Guidebook for Chicago
Everything Else
United Center
Concerts, Bulls, Black Hawks, etc...
Lakefront Park with great facilities and attractions, including the famous "bean" and free concerts.
1243 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StLakefront Park with great facilities and attractions, including the famous "bean" and free concerts.
Great nightlife, restaurants, and shops.
10 minute drive and along the "blue line" elevated train.
371 locals recommend
Wicker Park
1425 N Damen AveGreat nightlife, restaurants, and shops.
10 minute drive and along the "blue line" elevated train.
Arts & Culture
A great neighborhood for bars, restaurants and cafes. A quick 10 minute bus ride North on the bus route right at the corner.
174 locals recommend
Logan Square
A great neighborhood for bars, restaurants and cafes. A quick 10 minute bus ride North on the bus route right at the corner.
Nightly Digital art show on one of the worlds largest buildings. Just take the green line train downtown and sit on the riverwalk to enjoy the show.
Art on The Mart
222 W Merchandise Mart PlazaNightly Digital art show on one of the worlds largest buildings. Just take the green line train downtown and sit on the riverwalk to enjoy the show.
Sightseeing
Beautiful turn of the century conservatory. Lots of events inside and outside on the great lawn. A 10 minute walk straight west.
258 locals recommend
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park AveBeautiful turn of the century conservatory. Lots of events inside and outside on the great lawn. A 10 minute walk straight west.
A lake front cluster of all the major museums. Art, Aquarium, Natural History, Space. All in a beautiful park setting. Easily reach by the green line train 1 block south.
65 locals recommend
Museum Campus
A lake front cluster of all the major museums. Art, Aquarium, Natural History, Space. All in a beautiful park setting. Easily reach by the green line train 1 block south.
The "Original" heart of the retail and theater district. There is a ton of shopping and restaurant options as well as the iconic "Chicago Theater"
7 locals recommend
North State Street
North State StreetThe "Original" heart of the retail and theater district. There is a ton of shopping and restaurant options as well as the iconic "Chicago Theater"
Take the green line downtown and walk over to the beautiful riverwalk. You can stroll all the way to the lakefront and back.
273 locals recommend
Chicago Riverwalk
306-370 W Wacker DrTake the green line downtown and walk over to the beautiful riverwalk. You can stroll all the way to the lakefront and back.
Rides, Food, Great views, and a "fireworks show" every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the summer.
933 locals recommend
Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveRides, Food, Great views, and a "fireworks show" every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the summer.
Shopping
One of the greatest concentrations of designer retail shops and vertical urban malls in the world. 15 minutes on the green line train that is just 1 block south.
31 locals recommend
North Michigan Avenue
North Michigan AvenueOne of the greatest concentrations of designer retail shops and vertical urban malls in the world. 15 minutes on the green line train that is just 1 block south.
The closest "Real" grocery store. A quick bus ride north on the #52 Kedzie/California bus, or about a 10 minute walk.
131 locals recommend
Aldi
3363 N Milwaukee AveThe closest "Real" grocery store. A quick bus ride north on the #52 Kedzie/California bus, or about a 10 minute walk.
Food Scene
This is a nice little cafe that is right across the street in a new state of the art community center. Coffee, espresso drinks, sandwiches, pastries, etc. It even has free wi-fi. Open 7am-2pm M-F and 9am-2pm on Saturday.
Bridge Cafe
3219 W Carroll AveThis is a nice little cafe that is right across the street in a new state of the art community center. Coffee, espresso drinks, sandwiches, pastries, etc. It even has free wi-fi. Open 7am-2pm M-F and 9am-2pm on Saturday.
Unique Colonial Indian/British food with great cocktails and a relaxed pub atmosphere.
65 locals recommend
Pub Royale
2049 W Division StUnique Colonial Indian/British food with great cocktails and a relaxed pub atmosphere.
Stephanie Izard's Iconic first restaurant. Well worth the wait to get in. Just off the "Morgan" stop of the green line. Award winning restaurant with unique spins on contemporary food.
496 locals recommend
Girl & The Goat
809 W Randolph StStephanie Izard's Iconic first restaurant. Well worth the wait to get in. Just off the "Morgan" stop of the green line. Award winning restaurant with unique spins on contemporary food.
Great food, great beers, a great space. An overall awesome spot. Just 15 minutes North if you take the #52 Kedzie bus.
724 locals recommend
Revolution Brewing - Brewpub
2323 N Milwaukee AveGreat food, great beers, a great space. An overall awesome spot. Just 15 minutes North if you take the #52 Kedzie bus.
The Gage
24 S Michigan AveGreat downtown choice for high-end pub grub and more.
An amazing experience! A great restaurant and live music bar in the middle of a massive working brewery. Great beer too!
125 locals recommend
Lagunitas Brewing Company
2607 W 17th StAn amazing experience! A great restaurant and live music bar in the middle of a massive working brewery. Great beer too!
A great neighborhood bar and grill with great Video-Tech inspired decor. Great nightly specials including a wood-fired pizza and PBR tall boy for $7 on Monday. In the heart of the Pilsen arts district.
151 locals recommend
Simone's
960 W 18th StA great neighborhood bar and grill with great Video-Tech inspired decor. Great nightly specials including a wood-fired pizza and PBR tall boy for $7 on Monday. In the heart of the Pilsen arts district.
Iconic Chicago breakfast joint. Fresh made everything. There will be a line, but it will be worth the wait and you get free doughnut holes while waiting.
23 locals recommend
Lou Mitchell's
565 W Jackson BlvdIconic Chicago breakfast joint. Fresh made everything. There will be a line, but it will be worth the wait and you get free doughnut holes while waiting.
