Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Amazing food! Upscale casual, big open windows in good weather. Bacon-wrapped, chorizo-stuffed dates, mac 'n cheese, and duck confit poutine are MUSTS :)
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Fork
4600 N Lincoln AveAmazing food! Upscale casual, big open windows in good weather. Bacon-wrapped, chorizo-stuffed dates, mac 'n cheese, and duck confit poutine are MUSTS :)
Cheap and delicious Vietnamese food! Get the pho tai (with rare beef), and the chicken wings as an appetizer!
Pho Lan Phuong
2705 W Lawrence AveCheap and delicious Vietnamese food! Get the pho tai (with rare beef), and the chicken wings as an appetizer!
Gather
4539 N Lincoln AveUpscale casual food and wine bar
Tiny Lounge
4352 N Leavitt StAwesome and chic, small plates and great drinks
Flirty Cupcakes
4631 N Lincoln AveNew gourmet cupcake shop!
Unique pancake breakfast and brunch, might be a wait, but I've heard it's delicious!
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Famous Dutch Pancake Huis - Pannenkoeken Cafe
4757 N Western AveUnique pancake breakfast and brunch, might be a wait, but I've heard it's delicious!
Spoon Thai
4608 N Western AveGreat thai food! Dine-in or delivery
Daily Bar & Grill
4560 N Lincoln AveGreat patio space, upscale bar food
The Bongo Room
5022 N Clark StFantastic brunch restaurant
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StThe only Chicago pizza worth going to!!!
Eataly Chicago
43 E Ohio StApparently an amazing foodie experience
Noon O Kabab
4701 N Kedzie AveBest persian food in the city
Taqueria Santa Rita
2752 W Lawrence AveCheap, fast, authentic, delicious Mexican food a few hundred steps away
Apparently some of the best banh mi's (Vietnamese sandwiches) in the city. Other authentic treats, too!
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Nhu Lan Bakery
2612 W Lawrence AveApparently some of the best banh mi's (Vietnamese sandwiches) in the city. Other authentic treats, too!
Glenn's Diner
1820 W Montrose AveGreat breakfasts!
Cafe Selmarie
4729 N Lincoln AveGreat breakfast and lunch!
Awesome tacos, pair with a trip to Violet Hour! In a cool neighborhood called "Wicker Park". About a $15 cab ride away
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Big Star
1531 N Damen AveAwesome tacos, pair with a trip to Violet Hour! In a cool neighborhood called "Wicker Park". About a $15 cab ride away
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
2024 N Halsted StSuper fun and festive restaurant
Rooftop in nice weather! Just a mile or two down the street
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Fountainhead
1970 W Montrose AveRooftop in nice weather! Just a mile or two down the street
Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StCool bar and restaurant
Garcia's Restaurant
4760 N Lincoln AveAwesome margaritas and mexican food
Beans & Bagels
2601 W Leland AveArtisan coffee a pastries a 5 minute walk away
First Slice
4664 N Manor AveDelicious pie
Essentials
Awesome little artisan grocery store with a rooftop beer garden
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Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen
4750 N Lincoln AveAwesome little artisan grocery store with a rooftop beer garden
Great produce and other groceries, a 2 minute walk from the apartment
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HarvesTime Foods
2632 W Lawrence AveGreat produce and other groceries, a 2 minute walk from the apartment
Food & Liquor Express Inc
2752 W Lawrence AveConvenient wine and spirits store
Walgreens
4801 N Lincoln Ave7 minute walk to closest pharmacy
Everything Else
Clean and bright convenience store and gas station across the street with a Dunkin' Donuts inside.
Mobil
2550 N Pulaski RdClean and bright convenience store and gas station across the street with a Dunkin' Donuts inside.
Swedish Covenant Hospital
5140 N California AveClosest ER
Lincoln Square Farmers Market
4513 W Leland AveClosest gym, day pass is $25
This trail starts right across the street (cross at light with California, walk left, take a right on Francisco and follow paved path. Lots of parks along the way, great for a walk or run!
