Chicago Guidebook
Food Scene
Happy Camper Pizzeria
1209 N Wells StFun Mexican restaurant with great food and lively atmosphere.
10 locals recommend
Las Fuentes Restaurant
2558 N Halsted StFun Mexican restaurant with great food and lively atmosphere.
Strings Ramen Shop
2141 S Archer AveSmall, quiet Ramen shop that has delicious dishes.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Menu changes occasionally but I have not had something I didn't like. Also a very cool vibe.
66 locals recommend
Gilt Bar
230 W Kinzie StOne of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Menu changes occasionally but I have not had something I didn't like. Also a very cool vibe.
Trendy restaurant with incredible food. They are known for their bacon-wrapped dates! Go early to avoid long wait time or put your name in and go to a nearby bar for a drink while you wait.
87 locals recommend
avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph StTrendy restaurant with incredible food. They are known for their bacon-wrapped dates! Go early to avoid long wait time or put your name in and go to a nearby bar for a drink while you wait.
Go here for some of the best tacos in Chicago! It is located in the middle of Wicker Park, a trendy/hipster neighborhood. Put your name in at least an hour before you are hungry because the wait is always very long. Then you can walk around the area and grab drinks/apps or shop.
1176 locals recommend
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveGo here for some of the best tacos in Chicago! It is located in the middle of Wicker Park, a trendy/hipster neighborhood. Put your name in at least an hour before you are hungry because the wait is always very long. Then you can walk around the area and grab drinks/apps or shop.
This is a local favorite and not very well known to people outside of Chicago!
45 locals recommend
Sweet Mandy B's
1208 W Webster AveThis is a local favorite and not very well known to people outside of Chicago!
The Bagelers Coffeehouse
2461 N Lincoln AveHomemade bagels and croissants in a funky coffee shop.
Drinks & Nightlife
If you want a local bar that is literally 10 steps from my home, stop by here for a drink or to play a game of pool!
8 locals recommend
Burwood Tap
724 W Wrightwood AveIf you want a local bar that is literally 10 steps from my home, stop by here for a drink or to play a game of pool!
Good place to watch a sports game and listen to music while hanging out with friends.
14 locals recommend
Gaslight Bar & Grille
2450 N Clark StGood place to watch a sports game and listen to music while hanging out with friends.
This is the place to go if you like jazz bars. Listen to live music and drink. $15 to get in.
458 locals recommend
Kingston Mines
2548 N Halsted StThis is the place to go if you like jazz bars. Listen to live music and drink. $15 to get in.
Benchmark
1510 N Wells StThis is a local-favorite rooftop bar located on the 13th floor of Hotel Lincoln!
124 locals recommend
The J. Parker
1816 N Clark StThis is a local-favorite rooftop bar located on the 13th floor of Hotel Lincoln!
This is a really fun dueling piano bar! Cover is $10 normally.
24 locals recommend
Howl at the Moon Chicago
26 W Hubbard StThis is a really fun dueling piano bar! Cover is $10 normally.
This is a fun place to go dance in the trendy Logan Square area. Check out other neighboring bars in Logan Square before you go. Just make sure to get here by 10pm if you want to avoid long lines!
127 locals recommend
Slippery Slope
2357 N Milwaukee AveThis is a fun place to go dance in the trendy Logan Square area. Check out other neighboring bars in Logan Square before you go. Just make sure to get here by 10pm if you want to avoid long lines!
Daily drink specials attract a younger crowd at this casual Irish pub.
8 locals recommend
Halligan Bar
2274 N Lincoln AveDaily drink specials attract a younger crowd at this casual Irish pub.
Sightseeing
Chicago's most popular park where you will find the Bean sculpture (aka CloudGate). It is a great area to walk around!
1243 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StChicago's most popular park where you will find the Bean sculpture (aka CloudGate). It is a great area to walk around!
Formerly the Sears Tower, this is the tallest building in Chicago and second tallest in the USA (only behind One World Trade Center in NYC).
45 locals recommend
Willis Tower Skydeck
Formerly the Sears Tower, this is the tallest building in Chicago and second tallest in the USA (only behind One World Trade Center in NYC).
The John Hancock Center's Observatory is located on the 94th floor and has a 360° view of the city! I would recommend going to the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the building for a drink. It will be a pricy drink but you would avoid paying for a ticket to the Observatory and avoid a very long line of people waiting to get up to the Observatory. Just tell an employee in the lobby that you want to go to the Signature Lounge.
