Guidebook for Chicago

Jodi
Guidebook for Chicago

Food Scene

Upscale Italian seafood restaurant by star chef and James Beard award winner Paul Kahan. If you're not up for dinner, check out the amazing living wall at the bar and handcrafted cocktails.
26 localnici recomandă
Nico Osteria
1015 N Rush St
26 localnici recomandă
Upscale Italian seafood restaurant by star chef and James Beard award winner Paul Kahan. If you're not up for dinner, check out the amazing living wall at the bar and handcrafted cocktails.
Are you looking for a contemporary, unique steakhouse experience with decor straight out of the roaring 20's? Bavettes is your place. The food is great, but the ambiance is truly special.
79 localnici recomandă
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
218 W Kinzie St
79 localnici recomandă
Are you looking for a contemporary, unique steakhouse experience with decor straight out of the roaring 20's? Bavettes is your place. The food is great, but the ambiance is truly special.
Cute Greek breakfast and brunch restaurant on quaint Wells Street in Old Town.
110 localnici recomandă
Kanela Breakfast Club
3231 N Clark St
110 localnici recomandă
Cute Greek breakfast and brunch restaurant on quaint Wells Street in Old Town.
Killer barbecue in a lovely setting. Fireplace in the bar. Outdoor patio available.
46 localnici recomandă
Chicago Q
1160 N Dearborn St
46 localnici recomandă
Killer barbecue in a lovely setting. Fireplace in the bar. Outdoor patio available.
Best authentic Greek food in Chicago.
50 localnici recomandă
Greek Islands
200 S Halsted St
50 localnici recomandă
Best authentic Greek food in Chicago.
Fantastic Spanish cuisine with a well-curated wine list by sommelier owner.
7 localnici recomandă
Vera Chicago
1023 West Lake Street
7 localnici recomandă
Fantastic Spanish cuisine with a well-curated wine list by sommelier owner.
Fast casual taco joint with innovative options. Try the Cuban pig taco and the tater tots.
46 localnici recomandă
Velvet Taco
1110 N State St
46 localnici recomandă
Fast casual taco joint with innovative options. Try the Cuban pig taco and the tater tots.
Wood-fire pizzas sizzling before your eyes.
10 localnici recomandă
Dinotto (Pasta e Pizza)
1551 N Wells St
10 localnici recomandă
Wood-fire pizzas sizzling before your eyes.
One of two Mexican restaurants in the city with Wine Spectator's Best Award of Excellence. Delicious food in an upscale white tablecloth restaurant.
6 localnici recomandă
Salpicon
1252 North Wells Street
6 localnici recomandă
One of two Mexican restaurants in the city with Wine Spectator's Best Award of Excellence. Delicious food in an upscale white tablecloth restaurant.
Star Chef Rick Bayless's sandwich and soup shop. Try the Ahogada Torta (carnitas, black bean, tomato chile broth), and don't miss the guacamole.
40 localnici recomandă
XOCO
65 N Clark St
40 localnici recomandă
Star Chef Rick Bayless's sandwich and soup shop. Try the Ahogada Torta (carnitas, black bean, tomato chile broth), and don't miss the guacamole.
Star Chef Rick Bayless's sit down restaurant. Best margarita's in the city. Expect a long wait--they do not take reservations--but it is worth the wait. Alternatively, go next door to Xoco.
38 localnici recomandă
Frontera Grill
445 N Clark St
38 localnici recomandă
Star Chef Rick Bayless's sit down restaurant. Best margarita's in the city. Expect a long wait--they do not take reservations--but it is worth the wait. Alternatively, go next door to Xoco.
A Chicago classic: expect perfect service, a beautiful setting, and innovative food. James Beard Award winner.
29 localnici recomandă
Blackbird Restaurant
619 W Randolph St
29 localnici recomandă
A Chicago classic: expect perfect service, a beautiful setting, and innovative food. James Beard Award winner.
Old-school upscale food in an English gentry setting: dark wood, and framed photos of hunting dogs. Top of the line service, white tablecloth. Note the bar is very small.
18 localnici recomandă
RL Restaurant
115 E Chicago Ave
18 localnici recomandă
Old-school upscale food in an English gentry setting: dark wood, and framed photos of hunting dogs. Top of the line service, white tablecloth. Note the bar is very small.
Classic steakhouse atmosphere. Great stone crabs. Consistently good service.
30 localnici recomandă
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
60 E Grand Ave
30 localnici recomandă
Classic steakhouse atmosphere. Great stone crabs. Consistently good service.
Our favorite Chicago-style pizza.
59 localnici recomandă
Gino's East
162 E Superior St
59 localnici recomandă
Our favorite Chicago-style pizza.
Great deal: $5 bloody mary bar on weekends, great brunch and burgers. Crowded, noisy atmosphere.
17 localnici recomandă
Rockit Bar & Grill
22 W Hubbard St
17 localnici recomandă
Great deal: $5 bloody mary bar on weekends, great brunch and burgers. Crowded, noisy atmosphere.
Wine and dine with Chicago politicians and stars. Beautiful outdoor patio overlooking the Chicago River. Reservations highly recommended.
29 localnici recomandă
Chicago Cut Steakhouse
300 N LaSalle Dr
29 localnici recomandă
Wine and dine with Chicago politicians and stars. Beautiful outdoor patio overlooking the Chicago River. Reservations highly recommended.
Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard's restaurant lives up to the hype. Reservations required weeks in advance, but take it from the locals, full menu is also available at the bar and lounge.
496 localnici recomandă
Girl & The Goat
809 W Randolph St
496 localnici recomandă
Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard's restaurant lives up to the hype. Reservations required weeks in advance, but take it from the locals, full menu is also available at the bar and lounge.
Star Chef Paul Kahan's pig and beer-centric gastopub. Beer-hall setting with mostly communal tables. Fun for groups.
97 localnici recomandă
The Publican
837 W Fulton Market
97 localnici recomandă
