Building a nest in a burgeoning neighborhood: Susan Flaga (left) and Bathsheba Nemerovski, owners of the chic Logan Square salon Sparrow. Browse the gallery below for more photos.
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If your last visit to Logan Square was for dinner at Lula a couple of years back, much has changed. The café that put the neighborhood on the map is no longer the only spot on the block for sustainable dining. And yet much remains the same: Lula’s pioneering philosophy—a blending of epicurean tastes and hipster sensibilities—prevails in a glut of new options for dining, drinking, and stylish city living.
NEW PLACES
COLE’S
It was only a matter of months before this onetime pool hall, gently overhauled as a haven for upstart bands and good beer by the genial Coleman Brice, settled into its been-there-forever vibe. 2338 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-276-5802, coleschicago.blogspot.com
DILL PICKLE FOOD CO-OP
What happens when concerned locals band together to bring organic groceries to their community? This ambitious bite-sized market—a great source for bulk goods, plus regional meats and cheeses. 3039 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-252-2667, dillpicklefoodcoop.org
LATE BAR
From the organizers of Chicago’s long-running new-wave dance party Planet Earth comes this 4 a.m. mini club, with late-night lines and a drink list of vegan and gluten-free cocktails. 3534 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-267-5283, latebarchicago.com
LONGMAN & EAGLE
The chef Jared Wentworth’s commitment to offal turns what could be a style-over-substance tavern into a destination for adventurous whole-hog dining from the Empty Bottle guys. And that’s just at street level. Upstairs is a six-room boutique inn, where you can sleep it off starting early summer. 2657 N. Kedzie Ave.; 773-276-7110, longmanandeagle.com
NEW WAVE COFFEE
If ever a neighborhood was in need of a well-lighted place, the legions of Metropolis Coffee-fueled laptoppers pounding away until 11 p.m. nightly prove Logan Square was it. 3103 W. Logan Blvd.; 773-489-0646, newwavecoffee.com
90 MILES CUBAN CAFE
Alberto Gonzalez expands his Havana-in-Chicago micro-empire with a second BYO destination for cheap, casual Cuban—here with an all-season patio. 2540 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-227-2822, 90milescubancafe.com
REVOLUTION BREWING
Handlebar’s Josh Deth married two of his passions, craft beer and activism, in this labor-of-love brewpub—and the masses approve. 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-227-2739, revbrew.com
SPARROW
A pair of salon vets cater to local celebs (Jeff Tweedy, the tween fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson) and well-to-do hipsters (women’s cuts run $66) in an impeccably chic room. Bonus: Prospective patrons can browse “after” photos on the salon’s blog. 2545 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-486-9300, sparrowhair.com
JUST OPENED/COMING SOON
Chilapan Finer Mexican fare in a 35-seat BYOB (2459 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-697-4597) . . . Ciao Napoli Pizzeria Pies on the square (2607 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-278-7300) . . . Accanto Unlikely upscale Italian; see “Accanto mini-review” (2171 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-227-2727) . . . Nice Slice Pizza Bar From the team behind Simone’s (2210 N. California Ave.) . . . A coffee shop/wine bar, name TBD, from the owners of Enoteca Roma and Letizia’s (2456 N. California Ave.) . . . La Boulangerie Crepes, bread, and ice cream from the baking outfit Cook Au Vin (2569 N. Milwaukee Ave.).
OLD FAVORITES
BONSOIREE
The chef Shin Thompson’s elegant spot remains an off-the-radar gem. 2728 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-486-7511, bon-soiree.com
THE BROWN SACK
In July this comfort food nook (oatmeal smoothies, meatball subs) moves into an expanded space around the corner. 3706 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-661-0675, thebrownsack.com
BUONA TERRA
The sort of go-to trattoria every neighborhood covets. 2535 N. California Ave.; 773-289-3800, buona-terra.com
THE BURLINGTON
So hip it hurts, from the skinny jeans to the DJ lineup. 3425 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-384-3243
EL CUBANITO
This shoebox-sized sandwich shack draws fans from as far as the burbs. 2555 N. Pulaski Rd.; 773-235-2555
FIRESIDE BOWL
Cheap, no-frills bowling in a 1940s alley. 2648 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-486-2700, firesidebowl.com
FOR DOG’S SAKE
Providing four-legged Chicagoans with raw food and organic toys since 1991. 1757 N. Kimball Ave.; 773-278-4355, fordogsake.com
FRIENDSHIP CHINESE RESTAURANT
Alan Yuen takes fusion Chinese seriously, to his regulars’ delight. 2830 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-227-0970, friendshiprestaurant.com
LOGAN SQUARE FARMERS’ MARKET
One of the city’s liveliest markets. Logan Blvd. and Milwaukee Ave.; 773-489-3222, logansquarefarmersmarket.org
LULA CAFE
2537 N. Kedzie Ave.; 773-489-9554, lulacafe.com
MIA MORA
Thirty-something years of vintage Dior and Dolce. 2639 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-772-2007, miamorachicago.com
MIKO’S ITALIAN ICE
Try the coconut. 2234 N. Sacramento Ave.; 773-645-9664
NHA TRANG
Authentic Vietnamese miles from Argyle. 3711 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-588-9232
PROVENANCE
Gourmet tidbits, from chestnut spread to pickled beets, though the main draw is the table of 12 wines under $12. 2528 N. California Ave.; 773-384-0699, provenancefoodandwine.com
SMALL BAR
A top-shelf craft-beer list and a secluded patio. 2956 N. Albany Ave.; 773-509-9888, thesmallbar.com
TWISTED SCISSORS
A trim and a PBR start at $30. 2001 N. Point St.; 773-227-1077, twistedscissorschicago.com
WEEGEE’S LOUNGE
Classic cocktails and shuffleboard with a 1930s shtick. 3659 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-384-0707
THE WHISTLER
The best craft cocktails this side of The Violet Hour, plus live music most nights. 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-227-3530, whistlerchicago.com
Photography: Nathan Kirkman