Guidebook for Chicago

Jim
Guidebook for Chicago

Food Scene

Delicious Viennese coffee shop and restaurant, if they have it try the topfenstrudel, its amazing.
57 recommandé par les habitants
Julius Meinl Restaurant and Cafe
3601 N Southport Ave
57 recommandé par les habitants
Delicious Viennese coffee shop and restaurant, if they have it try the topfenstrudel, its amazing.
primarily a bakery, also a small sit down eatery, great for coffee, a small menu usually french influenced and very friendly staff
25 recommandé par les habitants
Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe
1114 W Belmont Ave
25 recommandé par les habitants
primarily a bakery, also a small sit down eatery, great for coffee, a small menu usually french influenced and very friendly staff
amazing fresh and delicious seafood, lots of none fishy items, a wall of cereal and tons of different types of fish, also serves as an actual fish market, very casual and as far as seafood goes, VERY affordable, great staff and atmosphere
30 recommandé par les habitants
Fahlstrom's Fresh Fish Market
30 recommandé par les habitants
amazing fresh and delicious seafood, lots of none fishy items, a wall of cereal and tons of different types of fish, also serves as an actual fish market, very casual and as far as seafood goes, VERY affordable, great staff and atmosphere
VERY unique menu and great price, what they lack in features and physical ambiance, they make up for with a great lively atmosphere giving it a unique vibe.
76 recommandé par les habitants
BIG & little's Restaurant
1034 W Belmont Ave
76 recommandé par les habitants
VERY unique menu and great price, what they lack in features and physical ambiance, they make up for with a great lively atmosphere giving it a unique vibe.
My new favorite restaurant, pronounced Shock-"O" The food is great, not super cheap, but fresh, delicious, good service and if you like chocolate, they have a couple of unique items that I've never gotten elsewhere, hint the chocolate and water is anything but bland or watered down.
39 recommandé par les habitants
Fonda Frontera
1471 North Milwaukee Avenue
39 recommandé par les habitants
My new favorite restaurant, pronounced Shock-"O" The food is great, not super cheap, but fresh, delicious, good service and if you like chocolate, they have a couple of unique items that I've never gotten elsewhere, hint the chocolate and water is anything but bland or watered down.
Simply put, one of the top restaurants in the world, hard to get a reservation and very expensive but many consider the experience of a lifetime
97 recommandé par les habitants
Alinea
1723 N Halsted St
97 recommandé par les habitants
Simply put, one of the top restaurants in the world, hard to get a reservation and very expensive but many consider the experience of a lifetime
Similar to Alinea, this restaurant, while it is expensive, it is much more affordable then Alinea and half the tables every night are reserved for walk-ins, what makes this place so unique, they specialize in ICE, believe it or not its really cool
77 recommandé par les habitants
The Aviary
955 W Fulton Market
77 recommandé par les habitants
Similar to Alinea, this restaurant, while it is expensive, it is much more affordable then Alinea and half the tables every night are reserved for walk-ins, what makes this place so unique, they specialize in ICE, believe it or not its really cool
a little high in price, the food is well worth it and the service is good, located in Lincoln Park, its a hop skip and a jump away, well maybe a little further then that, not to far from Steppenwolf, if you're looking for a great dinner and a show night.
117 recommandé par les habitants
Summer House Santa Monica
1954 N Halsted St
117 recommandé par les habitants
a little high in price, the food is well worth it and the service is good, located in Lincoln Park, its a hop skip and a jump away, well maybe a little further then that, not to far from Steppenwolf, if you're looking for a great dinner and a show night.
bar/restaurant, catty corner to Wrigley field, slightly more upscale then some of the other bars but no less lively or fun, really good beer and great food, warning ... if you like the cubs ...you may never want to leave
8 recommandé par les habitants
Vines On Clark
3554 N Clark St
8 recommandé par les habitants
bar/restaurant, catty corner to Wrigley field, slightly more upscale then some of the other bars but no less lively or fun, really good beer and great food, warning ... if you like the cubs ...you may never want to leave
great sushi, delicious and very unique, some of my friends say this is the best sushi in Chicago, great location
