Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Caffè Streets
1750 W Division St Top notch coffee
Dollop Bakeshop
1000 N Damen AveGreat, easy brunch. It's about 4 minute walk from our place, so we go here often! They have good coffee and pastries too!
72 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
West Town Bakery & Diner
1916 W Chicago Ave Great, easy brunch. It's about 4 minute walk from our place, so we go here often! They have good coffee and pastries too!
Amazing pizza and huge midwest beer selection
126 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Roots Handmade Pizza
1924 W Chicago AveAmazing pizza and huge midwest beer selection
Local favorite for coffee
53 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Intelligentsia Coffee Wicker Park Coffeebar
1609 W Division StLocal favorite for coffee
Probably the best sushi in Chicago...no joke. So actually, it is the best sushi in Chicago.
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Arami
1829 W Chicago AveProbably the best sushi in Chicago...no joke. So actually, it is the best sushi in Chicago.
Super hip vegetarian option. It might be Chicago's best spot for vegetarian/vegan food (along with Chicago Diner). Our favorite is the Fried Avocado Tacos. Yes, they are ridiculous.
140 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Handlebar
2311 W North AveSuper hip vegetarian option. It might be Chicago's best spot for vegetarian/vegan food (along with Chicago Diner). Our favorite is the Fried Avocado Tacos. Yes, they are ridiculous.
Awesome outdoor seating, crazy cool atmosphere, and amazing tacos. Tacos. Tacos.
1174 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveAwesome outdoor seating, crazy cool atmosphere, and amazing tacos. Tacos. Tacos.
Maybe our favorite brunch spots. Small menu, so might want to check it out online beforehand, but the restaurant is super cute, super hip, and if you go for dinner, it's BYOB.
128 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bite Cafe
1039 N Western AveMaybe our favorite brunch spots. Small menu, so might want to check it out online beforehand, but the restaurant is super cute, super hip, and if you go for dinner, it's BYOB.
New brewery with great small bites! Unique beers!
87 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
1746 W Chicago AveNew brewery with great small bites! Unique beers!
Urbanbelly
1542 N Damen AveRamen!!!
Stan's Donuts & Coffee
1560 N Damen AveBecause donuts.
One of Chicago's longtime popular Breakfast/Brunch spots!
199 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bongo Room
1470 N Milwaukee AveOne of Chicago's longtime popular Breakfast/Brunch spots!
Amazing outdoor space -- super popular, so get there early! Fried chicken & a ridiculously good Negroni slushi!
656 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage AveAmazing outdoor space -- super popular, so get there early! Fried chicken & a ridiculously good Negroni slushi!
Cool, trendy, pizza spot with awesome outdoor seating. It's fun!
73 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Parlor Pizza Bar Wicker Park
1824 W Division StCool, trendy, pizza spot with awesome outdoor seating. It's fun!
Upton's Breakroom
2054 W Grand AveVegan lovers rejoice! This place rocks!
Dark Matter's main coffee shop. It's definitely Chicago's most hip coffee spot. If you're a coffee lover, it's worth a visit. They have some unique roasting styles, that's for sure!
135 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Star Lounge Coffee Bar (Dark Matter Coffee)
2521 W Chicago AveDark Matter's main coffee shop. It's definitely Chicago's most hip coffee spot. If you're a coffee lover, it's worth a visit. They have some unique roasting styles, that's for sure!
Big Shoulders Coffee
1105 W Chicago AveAnother local roaster!
Probably Chicago's best shawarma and falafel. SUPER cheap!
99 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sultan's Market
2057 W North AveProbably Chicago's best shawarma and falafel. SUPER cheap!
Chop Shop
2033 W North AveGreat sandwiches!
Blue Frog Bar & Grill
676 N LaSalle DrBecause...Gelato
The best ice cream you can get in our area. It's originally from Ohio, but the two locations in Chicago have made quite a splash. Summer lines at 9 PM are out-of-control.
131 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1505 N Milwaukee AveThe best ice cream you can get in our area. It's originally from Ohio, but the two locations in Chicago have made quite a splash. Summer lines at 9 PM are out-of-control.
Longtime Chicago favorite -- almost iconic at this point.
80 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Coast Sushi Bar
2045 North Damen AvenueLongtime Chicago favorite -- almost iconic at this point.
Super close to our place, super popular spot. Can't go wrong here!
111 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Yuzu Sushi & Robata Grill
1751 W Chicago AveSuper close to our place, super popular spot. Can't go wrong here!
When you hear Chicago-style hot dogs, this is probably the most famous restaurant. Their chocolate shakes have chocolate cake in it. Amazing!
270 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Portillo's Hot Dogs
100 W Ontario StWhen you hear Chicago-style hot dogs, this is probably the most famous restaurant. Their chocolate shakes have chocolate cake in it. Amazing!
If you're exploring downtown and want to grab a quick bite to eat, this place is perfect. So many awesome food options -- seriously, there is something for everyone!
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Revival Food Hall
125 S Clark StIf you're exploring downtown and want to grab a quick bite to eat, this place is perfect. So many awesome food options -- seriously, there is something for everyone!
Great tacos, cool atmosphere & ambiance. The drinks are also quite solid and did I say, tacos? Yes please.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bar Takito
201 N Morgan StGreat tacos, cool atmosphere & ambiance. The drinks are also quite solid and did I say, tacos? Yes please.
Fantastic Mexican-inspired breakfast & brunch spot. It's super reasonably priced too! We highly recommend heading here on your way downtown via #66 bus!
94 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Flo
1434 W Chicago AveFantastic Mexican-inspired breakfast & brunch spot. It's super reasonably priced too! We highly recommend heading here on your way downtown via #66 bus!
Don't let this small diner-esque spot fool you. This Mexican fusion diner is cool and delicious. Limited seating though!
113 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dove's Luncheonette
1545 N Damen AveDon't let this small diner-esque spot fool you. This Mexican fusion diner is cool and delicious. Limited seating though!
Shopping
Study Hall
2016 W Chicago AveLocal boutique
Essentials
Mariano's
2021 W Chicago AveDrinks & Nightlife
Probably Chicago's "coolest" drink spot. The drinks are amazing x 10. You can't go wrong here...it's so cool there's no signage out front :-)
355 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveProbably Chicago's "coolest" drink spot. The drinks are amazing x 10. You can't go wrong here...it's so cool there's no signage out front :-)
Three Dots and a Dash
435 N Clark St
Lost Lake
3154 W Diversey AveHip, but not too hip. Small, fun, drinking establishment. $5 Lyft ride away!
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
EZ Inn
921 N Western AveHip, but not too hip. Small, fun, drinking establishment. $5 Lyft ride away!
Scofflaw
3201 W Armitage AveHip, of course.
Gilt Bar
230 W Kinzie StAmazing food. Amazing drinks. Cool spot.
Cool new bar with a rooftop as well. It's contemporary, cool, and a touch fancy. It's not THAT fancy, lol. Great drinks too!
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ace Hotel Chicago
311 N Morgan StCool new bar with a rooftop as well. It's contemporary, cool, and a touch fancy. It's not THAT fancy, lol. Great drinks too!
Getting Around
One of the nearest BLUE LINE stations.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Milwaukee & Division station
One of the nearest BLUE LINE stations.
Another nearby BLUE LINE station w/ a ton of food/bars/restaurants/coffee/donuts nearby!
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Damen Blue Line Station
South Damen AvenueAnother nearby BLUE LINE station w/ a ton of food/bars/restaurants/coffee/donuts nearby!
Arts & Culture
I-Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveSightseeing
Buckingham Fountain
301 S Columbus Dr