The 10 Best Neighborhoods in Chicago for Renters

The Windy City, Chicago, has a magnetic charm that continues to attract visitors and residents alike all the time. Whether it’s the gorgeous Greystone architecture, the deep-dish style pizza, or the breathtaking expanse of Lake Michigan, the city has plenty to offer. In fact, it has over 200 different neighborhoods spread over 77 districts! Interestingly, each community offers a platter of history, museums, festivals, art, and music to its residents! To make your neighborhood search easier, we’ve picked 10 of the best Chicago neighborhoods that you’ll undoubtedly find worth your while.

Complete guide to the 10 best Chicago neighborhoods:

1. West Loop

West Loop is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in downtown Chicago. Once an industrial area filled with factories, wholesale markets, and warehouses, the community drastically transformed into well-known art galleries and designer spaces, restaurants, shops, boutique hotels, and renovated lofts and condos for families and singles. It’s among the expensive areas in the city.

Many apartment buildings and businesses in the area have access to a ton of amenities. Medical facilities in the neighborhood are spread over more than 560 acres and draw numerous healthcare professionals. The area is walkable, so it’s convenient to reach most places. It might not take you more than a few minutes to walk down to shops, hotels, bars, and restaurants.

Eateries along Randolph Street, which also goes by the name Restaurant Row, are pretty famous. Some amazing places include The Publican, Parlor Pizza, and Au Cheval. The Girl and The Goat is so much in demand that reservations need to be made months ahead of time! The numerous dining options also include Greek restaurants, where the food and ambiance indeed call for a visit! In fact, if Greek culture intrigues you, consider exploring Greektown to experience events such as the Greek Independence Day Parade and Greek Christmas.

West Loop houses the Green City Market, Chicago’s largest sustainable farmers’ market that runs throughout the year. Music lovers can drop by the Bottom Lounge. The city has a thriving nightlife scene, so you can head over to Lone Wolf or Punch Bowl Social after work. Union Park is a perfect place to take a walk and admire the beauty of nature in your leisure time. The Pitchfork Music Festival is also held here.

Since the city’s an ideal destination for many businesses setting up offices here, more families and professionals are making their way here. The neighborhood offers a host of public and private educational facilities keeping the many families in mind. If you are looking for rooms for rent in Chicago, this is the place to go.

2. Wicker Park

The history of Wicker Park goes back to the story of brothers Charles and Joel Wicker, who bought the place and worked on developing it. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, they decided to support the construction of brick-and-stone buildings in the neighborhood. So, you’ll find several such structures that represent the architecture of the area even today. The community was developed around a public park, which is how Wicker Park’s name came into being.

The area houses spacious apartments, Victorian-style duplexes, loft spaces where one can live and work, and also find houses with reasonable rents in Chicago. The area’s walkable and bikeable, so you get to choose among running, walking, and biking to keep yourself fit and fine! Hipsters, who follow, live, and abide by their own rules, dominate the area, although you can also find people from other backgrounds.

Some of Wicker Park’s top-notch restaurants include Big Star, which serves tacos with global ingredients, and Le Bouchon, which serves mouth-watering French dishes, such as steak frites, bouillabaisse, and steak tartare, among others. If you wish to gorge on Italian food, visit Piece Pizza, for lip-smacking pizza and beer. Dessert lovers can head over to Mindy’s Hot Chocolate, not just for sweets but also for hot cocoa, its specialty. Besides these, you have local bookstores that are one of a kind, cafes, vintage clothing shops, and art galleries.

You’ll find cafes and boutiques aplenty along Damen and North Avenue, so drop by for a cup of joe and a shopping spree in the morning and afternoon hours. The nightlife scene in the area is booming, so make a plan to visit the multitude of bars and nightclubs that dot the place. You can head over to the Subterranean to unwind with some music or to The Violet Hour for a nightcap.

The residents comprise mainly millennials earning incomes higher than the city average.

