The Active Traveler’s Guide to Bucktown
At the Epicenter of Dining, Culture, and Shopping
The room is booked. Your suitcases are packed. Maybe you’re already on your way to the airport. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, enjoy Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood the way your want. When you stay at The Hotel at Midtown, an eclectic world of innovative dining, outdoor activities, and urban life are just an arm's length away.
An Authentic Chicago Experience
For the active individual focused on fitness and fun, The Hotel at Midtown is a perfect home base - and not just because of our boutique accommodations and world-class fitness club. Located in the city's Bucktown neighborhood, our location presents boundless of opportunities to explore this authentic, trendy, and vibrant slice of Chicago.
There's no better way to experience the city like a local than to explore the character and charm of its neighborhoods, and The Hotel at Midtown puts you in the center of it all so you can live like a Chicagoan.
For a Sunny Afternoon
The 606
Grab an iced coffee at Ipsento and walk the 606, a former rail line turned urban greenspace. You can enter at the Damen Access Ramp and spend the afternoon catching rays and enjoying the lively atmosphere. If walking seems too slow, rent a Divvy bike for the day and cycle the entire 2.7 mile stretch!
Damen Arts Plaza
Make sure you’re at Damen Arts Plaza to take a rest from walking. It’s perfect for when you’ve finished your 606 stroll. Enjoy the outdoor air while you view the latest sculpture installations making this urban park a living work of art.
For a Morning of Snacking and People-Watching
Wicker Park Farmers Market
Get a feel for the people of Chicago and our colorful, vibrant personalities at the Wicker Park Farmers Market! Located at 1425 N Damen Ave, it’s a must-visit on a summer Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. You’ll find more than local veggies. Meats, cheeses, flowers, fresh-roasted coffee, food vendors, and local musicians filling the air with homegrown tunes add to the loveliness of a sunny summer morning in Chicago.
Insider tip: As you meander through the market, keep your eye out for food from Dove's Luncheonette and teas from Chiya Chai.
For the Arts Lover
Flatiron Arts Building
The Hotel at Midtown is just a mile from the historic Flatiron Arts Building, a studio building where costume designers, tattoo artists, filmmakers, and painters create unique works every single day. On the first Friday of every month, the artist showrooms open to the public for viewing and shopping from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. You can also visit the Flatiron Building seven days a week to peruse its art-lined corridors and take in the neighborhood's eclectic artistic energy!
For Live Music
The Hideout
Take a 5-minute Uber to The Hideout, a historic, prohibition-era iconic bar that feels like you’re in a cozy basement with the great people and Chicago's best local bands. Good prices, heavy-handed bartenders, and a friendly, hip vibe guarantee it’ll be your go-to spot if you visit Chicago often.
You'll find a decidedly varied calendar of emerging local acts throughout the week, but Thursday nights with old-time blues band Devil in the Woodpile embody the essence of this undeniably cool frame house-turned-venue.
Photo Credit: The Hideout
For an Afternoon of Shopping
Shops on Damen Ave
Whether you’re splurging on your trip to Chicago or looking for some fitness essentials, there are plenty of local boutiques to shop to shop the day away. Just a mile down Damen Ave, you'll find an amazing stretch of shopping - lululemon, Nike Running, and the North Face all within two blocks. On the way down, there’s Oak + Fort, Lush Cosmetics, and Club Monaco as well, just to name a few.
If you're looking for cool vintage clothes, jewelry, or accessories, head down to Milwaukee Ave for some of the city's best vintage boutiques.
For a Swig (or Three) of Chicago Beer
The Map Room
If you’re looking for a curated beer selection at one of the county's most iconic beer bars, look no further than the Map Room, where variety is the norm. With maps lining the walls, 26 beers on tap, and over 100 bottle selections, you can taste libations from many different corners of the world, especially Chicago. Open a tab, stay awhile, and thumb through decades of National Geographic issues - it’s a relaxing place to destress and kick back with a few cold ones, and it’s only a 3-minute Uber away.
For a Vegetarian Dive Bar Experience
Handlebar
A vegetarian dive bar? You heard correctly. While vegetarians will adore Handlebar, you don’t have to eat sans meat to love the menu and everything else about this cyclist-friendly joint. It’s the ideal place to chat with friends and eat amazing food, as there are no TVs in sight - just art pieces that are as amazing as the dishes. You might not associate “vegetarian” with Handlebar’s motto: food, booze, and good times, but that will change after your first visit. Don’t miss brunch on Saturday and Sunday either! You can be vegan or vegetarian and still eat comfort-bar food!