157 locals recommend
John Hancock Center
875 North Michigan AvenueThe John Hancock Center's Observatory is located on the 94th floor and has a 360° view of the city! I would recommend going to the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the building for a drink. It will be a pricy drink but you would avoid paying for a ticket to the Observatory and avoid a very long line of people waiting to get up to the Observatory. Just tell an employee in the lobby that you want to go to the Signature Lounge.
If you enjoy baseball and history, you have to check out Wrigley Field! The surrounding neighborhood (Wrigleyville) is a great place to walk around and grab a bite or a drink at one of the very many bars.
1004 locals recommend
Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison StIf you enjoy baseball and history, you have to check out Wrigley Field! The surrounding neighborhood (Wrigleyville) is a great place to walk around and grab a bite or a drink at one of the very many bars.
The Chicago Riverwalk is a very pretty place to walk! There are numerous restaurants, a winery, and boating activities found along here.
273 locals recommend
Chicago Riverwalk
306-370 W Wacker DrThe Chicago Riverwalk is a very pretty place to walk! There are numerous restaurants, a winery, and boating activities found along here.
Daley Plaza is considered one of Chicago's architectural highlights. It offers an open-air courtyard with a huge Picasso sculpture, benches, and seasonal farmer's market and food trucks!
9 locals recommend
Daley Center
50 West Washington StreetDaley Plaza is considered one of Chicago's architectural highlights. It offers an open-air courtyard with a huge Picasso sculpture, benches, and seasonal farmer's market and food trucks!
Arts & Culture
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveChicago Landmark building that houses the city's official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents, royalty figures, diplomats and community leaders. It features more than 1,000 programs and exhibitions covering a wide range of the performing, visual and literary arts. No cost!
203 locals recommend
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington StChicago Landmark building that houses the city's official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents, royalty figures, diplomats and community leaders. It features more than 1,000 programs and exhibitions covering a wide range of the performing, visual and literary arts. No cost!
Entertainment & Activities
Cool place to walk around and enjoy the views! You can ride the famous Ferris Wheel and other outdoor rides. It is very busy on the weekends, but you have to check it out!
933 locals recommend
Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveCool place to walk around and enjoy the views! You can ride the famous Ferris Wheel and other outdoor rides. It is very busy on the weekends, but you have to check it out!
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark StCool place to walk around and does not cost anything to enter!
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore DrThis comedy club offers a variety of shows to check out. Stop in or go online to check out the shows being offered and to purchase tickets.
7 locals recommend
UP Comedy Club
230 W North AveThis comedy club offers a variety of shows to check out. Stop in or go online to check out the shows being offered and to purchase tickets.
This is the iconic Second City comedy club where many famous comedians/actors have started!
433 locals recommend
The Second City
230 W North AveThis is the iconic Second City comedy club where many famous comedians/actors have started!
This is a Tony Award winning Chicago theatre that offers a variety of plays and theatre productions.
109 locals recommend
Steppenwolf Theatre
1650 N Halsted StThis is a Tony Award winning Chicago theatre that offers a variety of plays and theatre productions.
Regal Webster Place
1471 W Webster AveMovie theatre nearby
Getting Around
Red line will take you downtown or up north to Wrigley, Uptown, Rogers Park, Evanston, etc.
Station is a 10 minute walk from my home.
13 locals recommend
Fullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line Station
Red line will take you downtown or up north to Wrigley, Uptown, Rogers Park, Evanston, etc.
Station is a 10 minute walk from my home.
This train takes you downtown to the loop, north to Wrigley, and west to Southport.
Train station is about 7 minute walk from my home.
13 locals recommend
Diversey Brown Line Station
This train takes you downtown to the loop, north to Wrigley, and west to Southport.
Train station is about 7 minute walk from my home.
Essentials
The main floor has a buffet bar, bakery, sushi, pizza, and a wine bar. Get your basic groceries and beer/alcohol on the second floor.
866 locals recommend
Mariano's
2021 W Chicago AveThe main floor has a buffet bar, bakery, sushi, pizza, and a wine bar. Get your basic groceries and beer/alcohol on the second floor.
Get all your basic groceries here. Usually cheaper than other grocery stores.
675 locals recommend
Jewel-Osco
3531 N BroadwayGet all your basic groceries here. Usually cheaper than other grocery stores.
Same food as any other Whole Foods in the country, but there is also a bunch of little food stations inside (tacos, sandwiches, gelato, stir-fry, pizza, and more).
836 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted StSame food as any other Whole Foods in the country, but there is also a bunch of little food stations inside (tacos, sandwiches, gelato, stir-fry, pizza, and more).
Trader Joe's
667 W Diversey PkwyClosest grocery store to my home - less than 5 minute walk.