Guidebook for Chicago
Essentials
Cheap, convenient, has a pharmacy and practically everything else you would need (produce, meat, milk, paper towels, beer, wine and other alcohol) etc. I shop here all the time. Short walk!
91 locals recommend
Walmart Neighborhood Market
2551 W Cermak RdCheap, convenient, has a pharmacy and practically everything else you would need (produce, meat, milk, paper towels, beer, wine and other alcohol) etc. I shop here all the time. Short walk!
Love shopping here. High quality meat, dairy, produce and other stuff (think organic)...short walk!
360 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
667 W Diversey PkwyLove shopping here. High quality meat, dairy, produce and other stuff (think organic)...short walk!
super convenient...open late...perfect go-to for last minute things...ice cream, coffee, wine, beer, artisan 'food', etc.
49 locals recommend
Go Grocer
2060 W North Avesuper convenient...open late...perfect go-to for last minute things...ice cream, coffee, wine, beer, artisan 'food', etc.
Shopping
T.J. Maxx
11 N State StLove TJ Maxx! Designer stuff at non designer prices! Short walk!
The best wine, artisanal bread and cheese store in town! and love the people who work there!
44 locals recommend
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine
2945 N BroadwayThe best wine, artisanal bread and cheese store in town! and love the people who work there!
Chicago's prime shopping mecca! It is called Magnificent Mile for a reason! :-) You have to go there to experience it and soak it all in to find out why it is called that apt term :-)
14 locals recommend
Michigan Avenue
Chicago's prime shopping mecca! It is called Magnificent Mile for a reason! :-) You have to go there to experience it and soak it all in to find out why it is called that apt term :-)
Located on Michigan Ave, this is one of the city's 'mall's - so many stores inside including the iconic Macy's! and so much more! great food court too!
327 locals recommend
Water Tower Place
835 Michigan AveLocated on Michigan Ave, this is one of the city's 'mall's - so many stores inside including the iconic Macy's! and so much more! great food court too!
Another one of Chicago's shopping malls in the city right on Michigan Ave
16 locals recommend
Bloomingdale's
900 North Michigan AvenueAnother one of Chicago's shopping malls in the city right on Michigan Ave
love this place! name says it all! right of Michigan Ave
11 locals recommend
Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop
400 N Michigan Avelove this place! name says it all! right of Michigan Ave
Everything Else
Walgreens
4801 N Lincoln AvePharmacy - store open 24 hours! short walk!
If you want to walk, jog or run by the gorgeous Lake Michigan then this is the ideal location for you! just a few blocks away!
102 locals recommend
Lake Michigan
If you want to walk, jog or run by the gorgeous Lake Michigan then this is the ideal location for you! just a few blocks away!
Hospital - not that you would ever need it but nice to know there is one around the corner
St Joseph Hospital
Hospital - not that you would ever need it but nice to know there is one around the corner
Diversey Harbor
Boats!
Belmont Harbor
Belmont HarborBoats!
Walking around beautifully manicured landscapes is just around the corner! Seriously this is one of the best parts of the city to soak in
175 locals recommend
Lincoln Park
500-5700 N Lake Shore DrWalking around beautifully manicured landscapes is just around the corner! Seriously this is one of the best parts of the city to soak in
Belmont station
945 W Belmont AveChicago's Belmont El Station
3115 North Broadway
3115 North Broadwayparking garage a few blocks away from me
Belmont Harbor Market
3170 N Sheridan Rdparking garage a few blocks away from me
Sightseeing
Zoo! Kids will love it! and if you are here during the holidays, they do a great job with color lighting all around...a real treat for kids and adults! A very short bus trip
1117 locals recommend
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark StZoo! Kids will love it! and if you are here during the holidays, they do a great job with color lighting all around...a real treat for kids and adults! A very short bus trip
Food Scene
Really neat Persian restaurant...with outdoor seating in the summer...great hosts.
Pars Cove Restaurant
435 W Diversey PkwyReally neat Persian restaurant...with outdoor seating in the summer...great hosts.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants! great wine, posh modern atmosphere, excellent service, their prosciutto thin crust pizza is to die for! If you have been to Italy, you will love it!
19 locals recommend
Ceres' Table
3124 N BroadwayOne of my favorite Italian restaurants! great wine, posh modern atmosphere, excellent service, their prosciutto thin crust pizza is to die for! If you have been to Italy, you will love it!
great kosher food, Whether you are Jewish or not, you will love their food!
