The 4000 ClubChicago · est. together

Field reportWells Street, slow

Walk Old Town.

Old Town in May 2026 is mostly about Wells Street finally getting its coffee back. After years of being known almost exclusively for late-night Wells and the Second City marquee, daytime has a pulse again, and the cobblestone side streets feel like they're being walked, not just photographed.

Recently lost

A small moment for what just left.

  • 80 Proofthe three-bar brunch-and-DJ spot on North Avenue closed permanently in January. Already gone, but worth naming for the record.

Some of our favorites

The ones we'd end a walk at.

  • La Fournettea fourth-generation Alsatian bakery on Wells, run by a World Baking Champion. The croissants are non-negotiable.
  • Twin Anchors Restaurant & TavernSedgwick Street, ribs since 1932, Sinatra's old booth, no substitutions on the menu and no apologies.
  • Old Town OilWells, four brothers, very small batches of olive oil and aged balsamic. You taste before you buy. You will buy.
  • Old Town Ale Houseopen since 1958, walls papered with regulars and notorious patrons. The kind of dive that earns the title without trying.

The ones we don't have to tell you about

…but we will, briefly.

  • The Second Cityyes, the one where Belushi, Fey, and Colbert started. We know.
  • St. Michael's Churchthe steeple you can hear from Wells. We know.

Want a walk here?

Ask us to round one up in Old Town.

Walks happen when neighbors ask. Tell us a corner, a day, a place you want to end at. We’ll put it on the map.

Round up a walk in Old TownWhy 4,000 steps?