Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Great upscale vibe steakhouse with all around excellent food. It is on the more expensive end of the scale and also have all you can eat options. I am not a red meat eater, but my friends raved about the steaks. I was told brunch is good as well, but have not been there for brunch yet.
21 locals recommend
ZED451
739 N Clark StGreat upscale vibe steakhouse with all around excellent food. It is on the more expensive end of the scale and also have all you can eat options. I am not a red meat eater, but my friends raved about the steaks. I was told brunch is good as well, but have not been there for brunch yet.
Yolk is a great breakfast and brunch spot open until 2pm. It is very casual with a diner-like atmosphere. You can get eggs any way you like them. They have a variety of options and let you customize. They also have delicious French toast, pancakes. There are 4 other locations around Chicago.
27 locals recommend
Yolk - River North
747 N Wells StYolk is a great breakfast and brunch spot open until 2pm. It is very casual with a diner-like atmosphere. You can get eggs any way you like them. They have a variety of options and let you customize. They also have delicious French toast, pancakes. There are 4 other locations around Chicago.
Great brunch spot with outdoor seating. It is also a great people watching spot.
24 locals recommend
Luxbar
18 E Bellevue PlGreat brunch spot with outdoor seating. It is also a great people watching spot.
Fantastic breakfast and brunch spot located in Lakeview. Small, fairly new restaurant with outdoor seating in the summer. They close at 3pm.
19 locals recommend
Mortar and Pestle
3108 N BroadwayFantastic breakfast and brunch spot located in Lakeview. Small, fairly new restaurant with outdoor seating in the summer. They close at 3pm.
Great seafood restaurant. They have a formal dinning room where you can make reservations as well as a more casual oyster bar that is first come first serve. Excellent shellfish and seafood! There is also usually live music Sunday - Thursday nights.
23 locals recommend
Shaw's Crab House
21 E Hubbard StGreat seafood restaurant. They have a formal dinning room where you can make reservations as well as a more casual oyster bar that is first come first serve. Excellent shellfish and seafood! There is also usually live music Sunday - Thursday nights.
Restaurant bar in the heart of River North with great food and service. They also serve brunch.
31 locals recommend
Hub 51
51 W Hubbard StRestaurant bar in the heart of River North with great food and service. They also serve brunch.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a really fun spot if you enjoy life music! It has an unassuming entrance. I definitely recommend stopping in to check out the bands. The bar is open until 4am and they bar with a good menu, but you come here for the music. The owner's band sometimes comes on stage later in the evening and she/they are awesome. They love performing and it shows, especially when they interact with the audience and hand out instruments for you to join.
12 locals recommend
Underground Wonder Bar
710 North Clark StreetThis is a really fun spot if you enjoy life music! It has an unassuming entrance. I definitely recommend stopping in to check out the bands. The bar is open until 4am and they bar with a good menu, but you come here for the music. The owner's band sometimes comes on stage later in the evening and she/they are awesome. They love performing and it shows, especially when they interact with the audience and hand out instruments for you to join.
Popular dance/night club. There is usually a line after 11:00pm. It's not for everyone, but if you are looking for a good place to dance for a night out this is a good option.
42 locals recommend
Underground
56 W Illinois StPopular dance/night club. There is usually a line after 11:00pm. It's not for everyone, but if you are looking for a good place to dance for a night out this is a good option.
Dueling piano bar with a bar up front and in the back. It is usually crowded and often a line later in the evenings. This can be a very entertaining place for a night out with friends.
24 locals recommend
Howl at the Moon Chicago
26 W Hubbard StDueling piano bar with a bar up front and in the back. It is usually crowded and often a line later in the evenings. This can be a very entertaining place for a night out with friends.
This is an underground bar that can be a little tricky to find. The drinks are large, delicious and typically pretty strong. The food menu is pretty limited. The place has a cool vibe and sometimes has entertaining people watching.
125 locals recommend
Three Dots and a Dash
435 N Clark StThis is an underground bar that can be a little tricky to find. The drinks are large, delicious and typically pretty strong. The food menu is pretty limited. The place has a cool vibe and sometimes has entertaining people watching.
Parks & Nature
Lincoln Park runs along the Lakefront from Ohio Street Beach on the southern end to Ardmore Avenue in Edgewater. North Avenue Beach and Lincoln Park Zoo are considered part of Lincoln Park. This is a great place to go for a run or walk.