Great Puerto Rican food in an amazing spot overlooking the scenic duck pond in the heart of Humboldt park. A quick bus ride north (#52) or a nice walk along the boulevards and through the park.
15 locals recommend
Boathouse Cafe
North Humboldt DriveGreat Puerto Rican food in an amazing spot overlooking the scenic duck pond in the heart of Humboldt park. A quick bus ride north (#52) or a nice walk along the boulevards and through the park.
Bustling and dynamic at all hours. Everything on the menu is fantastic at this pan-asian spot. Don't miss the best bubble-tea selection in the city. It's right off the Red-Line train at the chinatown stop.
52 locals recommend
Joy Yee
2139 S China PlBustling and dynamic at all hours. Everything on the menu is fantastic at this pan-asian spot. Don't miss the best bubble-tea selection in the city. It's right off the Red-Line train at the chinatown stop.
My favorite of the many "Chicago Style" pizza places. This West Loop location is huge and in a really cool space. Half way between the "Ashland" and "Morgan" stop on the Green-Line train.
513 locals recommend
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StMy favorite of the many "Chicago Style" pizza places. This West Loop location is huge and in a really cool space. Half way between the "Ashland" and "Morgan" stop on the Green-Line train.
Just a few blocks walk west and south. This is a chef run training restaurant that helps get people off the streets by teaching them kitchen and hospitality skills and helping to place them in life changing new jobs. The food is top quality at a very reasonable price. A very worthy cause and tasty dining experience.
30 locals recommend
Inspiration Kitchens
3504 W Lake StJust a few blocks walk west and south. This is a chef run training restaurant that helps get people off the streets by teaching them kitchen and hospitality skills and helping to place them in life changing new jobs. The food is top quality at a very reasonable price. A very worthy cause and tasty dining experience.
Great pizza at a great value. PBJ special: a giant slice of pizza, a PBR tall-boy, and a shot of Jameson for $8! Just a quick bus ride north to the "California" El stop.
152 locals recommend
The Boiler Room
2210 North California AvenueGreat pizza at a great value. PBJ special: a giant slice of pizza, a PBR tall-boy, and a shot of Jameson for $8! Just a quick bus ride north to the "California" El stop.
A quick bus ride north on the #52 Kedzie/California bus. Great spot for drinks and light eating.
173 locals recommend
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
954 North California AvenueA quick bus ride north on the #52 Kedzie/California bus. Great spot for drinks and light eating.
Rotisserie chicken and down home cooking with a funky feel. Great value. A quick bus ride north and a little west on the #52 Kedzie/California bus.
63 locals recommend
Feed
2803 W Chicago AveRotisserie chicken and down home cooking with a funky feel. Great value. A quick bus ride north and a little west on the #52 Kedzie/California bus.
This brew pub has some of the best pub food around. Great outdoor seating and occasional live music and theater in the back room.
47 locals recommend
Haymarket Pub & Brewery
737 W Randolph StThis brew pub has some of the best pub food around. Great outdoor seating and occasional live music and theater in the back room.
Drinks & Nightlife
Queen Mary
2125 W Division StA quick bus ride north on the #52 Kedzie/California bus.
Awesome former 1940's supper club with great cocktails, local music and a very chill , but hip crowd.
180 locals recommend
The California Clipper
1002 North California AvenueA quick bus ride north on the #52 Kedzie/California bus.
Awesome former 1940's supper club with great cocktails, local music and a very chill , but hip crowd.
Great "off the beaten path" Neighborhood bar with a cool local crowd. Open until 4am weeknights and 5am Friday and Saturday. A quick bus ride north and a little west on the #52 Kedzie/California bus.
31 locals recommend
Continental Lounge
2801 W Chicago AveGreat "off the beaten path" Neighborhood bar with a cool local crowd. Open until 4am weeknights and 5am Friday and Saturday. A quick bus ride north and a little west on the #52 Kedzie/California bus.
The quintessential "Blues Bar."
Not to be missed. Pretty good Cajun food at a take-out window in the back also. Get there early if you want a seat. Multiple stages and shows every night.
458 locals recommend
Kingston Mines
2548 N Halsted StThe quintessential "Blues Bar."
Not to be missed. Pretty good Cajun food at a take-out window in the back also. Get there early if you want a seat. Multiple stages and shows every night.
An old school, hole-in-the-wall "Blues Bar." Get there early if you want a seat.
101 locals recommend
Rosa's Lounge
3420 W Armitage AveAn old school, hole-in-the-wall "Blues Bar." Get there early if you want a seat.
A Chicago classic. 1920's era Jazz bar. It looks just like it did when Al Capone used to hang out there. Get there early and grab a booth or a seat at the bar. Gets very crowded later.
471 locals recommend
The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayA Chicago classic. 1920's era Jazz bar. It looks just like it did when Al Capone used to hang out there. Get there early and grab a booth or a seat at the bar. Gets very crowded later.
A great "Tiki Bar." The drinks aren't cheap, but it's hard to find a more perfect tiki drink.
356 locals recommend
Lost Lake
3154 W Diversey AveA great "Tiki Bar." The drinks aren't cheap, but it's hard to find a more perfect tiki drink.
Entertainment & Activities
Inside it is mostly a mall with a pretty good food area and an iMax movie theater. Outside there are rides; Including the 150 ft ferris wheel, a carousel and lots of boat tour options. The beer garden at the far end offers a great view of the skyline and lakefront. All summer there is a fireworks display every Wednesday and Saturday night.
933 locals recommend
Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveInside it is mostly a mall with a pretty good food area and an iMax movie theater. Outside there are rides; Including the 150 ft ferris wheel, a carousel and lots of boat tour options. The beer garden at the far end offers a great view of the skyline and lakefront. All summer there is a fireworks display every Wednesday and Saturday night.