Guidebook for Chicago
Essentials
It is the largest Whole Foods in North America. They have not only groceries, but a whole food court with a noodle station, sushi station, pizza, salad bar, wine bar, beer bar, coffee bar.....
836 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted StIt is the largest Whole Foods in North America. They have not only groceries, but a whole food court with a noodle station, sushi station, pizza, salad bar, wine bar, beer bar, coffee bar.....
Food Scene
Best brunch around! Outside seating, organic/local food, amazing coffee/teas, delicious bakery options, huge omelets, and great staff.
6 locals recommend
Kingsbury Street Cafe
1523 North Kingsbury StreetBest brunch around! Outside seating, organic/local food, amazing coffee/teas, delicious bakery options, huge omelets, and great staff.
It is attached to the Red Line train stop. Very convenient to grab coffee and a nibble on your way downtown.
271 locals recommend
Starbucks
210 W North AveIt is attached to the Red Line train stop. Very convenient to grab coffee and a nibble on your way downtown.
Great Wi-Fi, cozy nooks, amazing coffee and tea selections and a 4 min walk away. Also- right next to all the shopping!
25 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
1000 W North AveGreat Wi-Fi, cozy nooks, amazing coffee and tea selections and a 4 min walk away. Also- right next to all the shopping!
My FAVORITE burger around! They have grass-fed beef as well as bison. Full bar with craft beers as well. Mac and Cheese is huge, and outdoor seating makes it a favorite hang for me.
18 locals recommend
Burger Bar Chicago - Lincoln Park
1578 North Clybourn AvenueMy FAVORITE burger around! They have grass-fed beef as well as bison. Full bar with craft beers as well. Mac and Cheese is huge, and outdoor seating makes it a favorite hang for me.
Easy access wood fired pizza. Otherwise, grubhub.com or delivery.com has tons of options for pizza delivery!
7 locals recommend
Sono Wood Fired
800 South Clark StreetEasy access wood fired pizza. Otherwise, grubhub.com or delivery.com has tons of options for pizza delivery!
Of course! Another coffee shop. This one is bigger than the one by the Red Line (you can actually sit down) Free Wi-Fi, though it can be a little slow when its busy.
3 min walk away!
271 locals recommend
Starbucks
210 W North AveOf course! Another coffee shop. This one is bigger than the one by the Red Line (you can actually sit down) Free Wi-Fi, though it can be a little slow when its busy.
3 min walk away!
Easy access diner style traditional American breakfast spot.
Tricky to get to- go in right at the corner intersection and take the escalator up. No wait, consistent food.
Eggsperience Cafe - Lincoln Park
939 W North AveEasy access diner style traditional American breakfast spot.
Tricky to get to- go in right at the corner intersection and take the escalator up. No wait, consistent food.
Quick and easy bagel or lunch spot. Not a lot of seating, grab and go.
7 locals recommend
NYC Bagel Deli
1001 W North AveQuick and easy bagel or lunch spot. Not a lot of seating, grab and go.
If you've never had one, they are pretty epic! A flat patty that tastes like no burger you've had before. Yum!!
14 locals recommend
Epic Burger
1000 W North AveIf you've never had one, they are pretty epic! A flat patty that tastes like no burger you've had before. Yum!!
Literally best steak in the city. Traditional style, and oh so good!
146 locals recommend
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
1028 N Rush StLiterally best steak in the city. Traditional style, and oh so good!
Full bar, great social scene. Outdoor seating to people watch or inside by the bar to meet people.
85 locals recommend
Tavern On Rush
1031 N Rush StFull bar, great social scene. Outdoor seating to people watch or inside by the bar to meet people.
My favorite spot for happy hour. The bar is huge and gets packed- TVs to watch just about any game, very much a happening social scene. The octopus and gnocchi are incredible!
25 locals recommend
Siena Tavern
51 W Kinzie StMy favorite spot for happy hour. The bar is huge and gets packed- TVs to watch just about any game, very much a happening social scene. The octopus and gnocchi are incredible!
Fantastic food! Quiet atmosphere, beautiful space and great service. Full bar.
39 locals recommend
Boka
1729 N Halsted StFantastic food! Quiet atmosphere, beautiful space and great service. Full bar.
Another elegant delicious dinner spot in walking distance.
25 locals recommend
Balena - Temporarily Closed
3600 North Clark StreetAnother elegant delicious dinner spot in walking distance.
Casual Mexican, with some inexpensive margaritas and outdoor seating. Little secret- order flour tortillas and the garlic butter to dip it in. Ammmmazing! Total Chicago staple.
17 locals recommend
Uncle Julio's Mexican From Scratch
855 W North AveCasual Mexican, with some inexpensive margaritas and outdoor seating. Little secret- order flour tortillas and the garlic butter to dip it in. Ammmmazing! Total Chicago staple.
Everyone asks where to go for Chicago staples- Portillos is it. Italian Beef (dipped or not) is the one thing you have to try while here.
270 locals recommend
Portillo's Hot Dogs
100 W Ontario StEveryone asks where to go for Chicago staples- Portillos is it. Italian Beef (dipped or not) is the one thing you have to try while here.
Shopping
CB2
800 W North AveFun household items at inexpensive prices
Just in case you need a liqueur or beer run....Whole Foods does also carry a lot of the same stuff, but Binnys is known for massive selection of choices.
15 locals recommend
Binny's Beverage Depot
4901 W Irving Park RdJust in case you need a liqueur or beer run....Whole Foods does also carry a lot of the same stuff, but Binnys is known for massive selection of choices.
Any last minute electronic needs (forget a phone charger? Need a cable? Headphones?)
21 locals recommend
Best Buy
1000 W North AveAny last minute electronic needs (forget a phone charger? Need a cable? Headphones?)
If you know Apple products, this place is gorgeous, tons of staff, and some great outdoor seating with wi-fi.
19 locals recommend
Apple Lincoln Park
801 W North AveIf you know Apple products, this place is gorgeous, tons of staff, and some great outdoor seating with wi-fi.
Everything Else
Open 24hrs, closest convenience store with food, wine/beer, office supplies, pharmacy, and friendly staff
142 locals recommend
CVS
771 N Ogden AveOpen 24hrs, closest convenience store with food, wine/beer, office supplies, pharmacy, and friendly staff
Drinks & Nightlife
Its new, love love the bar, skip the food (overpriced for what it is) but try one of their craft cocktails and either sit at the bar and be social, or cozy up in the velvet couches in a private nook
26 locals recommend
Nico Osteria
1015 N Rush StIts new, love love the bar, skip the food (overpriced for what it is) but try one of their craft cocktails and either sit at the bar and be social, or cozy up in the velvet couches in a private nook
Its open till 4am, and 5am on Sat. Amazing craft cocktails and quite the social scene! It gets packed, all younger River North crowd.
33 locals recommend
Celeste
111 W Hubbard StIts open till 4am, and 5am on Sat. Amazing craft cocktails and quite the social scene! It gets packed, all younger River North crowd.
Located in the Trump Tower, it is a romantic, chill, sophisticated spot for a cocktail. And try Sixteen for high end dining or else a drink on the outside patio with views to die for!
Rebar
401 N Wabash AveLocated in the Trump Tower, it is a romantic, chill, sophisticated spot for a cocktail. And try Sixteen for high end dining or else a drink on the outside patio with views to die for!