Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
The closest coffee: A WONDERFUL coffee window RIGHT across the street. 100X better than Starbucks, and you're supporting a local business owner, Ian! I frequent his coffee window so we've gotten to know each other a bit. He's very sweet and man's the shop himself 100% of the time, so I love sending people his way! He has unique pastries as well.
Move Along Coffee
The closest coffee: A WONDERFUL coffee window RIGHT across the street. 100X better than Starbucks, and you're supporting a local business owner, Ian! I frequent his coffee window so we've gotten to know each other a bit. He's very sweet and man's the shop himself 100% of the time, so I love sending people his way! He has unique pastries as well.
COFFEE!
This is a pretty unique and bold local roast gem close by. Yum!
68 locals recommend
Big Shoulders Coffee
1105 W Chicago AveCOFFEE!
This is a pretty unique and bold local roast gem close by. Yum!
Amazing, amazing coffee, drinks and food. It's more of a cafe style, with quick dishes. It's got some swings inside, which are a great photo op. I love the decor, the drinks, the food, all of it! Plus, it's just a short walk away. Check it out!
26 locals recommend
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea
1620 N Milwaukee AveAmazing, amazing coffee, drinks and food. It's more of a cafe style, with quick dishes. It's got some swings inside, which are a great photo op. I love the decor, the drinks, the food, all of it! Plus, it's just a short walk away. Check it out!
This is sort of a hole in the wall you might miss if you don't know how insanely delicious their pizza is. Last I knew, it was the only coal fire oven in Chicago. It's not fancy, it doesn't have a crazy cool interior, it's just AMAZING pizza. They do have a wait during peak times and stay pretty busy every day. Lunch is the least busy. *NOTE* This is NOT Chicago style pizza, it's thin crust, neapolitan style so it's lighter.
97 locals recommend
Coalfire
1321 W Grand AveThis is sort of a hole in the wall you might miss if you don't know how insanely delicious their pizza is. Last I knew, it was the only coal fire oven in Chicago. It's not fancy, it doesn't have a crazy cool interior, it's just AMAZING pizza. They do have a wait during peak times and stay pretty busy every day. Lunch is the least busy. *NOTE* This is NOT Chicago style pizza, it's thin crust, neapolitan style so it's lighter.
G & O
459 N Ogden AveGreat burgers and fries in the neighborhood.
UPDATE: they opened a Small Cheval writing walking! Best burgers in the city for me. it's a paired down version of Au Cheval, which you'll have a hard time getting into. (The everywhere in me marvels at this business model for so many reasons) Small Cheval is a Quick grab and go or eat in for burgers, fries and shakes. It rivals Shake Shack, and any other burger you've ever had in your life. They have a nice little patio if it's nice out. GREAT place and typically only Chicagoans are aware of it.
161 locals recommend
Small Cheval
1732 N Milwaukee AveUPDATE: they opened a Small Cheval writing walking! Best burgers in the city for me. it's a paired down version of Au Cheval, which you'll have a hard time getting into. (The everywhere in me marvels at this business model for so many reasons) Small Cheval is a Quick grab and go or eat in for burgers, fries and shakes. It rivals Shake Shack, and any other burger you've ever had in your life. They have a nice little patio if it's nice out. GREAT place and typically only Chicagoans are aware of it.
Right across the street! The good here is REALLY good, and won't break the bank.. This is an old Italiano neighborhood, and of all the options, I would say this is the best. The pizza dough tastes like someone's grandmother is in the back making it. All the dishes are really good.
9 locals recommend
Salerno's Pizza of Chicago
1201 W Grand AveRight across the street! The good here is REALLY good, and won't break the bank.. This is an old Italiano neighborhood, and of all the options, I would say this is the best. The pizza dough tastes like someone's grandmother is in the back making it. All the dishes are really good.
VEGAN DONE RIGHT!
I've never had anything here that wasn't delicious, and I'm only part-time vegan. :P I eat meat roughly 2x per week, so I do seek these places out and I come here all the time.
39 locals recommend
Native Foods
1484 N Milwaukee AveVEGAN DONE RIGHT!
I've never had anything here that wasn't delicious, and I'm only part-time vegan. :P I eat meat roughly 2x per week, so I do seek these places out and I come here all the time.
AMAZING coffee and the BEST SCONES YOU WILL EVER HAVE. The owners are really nice and the wife bakes all the scones and stuff with her own recipes. They rival even the best known bakeries in town and the gluten free and vegan options are just as good as the regular. A TRUE hidden gem for scones! I work here a lot, it can get busy and pretty packed, but I can always find a seat to get some work done.
77 locals recommend
Caffè Streets
1750 W Division StAMAZING coffee and the BEST SCONES YOU WILL EVER HAVE. The owners are really nice and the wife bakes all the scones and stuff with her own recipes. They rival even the best known bakeries in town and the gluten free and vegan options are just as good as the regular. A TRUE hidden gem for scones! I work here a lot, it can get busy and pretty packed, but I can always find a seat to get some work done.
