Chicago!
I’m headed to Chicago next week and I’m wondering if you guys have any favorite places that I should check out? Are there any amazing shops, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, old timey places, galleries or other fun places you think I should visit? All I know is I’m going back to have cocktails at The Violet Hour (LOVE) again and I’m going to huff fancy perfume at Barneys. As sad as it is–I haven’t had any of that yummy pizza in Chicago I’ve heard exists. Can you help a girl out?
Awesome vintage Chicago postcards from Chuckman’s Collection.
oooh love these postcards, especially the lincoln park conservatory of course. love chicago, lived in naperville as a teen for 3 years. but it’s been a long time since i visited so you’ll have to give me tips for when i go next time. last time i went, though, i visited the original marshall field’s just before it turned into a macy’s. they had an entire section in the basement of the store that was just antiques and vintage pieces. i cried. i think i browsed just that section for 4 straight hours. have a grand time, lady.
Well, I’ve been away too long now to give recommendations for the new and now places to go, and everyone has their opinion about the best pizza, but I recommend Lou Malnati’s for pizza. Delicious deep dish. We bring frozen pies back whenever we visit. And the best tacos ever come from La Pasadita. Have fun! Can’t wait to see the pictures.
This is my second year living in Chicago and I have to say that at first it was daunting! The city is soooo big!!! But it’s grown on me now and I simply love it!!!!!
I live in Pilsen which is the Mexican American neighborhood. It’s an awesome place for vintage shopping. My favorite shops are Pilsen Vintage and Comet both located on 18th street between Halsted and Damen.
If you like Japanese food, I just discovered this awesome restaurant in River north called Cocoro (668 North Wells Street). It’s fantastically good and cheap!
There’s also a nice cafe that I love going to. It’s called Floriole Bakery (1220 West Webster Av.) I love the space and the food.
If the weather is nice I would definitely go to one of the beaches and relax!
Enjoy your trip in Chi-town! I’ll post another comment if I think of anything else!
Pequod’s is awesome for pizza, or CoalFire if you like the Neopolitan style. The Bourgeois Pig is an adorable cafe with delicious sandwiches, and its right next to an awesome floral shop, Dilly Lily. Big Star for tacos, Au Cheval on Randolph for fancy diner food and drinks, or Maude’s. Also, there are awesome vintage furniture shops on Grand Ave (http://timeoutchicago.com/shopping-style/shopping/82605/vintage-shopping-in-the-grand-avenue-design-district) and vintage clothes on Chicago ave! (http://timeoutchicago.com/shopping-style/shopping/82428/chicago-avenue-vintage)
Garfield Park Conservatory
Lula Cafe
Lincoln Square
Oriental Museum
Enjoy our awesome city!!
I absolutely adore this city, and my number one piece of advice (which I know you’re taking already from the places you listed) is to explore the neighborhoods of Chicago rather than just sticking to the Loop.
Off the top of my head, top coffee in the city: Intelligentsia, Buzz Killer Espresso (on Damen, an easy walk from Violet Hour) and Ipsento. La Colombe on Randolph is awesome, too, it’s my everyday coffee shop.
Drinks/Food: Aviary for amazingly crafted cocktails (they’re pricey, but an experience!) which also has a downstairs “speakeasy” called the Office. Maude’s is our go-to for great drinks and food, it’s a fun French cafe on Randolph with awesome smashes and other cocktails. If you like gin, try the aviation or the Violet Smash. Big Star (directly across the street from Violet Hour) has a kick-ass patio and the best tacos and margaritas in town (get the Big Star Margarita.) Longman & Eagle has great food and drinks, as does Telegraph, and the Whistler has great drinks for only ~$8 and live music. All of those are in Logan Square.
If you’re up for shopping, definitely do a Wicker Park/Bucktown day and check out all the boutiques along Damen and Milwaukee. There are the standard awesome designers like Cynthia Rowley, Joe’s Jeans, etc, and some awesome Chicago designers — Roslyn is my favorite, they feature Elise Bergman who’s local, and Eskell is great as well.
Definitely hit up the Art Institute and spend some time hanging out down by the lake!
Probably total overload, sorry!
pizza! uno, due and giordanos are total tourist places, and they’re just meh.
pequods is definitely the best pizza in chicago, hands down!!! deep dish with a caramelized crust….oh man, so good. the restaurant itself is a standard sports bar, so the environment isnt anything special, but its worth it for the ‘za! lou malantis is a distant second, but tasty. :)
If you haven’t been (heck, even if you have), my vote goes to the Art Institute and the Field Museum. Both are fantastic museums with soooo many awesome things to look at.
Food-wise, I’d suggest hitting Anteprima, a super cute Italian restaurant, in Andersonville (just north of downtown) and Hot Doug’s in Avondale for hot dogs. I’m not a huge hot dog person normally but Doug’s are amazing.
