Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Super cool neighborhood diner, vegetarian friendly, locally sourced products, serves until 3pm
75 locals recommend
Flying Saucer
1123 N California AveSuper cool neighborhood diner, vegetarian friendly, locally sourced products, serves until 3pm
Intimate wine bar / restaurant with interesting / cool food and huge wine & beer selection.
173 locals recommend
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
954 North California AvenueIntimate wine bar / restaurant with interesting / cool food and huge wine & beer selection.
Delicious ice cream (Rainbow cones!) at a south side establishment. Definitely encourage driving or taking an Uber.
7 locals recommend
Original Rainbow Cone
9233 S Western AveDelicious ice cream (Rainbow cones!) at a south side establishment. Definitely encourage driving or taking an Uber.
C.C. Ferns
2806 W Augusta BlvdAwesome little coffee shop.
A must during the warmer months. Amazing patio, frozen cocktails, and people watching
658 locals recommend
Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage AveA must during the warmer months. Amazing patio, frozen cocktails, and people watching
Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn AvenueDeep dish with an addictive crust. Bonus that it's not a chain.
Modern tacos and margaritas. One of the city's busiest patios. Great for people watching.
1176 locals recommend
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveModern tacos and margaritas. One of the city's busiest patios. Great for people watching.
Al's Beef
1079 W Taylor StFan favorite for Italian Beef
Famous spot with fast food style american food. (Get the chocolate cake!)
270 locals recommend
Portillo's Hot Dogs
100 W Ontario StFamous spot with fast food style american food. (Get the chocolate cake!)
Hot dog stand known for sassy waitresses and a rowdy after hours crowd
44 locals recommend
The Wiener's Circle
2622 N Clark StHot dog stand known for sassy waitresses and a rowdy after hours crowd
Gino's East
162 E Superior StDeep dish.
Longman & Eagle
2657 N Kedzie AveExcellent thin crust pizza and other goodies, plus beer and cocktails in a CTA train themed space.
152 locals recommend
The Boiler Room
2210 North California AvenueExcellent thin crust pizza and other goodies, plus beer and cocktails in a CTA train themed space.
Adorable little dessert / soda fountain spot with homemade pies, gelato, and interesting sodas.
78 locals recommend
Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain
1000 N California AveAdorable little dessert / soda fountain spot with homemade pies, gelato, and interesting sodas.
The Shelby
2759 West Augusta BoulevardShared plates in a cozy bar setting and a nice back patio.
Margie's Candies
1960 N Western AveOld school ice cream shop.
Sink | Swim
3213 West Armitage AvenueSeafood focused with tasteful nautical decor
Drive-in hot dog joint on the northwest side. A Chicago institution.
26 locals recommend
Superdawg Drive-In
333 S Milwaukee AveDrive-in hot dog joint on the northwest side. A Chicago institution.
Costa Rican BYOB restaurant with a patio.
109 locals recommend
Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant & Catering
1865 N Milwaukee AveCosta Rican BYOB restaurant with a patio.
Drinks & Nightlife
Right down the street. Cheap drinks, margaritas, beer & shots, delicious tacos & other good stuff.
59 locals recommend
Bullhead Cantina
1143 N California AveRight down the street. Cheap drinks, margaritas, beer & shots, delicious tacos & other good stuff.
Swanky spot with tasty cocktails and a no cellphone policy. Go here if you want to get dressed up and check out the foodie / craft cocktail scene.
355 locals recommend
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveSwanky spot with tasty cocktails and a no cellphone policy. Go here if you want to get dressed up and check out the foodie / craft cocktail scene.
Bucktown Pub
1658 W Cortland StCool bar off the beaten path but still close to a lot. Great patio.
Iconic Chicago hipster hole-in-the-wall bar with cheap drinks, table tennis, and a covered patio with lawn chairs.
63 locals recommend
Happy Village
1059 N Wolcott AveIconic Chicago hipster hole-in-the-wall bar with cheap drinks, table tennis, and a covered patio with lawn chairs.
Small, local music spot, usually with rock/punk bands and a hipster crowd
208 locals recommend
The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western AveSmall, local music spot, usually with rock/punk bands and a hipster crowd
A bar with floor to ceiling windows on top of the Hancock building = some of the best views of the city.
525 locals recommend
The Signature Room at the 95th®
875 N Michigan AveA bar with floor to ceiling windows on top of the Hancock building = some of the best views of the city.
Emporium Logan Square
2363 N Milwaukee AveCool bar & Arcade in the heart of Logan Square.
The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayIconic, swanky north side jazz bar. Frequented by Al Capone.
Upscale Bar/nightclub with a great rooftop bar in the heart of the Gold Coast.
