Known as the ‘Entertainment Center’ of Chicago, Uptown is one of the most diverse and culturally rich community areas that sits on the Michigan lakeshore on the Northside.
Regardless of your ethnic, racial or religious background, diversity in Uptown will make you feel part of the community immediately.
Chicago is a very unique city, and within Chicago, Uptown stands out for its diversity, entertainment centers, and attractions.
If you are planning to move to Uptown, you would love the nightlife, music, vintage agriculture and high-spirited shopping scene here.
The fact that Uptown is home to Chicago’s some of the most popular neighborhoods – such as Andersonville and Sheridan Park to name a few – makes it a very popular destination for home buyers, renters, shoppers and travelers.
In this detailed guide, we will discuss all the prominent features of Uptown neighborhoods that you should be aware of before moving here.
If you’ve already made up your mind and ready to pack you stuff, you can hire Uptown movers with just a few taps on your mobile phone. 
You can download the Easymove app and negotiate with the most reputed movers of the area for the best moving quote. And, you can get an estimate of your moving cost by clicking here also.
Uptown Music Scene and rich history
One of the first places that comes to mind when you think about Uptown is the Green Mill. The jazz club has a 100-year-old jazz history and is a very popular hang-out place for the young crowd. Many still recall it as the favorite bar of notorious gangster Al Capone.
If you are in Chicago and love rock and salsa or are a fan of wrestling events, you should head straight to either the Riviera or Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom. Aragon Ballroom has been in business since 1926. The 4,500-capacity area is now one of the biggest music venues in Chicago.
The Baton Show Lounge - mecca for lively entertainment and the art of female impersonation and seduction- has enticed celebrities, athletes and bachelorette parties through its doors for decades.
The Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theater, Uptown Theatre, and Green Mill Jazz Club are all located within a half block of Lawrence and Broadway.
If you want to explore history, you should definitely visit the Victorian Graceland Cemetery - the burial sites of Chicagoans from nearly 160 years ago. It’s the final resting place for many historical figures like George Pullman, inventor of the Pullman railway car, Kate Warne, the first female detective, and famous film critic, Roger Ebert.
Several victims of the 1903 Iroquois Theater fire, where more than 600 people died, are buried here. The bronze sculpture, Eternal Silence, also known as the Statue of Death, created by Lorado Taft (Taft also rests here) is a sight to behold. You would love the history and architecture as well as the park-like grounds full of trees and greenery.
Essany Studios is famous as a silent movie house where celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Wallace Beery and Francis X produced movies and shot to fame.
Montrose Beach
Montrose Beach deserves a separate mention because it is one of the best pet-friendly beaches in Chicago.
You can take a stroll, quietly enjoy birdwatching, ride you bike, walk your dog or simply sit on the rocks nearby. It’s the perfect beach to get away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago.
This beach stands out from others as it is one of the least crowded ones. You will find the views of Downtown Chicago, Lake Front, and Rogers Park breath-taking. The beach is also connected to a harbor where you can view yachts.
Uptown has some of the most unique parks in the city including Wilson Avenue Skatepark with plenty of rails, curbs, spines and pyramids for showing off your inner daredevil. There’s also Montrose Harbor for off-pier fishing.
Shopping in Uptown, Chicago
North Broadway Street, North Sheridan Road, West Wilson Avenue, West Montrose Avenue, West Irving Park Road, West Lawrence Avenue, North Clark Street, North Hazel Street, West Argyle Street and North Marine Drive are some of the best places to go for shopping when you are in Uptown.
Vintage Garage in Uptown is Chicago’s only all-vintage market where nearly 100 vendors sell furniture, clothing, jewelry, art, vintage lighting, industrial decor, vintage music and vinyl records and other fun stuff.
The market takes place each month on the third Sunday and is very popular among thrift store shoppers.
You would definitely love Uptown’s antique and vintage stores, candy shops, bookstores and lots of spots featuring clothing and accessories, furniture, music, kitchenware, pet supplies, and food and wine.
The Argyle Night Market, held Thursday evenings from 5–9pm from July 10–September 4. It includes farm vendors, plus stalls featuring Argyle Street restaurants.
Restaurants in Uptown, Chicago
While Aragon Ballroom and Targets are two of Chicago’s most famous places for food lovers, Uptown is also known for many restaurants and diners offering a variety of cuisines including Italian, Indian, Mexican, Japanese and Ethiopian. A section of Argyle Street has so many authentic Vietnamese restaurants that it is often referred to by locals as “Little Vietnam.”
Some of the popular restaurants in Uptown include:
- Hopleaf
- Lao Sze Chuan
- Pho Xe Tang
- Tank Noodle (Chinese and Vietnamese)
- 3 Squares Diner (American)
- Sun Wah (Chinese)
- Miss Saigon (Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisines)
- Tweet (American cuisines)
- Demera (Ethiopian)
- Immm Rice & Beyond (Thai)
- Nha Hang Viet Nam (Vietnamese)
- Pho 888
- Ba Le
Top-rated Schools in Uptown
There are over 20 elementary, middle and high schools in Uptown. Here are some of the most notable ones:
- Ravenswood Elementary School
- Brennemann Elementary School
- Goudy Elementary School
- McPherson Elementary School
- Amundsen High School
- Senn High School
Uptown Real Estate market and apartments
If you are planning to buy or rent a home in Uptown, the good news is that homes are comparatively affordable here with a median listing price of $300,000, according to the National Association of Realtors. However, the high affordability level has caused the market to be very competitive with home sellers receiving multiple offers in desired locations. 
In a seller’s market, buyers may have to get into bidding wars to get their offer accepted. It means that you must be financially prepared if you are planning to buy a home here. You will find about 250 residential properties listed for sale most weeks in Uptown.
It’s very easy to find a rental accommodation in Uptown and rents are very affordable. You’ll also have a wider selection of rental homes as there are over 550 rental properties on the market most weeks. 
You can also consider neighboring community areas and neighborhoods such as Lakeview, North Side, West Side, West Town, Edgewater, Lincoln Park and Logan Square for renting or buying a home in. All these neighborhoods are well-connected with Uptown.
Check out our guides for some other popular Chicago neighborhoods below:
Coffee shops in Uptown
- DaNang Kitchen: 1019 W Argyle St, Uptown
- Everybody’s Coffee: 935 W Wilson Ave
- Heritage Outpost: 1020 W Lawrence Ave
- Emerald City Coffee: 1224 W Wilson Ave
- First Sip Café: 1057 W Argyle St
- Dollop Coffee & Tea: 4181 N Clarendon Ave
- Heritage Outpost: 1325 W Wilson Ave
- Klein’s Bakery and Café: 4155 N Broadway
Gyms in Uptown
- Uptown Fitness: 909 W Montrose Ave
- First Ascent Climbing & Fitness – Uptown: 4718 N Broadway
- Quads Gym: 3727 North Broadway
Pet parks in Uptown
- Puptown: 4921 N Marine Dr
- Challenger Park: 1100 W Irving Park Rd
- Montrose Dog Beach: 610 W Lawrence Ave
- Wiggly Field: 2645 N Sheffield Ave
- Mondog: 610 West Lawrence Ave
Dry Cleaners in Uptown
- J & S Cleaners: 4820 N Sheridan Rd
- Princess Cleaners: 4136 N Broadway St
- Lucky Cleaners: 1226 W Wilson Ave
- Cedar Dry Cleaners: 4348 N Broadway
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