Established in 2004, Wildberry Café continues to delight guests with delicious dishes and welcoming hospitality. Their breakfast and lunch menus are inspired by a blend of traditional homemade recipes prepared to please the patron's taste. They use only fresh, seasonal ingredients that deliver the most delicious flavors and rich goodness.
Willis tower, formerly the Sears Tower, is a 110-story skyscraper, and this skyscraper is Chicago's most dominant structure and 2nd tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. On a clear day, one can see approximately 40-50 miles (65 - 80 kilometers), allowing one to easily see four states – Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Skydeck has a ledge glass box extending 4.3 feet from the Skydeck, providing a clear view of 1,353 straight down.
Xoco—pronounced "SHO-ko"—is the Aztec word for "little sister." Rick Bayless, who runs the iconic flagship restaurant Frontera, opened the place. But there's nothing little about Xoco's bold Mexican marketplace flavors. This quick-service café from Rick and Deann Bayless is open early and closing late and proffers contemporary expressions of Mexico's most beloved street food and snacks: flaky empanadas, hot-from-the-fryer churros, frothy Mexican hot chocolate, crusty tortas, and meal-in-a-bowl caldos.
Founded in 1879, It is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. The vision of this museum is to acquire arts of all kinds and conduct exhibitions for education. This museum has the third most extensive collection of Arts in the country-consisting of approximately 300,000 works of art in 11 curatorial departments. It is an excellent place to spend time with family and friends. Riverboat cruises depart from here. The iconic ferries are fantastic for a photo op if you are not into riding them. The staff is amiable and offers excellent services. It is a must for Chicago Tourists.
Once a space for railways, now a lively, spectacular gathering spot located in the heart of the city and a destination for Chicagoans and visitors alike. The view is super exciting; the park is full of joy, happiness, and cheerfulness. Boeing Gallery in the park exhibits public art. Cloud Gate (The Bean), Crown Fountain, and Lurie Garden are famous places to see and relax in the park. The beautiful BP Bridge connects Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park (another great attraction). Wrigley Square and Jay Pritzker Pavilion are also additional favorite attractions.
Chicago Diner has been serving innovative and delicious vegan and vegetarian fare since 1983. True to their signage, "meat free since '83," all of their menus are a take on the classic American diner with a twist. It has earned numerous accolades from various media outlets for its fantastic food. They use local, seasonal ingredients and produce. All their cleaning products are eco-friendly, to-go containers are bio-degradable, and they practice bio-diesel conversion of waste oil.
Lula cafe at Logan Square is inventive, market-driven, primarily organic food in a casual, funky space, hosting a trendy breakfast/brunch. They specialize in using locally sourced fresh produce and seasonal ingredients, and the patio is lovely on a warm night with the perfect atmosphere.
360 Chicago is an observatory located on the 94th floor of the historic John Hancock Center in the heart of downtown Chicago. It offers breathtaking views of the city and Lake Michigan from over 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile. Visitors can also experience "The Tilt" for an additional fee; a series of floor-to-ceiling windows slowly tilt outside the building to 30°. There is also a Bar (CloudBar) to enjoy a drink (or two) while overlooking the view.
A contemporary art museum near Water Tower Place is one of the world's largest contemporary art venues. Visitors can experience the work and ideas of living artists and understand the historical, social, and cultural context. The museum includes sculpture, photography, dance, performance, and music. Museum's collection consists of more than 2,000 works, 2,500 artworks spanning media and movements from the 1920s to the present.
Eggy's, a contemporary diner, is more than just breakfast (though it does have an extensive egg-centric menu). The 60's inspired menu is full of items designed to give a home-cooked feel. Think pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, and burgers. But it has made national news for its crunchy French toast, featured on Travel Channel's "Food Paradise" as a can't-miss carby dish.
Visitors can see the Blue Man Group or House of Blues show. There is also "The Comedy Bar" for a fun time. The Chicago Cubs' official store is there if you are into sports. Many eateries are either along the Mile or on cross streets. There are some great street performances on the walkways. There are always some special events; check them out at https://www.themagnificentmile.com/things-to-do/events/ before you go. Endlessly high-end brand-name stores like LV, Burberry, Gucci, and more. Public Restrooms are available at 900 North Michigan Shops, Water Tower Place (835 N. Michigan Avenue), and The Shops at North Bridge (520 N. Michigan Avenue).