3. Gold Coast

Gold Coast is a quiet and peaceful neighborhood that offers its residents homes, shopping venues, restaurants, a thriving nightlife, and easy access to Lake Michigan. In other words, it’s an affluent community. What you’ll see is a blend of new and old high-rise apartment buildings, townhomes, and single-family homes all owned by successful landlords. Gold Coast is renowned for its pleasant brownstone houses reflecting its stunning architecture. Older well-kept buildings might be available at reasonable rents.

Many older residents called Gold Coast their home until young professionals and families decided to settle here. You’ll find many private and public schools in the neighborhood. Since it’s a high-end neighborhood, millennials with a considerable bank balance comprise the majority of the residents here.

Should you be a fitness enthusiast, use the Lakefront trail to run, walk, or bike along the majestic Lake Michigan. Both residents and visitors frequent the place, and there are a ton of recreational opportunities available, so people never have to feel bored.

Division Street attracts a lot of young people, thanks to its many bars. The area is home to some fantastic restaurants, such as Giordano’s Pizza for pizza lovers, though it would be incorrect to use these words because you’d be crazy not to love pizza! Nico Osteria is for seafood lovers, and Le Colonia serves a blend of delicious French-Vietnamese cuisine and manages to deliver!

Residents prefer cooking to buying brunch, and with the Division Street Farmers’ Market running weekly, they get to choose from among the freshest produce available to cook yummy meals.

Nearby attractions include Oak Street Beach, where you can play volleyball, have a drink, or work on your tan! Washington Park is a beautiful space for those who want to spend quality time with their children and pets. Shopaholics will love the area because it’s synonymous with shopping and houses some of the biggest brands. Oak Street, in particular, has some of the best salons and designer stores. If you are a young professional and looking for a best quality roommate for yourself, then you can easily find roommates in Chicago here.

4. Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park is a wealthy neighborhood drawing families and millennials alike, besides being one of the biggest in the city. The community is home to notable churches, gorgeous brick-row houses, condos, and housing facilities for students.

The area offers its residents some of the best amenities in the form of dining options, shopping venues, a fantastic nightlife, and lakefront parks. Shopping enthusiasts will be happy to know that the area is the largest shopping center in the city and has several upscale boutiques and secondhand resale shops. With Lake Michigan close by, residents use the trails for jogging, walking, and biking.

The area has the largest park in Chicago by the same name, sprawling across 1208 acres, with its own zoo, theater, nature museum, five playgrounds, a 15-acre pond, and a conservatory! Incredible, isn’t it? The zoo also happens to be the oldest in the USA, comprising gorillas, penguins, giraffes, monkeys, polar bears, and reptiles.

Since DePaul University, the most prominent Catholic university in America, is situated here, its students live on campus and hang out at eateries and bars, such as Summer House and Kingston Mines Blues Bar. Lincoln Park is a hub of some of the finest restaurants in the city, such as Alinea, the best restaurant in the United States several times over, and Lito’s Empanadas that serves Latin American cuisine.

Other equally popular restaurants include Athenian Room, serving Greek cuisine, Cafe Ba BaReeba that serves tapas, which form part of the Spanish cuisine, and Del Seoul, which specializes in a combination of Mexican and Korean dishes.

Fullerton Beach is a must-visit place where you can enjoy a casual day under the sun without feeling like a slice of toasted bread!

5. River North

River North is a popular and high-end neighborhood consisting of glass or brick high-rise apartments and lofts that were once warehouses. In reality, this was a polluted industrial area called Smokey Hollow, with factories and warehouses that later transformed into a trendy, upscale place in the 1970s. You’ll find primarily moneyed millennials in their mid-30s here.

Club hoppers and party lovers will be in for a treat here, thanks to several bars, clubs, and music locales. The community has a perfect nightlife scene. You could explore bars such as Bub City, Three Dots, and Dash. Music lovers can check out The Redhead Piano Bar and Howl at the Moon. Art connoisseurs will find this an ideal place to hang out at the many art galleries and studios and soak in the beauty of the exhibits.

