Chicago makes Italian-at-home nights feel effortless when you know where to shop. A quick market run can cover the fun stuff (salumi, cheeses, wine), the practical stuff (pasta, tomatoes, olive oil), and the “I forgot to eat lunch” stuff (a deli sandwich you’ll think about for days). Living near a great Italian market turns “I’ll just order delivery” into “I’ll swing by for mozzarella, bread, and a jarred sauce worth repeating.” (Before you go, double-check hours and specials on each business’s official site; postings change.) 

When you live in Chicago, you can check out all of these specialty grocery stores, and then cook up your haul in your dream apartment kitchen. The groceries, you’ll need to buy, but discovering that kitchen, we can help with that! To find an apartment with the kitchen you daydream about every day, reach out to AptAmigo and connect with one of our expert apartment locators. 

Specialty Italian Markets

Bari Italian Subs

Neighborhood: West Town
Address: 1120 W Grand Ave #1, Chicago, IL 60642

This market-and-deli combo runs like a neighborhood utility: quick lunch, quick pantry restock, and quick catering save when friends “happen to be in the area.” The shop traces its founding to 1973 and leans hard into the classics: Italian subs, imported cheeses and cured meats, and house-made add-ons like sauces, pestos, and giardiniera that can upgrade a basic weeknight pasta plan.

What to Buy:
Order the Italian Sub, which the menu lists with cappicola, Genoa salami, mortadella, and provolone, then customize from there for the perfect lunch-and-leftovers situation. 

J.P. Graziano Grocery Co.

Neighborhood: West Loop
Address: 901 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

If you want an Italian grocery stop that feels unmistakably Chicago, start here. The shop describes itself as a long-running neighborhood resource (dating back to 1937) and frames its role simply: sandwiches, imported groceries, and house-made giardiniera, all from a storefront that sits right in the West Loop’s daily flow. For residents nearby, this place fits perfectly into a “walk over, grab lunch, pick up a few pantry staples, head home” rhythm.

What to Buy:
Go straight for the Mr. G. Their own write-up lists sharp provolone, hot soppressata, prosciutto di Parma, and Genoa salami, plus truffle mustard, balsamic vinaigrette, hot oil, and Roman-style artichokes, which explains why locals treat it like a signature.

Conte Di Savoia

Neighborhood: Little Italy
Address: 1438 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607

This shop belongs on your list if you want an Italian grocery run that feels rooted in place. The store highlights a wide range of Italian specialties, “hard-to-find imported items,” coffee, olive oils, and a notable wine selection, plus party subs and trays for entertaining at home. It also operates as a deli with a strong lunch pull, which makes it painfully easy to “just swing in for one thing” and leave with enough ingredients for dinner, tomorrow’s lunch, and a snack board.

What to Buy:
Their site calls out a fresh mozzarella sandwich with Italian roasted red peppers and watercress, and that combo delivers exactly what you want from a simple deli order: clean flavors, great texture, and zero regrets.

The Original Nottoli & Son

Neighborhood: Belmont Heights
Address: 7652 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634

For buyers who crave an “actual neighborhood” feel rather than a downtown checklist, this northwest-side stop delivers. The shop ties its story to 1947 and calls sausage its “claim to fame,” while also running a full deli operation with sandwiches, salads, catering, and take-home options that make weeknight cooking feel faster. Plan this run like a mini field trip, especially if you live farther east, because the payoff tastes like old-school Chicago.  

What to Buy:
The menu lists Breaded Steak as a Friday-only special, which gives you a very strong excuse to plan a Friday lunch run. It’s hearty, classic, and extremely apartment-friendly once you unwrap it at your kitchen table. 

Eataly Chicago

Neighborhood: River North
Address: 43 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

When clients want a big, centralized option for Italian groceries, we point them here. This spot combines a large market with multiple ways to eat on-site, which works well for anyone who likes to shop first, then decide whether dinner happens at home or at a table. Their market page specifically calls out fresh pasta and mozzarella made in-house daily, along with a deep “salumi & formaggi” selection designed for serious grazing boards. For location context, the official Chicago tourism listing places their pizza-and-pasta concept in River North at this same Ohio Street address.  

What to Buy:
Order the Margherita Tradizionale if you want a “benchmark” pizza: San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella di Napoli, basil, and olive oil, all listed right on the current menu.

If you need a break from cooking up your specialty ingredients, let someone else cook for you. Discover Chicago’s brunch scene, or eat your way through Fulton Market and South Loop.

Visit these Italian Markets from Your New Chicago Apartment

When only a luxury kitchen will do for your next culinary night in, turn to AptAmigo. We’ll find the apartment kitchen of your dreams for you, whether you desire space, floor-to-ceiling views, or an open concept layout. You’ll bring your Italian groceries home to your new flat in no time with our help. Enlist the 1-on1 support of our award-winning apartment locating service for free today!