Pequod's Pizza has gained a cult following for its pan-style deep dish Pizza with a caramelized crust edge. The Pizza gained popularity with word of mouth, and Pequod's became the best-known secret for Pizza in Chicago. Mozzarella cheese is cooked along the edge of a cast-iron pan creating a crust unlike any other hence the name "caramelized crust." Customers get blown away after tasting the pie with the savory sauce and flavorful toppings.
Chef partners Susan Weaver, Rita Dever and John Chiakulas have created a menu inspired by food made in Lettuce's test kitchen. Beatrix is open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night offerings. All pastries and sweets are baked in house daily. It features Modern, all-day venue combining an American eatery, wine & cocktail bar & a bakery/cafe. They offer the kale juice, mushroom burger, kale salad, steak and eggs and a side of granola, and veggie burger. They also have amazing Caramel pie for dessert. They have a lot of the same vendors as the Kane County flea market, but have some city based vendors as well. The items for sale range from bookshelves to vintage Ferragamo shoes. It is a very entertaining location, great people-watching out the wall of windows. The cocktail menu is refreshing and unique, appetizers are light and flavorful, and their entrees were superbly executed.
Named after Marshall Field, who donated $1 million to build the museum, The natural history museum has nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens, showcasing 4.5+ billion years of history. One cannot see so many artifacts in a day, let alone a few hours, so visitors should devise a plan beforehand on what to cover. There are additional exhibits that cost extra.
In 2011, husband and wife Art and Chelsea Jackson opened Pleasant House Bakery, a small pie shop specializing in Royal Pies—their own various handmade, artisanal meat and vegetable savory pies. In 2016, they expanded their signature British-inspired, locally sourced menu in a new location, Pleasant House Pub, which also features a full bar and cafe.
Shedd Aquarium, a national historic landmark, has been home to more than 32,000 unique animals since 1930. It welcomes more than 2 million visitors to meet beluga whales and bluegills, rockhopper penguins and rockfish, alligators and an alligator snapping turtle, and so much more from the world's oceans, lakes, rivers, and reefs. Several permanent exhibits at Shedd include Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Stingray Touch, Oceanarium, Fantasea, One World, and 4D Theater.
The Adler Planetarium museum is dedicated to studying astronomy and astrophysics, founded by Max Adler. The planetarium is a twelve-sided building that includes two sky theaters. The theaters depict the night sky and allow visitors an up-close look at distant planets, moons, and galaxies. There are full-size theaters, extensive space science exhibitions, and a significant collection of antique scientific instruments and print materials. Its exhibits Astronomy in Culture, Chicago’s Night Sky, Mission Moon, Our Solar System, Planet Explorers, Space Visualization Lab, Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass, The Universe: A Walk Through Space and Time, and many more.
Jimmy Bannos Jr., a fourth-generation restaurateur, opened this place after graduating from the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University and working for other nationally renowned chefs in Italy and New York City (Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich). He also traveled through Italy, Greece, and the United States, cultivating his culinary approach from the region's culture and food. Since opening in 2009, The Purple Pig has received numerous accolades. In 2014, Chef Jimmy received his first James Beard Award for "Rising Star Chef." The Purple Pig has been a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recipient since 2011 and has collected numerous culinary and wine awards nationally.
Established in 2012, Batter and Berries is the result of founders Dr. Tanya & Craig Richardson's desire to add an eclectic world-class restaurant to the vibrant Chicago brunch scene. The idea was simple: offer the freshest food possible with flavors that people would come from all over the world to experience and want to return for more. They partner with local communities and businesses, several local artisans, craftspeople, and purveyors to provide a uniquely Chicago experience.
The home of the Chicago Cubs, originally known as Weeghman Park, was built in 1914. A unique piece of sports history still stands while most other venues get knocked down and rebuilt, it is the second oldest ballpark. An iconic landmark, it is known for its ivy-covered brick outfield wall and hand-turned scoreboard. Visitors can see this place from the outside for free or buy tour tickets to go inside, and they can also purchase tickets on the game day to get the real experience. The games are fun and exciting, regardless of the outcome.
