Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Delicious breakfasts and lunch. They have a very creative menu. Expect to wait a bit on weekends.
27 locals recommend
Yolk - River North
747 N Wells StDelicious breakfasts and lunch. They have a very creative menu. Expect to wait a bit on weekends.
Bella Luna Cafe
731 N Dearborn StFamily style Italian food, very well priced.
Pizano's Pizza & Pasta
61 E Madison StGet some Chicago deep dish!
Fabcakes
714 N Wells StIndependent coffeeshop
Karyn's Cooked
738 N Wells StDelicious homemade vegan meals. Try the "meat"ball sub or the BBQ ribs.
Styled like a 50s diner, this is the kind of place where the waiters make fun of you and you have to take it.
Ed Debevic's
159 E Ohio StStyled like a 50s diner, this is the kind of place where the waiters make fun of you and you have to take it.
Great pizza and a really fun atmosphere. Bring a marker to write on the walls-- no seriously!
16 locals recommend
Gino's East - River North
514 N LaSalle DrGreat pizza and a really fun atmosphere. Bring a marker to write on the walls-- no seriously!
Giordano's
5311 S Blackstone AveMore Chicago deep dish!
Eggsperience Cafe
35 W Ontario StFantastic breakfasts, especially pancakes and waffles
Even more Chicago pizza-- Lou's isn't as thick and heavy as some of the other deep dish places
513 locals recommend
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StEven more Chicago pizza-- Lou's isn't as thick and heavy as some of the other deep dish places
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
661 North La Salle DriveBrazilian churrascaria steakhouse
Café Iberico
737 N LaSalle DrTasty selection of tapas and drinks
Portillo's Hot Dogs
100 W Ontario StGet a traditional Chicago-style hot dog here
Mercadito
108 W Kinzie StUnique, modern approach to tacos
Carnivale
702 West Fulton StreetA truly impressive Brazilian fusion restaurant with fantastic cocktails
Shaw's Crab House
21 E Hubbard StAll kinds of seafood dishes and tasty sides
Smith & Wollensky - Chicago
318 N State StSerious steaks and serious prices
Rick Bayless' take on Mexican street food-- try the churros. Next door to upscale sister restaurants Frontera Grill and Topolobampo.
40 locals recommend
XOCO
65 N Clark StRick Bayless' take on Mexican street food-- try the churros. Next door to upscale sister restaurants Frontera Grill and Topolobampo.
Frontera Grill
445 N Clark StUpscale Mexican-American fare and drinks
Everything is good here. Try my favorite cocktail, El Bigote Famoso. It's perfection!
16 locals recommend
Zapatista
1307 South Wabash AvenueEverything is good here. Try my favorite cocktail, El Bigote Famoso. It's perfection!
Pho 888
1137 W Argyle StDelicious pho soup right off the Red line Argyle stop
Swedish breakfasts (pancakes and cinnamon rolls) right off the Belmont red line stop
109 locals recommend
Ann Sather Restaurant
909 W Belmont AveSwedish breakfasts (pancakes and cinnamon rolls) right off the Belmont red line stop
Joy Yee
2139 S China PlA mile long menu of excellent Asian cuisine and smoothies
Chicago Diner
3411 N Halsted StCreative vegetarian fare that even meat eaters will like
Think simple
770 N LaSalle DrCoffee, tea, and pastries
Revolution Brewing - Brewpub
2323 N Milwaukee AveFantastic brew pub with great food and hoppy beers.
One of my favorite pizza places in Chicago. A different kind of deep dish than other places. Make a reservation, it's a small place!
536 locals recommend
Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn AvenueOne of my favorite pizza places in Chicago. A different kind of deep dish than other places. Make a reservation, it's a small place!
Essentials
Walmart Express
225 West Chicago AvenueGroceries, pharmacy, and other basics
Jewel-Osco
3531 N BroadwayThe biggest grocery store in the neighborhood
Treasure Island Foods
Great produce and international cuisine groceries
Drinks & Nightlife
Farmhouse Chicago
228 W Chicago AveGastro pub featuring craft brews
This entire stretch of Division is a late night mecca. All bars, all night.
14 locals recommend
Mother's Too
14 W Division StThis entire stretch of Division is a late night mecca. All bars, all night.
Luxbar
18 E Bellevue PlGood beer selection, tasty burgers, and an awesome bloody mary.
My favorite dive bar in Chicago. Cheap drink prices and live entertainment abound!
12 locals recommend
Lizard's Liquid Lounge
3058 W Irving Park RdMy favorite dive bar in Chicago. Cheap drink prices and live entertainment abound!
Friendly local bar with a great beer selection
13 locals recommend
Clark Street Ale House - River North
742 N Clark StFriendly local bar with a great beer selection
Kerryman Irish Bar & Restaurant
661 N Clark StAn upscale Irish pub
Fado Irish Pub
100 W Grand AveLocal Irish pub with great Guinness pints
Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House
1024 N Rush StSteaks, seafood, and a fun atmosphere
Very upscale steakhouse featuring some of the best cuts in the city
146 locals recommend
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
1028 N Rush StVery upscale steakhouse featuring some of the best cuts in the city
BIN 36 Restaurant and Wine Bar
161 N Jefferson StA classy wine bar
One of the best restaurants in town. Outstanding food, wonderful drinks at Punch House downstairs, and live music at Thalia Hall
156 locals recommend
Dusek's Board & Beer
1227 W 18th StOne of the best restaurants in town. Outstanding food, wonderful drinks at Punch House downstairs, and live music at Thalia Hall
Tiki bar with creative, delicious drinks. It is a hidden gem-- enter through the alley in the back.
