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What to Eat, See, and Do in Hyde Park

Posted on June 14, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Sidney Madden

Sidney Madden

Host Jacoby Cochran on a bridge above a highway

City Cast Chicago’s Jacoby Cochran at 51st Street bridge in 2022. (Blair Charleston)

This weekend’s Hyde Park Summer Fest is set to bring out tens of thousands of people to see major artists.

What to know

The South Side neighborhood underwent major transformations in the late 19th century with the University of Chicago and the 1893 World’s Fair. The influx of Black residents in the area in the mid-20th century led to white flight. Hyde Park was home to the first federally sponsored urban renewal plan.

What to do

City Cast Chicago podcast host Jacoby Cochran has called Hyde Park home on and off for the last six years. He shares his favorite neighborhood spots.

Something(s) to eat: “We’ve got plenty of new restaurants in HP from Daisy’s and Roux to the renowned Virtue and staples like Uncle Joe’s. My go-to spot for healthy smoothies and a quick sandwich is Bonne Sante.”

Something(s) to see: “A visit to Hyde Park Art Center is always right on time. They consistently offer great panels, classes, and rotating exhibits. Honorable mention? Promontory Point is always a good place to walk, bike, work out, and kick it.”

Something(s) to do: “The Silver Room has everything: records, books, jewelry, fashion, art, candles, and more. P.S. The Promontory has great shows and decent drinks!”

A map of Hyde Park

Boundaries of Hyde Park (Google Maps)

The Hyde Park Summer Fest is at Midway Plaisance Park Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. Busy? The Hyde Park Jazz Fest is in the fall.

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