14 locals recommend
Milt's Barbecue for the Perplexed
3411 N Broadwaygreat kosher food, Whether you are Jewish or not, you will love their food!
Great for breakfast and brunch any time of the day or night - open 24 hours
29 locals recommend
Nookies Tree
3334 N Halsted StGreat for breakfast and brunch any time of the day or night - open 24 hours
very inexpensive place for breakfast, lunch or dinner any time of the day or night
19 locals recommend
Melrose Diner
3233 North Broadwayvery inexpensive place for breakfast, lunch or dinner any time of the day or night
great food, service, ambience, a little pricey but I think it is worth it
18 locals recommend
Yoshi's Cafe
3257 N Halsted Stgreat food, service, ambience, a little pricey but I think it is worth it
If you are looking for great Brazilian style steak without breaking the bank (BYOB!) this is a great place! be sure to book in advance!
119 locals recommend
Tango Sur
3763 N Southport AveIf you are looking for great Brazilian style steak without breaking the bank (BYOB!) this is a great place! be sure to book in advance!
The name says it all! short walk! great mexican stuff...huge bar and of course they are known for their jumbo sized potent margaritas!
14 locals recommend
Cesar's Killer Margaritas - Broadway
2924 N BroadwayThe name says it all! short walk! great mexican stuff...huge bar and of course they are known for their jumbo sized potent margaritas!
classic Jewish/deli diner...have been around in this area forever!
14 locals recommend
The Bagel Restaurant and Deli
3107 N Broadwayclassic Jewish/deli diner...have been around in this area forever!
another inexpensive place to eat - breakfast, brunch, dinner any time of the day or night. They have a huge bar too. Great pies!
6 locals recommend
The Edge Bar & Grill
2720 N Clark Stanother inexpensive place to eat - breakfast, brunch, dinner any time of the day or night. They have a huge bar too. Great pies!
Love this place! very nicely done up inside! named after Oscar Wilde - great american food and alcohol, very warm and cozy! I go here very often.
69 locals recommend
Wilde Bar & Restaurant
3130 N BroadwayLove this place! very nicely done up inside! named after Oscar Wilde - great american food and alcohol, very warm and cozy! I go here very often.
Yummy Yummy Asian Cuisine
2901 N Broadwaylow key but healthy chinese grub! just a short walk away
love this place! very nice people, family owned, nicely maintained, very tasty Thai and other asian dishes, BYOB!
Red Pig Asian Kitchen
2932 N Broadwaylove this place! very nice people, family owned, nicely maintained, very tasty Thai and other asian dishes, BYOB!
Very nice French restaurant, great food and ambience, and really not that expensive
30 locals recommend
Mon Ami Gabi
2300 N Lincoln Park WVery nice French restaurant, great food and ambience, and really not that expensive
very low key place for excellent salads and great thin crust pizza! short walk!
9 locals recommend
Mista Pizza
2921 N Broadwayvery low key place for excellent salads and great thin crust pizza! short walk!
If you are craving something rather expensive but also very 5 star-ish in experience then this is a great place to go!
48 locals recommend
North Pond
2610 N Cannon DrIf you are craving something rather expensive but also very 5 star-ish in experience then this is a great place to go!
Stella's Diner
3042 N Broadwayreally down to earth diner experience
Wakamono
3313 N Broadwayexcellent place for sushi! very nice ambiance
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
2024 N Halsted Stexcellent place for Spanish Tapas! one of my favorite places!
Noodles & Company
2813 N Broadwayfairly nice noodle and other dishes
Joy's Noodles & Rice
3257 North Broadwaynice place for asian food
very nice mexican food and drinks - warm, cozy, welcoming, nice ambience
13 locals recommend
Las Mananitas
3523 N Halsted Stvery nice mexican food and drinks - warm, cozy, welcoming, nice ambience
nice mexican food...down to earth, laid back ambience
24 locals recommend
El Mariachi Tequila Bar & Grill
3906 North Broadwaynice mexican food...down to earth, laid back ambience
nice Italian restaurant and bar...they have great pasta and also their weekend brunches are very nice (sometimes a drag queen will entertain the crowd - nicely done)
43 locals recommend
Angelina Ristorante
3561 North Broadwaynice Italian restaurant and bar...they have great pasta and also their weekend brunches are very nice (sometimes a drag queen will entertain the crowd - nicely done)
Drew's on Halsted
3201 N Halsted Stgood food and fancy cocktails...lgbt oriented
great food...used to be owned by a gay couple who have a food show on the Food Network...always loved going there
6 locals recommend
SpritzBurger
3819 N Broadwaygreat food...used to be owned by a gay couple who have a food show on the Food Network...always loved going there
Best low key great tasting breakfast /brunch food, a few short blocks away. I eat here all the time. They open at 7 am! If you go after 10 am -ish on a weekend, there is a huge line! so plan to wait!
