Pilsen
4.5
About
Chicago's Mexican-American community.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Pilsen and nearby attractions
The area
Neighborhood: Lower West Side
How to get there
- 18th • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,171 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,006 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
59 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
17
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,508 contributions
Oct 2020
Pilsen is a historically working class, residential neighborhood and gateway for immigrants coming into Chicago. Bordered by West 16th Street to the north, Interstate 55 to the south, the Dan Ryan Expressway to the east and South Ashland Avenue to the west, it is rich in Latino culture and overflowing with award-winning restaurants, iconic music venues, sensational murals and exotic nightlife. The first thing a visitor notices is the colorful street art and buildings covered in massive paintings. It is a haven for offbeat boutiques, hip eateries, cool music venues standing alongside bodegas, panaderias and family-owned restaurants serving authentic Mexican cuisine. Pilsen was originally inhabited by German, Norwegian, Italian and Czech immigrants in the late 19th century. It emerged as a largely Latino community in the 1960s and 1970s. Mario Castillo painted Peace or Metafisico in 1968, the first Mexican and anti-Vietnam War mural in Pilsen. Benito Juarez Community Academy, which opened in 1977, has a 94 percent Latino student body and once was the largest high school in Illinois with more than 5,000 students. So walk through the Pilsen neighborhood, see the street carts doling out tamales and paletas, marvel at the 16th Street murals, visit the National Museum of Mexican Art, Thalia Hall and St. Procopius Church, take a break at Dusek's Board & Beer or Simone's or Kristoffer's Cafe & Bakery or Panaderia Nuevo Leon or Punch House or La Vaca Margarita Bar or Pollo Express.
Written October 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vargasgirl1984
Brisbane, Australia168 contributions
Dec 2013 • Solo
I was lucky enough to be in Chicago long enough to explore some of the neighbourhoods and Pilsen was by far my favourite. It has the Museum of Mexican Art, so many great Mexican restaurants and bakeries, awesome vintage clothing stores and best of all....countless murals and street art. Every time I turned down a different street there would be another beautiful piece of art jumping out at me and I had a great time taking photos of them all. You can see there is a big history of culture here. I had heard that it used to be quite a dangerous neighbourhood but I felt completely safe walking around on my own. Good food, good shopping, great art and culture. Love Pilsen.
Written February 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,508 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
Pilsen is one of the great ethnic neighborhoods in Chicago. But it is more than eating delicious Mexican food. The area, bounded by 16th Street to the North, the Chicago River to the East and Western Avenue to the West, is a hub for colorful, community-painted murals, dozens of them, the first of which went up in 1976. The murals are historically significant for their portrayals of politics, society, reform and revolution. In an effort to drive out gang graffiti and turn brick walls into beautiful canvases and works of art, a community-minded organization called Art In Public Spaces formed a curatorial collaboration between the Chicago Urban Art Society, National Museum of Mexican Art and Pawn Works to create marvelous murals in the Pilsen neighborhood. They turned lemons into lemonade by organizing an initiative with the Chicago Urban Art Society to display murals by internationally respected street artists. There are mosaics depicting Mexican icons at the Cooper Dual Language Academy at 1645 West 18th Street. There are Jeff Zimmerman paintings of the people and culture of Pilsen at 1900 South Ashland. And Juan Angel Chavez's glass mosaic Vida Simple at the Damen Avenue Pink Line Station at 2100 South Damen. The most talked about work is Gala's Quetzalcoatl and the Stork, which illustrates the strong Catholic faith between the neighborhood's Polish and Mexican residents with a mythical creature that, in Mexican culture, tells the story of immigration and Catholic evangelism. The project is funded in part by a $10,000 donation from Alderman Danny Solis with paint donations from Sherwin-Williams and Montana. On a warm Saturday or Sunday, it is an entertaining and educational adventure to walk the Pilsen neighborhood and view the huge and colorful murals that are painted on brick walls of large buildings. Graffiti, it isn't.
