Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Amazing food, elegant ambience, its own vegetable garden, all locally sourced ingredients, excellent service
30 residents recomanen
Inspiration Kitchens
3504 W Lake StAmazing food, elegant ambience, its own vegetable garden, all locally sourced ingredients, excellent service
Very cozy and quaint atmosphere. Owner often escorts you to your table.
19 residents recomanen
Chez Joel Bistro Francais
1119 W Taylor StVery cozy and quaint atmosphere. Owner often escorts you to your table.
Bistro Campagne
4518 N Lincoln AveThe best French food in Chicago!!
It is hands down the best Afghan restaurant in the country
11 residents recomanen
Kabul House Restaurant
2424 Dempster StIt is hands down the best Afghan restaurant in the country
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
58 East W Oak StGreat ambience. Gorgeous views.
Another off the beat, local joint which is a must. Very simple, very crowded. Always busy. The Italian food here from Chicken Marsala to the arrancini balls are some of the best Italian fare I have had outside of Italy. Very family. Small eating area. Small Italian grocery store. Bring cash because they do not accept credit cards. Owner is almost always there orchestrating like a grand conductor. Very Chicago.
12 residents recomanen
Freddy's Pizza
1600 S 61st AveAnother off the beat, local joint which is a must. Very simple, very crowded. Always busy. The Italian food here from Chicken Marsala to the arrancini balls are some of the best Italian fare I have had outside of Italy. Very family. Small eating area. Small Italian grocery store. Bring cash because they do not accept credit cards. Owner is almost always there orchestrating like a grand conductor. Very Chicago.
Ok--not the greatest food in the world, but the ambience cannot be beat. Right in the park. Right in front of a small lagoon. It is a very nice place to spend a Sunday afternoon.
15 residents recomanen
Cafe Brauer
2021 N Stockton DrOk--not the greatest food in the world, but the ambience cannot be beat. Right in the park. Right in front of a small lagoon. It is a very nice place to spend a Sunday afternoon.
ok it is supposed to be a grocery store, but it is really like an indoor italian street market. Check it out!
140 residents recomanen
Eataly Chicago
43 E Ohio Stok it is supposed to be a grocery store, but it is really like an indoor italian street market. Check it out!
Roofdeck restaurant with its own vegetable garden. Great in summer time.
30 residents recomanen
Homestead On The Roof
1924 W Chicago AveRoofdeck restaurant with its own vegetable garden. Great in summer time.
From Western to California is the city's "Little India". Blocks upon blocks of sari stalls, jewelry stores, sweet shops, fast food canteens, halal butchers, and of course restaurants, restaurants and more restaurants. If you have any penchant for South Asian culture and cuisine, it is worth a looksie.
9 residents recomanen
West Devon Avenue
West Devon AvenueFrom Western to California is the city's "Little India". Blocks upon blocks of sari stalls, jewelry stores, sweet shops, fast food canteens, halal butchers, and of course restaurants, restaurants and more restaurants. If you have any penchant for South Asian culture and cuisine, it is worth a looksie.
From Broadway to Sheridan is a collection of Vietnamese restaurants and stores in quaint and picturesque boutique locations.
7 residents recomanen
West Argyle Street
West Argyle StreetFrom Broadway to Sheridan is a collection of Vietnamese restaurants and stores in quaint and picturesque boutique locations.
The cafe in the Restoration Hardware store is a wonderful treat for Chicago visitors. Brunch is served on weekends.
There is usually a long line on the weekends and the restaurant does not take any reservations so be prepared for a long wait. The restaurant is the courtyard of the building. It is covered.
20 residents recomanen
Restoration Hardware
1300 N Dearborn StThe cafe in the Restoration Hardware store is a wonderful treat for Chicago visitors. Brunch is served on weekends.
There is usually a long line on the weekends and the restaurant does not take any reservations so be prepared for a long wait. The restaurant is the courtyard of the building. It is covered.
A new restaurant which has shot to the top of the Chicago food scene. Written up in Conde Nast magazine.
21 residents recomanen
Income Tax
A new restaurant which has shot to the top of the Chicago food scene. Written up in Conde Nast magazine.
Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant
5846 N BroadwayAwesome Ethiopian food and cocktails
Right across from Lincoln Park. Go during Christmas time to see the lights in Lincoln Park Zoo.
30 residents recomanen
Mon Ami Gabi
2300 N Lincoln Park WRight across from Lincoln Park. Go during Christmas time to see the lights in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Parks & Nature
Conservatori de Garfield Park
300 N Central Park AveOne of the best conservatories in the nation.
Kathy Osterman Beach House
5800 N Lake Shore DrPeople watching is great
North Avenue Beach station
People watching extraordinaire
Concerts in a bucolic park atmosphere. A must to-do when in Chicago (summers only)
14 residents recomanen
Ravinia Festival Box Office
418 Sheridan RdConcerts in a bucolic park atmosphere. A must to-do when in Chicago (summers only)
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook RdTrust me--it's a nice place to spend a day
The docents are very knowledgeable. I should know. My mother is one of them.
