Guidebook for Chicago
Drinks & Nightlife
They have great cocktails and live music almost every night of the week. There is usually a cover and it's cash only.
180 locals recommend
The California Clipper
1002 North California AvenueThey have great cocktails and live music almost every night of the week. There is usually a cover and it's cash only.
Great food, but limited menu. Amazing wine and beer selection. Really relaxed, lovely setting inside.
173 locals recommend
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
954 North California AvenueGreat food, but limited menu. Amazing wine and beer selection. Really relaxed, lovely setting inside.
great cocktails, awesome back patio with fireplace so good for hanging out even if its cold outside. lots of industry folk.
116 locals recommend
Sportsman's Club
948 N Western Avegreat cocktails, awesome back patio with fireplace so good for hanging out even if its cold outside. lots of industry folk.
famous chicago bartender paul mcgee started the hype at this place--they have an even better selection of cocktails than sportsmans. live shows for FREE every night of the week. cute cute lovely patio
185 locals recommend
The Whistler
2421 N Milwaukee Avefamous chicago bartender paul mcgee started the hype at this place--they have an even better selection of cocktails than sportsmans. live shows for FREE every night of the week. cute cute lovely patio
al capone used to hang out here. its a dark, beautiful, 30's situation with live and incredible jazz shows. check out paper machete as well, a live newspaper show that happens once a month on weekend
471 locals recommend
The Green Mill
4802 North Broadwayal capone used to hang out here. its a dark, beautiful, 30's situation with live and incredible jazz shows. check out paper machete as well, a live newspaper show that happens once a month on weekend
Essentials
Great, affordable grocery store with super reasonable produce and even a bulk section. They bake their own bread and croissants, and it's only a 10 minute walk away.
111 locals recommend
Cermak Produce
2701 W North AveGreat, affordable grocery store with super reasonable produce and even a bulk section. They bake their own bread and croissants, and it's only a 10 minute walk away.
its whole foods! its not that far away, and there are tons of other shops near it if you are feeling shop-y.
836 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted Stits whole foods! its not that far away, and there are tons of other shops near it if you are feeling shop-y.
OPEN 24 HOURS
About 1.5 miles away, this place has an amazing selection of snacks, read-made little meals, cheeses, coffee drinks, kombuchas, and beers. There is even a post office open 24 hours as well, inside of the store. Love this place.
113 locals recommend
Foodsmart
3415 W Diversey AveOPEN 24 HOURS
About 1.5 miles away, this place has an amazing selection of snacks, read-made little meals, cheeses, coffee drinks, kombuchas, and beers. There is even a post office open 24 hours as well, inside of the store. Love this place.
Entertainment & Activities
They are one of the best bakeries in town, and they also make incredible ice cream and offer coffee drinks. Open pretty late, so a nice place to go in the evening or during the day.
78 locals recommend
Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain
1000 N California AveThey are one of the best bakeries in town, and they also make incredible ice cream and offer coffee drinks. Open pretty late, so a nice place to go in the evening or during the day.
Food Scene
Flying Saucer
1123 N California AveGreat breakfast staples plus vegan options. Cash only.
AMAZING house-made vodka selection, and you can get a sample tray for a reasonable price. plus, delicious down to earth food to go with it.
9 locals recommend
Russian Tea Time (closed For Renovations Through October!)
77 E Adams StAMAZING house-made vodka selection, and you can get a sample tray for a reasonable price. plus, delicious down to earth food to go with it.
really good vibe for getting work done or reading while drinking beautiful coffee. also, a huge cigar selection, and a list of liquor-ed up coffee drinks :)
42 locals recommend
C.C. Ferns
2806 W Augusta Blvdreally good vibe for getting work done or reading while drinking beautiful coffee. also, a huge cigar selection, and a list of liquor-ed up coffee drinks :)
Amazing, fresh food. Great for brunch, lunch or dinner. Good cocktails, wonderful outside seating, chill vibe. Vegetarian options. Simple but elegant.
55 locals recommend
The Winchester
1001 North Winchester AvenueAmazing, fresh food. Great for brunch, lunch or dinner. Good cocktails, wonderful outside seating, chill vibe. Vegetarian options. Simple but elegant.