21 locals recommend
Drumbar
201 E Delaware PlUpscale Bar/nightclub with a great rooftop bar in the heart of the Gold Coast.
Best Intentions
3281 W Armitage AveHipster bar with interesting cocktails and a patio in the back.
Slippery Slope
2357 N Milwaukee AveShuffleboard bar.
The Bar at The Peninsula
108 East Superior StreetCozy upscale hotel bar with a fireplace and couches.
Carol's Pub
4659 North Clark StreetCountry karaoke bar. Enough said.
Everything Else
Epitome of Chicago Hipster / Humboldt Park neighborhood bar. Late night mostly. Great vibe, two floors. Chill downstairs, a bit swankier upstairs with a pool table and lounge seating.
31 locals recommend
Continental Lounge
2801 W Chicago AveEpitome of Chicago Hipster / Humboldt Park neighborhood bar. Late night mostly. Great vibe, two floors. Chill downstairs, a bit swankier upstairs with a pool table and lounge seating.
Old-school style bar and music venue. Classic cocktails for cheap. Large space, red booth seating. Live music Thurs-Sat.
180 locals recommend
The California Clipper
1002 North California AvenueOld-school style bar and music venue. Classic cocktails for cheap. Large space, red booth seating. Live music Thurs-Sat.
The Bar at The Peninsula
108 East Superior StreetCozy upscale hotel bar with a fireplace and couches.
Parks & Nature
Huge park, great for a little nature exploring. Paths along the lagoons with several nooks and crannies.
293 locals recommend
Humboldt Park
1400 N Humboldt DrHuge park, great for a little nature exploring. Paths along the lagoons with several nooks and crannies.
Lots of public art, interesting walkways, home of famous Cloudgate (the Bean),
1243 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StLots of public art, interesting walkways, home of famous Cloudgate (the Bean),
Grant Park
337 E Randolph StHome of famous Buckingham Fountain
Elevated walking / biking trail that spans 3 miles and 3 neighborhoods.
133 locals recommend
Bloomingdale Trail
Bloomingdale TrailElevated walking / biking trail that spans 3 miles and 3 neighborhoods.
One of the livelier beaches. Check out the boat bar - Castaways - while you're there.
338 locals recommend
North Avenue Beach
One of the livelier beaches. Check out the boat bar - Castaways - while you're there.
Foster Beach
A nice, smaller beach on the north side.
Ohio Street Beach
600 N Lake Shore DrSmall, quiet beach where you're surrounded by skyscrapers.
South Pond Nature Walk
Section of Lincoln park with nature trails, ponds, and boardwalks.
Arts & Culture
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveQuintessential Chicago art museum.
The Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore DrHarold Washington Library Center
400 S State StMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveSightseeing
Historic baseball stadium and home to the Chicago Cubs. You can usually get tickets for less than $40, depending on how well they're playing.
1004 locals recommend
Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison StHistoric baseball stadium and home to the Chicago Cubs. You can usually get tickets for less than $40, depending on how well they're playing.
The Chicago Theatre
175 N State StHot Tix - Mag Mile Location
High-end shopping along famous Michigan Ave.
Michigan Avenue
Michigan AvenueNorth State Street
North State StreetLarge, beautiful temple on the lakefront, just north of Chicago
120 locals recommend
Baha'i House of Worship
100 Linden AveLarge, beautiful temple on the lakefront, just north of Chicago
Great walking neighborhood with cute squares and parks and lots of great restaurants and shops.
104 locals recommend
Lincoln Square
Great walking neighborhood with cute squares and parks and lots of great restaurants and shops.
Rapidly expanding neighborhood that attracts young, artist residents. Big foodie mecca.
174 locals recommend
Logan Square
Rapidly expanding neighborhood that attracts young, artist residents. Big foodie mecca.
Wicker Park
1425 N Damen AveHip, young neighborhood with plenty of fun shops and restaurants.
Lake View
Lincoln Park
500-5700 N Lake Shore DrPerfect for foodies since it's flooded with tons of amazing restaurants along Randolph Street.
89 locals recommend
West Loop
Perfect for foodies since it's flooded with tons of amazing restaurants along Randolph Street.
Largely Indian community with some Korean and Middle Eastern pockets. Great stores and restaurants.
Devon Avenue
Largely Indian community with some Korean and Middle Eastern pockets. Great stores and restaurants.
Small neighborhood with large Ukrainian / Eastern European populations. Good place to find hole-in-the-wall bars and good delis.
30 locals recommend
Ukrainian Village
Small neighborhood with large Ukrainian / Eastern European populations. Good place to find hole-in-the-wall bars and good delis.
Essentials
Nice grocery store that has all the essentials, alcohol, and good produce.
866 locals recommend
Mariano's
2021 W Chicago AveNice grocery store that has all the essentials, alcohol, and good produce.
Cool hispanic grocery store with amazing & cheap produce and huge butcher shop.
111 locals recommend
Cermak Produce
2701 W North AveCool hispanic grocery store with amazing & cheap produce and huge butcher shop.
Walgreens
3646 North BroadwayDrugstore