This won’t help you with pizza, but I would suggest going to The Lobby at The Peninsula. It’s stunningly beautiful in there. Definitely on the expensive side, but not if you just went for a drink or something light. They also have afternoon tea and a chocolate bar on certain days. It’s not a secret underground spot, but if you’re looking to feel special and really “on vacation” I think it’s an indulgence worth checking out
I second Maude’s Liquor Bar, Big Star, Longman & Eagle (that’s my favorite restaurant in Chicago), and the shopping/browsing on Chicago Ave and Grand Ave. I’m not actually a fan of deep dish, but do suggest you get a fancy sausage while you’re here (Hot Doug’s or Franks N Dawgs). I also suggest going downtown to the Chicago Cultural Center- it’s free, and close to Millennium Park (the Bean and all that). They have great exhibits, and there’s a Intelligentsia nearby. I like to stop for coffee before going in. Another great place for coffee is the Wormhole, on Milwaukee Ave. There’s also a bit of a donut scene here, oddly (though I guess it makes sense- Chicago loves bad for you food!)
Go get a slice at Hoosier Mama Pie (1618 W Chicago Ave). It’s so good, we had them at our wedding. I know cupcakes are a bit played out but should the mood strike, Molly’s at 2536 N Clark is my go-to for their center-filled cupcakes. They are rich, so one is plenty! I second Lula Cafe for a delicious meal and Pequod’s for pizza. For delicious breakfast/brunch any day of the week, go to Toast (2046 N Damen or 746 W Webster) or Bongo Room (1470 N Milwaukee).
There are a lot of really great shopping areas. Someone already mentioned Damen/North/Milwaukee. There’s awesome vintage shopping for the home in Andersonville (http://timeoutchicago.com/shopping-style/shopping/82400/andersonville-vintage-stores).
Oh, so envious! I lived in Chicago for three years and it’s a fantastic city. The weather is usually pretty nice in the springtime too. People have already made some great suggestions (Lula Cafe, shopping in Wicker Park/Bucktown, Art Institute, etc).
One more suggestion for food – Irazu (http://www.irazuchicago.com/). They serve amazing Costa Rican food, and the restaurant is close to shopping in Wicker Park and Bucktown. They used to be cash-only, but I’m not sure if that’s still the case.
Oh man. I totally second Irazu. Years after moving from Chicago, I still crave their oatmeal shakes.
Still cash only, I was there yesterday. Order the Chifrijo as an appetizer. Heaven mixed with bacon.
If you order takeout through their website, you can pay with credit card. I wonder why it’s cash only if you dine in?
I lived in Chicago for ten years, and some of my friends collaborated with me on a google map of worthy stops. It’s food/bev-heavy, but high-quality all around: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=210861168870661683161.0004af57e23f05d37556b&msa=0
oh my god. looking at your vintage pics and then reading everyone’s suggestions about food and shopping- i am so jealous! you are going to have the BEST trip! i have been to Chicago a few times, but only for a day at a time- once was following The Cure (when we had a great time at the free zoo!) and once it was seeing The Stratford 4 play their most amazing show ever. the crowd was so amped (cause the Cubs had just won) and they were all toasting beers to them and singing along to every word like MANIACS! a friend of mine who has traveled the world extensively always told me that Chicago was the best American city. i really want to go back for a longer time and take a tour of the architectural landmarks- wow- i have never seen architecture like that anywhere else in the U.S.!!! eeeee!
I hope you have such a good time in Chicago!
I didn’t read every comment, so these may have been mentioned already, but my Chicago favorites are:
Lou Malnati’s (pizza, although I have never tried Pequods)
Intelligentsia (my favorite coffee shop)
Perennial Virant and 2 Sparrows (awesome brunches in the Lincoln Park area)
P.O.S.H. (an adorable shop)
Maude’s Liquor Bar, Cafe Spiaggia, Bistronomic, Drinks on the 96th floor of the Hancock Center, Definitely the Violet Hour… I honestly have never had a bad meal in Chicago, but these are some of my recent favorites
You must go to the Art Institute there because they have an amazing body of art. The Shedd aquarium is wonderful and having a jelly fish exhibit right now.
The Bedford for drinks (it’s an old bank vault!)
Maude’s Liquor Bar for unpretentious French bistro food in a seductive environment
Conrad Hotel Terrace Rooftop for drinks and views
Lokal in Wicker Park for Euro-inspired brunch or dinner with DJ/bar
Vintage Underground on North Ave in Wicker Park for awesome vintage jewelry
Longman & Eagle for food and board and great cocktails, Map Room if you like beer, Lula Cafe for breakfasts, Xoco for lunches, Metropolitan Coffee, Hopleaf for mussels… You are going to have a great time regardless.
Welcome to Chicago! Check out my latest blog entry for some excellent resale home design shopping! Vingnettehome.net I also highly recommend Andersonville for lots of cute shops and good eats. Ada Street is a new restaurant that has gotten raves…check it out before it gets TOO popular! Enjoy.
