Discover | Wheaton

By
May 2017 View more

The pride and joy of Wheaton is undeniably its downtown, with historic buildings, plentiful restaurants and quaint shops along Main, Hale, Front, Wesley and Liberty streets. A first-time visit should center, or at least start, here. West of downtown lies Wheaton College’s campus; to the south, you’ll find Danada and a steady flow of strip malls along Roosevelt Road as you approach Naperville’s northern border.

EXPLORE

Adams Park
East Wesley Street at North Main Street
This one-block park with brick paths, a gazebo and a picturesque fountain is worth a stop before or after a visit to the neighboring Wheaton Public Library (225 North Cross Street) or DuPage County Historical Museum (102 East Wesley Street).

Arrowhead Golf Club
26W151 Butterfield Road, 630.653.5800
arrowheadgolfclub.org
Golfers flock here for the eighteen-hole golf course and driving range; during the winter, you can cross-country ski on the course or nearby Herrick Lake Forest Preserve. The on-site restaurant serves lunch and dinner and has a raised stone patio that looks out onto the green.

Clocktower Commons
East Liberty Drive at South Naperville Road, 630.690.4880
wheatonparkdistrict.com
Look for this skate park and miniature golf course sandwiched between the railroad tracks and the former DuPage County Courthouse (with its regal clock tower, hence the name). Ten of eighteen mini-golf holes are ADA accessible.

Lincoln Marsh
1001 West Lincoln Avenue, 630.871.2810
lincolnmarsh.org
Take advantage of a covered picnic area, scenic overlooks with marsh views and walking trails that connect with the Prairie Path and are dotted with benches made out of fallen trees.

 

Vintage Rides
downtownwheaton.com
Stroll along Front Street in Downtown Wheaton to ogle vintage cars and motorcycles that drive into town for this beloved weekly event, held Fridays May 19 to August 25.

 

DINE & DRINK

Adelle’s
535 West Liberty Drive, 630.784.8015
adelles.com
This elegant restaurant earned rave reviews in its original College Avenue location and continues to cook up excellent contemporary American fare here.

The Cellar Bistro
132 North Hale Street, 630.653.6299
thecellarbistro.com
An intimate cafe that serves seasonal American fare alongside a solid wine list, with choices ranging from Argentine cabs to fizzy French brut roses.

El Zarape
325 West Front Street, 630.260.1122
elzarapewheaton.com
Feast on traditional Mexican fare, from chiles rellenos to carne asada to tacos al pastor, at this homey, family-run restaurant.

Egg’lectic Cafe
145 North Hale Street, 630.690.9001
This corner eatery draws a crowd for breakfast and lunch with hearty omelets, tasty sandwiches and signature dishes such as Frosted Flake-crusted French toast. (There’s also a second location in Danada at 221 Town Square.)

Ivy
120 North Hale Street, 630.665.2489
ivyofwheaton.com
This chic steak and seafood house in a former chapel features soaring ceilings and a brick-lined courtyard patio.

 

Kimmer’s Ice Cream
109 East Front Street, 630.765.7704
kimmersicecream.com
Visitors to this bubblegum pink-painted ice cream parlor can choose from flavors that are downright classic (mint-chocolate chip, butter pecan) or uniquely gourmet (coffee and donuts, cinnamon roll, red velvet cake). Select flavors are also available at two local retail locations: Blue Goose in St. Charles and Casey’s Foods in Naperville.

Luong-Loi
111 North Main Street, 630.653.8250
luongloi.com
Come to this casual Vietnamese and Chinese eatery for crisp spring rolls, steamy noodle bowls and affordable lunch specials.

River City Roasters
114 North Main Street, 630.909.3480
rivercityroasters.com
Settle into a seat at this hip cafe and coffee roastery for handcrafted lattes and avocado toast by day and wine and local craft beer by night.

