Logan Square is a neighborhood and community area in northwestern Chicago. The actual Logan Square is at the three-way intersection of Milwaukee Avenue, Logan Boulevard, and Kedzie Boulevard. The square itself is a large public green space with the Illinois Centennial Monument in the center.
This historic neighborhood is known for its large bungalow-style homes and stately greystones. The area was first settled in the 1830s, with early residents hailing from England, Norway, and Denmark. Today, the neighborhood has a diverse population including Eastern Europeans, Latinos, and African Americans. You’ll find the area’s commercial center along North Milwaukee Avenue, home to quirky coffee shops, hip restaurants, cocktail bars, and craft beer taverns.
Logan Square Restaurants
Logan Square is one of the city’s top dining destinations. In recent years, many talented chefs have planted roots in the nabe, and the cuisines run the gamut. The area is known for its authentic Mexican fare, but there’s a lot of contemporary fusion as well, like Macanese fusion restaurant Fat Rice. You can also get some classic Chicago pizza, good old fashioned pub fare, great dessert (Band Band Pie and Biscuits attracts a long line), and Cuban food.
Logan Square Attractions
Take a trip back in time and stop at Comfort Station, built as a respite for trolley travelers in the early 1900s. Today, you can enjoy the community art space, hosting regular exhibitions, live music, and film screenings. Of course, you have to see the Logan Square Illinois Centennial Monument. This large column was built to commemorate the state’s 100th anniversary.
Want to really acclimate yourself to the nabe? Take the Revolution Brewing tour to learn about how brewers craft Chicago’s favorite beverage. For more high-brow entertainment, there’s the Hairpin Arts Center, residing in the 1930 building once home to Hump Hair Pin Manufacturing Company. Today, it hosts year-round arts and cultural programming.
Logan Square Architecture
Logan Square is defined by its historical boulevards, large bungalow-style homes, and stately greystones, centered around the Centennial Monument. There are many historic buildings, like Logan Theatre and Comfort Station.
Logan Square Shopping
Logan Square has a young, gritty aesthetic with plenty of hip shopping to match. There’s Meyvn, a high-end menswear shop with hard-to-find sneakers, Tusk’s minimal womenswear, and vintage-inspired fashion from local designers at Wolfbait & B-Girls Boutique. You can also dig for vinyl at Logan Hardware and Bric-A-Brac Records and Collectibles. The family-friendly neighborhood also has some chic toy stores, including Shop 1021 and Toy de Jour.
Logan Square Theater
Though not technically live theater, there is plenty of epic entertainment to be enjoyed at Logan Theater. The historic building has been renovated with all of the best technology for sound and projection. There’s also a lobby bar and lounge that hosts live comedy and movie trivia. Stop by for new releases, second-run movies, and midnight classics screenings.
Logan Square Festivals and Events
Each summer, the Logan Square Arts Festival draws artists, local food and drink, and live performances to the nabe. The area also has a weekly farmer’s market, and Revolution Brewing hosts a yearly Oktoberfest.
Logan Square Parks
Logan Square’s Humboldt Park was once the nation’s most impressive public park, thanks to its grazing animals, prairie-style gardens, and calming river. Sadly, the animals are long gone, but the rest remains. There are also tennis courts, an inland beach, baseball fields, and bike paths. For more biking and running, there’s The 606. This formerly abandoned stretch of railway track connects several parks and public art installations.