In The Hoods

Where to go for the essentials of daily living in six great neighborhoods: Andersonville/Edgewater, Bucktown/Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, South Loop, and West Town

 

Andersonville/
Edgewater

Bucktown/
Wicker Park
 

Esquire

1511 W. Foster Ave., 773-754-0953
The two-chair shop is open long hours six days a week with great cuts at great prices–$17 for men. The kicker? Easy online reservations.

Winchester Club

1925 W. Division St., 773-687-9057
The owners of Urban Joe gave the barbershop a makeover: Out with the pool tables and Playboys, in with a vintage vibe.
 

Andersonville Wine & Spirits

5201 N. Clark St., 773-769-0858
Before you BYO, stop here for excellent (and cold) craft beers. The store keeps up with the latest Three Floyds limited releases.

Before You Go Liquors

1917 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-789-0050
Follow the hipsters to what looks like a strip mall Kwik-E-Mart. It’s actually heaven for lovers of local and imported craft brews.
 

Nookies Edgewater

1100 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., 773-516-4188
This new outpost of the popular Lincoln Park chain wins for its huge menu of diner classics and its 22-car parking lot in back.

Hollywood Grill

1601 W. North Ave., 773-395-1818
Open 24 hours, Hollywood has solid food (go for the big, puffy waffles with pecans), free parking, and primo late-night people-watching.
 

Marguerite Gardens

5059 N. Clark St., 773-506-6295
Arrangements may seem small for the price. But they will delight the color snob in your life and last a long time. Extra points for the cute store.

Cattails

1935 W. Division St., 773-486-1621
This compact shop with a European sensibility carries beautiful blooms and unusual potted plants. Make your own arrangement or get help from the nice staff.
 

Nail Palette

5205 N. Clark St., 773-878-8823
We love the hygienic tools, comfy pedicure stations, and tranquil atmosphere. Pick from Chanel and Deborah Lippmann polishes for $2 extra.

Zazazoo Nail Salon

1842 N. Damen Ave., 773-687-9717
Thoughtful touches–free sparkling water, infrared dryers that harden nails in a flash, and friendly workers–mean the chairs here are always filled.
 

The Norse Bar

6334 N. Clark St., 773-942-6344
Edgewater Lounge is the obvious choice. But the Norse, a spiffy one-room bar, has gained traction with good beer, a relaxed vibe, and board games.

Green Eye Lounge

2403 W. Homer St., 773-227-8851
We munch on Zapp’s potato chips while drinking our cold pints at this low-key stop, technically on the Logan Square side of Western Avenue.
 

Master Shoe Repair

1479 W. Balmoral Ave., 773-769-5150
The store keeps weird hours, and the shoe man himself is gruff and hectoring. The repair work? Flawless and fast.

Your Shoe Repair

2240 W. North Ave., 773-489-2245
The jovial man running the show–and his able crew–will mend your busted kicks and only push the repairs you actually need.
 

Ora

5143 N. Clark St., 773-506-2978
Bucking the neighborhood’s penchant for cheap carry-out and crazy maki inventions, this BYO raises the game with fresh, modern sushi.

Bob San

1805 W. Division St., 773-235-8888
One of the pioneering sushi bars in Chicago, Bob San still rates high compared with the neighborhood’s pricier, trendier options.
 

Isele’s Cleaners

1339 W. Devon Ave., 773-761-9445
Any tailor can hem pants, but how about taking in the sides of a fitted and lined dress with a hidden zipper? Isel’s (formerly Hilda’s) nails the job–for $20.

Fit N’ Stitches

1717 W. North Ave., 312-772-2230
You’ll have to study this tailor’s quirky hours of operation, but once in you’ll get speedy service and pocket change to spare. Big jobs welcome.

 

Lincoln Park

Logan Square
 

Mario’s Place

2347 N. Southport Ave., 773-975-0702
In a nabe now inundated with charmless pseudo-barber franchises, an authentic shop like Mario’s deserves landmark status.

Joe’s Barbershop

2641 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-252-3980
Beyond cuts and straight-razor shaves, the shop offers fun promos like the monthly $20 Hangover Shave with burger and beer.
 

Binny’s Beverage Depot

1720 N. Marcey St., 312-664-4394
The undeniable truth: No store has more beer, better prices, or employs more beer geeks to help you make sense of it all.

Vas Formost Liquors

2300 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-278-9420
Vas easily has the best beer case in the neighborhood–domestic and import, commercial and craft–and maybe even in the city.
 

Nookies Too

2114 N. Halsted St., 773-327-1400
The Original Mitchell’s closed, then Salt & Pepper Diner. Gods–please don’t take Nookies, the postcoital brunch crowd notwithstanding.

Cornerstone Café

2753 N. Western Ave., 773-235-1155
Cozy and cheerful, this family-run diner serves generous portions (we love the crêpes and corned beef hash) with a side of Wi-Fi.
 

Bunches

2456 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-975-2444
This friendly, easygoing shop is well stocked and won’t try to gouge you on the price of a simple bouquet.

Fleur

3149 W. Logan Blvd., 773-395-2770
This browsable shop has unusual and exotic blooms by the stem or the bunch; it also sells artsy gifts and cool stationery.
 

Salon 1800

1133 W. Armitage Ave., 773-929-6010
At this spa-like place, you’ll pay a little more for a basic manicure–$20–but it will feel like an indulgence in a hood full of quickie salons.

