The 9 Best Tiny Places, Spaces, and Finds in Chicago

Chicago

     From the Willis Tower to the size of our food part , Chicago is well known for retrieve large ( have you seen William “ The Refrigerator ” Perry ? ? ? ) . But that does n’t intend there are n’t still some excellent finds on the small-scale side hidden throughout the City of Broad Shoulders . So when you 're banal of go grownup , go nursing home - y and cozy with our summation of the top 10 small gems in Chicago .

Matchbox

If you do n’t recognize the person next to you at this tiny 460 - satisfying foot corner streak , you will by the oddment of the dark . As one of the minor bars in Chicago ( yes , smaller than Smallbar ) , this local institution has stand at the corner of North Ogden and Milwaukee for over 75 years – having been secluded to plenty more than just idle belittled talk of the town over the decades . Head to “ The Box ” for a low - key beer or classical cocktail like a gimlet or Manhattan with unknown . bequeath as protagonist . It ’s the Matchbox way .

Mini Hut

This Southwest Side hole - in - the - wall offers fiddling more than a tiny entering and three yellow booths , yet offers large rewards in the human body of some of the well fried chicken in the city , thanks in enceinte part to its ridiculously addictive “ butter encrustation . ” you may tell your chicken by the boat ( titty and thigh or leg and thigh ) and , if you ’re too lazy to get off your Browning automatic rifle stool , they also deliver to bars in the area .

Prop Thtr

As great as it is to see a show at Chicago Theatre or Second City , none of those liberal rooms can fit the intimacy you ’ll see at this minuscule storefront theater off Elston where anything proceed – from 48 - hour film festivals to Rhinofest , the city ’s premier fete of up - and - get along performance endowment . lay off by on Saturday night for Beast Women , an all - female review featuring everything from music and burlesque to spoken word and stunt flying .

Bunny, the Micro Bakery

What the heck is a micro bakery , you need ? It ’s a miniature Lakeview concoction slinger where little more than a counter and a couple of bench seats set the view for your mystifying dive into a rotating selection of some of the city ’s o.k. donuts , plus adventuresome small collection plate like hand-crafted toast and jam topped with a tiny dollop of owl - shaped foie gras .

Calumet Fisheries

There is no seating . There are no bathrooms . You order your food and you corrode it in your car parked out front . The rationality this far South Side shack is so cramped for space ? Because it ’s one of the few places leave that smokes their fish on - situation thanks to its natural Ellen Price Wood meat house located out back . They ’ve been doing it like this since 1948 and have made fans out of all who have made the pilgrim’s journey , including Anthony Bourdain .

Tiny Lounge

The name pretty much says it all at this press - sized neighborhood hangout at Montrose and Lincoln , where a long narrow hall is pretty much all that separates you from the bartender . abdomen up to said saloon , order a lilliputian Cider ( vodka , Malus pumila cyder , lemon succus , simple sirup ) and a Tiny Burger with a side of Tiny Fries . Do the best thing really come in small packages ? Tiny Lounge make a reasonably warm case .

Permanent Records

While Reckless Records has recently moved into a bigger storefront along Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park , West Town mainstay Permanent Records is content to keep things on the small side within its intimate , cheery Chicago Avenue jibe stocked with all your obscure essentials , from cassette tapes to vinyl 7 - inch . They even house their own ( small ) record book label , Permanent Records .

The Drifter

With nine barstools and a total capacity of 37 , The Drifter is not only one of the smallest speakeasies in Chicago , it ’s also one of the most authentic . The tiny quad tuck away beneath the historical Green Door Tavern was an actual speakeasy during Prohibition . These day the space has been animate with drink on tarot cards and all manner of oddball antics , from burlesque to set and juggler and contortionist .

The Hideout

One peep inside its favorable , unassuming environs and it ’s easy to see why it ’s called “ Chicago ’s Most Loved Small Venue ” – it ’s actually been described as looking like the real - life version of thehouse fromUp . Check out up - and - come indie routine and the casual oddball comedy show . sting around for the later - night dance company and good - clip vibes that envelop the position at all hr of the night .

Celeste’s rooftop

Few first - appointment stain in Chicago are more of a guaranty of a 2d date than the impossibly precious ( it really is the only way to describe it ) rooftop at Celeste , a opulent space of priggish - style seating and Hedera helix - encompass wall seamster - made for sharing punch lawn bowling with that special someone ( or the person you just cabbage right on ) while dig up into appropriately small plate like grilled devilfish , pork and beef meatball , or the always amatory centre and cheese plank . blank is highly limited , so project before if you hump what ’s dear for you , and for that all - important third date .