Ben's Guidebook

Ben
Ben's Guidebook

Neighborhoods

20 locals recommend
West Town
20 locals recommend
30 locals recommend
Ukrainian Village
30 locals recommend
371 locals recommend
Wicker Park
1425 N Damen Ave
371 locals recommend

Food scene

71 locals recommend
Dark Matter Coffee - The Mothership
738 N Western Ave
71 locals recommend
135 locals recommend
Star Lounge Coffee Bar (Dark Matter Coffee)
2521 W Chicago Ave
135 locals recommend
One of the top sushi restaurants in Chicago just a short walk away
87 locals recommend
KAI ZAN
2557 W Chicago Ave
87 locals recommend
One of the top sushi restaurants in Chicago just a short walk away
Casual sports bar with trivia and pool tables
39 locals recommend
The Beetle Bar and Grill
2532 West Chicago Avenue
39 locals recommend
Casual sports bar with trivia and pool tables
American food, chicken and craft cocktails
19 locals recommend
Split-Rail
2500 W Chicago Ave
19 locals recommend
American food, chicken and craft cocktails
Breakfast burritos, coffee and lattes
7 locals recommend
Cafe Ballou
939 N Western Ave
7 locals recommend
Breakfast burritos, coffee and lattes
Steak house, they also have a great beef sandwich lunch special
57 locals recommend
BoeufHaus
1012 N Western Ave
57 locals recommend
Steak house, they also have a great beef sandwich lunch special
BYOB (bring your own beverage/booze) for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
128 locals recommend
Bite Cafe
1039 N Western Ave
128 locals recommend
BYOB (bring your own beverage/booze) for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Brewpup and sports bar
59 locals recommend
Fatpour Tap Works - Wicker Park
2005 W Division St
59 locals recommend
Brewpup and sports bar
Pizza and brunch
73 locals recommend
Parlor Pizza Bar Wicker Park
1824 W Division St
73 locals recommend
Pizza and brunch
Casual BBQ with live music
116 locals recommend
Smoke Daddy BBQ - Wicker Park
1804 W Division St
116 locals recommend
Casual BBQ with live music
Late night food or a spot for a Chicago style hot dog
62 locals recommend
Fatso's Last Stand
2258 W Chicago Ave
62 locals recommend
Late night food or a spot for a Chicago style hot dog
Fancy Brunch and cocktails
78 locals recommend
Beatnik
1604 W Chicago Ave
78 locals recommend
Fancy Brunch and cocktails
Deep dish pizza
519 locals recommend
Giordano's
5311 S Blackstone Ave
519 locals recommend
Deep dish pizza
Casual and creative pizza
51 locals recommend
Happy Camper Pizzeria
1209 N Wells St
51 locals recommend
Casual and creative pizza
Hot dogs and Italian beefs
270 locals recommend
Portillo's Hot Dogs
100 W Ontario St
270 locals recommend
Hot dogs and Italian beefs
Deep dish pizza with butter crust
513 locals recommend
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State St
513 locals recommend
Deep dish pizza with butter crust
Oldest pub in Chicago
20 locals recommend
Marge's Still
1758 N Sedgwick St
20 locals recommend
Oldest pub in Chicago
Tapas brunch, lunch and dinner, with sangria and a Bloody Mary bar
152 locals recommend
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
2024 N Halsted St
152 locals recommend
Tapas brunch, lunch and dinner, with sangria and a Bloody Mary bar
Deep dish pizza
59 locals recommend
Gino's East
162 E Superior St
59 locals recommend
Deep dish pizza
Dim sum in China town
9 locals recommend
Triple Crown Restaurant
2217 S Wentworth Ave
9 locals recommend
Dim sum in China town
Good and lots of games
18 locals recommend
Punch Bowl Social Chicago
310 N Green St
18 locals recommend
Good and lots of games
17 locals recommend
Thai Lagoon
2322 W North Ave
17 locals recommend
Mexican street food with large outside patio
1176 locals recommend
Big Star
1531 N Damen Ave
1176 locals recommend
Mexican street food with large outside patio
Dessert restaurant
108 locals recommend
Mindy’s HotChocolate
1623 N Damen Ave
108 locals recommend
Dessert restaurant

Sightseeing

Cafe on the Humboldt park pond
15 locals recommend
Boathouse Cafe
North Humboldt Drive
15 locals recommend
Cafe on the Humboldt park pond
Iconic baseball home of the Chicago Cubs
1004 locals recommend
Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison St
1004 locals recommend
Iconic baseball home of the Chicago Cubs
Free for all. Great walking and sights of the skyline
1117 locals recommend
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark St
1117 locals recommend
Free for all. Great walking and sights of the skyline
During the summer, very active beachside
338 locals recommend
North Avenue Beach
338 locals recommend
During the summer, very active beachside
360 observation deck
295 locals recommend
875 North Michigan Avenue
875 N Michigan Ave
295 locals recommend
360 observation deck
Riverside walk downtown
273 locals recommend
Chicago Riverwalk
306-370 W Wacker Dr
273 locals recommend
Riverside walk downtown
Ice skating in the winter, playground, rock climbing wall
175 locals recommend
Maggie Daley Park
337 E Randolph St
175 locals recommend
Ice skating in the winter, playground, rock climbing wall
219 locals recommend
Buckingham Fountain
301 S Columbus Dr
219 locals recommend
“The Bean”
473 locals recommend
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph St
473 locals recommend
“The Bean”
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave
1159 locals recommend
673 locals recommend
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore Dr
673 locals recommend
657 locals recommend
The Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore Dr
657 locals recommend
393 locals recommend
Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lake Shore Dr
393 locals recommend
Home of the Chicago Bears football team
300 locals recommend
Soldier Field
1410 Special Olympics Dr
300 locals recommend
Home of the Chicago Bears football team

Traveler advice

Getting around

Bus and Train

You can purchase a CTA pass at the airport or also at nearby stores. There is a CVS store on Chicago Ave just a short walk away. You can get a day pass or load an amount of money on the card. This card can be used for both the bus and train ‘L’