Star Chef Paul Kahan's pig and beer-centric gastopub. Beer-hall setting with mostly communal tables. Fun for groups.
French bistro fare in a contemporary setting. Great brunch.
Troquet River North
111 W Huron St
French bistro fare in a contemporary setting. Great brunch.
Absolutely adorable French bakery, beautiful breads, amazing macarons. Serves sandwiches, crepes, coffee.
28 localnici recomandă
La Fournette
1547 N Wells St
28 localnici recomandă
Absolutely adorable French bakery, beautiful breads, amazing macarons. Serves sandwiches, crepes, coffee.
Some of the best coffee in the city.
23 localnici recomandă
Intelligentsia Coffee Old Town Coffeebar
1233 N Wells St
23 localnici recomandă
Some of the best coffee in the city.
Rub elbows with the city's rich and famous in this landmark Chicago steakhouse. If you love martini's, they do it right here.
146 localnici recomandă
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
1028 N Rush St
146 localnici recomandă
Rub elbows with the city's rich and famous in this landmark Chicago steakhouse. If you love martini's, they do it right here.
BYOB sushi that is consistently good and not overpriced.
7 localnici recomandă
Cafe Sushi
1342 N Wells St
7 localnici recomandă
BYOB sushi that is consistently good and not overpriced.
Star Oprah Chef Art Smith's Southern Cuisine.
14 localnici recomandă
Table Fifty-Two
52 West Elm Street
14 localnici recomandă
Star Oprah Chef Art Smith's Southern Cuisine.
Super upscale, trendy Italian. Hob-nob with Gold Coast elite.
26 localnici recomandă
FIG & OLIVE
104 E Oak St
26 localnici recomandă
Super upscale, trendy Italian. Hob-nob with Gold Coast elite.
Star Chef Grant Achatz's prix fixe only restaurant. Named Best Restaurant in America; awarded 3 Michelin Stars; won the James Beard Award for best service. Must purchase tickets well in advance.
97 localnici recomandă
Alinea
1723 N Halsted St
97 localnici recomandă
Star Chef Grant Achatz's prix fixe only restaurant. Named Best Restaurant in America; awarded 3 Michelin Stars; won the James Beard Award for best service. Must purchase tickets well in advance.
Star Chef Grant Achatz takes it to the next level with Next. Seasonally rotating prix fixe menu, only available by ticketing on their website.
20 localnici recomandă
Next Restaurant
953 W Fulton Market
20 localnici recomandă
Star Chef Grant Achatz takes it to the next level with Next. Seasonally rotating prix fixe menu, only available by ticketing on their website.
Vietnamese meets French in this charming white tablecloth restaurant with a patio and upstairs terrace. The bouillabaisse is a must. Reservations highly recommended.
25 localnici recomandă
Le Colonial Chicago
57 E Oak St
25 localnici recomandă
Vietnamese meets French in this charming white tablecloth restaurant with a patio and upstairs terrace. The bouillabaisse is a must. Reservations highly recommended.
Brunch buffet is a nice option; seating available overlooking the river. Learn to play Bocci while you're there.
27 localnici recomandă
Pinstripes
435 E Illinois St
27 localnici recomandă
Brunch buffet is a nice option; seating available overlooking the river. Learn to play Bocci while you're there.
People wait in line for hours for these donuts. If you are a donut connoisseur, this is your heaven.
43 localnici recomandă
Doughnut Vault
401 N Franklin St
43 localnici recomandă
People wait in line for hours for these donuts. If you are a donut connoisseur, this is your heaven.
Modern american food right under the bean in Millennium Park. Great burger.
Park Grill
11 N Michigan Ave
Modern american food right under the bean in Millennium Park. Great burger.
Hip and trendy River North Italian restaurant owned by celebrities Bill and Giuliana Rancic. Expect to wait, and for everyone to be dressed to the nines!
41 localnici recomandă
RPM Italian
52 W Illinois St
41 localnici recomandă
Hip and trendy River North Italian restaurant owned by celebrities Bill and Giuliana Rancic. Expect to wait, and for everyone to be dressed to the nines!
Contemporary European small plates. Small place, so expect to wait.
99 localnici recomandă
The Purple Pig Restaurant
444 Michigan Ave
99 localnici recomandă
Contemporary European small plates. Small place, so expect to wait.
Iron Chef Jose Garces' restaurant. Very good Spanish cuisine.
11 localnici recomandă
Mercat a la Planxa
638 S Michigan Ave
11 localnici recomandă
Iron Chef Jose Garces' restaurant. Very good Spanish cuisine.
Spanish tapas. Must get the chorizo stuffed bacon wrapped dates.
87 localnici recomandă
avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph St
87 localnici recomandă
Spanish tapas. Must get the chorizo stuffed bacon wrapped dates.
It's out of the way, but a fried chicken lovers must.
99 localnici recomandă
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
3361 N Elston Ave
99 localnici recomandă
It's out of the way, but a fried chicken lovers must.
I had the best brunch I can remember at this gastropub. It's low-key but the chef is on fire! Expect to encounter things like bone marrow, & beef fat fries, but also delightfully fresh options.
830 localnici recomandă
Longman & Eagle
2657 N Kedzie Ave
830 localnici recomandă
I had the best brunch I can remember at this gastropub. It's low-key but the chef is on fire! Expect to encounter things like bone marrow, & beef fat fries, but also delightfully fresh options.
This restaurant has a revolutionary cheese program, with over 80 wheels of cheese in their in-house cheese cave.
CDA
20 E Chestnut St
This restaurant has a revolutionary cheese program, with over 80 wheels of cheese in their in-house cheese cave.
Tasty sister restaurant to steakhouse Bavettes, chef Brendan Sodikoff. Small plates, casual, prohibition theme decor.
66 localnici recomandă
Gilt Bar
230 W Kinzie St
66 localnici recomandă
Tasty sister restaurant to steakhouse Bavettes, chef Brendan Sodikoff. Small plates, casual, prohibition theme decor.

