Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Amazing food! Upscale casual, big open windows in good weather. Bacon-wrapped, chorizo-stuffed dates, mac 'n cheese, and duck confit poutine are MUSTS :)
39 locals recommend
Fork
4600 N Lincoln AveAmazing food! Upscale casual, big open windows in good weather. Bacon-wrapped, chorizo-stuffed dates, mac 'n cheese, and duck confit poutine are MUSTS :)
Cheap and delicious Vietnamese food! Get the pho tai (with rare beef), and the chicken wings as an appetizer!
Pho Lan Phuong
2705 W Lawrence AveCheap and delicious Vietnamese food! Get the pho tai (with rare beef), and the chicken wings as an appetizer!
Gather
4539 N Lincoln AveUpscale casual food and wine bar
Tiny Lounge
4352 N Leavitt StAwesome and chic, small plates and great drinks
Flirty Cupcakes
4631 N Lincoln AveNew gourmet cupcake shop!
Unique pancake breakfast and brunch, might be a wait, but I've heard it's delicious!
25 locals recommend
Famous Dutch Pancake Huis - Pannenkoeken Cafe
4757 N Western AveUnique pancake breakfast and brunch, might be a wait, but I've heard it's delicious!
Spoon Thai
4608 N Western AveGreat thai food! Dine-in or delivery
Daily Bar & Grill
4560 N Lincoln AveGreat patio space, upscale bar food
The Bongo Room
5022 N Clark StFantastic brunch restaurant
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StThe only Chicago pizza worth going to!!!
Eataly Chicago
43 E Ohio StApparently an amazing foodie experience
Noon O Kabab
4701 N Kedzie AveBest persian food in the city
Taqueria Santa Rita
2752 W Lawrence AveCheap, fast, authentic, delicious Mexican food a few hundred steps away
Apparently some of the best banh mi's (Vietnamese sandwiches) in the city. Other authentic treats, too!
18 locals recommend
Nhu Lan Bakery
2612 W Lawrence AveApparently some of the best banh mi's (Vietnamese sandwiches) in the city. Other authentic treats, too!
Glenn's Diner
1820 W Montrose AveGreat breakfasts!
Cafe Selmarie
4729 N Lincoln AveGreat breakfast and lunch!
Awesome tacos, pair with a trip to Violet Hour! In a cool neighborhood called "Wicker Park". About a $15 cab ride away
1176 locals recommend
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveAwesome tacos, pair with a trip to Violet Hour! In a cool neighborhood called "Wicker Park". About a $15 cab ride away
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
2024 N Halsted StSuper fun and festive restaurant
Fountainhead
1970 W Montrose AveRooftop in nice weather! Just a mile or two down the street
Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StCool bar and restaurant
Garcia's Restaurant
4760 N Lincoln AveAwesome margaritas and mexican food
Beans & Bagels
2601 W Leland AveArtisan coffee a pastries a 5 minute walk away
First Slice
4664 N Manor AveDelicious pie
Essentials
Awesome little artisan grocery store with a rooftop beer garden
91 locals recommend
Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen
4750 N Lincoln AveAwesome little artisan grocery store with a rooftop beer garden
Great produce and other groceries, a 2 minute walk from the apartment
46 locals recommend
HarvesTime Foods
2632 W Lawrence AveGreat produce and other groceries, a 2 minute walk from the apartment
Food & Liquor Express Inc
2752 W Lawrence AveConvenient wine and spirits store
Walgreens
4801 N Lincoln Ave7 minute walk to closest pharmacy
Everything Else
Clean and bright convenience store and gas station across the street with a Dunkin' Donuts inside.
Mobil
2550 N Pulaski RdClean and bright convenience store and gas station across the street with a Dunkin' Donuts inside.
Swedish Covenant Hospital
5140 N California AveClosest ER
Lincoln Square Farmers Market
4513 W Leland AveClosest gym, day pass is $25
This trail starts right across the street (cross at light with California, walk left, take a right on Francisco and follow paved path. Lots of parks along the way, great for a walk or run!
