Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StChicago deep dish!
The place is always packed and there’s usually a wait but it’s easy to understand why people love the pies at Piece. The New Haven style thin-crust pizzas can be customized with red or white sauce and topped with an enormous list of ingredients including mashed potatoes, artichoke hearts, broccoli, clams, meatballs, and more. Plus it's basically across the street from Evolution Music!
488 locals recommend
Piece Brewery
1927 W North AveThe place is always packed and there’s usually a wait but it’s easy to understand why people love the pies at Piece. The New Haven style thin-crust pizzas can be customized with red or white sauce and topped with an enormous list of ingredients including mashed potatoes, artichoke hearts, broccoli, clams, meatballs, and more. Plus it's basically across the street from Evolution Music!
Chicago Deep Dish pizza outside of downtown in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. With exposed brick and plasma-screen TVs, Pequod's is firmly a neighborhood bar. But Pequod's is a bar that serves some of the best pizza in the city.
536 locals recommend
Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn AvenueChicago Deep Dish pizza outside of downtown in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. With exposed brick and plasma-screen TVs, Pequod's is firmly a neighborhood bar. But Pequod's is a bar that serves some of the best pizza in the city.
Artisanal coffee drinks pair with baked goods & sandwiches at this casual cafe with a large patio. I'm addicted to the Nitro Cold Brew!
19 locals recommend
Colectivo Coffee - Logan Square
2261 N Milwaukee AveArtisanal coffee drinks pair with baked goods & sandwiches at this casual cafe with a large patio. I'm addicted to the Nitro Cold Brew!
Quite possibly the best burger in Chicago (maybe the world). Very simple menu: Burgers, fries, shakes.
161 locals recommend
Small Cheval
1732 N Milwaukee AveQuite possibly the best burger in Chicago (maybe the world). Very simple menu: Burgers, fries, shakes.
Kuma's Corner
2900 W Belmont AveHeavy metal themed burger place. I like the "Slayer" burger.
Open for more than 90 years, this vintage candy and ice cream shop allegedly played host to a Beatles ice cream sundae party in 1965.
179 locals recommend
Margie's Candies
1960 N Western AveOpen for more than 90 years, this vintage candy and ice cream shop allegedly played host to a Beatles ice cream sundae party in 1965.
Classic diner serving up hearty breakfast/lunch right next to the train stop.
88 locals recommend
Cozy Corner Restaurant and Pancake House
2294 N Milwaukee AveClassic diner serving up hearty breakfast/lunch right next to the train stop.
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
2051 N California AveModern farm-to-table fine dining with a great whiskey/cocktail selection
830 locals recommend
Longman & Eagle
2657 N Kedzie AveModern farm-to-table fine dining with a great whiskey/cocktail selection
Inventive, market-driven food in a casual, funky space that hosts an especially popular brunch
936 locals recommend
Lula Cafe
2537 N Kedzie BlvdInventive, market-driven food in a casual, funky space that hosts an especially popular brunch
Hippest (non Chicago style) pizza place in town with lots of craft beer, and a great beer garden
152 locals recommend
The Boiler Room
2210 North California AvenueHippest (non Chicago style) pizza place in town with lots of craft beer, and a great beer garden
Dunkin'
2565 W Fullerton AveIt's very close and convenient.
Lively, chef-driven pub fair. If you like dark beers try the Eugene Porter!
724 locals recommend
Revolution Brewing - Brewpub
2323 N Milwaukee AveLively, chef-driven pub fair. If you like dark beers try the Eugene Porter!
Drinks & Nightlife
Nationally recognized, award-winning craft cocktail bar with lots of cozy nooks and comfortable seating.
584 locals recommend
Scofflaw
3201 W Armitage AveNationally recognized, award-winning craft cocktail bar with lots of cozy nooks and comfortable seating.