80 recommandé par les habitants
Coast Sushi Bar
2045 North Damen Avenue
80 recommandé par les habitants
great sushi, delicious and very unique, some of my friends say this is the best sushi in Chicago, great location
upscale, japanese/french fusion, great example of unique Chicago dining, expensive but definitely delicious
18 recommandé par les habitants
Japonais by Morimoto
600 W Chicago Ave
18 recommandé par les habitants
upscale, japanese/french fusion, great example of unique Chicago dining, expensive but definitely delicious
breakfast joint, amazing unique food, fresh fruit smoothies but most importantly orange infused coffee and ... FRUSHI, the worlds best breakfast treat.
19 recommandé par les habitants
Orange Restaurant Chicago, Lincoln Park
2413 North Clark Street
19 recommandé par les habitants
breakfast joint, amazing unique food, fresh fruit smoothies but most importantly orange infused coffee and ... FRUSHI, the worlds best breakfast treat.
great for brunch, its a little north but good atmosphere and great mimosas
70 recommandé par les habitants
Big Chicks
5024 N Sheridan Rd
70 recommandé par les habitants
great for brunch, its a little north but good atmosphere and great mimosas
great little dining experience specializing in ... you guessed it ... waffles, unique take on some old favorites
Waffles Cafe
3611 North Broadway
great little dining experience specializing in ... you guessed it ... waffles, unique take on some old favorites
if you've never had the chance to go to the netherlands and try a real dutch pancake or Pannenkoeken roughly Pronounced "Pan-uh-coke-in", the women actually went to the netherlands and spent 2 years learning how to make them, this place is delicious and well worth a little travel.
25 recommandé par les habitants
Famous Dutch Pancake Huis - Pannenkoeken Cafe
4757 N Western Ave
25 recommandé par les habitants
if you've never had the chance to go to the netherlands and try a real dutch pancake or Pannenkoeken roughly Pronounced "Pan-uh-coke-in", the women actually went to the netherlands and spent 2 years learning how to make them, this place is delicious and well worth a little travel.
great vietnamese restaurant, with unique atmosphere and very good food, right off of michigan ave on Rush street, great spot to stop while doing your shopping
25 recommandé par les habitants
Le Colonial Chicago
57 E Oak St
25 recommandé par les habitants
great vietnamese restaurant, with unique atmosphere and very good food, right off of michigan ave on Rush street, great spot to stop while doing your shopping
incredibly unique restaurant that brings together Indian and latin cuisine, high end and exceptionally delicious
Vermilion
10 W Hubbard St
incredibly unique restaurant that brings together Indian and latin cuisine, high end and exceptionally delicious
good french style bistrot in a good spot, nice place to check out if you're nearby
10 recommandé par les habitants
Bistrot Zinc
1131 North State Street
10 recommandé par les habitants
good french style bistrot in a good spot, nice place to check out if you're nearby
so delicious and so good, simply incredible desserts
17 recommandé par les habitants
Vanille Pâtisserie
3243 N Broadway
17 recommandé par les habitants
so delicious and so good, simply incredible desserts
great Italian restaurant with a romantic and intimate setting, very good food and a great spot to be just the two of you or your small family, smaller groups are probably best as it is a VERY tiny space
15 recommandé par les habitants
RoseAngelis
1314 West Wrightwood Avenue
15 recommandé par les habitants
great Italian restaurant with a romantic and intimate setting, very good food and a great spot to be just the two of you or your small family, smaller groups are probably best as it is a VERY tiny space
Great frozen custard, line out the door in the evenings
33 recommandé par les habitants
Scooter's Frozen Custard
1658 W Belmont Ave
33 recommandé par les habitants
Great frozen custard, line out the door in the evenings
another great French-Japanese fusion restaurant, this one located in lakeview
18 recommandé par les habitants
Yoshi's Cafe
3257 N Halsted St
18 recommandé par les habitants
another great French-Japanese fusion restaurant, this one located in lakeview
good atmosphere, everything I've gotten here has been great, slightly above average in cost but worth it, make sure to try the deep fried snickers bar
42 recommandé par les habitants
ROCKS lakeview
3463 N Broadway
42 recommandé par les habitants
