Guidebook for Chicago
Arts & Culture
Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W Randolph StBroadway in Chicago!
Goodman Theatre
170 N Dearborn StBroadway in Chicago
www.goodmantheatre.org
Buddy Guy's Legends
700 S Wabash AveClassic Chicago Blues!
www.buddyguy.com
Heavily discounted theater tickets, mostly for same-day performances!
www.hottix.org
6 locals recommend
Hot Tix - Half Price Theatre Tickets
72 E Randolph StHeavily discounted theater tickets, mostly for same-day performances!
www.hottix.org
Freddy's Ribhouse
26 W Hubbard StDueling piano bar! Great fun if you love music.
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark StFree zoo in a beautiful setting.
Great authentic Chicago Blues in an intimate venue within walking distance.
25 locals recommend
Blue Chicago
536 N Clark StGreat authentic Chicago Blues in an intimate venue within walking distance.
Sightseeing
The "Chicago" sign in front of the theater is a Chicago icon. The theater is now primarily used for concerts. www.thechicagotheatre.com
133 locals recommend
The Chicago Theatre
175 N State StThe "Chicago" sign in front of the theater is a Chicago icon. The theater is now primarily used for concerts. www.thechicagotheatre.com
Amazing park with the Cloud Gate interactive sculpture "The Bean". In the summer, there are live concerts--many of them free! www.millenniumpark.org
1243 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StAmazing park with the Cloud Gate interactive sculpture "The Bean". In the summer, there are live concerts--many of them free! www.millenniumpark.org
Tallest building in Chicago with outstanding views from the SkyDeck..and the new ledge with a glass floor! www.theskydeck.com
324 locals recommend
Willis Tower
233 S Wacker DrTallest building in Chicago with outstanding views from the SkyDeck..and the new ledge with a glass floor! www.theskydeck.com
Beautiful, especially when lit at night.
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain
219 locals recommend
Buckingham Fountain
301 S Columbus DrBeautiful, especially when lit at night.
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain
The Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore DrSee Sue, the dinosaur!
www.fieldmuseum.org
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore DrGreat aquarium for all ages.
www.sheddaquarium.org
Restaurants, shops, boat rides and a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, especially from the 150 ft. (45 meter) Ferris Wheel. Fireworks at night during the summer.
www.navypier.com
933 locals recommend
Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveRestaurants, shops, boat rides and a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, especially from the 150 ft. (45 meter) Ferris Wheel. Fireworks at night during the summer.
www.navypier.com
Go here for the Visitor Information Center and FREE one-hour Chicago Greeter tours! It opened in 1897 as the city’s first public library and is one of the most visited sights in Chicago.
203 locals recommend
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington StGo here for the Visitor Information Center and FREE one-hour Chicago Greeter tours! It opened in 1897 as the city’s first public library and is one of the most visited sights in Chicago.
Pure joy! A great place to stay cool and people-watch on a hot day. Two giant towers spew water regularly. You can take your shoes off and walk through a few inches of water, or just sit and watch.
27 locals recommend
Crown Fountain
201 E Randolph StPure joy! A great place to stay cool and people-watch on a hot day. Two giant towers spew water regularly. You can take your shoes off and walk through a few inches of water, or just sit and watch.
Another Chicago icon just a few blocks away. You can slide down the front of the sculpture in the spacious Daley Plaza. The final dramatic scene of the Blues Brothers movie was filmed here.
13 locals recommend
Untitled by Picasso
50 W Washington StAnother Chicago icon just a few blocks away. You can slide down the front of the sculpture in the spacious Daley Plaza. The final dramatic scene of the Blues Brothers movie was filmed here.
Enjoy the views of Lake Michigan from miles of Chicago's Lakefront Trail used for running, bicycling, and walking. Chicago's playground. It is the 3rd largest lake in the world.
Chicago Yacht Club
400 E Monroe StEnjoy the views of Lake Michigan from miles of Chicago's Lakefront Trail used for running, bicycling, and walking. Chicago's playground. It is the 3rd largest lake in the world.
A Chicago icon, it was one of the only buildings to survive The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It is a symbol of the city's resilience.
21 locals recommend
3 Greens Market
354 W Hubbard StA Chicago icon, it was one of the only buildings to survive The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It is a symbol of the city's resilience.
