Guidebook for Chicago
Sightseeing
Gorgeous park right by the lake with great views. Perfect for jogging, reading, or relaxing with a bottle of wine and looking at the sunset over the city.
112 locals recommend
Promontory Point
5491 S Shore DrGorgeous park right by the lake with great views. Perfect for jogging, reading, or relaxing with a bottle of wine and looking at the sunset over the city.
Voted the Most Hogwarts-like campus in the world. Even for non-academics, the Neo-Gothic campus makes for a gorgeous walk.
122 locals recommend
The University of Chicago
5801 S Ellis AveVoted the Most Hogwarts-like campus in the world. Even for non-academics, the Neo-Gothic campus makes for a gorgeous walk.
Frank Lloyd Wright house right on campus. Open for tours Thursday - Monday, 10:30 am - 4 pm.
66 locals recommend
Frederick C. Robie House
5757 S Woodlawn AveFrank Lloyd Wright house right on campus. Open for tours Thursday - Monday, 10:30 am - 4 pm.
Free admission to a formidable Ancient Middle East collection. Cozy, hidden study space too.
62 locals recommend
Oriental Institute Museum
1155 E 58th StFree admission to a formidable Ancient Middle East collection. Cozy, hidden study space too.
One of the South Side's best green spaces, complete with a Zen Garden and island with bird & wildflower sanctuaries. Directly behind the MSI.
32 locals recommend
Jackson Park
One of the South Side's best green spaces, complete with a Zen Garden and island with bird & wildflower sanctuaries. Directly behind the MSI.
See chicks hatch before your eyes, and walk-through a rescued U2 submarine. Fun visit for family.
483 locals recommend
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S Lake Shore DrSee chicks hatch before your eyes, and walk-through a rescued U2 submarine. Fun visit for family.
Food Scene
One of my favorite restaurants in the city, and only ~5-10 minutes by bike away from us. Fresh, local ingredients put together in creative ways. Bonus: separate bar with their own liquors and tonics.
37 locals recommend
A10
1462 East 53rd StreetOne of my favorite restaurants in the city, and only ~5-10 minutes by bike away from us. Fresh, local ingredients put together in creative ways. Bonus: separate bar with their own liquors and tonics.
Another favorite restaurant right in the neighborhood. Beautifully, cozily decorated with a wood-burning oven & live music events.
172 locals recommend
The Promontory
5311 S Lake Park Ave WAnother favorite restaurant right in the neighborhood. Beautifully, cozily decorated with a wood-burning oven & live music events.
Closest & best coffee shop by us. Great coffee, sandwiches, soup and strong community atmosphere.
Zaleski & Horvath MarketCafe
1126 E 47th StClosest & best coffee shop by us. Great coffee, sandwiches, soup and strong community atmosphere.
100% vegan and deemed delicious, even by the most fervent of meat-eaters.
32 locals recommend
Native Foods
218 E Harper Ct100% vegan and deemed delicious, even by the most fervent of meat-eaters.
Lovely French bakery & cafe--one of my favorite bakeries & pastry shops in the city. Try the morning roll and pain aux raisins. Good, economical breakfast packages too.
17 locals recommend
Bonjour Cafe Bakery
1550 E 55th StLovely French bakery & cafe--one of my favorite bakeries & pastry shops in the city. Try the morning roll and pain aux raisins. Good, economical breakfast packages too.
When you get tired of Chicago deep-dish, you have to try the thin-crust spinach & goat cheese pizza here. Adjoining bakery has marvelous almond croissants!
99 locals recommend
Medici On 57th
1327 E 57th StWhen you get tired of Chicago deep-dish, you have to try the thin-crust spinach & goat cheese pizza here. Adjoining bakery has marvelous almond croissants!
If you're looking for a typical American breakfast experience, look no further. About a 100 types of pancakes and more breakfast combo platters than you can imagine.
60 locals recommend
The Original Pancake House
1358 E 47th StIf you're looking for a typical American breakfast experience, look no further. About a 100 types of pancakes and more breakfast combo platters than you can imagine.
$5 falafel sandwich, probably the best & cheapest in the city.
17 locals recommend
The Nile of Hyde Park
1162 E 55th St$5 falafel sandwich, probably the best & cheapest in the city.
One of Anthony Bourdain's favorite restaurants in the city, and my hands-down favorite place for brunch. Get there right at opening, or you might need to wait to be seated. Fantastic cocktails and exceptional tea & coffee.
87 locals recommend
avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph StOne of Anthony Bourdain's favorite restaurants in the city, and my hands-down favorite place for brunch. Get there right at opening, or you might need to wait to be seated. Fantastic cocktails and exceptional tea & coffee.
Three floors of incredibly fresh & incredibly delicious imported Italian goods. Grocery store cum wine bar cum brewery cum restaurant stations. Get a glass of wine when you walk in, peruse the hand-made pastas, get a slice of freshly baked focaccia, and end with a stop at the Nutella bar.
140 locals recommend
Eataly Chicago
43 E Ohio StThree floors of incredibly fresh & incredibly delicious imported Italian goods. Grocery store cum wine bar cum brewery cum restaurant stations. Get a glass of wine when you walk in, peruse the hand-made pastas, get a slice of freshly baked focaccia, and end with a stop at the Nutella bar.
Arts & Culture
An incredible local arts & performance community center with classes, gallery space and events and workshops. Cute little on-site cafe benefits the center.
Little Black Pearl Workshop
1060 E 47th StAn incredible local arts & performance community center with classes, gallery space and events and workshops. Cute little on-site cafe benefits the center.
One of the best theaters in Chicago with bold, daring programming & interpretations. Heavily discounted rates for students.
21 locals recommend
Court Theater
5535 S Ellis AveOne of the best theaters in Chicago with bold, daring programming & interpretations. Heavily discounted rates for students.
9-story building houses playwrights, painters, musicians, filmmakers, dancers and sculptors. Studios, media labs and performance spaces house numerous events every day.
11 locals recommend
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
915 E 60th St9-story building houses playwrights, painters, musicians, filmmakers, dancers and sculptors. Studios, media labs and performance spaces house numerous events every day.
Country's oldest student-run cinema, and perhaps one of its cheapest--$5/ticket. Lovely art house cinema with a different theme every night. Basement pub with ~20 types of draft beer.
8 locals recommend
Doc Films
1212 E 59th StCountry's oldest student-run cinema, and perhaps one of its cheapest--$5/ticket. Lovely art house cinema with a different theme every night. Basement pub with ~20 types of draft beer.
Free modern & contemporary museum with airy, open-concept cafe. Right across from Court Theatre.
37 locals recommend
Smart Museum of Art
5550 S Greenwood AveFree modern & contemporary museum with airy, open-concept cafe. Right across from Court Theatre.
Drinks & Nightlife
I've seen skylines all around the world, but Chicago's never fails to impress. Sit outside, right by the river, look up at the buildings, and watch the city go by at Chicago's first winery.
28 locals recommend
City Winery at the Chicago Riverwalk
11 W. Riverwalk SouthI've seen skylines all around the world, but Chicago's never fails to impress. Sit outside, right by the river, look up at the buildings, and watch the city go by at Chicago's first winery.