good atmosphere, everything I've gotten here has been great, slightly above average in cost but worth it, make sure to try the deep fried snickers bar
great high end dining with a hard to beat location on the mag mile
99 recommandé par les habitants
The Purple Pig Restaurant
444 Michigan Ave
99 recommandé par les habitants
great high end dining with a hard to beat location on the mag mile
there are several locations but just remember one thing ... FRUSHI
31 recommandé par les habitants
Paul's Noodle Shop
3400 N Sheffield Ave
31 recommandé par les habitants
there are several locations but just remember one thing ... FRUSHI
best lobster I've ever eaten
7 recommandé par les habitants
Smith & Wollensky - Chicago
318 N State St
7 recommandé par les habitants
best lobster I've ever eaten
much more then a showplace, they have really good food with a huge wait, that totally worth it, try the truffle grilled cheese
20 recommandé par les habitants
Restoration Hardware
1300 N Dearborn St
20 recommandé par les habitants
much more then a showplace, they have really good food with a huge wait, that totally worth it, try the truffle grilled cheese
Terrific food, very reasonably priced. Both take out and dine in. Great staff and a nice break from cooking. Can't go wrong here. Eat in or grab stuff to go home. Call ahead and they will have it ready. Remember to order the side salad or soup, only $1 more. Consistently a great staff. Only wish we had shares in the IPO and sold them right after.l
13 recommandé par les habitants
Noodles and Company
3419 N Southport Ave
13 recommandé par les habitants
Terrific food, very reasonably priced. Both take out and dine in. Great staff and a nice break from cooking. Can't go wrong here. Eat in or grab stuff to go home. Call ahead and they will have it ready. Remember to order the side salad or soup, only $1 more. Consistently a great staff. Only wish we had shares in the IPO and sold them right after.l
Brand new restaurant serving contemporary Spanish/Latin food. Seems to be a great place.
The Spanish Square
1358 W Belmont Ave
Brand new restaurant serving contemporary Spanish/Latin food. Seems to be a great place.
Great Japanese Food. Terrific overall.
55 recommandé par les habitants
Rise Sushi & Sake Lounge
756 West Webster Avenue
55 recommandé par les habitants
Great Japanese Food. Terrific overall.
Great contemporary Italian food in a quaint, cozy setting. Food and service are great. Only complaint is that their glasses of wine are a bit small.
43 recommandé par les habitants
Angelina Ristorante
3561 North Broadway
43 recommandé par les habitants
Great contemporary Italian food in a quaint, cozy setting. Food and service are great. Only complaint is that their glasses of wine are a bit small.
Every morning for 25 years the same baker has been there at 5 am making bagels. No joke, this guy is amazing. They have been there 25 years, make great bagels, have close to a million (?) different flavors of cream cheese, the staff is very friendly, the service is fast and efficient and the prices very reasonable. It also has great sandwiches.
Great American Bagel
1248 W Belmont Ave
Every morning for 25 years the same baker has been there at 5 am making bagels. No joke, this guy is amazing. They have been there 25 years, make great bagels, have close to a million (?) different flavors of cream cheese, the staff is very friendly, the service is fast and efficient and the prices very reasonable. It also has great sandwiches.
Crosby's is a must stop for people who love food and a fun place to eat. Its upscale casual atmosphere is always busy and the food is crazy good. Great place to go for appetizers and and end of staying for dinner. Sit outside by the fire jets in the summer. Service is excellent. Can be a long wait in the summer but do what we do and just claim the name second on the list!. Cheers!
75 recommandé par les habitants
Crosby's Kitchen
3455 N Southport Ave
75 recommandé par les habitants
Crosby's is a must stop for people who love food and a fun place to eat. Its upscale casual atmosphere is always busy and the food is crazy good. Great place to go for appetizers and and end of staying for dinner. Sit outside by the fire jets in the summer. Service is excellent. Can be a long wait in the summer but do what we do and just claim the name second on the list!. Cheers!
When its late and want delivery pizza Papa Johns delivers. Get there fudge brownies too. Always have a good special so ask.
10 recommandé par les habitants
Papa John's Pizza
80 E Cermak Rd
10 recommandé par les habitants
When its late and want delivery pizza Papa Johns delivers. Get there fudge brownies too. Always have a good special so ask.