UPDATE: Little Goat is still my fav but they're moving up north, so it's not really near by anymore. Some famous chef from one of those TV shows has this restaurant, along with Girl & The Goat. Stephanie something I think... I don't get into specifics or trends, I just go where I like things. This place is AMAZING and has lots of allergy friendly options but IS trendy, so during peak times there will be a wait, but you can make reservations. It's a really cool, retro diner... but honestly, the menu is really unique and you sort of just have to go to understand what it's like. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, it's all great!
159 locals recommend
Little Goat Diner
3325 W Randolph StUPDATE: Little Goat is still my fav but they're moving up north, so it's not really near by anymore. Some famous chef from one of those TV shows has this restaurant, along with Girl & The Goat. Stephanie something I think... I don't get into specifics or trends, I just go where I like things. This place is AMAZING and has lots of allergy friendly options but IS trendy, so during peak times there will be a wait, but you can make reservations. It's a really cool, retro diner... but honestly, the menu is really unique and you sort of just have to go to understand what it's like. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, it's all great!
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
5158 N Clark StGREAT coffee, even without creamer. ;)
Delightful! Very trendy, check the reviews and you'll see it's a good spot. Reservations are a must!
Rose Mary
Delightful! Very trendy, check the reviews and you'll see it's a good spot. Reservations are a must!
You can't generally get into this place, myself included. But I hear rave reviews about it all the time.
Elina's
You can't generally get into this place, myself included. But I hear rave reviews about it all the time.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Robey is probably one of the coolest spots that's come to town in a decade. On the second floor you have a cafe by day that turns into a REALLY cool lounge on weekends at night. You can get coffee or drinks all day/night and they do have good food, just a smaller menu.
They have live music @ 6:30pm on most Wednesdays that never disappoints.
My fav "go to" is to hit up the 2nd floor of the Robey, put my name on the list for the Up & Up on the top floor, grab a cocktail on the 2nd floor and then hit up the top floor for an AMAZING view and delicious cocktail. The views there are unlike any others in the city because of the unique placement and height of that building.
51 locals recommend
The Robey
2018 W North AveThe Robey is probably one of the coolest spots that's come to town in a decade. On the second floor you have a cafe by day that turns into a REALLY cool lounge on weekends at night. You can get coffee or drinks all day/night and they do have good food, just a smaller menu.
They have live music @ 6:30pm on most Wednesdays that never disappoints.
My fav "go to" is to hit up the 2nd floor of the Robey, put my name on the list for the Up & Up on the top floor, grab a cocktail on the 2nd floor and then hit up the top floor for an AMAZING view and delicious cocktail. The views there are unlike any others in the city because of the unique placement and height of that building.
A unique club with themed nights - check out their website to learn the theme of the night and go have a fun night on the dance floor here. It's not pretentious at all, and there's usually not a line or cover if you get there early enough.
82 locals recommend
Beauty Bar
1444 W Chicago AveA unique club with themed nights - check out their website to learn the theme of the night and go have a fun night on the dance floor here. It's not pretentious at all, and there's usually not a line or cover if you get there early enough.
Shopping
Water Tower Place
835 Michigan AveThe Shops at North Bridge
520 N Michigan AveThis is my favorite mall I've ever been to. it's gorgeous, the decor is lovely. Sometimes my friends and I Co work in the lounge on level 6. Aster Hall has really great food options. The coffee here is exceptional. They do have a good mix of higher end stores here including Lululemon, and anything else you might need is within 2 blocks of the mall as well.
22 locals recommend
900 North Michigan Shops
900 Michigan AveThis is my favorite mall I've ever been to. it's gorgeous, the decor is lovely. Sometimes my friends and I Co work in the lounge on level 6. Aster Hall has really great food options. The coffee here is exceptional. They do have a good mix of higher end stores here including Lululemon, and anything else you might need is within 2 blocks of the mall as well.
Essentials
Move Along Coffee
Great craft coffee window RIGHT across the street!
Many people's old faithful for coffee. Not my first choice, but it's closest.
213 locals recommend
Starbucks
1588 N Milwaukee AveMany people's old faithful for coffee. Not my first choice, but it's closest.
Sightseeing
Go here in the afternoon / evening, go to the top floor, grab a drink, and catch some RIDICULOUS views. It's better than the Sears tower in my opinion, because of where it's positioned right near the lake, and because you can see the Sears (Willis) Tower too! =) This place can get busy and there can be a wait later on, but it's usually not bad. You can also have dinner at the restaurant there if you don't want to just have a beverage.
295 locals recommend
875 North Michigan Avenue
875 N Michigan AveGo here in the afternoon / evening, go to the top floor, grab a drink, and catch some RIDICULOUS views. It's better than the Sears tower in my opinion, because of where it's positioned right near the lake, and because you can see the Sears (Willis) Tower too! =) This place can get busy and there can be a wait later on, but it's usually not bad. You can also have dinner at the restaurant there if you don't want to just have a beverage.
Parks & Nature
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark StNature and Zoo in one!
Getting Around
Chicago & Milwaukee station
BLUE LINE TRAIN STOP!
Grand & Ogden station
BUS STOP! (Right outside the front door)