Drinks & Nightlife

Do you want to eat dinner (or have drinks) with a skyline view of the city? Be prepared to fight hundreds of other tourists for a seat.
525 localnici recomandă
The Signature Room at the 95th®
875 N Michigan Ave
525 localnici recomandă
Do you want to eat dinner (or have drinks) with a skyline view of the city? Be prepared to fight hundreds of other tourists for a seat.
Roof at the Wit: super trendy outdoor bar with great views.
19 localnici recomandă
theWit Chicago - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
201 N State St
19 localnici recomandă
Roof at the Wit: super trendy outdoor bar with great views.
Sportsbar meets English pub. Go here to see the game. Great beer list, brunch. For a quieter area, ask to be seated in the fireplace room.
33 localnici recomandă
Old Town Social
455 West North Avenue
33 localnici recomandă
Sportsbar meets English pub. Go here to see the game. Great beer list, brunch. For a quieter area, ask to be seated in the fireplace room.
Underground tiki bar with enormous cocktails. Need I say more.
125 localnici recomandă
Three Dots and a Dash
435 N Clark St
125 localnici recomandă
Underground tiki bar with enormous cocktails. Need I say more.
Old school Chicago Jazz club.
33 localnici recomandă
Andy's Jazz Club & Restaurant
11 East Hubbard Street
33 localnici recomandă
Old school Chicago Jazz club.
Gastropub on Michigan avenue. Great scotch egg. Heavy after-work crowd.
49 localnici recomandă
The Gage
24 S Michigan Ave
49 localnici recomandă
Gastropub on Michigan avenue. Great scotch egg. Heavy after-work crowd.

Essentials

Lovely grocery in the heart of Old Town with tons of organic options, nice hot and cold Togo food, wine bar, and coffee bar (Intelligentsia coffee). Expect Plum market to be pricey.
64 localnici recomandă
Plum Market Old Town
1233 N Wells St
64 localnici recomandă
Lovely grocery in the heart of Old Town with tons of organic options, nice hot and cold Togo food, wine bar, and coffee bar (Intelligentsia coffee). Expect Plum market to be pricey.
Grocery store, less pricey than Plum Market down the street.
44 localnici recomandă
Treasure Island Foods
44 localnici recomandă
Grocery store, less pricey than Plum Market down the street.
Saturday enormous farmers market
14 localnici recomandă
Lincoln Park Farmers Market
724 West Armitage Avenue
14 localnici recomandă
Saturday enormous farmers market
Best and largest farmers market in the city--located in Lincoln Park.
15 localnici recomandă
Green City Market - Office Location
3057 W Lawrence Ave
15 localnici recomandă
Best and largest farmers market in the city--located in Lincoln Park.

