Edgewater
Ranked 7th best neighborhood in Chicago
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Great for
- Eating Out
- Public Transport
- Neighborly Spirit
- Peace & Quiet
- Shopping Options
Not great for
- Childcare
Who lives here?
- Singles
- Beach Lovers
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Trendy & Stylish
Got a burning question? Why not ask the locals! Simply ask your question below
Reviews
Edgewater
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
"Edgewater #1, I wanna live there!"
10 Reasons Why You Should Go to Edgewater of Chicago
1. You can find a nice study place on Loyola University of Chicago, studying nearby the Michigan Lake is a good experience
2. You can walk along the lake front trail with the nice apartment to relax yourself.
3. Nice beaches and the water is very clean in Michigan Lake. You can swim during the summer. The Foster Beach and Hollywood Beach are nice places to go.
4. You can enjoy international restaurants around this community area, such as Chinese, Indian, Mexican, African, Vietanese and so on. Besides, the prices are the average and most people can afford it. The sales tax is only 8.75%. (But you can hardly find international restaurants in Chicago Loop area and the restaurants cost you $30 to $60, and the sales tax should be 12.25%!)
5. You can find a dollar tree store easily and you can get everything you need for just $1 per item.
6. It is a nice place to party during the spring, summer and fall time. You can do cook out and play some games nearby the Edgewater beaches.
7. It ranks the 10th safest community areas in Chicago. (There are 77 community areas in Chicago in total.)
8. Since Chicago Loop is crowded and noisy, Edgewater Chicago is a place for you to stay away from the crowded and noisy!
9. It is very convenient to access to grocery stores and restaurants (especially international restaurants).
10. It is a good place to celebrate international festivals, such as Chinese Moon Festival, Chinese Dragon Boat Festivals and so on. You can also celebrate Indian, Arabic festival over there as well.
1. You can find a nice study place on Loyola University of Chicago, studying nearby the Michigan Lake is a good experience
2. You can walk along the lake front trail with the nice apartment to relax yourself.
3. Nice beaches and the water is very clean in Michigan Lake. You can swim during the summer. The Foster Beach and Hollywood Beach are nice places to go.
4. You can enjoy international restaurants around this community area, such as Chinese, Indian, Mexican, African, Vietanese and so on. Besides, the prices are the average and most people can afford it. The sales tax is only 8.75%. (But you can hardly find international restaurants in Chicago Loop area and the restaurants cost you $30 to $60, and the sales tax should be 12.25%!)
5. You can find a dollar tree store easily and you can get everything you need for just $1 per item.
6. It is a nice place to party during the spring, summer and fall time. You can do cook out and play some games nearby the Edgewater beaches.
7. It ranks the 10th safest community areas in Chicago. (There are 77 community areas in Chicago in total.)
8. Since Chicago Loop is crowded and noisy, Edgewater Chicago is a place for you to stay away from the crowded and noisy!
9. It is very convenient to access to grocery stores and restaurants (especially international restaurants).
10. It is a good place to celebrate international festivals, such as Chinese Moon Festival, Chinese Dragon Boat Festivals and so on. You can also celebrate Indian, Arabic festival over there as well.
Pros
- Good spot for international festival celebration
- Enjoy tons of the international restaurants
- You can enjoy the beach tour in this area
- safe
- charming environment
- plenty of shopping
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Tourists
- Hipsters
- Students
- Country Lovers
- Trendy & Stylish
- Beach Lovers
Edgewater
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
"Great Neighborhood for everything"
Close to the lake, excellent restaurants, theaters, music venues and much more, Edgewater is the place to be!
Pros
- Friendly Neighbors
- Proud Gay Community
- safe
- charming environment
- plenty of shopping
Recommended for
- Trendy & Stylish
- Beach Lovers
Edgewater
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Chicago's best combination of neighborly spirit, local amenities, proximity to Lake Michigan, and housing prices!"
I've lived in Edgewater (Lakewood Balmoral Historic District) for 14 years - We've raised 3 children here, and we love it! We walk to Clark St (Andersonville) shopping/restaurants, Bryn Mawr Ave. restaurants, and the lakefront. I'm able to walk Dewey (our Labradoodle) to the Foster Ave. dog beach in 10 minutes, and we enjoy easy access to Lake Shore Drive - commuting to the Loop and Michigan Avenue is a breeze! Andersonville is very eco-friendly, and neighbors are strong supporters of locally owned businesses.
Given the wealth of amenities, proximity to Lake Michigan, and reasonable home prices, I agree with Chicago Magazine that Lakewood Balmoral (and Edgewater) is the best neighborhood in Chicago!
Given the wealth of amenities, proximity to Lake Michigan, and reasonable home prices, I agree with Chicago Magazine that Lakewood Balmoral (and Edgewater) is the best neighborhood in Chicago!
Pros
- Best Green neighborhood in Chicago
- Great public transportation
- Quick access to Lake Shore Drive for commuters
- Proud Gay Community
- safe
- charming environment
- plenty of shopping
Edgewater
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parking
- Public Transport
"Edgewater - Diversity and Dining"
Edgewater is a very cool neighborhood that is also very far north. The population is really diverse – there are so many races and nationalities that call Edgewater home. This is definitely part of its appeal. The area doesn’t look fancy or anything, but it does look and feel like Chicago, which can’t be said for some neighborhoods lately.
