Little Italy

Overview

This 125-year-old community offers authentic tastes of Italian food and culture, including family-run restaurants of Sicilian and Tuscan descent. The Taste of Italy Festival is held every year over Father’s Day weekend. Handfuls of pasta-bearing restaurants are around every corner, each more delectable than the last. Italian fashion and jewelry can also be found in dozens of shops, making you feel as though you’re perusing the streets of Sicily. The historic Taylor Street has a handful of bars and classic eateries to enjoy.

Shopping

Some small shops and salons line Taylor Street, but major "city" shopping requires some driving or public transportation. The CTA blue-line is just a couple blocks away.

Dining/Nightlife

Famous Italian restaurants, Italian Ice stands, pizzerias, Chicago-style food and Asian cuisine can all be found within the stretch of Little Italy's Taylor Street. There are also a decent amount of bars, mostly geared towards University of Illinois at Chicago students, with food and drinks available until 2 a.m. on weekends.

Culture & Attractions

The historic churches, the university, the restaurants and neighborhood itself make this a cultural hot-spot. Students can be seen walking to campus and locals can be seen shopping and eating in the numerous restaurants.

The Low Down

The possibilities are endless for ways to spend the day in Little Italy! The area has really been spruced up in the last few years to contain luxury townhomes on the corner of Taylor and Racine Streets. A newer water fountain with seating is a great spot to read a book or relax with a cup of coffee. Or, if you have an evening, eat at any one of the famous Italian restaurants and then hit one of the fun pubs before the night is over.