Spa O

3111 W. Logan Blvd., 773-384-3113
This outpost of a suburban chain offers a stylish atmosphere, reasonable prices ($15 manicures), and subtitled chick flicks on the tube.
 

Rocks

1301 W. Schubert Ave., 773-472-7738
Off the beaten path, Rocks has a patio, a great beer list, and a classy but homey vibe–not at all loud or sceney.

Marble

3281 W. Armitage Ave., 773-252-9652
Centrally located, Marble has everything you need in a neighborhood bar: no pretense, great patio, basic food, and cheap, good beer.
 

Village Cobbler

908 W. Armitage Ave., 773-248-1591
Since 1986, this gritty garden-level shop has serviced loyal customers who trust the serious cobblers here.

New Star Cleaners

2513 N. California Ave., 773-235-1339
Logan Square appears not to have a dedicated shoe repair business; Star, which sends repair jobs out, saves the day.
 

Macku

2239 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-880-8012
The sushi is brighter and more sophisticated here than at the usual LP standbys, and we dig the chic ambiance.

Hachi’s Kitchen

2521 N. California Ave., 773-276-8080
The neighborhood’s go-to date-night sushi restaurant is also its best: loungey space, knowledgeable waiters, and valet parking.
 

Ultimate Dry Cleaning

1158 W. Wrightwood Ave., 773-528-4250
This family-run business takes pride in its work, which shows in its reliability, skillful alterations, and quick turnarounds.

Ruby’s Cleaners

3145 W. Logan Blvd., 773-489-0712
This popular dry cleaner churns through lots of basic tailoring jobs and, although not the cheapest, can handle big projects too.

 

South Loop

West Town
 

Halo for Men

1351 S. Michigan Ave., 312-929-2933
Metrosexuals rejoice: A paraffin hand dip, steaming towel facial, and scalp massage are included with your $49 cut.

Ruben’s Unisex

1359 W. Chicago Ave., 312-421-5819
Walk out–in under half an hour–with one of the most attentively executed close shaves, fades, or classic cuts in Chicago.
 

Warehouse Liquors

634 S. Wabash Ave., 312-663-1850
A small, bright, clean space with an impressive beer selection. You’ll win if you pay close attention to the helpful staff’s recommendations.

The Noble Grape

802 N. Bishop St., 312-846-1204
Of the two wine stores with killer beer selections, this one has the edge: Almost any six-pack you see, from Three Floyds to Tecate, you can grab cold.
 

Eleven City Diner

1112 S. Wabash Ave., 312-212-1112
In a diner-free neighborhood, this Jewish deli serves breakfast all day, including a yummy scramble with corned beef, pastrami, and cheddar.

Windy City Café

1062 W. Chicago Ave., 312-492-8010
This corner diner spans the gamut from hangover brunch refuge to presentable spot for an unfussy lunch with parents.
 

Sweet Petal

537 S. Dearborn St., 312-939-6544
The owner, Melisa Jimenez, makes lovely arrangements from an ever-changing selection of flowers. Find clever cards in the adjoining gift shop.

Ashland Addison Florist

1640 W. Fulton St., 312-432-1800
This warehouse business is mostly a workshop but offers friendly service for walk-ins and affordable delivery (from $28).
 

Nail Social

73 E. 16th St., 312-583-9903
We love being able to schedule our appointment online and the no-rush service from friendly manicurists. A novel twist: BYO. Mani-pedi party!

Posh’aah Nail Spa

1704 W. Chicago Ave., 312-265-1897
The mani-pedi is top-notch, and the CND shellacs refuse to chip. Ask for Nikki, who can execute any trendy nail art you desire.
 

Wabash Tap

1233 S. Wabash Ave., 312-360-9488
For a taste of the hood before it went fancy, drop into this old-timey spot for craft beer on tap and the giant platter of tots ($5.50).

The Aberdeen Tap

440 N. Aberdeen St., 312-929-3845
Right now, shaded sidewalk seating is the draw, but this bar shines all year with 12 beers on tap, grinders, and sausage sandwiches.
 

Roosevelt Cleaners

734 S. Dearborn St., 312-435-0010
This family-owned cleaners–the oldest on Printer’s Row–also offers shoe repair, done by an off-site cobbler with 40 years of experience.

Alcala’s Western Wear

1733 W. Chicago Ave., 312-226-0152
You’ll have to go afar for a full-service shoe shop. But Alcala’s will expertly clean, mend, and resole any boot.
 

South Coast Sushi Bar

1700 S. Michigan Ave., 312-662-1700
The fish is fresh, the service warm and attentive. Try the popular Coast Crab roll: king crab, spicy mayo, and crispy tempura crumbs.

Yuzu Sushi

1715 W. Chicago Ave., 312-666-4100
Go for creative rolls like the Pot River: salmon and tuna swimming in cilantro, jalapeño, and other green ingredients.
 

OK Cleaners & Tailor

703 S. Dearborn St., 312-939-2973
Every corner in the South Loop seems to host a cleaners, but OK wins for its good prices, meticulous work, and easy parking in front.

The Alterationist

804 N. Bishop St., 773-789-7396
Mary VandeVoorde can whip through pants or jeans hems in a week. Give her two for a skillfully sewn custom dress or suit alteration.