Sightseeing

Visit Cloud Gate (aka, the "bean"); crown fountain; amazing gardens; and more.
1243 localnici recomandă
Parcul Millennium
201 E Randolph St
1243 localnici recomandă
Visit Cloud Gate (aka, the "bean"); crown fountain; amazing gardens; and more.
Architecture tour of the Chicago river by boat--this is a must.
55 localnici recomandă
First Lady Architecture Tour
112 E Wacker Dr
55 localnici recomandă
Architecture tour of the Chicago river by boat--this is a must.
Skydeck
324 localnici recomandă
Turnul Willis
233 S Wacker Dr
324 localnici recomandă
Skydeck
Concert venue/park, beautiful Buckingham fountain
332 localnici recomandă
Parcul Grant
337 E Randolph St
332 localnici recomandă
Concert venue/park, beautiful Buckingham fountain
Tourist venue, great for children, location of children's museum, Ferris Wheel
933 localnici recomandă
Navy Pier
600 E Grand Ave
933 localnici recomandă
Tourist venue, great for children, location of children's museum, Ferris Wheel
A city block of food-wine-beer-lovin'! Many restaurants, as well as gelato, a cheese shop, salumeria, fresh seafood, meats, pasta, chef's essentials, gifts, cookbooks, galore.
140 localnici recomandă
Eataly Chicago
43 E Ohio St
140 localnici recomandă
A city block of food-wine-beer-lovin'! Many restaurants, as well as gelato, a cheese shop, salumeria, fresh seafood, meats, pasta, chef's essentials, gifts, cookbooks, galore.

Shopping

Bacon Chocolate!
12 localnici recomandă
Vosges Haut-Chocolat
951 W Armitage Ave
12 localnici recomandă
Bacon Chocolate!
Shop 'till you drop
598 localnici recomandă
Hot Tix - Mag Mile Location
598 localnici recomandă
Shop 'till you drop
Cute spice shop in Old Town, from ordinary to exotic, they have it all.
25 localnici recomandă
The Spice House Chicago
1512 N Wells St
25 localnici recomandă
Cute spice shop in Old Town, from ordinary to exotic, they have it all.

Arts & Culture

Amazing art collection; new modern wing
1159 localnici recomandă
Institutul de Artă din Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave
1159 localnici recomandă
Amazing art collection; new modern wing
Contemporary art collection
532 localnici recomandă
Muzeul de Artă Contemporană din Chicago
220 E Chicago Ave
532 localnici recomandă
Contemporary art collection
Free zoo!
1117 localnici recomandă
Grădina Zoologică Lincoln Park
2001 N Clark St
1117 localnici recomandă
Free zoo!
museum of natural history
657 localnici recomandă
Muzeul Field
1400 S Lake Shore Dr
657 localnici recomandă
museum of natural history
Go see the stars
393 localnici recomandă
Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lake Shore Dr
393 localnici recomandă
Go see the stars
Go see the best comedy in Chicago!
433 localnici recomandă
The Second City
230 W North Ave
433 localnici recomandă
Go see the best comedy in Chicago!
Fabulous boutique theater venue
109 localnici recomandă
Steppenwolf Theatre
1650 N Halsted St
109 localnici recomandă
Fabulous boutique theater venue
Downtown Chicago theater venue
51 localnici recomandă
Teatrul Goodman
170 N Dearborn St
51 localnici recomandă
Downtown Chicago theater venue
Best movie theater in Chicago--worth going the distance, reserved spacious seats, VIP shows with a full bar and menu.
95 localnici recomandă
Teatrele ShowPlace ICON la Roosevelt Collection cu ICON•X
1011 S Delano Ct
95 localnici recomandă
Best movie theater in Chicago--worth going the distance, reserved spacious seats, VIP shows with a full bar and menu.
Downtown movie theater--expect it to be crowded
97 localnici recomandă
AMC River East 21
322 E Illinois St
97 localnici recomandă
Downtown movie theater--expect it to be crowded

Everything Else

Largest convention center in the U.S.
179 localnici recomandă
McCormick Place
2301 S King Dr
179 localnici recomandă
Largest convention center in the U.S.
Red line train north/south at LaSalle/Clark and Division Street
67 localnici recomandă
Division & Clark station
67 localnici recomandă
Red line train north/south at LaSalle/Clark and Division Street
South Airport
65 localnici recomandă
Chicago Midway International Airport
5700 S Cicero Ave
65 localnici recomandă
South Airport
West airport
O'Hare
West airport