147 residents recomanen
Conservatori de Lincoln Park
2430 N Stockton DrThe docents are very knowledgeable. I should know. My mother is one of them.
Essentials
Wide selection of speciality groceries. Wine and cheese bar. Hot bar, salad bar. Eating area. Made to order sandwiches.
200 residents recomanen
Pete's Fresh Market
2333 W Madison StWide selection of speciality groceries. Wine and cheese bar. Hot bar, salad bar. Eating area. Made to order sandwiches.
Walgreens
1931 W Cermak RdNearest pharmacy
Sightseeing
Formerly a country club, now a part of the Park District. Great golf course. Excellent restaurant inside. Call ahead to make reservations for either.
37 residents recomanen
Centre Cultural South Shore
7059 S South Shore DrFormerly a country club, now a part of the Park District. Great golf course. Excellent restaurant inside. Call ahead to make reservations for either.
Parc del Mil·leni
201 E Randolph Stit is one of the country's most iconic parks
One of the world's most celebrated architectural genius. Learn more about him and his contributions to Chicago and the world
184 residents recomanen
Casa i Estudi de Frank Lloyd Wright
951 Chicago AveOne of the world's most celebrated architectural genius. Learn more about him and his contributions to Chicago and the world
A beautiful place of worship. Every Bahai temple in the world is a masterpiece and this one is no exception
120 residents recomanen
Casa de l'adoració bahai
100 Linden AveA beautiful place of worship. Every Bahai temple in the world is a masterpiece and this one is no exception
Zoo de Lincoln Park
2001 N Clark StA zoo in a park!!
The University of Chicago
5801 S Ellis AveThe center of the free thinking world
Drinks & Nightlife
Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StWide selection of Belgian brews
Marty's
1511 W Balmoral AveCool crowd. Martinis! Mostly gay, but friendly to all
Rainbo Club
1150 N Damen AveSidetrack
3349 N Halsted StDo not miss Showtunes night! Lot of fun. Primarily gay.
Z Bar
108 E Superior StVery elegant space
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
954 North California AvenueRM Champagne Salon
116 N Green StThe Press Room
1134 W Washington Blvd
Lost Lake
3154 W Diversey Ave Cocktail bar
Delilah's Chicago
2771 North Lincoln AvenueOver 800 varieties of whisky
Big Chicks
5024 N Sheridan RdVery fun place. Super gay.
Pub Royale
2049 W Division StAnglo-Indian cusine and brewery
Charlie's Chicago
3726 North BroadwayGay venue. Country music. Country dancing.
Arts & Culture
it does not get a lot of attention but deserves a lot of attention
149 residents recomanen
Museu DuSable d'Història Afroamericana
740 E 56th Plit does not get a lot of attention but deserves a lot of attention
Probably the largest collection of Mid-east ancient artefacts outside of the British Museum or the Cairo Museum. (Baghdad's Museum was pretty much destroyed). Small museum, with most artifacts packed in the basement and brought out in rotation.
62 residents recomanen
Oriental Institute Museum
1155 E 58th StProbably the largest collection of Mid-east ancient artefacts outside of the British Museum or the Cairo Museum. (Baghdad's Museum was pretty much destroyed). Small museum, with most artifacts packed in the basement and brought out in rotation.
Wonderful garden. Check out their website for their concert series in the park
532 residents recomanen
Museu d'Art Contemporani de Chicago
220 E Chicago AveWonderful garden. Check out their website for their concert series in the park
Entertainment & Activities
Court Theater
5535 S Ellis AveStudents from the University of Chicago are the actors.
The birthplace of Saturday Night Live and a host of cultural icons like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert etc.
433 residents recomanen
The Second City
230 W North AveThe birthplace of Saturday Night Live and a host of cultural icons like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert etc.
A cornerstone of the vibrant Chicago theater scene. Probably it's core rather than cornerstone.
12 residents recomanen
Steppenwolf Theatre - Main Building
1650 North Halsted StreetA cornerstone of the vibrant Chicago theater scene. Probably it's core rather than cornerstone.
collegeofcomplexes.org
Every Saturday eve at 6pm where all manner of Chicagoans give their schpeels on everything from the history of revolutions to the deep state. Sometimes crazy speakers, sometimes not so. Established 1951. Dappers East Restaurant, 2901 W Addison, Chicago. (Addison & California)
9 residents recomanen
Dappers East
2901 W Addison Stcollegeofcomplexes.org
Every Saturday eve at 6pm where all manner of Chicagoans give their schpeels on everything from the history of revolutions to the deep state. Sometimes crazy speakers, sometimes not so. Established 1951. Dappers East Restaurant, 2901 W Addison, Chicago. (Addison & California)