Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
It's small and so gets packed quickly. Be sure to arrive early than you want to eat to put your name on the list. One of the best burgers in Chicago and great cocktails.
82 locals recommend
Little Bad Wolf
1541 W Bryn Mawr AveIt's small and so gets packed quickly. Be sure to arrive early than you want to eat to put your name on the list. One of the best burgers in Chicago and great cocktails.
Amazing sushi and the best vegetarian udon noodle soup I've ever had. It's BYOB.
36 locals recommend
Tanoshii
5547 N Clark StAmazing sushi and the best vegetarian udon noodle soup I've ever had. It's BYOB.
My favorite coffee shop that's cozy and has a nice sidewalk patio for the summertime.
64 locals recommend
The Coffee Studio
5628 N Clark StMy favorite coffee shop that's cozy and has a nice sidewalk patio for the summertime.
Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StUpscale Belgian food with a great beer list and a wonderful patio.
One of my favorite budget friendly places. It's very small, delicious, and serves huge portions of stir fry.
7 locals recommend
Ben's Noodles & Rice
1139 W Bryn Mawr AveOne of my favorite budget friendly places. It's very small, delicious, and serves huge portions of stir fry.
Best fried chicken sandwich of my life! Be sure to get it on a biscuit!
16 locals recommend
The Roost Carolina Kitchen
2011 W Irving Park RdBest fried chicken sandwich of my life! Be sure to get it on a biscuit!
Tank Noodle
4953-55 N BroadwaySome of the best pho in the city!
Great place to sit and have coffee; just be sure not to skip out on the almond croissants.
10 locals recommend
pHlour Bakery & Cafe
1138 W Bryn Mawr AveGreat place to sit and have coffee; just be sure not to skip out on the almond croissants.
Great Greek food with the most wonderful summer patio. It's huge!
20 locals recommend
Athena Greek Restaurant
212 S Halsted StGreat Greek food with the most wonderful summer patio. It's huge!
Parks & Nature
Winnemac Park
5100 N Leavitt StIt's huge with lots of nature paths and is perfect for a picnic.
Millennium and Grant park are gorgeous. They are sandwiched in between the lake and the skyline, have a kids park, the Bean (also called the Cloud Atlas), the Art Institute, Buckingham Fountain, and a multiple gardens. It's also where Lollapalooza is held.
1243 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StMillennium and Grant park are gorgeous. They are sandwiched in between the lake and the skyline, have a kids park, the Bean (also called the Cloud Atlas), the Art Institute, Buckingham Fountain, and a multiple gardens. It's also where Lollapalooza is held.
Essentials
This grocery store is really convenient and is only two blocks from my apartment.
675 locals recommend
Jewel-Osco
3531 N BroadwayThis grocery store is really convenient and is only two blocks from my apartment.
Incredibly fresh and cheap produce; this is my first go to place before going to Jewel!
37 locals recommend
Edgewater Produce
5515 N Clark StIncredibly fresh and cheap produce; this is my first go to place before going to Jewel!
Getting Around
This is the bus stop that is one block from my apartment. Don't let the name of the street fool you; this is Damen bus that take you to great places like Wicker Park (find amazing cocktails at the speak easy The Violet Hour there).
Ashland & Catalpa
This is the bus stop that is one block from my apartment. Don't let the name of the street fool you; this is Damen bus that take you to great places like Wicker Park (find amazing cocktails at the speak easy The Violet Hour there).
This is the Clark bus, which will take you straight to Wrigley Field, fairly close to the Lincoln Park zoo, and all the way downtown.
Clark & Catalpa station
This is the Clark bus, which will take you straight to Wrigley Field, fairly close to the Lincoln Park zoo, and all the way downtown.
This 24-hour train stop will allow you to board the Red Line, which takes you to Wrigley Field and downtown. It will also allow you to board the Brown Line at either Belmont or Fullerton. In my opinion, the Brown Line is the best way to travel through downtown since it is an elevated line.
36 locals recommend
Bryn Mawr Red Line Station
This 24-hour train stop will allow you to board the Red Line, which takes you to Wrigley Field and downtown. It will also allow you to board the Brown Line at either Belmont or Fullerton. In my opinion, the Brown Line is the best way to travel through downtown since it is an elevated line.
If you can, take the Brown Line downtown. From my house you can get on the Red Line and then transfer to the Brown at either Belmont or Fullerton. The Brown Line is elevated throughout downtown and is a great way to look at Chicago.
24 locals recommend
Kimball station
If you can, take the Brown Line downtown. From my house you can get on the Red Line and then transfer to the Brown at either Belmont or Fullerton. The Brown Line is elevated throughout downtown and is a great way to look at Chicago.
Drinks & Nightlife
Amazing speakeasy where I have never had a cocktail I don't like and is by far my favorite place for a drink in Chicago. Since it's speakeasy, they don't have a clearly marked door. Look for the mural wall across the street Big Star Tacos; there is a light above the door. It's easily spotted on a weekend night because there's always a line.
355 locals recommend
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveAmazing speakeasy where I have never had a cocktail I don't like and is by far my favorite place for a drink in Chicago. Since it's speakeasy, they don't have a clearly marked door. Look for the mural wall across the street Big Star Tacos; there is a light above the door. It's easily spotted on a weekend night because there's always a line.
Speakeasy feel to it with great cocktails. It gets really busy at night; be sure to go to the back and put your name down for a table upstairs. There are lounge couches and a pool table; lots of fun!
37 locals recommend
The Barrelhouse Flat
2624 N Lincoln AveSpeakeasy feel to it with great cocktails. It gets really busy at night; be sure to go to the back and put your name down for a table upstairs. There are lounge couches and a pool table; lots of fun!
Fountainhead
1970 W Montrose AveBar/restaurant with a really nice rooftop bar.
Very small jazz club with excellent music. Be sure to look up the calendar ahead of time because some nights they do slam poetry instead of jazz.
471 locals recommend
The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayVery small jazz club with excellent music. Be sure to look up the calendar ahead of time because some nights they do slam poetry instead of jazz.
Arts & Culture
It's way bigger than it looks on the outside and is located in Millennium Park. If you can, go on a weekday since it's packed on weekends. Favorite parts: Chagall windows, Impressionist wing, and the Thorne Miniature Rooms.
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveIt's way bigger than it looks on the outside and is located in Millennium Park. If you can, go on a weekday since it's packed on weekends. Favorite parts: Chagall windows, Impressionist wing, and the Thorne Miniature Rooms.
This place is a really cool mixture of antique shop, store, and museum. It's also a really popular wedding venue. It's not a touristy place, so you have a good chance of going through with a lot of quiet. :)
9 locals recommend
Architectural Artifacts, Inc.
1065 N Ravenswood AveThis place is a really cool mixture of antique shop, store, and museum. It's also a really popular wedding venue. It's not a touristy place, so you have a good chance of going through with a lot of quiet. :)
I've never been here, but have always wanted to go. The house was kept in it's 1920's style by the owner.
33 locals recommend
Richard H. Driehaus Museum
40 E Erie StI've never been here, but have always wanted to go. The house was kept in it's 1920's style by the owner.
Everything Else
One of my favorite bookstores in Chicago! It's 3 stories, very cramped, and is perfect for getting lost in.
118 locals recommend
Myopic Books
1564 N Milwaukee AveOne of my favorite bookstores in Chicago! It's 3 stories, very cramped, and is perfect for getting lost in.
Nice, small, and local feminist bookstore. Great place to stop in when wandering down Clark Street.
48 locals recommend
Women & Children First
5233 N Clark StNice, small, and local feminist bookstore. Great place to stop in when wandering down Clark Street.