Skip to content
Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

The much-loved restaurants and bars along Old Town’s main drag serve everything from sushi to steak frites. This stroll starts on Wells Street near Division Street and heads north about a half-mile to North Avenue.

Start by soaking up the history at The House of Glunz (1206 N. Wells St. 312-642-3000), a family-owned wine shop that’s been selling spirits for more than 100 years.

At Salpicon (1252 N. Wells St. 312-988-7811), award-winning chef Priscila Satkoff cooks refined Mexican fare, while affordable snacks and sake dominate the menu at izakaya-inspired Tokyo 21 (1400 N. Wells St. 312-664-1900).

Good luck passing by Kilwin’s (1405 N. Wells St. 312-654-1962) without being tempted by the array of fudge, caramels and ice cream in fresh-made waffle cones.

Beer fans can’t do much better than Old Town Pour House (1419 N. Wells St. 312-477-2800), which boasts 90 brews on tap.

Thin-crust pizza is the focus at neighborhood newcomer Mama Milano Pizza Bar (1421 N. Wells St. 312-787-3710), while Bistrot Margot (1437 N. Wells St. 312-587-3660) has been serving classic French favorites for years.

Next, you’ll find three killer options for al fresco drinking: Fireplace Inn (1448 N. Wells St. 312-664-5264), with its adjacent covered patio and gigantic vodka-lemonades; a rooftop with retractable greenhouse-style ceiling at Benchmark (1510 N. Wells St. 312-649-9640) and at O’Brien’s (1528 N. Wells St. 312-787-3131), a beer garden surrounding an outdoor bar.

Just before Wells Street meets North Avenue, you’ll find stalwart sushi spot Kamehachi (1531 N. Wells St. 312-664-3663), which continues its tradition of impeccably sliced fish in a new, larger location.