Logan Square

Logan Square revolves around the grand Illinois Centennial Monument where Logan, Kedzie, and Milwaukee boulevards converge. The wide, tree-canopied boulevards are what set this neighborhood apart. Logan Boulevard and Kedzie Boulevard are lined with greystones, brick bungalows, and mature trees that make it feel more like a European residential quarter than a typical Chicago grid.

This used to be a Scandinavian and Polish working-class area. Now it draws young families, creatives, and professionals who want architectural character, a nationally recognized restaurant corridor along Milwaukee Avenue (roughly between California and Western), and prices that still look reasonable next to Lincoln Park or Lakeview.

The housing market has something for everyone: grand courtyard apartment buildings, classic Chicago bungalows on quiet side streets, converted industrial lofts, and new-construction townhomes and condos near the Blue Line stations at Logan Square and California. Appreciation has been strong, fueled by transit access, the food scene, and the kind of tree-lined blocks that look good in every season.

Logan Square has quietly become one of Chicago's most acclaimed dining destinations. Longman & Eagle, the Michelin-starred gastropub on Kedzie, doubles as a six-room inn above the restaurant. Giant, on Western Avenue, offers inventive seasonal cuisine in a warm neighborhood setting. For casual dining, Parson's Chicken & Fish on Logan Boulevard draws crowds for its patio and frozen negronis, while Lula Cafe on Milwaukee has been a farm-to-table pioneer since 1999.

The coffee and cocktail culture is equally strong. Intelligentsia Coffee's Logan Square location on Milwaukee Avenue was one of Chicago's first third-wave coffee shops. Billy Sunday, the cocktail bar on Logan Boulevard named after the temperance preacher, serves creative drinks in a reclaimed church space.

The Logan Square Farmers Market, held every Sunday from June through October in the parking lot of the Logan Square Auditorium, is one of the largest in the city. The neighborhood also hosts the Logan Square Arts Festival each September, featuring local artists, musicians, and food vendors along Milwaukee Avenue.

Logan Square benefits from excellent Blue Line CTA access at two stations: Logan Square (at Milwaukee and the Kennedy) and California (at Milwaukee and California Avenue). The Blue Line provides a direct shot to the Loop in roughly 15 minutes and to O'Hare International Airport in about 35 minutes without transferring.

The #56 Milwaukee bus runs the length of the neighborhood's main commercial corridor, and the #76 Diversey bus provides east-west connections to Lincoln Park and the lakefront. The Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) runs along the neighborhood's eastern edge, providing quick access to downtown and northern suburbs.

Cycling infrastructure has improved dramatically, with protected bike lanes on Milwaukee Avenue and the western extension of The 606 trail providing dedicated off-street routes. Divvy bike-share stations are abundant, and many residents commute by bicycle year-round given the flat terrain and relatively short distance to the Loop.