably one of the more attractive things about Goose Island is it's relative proximity to so much that's going on in the city. It's right nearby the Loop, as well as Wicker Park and the Ukrainian Village. Those are a few of my other favorite parts of the city, so it's nice to have such a good overall area.
Pros
  • Great atmosphere and spirit
  • Good nightlife
  • Safe
Cons
  • A bit loud
  • Small neighborhood with a bit highway through the middle
  • expensive
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
2yrs+

"Once there were geese, now there is beer"

Real estate developers have descended on this, the only island in the Chicago River, as there were somehow a number of empty lots still here during the 80s. The island also has a number of industrial things going on, like the production of beer, which for some reason - to me, at least - seems to clash with the upper class residencies that have gone up here in recent years.

There continues to be some argument over whether new industries or new condos should be put up on Goose Island– but in the meantime visitors can check out some pretty decent places to dine out. Goose Island Shrimp House has awesome takeout shrimp dishes – maybe the best in the entire city. And since the island is home to breweries, you can stop into places like the well-named gastropub Goose Island and leave very happy. Goose Island Wrigleyville offers a much better sampling of pub food than competitors like Buffalo Wild Wings – and there is no way to overstate how outstanding the beer is. If you like beer, you’ll enjoy Goose Island immensely.

Residents of the island are lucky enough to enjoy a slice of Chicago that is near enough to the tourist action of the Near North Side and the epic area that is the Loop. (And if you ask me, the closeness to the brewery action makes this one of the best Chicago neighborhoods.)
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
2yrs+

"An Island in the City"

Goose Island is an actual island located along the north branch of the Chicago River and the North Branch Canal. It is believed to have gotten the “goose” part of the name from the flocks of geese and other waterfowl that used to congregate there. However, it started way back in the 1840s as an industrial and manufacturing hub and largely remains so today. Its major product? BEER! “Goose Island” has become synonymous with the Goose Island Brewery and Pub. Since the 1980s, real estate developers have transformed the island into a magnet of housing for the affluent city dweller. Old factories have been converted into loft condos and there’s a healthy dose of newly constructed single family homes. Besides the many brew pubs, the island is filled with restaurants offering every type of cuisine you could imagine. Located just west of the River North and Old Town neighborhoods and only 1 mile from the Loop, one doesn’t have to travel far from home to find additional options for shopping, dining, entertainment, and other residential amenities. Because it is so well-connected to the rest of the city by bridges and main streets (Halsted Street, Chicago Avenue, North Avenue, Division Street, and Milwaukee Avenue) that run through it, one hardly knows they are traversing this island in the city.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles

Travelling to Goose Island?

Find Hotels

Best Streets in Goose Island

"very convenient street - love it!"
41.9087394715786 -87.6664203798935

Unranked Streets in Goose Island

"5 dollar pizzas and shopping shenaniganz"
41.9011768014371 -87.6674320246766
"Perfect for anybody who loves the lake"
41.9028320578665 -87.6651552028732
"Two faced street"
41.9121506903716 -87.6618501262419

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

Best Cities to Live In

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More