Ravenswood - Chicago, IL Area Guide

Ravenswood has its roots in Chicago’s history as a site of production. The main neighborhood streets used to be lined with manufacturing warehouses and little else, but in the 1980s, businesses and local artists began to see the appeal in this area and started buying up spaces. Today, Ravenswood hosts mainly small, local businesses and serves as a haven for artists, who use those warehouses as open studio space.

Beyond the industrial avenues of the neighborhood, the homes in Ravenswood have continued to increase in popularity, making it one of the highest-value real estate markets in the city. It comes as no surprise that this has drawn some notable names to put down roots in Ravenswood. One of the neighborhood’s most notable residents is Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, who purchased a home in the area with his wife.

Ravenswood also houses the American Indian Center, which serves over 33,000 members, the third-highest group of members in the country. The Center provides social services, education in traditional arts and music, and cultural learning opportunities for the wider community. Ravenswood citizens can participate in art exhibitions and musical demonstrations put on by the Center and learn about the rich history of the tribes that call the Chicago area home.

Ravenswood offers a varied mix of food and drink choices and takes pride in its local restaurant scene. Restaurants can be found close to the industrial, commercial areas of the neighborhood along Ravenswood Avenue.

Foodies of Chicago have claimed that Ravenswood is home to the city’s highest concentration of Thai food, and locals speak of great spots to find the perfect pad thai. Spoon Thai features classic Thai dishes and has the additional draw of being BYOB. Noodle dishes and the specialty dish of basil chicken spring rolls are crowd favorites at this spot, located just south of W Lawrence Avenue.

The Over Easy Café is another Ravenswood staple, serving breakfast, lunch and brunch to its adoring fans, which means that sometimes you might have to wait for a table. But the Over Easy makes this a pleasant experience, serving free coffee to its waiting patrons. Try one of the egg-themed dishes like the Sassy Eggs, a signature dish served over chorizo-potato hash, cheddar cheese, peppers, jalapenos, guacamole and sour cream.

If you want to top off a meal with a casual drink, you can stay in the neighborhood and take in some history, since Ravenswood houses Chicago’s first distillery within its bounds. The Koval Distillery produces some of the most unique whiskey in America, and offers tours and taste tests for its visitors.

Getting around Ravenswood is made easy with the Brown Line of the Chicago metro system, called the L. The “Ravenswood” stop will let you off in the center of the neighborhood, where you can easily walk or drive to restaurants or homes.

Since Ravenswood is a small neighborhood within the bounds of the city, getting to and from the area is easy. Besides public transportation with the L, Chicago cabs run throughout the area, private cab companies are available for hire and tech-savvy residents can use Uber to hail a taxi on their phones to make sure they quickly arrive at their destination.

The neighborhood boasts a strong sense of community, and this includes the walkable streets of Ravenswood’s commercial avenues and neighborhoods. Resident walk and jog safely on the sidewalk-lined streets, and bicyclists can easily navigate around the neighborhood and into the larger Chicago metro area.

Since Ravenswood sits in the middle of a bustling city, it doesn’t offer the same sprawling acres of parks that are available to suburban residents of Illinois. However, if you want to picnic, have a turn on the swingset or take your dog for a run, head to Ravenswood Manor Park, located right off of Ravenswood Avenue. This park has a playground for the kids and a coffee shop only half a block away for the grownups. There is also an outdoor space for live music over the summer. This popular neighborhood hangout gets frequent upgrades, so equipment and park spaces are always clean and inviting.

The cost of living in any city is somewhat higher than the national average, and Chicago is no exception. Within the Ravenswood neighborhood, the cost of living generally remains on par with Chicago as a whole, making it more expensive to live here than in some of the outlying suburbs nearby. A typical apartment requires a monthly rent payment of around $900, which is slightly higher than the average rent for Chicago. The homes in Ravenswood are known for being historical and somewhat upscale.

Ravenswood boasts mainly locally owned businesses, so you won't find chain stores within its bounds. However, it's easy to get to the Chicago metro area for a mall trip. While several busy commerical streets exist throughout the neighborhood, several boutiques and small stores dot the area, allowing you to make new discoveries each time you take a different route.

Located in walking distance from Ravenswood, shops run along North Ashland Avenue from Uptown to Edgewater, and a local favorite for fashion lovers is Milk Handmade. This cute shop contains everything from stylish tops and cardigans to handmade soaps. Stop in if you need a gift or want to splurge.

Along busy Ravenswood Avenue, the well-known Lillstreet Art Center is more than a store. This popular gallery and boutique offers you the chance to buy or create unique, hand-made art. Take a ceramics class, or purchase ceramic bowls from artists based in the area or overseas. Local artists often have the opportunity to sell pieces there as well.

HarvesTime Foods sells high-quality produce at reasonable prices. The selection balances ethnic foods with healthy grocery options, making this a great stop for your weekly groceries. Keep in mind that you cannot take your cart out to the parking lot, so larger shopping trips may require you to bring a friend to help carry your bags.

For fresh farm fare, artisan goods and incredibly tasty crepes, locals head to the Lincoln Square Farmer's Market. Held during the summer, the Thursday night farmer's market attracts foot traffic from all over the city.