Specialty grocery-cafe fusion place uses local ingredients to create artisanal culinary dishes, lunch boxes, ready-to-cook food, and gift baskets serving breakfast and lunch all day. They showcase numerous local food artisans. Customers come here to experience the from-scratch fare and unique dishes, including the occasional secret supper.
Opened in 1929 with a capacity of 700 seats, Music Box has been a premier venue for independent and foreign films in Chicago for the last two decades and is the largest theatre space operated full-time in Chicago. The theatre has the same architecture and design as it was when it opened with a dark blue ceiling with twinkling stars and moving cloud formations as we see in the night sky. The walls, towers, and blue ceiling take the viewers to an Italian courtyard in an open-air Tuscan palazzo.
Known for its jazz and poetry performances, this oldest continuously running jazz club in the U.S. opened in 1907. The bar still has the same sitting as it was 100 years ago. There's plenty of room for dancing to the fantastic live music. the Green Mill has appeared in many films. They have some excellent cocktails, and the live music is always good. The place is filled with lots of mob history in Chicago; Al Capone had a dedicated booth.
Since opening in Chicago's Old Irving Park neighborhood in late 2006, Smoque has garnered a large and loyal following of locals and visitors alike, BBQ devotees. They have been consistently ranked among Chicago's best restaurants and the nation's best BBQ spots, winning many awards along the way.
This award-winning cafe opened in 2003 and has been a local favorite since then. The place is known for its organic fare, locally sourced seasonal ingredients, creative comfort food, and delicious healthy breakfast/brunch. M. Henry's incredible breakfast and brunch offerings have been featured in the Food Network and Thrillist as one of the top brunch spots in America.
This 35-acre, beautifully landscaped zoo is the only privately managed free zoo in the USA. Established in 1868 has one of the best collections of gorillas and chimpanzees in the world. They are home to snow leopards, sea lions, penguins, Stilts, polar bears, snakes, and many more. There are plenty of hands-on exhibits, with displays set up to be informative and engaging.
The Dearborn was opened by two sisters in 2016, Amy and Clodagh Lawless, with 40-plus years of hospitality experience and a passion for heartfelt service from their Irish roots. Executive Chef Aaron Cuschieri creates dishes that lean into Midwestern seasonality with unfussy but rooted classical techniques. They also serve creative cocktails and deliciously nostalgic desserts with a modern twist. Chicago's past inspires the restaurant's murals, leather booths, and other details.
This family-friendly nature museum offers exhibits from live native animals to nature-inspired art, from toddler-friendly place spaces to dozens of exotic butterfly species; they are sure to entertain, educate, and excite guests of all ages. They have demonstrations with live animals and displays to engage the senses, which is excellent for children. There are also outside nature trails for families to indulge in nature.
Lincoln Park is one of the most affluent and picturesque neighborhoods in Chicago. It's a few stops from the city with many exciting places, including the namesake park (Lincoln Park), beach, restaurants, museums, theatres, shops, and bars. The neighborhood is home to the country's oldest free zoo. Visitors will enjoy the manicured gardens, many lakefront green spaces, and breathtaking city views.
The Marq offers an ever-evolving, globally inspired menu of seasonal fare with a delicious, upscale, and easily approachable experience paired with handcrafted cocktails, a moderately craft-focused beer list, and a dynamic wine list. Named for its historic home, the Loop's Marquette Building, with its hard-to-miss central bar and beautiful views, attracts locals and tourists. It features breakfast, lunch, and Dinner in a beautiful setting.
Yolk started in 2006 in the south loop of Chicago before it became a national family-friendly chain. It has been voted the best breakfast in Chicago and is Zagat's top-rated place. Yolk has an innovative yet familiar family-friendly classic menu. Their menu is enormous, with many offerings sure to satisfy everyone, including many healthy options.
Chicago's lakefront treasure, Navy Pier, is 50 acres of unparalleled attraction space. Nearly nine million people visit Navy Pier annually, making it the most visited attraction in Illinois and the Midwest. There are many indoor and outdoor attractions at Navy Pier, such as Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Children's Museum, impressively large Centennial Wheel, Carousel, Drop Tower, Navy Pier Beer Garden, and many more. You will also find shops, eateries, and theatres.
