When Avondale ranked as the world’s fifth-coolest neighborhood, my friends (and coworkers) laughed. Maybe it’s because Avondale feels a little tame. Maybe because the 20-somethings there look like Logan Square overflow.
But maybe it really is cool.
What is ‘Cool?’
Time Out’s “cool” criteria covers culture, food and drink, community, livability, street life, nightlife, and “that hard-to-define sense of ‘nowness’.” Ok, fair: Avondale’s culture is historically Polish and Mexican. That also means great food. There’s a burgeoning art scene. Community events are ongoing. Avondale is right off the Blue Line. Milwaukee Avenue (between Diversey and Belmont) has vibrant, unique storefronts.
As for “nowness,” two new buzzy bars did open last month: Belmont Tavern and Tune-Up. And nightlife is the criteria I personally swear by, so you know I had to check them out.
An Avondale Bar Crawl
On paper, Tune-Up fits the bill of cool. A bar in an old auto body shop? Let’s go. “Anti-freeze” cocktails? I’ll take two. The renovation misses the mark, though, favoring wood paneling over industrial edge. But hey, Tune-Up is open till 4 and 5 a.m. That is cool, especially as late-night destinations dwindle.
Conveniently, Avondale is already home to one of the best! Alice’s Lounge, a beloved karaoke bar, has been around since 1986 and is as popular as ever.
The interiors of Belmont Tavern (left) and Tune-Up (right). (Courtesy of Travis Frangie; Courtesy of Tune-Up)
Our social media manager Rick Homuth already visited Belmont Tavern and lauded the eclectic addition to the neighborhood. It arrives next to the Belmont Blue Line, in the space of a former Polish dive bar that’s sat dormant for 25 years. Adjacent Logan Square has plenty of overhauled (aka fake) dive bars — like Small Bar and Quality Time, both owned by the same restaurant group — but Belmont Tavern felt distinct as soon as I walked in.
It still smelled like sawdust. The drinks were $12, which isn’t terrible. And it was freaking packed. Every time the door opened, a “Cheers” moment broke out as friends found one another.
I feel like this might be a genuinely cool, laid-back new hang! Good job, Avondale!
Other cool Avondale recs (as judged by me):
- Central Park Bar’s half-off happy hour
- Games at retro Avondale Bowl — stay for pitchers of beer if you can’t get a lane
- Breakfast sandwiches from Loaf Lounge
- Family dinners at Staropolska
- Maddeningly difficult horror trivia at The Brewed
- Jeans from KoneRanger
- The raucous patio at Sleeping Village
- Black salsa from Traspasada
- Weeknight dancing at Podlasie
- The Milwaukee Avenue Messenger
- And of course, rocking out at Alice’s
I guess Avondale is cool after all. (Emmi Mack / City Cast Chicago)
