Chicago Suburbs that Feature the Perks of City Life

With so much uncertainty in today’s world, many are looking to make the move to the suburbs to seek out more space. The biggest challenge that we see in moving to the suburbs, is that people still want to feel plugged in and be able to walk to shops and restaurants. Living in the suburbs doesn’t mean disconnecting from the social life that the city provides. Below, we listed the best intersections to live by if you want to be walking distance from restaurants, bars, and shopping. Also included are some of the best restaurants to try, and places to shop!

Evanston

Avg Townhome/Condo $294,535
Avg Single Family Home $972,785
Avg 2 Bed 2 Bath Rental $2,280

Evanston is awesome because it’s outside of the city, but just close enough that getting there won’t take too long. Going to the painted rocks at Northwestern along the lake is a great activity during these warm summer nights. It is common to see people having picnics and walking along the lake for the beautiful city skyline views. The rocks are right along the lakefront and offer an amazing view of either the sunrise or sunset. 

Cheesies on Davis street is a great place to stop for a late night snack. They have incredible grilled cheese sandwiches filled with mac and cheese that will satisfy whatever kind of craving you have. Another restaurant called FarmHouse is a bit nicer, and offers farm-to-table organic food. They have incredible burgers and super fresh salads.

Urban Outfitters is on Church St right by the train station (easy access to the city!), and is a great place to shop for clothes, accessories, shoes, art, furniture, or decor.

Evasnton offers a great balance of restaurants and shops downtown. There are several local ‘mom and pop’ establishments, along with some more well known chain restaurants.

More restaurants to visit in Evanston:
Buffalo Joe’s
Joy Yee – Chinese
Flat Top Grill

Wilmette

Avg Single Family Home $1,123,509
Avg Condo/Townhome $411,800

If you are looking to move to Wilmette and be walking distance to the downtown area, the cross section of Central and Green Bay road is a great place to live by. It is right by train station which makes getting around much more convenient if you don’t have a car. 

The best place in this area for brunch would be a restaurant called Sarkis. They just opened up a huge outdoor seating area, but be prepared to wait in line on a Saturday or Sunday morning because this place is always packed. They are famous for their Bacon Loretta sandwiches and omelettes!

The most recommended date night spot is a latin restaurant with incredible food, drinks, and atmosphere. Walking distance of this restaurant is ice cream, and another farm-to-table restaurant called Fuel! While Wilmette isn’t as lively as Evanston’s downtown area, it still offers easy access to several great restaurants.

More restaurants to visit in Wilmette:
Trendy Taco

Highland Park

Avg Single Family Home $1,046,025
Avg Condo/Townhome $398,434

Highland Park’s downtown area sits remarkably close to the beach! Park Avenue beach is down the street from the city center and there are an abundance of townhomes closeby too. Rosewood beach is another beach you can visit in Highland Park. It is located on Sheridan Road 2 miles from the city center, and was recently updated with picnic benches and a boardwalk.

The best spot in Highland Park for a casual lunch or dinner is Michael’s Hot Dogs. You can make your own fresh salad or wrap, or get an incredible hotdog/hamburger. Michael’s also has great outdoor seating and is near the local ice cream shops (Love’s and Dairy Queen).

The most recommended brunch place in town is Country Kitchen or Walker Brothers Pancake House. These places are just down the street from each other and are equally great. Both have outdoor seating and worth the wait that they usually have on weekends!

La Grange

Avg Single Family Home $630,810
Avg Condo/Townhome $226,223
Avg Rental $1,887 per month

If you are looking to move to La Grange and want to be within walking distance of the downtown area, it would be best to move closest to South La Grange Road. The restaurants and shops are all extremely walkable from the Metra train stop that is downtown. This particular neighborhood is a popular one not only for their local restaurants, but also the walkability surrounding the area, which includes Trader Joe’s grocery store.

Some incredible restaurants right in that area are FourteenSixteen which offers a new American cuisine with craft cocktails. They also have an awesome rooftop deck, perfect for getting together with friends. 

Blueberry Hill Breakfast Cafe has an incredible menu and is famous for their crepes and skillets. If you’re in the mood for ice cream, Tates Old Fashioned ice cream is the perfect place for classic flavors that you used to have as a kid. 

Naperville

Avg Single Family Home $1,036,336
Avg Town Home/Condo $599,334
Avg Rental $2,235 per month

The intersection of South Washington St and W Jefferson St are the best streets to live by. Naperville is a little further out from downtown Chicago, but it has a ton to offer. The train station is only 4-5 blocks from the shopping center, and downtown Naperville has a beautiful river running through it. If you love nature, there is a beautiful Arboretum called The Morton Arboretum that has incredible views of trees and is a great place for a walk, run, or picnic.

For a fun night out, Catch 35 Naperville is a chic spot for Asain-accented sushi. It has a super fun vibe and incredibly fresh food. They have won awards like “Best of Naperville 2018” and Chicago Concierge Favorites of 2018 and 2019. Right now, they are offering delivery, take away, and eat in!

Going to River Walk park is a great way to spend a warm summer day by the beach. Here, you can rent paddle boats and kayaks for the day! And, with Lou Malnatis in the area, call and have them deliver some Chicago style pizza for lunch or dinner!