Live music, comedy & open-mike nights are showcased at this laid-back neighborhood dive
70 locals recommend
Cole's Bar
2338 N Milwaukee AveLive music, comedy & open-mike nights are showcased at this laid-back neighborhood dive
Open til 4am most days; 5am Saturdays. Good cocktails, craft beer, hipster dance party in back.
106 locals recommend
The Owl
2521 N Milwaukee AveOpen til 4am most days; 5am Saturdays. Good cocktails, craft beer, hipster dance party in back.
Red-lit bar with a DJ booth & dance floor plus cocktails in bottles, Skee-Ball & lots of beer.
127 locals recommend
Slippery Slope
2357 N Milwaukee AveRed-lit bar with a DJ booth & dance floor plus cocktails in bottles, Skee-Ball & lots of beer.
Emporium Logan Square
2363 N Milwaukee AvePlenty of pool tables, pinball, and air hockey
A 1920s pharmacy with an old-school look sets the stage for crafty takes on classic cocktails
57 locals recommend
Spilt Milk
811 South BlvdA 1920s pharmacy with an old-school look sets the stage for crafty takes on classic cocktails
Late-night blues club with a casual crowd of adults enjoying music & drinks. Live music 7 nights a week!
25 locals recommend
Blue Chicago
536 N Clark StLate-night blues club with a casual crowd of adults enjoying music & drinks. Live music 7 nights a week!
Sightseeing
The Mag Mile is Chicago’s premier commercial district. The vibrant, bustling area is home to upscale shops, luxe fashion outlets, cool restaurants and posh hotels. Landmarks include the historic Chicago Water Tower, the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower, the terracotta Wrigley Building skyscraper and the 100-story John Hancock Center, which has a rooftop observation deck with fine dining and panoramic city views.
598 locals recommend
Hot Tix - Mag Mile Location
The Mag Mile is Chicago’s premier commercial district. The vibrant, bustling area is home to upscale shops, luxe fashion outlets, cool restaurants and posh hotels. Landmarks include the historic Chicago Water Tower, the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower, the terracotta Wrigley Building skyscraper and the 100-story John Hancock Center, which has a rooftop observation deck with fine dining and panoramic city views.
Open year-round, Navy Pier's Centennial Wheel is an iconic part of the Chicago skyline.
933 locals recommend
Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveOpen year-round, Navy Pier's Centennial Wheel is an iconic part of the Chicago skyline.
Crazy awesome view from the Sears Tower (technically called the Willis Tower but will forever be known as the Sears Tower to Chicagoans!)
124 locals recommend
Skydeck Chicago
233 S Wacker DrCrazy awesome view from the Sears Tower (technically called the Willis Tower but will forever be known as the Sears Tower to Chicagoans!)
Take the obligatory selfie with "the bean." There are occasional free concerts and movies in the park in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter.
1243 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StTake the obligatory selfie with "the bean." There are occasional free concerts and movies in the park in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter.
Parks & Nature
Haas Park
2402 N Washtenaw AveVery nice park for kids right down the street.
A 2.7 mile elevated multi-use trail and park that connects neighborhood after neighborhood in the heart of Chicago
241 locals recommend
The 606
1805 North Ridgeway AvenueA 2.7 mile elevated multi-use trail and park that connects neighborhood after neighborhood in the heart of Chicago
North Avenue Beach
My favorite Chicago beach!
The surrounding neighborhood of this conservatory isn't very nice but inside it's one of the prettiest places in Chicago.
258 locals recommend
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park AveThe surrounding neighborhood of this conservatory isn't very nice but inside it's one of the prettiest places in Chicago.
Arts & Culture
Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lake Shore DrThe Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveThe Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore DrChicago History Museum
1601 N Clark StShopping
Shameless self promotion. This is my own business. We buy/sell/trade used instruments and gear!
8 locals recommend
Evolution Music
2621 W Fullerton AveShameless self promotion. This is my own business. We buy/sell/trade used instruments and gear!
Essentials
7-Eleven
958 W Diversey PkwyFresh Market Place
2134 N Western AveTarget
4466 N Broadway