Green zebra and Karyn’s on green are both great vegan restaurants in the city. I saw someone mentioned longman and eagle, superb! Neighborhoods that are great for walking around and browsing: Pilsen, wicker park, Andersonville, roscoe village, so many more!
For great jazz, the green mill is a throw back vibe with some mafia history. I hope you love the city! We’re moving back in a year to open up a brewery, and we’re getting so excited!
Check out http://upchicago.com for help finding some new unique gems in Chicago! Or let us know what you’re looking for, and we can help! Have fun!
For Scandinavian fare try Tre Kronor in the North Park neighborhood.
http://www.trekronorrestaurant.com/#/home
Just next door is the Sweden Shop with a great collection of goods.
http://www.theswedenshop.com/
For a great journey through the city I’d recommend taking the Brown Line from the loop to the end of the line. It is elevated the entire trip and offers a great perspective of Chicago. There are also many great neighborhoods just off the Brown Line.
If you’re looking for something guided, the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers soo many incredible tours. The River Tour is incredible. http://www.architecture.org/tours
For Argentine fare: Folklore in Wicker Park is quite delicious.
http://folklorechicago.com/
Japanese: The Slurping Turtle in River North is the perfect comfort food
http://slurpingturtle.com/home.php
Mexican: Anything by Rick Bayless
http://www.rickbayless.com/
Enjoy your trip! I’m trying to move back and enjoy this great city once again.
It’s probably considered super touristy, but one of my favorite places in the city is Macy’s (formerly the original Marshall Fields) on State St. It still has that old-timey department store feel to me. There’s a flower show going on right now (and for another week, I think) on the 9th floor. Definitely try Frontera Fresco (one of Rick Bayless’s restaurants) on the 7th floor for lunch!
I grew up in Chicago and even though I live in California, I still find it to be my favorite city in the states. Really honest, loving people, a rich history, and a solidness and confidence that isn’t off-putting. Plus a really active art scene!
My favorites…
Food: Lou Malnati’s for pizza; Hot Dougs for dawgs; Greektown for Greek; Little Italy for Italian; Sultan’s Market for falafel; Indian/Pakistani on Devon
Shopping: Ikram; Village Discount Outlet & Unique for thrifting; Quimby’s for books; Broadway antique mall
Art/Museum: MCA for contemporary, The Art Institute (Thorne rooms in the basement!), Graham Foundation (architecture/art foundation in a beautiful Arts & Crafts home on the Gold Coast)
Take the architectural boat tour, visit Cloud Gate (the bean!), cruise down Lake Shore Drive, go see some blues or comedy and just enjoy the enormity and weight of the city! Have fun!
If you do find yourself in the Damen/North/Milwaukee area, stop by Piece for pizza, so yum. Andersonville = thin crust well done at Calo. Logan Square pizza = Boiler Room…Ukrainian Village go for Pizza Metro (potato and rosemary). But if you are doing Chicago deep dish, Lou Malnati’s is my recco.
When friends visit I always advocate exploring 2-3 neighborhoods vs. downtown (esp. if they have been here before), have a great time!
ugh, everyone has such good recommendations.
no one has said kuma’s corner, fan-tas-tic burgers but a 1-3 hour wait
common ground- #1 green restaurant in america with rooftop garden
here are some secret spots:
top floor of the harold washington library is gorgeous. I didn’t know what was up there when I first went so I won’t ruin the surprise- it’s AMAZING.
frank llyod wright lobby in the rookery building on la salle- also amazing
uuummm the most jaw dropping warehouse of vintage things from all over the world- architectural salvage in ravenswood
take care! have the best time.
the slurping turtle, floriole, the original merz apothecary in lincoln square, xoco (rick bayless! churros!), intelligentsia at the monadnock building, quimby’s, the beautiful prairie garden across from the art institute in millenium park, the art institute, the museum of contemporary art, the bristol, lula cafe, and nightwood!!!
i’ve lived in chicago for almost 5 years now, and seeing the different neighborhoods is definitely the way to go! my personal favorite is andersonville- clark street is lined with cute shops, cafes, and good restaurants. i love dancing at mary’s attic (upstairs from hamburger mary’s), the beer selection at hopleaf, the martinis at marty’s, and the cinnamon rolls at ann sather’s. there is also a (lesbian) bar a few blocks away from clark called joie de vine where the owner will make you a custom drink- DELISH. the food is also amazing- last time i had an avocado with blood orange slices, pistachios, and sea salt on top. i also second everyone who said peqoud’s pizza is the best- the crust is amazing. my favorite museum is the shedd- they just completed a renovation on the oceanarium last year, and the view of the lake and skyline is amazing. the lincoln park zoo is also great (and free)!
i forgot to mention m. henry in andersonville for brunch. mmmmm.