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Best of Chicago!
126 items
By
Abby Clark
Where to eat, drink, shop, explore and more in Chicago from someone who has lived and loved Chicago for 5 years!
2
Map
Sections
6
Restaurants
Sights and Museums
Shopping
Activities
Nightlife
Coffee shops, cafes & bakeries
Restaurants
Hidden gem! Delicious food and cozy spot
Ada Street
Best ramen in Chicago!
Akahoshi Ramen
Amazing Greek food! I especially love their brunch
Andros Taverna
A cozy spot. Perfect for date night!
Armitage Alehouse
Such a gorgeous upstairs dining space. Fun Asian style dishes!
BiXi Beer
Sushi Dokku is great but you must try the downstairs cocktail and sushi bar (booze box)!
SUSHI DOKKU Japanese Restaurant
Amazing view from this rooftop Peruvian restaurant
Cabra
Amazing happy hour and tapas!
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
Great hotel and great breakfast
Cafe Robey
Great local spot with sharing plates and an amazing wine list
Cellar Door Provisions
Amazing cocktails and Chinese dishes
Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar
Amazing farm to table pasta
Daisies
Amazing farm to table pasta
Daisies
Delicious food and lovely staff
Diego Mexican Restaurant
Classic diner style spot with great breakfast/brunch!
Dove's Luncheonette
Amazing Chinese menu with different themed rooms
Duck Duck Goat
Amazing small plates and sharing dishes
Giant
Amazing Mediterranean food
Aba
Classic Italian spot with big portions. Call for a reservation!
La Scarola
Great spot with a nice terrace and kind staff
Le Colonial Chicago
Great spot for appetizers and cocktails
Longman & Eagle
Delicious pasta
Mano a Mano
One of my all time favorite restaurants in Chicago
Maxwells Trading
The absolute best upscale Mexican in Chicago. Must get the aguachile
Mi Tocaya Antojería
Amazing sushi and Japanese with a great view
Miru
Delicious sushi
Momotaro
French classics!
Mon Ami Gabi
Asian fusion with a great patio. Go before 7 to the get the famous burger!
Mott St
Great Mexican spot
Pilsen Yards
Amazing selection
Sushi-San River North
Must do the omakase!
Tamu Sushi
Favorite Chicago restaurant! Mexican/Indian fusion
Coach House by Zubair Mohajir
Delicious sandwiches
TriBecca’s Sandwich Shop
Perfect date night spot
Trivoli Tavern
Great neighborhood Italian spot
void
The best hand rolls
Yokocho Handrolls and Omakase Bar
Sights and Museums
My favorite museum in Chicago with some amazing pieces
The Art Institute of Chicago
A beautiful historical relic in Grant park
Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain
The famous bean
Cloud Gate
Great fountain/art in grant park
Crown Fountain
Very interactive museum
Museum of Science
Amazing aquarium
Shedd Aquarium
Shopping
Speciality foods and sauces!
Ándale Market
I love antique stores and this one has such a variety!
Andersonville Antiques
A collection of local artists stalls
Andersonville Galleria
The perfect shop for gifts, etc
art effect
FREE bookstore! I always donate and pick some up
Books4Cause Free Bookstore
This is my favorite store in Chicago. This place is huge and I got so many unique pieces for my home
Broadway Antique Market
Classic record store
Dusty Groove
Great home decor finds
Eskell
Adorable store for gifts and party supplies
Festive Collective
Small but great store with such unique vintage finds
Finder Maker
Japanese ceramics
Five Elements Home
Floral and gift shop!
Fleur Chicago
Love this place for vintage clothes and trinkets
Gem: A Vintage Collective (@gem_avintagecollective)
Great shop for gifts
Gemini
A plant lovers dream
Gethsemane Garden Center
Black owned!
Welcome to Grasshopper Club | South Loop - buy cannabis online | Chicago
Great florist!
