Guidebook for Chicago
Essentials
Trader Joe's
667 W Diversey PkwyNot pricey, organic fresh food. Best quality-price selection!
Drinks & Nightlife
Craft cocktail lounge in a posh restaurant. Beautiful outdoor patio available for patrons during the summer.
836 abantu bendawo batusa
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted StCraft cocktail lounge in a posh restaurant. Beautiful outdoor patio available for patrons during the summer.
The ROOF is a very chic 27th-floor lounge that boosts the summer party atmosphere.
19 abantu bendawo batusa
theWit Chicago - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
201 N State StThe ROOF is a very chic 27th-floor lounge that boosts the summer party atmosphere.
The Aviary is Chicago's weirdest and wildest craft cocktail experiment. Enjoy bizzarre, fragrant, smokey, and possibly dangerous drinks and snacks at this enigmatic bar. Book ahead! It's popular.
77 abantu bendawo batusa
The Aviary
955 W Fulton MarketThe Aviary is Chicago's weirdest and wildest craft cocktail experiment. Enjoy bizzarre, fragrant, smokey, and possibly dangerous drinks and snacks at this enigmatic bar. Book ahead! It's popular.
One of the best local, hip bars in the city that also happens to be an excellent craft cocktail venue. DJs spin space disco, industrial and funk for the uber cool.
185 abantu bendawo batusa
The Whistler
2421 N Milwaukee AveOne of the best local, hip bars in the city that also happens to be an excellent craft cocktail venue. DJs spin space disco, industrial and funk for the uber cool.
Across the street from Big Star & equally popular. A prohibition era themed bar with minimal lighting, fireplaces and privacy-enhancing furniture. The mixologists are artists, but beware of the wait.
355 abantu bendawo batusa
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveAcross the street from Big Star & equally popular. A prohibition era themed bar with minimal lighting, fireplaces and privacy-enhancing furniture. The mixologists are artists, but beware of the wait.
Food Scene
Fun atmosphere, delicious food.
Lamb meatballs with some bread and butter is the way to go here.
33 abantu bendawo batusa
Paris Club Bistro & Bar
59 W Hubbard StFun atmosphere, delicious food.
Lamb meatballs with some bread and butter is the way to go here.
Great cheap and easy thai food. Substantial portions, delicious Mussaman curry. Perfect for nights when you want to stay in and order take out.
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Star of Siam
11 E Illinois StGreat cheap and easy thai food. Substantial portions, delicious Mussaman curry. Perfect for nights when you want to stay in and order take out.
Bowtruss serves up some of the finest coffee in the city. Coffee is an art form here. This new location opened up recently.
14 abantu bendawo batusa
Bow Truss Coffee Roasters
406 North Wells StreetBowtruss serves up some of the finest coffee in the city. Coffee is an art form here. This new location opened up recently.
Check out the Yelp.com reviews. Girl & The Goat is one of the finest restaurants in Chicago. This is a must-go kind of place. Order the green beans!
496 abantu bendawo batusa
Girl & The Goat
809 W Randolph StCheck out the Yelp.com reviews. Girl & The Goat is one of the finest restaurants in Chicago. This is a must-go kind of place. Order the green beans!
Personally, one of the best meals I've ever had. I recommend reading Yelp.com reviews for this restaurant too. Expert chefs, kind waitstaff, hilarious bathroom. Go!
62 abantu bendawo batusa
Ruxbin
851 North Ashland AvenuePersonally, one of the best meals I've ever had. I recommend reading Yelp.com reviews for this restaurant too. Expert chefs, kind waitstaff, hilarious bathroom. Go!
Tank Noodle is loud, fun, always crowded and probably the most authentic Vietnamese dining experience one can have in Chicago. Come with friends, the portions are huge. You may need a translator.
81 abantu bendawo batusa
Tank Noodle
4953-55 N BroadwayTank Noodle is loud, fun, always crowded and probably the most authentic Vietnamese dining experience one can have in Chicago. Come with friends, the portions are huge. You may need a translator.
One of the best Indian restaurants in down town Chicago. The venue is pretty, romantic and the waitstaff is always extremely polite. Try the Gobi Manchurian and Buttered Naan.
68 abantu bendawo batusa
Rangoli Classic Indian Dining
One of the best Indian restaurants in down town Chicago. The venue is pretty, romantic and the waitstaff is always extremely polite. Try the Gobi Manchurian and Buttered Naan.
I've heard wonderful things about this up scale restaurant. Never been but I hope to go very soon.
25 abantu bendawo batusa
Balena - Temporarily Closed
3600 North Clark StreetI've heard wonderful things about this up scale restaurant. Never been but I hope to go very soon.
A highly rated Yakitori-style restaurant and true gem in Chicago's foodie scene. I'd suggest avoiding the daily ("draught") cocktails, but everything else is a dream. Especially the Chicken Wings!
47 abantu bendawo batusa
Yusho
2853 North Kedzie AvenueA highly rated Yakitori-style restaurant and true gem in Chicago's foodie scene. I'd suggest avoiding the daily ("draught") cocktails, but everything else is a dream. Especially the Chicken Wings!
A cheap, mind-blowingly good Korean fried chicken joint. Fried chicken, really! I know it sounds pretty basic, but ask for your wings or sandwich with Sassy sauce. (You'll need napkins)
98 abantu bendawo batusa
Crisp
2940 N BroadwayA cheap, mind-blowingly good Korean fried chicken joint. Fried chicken, really! I know it sounds pretty basic, but ask for your wings or sandwich with Sassy sauce. (You'll need napkins)
Shopping
Hands-down, the best, most sublime doughnuts in the city. They're huge! It's best to go during the week before 11:30AM--they close when they sell out.
43 abantu bendawo batusa
Doughnut Vault
401 N Franklin StHands-down, the best, most sublime doughnuts in the city. They're huge! It's best to go during the week before 11:30AM--they close when they sell out.
This is a shopping district frequented mostly by locals, away from Michigan Ave tourists. You'll find a J. Crew, an Apple Store, CB2, even a Whole Foods in this quiet, industrial-looking neighborhood.
15 abantu bendawo batusa
J.Crew
929 W North AveThis is a shopping district frequented mostly by locals, away from Michigan Ave tourists. You'll find a J. Crew, an Apple Store, CB2, even a Whole Foods in this quiet, industrial-looking neighborhood.
Unmissable, weird and wonderful gelato. Try the Goat Cheese Caramel Cashew gelato, Lavender Marshmallow or Lemon Thyme sorbet.
90 abantu bendawo batusa
Blue Frog Bar & Grill
676 N LaSalle DrUnmissable, weird and wonderful gelato. Try the Goat Cheese Caramel Cashew gelato, Lavender Marshmallow or Lemon Thyme sorbet.
Everything Else
How to feel like a born-and-bred Chicago hipster: Park yourself under a big yellow umbrella in Big Star's crowded patio, order panza & pescado tacos and Big Star margarita. You'll be back every week.
1176 abantu bendawo batusa
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveHow to feel like a born-and-bred Chicago hipster: Park yourself under a big yellow umbrella in Big Star's crowded patio, order panza & pescado tacos and Big Star margarita. You'll be back every week.