125 locals recommend
Three Dots and a Dash
435 N Clark StTiki bar with creative, delicious drinks. It is a hidden gem-- enter through the alley in the back.
What can be better than beer and classic arcade & pinball games? Oh, the games are free too! NEW LOCATION opening in River North at 213 W Institute in August 2014!
60 locals recommend
Headquarters Beercade
2833 North Sheffield AvenueWhat can be better than beer and classic arcade & pinball games? Oh, the games are free too! NEW LOCATION opening in River North at 213 W Institute in August 2014!
The newest location of Headquarters Beercade! Free classic arcade games, pinball, craft beer and a full kitchen of food!
213 W Institute Pl
213 West Institute PlaceThe newest location of Headquarters Beercade! Free classic arcade games, pinball, craft beer and a full kitchen of food!
Take a tour of the brewery and enjoy all kinds of Revolution's best beers. This space is huge and great for groups. No food, but you can bring take out
101 locals recommend
Revolution Brewing - Brewery & Taproom
3340 N Kedzie AveTake a tour of the brewery and enjoy all kinds of Revolution's best beers. This space is huge and great for groups. No food, but you can bring take out
Shopping
Open Books
651 W Lake StThe most awesome used books store that supports literacy programs!
CVS
2427 W Chicago AveGet medicine, snacks, whatever. Open 24 hours
Some of the best shopping in Chicago, check out the beautiful architecture
598 locals recommend
Hot Tix - Mag Mile Location
Some of the best shopping in Chicago, check out the beautiful architecture
Paper Source
3543 N Southport AvePaper shop with cute gifts, cards, and books
Everything Else
Water Tower Place
835 Michigan AveFamous upscale Chicago shopping mall.
Beautiful theater in Millennium Park. During the summer there are free concerts on Monday and Thursday nights-- always fun! Also free movies too.
52 locals recommend
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
201 E Randolph StBeautiful theater in Millennium Park. During the summer there are free concerts on Monday and Thursday nights-- always fun! Also free movies too.
One of the best views of Chicago can be seen from the Signature Lounge. Stop by for a drink at sunset.
295 locals recommend
875 North Michigan Avenue
875 N Michigan AveOne of the best views of Chicago can be seen from the Signature Lounge. Stop by for a drink at sunset.
No Ferris Bueller reenactment is complete without a trip to this wonderful museum. The new wing is beautiful and the permanent exhibits are classic.
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveNo Ferris Bueller reenactment is complete without a trip to this wonderful museum. The new wing is beautiful and the permanent exhibits are classic.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore DrOne of the best aquariums in the country!
Want to know everything about everything? Then go to the Field. It's huge, you might need a few days!
657 locals recommend
The Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore DrWant to know everything about everything? Then go to the Field. It's huge, you might need a few days!
Learn everything about the cosmos in their fun, nerdy exhibits.
393 locals recommend
Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lake Shore DrLearn everything about the cosmos in their fun, nerdy exhibits.
Great place to walk or bike and take some beautiful photos of the Chicago skyline.
332 locals recommend
Grant Park
337 E Randolph StGreat place to walk or bike and take some beautiful photos of the Chicago skyline.
The famous bean! No trip to Chicago is complete without a photo of your reflection in the bean.
473 locals recommend
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph StThe famous bean! No trip to Chicago is complete without a photo of your reflection in the bean.
A fantastic museum! It's a little out of the way but totally worth it. Catch the #10 museum express bus at Water Tower Place
483 locals recommend
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S Lake Shore DrA fantastic museum! It's a little out of the way but totally worth it. Catch the #10 museum express bus at Water Tower Place
Sprinkles Chicago
50 E Walton StStop in for a tasty treat or try their cupcake ATM
Yoga Now
742 N LaSalle StJoin a yoga class or get a massage at this welcoming studio
Home of the Cubs, a very picturesque ball park right in the middle of the city. Catch a game if you can.
1004 locals recommend
Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison StHome of the Cubs, a very picturesque ball park right in the middle of the city. Catch a game if you can.
The home of the White Sox, easily accessible from the Red Line. Catch a game!
33 locals recommend
U.S. Cellular Field
The home of the White Sox, easily accessible from the Red Line. Catch a game!
Arts & Culture
Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveGreat exhibits, great location
Underground Wonder Bar
710 North Clark StreetLive music (often jazz and blues) every night
Schubas Tavern
3159 N Southport AveOne of my favorite venues with live music every night
Metro
3730 N Clark StLarge music venue with nightly regional and local acts
Sightseeing
On a clear day, the view is pretty spectacular. Now officially called the Willis Tower, to every Chicagoan it will always be the Sears Tower.
124 locals recommend
Skydeck Chicago
233 S Wacker DrOn a clear day, the view is pretty spectacular. Now officially called the Willis Tower, to every Chicagoan it will always be the Sears Tower.
Great views of the city, the Children's Museum, fun shops, and an IMAX theater
933 locals recommend
Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveGreat views of the city, the Children's Museum, fun shops, and an IMAX theater
Chinatown
Chinatown has fantastic restaurants and beautiful architecture!