 

Sogno Ristorante
100 North Hale Street (second floor), 630.682.5900
sognowheaton.com
Tender pasta, braised meats and a pergola-clad rooftop for dining with a view are all in store at this Italian restaurant.

 

Sushi Mono
230 West Front Street, 630.752.0102
sushimono.com
Sip sake, slurp ramen and savor sashimi at this sleek sushi bar that offers weekly drink specials.

Suzette’s Creperie
211 West Front Street, 630.462.0898
suzettescreperie.com
This French-inspired restaurant is equally pleasant for morning crepes, afternoon tea service or a multi-course dinner with wine after sundown.

 

SHOP

Andrew’s Garden
131 West Wesley Street, 630.456.4689
andrewsgarden.com
Browse fresh blooms, succulents and gifty extras (candles, soaps, vessels of all sorts) at this European-inspired flower market.

Bella Roba
104 North Hale Street, 630.580.9279
bella-roba.com
Enter under the black-and-white-striped awning to browse luxe women’s wear, delicate jewelry and sweet gifts, all curated by owner (and jewelry designer) Stacy Jansen.

Elements & Starrs
102 North Hale Street, 630.588.8450
Shop contemporary ladies’ clothing for work or the weekend, from eyelet tunics to plaid button-ups, at this inviting storefront.

Jeans & a Cute Top Shop
210 West Wesley Street, 630.690.5287
Though the namesake garments—from classic to trendy—are this shop’s specialty, you’ll also find plenty of dresses, jewelry, handbags scarves and sandals.

The Little Popcorn Store
111¼ West Front Street, 630.690.7712
littlepopcornstore.com
This alley-sized candy emporium with an eye-catching red entrance is a universally adored Wheaton fixture.

Mile Long Records
350 West Front Street, 630.474.4954 | milelongrecords.com
Sift through vintage and new vinyl at this friendly music shop, which also sells turntables and speakers.

Miroballi Shoes
124 North Hale Street, 630.690.6880
This shoe store specializes in brands for outdoor adventurers and stylish comfort-seekers alike: Think Merrell, Ecco, Birkenstock, Clarks and Sorel, to name a few.

Moore Toys & Gadgets
107 East Front Street, 630.480.4285
mooretoys.com
This colorful toy shop (look for the red origami crane perched on the sign) is stocked wall-to-wall with books, puzzles, trinkets and treats for kids of all ages.

 

Toms-Price Home Furnishings
303 East Front Street, 630.668.7878
This furniture showroom is chock full of tufted sofas, beautiful bed frames, wooden tables and other home accessories.

 

Taste of Wheaton
wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/taste
From June 1 to 4 Memorial Park Shell (208 West Union Avenue) will host an arts and crafts fair, live and family entertainment plus food and drink vendors.

 

What’s in a Name?

Danada, the area on Wheaton’s south end surrounding the intersection of Butterfield and Naperville roads, is named for prolific Wheaton philanthropists Dan and Ada Rice.

The couple’s former nineteen-room mansion is now Danada House (3S501 Naperville Road, 630.668.5392, danadahouse.com), an event venue. Their former horse farm (they were avid racers of thoroughbred horses) became Danada Equestrian Center (3S507 Naperville Road, 630.668.6012, dupageforest.com/danada), which offers horse-riding lessons and serves as the site of Danada Fall Festival every October.

The area is also known for its cluster of shopping centers (Danada Square East, Danada Square West, Rice Lake Square and Town Square Wheaton) featuring a brand-new Whole Foods (with bar called Butterfield Tap inside) and date night-worthy Studio Movie Grill (301 Rice Lake Square, 630.480.9557, studiomoviegrill.com), where you can order dinner and cocktails from your movie theater seat.

Dan and Ada established the Rice Foundation in 1947 and over the years it has funded numerous buildings around the area, from the Dan and Ada Rice Athletic Center at Benedictine University in Lisle to the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Conservations and Biology Research Center at Brookfield Zoo. For more info, visit friendsofdanada.org.