15 locals recommend
Yolk - Lakeview
501 W Diversey PkwyBest low key great tasting breakfast /brunch food, a few short blocks away. I eat here all the time. They open at 7 am! If you go after 10 am -ish on a weekend, there is a huge line! so plan to wait!
Drinks & Nightlife
Duffy's Tavern and Grille
420 W Diversey PkwySports bar...low key
If you are looking for a gay bar, this is rated as one of the best in the country... sprawling...check it out...they have Show Tunes playing Sunday afternoons and Mondays.
79 locals recommend
Sidetrack
3349 N Halsted StIf you are looking for a gay bar, this is rated as one of the best in the country... sprawling...check it out...they have Show Tunes playing Sunday afternoons and Mondays.
Best wine and cheese place in town! Love going there! excellent menu and wine choices!
28 locals recommend
Bar Pastoral
2947 N BroadwayBest wine and cheese place in town! Love going there! excellent menu and wine choices!
Dunlays On Clark
2600 N Clark Stvery nice place for wine and other stuff
D.O.C Wine Bar
2602 N Clark Stthe name says it all! wine!
DryHop Brewers
3155 N BroadwayBeer anyone! and food...
Roscoe's
3356 N Halsted StGay bar with a nice dance floor
Minibar
3341 North Halsted Streetsmall but posh place for drinks and dance music...gay bar
Excellent place for a lounge-y drink or two! and some great tapas style small plates! lgbt oriented
33 locals recommend
Taverna 750
5420 North Clark StreetExcellent place for a lounge-y drink or two! and some great tapas style small plates! lgbt oriented
Great drinks! Awesome drag queens! very nice for bachelorette parties
19 locals recommend
Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club
3700 North Halsted StreetGreat drinks! Awesome drag queens! very nice for bachelorette parties
good food and drinks...reasonably priced...nice ambience...lgbt oriented
7 locals recommend
Halsted's Bar + Grill
3441 N Halsted Stgood food and drinks...reasonably priced...nice ambience...lgbt oriented
Hydrate
3458 N Halsted Stnice drinks, fancy dance floor, packed on the weekends...gay bar
Charlie's Chicago
3726 North BroadwayGay bar...great dance floor and music on the weekends
Arts & Culture
Artsy, independent films! look no further! this is the place to go...short walk! They have a nice lounge bar to have a drink in and take the drink in with you to the movie
71 locals recommend
Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
2828 N Clark StArtsy, independent films! look no further! this is the place to go...short walk! They have a nice lounge bar to have a drink in and take the drink in with you to the movie
The one and only, historical, iconic Wrigley field! not too far away!
1004 locals recommend
Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison StThe one and only, historical, iconic Wrigley field! not too far away!
Soldier Field
1410 Special Olympics DrChicago's 'other' baseball park - not too far away!
I love going to this Museum - kids and adults will find something to like here - short drive away!
483 locals recommend
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S Lake Shore DrI love going to this Museum - kids and adults will find something to like here - short drive away!
The Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore DrOne of Chicago's finest museums - just a short drive away!
The name says it all...very beautifully done...a must see
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveThe name says it all...very beautifully done...a must see
Another one of Chicago's artsy museums - take the bus...it's right in the heart of downtown a few blocks west of the iconic Michigan Ave shopping mecca!
532 locals recommend
Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveAnother one of Chicago's artsy museums - take the bus...it's right in the heart of downtown a few blocks west of the iconic Michigan Ave shopping mecca!
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore DrThe City's Aquarium - always nice to visit
pretty neat museum to visit...you will find out a lot! about our great city!
241 locals recommend
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark Stpretty neat museum to visit...you will find out a lot! about our great city!
Really nice place to visit ...kids will love it...
140 locals recommend
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N Cannon DrReally nice place to visit ...kids will love it...
Chicago Children's Museum
700 E Grand Avethis is inside the famous Navy Pier area
Of course, if you visit Chicago as a tourist, a trip to the iconic Navy Pier is in order...love this place...and if you love going on Lake Michigan Cruise tours then this is the place to be!
933 locals recommend
Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveOf course, if you visit Chicago as a tourist, a trip to the iconic Navy Pier is in order...love this place...and if you love going on Lake Michigan Cruise tours then this is the place to be!
Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lake Shore Drthe name says it all...kids love it