Food Scene
Best Hot Dogs in Chicago! Well, just outside of Chicago in Elmwood Park.
14 locals recommend
Gene & Jude's
2720 N River RdBest Hot Dogs in Chicago! Well, just outside of Chicago in Elmwood Park.
Chicago Tourists flock to this Original Chicago Style Pizza parlor in Downtown Chicago for a good reason. They have great deep dish pizza!
36 locals recommend
Pizzeria Uno
29 E Ohio StChicago Tourists flock to this Original Chicago Style Pizza parlor in Downtown Chicago for a good reason. They have great deep dish pizza!
Chicago locals choose the Second Original Chicago Style Pizza Parlor in Downtown Chicago because it's a block away, is owned by the same people as Pizzeria Uno and you don't have to wait as long.
18 locals recommend
Pizzeria Due
619 N Wabash AveChicago locals choose the Second Original Chicago Style Pizza Parlor in Downtown Chicago because it's a block away, is owned by the same people as Pizzeria Uno and you don't have to wait as long.
Lincoln Park. Most unusual pizza in the city of Chicago. It's an upside down potpie that is inverted at your table. It's a unique experience and worth the wait. But be prepared, it's a long wait.
115 locals recommend
Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company
2121 North Clark StreetLincoln Park. Most unusual pizza in the city of Chicago. It's an upside down potpie that is inverted at your table. It's a unique experience and worth the wait. But be prepared, it's a long wait.
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveWicker Park: Killer Tacos and a great patio in Chicago
Downtown: Best Coffee in gorgeous historic cultural Monadnock building near the Art Institute
23 locals recommend
Intelligentsia Coffee Millennium Park Coffeebar
53 E Randolph StDowntown: Best Coffee in gorgeous historic cultural Monadnock building near the Art Institute
Addictive bacon-date-and–goat-cheese, sweet corn, and Malbec beef empanadas. This is a great budget, BYOB dining option, but there are only a handful of tables, so consider going at off times.
17 locals recommend
5411 Empanadas | Lakeview
2850 N Clark StAddictive bacon-date-and–goat-cheese, sweet corn, and Malbec beef empanadas. This is a great budget, BYOB dining option, but there are only a handful of tables, so consider going at off times.
Addictive bacon-date-and–goat-cheese, sweet corn, and Malbec beef empanadas. This is a great budget, BYOB dining option, but there are only a handful of tables, so consider going at off times.
19 locals recommend
5411 Empanadas | Wicker Park
2045 W North AveAddictive bacon-date-and–goat-cheese, sweet corn, and Malbec beef empanadas. This is a great budget, BYOB dining option, but there are only a handful of tables, so consider going at off times.
Favorite ambient downtown restaurant with a speakeasy feeling. Great craft cocktails and the tenderloin tartar is a must try.
66 locals recommend
Gilt Bar
230 W Kinzie StFavorite ambient downtown restaurant with a speakeasy feeling. Great craft cocktails and the tenderloin tartar is a must try.
West Loop- Best Burger in hopping restaurant district in Chicago with great craft cocktails. Prepare for a wait, try the Lone Wolf next door for a cocktail.
620 locals recommend
Au Cheval
800 W Randolph StWest Loop- Best Burger in hopping restaurant district in Chicago with great craft cocktails. Prepare for a wait, try the Lone Wolf next door for a cocktail.
Lincoln Park-Hands down, our favorite deep dish pizza place in Chicago. We also like the Morton Grove location. Sauce is sweet and the caramelized with cheese crust is incredible. It's a bit of a wait, but you can grab a drink at the Whale Tale.
536 locals recommend
Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn AvenueLincoln Park-Hands down, our favorite deep dish pizza place in Chicago. We also like the Morton Grove location. Sauce is sweet and the caramelized with cheese crust is incredible. It's a bit of a wait, but you can grab a drink at the Whale Tale.
Mag Mile-Delicious small plates and craft cocktails. This place is really humming with excitement, but once you get a seat, your server will guide you to a perfect dining experience. This place can be a bit pricey if you go all out, but you can go easy on the pocket book by exercising caution and ordering only 1 small plate. It is definitely worth the wait and the price.
99 locals recommend
The Purple Pig Restaurant
444 Michigan AveMag Mile-Delicious small plates and craft cocktails. This place is really humming with excitement, but once you get a seat, your server will guide you to a perfect dining experience. This place can be a bit pricey if you go all out, but you can go easy on the pocket book by exercising caution and ordering only 1 small plate. It is definitely worth the wait and the price.
Summer House Santa Monica
1954 N Halsted StLincoln Park-Great place for healthy lunch.
West Loop-In trendy restaurant district, great barbeque in an unpretentious atmosphere. It's a bit hard to find as it is nestled behind two other eateries. But worth the search!