You’ll find yourself spoilt for choice as far as dining options go. Joe’s Stone Crab has delectable seafood, Gene & Georgetti serves the traditional steaks, and Sunda is known for its Asian fusion cuisine. Are you in the mood for some comfort food? Check out Portillo’s for its out-of-this-world burgers!

Some of the area’s key attractions include the Wrigley Building, a stunning work of architecture on the Magnificent Mile. And let’s not forget the Merchandise Mart and Trump Tower. If shopping is your thing, Magnificent Mile is a shopper’s paradise. Take a leisurely and peaceful walk down the Chicago Riverwalk. If you have a hankering for some great wine, drop by the City Winery.

Last but not least, if you’re in Chicago and you don’t try the famous deep-dish style pizza, you’re missing something that’s beyond fabulous. Where? At Lou Malnati’s, which is among the most frequented pizza places in the city!

6. Wrigleyville

Wrigleyville is an energetic community filled with millennials in their twenties, several families, and hordes of Cubs fans. The area draws plenty of youngsters, professionals and students, and who can forget sports fans, right? The neighborhood houses the famed Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs played and won many a baseball game. Ever since the team won the 2016 World Series, the area’s been growing by leaps and bounds, with hotels, souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants cropping up everywhere. If interested, you could even take a tour of the Wrigley field.

Lovely antiquated homes line the neighborhood, which includes the Alta Vista Terrace District. Lavish single-family homes and condos are now being built, but units with reasonable rents are also available in old buildings.

On weeknights and weekends, you’ll find the college-going crowd at one sports bar or another on Clark Street. As far as restaurants and parks are concerned, the main draw is families who come to watch movies in the park, visit the farmers’ market, and attend free music and yoga classes on weekdays.

Lake Michigan is next door, so outdoor enthusiasts can make the most of the shoreline trail by participating in activities such as sailing or boat-watching on Belmont Harbor, or playing a game of golf or tennis.

7. The Loop

The Loop derived its name from the loop formed by El trains before they set out to different destinations. It’s a premier commercial neighborhood and a perfect place for offices of prominent companies such as Boeing and United Airways, to name a few. You’ll find gorgeous art-deco structures that form part of the area’s appeal.

The Loop also happens to be the business hub of Chicago and houses City Hall. Weekdays are packed with office meetings and presentations, but the area’s surprisingly empty on weeknights and weekends. If you love the fast-paced city life, you’re at the right place! The community draws a number of professionals and students who wish to work and study here and a great place to live with roommates.

Some of the area’s finest restaurants include Luke’s Lobster, Blackwood BBQ, and Cafecito for those keen to try grilled Cuban sandwiches and Cuban coffee. Others include the Italian Village for a quiet dinner in lovely surroundings.

Whether it’s a weekday or a weekend, you’ll find Millennium Park, a hotspot, brimming with people clicking photos of Cloud Gate or having a fun time at the open-air concerts. Those fascinated by art and architecture can explore structures like the Harold Washington Public Library, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the printing houses of the Printer’s Row.

Apart from the numerous skyscrapers that adorn the landscape, the area has several tourist attractions, such as the Willis Tower. You’ll find a host of opera houses and theaters here too. There are many beautiful boutiques on State Street for you to shop till you drop!.

The neighborhood is walkable with multiple public transportation options.

8. Andersonville

Andersonville, situated in the northern end of Chicago, looks more like a town than a neighborhood. The area has a massive Swedish cultural influence, and many customs that Swedish immigrants brought with them continue to be in practice. People here are open and unpretentious and believe in fighting for what’s right. Residents comprise mostly family-oriented professionals in their 30’s. Interestingly, the residents of the area spearheaded the concept of “shop local.”

The area houses many lovely homes and businesses, such as Women and Children First bookstore, which is among the few feminist bookstores in the United States. Andersonville is also the residence of the biggest community of LGBTQIA+ people.

Andersonville Galleria, which promotes and sells artwork by local artists and designers, is a place worth a visit. Take a walk on North Clark Street and try out glogg or mulled wine, besides weinerbrod custard pastry at the Swedish Bakery.

