Best Florist

Super nice ladies who run this shop and exceptional flowers for literally half the price of what you’ll spend downtown. I use them for client closing gifts and for flowers for my own home regularly. Definitely call ahead before coming in as they don’t keep regular hours as they’re out on delivery a lot and close the store when they do.

Not a regular at flower shops, but my experience here was fantastic.
I needed some flowers for my anniversary… some Googling found out that this was a block away. Didn’t see it at first. They lack a sign, and I couldn’t tell if it was open, but don’t let that deter you. It’s there.
When I entered, the very sweet lady working there asked what I was looking for. I explained what my SO liked and did not like, and told her a price range, and she put together a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. I got a bit worried halfway through and reminded her of the cost… she wasn’t even halfway to my price range. Seems much cheaper than other flower shops I’ve been to.
Spoke with the lady further, and she explained that they just purchased the shop (explains the lack of the sign). She also said that they get their flowers fresh cut daily; nothing comes from a fridge like other shops. I don’t know much about flowers, but I believe it. They looked good deal healthier than flowers I’ve purchased at other shops.
The bouquet was beautiful and went over extremely well. Flowers lasted a good while longer than I had expected as well… perhaps due to the freshness?
Bottom line… they’ll be getting my business whenever I need flowers.

Most beautiful roses in all of Chicago at the best prices — really love the remodel also.
Only thing is that if you don’t know it’s there, you probably won’t find it unless the doors are wide open — could use a sign or something to attract more business.
Love my Ukrainian businesses that are still thriving!

We paid for my wedding flowers over three weeks ago in full, after booking the date back in may. Maria, the owner, has known my family for years and assured us we would have beautiful flowers, which I didn’t doubt since ive always loved their flowers and service. We went through several meetings and picked out the flowers from samples that came in. Everything was settled and then My mom realized she forgot to order a few corsages so she called back to update the order about three days later and couldn’t get ahold of Maria. Almost three weeks of phone calls were ignored so we finally stopped in today. We were told Maria was gone, was not coming back, and her order details for me were not going to be honored. They said they might be able to handle the order but would let me know in a few days (i might be able to do it, ive taken a few floral clases, she said) but were most likely going to cancel my order. My mother demanded her money back, which they promptly gave her in the form of a check. Then they said something like «yeah, sorry. It’s a tough wedding date to try to fill and we don’t know who you can find. We can call the guy down the street for you but we don’t really talk to him and he’s not there often.»
This entire thing was shady. They knew weeks ago they were going to drop my order but didn’t tell me until we came in looking for it. And all my details were right there on top of the desk! The unprofessionalism here is astounding and I’ve been left to find a new florist 49 days before my wedding. I cant even find out the name of the flowers she had planned to use because theyre not talking to her and dont plan to talk to her, so they said. They also told us they’re going to be changing the entire way the business is run. I thought it was run fine before and this is certainly not a better business model. I will not be going back there and don’t suggest anyone else does, either.

I was looking for somewhere local and inexpensive to do my wedding flowers last-​minute: centerpieces, bouquet, and boutonnière. I stopped in and spoke with Maria about our day and what I was looking for, which I didn’t really know what I was looking for. She asked to see my dress and invitations to get a feel for the general vibe of the wedding, and I also showed her a picture or two of the reception venue. We talked briefly about different options and I really just kind of left it up to her.
She provided me with a beautiful spray of orchids in a bouquet with coordinating simple orchid centerpieces in modern vases. I picked up the bouquet and boutonnière the morning of the wedding, and the centerpieces are delivered directly to the reception site, which was wonderful.
Best Florist were able to work within my budget and within my short time frame, for which I am exceedingly grateful. I look forward to stopping in from time to time to pick up a fresh bouquet at a treat!

For some reason I cannot (or couldn’t this day) find a florist in Logan Square open early on Saturday. So I Unilocaled and found Best Florist. I drove down Chicago to near the address and walked the rest. There is no sign. None. No address or business sign. Shady, but I am brave.
Inside I was immediately tended to. I looked around and found many beautiful and exotic flowers. Not a ton of selection, but enough to keep someone happy. They were a lot of strange flowers I’d never seen before. The woman (who I assume was the owner) in charge took my hand (not literally) and walked me through a beautiful bouquet for my partner. $ 18 and 15 minutes later, I was on my way.