Everything Else
This is the subway stop to our place on the "Blue Line" from O'Hare and the elevated ("El") stop on the Orange Line from Midway.
www.transitchicago.com
14 locals recommend
Clark/Lake station
This is the subway stop to our place on the "Blue Line" from O'Hare and the elevated ("El") stop on the Orange Line from Midway.
www.transitchicago.com
Food Scene
Excellent, reasonably priced Italian with good service and atmosphere. Their pasta specials come with a free second entree serving (frozen) that you can bring home!
www.maggianos.com
7 locals recommend
Maggiano's
516 N Clark StExcellent, reasonably priced Italian with good service and atmosphere. Their pasta specials come with a free second entree serving (frozen) that you can bring home!
www.maggianos.com
Classic Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, and Italian sausage. Fun decor and efficiently run. Try the combo (beef and sausage) with sweet peppers and a chocolate cake shake!
www.portillos.com
270 locals recommend
Portillo's Hot Dogs
100 W Ontario StClassic Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, and Italian sausage. Fun decor and efficiently run. Try the combo (beef and sausage) with sweet peppers and a chocolate cake shake!
www.portillos.com
Reasonably priced Thai with pit seating availalble. Our favorite is Pad Thai. Check out the coconut ice cream for dessert. Sounds weird, but it works!
www.starofsiamchicago.com
8 locals recommend
Star of Siam
11 E Illinois StReasonably priced Thai with pit seating availalble. Our favorite is Pad Thai. Check out the coconut ice cream for dessert. Sounds weird, but it works!
www.starofsiamchicago.com
Great Armenian food! Our favorite is the kafta, a meat with great spices.
www.sayatnovachicago.com
35 locals recommend
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
210 E Ohio StGreat Armenian food! Our favorite is the kafta, a meat with great spices.
www.sayatnovachicago.com
Pierogi Heaven
169 N Wells StHuge variety of pierogis just down the street.
pierogiheaven.com
Stunning city views from the 95th floor with a meal for a little more than you'd pay for just a ride to the observation deck.
www.signatureroom.com
525 locals recommend
The Signature Room at the 95th®
875 N Michigan AveStunning city views from the 95th floor with a meal for a little more than you'd pay for just a ride to the observation deck.
www.signatureroom.com
Pizzeria Uno
29 E Ohio StClassic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza!
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StClassic Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza
Excellent, inexpensive mediterranean with hefty portions! We get the chicken shawarma sandwich, and have a picnic at Millennium Park. Fred is a nice guy.
180 N Franklin St
180 North Franklin StreetExcellent, inexpensive mediterranean with hefty portions! We get the chicken shawarma sandwich, and have a picnic at Millennium Park. Fred is a nice guy.
Fantastic traditional American diner for breakfast on
Route 66 since 1923. Great omelets with thin sliced pan-fried potatoes, thick french toast with real maple syrup, etc. Mon-Sat 5:30-3, Sun 7-3.
565 W Jackson Blvd
565 West Jackson BoulevardFantastic traditional American diner for breakfast on
Route 66 since 1923. Great omelets with thin sliced pan-fried potatoes, thick french toast with real maple syrup, etc. Mon-Sat 5:30-3, Sun 7-3.
Great new Japanese restaurant in the the building! You don't even need to go outside. M-F 10-9:30, Sat/Sun 11:30-9.
201 N Wells St
201 North Wells StreetGreat new Japanese restaurant in the the building! You don't even need to go outside. M-F 10-9:30, Sat/Sun 11:30-9.
Classic Chicago deep dish pizza! The building, designated as a Chicago landmark in 2001, was built in 1887 as The LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse by The North Chicago Street Railroad Company.
16 locals recommend
Gino's East - River North
514 N LaSalle DrClassic Chicago deep dish pizza! The building, designated as a Chicago landmark in 2001, was built in 1887 as The LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse by The North Chicago Street Railroad Company.
Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee
50 W Randolph StOutstanding, unique donuts!
Shopping
The upscale place to shop in Chicago.
www.themagnificentmile.com
598 locals recommend
Hot Tix - Mag Mile Location
The upscale place to shop in Chicago.
www.themagnificentmile.com
191 N Clark St
191 North Clark StreetClose convenient store
Hours:
Mon. - Fri 6:30AM - 8PM, Sat. 9AM - 5PM, Sun. CLOSED
Drug store/convenient store
Mon-Fri 6:30AM-Midnight
Sat 8AM-Midnight
Sun 8AM-10PM
183 locals recommend
Walgreens
1931 W Cermak RdDrug store/convenient store
Mon-Fri 6:30AM-Midnight
Sat 8AM-Midnight
Sun 8AM-10PM
Essentials
Jewel-Osco
550 N State StFull-service grocery store.
The best discount department store, including groceries! Whatever you need, you can likely find it here - at a great price.
M-FR: 7:00am-10:00pm
SA: 8:00am-10:00pm
SU: 8:00am-8:00pm
1 S State St
1 South State StreetThe best discount department store, including groceries! Whatever you need, you can likely find it here - at a great price.
M-FR: 7:00am-10:00pm
SA: 8:00am-10:00pm
SU: 8:00am-8:00pm