I always am getting questions from friends on where to go when they visit Chicago. It can be so overwhelming visiting cities and trying to figure out what to do and where to eat when there are so many places! I don’t live in Chicago, but I have grown up visiting frequently. I thought I would give some of my recommendations for coffee, food, and things to do.
Coffee:
The Allis– I LOVE the Allis. It is a restaurant at the Soho House. The space is so cool it looks like it is an old warehouse. It is a very eclectic atmosphere. This is a typical coffee go to spot for me. I’ve also had breakfast and lunch there which is so yummy! They also have afternoon tea, dinner, and cocktails. Just make sure you make a reservation if it is on the weekend or popular time because sometimes there is a wait.
BomboBar– This isn’t exactly a coffee go to, but a hot cocoa go to! I figured hot chocolate is close enough to coffee, right? The BomboBar is actually right down the street from the Allis. It is a walk-up window that is connected to the Bar Siena. They do have coffee and doughnuts, but they are known for their extravagant hot chocolates. This is such a fun spot to go to when you are in the city for a weekend.
Goddess and the Baker– I go to the Goddess and the Baker a lot mostly because of the location downtown. What drew me to it originally was the fun Eat Now, Caffeinate sign. You really get coffee shop vibes here because it is smaller and always busy and everyone is always going about their business and I love seeing all the different types of people. They have food here, but I think they are more known for their coffee and pastries.
Hero Coffee– This is the cutest little spot. It is a small ally way that has stringed lights and a big coffee sign lit up. Definitely a photo spot. (When I went it was called Pickwick Coffee Roasting Co., but I am sure the coffee is still good).
Werewolf Coffee– This spot is a little further out of the city. It is a cool experience though because it was mostly locals there. It is a coffee truck inside a building. They have colorful lattes with sparkles.
Eats:
Bongo Room– This is a really yummy breakfast place! I always get the pancakes because they have so many fun options. If you have a big sweet tooth you would definitely like it.
Ema– I randomly came across this place last time I was in Chicago. The decor is so cute. It is a Mediterranean restaurant so they mostly have tapas. It was perfect for lunch because we got hummus, brussels, and potatoes to split. It was seriously so good.
Margies– This is a classic. You can go for lunch or just for their over the top ice cream sundaes, which is what I usually do. It is an old ice cream diner that also has chocolates and normal lunch food. Their sundaes are huge and so yummy!
Santorini– Greek town is always a good dinner spot. We have a few spots we like to go to there, but Santorini seems to be our go to. It is always fun to get saganaki.
Twin Anchors– This is one of my favorite places to go. If you love bbq especially ribs you will love it here! It is kind of a hole in the wall place but it is always busy. You can come sit at the bar and talk until there is a table ready. I’ve heard that there is a Batman movie that has a scene at the restaurant, but I haven’t seen it before.
Wild Berry– This is another great breakfast place. You have to make sure you get there early or have a reservation because it gets really busy especially on the weekends. I also usually get pancakes or something sweet here as well because they have so many fun options.
Walnut Room– Going to the walnut room at Christmas time has been my mom and my tradition forever. It used to be in Marshal Fields, but Macy’s bought them. During Christmas they have a giant tree that changes every year. My favorite thing to get is the frango mint pie. It is a chocolate mint ice cream pie with graham cracker crust. It has coffee syrup drizzled on the plate and is SO GOOD.
Fun:
Art Institute– I love going to the art institute when I’m in Chicago. All of the museums are great and perfect for when it’s cold or rainy or you just aren’t sure what to do. The art institute has a great impressionism collection which is my personal favorite. There is so much to see you can spend hours here.
Parks– The parks are a great place to visit because there is always something fun to do. Right now during winter time they have ice skating by the bean or at Maggie Daley park. The bean is always a must see if it is your first time in the city. In the summer time they are always having outdoor concerts and movies in the parks. If you have kids with you the Maggie Daley park has a rock wall and large play ground. It is also nice just walking around and enjoying the outdoors.
Zoo– Chicago has a great zoo, and one of the best things about it is it’s free. I really love going to the conservatory when I am there. It has different rooms with so many plants from all over. It is so peaceful and gorgeous in there. If you go to the zoo in the winter at night they have their zoo lights which are really fun to see.
Shopping:
Randolph Street Market– If you happen to be in Chicago a weekend they are having the randolph street market I highly recommend you go. In the outside they have booths of antique furniture, flowers, posters, food, and music. In the inside there are even more booths of jewelry and antique clothes. It is so fun to walk around and see everything. I even got my high school graduation dress here.
Michigan Ave– Michigan avenue has pretty much all the stores I usually like to shop at. When I’m in Chicago I typically will go to Forever 21, Zara, Topshop, and H&M. They are all so close to each other. If you don’t like really crowded streets and tourists who walk slow then maybe avoid this area then. Sometimes I feel like I have to dodge stroller after stroller when trying to speed walk from shop to shop.
Wicker Park– Wicker park has lots of shops with less crowds. There is a good mix of boutiques as well as some big name stores. If you walk down Milwaukee street you’re bound to find somewhere you will want to stop in.