Drinks & Nightlife

a small bar with local bands playing, typical chicago neighborhood bar with a great twist, good beer and good people.
83 recommandé par les habitants
Schubas Tavern
3159 N Southport Ave
83 recommandé par les habitants
a small bar with local bands playing, typical chicago neighborhood bar with a great twist, good beer and good people.
Great place, they have live music, comedians and all sorts of live performances, loud and definitely not intimate, it had great food and was very fun
70 recommandé par les habitants
City Winery
1200 W Randolph St
70 recommandé par les habitants
Great place, they have live music, comedians and all sorts of live performances, loud and definitely not intimate, it had great food and was very fun
a great gay bar and absolutely enormous, it seems like they're always expanding, they music, show tunes and much much more
79 recommandé par les habitants
Sidetrack
3349 N Halsted St
79 recommandé par les habitants
a great gay bar and absolutely enormous, it seems like they're always expanding, they music, show tunes and much much more
great music, good dancing, loud scene, you'll wake up feeling like your heads about to split in two but it'll be worth it
44 recommandé par les habitants
Smartbar
3730 N Clark St
44 recommandé par les habitants
great music, good dancing, loud scene, you'll wake up feeling like your heads about to split in two but it'll be worth it
great shows, been around for years and years and years, more of an alertanive scene but really good
73 recommandé par les habitants
Metro
3730 N Clark St
73 recommandé par les habitants
great shows, been around for years and years and years, more of an alertanive scene but really good
I've never seen a band perform here but I have seen some amazing DJs spinning here, great venue and well worth it
15 recommandé par les habitants
Congress Theater
2135 N Milwaukee Ave
15 recommandé par les habitants
I've never seen a band perform here but I have seen some amazing DJs spinning here, great venue and well worth it
great music, dancing and an incredible space
22 recommandé par les habitants
Sound Bar
226 W Ontario St
22 recommandé par les habitants
great music, dancing and an incredible space

Sightseeing

the giant silver bean high in the sky, it was designed to be able to reflect the whole skyline, very touristy but a great spot to check out
473 recommandé par les habitants
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph St
473 recommandé par les habitants
the giant silver bean high in the sky, it was designed to be able to reflect the whole skyline, very touristy but a great spot to check out
completely free, if you enjoy zoos this might be a great place for you, check out the primate habitat,
lincoln park zoo
completely free, if you enjoy zoos this might be a great place for you, check out the primate habitat,