North Shore Channel Trail
North Shore Channel TrailThis trail starts right across the street (cross at light with California, walk left, take a right on Francisco and follow paved path. Lots of parks along the way, great for a walk or run!
Brown line stop, 6 minute walk from apartment, take to Wrigleyville or Downtown. Use Google Maps app
10 locals recommend
Rockwell station
4648 N Rockwell StBrown line stop, 6 minute walk from apartment, take to Wrigleyville or Downtown. Use Google Maps app
Dina & Tifa Hair Studio
2547 W Lawrence AveGet a pretty and fairly cheap ($35) hair-blowout for a night out!
Prive Nail Studio
2555 West Lawrence AvenueOne of the best nail studios I've been to!
Havana Spa
4520 North Kedzie AvenueTreat yourself!
4753 N Virginia Ave
4753 North Virginia AvenueHOME BASE :D
CorePower Yoga
945 W George StFirst week free, drop-in classes $20
Entertainment & Activities
Great little park for kids a block away, take a left out of front door of apartment
Jacob Playlot Park
4674 North Virginia AvenueGreat little park for kids a block away, take a left out of front door of apartment
Look online for concerts at this great music school
103 locals recommend
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln AveLook online for concerts at this great music school
Bad Dog Tavern
4535 N Lincoln AveGood, casual food and kids eat free Monday - Thursday 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Great patio for quick lunch or brunch close by, kid friendly
28 locals recommend
Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill
4632 N Rockwell StGreat patio for quick lunch or brunch close by, kid friendly
Yogurt Square
4701 N Lincoln AveFrozen yogurt place with many flavors and toppings
Sightseeing
Cute neighborhood similar to Lincoln Square just a couple miles east!
154 locals recommend
Andersonville
Cute neighborhood similar to Lincoln Square just a couple miles east!
Montrose Beach
Huge beach, lots of parking. Bathrooms and restaurant on-site
Half Acre Beer Company
4257 N Lincoln AveBrewery
Amazing artisan ice cream shop, take the brown line down to the Southport stop, it's right underneath!
131 locals recommend
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1505 N Milwaukee AveAmazing artisan ice cream shop, take the brown line down to the Southport stop, it's right underneath!
Get a drink here at the John Hancock center for an amazing view of the city, and skip the Willis (Sears) Tower
525 locals recommend
The Signature Room at the 95th®
875 N Michigan AveGet a drink here at the John Hancock center for an amazing view of the city, and skip the Willis (Sears) Tower
Lincoln Square
Cute fountain with cafe and gelato shop on "the square"
ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE
4723 N Lincoln AveA cool "general" store, lots of random items
Southport station
Awesome little neighborhood with cool shops and restaurants
Skip Navy Pier, but apparently the Childrens' Museum is good
58 locals recommend
Chicago Children's Museum
700 E Grand AveSkip Navy Pier, but apparently the Childrens' Museum is good
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph St"The Bean" in Millennium Park - worth the trip!
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StGreat amphitheater and art and people-watching!
Drinks & Nightlife
The Bad Apple
4300 N Lincoln AveGreat bar food and drinks
Wild Goose Bar & Grill
4265 N Lincoln AveGreat bar food and drinks!
Schubas Tavern
3159 N Southport AveGreat bar food and live music often
Handcrafted cocktails, "speakeasy" style (door is unmarked except with a colorful mural painted on the outside wall, and one little handle sticking out)
355 locals recommend
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveHandcrafted cocktails, "speakeasy" style (door is unmarked except with a colorful mural painted on the outside wall, and one little handle sticking out)
Arts & Culture
The Second City
230 W North AveGreat comedy, sells-out in advance, get tickets online
Check out the website and maybe try a trapeze class! Offered daily, usually sell-out ahead of time. A second location outside on the lake in the summer
Trapeze School New York
5917 N BroadwayCheck out the website and maybe try a trapeze class! Offered daily, usually sell-out ahead of time. A second location outside on the lake in the summer