It’s no secret that one of the keys to startup success is having a supportive network of people surrounding you. Building that network takes a lot of time and energy - attending events, making connections, and forging relationships is tough work!
At Startup Institute Chicago, we love to make Windy City tech networking easier. We’d like to introduce our heatmap for great places to eat, drink, and hang out in the city if you’re a current techie, startup enthusiast, or aspiring entrepreneur.
River North is Chicago’s biggest tech neighborhood. Here are some spots that are great for building relationships over coffee, drinks, or a quick bite:
- Breakfast: Right across from Merch Mart, The Doughnut Vault is a perfect way to kick off your morning with great coffee and even better doughnuts - bring some to the office and you’ll be a hero!
- Lunch: In the heart of River North, head over to Xoco for some of the best sandwiches in town. Beware - this place gets crowded!
- Coffee: Bow Truss on Wells is perfect to meet up for a mid-afternoon coffee meeting. It’s cozy and intimate-- just remember there is no Wifi!
- Dinner: Close to the startup- haven of600 West and the Chicago Brown line, Farmhouse is a place to grab a great dinner and delicious drinks.
- Drinks: Green Door Tavern is a Chicago staple with reasonably-priced beer for the budget-conscious bootstrapper and a quieter atmosphere, perfect for good, candid conversation.
Everyone in tech is flocking to the West Loop. Check out these places if you’re heading to an event or a meeting across the river:
- Breakfast:Little Goat is the diner-version of Girl and the Goat, and makes for a delicious breakfast meeting at any time of day, even for your dev coworker who rolled in in a hoodie at noon.
- Lunch: Family-owned, JP Graziano has some of the best Italian sandwiches. Ever. With limited seating, you might have to bring your sandwiches back to the office.
- Coffee: Not only does La Colombe have some of the best coffee in Chicago, it’s in the heart of the new tech center in the West Loop!
- Dinner:Green Street Meats is the spot if you’re getting a big group together, and last-minute! No reservations, with awesome barbeque and bench-style seating. Come here if you’re looking for a louder crowd, unless you’re a member of Soho House-- then, head upstairs ;)
- Drinks: The Chicago tech scene is all about craft beer, and Haymarket-- at the intersection of Halsted and Randolph-- is a huge venue with an even larger beer list.
Heading to Wicker Park / Ukrainian Village? Tons of tech employees, creatives, and freelancers live in these neighborhoods. Here are our picks:
- Breakfast: If you’re an early-riser, Wormhole is the perfect coffee stop. We all know where to find the free pizza in the startup scene, but with free cereal before 9am, and near-flawless wifi, you’re certain to find tons of tech people hanging here.
- Lunch: If you’re under a tight deadline or running in and out of back-to-back meetings 5411 Empanadas is a great place for a quick fix (and your coworkers will thank you for bringing empanadas to their lives!).
- Coffee: Between the Division and Damen stops, Caffe Streets is a coffee shop with tons of seating, and fantastic brews to caffeinate your morning standup.
- Dinner: A personal fave, Bangers and Lace has a stellar, rotating beer list and some great shareable food. Be sure to get in early if you need to talk business-- it gets busy and loud around 8pm most nights!
- Drinks: If you’re looking for a low-key hangout, great patio, and cheap drinks, Happy Village is a Ukrainian Village classic, frequented by many-a startupper in the area.
If you live that Brown Line life, Lakeview is the ideal place to meet up for pre-work coffee, or drinks after you wrap up your day:
- Breakfast: A veritable hipster heaven, Intelligentsia is the coffee shop of choice in Lakeview for the tech crowd any time of day. Head over for good vibes and good beans.
- Lunch: If you’re looking to make some serious friends at work, bring them to Crisp. Korean fried chicken is never a bad choice.
- Coffee:NextDoor is an incredible space designed by IDEO with informative events, mentors, and you guessed it - great Wifi.
- Dinner: With delectable drinks and a sea-inspired menu, Fish Bar is an intimate spot, perfect for conversation.
- Drinks: To wrap up your night, head over to DryHop and sample some of their homebrewed beers - this place can get packed, so plan ahead!
Whether you're building relationships in the early hours over coffee or pulling up a couple bar stools after a long day at the startup hustle, Chicago's tech districts have no lack for great brews or eats.
Photo credit: Kate Borkowski via Flickr cc
