“The Bear,” FX's anxiety-inducing, artistic representation of life behind the walls of a high-end Chicago restaurant, is back for its fourth season. For those who want a home to live like the central character, tortured genius chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, there are plenty of neighborhoods that can help you feel like part of the family.
The show emits a gritty and intense lifestyle, but its selection of Chicago filming locations is anything but. Median home sale prices in areas such as River North and Wicker Park are well above the national average. Many listings have modern designs and luxurious decor.
The fictional restaurant on “The Bear,” transformed in the script from the humble Original Beef of Chicagoland, is based on a real-life longtime Italian beef spot called Mr. Beef in a well-known part of River North. Mr. Beef’s owner, Christopher Zucchero, who is said to be the childhood friend of showrunner Christopher Storer, plays a recurring character.
Mr. Beef is located at 666 N. Orleans St. To be a degree or two away from the doings of actor Jeremy Allen White, who plays Carmy, and access Mr. Beef within walking distance, a buyer would have to cough up $415,000 for a median-priced residence, according to Homes.com data from May.
Currently for sale is 358 W Huron St. Unit B at $1.39 million, represented by agent Sam Shaffer of Chicago Properties. When marketing another nearby listing, Shaffer posted an Instagram Reel outside Mr. Beef, noting the proximity to the eatery and, of course, taking a bite out of a sandwich.
This unit is a gated, extra-wide townhouse with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,200 square feet, coming in at $437 per square foot and less than 300 feet (a one-minute walk) from Mr. Beef. The home was remodeled in 2023 and features a theater, Monogram appliances, marble countertops, a private balcony, a bathroom with heated floors, a soaking tub and an attached one-car garage.
River North is a prime neighborhood for fine dining and entertainment, noted Shaffer, who goes into the area daily.
“I love River North,” said Shaffer, who said there’s somewhat of a premium to living there because of its location just a half mile north of downtown, known as the Loop. “To me, it screams what downtown is. ... You have great restaurants, great nightlife, great gyms. … To me, it epitomizes what living in Chicago is all about.”
Within the neighborhood are several highly regarded restaurants, such as the James Beard-nominated French cuisine Obelix — just a few hundred feet from 358 W. Huron. There’s also Asador Bastian, a steakhouse named on the New York Times’ 2024 list of America’s best restaurants.
“River North has some of the best restaurants in all of Chicago,” said Shaffer, who added the beloved steakhouse Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf is a half mile south of the townhouse and Mr. Beef.
Carmy’s alleged Wicker Park digs
Permits pulled by the production crew of “The Bear” with the city of Chicago confirmed filming for several apartment scenes in the artsy Wicker Park neighborhood, specifically around the intersection of West North Avenue and North Wood Street, in spring 2025.
Keen observers believe they’ve tracked down the apartment used as Carmy’s, though the precise building remains unclear. A TikTok user posted in 2023 comparing their Wicker Park unit — at the same intersection — to Carmy’s in-show home.
That apartment, on West North Avenue, is located above a laundromat. The online listing photos show nearly identical features, including parquet floors, a fireplace, white appliances and a bay window.
But would Carmy really live in Wicker Park? Luke Scaletta, the neighborhood’s Chamber of Commerce community engagement coordinator, thinks so.
“If you’re an established, famous chef, you’re living in Lincoln Park or Gold Coast. If you’re honing your craft and making a name for yourself, this is a great place to come up and gain inspiration and meet other people who are doing the same thing and collaborate and find your voice,” said Scaletta, who’s even spotted actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who plays “The Bear” character Richie, on the street.
The neighborhood offers highly regarded dining options, like Schwa, a one-Michelin-star restaurant located less than a half mile from Carmy's alleged apartment, or Club Lucky, a beloved Italian place open since 1991. Wicker Park and the adjacent Bucktown are home to three restaurants operated by Pioneer Tavern Group, a semi-finalist in the 2025 James Beard Awards.
“You get a little bit of everything in Chicago here,” said Scaletta. “There’s a mix of architecture, art and culture around here that makes it a great hot spot for summarizing Chicago both truthfully and honestly with a little more of a cool tint to it. … It has a legacy of a gritty, put your head down, get your artwork done, collaborate, work together, I’m sure they saw a lot of similarities in the culinary scene there.”
If you’re looking to really live like Carmy and buy just steps from where his fictional apartment is said to be, agent Jordan Euson of Compass is representing a newly built three-unit condominium building at 1723 W North Ave.
The model unit, Unit 4, is listed for $615,000 for two bedrooms, two bathrooms and 1,400 square feet at $439 per square foot. The condos include private decks, hardwood floors, black quartz countertops and Samsung appliances.
According to May Homes.com data, the median sale price in Wicker Park is $780,000. Euson noted he has an upcoming listing starting at $450,000 for two-bedroom condos.
The neighborhood is a welcome mix of buyer types, but those attracted to the area come for the walkability and neighborhood feel, said Euson.
“Pretty much anywhere in Wicker Park, you’re only going to be a couple short blocks from public transportation, whether it’s the Blue Line or a bus stop,” said Euson. “You are going to be walking distance to restaurants on Damen or Division or Milwaukee. There’s endless amounts of dining options and shopping.”
Also nearby is a loft-style two-bedroom condo with 1,400 square feet and a listing price of $549,900.