Among the neighborhood hotspots is the Swedish American Museum. You could watch a live chorus at Allegrezza and a contemporary drama at Raven Theater if you’re passionate about music and theater. Andersonville has plenty of bars and dance clubs, so whenever you feel like having a drink, visit Farraguts, Hopleaf, Simon’s Tavern, or Replay Andersonville.

Attend the Midsummer Festival, an open party to welcome the Summer Solstice the way the Swedish would. Have some elderflower saft juice and snaps and dance to your heart’s content around the majstang maypole.

Scores of Swedish bakeries line the neighborhood. Try fika or what the Swedish refer to as their coffee break with coffee and a baked dish. As always, there’s no shortage of eateries in the area. If you’re in the mood for global cuisine or American food, head over to M. Henry, an art gallery cafe. The Brixton serves flavorful and perfectly cooked dishes in case you’re interested. Finally, for American cuisine all the way from the South, Big Jones is the place to be!

9. Logan Square

Logan Square is a tranquil neighborhood with some fabulous architecture, parks, bars, and restaurants; it’s also one of the oldest communities in the city. You’ll find rented apartments, townhouses, and several constructions with two or more units here. The area was named after John A. Logan, a Civil War General. Residents comprise millennials in their late twenties to early thirties, with incomes that aren’t too high or too low.

There’s a delightful Sunday Farmer’s Market from May to October every year that you could consider exploring. As far as the community’s tourist spots go, drop by Best Intentions, a dive bar. Two brothers with exceptional bartending skills run the place and make excellent craft cocktails! Logan Boulevard, which runs through the center of the community, is a place worth visiting. Centennial Monument happens to be another hotspot.

If you wish to catch a movie, head over to the well-known Logan Theater. The Congress Theater and the Concord Music Hall are popular for their live music, so if you feel like relaxing with some good music, make sure you drop by these places. The area has several bars in case you wish to grab a drink. Last but not least, visit Logan’s Square, which has a statue of John Logan as a mark of respect for the deceased general.

How can we forget about food and dining, right? Some of the most frequented restaurants in the area include Fat Rice, which offers organic Asian cuisine made with local ingredients, and Bang Bang Pie, offering a range of pastries for your dessert cravings!

10. Old Town

Old Town is a quiet historically-significant neighborhood on the city’s north side with a casual, relaxed energy. The community was known as the Cabbage Patch about 100 years ago because early German immigrants, the founders of the place, grew cabbage, so the name seemed pretty apt. Over time, the name changed to North Town and finally to Old Town. Among the houses in the area, you’ll find brownstone walk-ups and high-rise condos at reasonable rates. The residents of the neighborhood comprise thirty-something millennials. Perfect place to list your rental property in Chicago.

Old Town is known for its stunning structures and the world-renowned comedy club, The Second City. Celebrity comedians, such as Tina Fey, John Belushi, and Stephen Colbert have performed here. The area is home to St Michael’s Church, which was among the seven constructions to have survived the 1871 Chicago Fire. There are a host of art studios and galleries for those who seek inspiration from art.

Among its many highlights, the area’s filled with specialty shops selling handmade stuff, spices, cigars, books, and music. If you want to grab a cup of coffee or find a homey place to have a meal, you’ll find plenty of coffee shops and restaurants owned by families. For drinks, you can hop over to Old Town Pour House, where an endless list of beers awaits you.

Do you know anyone who doesn’t like chocolates? We don’t think so! Visit The Fudge Pot for delicious chocolates; the place has been open since 1963! Foodies have a range of options, including Kamehachi, which serves delectable Japanese cuisine, and Topo Gigio Restorante, specializing in fine Tuscan cuisine.

For weekend activities, drop by the Chicago History Museum to, as the name suggests, know more about the city’s history. Other must-visit places are North Avenue Beach and the Lakefront Trail.

Conclusion

So, what are your final thoughts on Chicago? We bet you’re seriously considering moving to the city and starting a new, exciting life full of adventures! Although oue list of best neighborhoods in Chicago here isn’t exhaustive, we hope it gives you a clear picture of what the city has to offer and where you see yourself living. We wish you good luck!