Location: West Town
Top Things to do in West Town
10 Sights & Landmarks in West Town That You Shouldn't Miss
The windy city is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, cutting edge comedy, and die-hard sports fans. Snap a photo of your reflection in the silver Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park before heading to Grant Park to get hit with the refreshing spray of Buckingham Fountain. There are dozens of museums and theater companies in Chicago, so a cultural experience is never hard to find. You’re sure to laugh your head off at the Second City Theater, the professional launch pad of many famous comedians.
Restaurants in Chicago
1. Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 46 reviews
Founded in 1892, Holy Trinity Cathedral is home to the oldest Orthodox parish in Chicago. This beautiful church was designed by the famous American architect, Louis Sullivan. It was consecrated by St. Tikhon of Moscow in 1903 and built under the leadership of St. John Kochurov of Chicago, who was martyred in the Bolshevik Revolution. Located in the heart of Chicago’s historic Ukrainian Village-Wicker Park neighborhood, Holy Trinity has been a vital part of the community for more than a century. It’s an official City of Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it’s the center of religious life for many Orthodox faithful and their families. We are dedicated to serving the people of God in the spirit of Christian love, and we invite you to come and worship with us whenever you are in the Ukrainian Village-Wicker Park area. Tours are available by appointment and on Saturdays as indicated on the website, or worship with us during services.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Chicago is a city of architecture, from Louis Sullivan to Daniel Burnham to Frank Lloyd Wright. The Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, the cathedral church of the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the Midwest, is one of only two churches designed by Sullivan, one of the seminal architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Located at 1121 North Leavitt Street, in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, it was built in 1903, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1979. Curiously, construction was partly financed by a donation of 4,000 roubles (or $2,700) from Tsar St. Nicholas II of Russia and $1,250 from Sullivan, who also donated the priceless Healy & Millet manufactured chandelier that is one of the highlights of the interior. The church, which was elevated to a cathedral in 1923, retains many features of Russian provincial architecture, including an octagonal dome, frontal bell tower, cupolas, window and roof framing and Art Nouveau decorative design over the western entrance to the church.
2. Holy Trinity Polish Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By SusanK998 - Dayton, United States
This is a huge beautiful Catholic Church where we attended a beautiful mass. Many dressed in authentic homeland costumes wonderful celebration in a stunningly ornate church All liturgy and songs in Polish. After mass was a welcoming group cooking authentic polish foods and sharing all with us. Thank you and many blessings ????
3. Wicker Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 120 reviews
Wicker Park is the former meca of the Chicago art community and location of the bi-annual "Around the Coyote" art festival. The area has experienced massive economic growth over the past few years and is now home to many boutiques, thrift stores, bars and restaurants and known for its “hipster” vibe.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Wicker Park is all things to all people. One of the fastest rising and trendy neighborhoods in Chicago, it has been recognized as one of the hippest hipster neighborhoods in the country and widely known for its local culture, art community, nightlife, high fashion boutiques, cutting-edge gourmet restaurants and bakeries, European-style cafes, upscale independent grocers and artsy businesses. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a Chicago Landmark District, Wicker Park is a convenient place to live for downtown workers due to its proximity to public transportation and the Loop. The area stretches from Ashland Avenue on the east to Western Avenue on the west, from Division Street on the south to the Bloomingdale Trail (or the 606) on the north. Historically, Wicker Park was founded in 1868 by Chicago alderman Charles Wicker. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 spurred the first wave of development and homeless Chicagoans looked to build new homes. At the end of the 19th century, it became a destination for German and Norwegian immigrants. Many of Chicago's wealthiest brewers built mansions on Hoyne Street, which became known as Beer Baron Row. Today, Wicker Park is home to such trendy restaurants as Dove's Luncheonette, Small Cheval, Big Star, Schwa, Handlebar and Cafe Istanbul, from fine dining to tacos to Ramen to sushi to Cajun. Stay at the Robey Hotel or Wicker Park Inn or Ruby Room. Visit the 606, Farmers Market or Flat Iron Arts Building.
4. Shit Fountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
5. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
6. St. John Cantius Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
A diverse Catholic church in the heart of Chicago helping people encounter the Sacred through the sacraments, solemn liturgies, art, music, and culture. View the incredible artwork inside one of Chicago's most stunning churches—voted "Most Beautiful Church in America." After you finish looking up, notice the beautiful floors containing 17 varieties of inlaid hardwood from around the world.
Reviewed By AlexB10499 - Providence, United States
Absolutely gorgeous church in the River West neighborhood of Chicago, and perhaps the finest of the many so-called “Polish Cathedrals” in the city. Chicago calls itself the largest Polish city outside of Warsaw, which acknowledges the city’s importance as a major place of convergence for Polish immigrants. True to this heritage, the church of St John Cantius features Polish writing on many of its interior frescoes and statues. Today it hosts a thriving parish community, including one of America’s preeminent Tridentine Mass congregations, and is a significant center for sacred art and music. I visited the church on a Sunday but not during mass, so I was free to walk around and take in the beauty of the architecture. If you are the kind of traveler who likes to get “off the beaten path,” but doesn’t have a ton of time to spare, a visit to this church is a good compromise. There’s a Blue Line subway station nearby, and it’s only about a 10-minute ride to here from the Loop.
7. The 606
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
The Bloomingdale Trail is a 2.7-mile elevated rail trail running east-west on the northwest side of Chicago. In 2015, it was converted into an elevated greenway, which forms the backbone of the linear park and trail network called The 606 that passes through the Chicago neighborhoods of Logan Square, Humboldt Park and West Town. At 2.7 miles, the Bloomingdale Trail is the longest greenway project of a former elevated rail line in the United States and the second longest in the world. So why is it called The 606? Because the system's numeric name is a homage to the city's Zip codes, the prefix for nearly all of which is 606. Used by walkers, joggers, runners and bikers, the trail runs from Ashland Avenue all the way west to North Ridgeway Avenue. It follows along West Bloomingdale Avenue, hence the name Bloomingdale Trail. On a clear day, pedestrians on the trail get a spectacular view of Chicago's skyline.
8. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 5 reviews
St Stanislaus Kostka Church is the only Catholic church in the city of Chicago that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for sacred silence and Eucharistic Adoration. The front door of the Church is literally never locked. We are The Sanctuary of The Divine Mercy for the Archdiocese of Chicago. The largest monstrance in the world is located in our church. It is an iconic monstrance called "Our Lady of the Sign, Ark of Mercy". You can find more information about this and many other interesting facts about our church on our website. St Stanislaus Kostka Church is over 150 years old and is Chicago's architectural and historic gem. We welcome you to visit us for a spiritual, historic, and architectural experience. Our doors are always open - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
9. St. Volodymyr Cathedral
10. Holy Innocents Church
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