You can rent Divvy Bikes at multiple points outside the park and ride along the bike path to downtown or to the north. It is a great place to run, bike and hangout with friends.
On the weekends there are usually farmers' markets in or near the park.
175 locals recommend
Lincoln Park
500-5700 N Lake Shore DrLincoln Park runs along the Lakefront from Ohio Street Beach on the southern end to Ardmore Avenue in Edgewater. North Avenue Beach and Lincoln Park Zoo are considered part of Lincoln Park. This is a great place to go for a run or walk.
You can rent Divvy Bikes at multiple points outside the park and ride along the bike path to downtown or to the north. It is a great place to run, bike and hangout with friends.
On the weekends there are usually farmers' markets in or near the park.
This is one of the most popular beach spots in Chicago. In the spring and summer there is usually a lot of activity on the sunny (and even not so sunny) days.
There are sand volleyball courts and a few local clubs / groups offer SUP (stand-up paddle boarding), kayaking, jet-skiing and boating. There are also some groups that do yoga on the beach.
There are locker rentals and restrooms available.
338 locals recommend
North Avenue Beach
This is one of the most popular beach spots in Chicago. In the spring and summer there is usually a lot of activity on the sunny (and even not so sunny) days.
There are sand volleyball courts and a few local clubs / groups offer SUP (stand-up paddle boarding), kayaking, jet-skiing and boating. There are also some groups that do yoga on the beach.
There are locker rentals and restrooms available.
The Lincoln Park Zoo is great. The zoo has a lot to offer for children and adults. There are areas a little off the beaten path right outside the zoo that are also beautiful too.
It's summer now, but this a great spot during winter when they have the lights up. They are beautiful and is a great chance to see the zoo at night!
1117 locals recommend
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark StThe Lincoln Park Zoo is great. The zoo has a lot to offer for children and adults. There are areas a little off the beaten path right outside the zoo that are also beautiful too.
It's summer now, but this a great spot during winter when they have the lights up. They are beautiful and is a great chance to see the zoo at night!
Arts & Culture
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark StThis is a great museum and many think it is one of the best local art museums. If you are in the area (near Millennium Park), I recommend stopping by.
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveThis is a great museum and many think it is one of the best local art museums. If you are in the area (near Millennium Park), I recommend stopping by.
Museum with some interesting exhibits. I've been there a few times and on the most recent visit there were more mixed medium exhibits.
There is a small park outside the museum and it is in walking distance to both the beach and Michigan Avenue.
532 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveMuseum with some interesting exhibits. I've been there a few times and on the most recent visit there were more mixed medium exhibits.
There is a small park outside the museum and it is in walking distance to both the beach and Michigan Avenue.
Entertainment & Activities
Definitely try to get to a game if you can! Take the Red Line north, (~5 minute walk to the station) to the Addison stop and the field is 1 block away.
The train is definitely the fastest way to get there during high traffic hours.
1004 locals recommend
Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison StDefinitely try to get to a game if you can! Take the Red Line north, (~5 minute walk to the station) to the Addison stop and the field is 1 block away.
The train is definitely the fastest way to get there during high traffic hours.
Essentials
Whole Foods has free parking for customers off of North Dearborn Street.
836 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted StWhole Foods has free parking for customers off of North Dearborn Street.
Jewel-Osco
550 N State StGrocery store chain.
Shopping
Very nice shopping mall between Nordstrom's is an anchor tenant. You can find Sephora, Kiehls, The Art of Shaving, Eataly, Sunglass Hut, Soma, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Stuart Weitzman, Microsoft Store (Kiosk).
This is near all the other major department stores and high end retailers along Michigan Avenue. There are also a number of nice restaurants in, attached or very close to the mall.
22 locals recommend
The Shops at North Bridge
520 N Michigan AveVery nice shopping mall between Nordstrom's is an anchor tenant. You can find Sephora, Kiehls, The Art of Shaving, Eataly, Sunglass Hut, Soma, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Stuart Weitzman, Microsoft Store (Kiosk).
This is near all the other major department stores and high end retailers along Michigan Avenue. There are also a number of nice restaurants in, attached or very close to the mall.