Guidebook for Chicago
Essentials
Trader Joe's
667 W Diversey PkwyGrocery store with a lot of specialty items
High-end groceries with lots of natural / organic / restricted diet options
836 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted StHigh-end groceries with lots of natural / organic / restricted diet options
Jewel-Osco
3531 N BroadwayStandard neighborhood grocery store
Arts & Culture
Really cute old-fashioned movie theater playing arthouse fare and classics
152 locals recommend
Music Box Theatre
3733 N Southport AveReally cute old-fashioned movie theater playing arthouse fare and classics
Drinks & Nightlife
Perhaps America's most prestigious house music nightclub, with a refreshingly unpretentious clientele and door staff
44 locals recommend
Smartbar
3730 N Clark StPerhaps America's most prestigious house music nightclub, with a refreshingly unpretentious clientele and door staff
Logan Arcade
2410 W Fullerton AveFun bar with a TON of video games
Food Scene
Julius Meinl Restaurant and Cafe
3601 N Southport AveGreat Viennese-style sit-down coffee house
Cozy Noodles n' Rice
Dirt cheap Thai food with some...interesting decor
Southport Grocery and Cafe
3552 N Southport AveGreat brunch on the weekends
Bánh Mì BáGet
3548 N Southport AveRelatively new Banh Mi joint that always has the freshest bread
BIG & little's Restaurant
1034 W Belmont AveGood spot for cheap and tasty tacos & burgers
L' Patron
3749 W Fullerton AveOne of the best taco spots in the city
The Art of Pizza
3033 N Ashland AveMy fave spot for Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza
The Boiler Room
2210 North California AvenueGreat New York-style pizza and cheap drinks
Sultan's Market
2057 W North AveAmazing (and inexpensive) Mediterranean cuisine
Cemitas Puebla
817 W Fulton MarketReally good Mexican (Puebla-style, specifically) sandwiches
One of the city's best Italian bakeries / sub shops. Does great cannoli too. There are no indoor seats--just a patio
21 locals recommend
D'Amato's Bakery
1124 W Grand AveOne of the city's best Italian bakeries / sub shops. Does great cannoli too. There are no indoor seats--just a patio
Lots of different food stalls in this European-style indoor market
46 locals recommend
Chicago French Market
131 N Clinton StLots of different food stalls in this European-style indoor market
The cheaper option from Rick Bayless, a big-deal chef in the world of Mexican food. Mostly focused on Tortas, they always have neat specials
40 locals recommend
XOCO
65 N Clark StThe cheaper option from Rick Bayless, a big-deal chef in the world of Mexican food. Mostly focused on Tortas, they always have neat specials
Fantastic chicken biscuits (i.e. fried chicken on a biscuit). If you've never had a chicken biscuit you need to go here
Leghorn Cafe
600 N LaSalle DrFantastic chicken biscuits (i.e. fried chicken on a biscuit). If you've never had a chicken biscuit you need to go here
New Wave Coffee
2557 N Milwaukee AveGreat coffee shop in Logan Square
Amazing pie shop serving the classics as well as some really adventurous heirloom recipes
76 locals recommend
Hoosier Mama Pie Company
1618 W Chicago AveAmazing pie shop serving the classics as well as some really adventurous heirloom recipes
Phenomenal pie shop that also does biscuits and some brunch/lunch options
468 locals recommend
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
2051 N California AvePhenomenal pie shop that also does biscuits and some brunch/lunch options
Taco Joint
1969 N Halsted StReally good tacos (in an upscale gentrified kind of way)
Sightseeing
Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison StIconic century-old baseball field
Conveniently located beach with a great view of Chicago's skyline (and fewer crowds than North Ave beach)
32 locals recommend
Fullerton Beach
Conveniently located beach with a great view of Chicago's skyline (and fewer crowds than North Ave beach)
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph StOne of those tourist attractions that every visitor wants to see...
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveOne of America's best art museums
A great collection of modern and contemporary art
532 locals recommend
Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveA great collection of modern and contemporary art
This gorgeous building used to be Chicago's main library, and houses the world's largest Tiffany glass dome as well as rotating art installations. And it's free!
203 locals recommend
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington StThis gorgeous building used to be Chicago's main library, and houses the world's largest Tiffany glass dome as well as rotating art installations. And it's free!
Shopping
The best dance music record shop on earth. They only sell house, techno, disco, etc.
Gramaphone Records
2843 N Clark StThe best dance music record shop on earth. They only sell house, techno, disco, etc.
A great all-purpose record shop--the film "High Fidelity" was based on this place
111 locals recommend
Reckless Records
929 W Belmont AveA great all-purpose record shop--the film "High Fidelity" was based on this place
A great all-purpose record shop--the film "High Fidelity" was based on this place
111 locals recommend
Reckless Records
929 W Belmont AveA great all-purpose record shop--the film "High Fidelity" was based on this place
Great record shop with a secret arcade in back. Owned by the same people who own Logan Arcade
17 locals recommend
Logan Hardware Records
2532 West Fullerton AvenueGreat record shop with a secret arcade in back. Owned by the same people who own Logan Arcade