Parks & Nature

one of my favorite spots in Chicago ... BY FAR, check it out if you're interested in anything from a great music venue with amazing lighting, to cool art and all sorts of other things, bit crowded in the summer but even then it would be a serious shame to miss
1243 recommandé par les habitants
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St
1243 recommandé par les habitants
one of my favorite spots in Chicago ... BY FAR, check it out if you're interested in anything from a great music venue with amazing lighting, to cool art and all sorts of other things, bit crowded in the summer but even then it would be a serious shame to miss
this park has everything you could want, swirls, twirls mirror mazes, bouncy hills and slides on steroids, these slides are HUGE, I would wait until later or very VERY early when it first opens, going over and taking a ride of some of these adult sized man holes, be forewarned it is a tight squeeze to get up there, so its not recommended for everyone
175 recommandé par les habitants
Maggie Daley Park
337 E Randolph St
175 recommandé par les habitants
this park has everything you could want, swirls, twirls mirror mazes, bouncy hills and slides on steroids, these slides are HUGE, I would wait until later or very VERY early when it first opens, going over and taking a ride of some of these adult sized man holes, be forewarned it is a tight squeeze to get up there, so its not recommended for everyone
a combination between a mini hiking trail and a park, great place to check out some wildlife, even though you're well within the city limits, just a little north of lakeview, on the lake, it feels like you've stepped away from the city, great spot and very cool
31 recommandé par les habitants
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
31 recommandé par les habitants
a combination between a mini hiking trail and a park, great place to check out some wildlife, even though you're well within the city limits, just a little north of lakeview, on the lake, it feels like you've stepped away from the city, great spot and very cool
amazing conservatory right in the city, its really a great place to check out
147 recommandé par les habitants
Lincoln Park Conservatory
2430 N Stockton Dr
147 recommandé par les habitants
amazing conservatory right in the city, its really a great place to check out
stretching along the entire lake on the north side, this park is massive and great to explore, try walking from fullerton to belmont and see wha you come across
175 recommandé par les habitants
Lincoln Park
500-5700 N Lake Shore Dr
175 recommandé par les habitants
stretching along the entire lake on the north side, this park is massive and great to explore, try walking from fullerton to belmont and see wha you come across

Arts & Culture

Great modern collection and a delicious restaurant
532 recommandé par les habitants
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago Ave
532 recommandé par les habitants
Great modern collection and a delicious restaurant
SIMPLY AMAZING, not only is it HUGE with a vast array of different things (none art or even history related really) from 747s to DNA to Doll houses and the list goes on, if you have kids no trip to chicago would be complete without checking this place out, ps if you're a fan of Devil in the White city, this is the only building left from the worlds fair ... no you have to find out why!
483 recommandé par les habitants
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S Lake Shore Dr
483 recommandé par les habitants
SIMPLY AMAZING, not only is it HUGE with a vast array of different things (none art or even history related really) from 747s to DNA to Doll houses and the list goes on, if you have kids no trip to chicago would be complete without checking this place out, ps if you're a fan of Devil in the White city, this is the only building left from the worlds fair ... no you have to find out why!
very good collection, love the new modern wing, don't miss the Chagall windows and if you like engravings make sure not to miss the prints on the top floor around the Renaissance galleries
1159 recommandé par les habitants
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave
1159 recommandé par les habitants
very good collection, love the new modern wing, don't miss the Chagall windows and if you like engravings make sure not to miss the prints on the top floor around the Renaissance galleries

Essentials

836 recommandé par les habitants
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted St
836 recommandé par les habitants

Getting Around

accessible by bus or on foot, no bikes during rush hour on weekdays and make sure you're getting on the brown line and not the purple line by mistake
91 recommandé par les habitants
Belmont station
945 W Belmont Ave
91 recommandé par les habitants
accessible by bus or on foot, no bikes during rush hour on weekdays and make sure you're getting on the brown line and not the purple line by mistake
a little closer then the belmont L stop, but only used as a brown line stop, the next stop is belmont where you can transfer to the red and purple line as well
46 recommandé par les habitants
Southport station
46 recommandé par les habitants
a little closer then the belmont L stop, but only used as a brown line stop, the next stop is belmont where you can transfer to the red and purple line as well
a block and a half from the house, great way to get around and feel like a local
23 recommandé par les habitants
Divvy
23 recommandé par les habitants
a block and a half from the house, great way to get around and feel like a local