8 Chicago Neighborhoods For Fans of Games and Puzzles

The sheer size of Chicago means that its multitudinous neighborhoods can cater to nearly any set of interests, whether popular or more esoteric. If you are all about board games, puzzles, and/or vintage arcade games, these eight neighborhoods are right up your alley.

Andersonville

Andersonville, a North Side neighborhood perfect for weekend shopping and brunches, also has its fair share of watering holes. Replay, right on the neighborhood’s main stretch of Clark Street, is just the spot for those who like a healthy splash of nostalgia with their drinks.

Try your luck at old school arcade games like Contra or Mortal Kombat II, or play a classic game of pinball. Replay’s games are complemented by a full food menu, beer, and bourbon. Of course, gaming doesn’t have to be a boozy affair.

Dice Dojo, on the edge of Andersonville and Edgewater, sells all manner of board games and hosts regular gaming events.   

Avondale

The gaming scene in Avondale is neither loud nor splashy. Instead, it flourishes in the cozy atmosphere of neighborhood bars, namely DMen Tap and Reed’s Local. Within walking distance of one another on Belmont Avenue, these two bars keep patrons entertained with board games and regular events (both spots do trivia).

Try DMen for a hearty menu populated with fries (poutine if you’re in the mood for something entirely rich and greasy) and currywurst. Reed’s Local, styled as a friendly dive bar, is all about the drinks. If playing one of the bar’s vintage board games has you hungry, Avondale favorite Kuma’s Corner is right next door.

Bucktown/Wicker Park

Bucktown and Wicker Park are often lumped together, particularly in the parlance of Chicago nightlife. These two neighborhoods are trendy without feeling overly pretentious. You can go for fancy cocktails (try Violet Hour), or you can pull up a barstool at any number of casual dives.

Gamers that feel the draw of the arcade can easily spend hours in the Wicker Park outpost of Emporium. If video games aren’t your style, Emporium has its fair share of pool tables.

Right off the Damen Blue Line in Wicker Park, you can step onto an entirely different kind of train. Escape Artistry’s Railcar location challenges you to escape from a CTA-style train car using your wits to solve a series of puzzles.

Over in Bucktown, the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club is a place for a likely less adrenaline-fueled form of gaming, depending on how seriously you take shuffleboard. Come in for drinks and a game, or start your own league with four to 10 players.

Logan Square

Bars with a twist (tiki-themed drinks or retro cocktails anyone?) are a big part of the Logan Square’s appeal. Naturally, Emporium has a spot in this neighborhood (more arcade games and pool).

For a more of a throwback, head to the Navigator Taproom for beer and board game events or trivia nights. Craft beer enthusiasts will enjoy the wide selection of brews on tap (self-serve so you can get your perfect pour). Navigator also has its bases covered for wine and cider drinkers.

Over at the Pink Squirrel, you can play a mini version of bowling while bathed in rosy lights that honor the name of the bar. As you bowl (miniature doesn’t necessarily mean your score will magically improve), you can explore the bar’s loving take on Midwestern cocktails. Logan Square’s highly walkable nature means you can hit all three gaming spots in a single night, if you are yearning to hit a win streak.

River North

River North, a downtown neighborhood just across from the Loop, is known for its posh restaurants and cocktail bars. But, you’ll find two spots in this downtown neighborhood that are more about pure fun than upscale charm. 

At EscapeHouse, participants willingly step into a locked room, relying on their ability to solve puzzles and clues to find their way out and beat the game. A popular option for corporate bonding and competitive friend groups, escape rooms are an attractive option for the live action role-playing gamers.

Just steps away from the House of Blues, Spin Chicago is River North’s ping pong space. Play table tennis while you order off the food and drink menus. Like any gaming space worth its salt, Spin hosts leagues and various events to keep people coming back.

West Loop/Fulton Market

The West Loop is basically a culinary playground, but you can satisfy more than your palate in this popular downtown neighborhood. If you have the itch to beef up your game collection, Cat and Mouse Games is the place to be.

Its extensive inventory covers classic games for adults and kids, as well as strategy games, role playing games, dice games, party games, and a whole lot more. Puzzle people will find themselves at home here. You can even partake in events like the semi-annual jigsaw puzzle sale and swap.

Fulton Market, a pocket neighborhood of the West Loop, is a collection of ultra-cool restaurants with wait lists and glassy, modern condo buildings. A part of that chic setting, Punch Bowl Social (a former factory) is a sprawling bar and restaurant with virtual reality for the future-forward gamers and marbles, shuffle board, and bocce for those who love the classics.