107 locals recommend
Green Street Smoked Meats
112 N Green StWest Loop-In trendy restaurant district, great barbeque in an unpretentious atmosphere. It's a bit hard to find as it is nestled behind two other eateries. But worth the search!
Mag Mile-Lou's crust is hands down the best. It's deep dish but crispy; an achievement no other deep dish baker can claim. It's our first choice because there are so many locations in the suburbs and the city so it's local to anywhere you are.
512 locals recommend
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StMag Mile-Lou's crust is hands down the best. It's deep dish but crispy; an achievement no other deep dish baker can claim. It's our first choice because there are so many locations in the suburbs and the city so it's local to anywhere you are.
River North-My very favorite, especially for the Coccoli. Amazing, crispy popover served with straccchio cheese, prosciutto, and truffle honey-to die for. Great craft cocktails.
25 locals recommend
Siena Tavern
51 W Kinzie StRiver North-My very favorite, especially for the Coccoli. Amazing, crispy popover served with straccchio cheese, prosciutto, and truffle honey-to die for. Great craft cocktails.
Fish Bar
2956 N Sheffield AveLincoln Park-Great place for seafood in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
Mag Mile/River North-This is a great destination for Italian at a good price. Think, IKEA of food. There is an amazing Italian grocery store, a selection of every kind of dining experience you are looking for in various different pop-ups through out the food court: Charcuterie, Pizza, Seafood, Pasta, Osteria, Wine Bar, Nutella waffle bar, and more. You can literally eat your way through this magnificent Italian food mall.
140 locals recommend
Eataly Chicago
43 E Ohio StMag Mile/River North-This is a great destination for Italian at a good price. Think, IKEA of food. There is an amazing Italian grocery store, a selection of every kind of dining experience you are looking for in various different pop-ups through out the food court: Charcuterie, Pizza, Seafood, Pasta, Osteria, Wine Bar, Nutella waffle bar, and more. You can literally eat your way through this magnificent Italian food mall.
Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee
50 W Randolph StLoop-Amazing donut selections including our fav-bacon.
Yolk - Marina City
340 N State StLoop/River North-Great breakfast here!
Wicker Park-Great Date experience, taking craft cocktails, dining, and your entire experience to an artistic level. From floral arrangements designed for your date at your tableside (for a price), cocktails with mini props to create an experience, and delicious food.
11 locals recommend
Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink
1846 W Division StWicker Park-Great Date experience, taking craft cocktails, dining, and your entire experience to an artistic level. From floral arrangements designed for your date at your tableside (for a price), cocktails with mini props to create an experience, and delicious food.
Wicker Park-Best Pies hands down, worth the trip! Think, gramma's kitchen, where you can only get the pie of the day. Each day they bake a choice of three different pies so on any given day, your choices will not be the same as yesterday.
468 locals recommend
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
2051 N California AveWicker Park-Best Pies hands down, worth the trip! Think, gramma's kitchen, where you can only get the pie of the day. Each day they bake a choice of three different pies so on any given day, your choices will not be the same as yesterday.
Drinks & Nightlife
Estelle's Cafe & Lounge
2013 W North AveLate night and 50s juke box tunes.
Nick's Beer Garden
1516 N Milwaukee AveGreat drinking atmosphere
Sightseeing
Take the train downtown and catch a water taxi to North Avenue for Old town, or Michigan Avenue for Mag Mile, or China Town!
Chicago Water Taxi - Riverside Plaza
Take the train downtown and catch a water taxi to North Avenue for Old town, or Michigan Avenue for Mag Mile, or China Town!
Cafe Chien
4749 N Spaulding AveCatch the redline "L" to Argyle street and eat Pho on every corner!
Beautiful gardens, skating in the winter, free concerts, the "Bean" - Cloud Gate.
1242 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StBeautiful gardens, skating in the winter, free concerts, the "Bean" - Cloud Gate.
Arts & Culture
The Second City
230 W North AveGreat comedians have gotten their start here.
Great concert venue in one of the most renowned architectural sites in Downtown Chicago - the Marina Towers
64 locals recommend
House of Blues Chicago
329 N Dearborn StGreat concert venue in one of the most renowned architectural sites in Downtown Chicago - the Marina Towers
Shopping
Walk from the Chicago River at Wacker Drive to Oak Street for a mile of amazing shops, restaurants and architecture. Stop at the John Hancock Signature Room on the 95th floor to take in the view!
598 locals recommend
Hot Tix - Mag Mile Location
Walk from the Chicago River at Wacker Drive to Oak Street for a mile of amazing shops, restaurants and architecture. Stop at the John Hancock Signature Room on the 95th floor to take in the view!
Everything Else
Train to Downtown Chicago or other quaint nearby villages. Catch a water taxi downtown for $10 for a day pass and see some great parts of the city.
Arlington Heights station
45 W Northwest HwyTrain to Downtown Chicago or other quaint nearby villages. Catch a water taxi downtown for $10 for a day pass and see some great parts of the city.