The Andersonville area is located within Edgewater too. This is a traditionally Scandinavian neighborhood, and many shops and eateries can still be found there. These days there’s a fairly large gay and lesbian population in Andersonville. The side streets there are tree-lined and have some beautiful buildings. Hopleaf bar is one of the original gastro-pubs, a trend that’s really exploded in the city recently. They have a TON of beer choices, but it gets really busy.
The rest of Edgewater is a little bit more ‘gritty’ looking, but there’s lots to love. There is a concentration of Ethiopian restaurants in the neighborhood, including Ras Dashen and Ethiopian Diamond. This food is GOOD. You’ll find pretty much any type of food you’re looking for.
Edgewater is also right on the lake, and has an awesome beach that is both family and gay friendly. It gets much less crowded there than at the beaches closer to downtown, which I refuse to go to. The Edgewater Beach Apartments tower next to the lake in all their pink glory – they were next to the hotel of the same name that housed many famous people from the 20s to the 50s or 60s, which has since been torn down.
The Andersonville area is located within Edgewater too. This is a traditionally Scandinavian neighborhood, and many shops and eateries can still be found there. These days there’s a fairly large gay and lesbian population in Andersonville. The side streets there are tree-lined and have some beautiful buildings. Hopleaf bar is one of the original gastro-pubs, a trend that’s really exploded in the city recently. They have a TON of beer choices, but it gets really busy.
The rest of Edgewater is a little bit more ‘gritty’ looking, but there’s lots to love. There is a concentration of Ethiopian restaurants in the neighborhood, including Ras Dashen and Ethiopian Diamond. This food is GOOD. You’ll find pretty much any type of food you’re looking for.
Edgewater is also right on the lake, and has an awesome beach that is both family and gay friendly. It gets much less crowded there than at the beaches closer to downtown, which I refuse to go to. The Edgewater Beach Apartments tower next to the lake in all their pink glory – they were next to the hotel of the same name that housed many famous people from the 20s to the 50s or 60s, which has since been torn down.
Pros
- a little far from downtown
- Proud Gay Community
Recommended for
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
- Students
- Beach Lovers
Edgewater
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Eclectic and Refreshing"
As one of my favorite Chicago neighborhoods, Edgewater is a quaint area with a little bit of everything. Its location on the North Side of the city puts Edgewater just a stone’s throw from the Lincoln Square, Uptown, and Ravenswood neighborhoods. Within the boundaries of Edgewater you’ll find popular neighborhoods like Andersonville, Broadway, and Edgewater Glen.
Whether you’re just passing through or you call Edgewater home, it’s easy to be captivated by the many charming shops, cafés, restaurants, pubs, and historic houses found here. The diversity of the area includes a large international community, many LGBT residents, and a multiplicity of religions. Enjoying Edgewater is easy—just stroll down Clark or Broadway and visit any of its many interesting bookstores, thrift stores, or pubs. My two favorite Edgewater spots are the Brown Elephant thrift store and the Hopleaf Bar, both of which are found on North Clark Street.
Another thing to enjoy in Edgewater is access to Fos
Whether you’re just passing through or you call Edgewater home, it’s easy to be captivated by the many charming shops, cafés, restaurants, pubs, and historic houses found here. The diversity of the area includes a large international community, many LGBT residents, and a multiplicity of religions. Enjoying Edgewater is easy—just stroll down Clark or Broadway and visit any of its many interesting bookstores, thrift stores, or pubs. My two favorite Edgewater spots are the Brown Elephant thrift store and the Hopleaf Bar, both of which are found on North Clark Street.
Another thing to enjoy in Edgewater is access to Fos
Pros
- charming environment
- plenty of shopping
- safe
Cons
- distance from downtown
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Trendy & Stylish
- Beach Lovers
Edgewater
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Pretty Exciting"
I'm a big fan of Edgewater. I'm not sure it's a place I'm totally interested in living in, but it's a great place to visit. The reason I say it's not where I want to live is that there is a very large gay community in the area. I have nothing against this, but I'm more in favor of areas where there are larger numbers of available heterosexual females.
That said, I have had a great time in Edgewater more than once. There are some great places to eat, some of which are a little different than your staples like Chicago pizza. Pueblito Viejo is a favorite for me, as it serves Mexican style food, although, as I understand it, it's really more South American than Mexican. I can't claim the most sophisticated palate, but it is really good and worth checking out if you want something different.
Ravenwood's Pub is a great place to find a drink, and I've always enjoyed having a shot of tequila there because there are so many to choose from.
Overall, I've found Edgewater to be safe and a fun place to visit. I'm not sure it's for everyone, but I highly recommend it for a fun night out.
That said, I have had a great time in Edgewater more than once. There are some great places to eat, some of which are a little different than your staples like Chicago pizza. Pueblito Viejo is a favorite for me, as it serves Mexican style food, although, as I understand it, it's really more South American than Mexican. I can't claim the most sophisticated palate, but it is really good and worth checking out if you want something different.
Ravenwood's Pub is a great place to find a drink, and I've always enjoyed having a shot of tequila there because there are so many to choose from.
Overall, I've found Edgewater to be safe and a fun place to visit. I'm not sure it's for everyone, but I highly recommend it for a fun night out.
Pros
- Proud Gay Community
- safe
- It's a little loud
Cons
- distance from downtown
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