North Shore Channel Trail
North Shore Channel TrailThis trail starts right across the street (cross at light with California, walk left, take a right on Francisco and follow paved path. Lots of parks along the way, great for a walk or run!
Brown line stop, 6 minute walk from apartment, take to Wrigleyville or Downtown. Use Google Maps app
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Rockwell station
4648 N Rockwell StBrown line stop, 6 minute walk from apartment, take to Wrigleyville or Downtown. Use Google Maps app
Dina & Tifa Hair Studio
2547 W Lawrence AveGet a pretty and fairly cheap ($35) hair-blowout for a night out!
Prive Nail Studio
2555 West Lawrence AvenueOne of the best nail studios I've been to!
Havana Spa
4520 North Kedzie AvenueTreat yourself!
4753 N Virginia Ave
4753 North Virginia AvenueHOME BASE :D
CorePower Yoga
945 W George StFirst week free, drop-in classes $20
Entertainment & Activities
Great little park for kids a block away, take a left out of front door of apartment
Jacob Playlot Park
4674 North Virginia AvenueGreat little park for kids a block away, take a left out of front door of apartment
Look online for concerts at this great music school
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Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln AveLook online for concerts at this great music school
Bad Dog Tavern
4535 N Lincoln AveGood, casual food and kids eat free Monday - Thursday 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Great patio for quick lunch or brunch close by, kid friendly
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Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill
4632 N Rockwell StGreat patio for quick lunch or brunch close by, kid friendly
Yogurt Square
4701 N Lincoln AveFrozen yogurt place with many flavors and toppings
Sightseeing
Cute neighborhood similar to Lincoln Square just a couple miles east!
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Andersonville
Cute neighborhood similar to Lincoln Square just a couple miles east!
Huge beach, lots of parking. Bathrooms and restaurant on-site
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Montrose Beach
Huge beach, lots of parking. Bathrooms and restaurant on-site
Half Acre Beer Company
4257 N Lincoln AveBrewery
Amazing artisan ice cream shop, take the brown line down to the Southport stop, it's right underneath!
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Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1505 N Milwaukee AveAmazing artisan ice cream shop, take the brown line down to the Southport stop, it's right underneath!
Get a drink here at the John Hancock center for an amazing view of the city, and skip the Willis (Sears) Tower
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The Signature Room at the 95th®
875 N Michigan AveGet a drink here at the John Hancock center for an amazing view of the city, and skip the Willis (Sears) Tower
Cute fountain with cafe and gelato shop on "the square"
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Lincoln Square
Cute fountain with cafe and gelato shop on "the square"
A cool "general" store, lots of random items
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ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE
4723 N Lincoln AveA cool "general" store, lots of random items
Awesome little neighborhood with cool shops and restaurants
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Southport station
Awesome little neighborhood with cool shops and restaurants
Skip Navy Pier, but apparently the Childrens' Museum is good
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I-Chicago Children's Museum
700 E Grand AveSkip Navy Pier, but apparently the Childrens' Museum is good
"The Bean" in Millennium Park - worth the trip!
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Umgangatho wezulu
201 E Randolph St"The Bean" in Millennium Park - worth the trip!
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StGreat amphitheater and art and people-watching!
Drinks & Nightlife
The Bad Apple
4300 N Lincoln AveGreat bar food and drinks
Wild Goose Bar & Grill
4265 N Lincoln AveGreat bar food and drinks!
Schubas Tavern
3159 N Southport AveGreat bar food and live music often
Handcrafted cocktails, "speakeasy" style (door is unmarked except with a colorful mural painted on the outside wall, and one little handle sticking out)
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The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveHandcrafted cocktails, "speakeasy" style (door is unmarked except with a colorful mural painted on the outside wall, and one little handle sticking out)
Arts & Culture
Great comedy, sells-out in advance, get tickets online
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The Second City
230 W North AveGreat comedy, sells-out in advance, get tickets online
Check out the website and maybe try a trapeze class! Offered daily, usually sell-out ahead of time. A second location outside on the lake in the summer
Trapeze School New York
5917 N BroadwayCheck out the website and maybe try a trapeze class! Offered daily, usually sell-out ahead of time. A second location outside on the lake in the summer