Ish’s Flowers
Best Asian market in Chicago by far. Must try the fresh dumplings at the entrance
Joong Boo Market
Funky vintage clothing shop
Kokorokoko
Vintage candy store
Margie's Candies
Most adorable vintage home store
Milk & Holly Home | Home Decor Shop (@milkandhollyhome)
Wholesale market but can still make your own bouquet from an amazing selection
Steve's Flower Market
Great vintage finds
store B vintage
Amazing selection of plants
Terracotto Plants
Great selection of used books
Uncharted Books
Get ready to dig!
Village Discount Outlet
Activities
Self scoring bowling alley. Also has a great bar
Avondale Bowl
Get your film developed and shop for cameras!
Bellows Film Lab Chicago
Amazing harbor to charter a boat or hang out on the water
Burnham Harbor
The best part about navy pier
Centennial Wheel
10/10 MUST do if in Chicago!
Chicago River Boat Architecture Tours
The best way to see downtown
Welcome to the Chicago Riverwalk
I love going to Chinatown! Take the water taxi
Chinatown Square
Classic bowling spot with a bar!
Diversey River Bowl
Beautiful conservatory!!
Garfield Park Conservatory
Free reservations! Absolutely worth a visit
Lincoln Park Conservatory (Free with Reservations)
All of the arcade classics!
Logan Arcade
The best Chicago farmers market
Logan Square Farmers Market
Best beach!
Montrose Beach
Classic style movie theater with film screenings
Music Box Theatre
A great Chicago beach with an incredible view of the skyline
North Avenue Beach
Catch a white Sox game!
Rate Field
Bear down! Or catch a concert
Soldier Field
Great walking path on the west side
The 606
Vintage style movie theater
The Logan Theatre
So fun to bring boats to
The Playpen Chicago
Amazing collection of vendors and restaurants
Time Out Market Chicago
Go cubbies!
Wrigley Field
Nightlife
Favorite spot for dancing in Wicker park
Beauty Bar Chicago
Perfect spot for a fancy cocktail
Bernard’s
I love this dive bar! They have the cutest patio
Best Intentions
Amazing martinis!
Bisous
A fun spot for cocktails and dancing
The California Clipper
A great dive with live music
Cole's Bar
Great cocktail bar with burlesque shows once a month
Common Decency
A cocktail bar where everything in the bar is for sale!
Consignment Lounge
Lovely local black owned wine bar with djs at night
Easy Does It
Delicious margaritas
Estereo FM
Cash only bar - perfect spot for pool
The Inner Town Pub
Late night live music spot
Kingston Mines
Great cocktail spot featuring drinks and wines from Latin and South America
La Licor Panamericana
Delicious cocktails and live jazz!
Lazy Bird
Love this place in the summer with the garage doors open
Little Victories
Karaoke bar covered in lights
Mom's Place - A Chicago Gathering Spot
Best dirty martini in Chicago
MONEYGUN
One of my favorite neighborhood cocktail spots
Quality Time
Classic Chicago dive (cash only) with a film photobooth
Rainbo Club
Great cocktails!
Remedy
Play the batting cages!
Sluggers World Class Sports Bar and Grill & Dueling Pianos
Best neighborhood bar with great food
Small Bar
GREAT drinks and photobooth!
Spilt Milk
Great cocktail bar atmosphere
The Heavy Feather
One of the best summer bars! Patio is unbeatable
The Hi-Lo
Cash only dive!
The Native
The best late night bar for dancing
The Owl
Great cocktails
The Pearl Club
Wisconsin bar >
Will's Northwoods Inn
Coffee shops, cafes & bakeries
Amazingly strong coffee
Four Letter Word Coffee
Classic Jewish deli with amazing bagels
Helfeld's Delicatessen & Catering
the absolute best bakery in Chicago. The breakfast sandwiches and bread are 10/10. Such a cute outdoor patio too
La Boulangerie & Co Logan
Classic deli
Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen
Insane interior. Perfect spot for coffee enthusiasts
Milli by Metric
Amazing Macanese bakery with breakfast sandwiches and more
Bird Bird Bakery and Cafe
Great bagels!
Schneider Deli