Written February 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dorka274707
Prague, Czech Republic135 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
Just few people know that the name Pilsen is the German (American) translation of "Plzen" a Czech industrial town famed for its excellent beer and Skoda machine industry. Pilsner beer (plzenske pivo) is the "mother" and model of all pilsner beers around the world. In the 19th and first half of the 20th century many Czechs and Slovaks emigrated to America in hope of better life. In the 1930s abou 100 thousand Czechs lived in Chicago, most of them in the Pilsen neighbourhood, hence its name coming from the famous Czech town and beer. The best known Czech in America was Antonin (Anton) Cermak, who became mayor of Chicago in 1931 and a great fighter against the mafia represented by Al Capone. In 1933 Cermak was assassinated in Florida during his common trip with President F.D. Roosevelt. It is not clear who was the real target, whether Cermak or the President. The longest avenue in Chicago was named after Cermak. Those who want to visit the Czech quarter Pilsen will be disappointed because the whole neighbourhood is now Mexican, full of Mexican restaurants, nevertheless there are still many houses coming from the Czech era. Interesting is also the small Museum of Mexican art and especially the numerous colourful murals in the streets.
Written June 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
keeshaweesha
Santa Ana6 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
As a Mexican from California where we account for a huge number of the population, I was pleasantly surprised to see a huge Mexican culture in Pilsen. Not only that, but it was yet to be fully gentrified which is unheard of in these days. The whole community seemed to be proud of the rich culture. What truly stole my heart was all the art I would stumble upon whether I was walking in the neighborhood or in one of the local restaurants. Normally neighborhoods are quick to paint over murals or graffiti or peel stickers away from where they are "unwanted". But, not this one. They welcome "free posting" on bulletins around the city, and leave art all around the community. Pilsen is close to the "city", only about 10 minute drive, 20 minute bike ride if your up for using DIVVY bikes. I will definitely return to Pilsen, I had such a good experience. I would consider living here if I ever made a move to Chicago. Love a community that embraces culture!
Written June 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
biyapi
Chicago, IL34 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
one of the things I love about Chicago is all the different neighborhoods and the feel/ personality of each. Having lived in the South Loop for the past decade- which is convenient for things like work- but essentially full of residential buildings, mediocre restaurants, and way too many dental clinics for some reason- it feels nourishing to spend time in a space with as much soul as Pilsen. Historically a Latin (more specifically Mexican) neighborhood- you will find the wonderful taquerias and bakeries including a place fresh churros for a $1. 18th street has started becoming gentrified- but still has the coolest art galleries, my fav bookstore (Pilsen Community Books), great restaurants- including Duseks with the historical Thalia Hall (for shows/ nice underground lounge), a fun Vietnamese coffee shop (linked to the restaurant Haisous), and a random chocolate shop owned by a Paki lady with desi spiced chocolates. And Ping Tom Park is right across the 18th St bridge - with water activates, beautiful murals, and a really nice space.
Written July 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allen21096
Chicago, IL26,964 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
Pilsen is an interesting place to be. The area has yet to be really gentrified, so it still has an ethnic flavor to it. Naturally, there are a lot of Mexican restaurants and "mom & pop" stores of different varieties. If you are a fan of street art, this is a place to see it.
Written January 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura M
Pittsburgh, PA140 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
We rented an Airbnb property in this neighborhood as one of our family members was running the Chicago Marathon. The marathon runs right through the neighborhood which was very convenient. The crowd was super energetic and supportive of the marathoners. There were so many spectators it was really hard to see our family runner in the course. Restaurants here were very family friendly and accommodating to our group of 8. We didn't have to wait at all for a table either night. Harrison Park was a great place for our kids to run around and blow off steam after a long car ride. The pink line stop is also centrally located. Aside from street parking being pretty limited, we have no negative feedback about this neighborhood.
Written October 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M P
Harrison, OH63 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
Artistic Neighborhood, Love the Vintage feel, Went into Pilsen Vintage shop great place to find something different. The owner was extremely kind. The owner also builds custom furniture. Just across the street from Pilsen Vintage was a wonderful Coffee shop, this has to be one of the BEST Vanilla Chia Latte's I've ever had, fresh baked goods there too. So Many restaurants in the area that would loved to have tried, saving that for another trip and warmer weather. A lot of potential for more shops.
Written February 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RML1
Chicago, IL196 contributions
Aug 2012
Great bohemian Mexican neighbourhood. Funky galleries, fabulous Mexican food ranging from upscale to family style. 18th street between Halsted and Ashland is a great street to walk any evening
Written August 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Parking situation? Is street parking free or how much is it? I'm considering driving but would like to know about the parking situation before committing to that.
Written November 18, 2017
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing