Lincoln Park, Chicago, brings visitors from all over as a large borough with many things to do. It’s one of the most popular Chicago neighborhoods on the North Side, offering plenty of city and lakeside attractions within walking distance. However, planning your visit can be overwhelming, with many options in the big Windy City.
Whether you’re taking a weekend getaway or a work trip, here are the best places to stay and eat in Lincoln Park.
Your Travel Guide to Chicago’s Lincoln Park: Where to Eat & Stay
Our Lincoln Park travel guide provides dining and hotel recommendations with directions on getting around Chicago to make your visit smoother.
5 Best Places to Eat in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Below are the five best places to eat in Lincoln Park with the highest reviews, popular menu options, and public transit directions.
1. North Pond
Even in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago, you can find stunning waterfront landscapes while dining. At North Pond, you can eat indoors or outside, on the patio at a pond edge with picturesque views of the Chicago skyline. It’s an American-style restaurant with a seasonal tasting menu and optional wine pairings.
They also offer a year-round Sunday brunch and cocktail menu. Depending on when you visit and which menu you order from, they have diverse food options, such as stuffed roasted artichokes with rabbit and braised pork belly with black garlic.
It’s conveniently located in Lincoln (Abraham) Park, with over 1,000 acres of walkable attractions nearby, including Lake Michigan trails and the Lincoln Park Conservatory.
The closest public transit option is the Stockton & Wrightwood bus stop, a four-minute walk away via Buses 134, 143, 151, and 156. The Diversey Metra station is a 20-minute walk via the Brown and Purple Line.
2. Alinea
If you’re searching for fine dining in Lincoln Park, Alinea is Chicago’s only three-star Michelin restaurant. It offers a modern American multi-course tasting menu, wine-focused dinner series, and three dining rooms. Although menus change annually, you can expect upscale dishes, such as smoked char roe and venison poke with pineapple from prior dinner offerings.
They also have an Evanston location if you’re traveling from the outer Chicago suburbs and want a local option.
The North/Clybourn Metra station is a five-minute walk via the Red Line. The North Ave & Clybourn/Halsted bus stop is also a five-minute walk via Buses 9 and 72.
3. elephant + vine
If you’re searching for plant-based places to eat in Lincoln Park, add elephant + vine to your list. They’re a 100% vegan cafe serving delicious breakfast and lunch menus to dine in or take out. From Korean BBQ “chicken” sandwiches to sweet chili cauliflower wraps and salted caramel pretzel smoothies, you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy them.
The Fullerton Metra is an eight-minute walk via the Brown Line or four minutes from the Halsted & Belden bus stop via Buses 8 and 74.
4. The Bagelers Coffee House
The Bagelers Coffee House isn’t your ordinary bagel shop. They specialize in Chicago-style kettle-boiled bagels to get that signature crust and chewy center. Choose from Italian deli meat sandwiches to jalapeno cheddar bagels, brown sugar cinnamon lattes, and more.
The Fullerton Metra station is a four-minute walk via the Brown Line. The Fullerton & Halsted/Lincoln is a three-minute walk via Buses 37 and 74.
5. Boka
Need date night ideas? Take your loved one to Boka for a cozy lounge and candle-lit back garden patio dinner. Boka is a Michelin-starred restaurant specializing in seasonal American cuisine with a twist. Their black truffle chicken with hazelnuts, dry-aged beef tartare, and the vast wine-tasting menu is sure to impress.
The Halsted & Willow bus stop takes you to the entrance via Bus 6. The North/Clybourn Metra station is a five-minute walk via the Red Line.
5 Best Hotels in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Don’t know where to stay in Lincoln Park, Chicago? Below are the five best hotels for various budgets with the highest reviews, top amenities, popular attractions, and directions on getting there.
1. Hotel Lincoln
JdV by Hyatt’s brand Hotel Lincoln is a boutique hotel with beautiful room views of Lake Michigan and Lincoln (Abraham) Park. They’re pet-friendly, have a rooftop restaurant, and are in the heart of the Old Town Triangle District, with many attractions within proximity, such as the Lincoln Park Zoo and Chicago History Museum.
The Clark & Lincoln bus stop takes you to the entrance via Buses 22, 36, and 73. The Sedgwick Metra station is less than a 15-minute walk via the Brown Line.
2. Chicago Getaway Hostel
For solo travelers or those on a lower budget, the Chicago Getaway Hostel gives you an elevated hostel experience. It’s highly rated and provides hotel-like amenities, like free Wi-Fi, a coffee bar, a communal kitchen, and weekly social events. You can also book a private room if you don’t want to share one with others.
The Halsted & Lincoln/Fullerton bus stop is seven minutes away via Bus 8. The Fullerton Metra station is a 10-minute walk via the Browne Line.
3. Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham Chicago
Get a glimpse of Lincoln Park history at the Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham Chicago. Popular musicians like Nirvana and Louis Armstrong stayed here, and the hotel pays homage to them with its music-themed interior designs. You’ll find paintings of guitars, a graffiti wall, and art sculptures in your room, providing a Rock & Roll aesthetic that other hotels don’t typically have.
The Diversey & Clark/Broadway bus stop is at the hotel entrance via Bus 76. The Diversey Metra station is less than a 10-minute walk via the Brown and Purple Lines.
4. The Neighborhood Hotel: Lincoln Park
You can save on travel costs by staying at The Neighborhood Hotel’s Lincoln Park location. Their apartment-style rooms have fully equipped kitchens to cook onsite, with some suites offering a private patio.
The Diversey Metra station is less than a 15-minute walk via the Brown Line. Multiple bus stops are nearby, with the Halsted & Wrightwood station only an eight-minute walk via Bus 8.
5. The Willows Hotel
Get away from the bustling city with The Willows Hotel, nestled perfectly between Lincoln Park and Lakeview. It’s only two blocks away from Lake Michigan for a quieter stay. The rooms have old-world European influences, with French door suites and separate seating areas available.
The Clark & Surf bus stop is a four-minute walk via Bus 22. The Diversey Metra station is less than a 15-minute walk via the Brown and Purple Lines.
Looking to Live in Lincoln Park, Chicago? Rent Luxury Apartments with TLC Management
Thinking about living in Lincoln Park? Understandably, so. It’s a unique Chicago neighborhood with coastal and metropolitan lifestyles within walking or short public transit distance—and we can help you live luxuriously here.
At TLC Management, we offer premium apartment living in Lincoln Park at our Beachwalk Apartments with convenient amenities, including:
•Newly renovated apartments with quartz countertops, high ceilings, and walk-in closets with organizer shelving
•Located steps away from Lincoln Park Zoo, Lake Michigan, and CTA stations
•Pet-friendly community with a bicycle storage room, 24/7 laundry facility, and assigned parking
We own over 36 properties within and around Chicago, with the local expertise to find you the best place to live in Lincoln Park. We also manage our properties to give our tenants the best renting experience they deserve.
Browse our Chicago apartment listings or contact us at info@chicagorentals.com for help today!