Really unique and delicious menu, works even when they try something weird. Cocktails crazy good, they like trying new things. Pretty interior, busier vibe weekends. Wednesday burger+beer special $10
59 locals recommend
Trench
2039 West North AvenueReally unique and delicious menu, works even when they try something weird. Cocktails crazy good, they like trying new things. Pretty interior, busier vibe weekends. Wednesday burger+beer special $10
All vegetarian restaurant, diner style and affordable. Full bar as well, even a patio. Reliable and easy.
140 locals recommend
Handlebar
2311 W North AveAll vegetarian restaurant, diner style and affordable. Full bar as well, even a patio. Reliable and easy.
Super close to the apartment, this is a new spot with a small but sturdy menu featuring burgers, fish, and fresh veggie options (limited items for vegetarians, but I am a veggie and I still go). Great beer list, pretty good cocktails, and a lovely outside patio to sit in. Food till 12 sometimes 1, bar till 2.
21 locals recommend
The Shelby
2759 West Augusta BoulevardSuper close to the apartment, this is a new spot with a small but sturdy menu featuring burgers, fish, and fresh veggie options (limited items for vegetarians, but I am a veggie and I still go). Great beer list, pretty good cocktails, and a lovely outside patio to sit in. Food till 12 sometimes 1, bar till 2.
Sightseeing
It's a beautiful, easy short day trip. amazing array of plant life, and nice for hanging out during colder times since it's humid and warm. great for summertime too
258 locals recommend
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park AveIt's a beautiful, easy short day trip. amazing array of plant life, and nice for hanging out during colder times since it's humid and warm. great for summertime too
Right in the heart of downtown, the bean sits in the middle of millennium park. It is a cool sculpture to look at and take photographs in front of, you can walk under it and around. The park right there has some other sculptures worth looking at as well, plus it is right next door to the Art Institute
473 locals recommend
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph StRight in the heart of downtown, the bean sits in the middle of millennium park. It is a cool sculpture to look at and take photographs in front of, you can walk under it and around. The park right there has some other sculptures worth looking at as well, plus it is right next door to the Art Institute
Arts & Culture
they play local, independent, and foreign films, including docs and weird and artsy and the rest. reasonable prices and unique showings.
22 locals recommend
Gene Siskel Film Center
164 N State Stthey play local, independent, and foreign films, including docs and weird and artsy and the rest. reasonable prices and unique showings.
one of america's must-see museums. one of my favorite contemporary wings. give yourself a whole day, and have lunch across the street at the russian tea house! (check guidebook below)
10 locals recommend
The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago
350 N Orleans Stone of america's must-see museums. one of my favorite contemporary wings. give yourself a whole day, and have lunch across the street at the russian tea house! (check guidebook below)
Parks & Nature
It is one of Chicago's largest parks, with lots of trees, areas for playing different sports like tennis, and even a boat cafe in the middle of it. A great park for walks and runs, just don't go late at night.
293 locals recommend
Humboldt Park
1400 N Humboldt DrIt is one of Chicago's largest parks, with lots of trees, areas for playing different sports like tennis, and even a boat cafe in the middle of it. A great park for walks and runs, just don't go late at night.
It is a lively beach but larger and less hectic than the ones that are closer to downtown. There are big patches of grass and trees before the beach, and if you want to explore a different beach, north or south directly there are more.
297 locals recommend
Montrose Beach
It is a lively beach but larger and less hectic than the ones that are closer to downtown. There are big patches of grass and trees before the beach, and if you want to explore a different beach, north or south directly there are more.
It's a 3 mile long trail that runs west to east, and you can walk to it in 20 minutes from here. You can cycle, run, or walk along it, and since it is on an old abandoned train track, you get a good view of the neighborhoods around you. It is also a nice way to get to Wicker Park (1 mile down the trail east), where there are countless restaurants and shops and bars.
133 locals recommend
Bloomingdale Trail
Bloomingdale TrailIt's a 3 mile long trail that runs west to east, and you can walk to it in 20 minutes from here. You can cycle, run, or walk along it, and since it is on an old abandoned train track, you get a good view of the neighborhoods around you. It is also a nice way to get to Wicker Park (1 mile down the trail east), where there are countless restaurants and shops and bars.