Summer house offers a vibrant, light, airy, and summer vibe to its guest in terms of food, ambiance, and everything they do. A large atrium with a beautiful setting and all-weather spaces would surely delight everyone. They serve dishes from modern American Cuisine and a few internationally inspired dishes.
A Tony award recipient, Shakespeare Theatre runs 650 performances annually with twenty productions featuring plays, musicals, world premiers, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe. It also offers educational programming for students, teachers, and lifelong learners and has been honored with many national and international awards. Recently, the theatre was recognized as a national leader in a white house ceremony.
Chicago's 18-mile-long scenic Lakefront Trail is an 18-mile-long stretch that extends from Ardmore Street on the North Side to 71st Street on the South, connecting to great neighborhoods, parks, and beaches. The trail passes through Edgewater, Uptown, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, South Loop, and Hyde Park neighborhoods. Each neighborhood offers its own unique experiences and a lot of things to do. Visitors and locals enjoy walking, running, biking, and rollerblading on the trail. Popular places on the route include south park shore, Jackson park, promontory point, 31st street harbor, northerly island, grant park, Maggie Daley park, Ohio Street beach, North Ave beach, Lincoln Park zoo, Belmont harbor, Montrose beach, and Foster Beach.
Serai – Malay for lemongrass – is a genuine South East Asian Malaysian cuisine. The delightful restaurant aims to bring the best of traditional regional food, focusing on Malaysian fare – specialties like char kuey teow, prawn mee, and Serai's signature serai pork chop – at the hands of a passionate chef who lives to enhance his craft.
This vintage-feel diner in Grant Park is a family-friendly old-school diner serving traditional Jewish delicatessen-style food and a real soda fountain. It offers the 1940s and 1950s vibe with its leather button booths, neon lights, and WWII-era music. Customers enjoy the classic Jewish and continental American fare all day.
One of the largest science museums in the Western Hemisphere! This fourteen acres museum offers more than 35,000 artifacts, including the World War II submarine, five-story movie screen, 40-foot tornado, and the actual United Airlines Boeing 727, hands-on activities, and interactive experiences with impressive displays. MSI is not a place where you walk around quietly and observe but to explore and expedite.
The Momo World serves perfect and delicious Himalayan street food with influence from the Nepali culture and taste from the Himalayas. The place is small with counter service, but the exotic and unique flavors and a few fusion dishes elevate this place above the rest. The food is prepared with an array of vegetables, meats, and seafood and flavored with seasoning born in the mountains of the Himalayas.
Chicago's century-old Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinese-American communities in the nation. As soon as you set foot in this historic neighborhood, you're in for the rich culture, regional Chinese cuisines, karaoke bars, and unique architecture. Stroll through elaborately adorned streets filled with traditional specialty shops, ornate architecture, storefronts packed with colorful wares and souvenirs, and family-owned restaurants with dishes you'll be craving long after home.
Thalia is a historic building landmark built in 1892 by John Dusek as a community hall. Currently, it hosts concerts by well-known artists and special events. In addition to the thalia hall, there is a central meeting place with a tavern, Dusek's board & beer, and two bars, Punch House and Tack Room. There is a standing room on the floor and seats on the balconies. The artists come from many different genres, but they're always great picks.
Sweetgreen is a fresh, plant-forward, and earth-friendly restaurant. Three college graduates started it for a healthier, faster, more nutritious option. Their mission is to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food, and their goal is not to sacrifice quality over convenience. Their rotating seasonal menu offers a wide variety of warm and cold vegan, vegetarian, and meat salads, soups, and bowls with savory, house-made dressings and a slice of bread.
Lou Mitchell's father started this iconic Chicago family diner in 1923, specializing in breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes. The fun part of Lou Mitchell's magic formula was added one day in 1958 when the restaurant began offering breakfast diners donut holes. A tradition was set in place, and since that day, millions of donut holes and boxes of milk duds have been sold. People from all over the world come to try Lou Mitchell's homemade food. It has been recognized both nationally and internationally with endless accolades. The list includes USA Today, American Way, newspapers, magazines, food critics, and television. "It's a must-see place."