Neighborhood highlights
Bridgeport is a safe residential neighborhood made up of a great mix of students, working families and professional singles. Because it borders Pilsen, Bronzeville and Chinatown, it’s one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the City where many cultures meet, live, work & play together.
It’s also home to one of Chicago’s best arts scenes as well as tons of restaurants, galleries, parks and boutiques. One of our favorite aspects of Bridgeport though is its close proximity to downtown Chicago, Lakefront Bike Path, Soldier Field, Midway International Airport, McCormick Place, IIT and UIC. It’s one of the only neighborhoods in Chicago where you can get a TRUE neighborhood vibe less than 10 minutes from downtown...in case you can’t tell by now, we love our neighborhood and hope you will too!
Restaurant Suggestions (some of our local faves)
Breakfast - Bridgeport Coffee (3 blocks away), Bridgeport Bakery, Nana
Lunch/dinner - The Duck Inn (American, beautiful beer garden), Kimski (Korean/Polish, local favorite just down the street), Antique Taco ( “fancy” Mexican), Franco’s ( traditional Italian), 35th Street Red Hots (hot dogs), Han 202 (great hidden gem - Chinese BYOB), Pleasant House Pub (British Pub w/ excellent meat pies), Zaytune (fresh Mediterranean), Phoenix Dim Sum (most famous dim sum in Chicago. Expect a line), MCCB Chinese (one of our favorites in Chinatown), Sun Wah BBQ, Do Eat Korean BBQ (great local korean BBQ. Very reasonably priced), S.K.Y. (a bit pricey but worth it!)),, 5 Rabanitos (famous local Mexican restaurant. Expect a line), HaiSous (great Vietnamese), Don Pedro Carnitas (taqueria at its best)
Take-out - Big Boss Fried Chicken, Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken, Antique Taco, Ricobene, “Pizza, Fried Chicken, Ice Cream” (yup, that’s the restaurant’s name)
Things to Do
Bridgeport has 4 main commercial streets - Halsted, Morgan, 31st and 35th. When in doubt, drive down any of these streets until you find what you’re looking for! :)
Sports - Bridgeport is perhaps best known as the home of the Chicago White Sox, so clearly a Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field is a must-do during the baseball season. The stadium is beautiful, modern and well-designed for families!
Art - Bridgeport is also very well known for its flourishing arts scene. For art lovers, the huge Bridgeport Art Center is a MUST! Every third Friday local artists open their space to the public so you can buy one-of-a-kind pieces. There are also galleries and classes held regularly.
The Co-Prosperity Sphere: is also a cool art & live music gallery community center that also houses a bookstore, vintage shop, and more.
Bridgeport Coffee Company: This local coffee roaster has a few locations around the city, including one in Bridgeport. Stop in for a cup of coffee or pick up some beans to take home.
Taylor Made Jazz: This shop specializes in jazz records, CDs, and memorabilia and also hosts occasional live performances.
Zhou B Art Center: This is another large and impressive art space around the corner from Bridgeport Art Center. Given Bridgeport’s close proximity to Chinatown, it’s not surprising that there is a strong Chinese/Asian artist and culinary influence in the neighborhood.
Outdoor - If you’d like to get out for some fresh air, we recommend Palmisano Park, also known as Mount Bridgeport b/c of the large hill in the center which offers unique views of the city. There’s a running path, a fishing pond, and lots of local charm to spare at this large city park! If you’re more interested in lakefront activities, we encourage you to drive down 31st street to the 31st Street Pier & Beach (The pier’s restaurant also features live music every night - everything from jazz to salsa to old school R&B). It’s a local favorite! Ping Tom Park is also a local treasure located just “next door” in Chinatown. It has a beautiful river walk. We advise parking on Wentworth!
One of the absolute best things about Bridgeport is it’s proximity to so many of Chicago’s neighborhood gems! Here are some of our favorites:
Chinatown - from this apartment you’re about 5 minutes’ drive from downtown Chinatown so one of our favorite things to do is explore this amazing local gem. We encourage you to start with dim sum (Phoenix is considered by many to be the best) and then walk around the neighborhood for a few hours. Some non-culinary favorites: Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute (which offers walking tours), Chinatown Square, Chinese-American Museum (we LOVE this little place), Ping Tom Park (great for kayaking, dog walking or picnics)
Pilsen - from the apartment you’re 5 minutes’ drive to Pilsen, one of Chicago’s most popular and trendy neighborhoods. Pilsen is most famously known as the home of the best Carnitas in the city, but it’s almost as well known for its flourishing arts and music scene. Thalia Hall hosts some of the best musicians in the world as well as a restaurant (Dusek’s Board and Beer) and basement lounge (Tack Room), Chicago Arts District, Honky Tonk Barbeque (amazing musicians + BBQ= WINNING), just to name a few!
Bronzeville - a mere 7 minute drive from the apartment! This is a historical gem of Chicago. It was considered in the early 1900’s to be Chicago’s African-American Downtown or “Black Metropolis” - home to lovely brown & graystone homes, all the best local jazz & blues musicians. Since then it’s transformed into a residential neighborhood and home of IIT. Some activities we suggest - Gallery Guichard (African Diaspora Museum), the Harold Washington Cultural Center, Pearl’s Place (soul food), Mies van der Rohe Tour, Room 43 ( live jazz venue), 31st Street Pier & Beach. If weather permits, the beach is a great place to spend the day: rental bikes are easily available and some of the best views of downtown are only a short bike ride, run or walk away! You can also bring a small charcoal grill, picnic basket, blanket & a bathing suit and make a whole day just sitting out on the grass, enjoying the beach, grilling and finishing up with a couple cocktails at the Pier Restaurant! Make sure not to leave before sunset so you don’t miss an amazing sunset over gorgeous Lake Michigan...or for the early risers one of our most favorite things in the world is to go for an early run or bike along the lakefront & watch the sun RISE over the lake! There is ample street parking along 31st St Pier so don’t bother with the parking lot if you can avoid it!