Come here for all your flowering needs. The owner and family are super duper nice. I’ve been coming here since I was little and they just keep getting nicer.
The flowers are always fresh and the arrangements they put together are always beautiful. What more do you need from a flower joint?
Oh. Price.
It’s always right!

I’ve lived in Chicago’s charming Ukrainian Village for over 8 years, but only recently visited Best Florist. It’s just a few doors west of the fabulous Beauty Skool Dropout (also reviewed), and around the corner from where my husband and I live.
The only thing that Beauty Skool Dropout and Best Florist have in common is Chicago Avenue. And me.
Dropout Skool is a homesick-​for-​London-​esque urban stylin’ joint where girls and guys can drop in for an edgy haircut, 6 hues of blue streaks and a no-​questions-​asked absolution if you let your friend’s drunk boyfriend «play» with your hair.
Best Florist is a modest little shop that quietly waits for patrons. Best stands out for what you won’t find there, as well as for what you will.
Best Florist does NOT tie scores of helium-​charged balloons outside, thank GAWD! Putting balloons in the wind on Chicago Avenue is an overt act of terror. Menacing and unpredictable as circus clowns climbing into the stands, they look fun from afar, but just wait, cause it’s ribbons and rubber and ruined children after that.
No, Best is not a circus. It’s unassuming, unpretentious and old-​world fashioned. They’re ready to serve you when you cross the threshold, but won’t lose sleep if you don’t.
But you should visit Best Florist. I did, right after my haircut at Beauty Skool Dropout. I entered a serene shop dotted with white buckets filled with glorious cut flowers. FRESH flowers. Not yesterday’s cut-​rate carnations. These were generous stems of pillowy white stock, a scent so sublime I could not resist them, pristine buds of the bluest iris, then lilies, more lilies, and velvety roses… yummy.
I was taken aback. I mean I was flat-​out flabbergasted at the freshness and quality of the inventory. Not gorgeous like «gee these are nice,» but gorgeous like Gwyneth Paltrow sends the concierge to Best Florist when she’s in Chicago and «Wait until Oprah finds out about this place» kind of gorgeous. Think I’m kidding?
And then I noticed something else: The shop was filled with ladies, sitting on folding chairs, neither waiting for bouquets to be wrapped nor looking as if they worked there. There must have been six or seven, ranging in age from forty-​five to maybe a hundred and ten. They were chatting, sometimes English, Ukrainian, a bit of Polish for good measure. Two of them worked there, the youngest taking an interest in me, but the oldest watching from the corner chair.
Finally, I spoke. These flowers are so lovely. So fresh! I timidly picked up a stem of stock and bravely asked the price.
I think I came-​to a few minutes later, staring up at expectant faces, with those wide-​set eyes and the telltale Eastern Blok cranium, all crowded ’round me in a circle. For a moment, I flashed on the Beatles «Rubber Soul» album cover.
The old one with the soft, round face had taken off her little triangle scarf and was fanning me gently. There were worried looks and then smiles of relief.
«You not dead! Is good! You eat!» One of them pushed a piece of buttered, hearty bread toward me as I recovered in the folding chair next to a bucket of larkspur. Out of the back room came the young one again, with a small glass of clear liquid, a tube of meat and a sharp knife. I am not a meat lover, but I am a quick study, and my old neighbors Nik and Yanina taught me that to refuse a gesture of this kind is the way to break a human heart. Who am I to question? I ate. I drank.
Hearing the low price for the flowers had sent my blood pressure and me crashing to the floor. Astonishing! One third the price of the other guy’s flowers down the street, and those are wilting and calling for a priest! I mentioned this. No one spoke but the old, soft, loving one. She did not speak ill of him, only that she had heard of a price, that she did not know if it was true. I assured her it was. She nodded. That was that. I wanted to hug her. I may yet.
There is something about ladies hanging out at the flower shop. It’s cozy, it smells good, beautiful things happen there, and the conversation is lively. Maybe Best Florist and Beauty Skool Dropout have more in common than I realized.
Someone working on «The Breakup» said Vince bought posies there for Jen — a Flash Taxi Filled With Posies, mind you — and that sounds so Chicago-​perfect, doesn’t it? That handsome, tall drink of water doesn’t care for balloons either.
As for me, I bought LOTS of flowers, paid the elder, who made change from a small box in her lap. I went outside with my perfect haircut, a passing case of the vapors, and an über-​bouquet of fragrant white stock. Clearly, I had just discovered THE BEST kept FLORIST secret in town.