The Insider’s Guide to Ukrainian Village: 15 Great Things to Do This trendy West Side neighborhood is having a moment. Here’s where to eat, shop, and play.

Photography: Travis Roozée



(Clockwise from top left) Empty Bottle, Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, Homestead, Komoda, Shokolad Pastry & Cafe, and Sir & Madame

Bite Cafe

[1] Few spots in Chicago do the upscale-diner thing better. Order the pan-roasted ruby red trout. 1039 N. Western Ave., 773-395-2483, bitecafechicago.com

Black Dog Gelato

[2] Scoop up bizarre but delicious flavors—sesame fig chocolate chip, maple gingersnap—at this gelato haven. 859 N. Damen Ave., 773-235-3116, blackdogchicago.com



Click the image to view the full map.

Cattails

[3] Score hard-to-find blooms such as cockscomb and safflower at this European-style flower shop. 1935 W. Division St., 773-486-1621, cattailsflowers.com

Empty Bottle

[4] Bite Cafe’s hole-in-the-wall neighbor hosts some of the best alt music in the city. 1035 N. Western Ave., 773-276-3600, emptybottle.com

Happy Village

[5] This dive bar lives up to its name: You’ll enjoy $2 to $3 daily beer specials while you bat around a Ping-Pong ball. 1059 N. Wolcott Ave., 773-486-1512, happyvillagebar.com

Historic Houses

[6] The 1880s workers’ cottages lining Hoyne and Thomas Streets (see map) mark the center of the Ukrainian Village Chicago Landmark District.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral

[7] Tour one of the few Louis Sullivan–designed churches in America. 1121 N. Leavitt St., 773-486-6064, holytrinitycathedral.net



Sprout Home

Homestead

[8] The 1,000-square-foot rooftop garden of this farm-to-table eatery is a perfect spot to soak up the last days of summer. 1924 W. Chicago Ave., 773-904-1145, homesteadontheroof.com

Komoda

[9] Prowl this hipster gift store for jewelry, candles, stationery, and more. 2559 W. Chicago Ave., 773-276-8229, shopkomoda.com

Shokolad Pastry & Cafe

[10] This is the place for traditional Ukrainian food and desserts. 2524 W. Chicago Ave., 773-276-6402, shokoladpastryandcafe.com

Sir & Madame

[11] Brian and Autumn Merritt fill their boutique with men’s and women’s apparel from urban-dandyish lines (Levi’s Vintage, Brooklyn Circus). 938 N. Damen Ave., 773-489-6660, sirandmadame.com

Small Bar

[12] Don’t miss the “scratch food”—delectable bites from chef Justin White—or the patio at this craft beer joint. 2049 W. Division St., 773-772-2727, thesmallbar.com

Sprout Home

[13] Create custom terrariums and more in this way-cool garden shop. 745 N. Damen Ave., 312-226-5950, sprouthome.com

Star Lounge Coffee Bar

[14] Ever dream of iced coffee on tap? Your dream has come true. 2521 W. Chicago Ave., 773-384-7827, starloungecoffee.com

Ukrainian National Museum

[15] No Chicagoan should miss this fascinating cultural gem. 2249 W. Superior St., 312-421-8020, ukrainiannationalmuseum.org



SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Eat, drink, and dance at the Ukrainian Village Fest on September 7 at Superior Street and Oakley Boulevard. . . . Find vintage vinyl at Beat Swap Meet, a record swap at the Empty Bottle on September 22. . . . View paintings by the Portuguese artists Valeriy and Marita Vaskov at the Ukrainian National Museum all month.



This article appears in the September 2013 issue of Chicago magazine. Subscribe to Chicago magazine.

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