Things To Do

TO EAT & DRINK

3 Arts Club Cafe at RH Chicago

Located in Gold Coast: A posh café inside Restoration Hardware combining a coffeehouse, wine bar & American restaurant. Extremely aesthetically pleasing and a perfect setting for some champagne and fries.

Aba

Located in Fulton Market: Elevated Mediterranean fare & cocktails, with a great lounge rooftop patio!

Alla Vita

Located in West Loop: Traditional Italian specialties plated in a stylish, elegant restaurant with a whimsical vibe.

Au Cheval

Located in Fulton Market: Calling all burger fans! An absolute must for an amazing burger. No reservations are taken here, but it's worth the wait. Get the cheeseburger with an over-easy egg and fries. A fun tip from Chicago's best food influencer Marlo Marisie: if you like bacon, get the side order of bacon and then add it on the burger, rather than getting it directly on the burger (more bacon for your buck!)

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

Located in River North: Upscale steakhouse with a New American menu in an ornate, dimly lit wood & brick setting. Highly recommend getting the bone marrow as well!

Cindy's Rooftop

Located across from Millennium Park: Hip, stylish rooftop bar/eatery at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel with choice seasonal fare. A great way to see the Bean from higher up while having a cocktail in hand.

Club Lucky

Located in Wicker Park: Old-school Italian cooking & (amazing) martinis in a mid-century-themed supper-club setting with a lounge.

Etta

Located in River North or Bucktown: Neighborhood hot spot with a locally sourced New American menu of wood-fired fare & brunch plates. Amazing focaccia, ricotta pillows (if you know, you know), and pastas and pizzas.

Gibsons Italia

Located in River North: High-style Italian steak & pasta spot on 3 levels with a vast wine list, fireplaces & an amazing roof deck.

Gilt Bar

Located in River North: Siblings with Bavette's, Gilt Bar is a sexy, classy sophisticated bar and restaurant featuring classic craft cocktails and contemporary American cuisine.

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

Located in Gold Coast, River North, or Fulton Market: If you're wanting to try some deep dish pizza while in Chicago, OUR RECOMMENDATION is Lou's. This is a heavy meal but certainly a classic choice while in the Windy City.

Nobu Chicago

Located in West Loop: Yes, this is THE Nobu so if you're feeling fancy and craving some top notch sushi, this is your spot. Also features a rooftop for enjoying a specialty Nobu cocktail.

Parlor Pizza Bar

Located in River North, West Loop or Wicker Park: Neapolitan-inspired pizzas prepared in wood-burning ovens paired with amazing craft beers and original cocktails. An easy, casual and fun place to grab some pizza!

Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

Located in River North: You haven't lived until you've had a Chicago Style hot dog with a cheese fry and a chopped salad. A Chicago must!

RL Restaurant

Located on Magnificent Mile: Upscale Ralph Lauren restaurant serving American classics in a sophisticated setting.

Trivoli Tavern

Located in Fulton Market: Oysters, grills, coal-fired seafood & cocktails served amid an old-world, dark-wood interior.

ACTIVITIES TO DO

Architectural Boat Tour

The Architecture Tour takes you down the Chicago River while a super engaged tour guide shares the history about many of Chicago's iconic buildings. A great way to spend some time getting to know the city!

Lakefront Trail

Enjoy a walk, run or bike ride along Lake Michigan! Very popular way to get active in the city.

Magnificent Mile

Shopping, shopping and MORE shopping! All of the stores you could ever want when you're craving some retail therapy.

Navy Pier

Undeniably one of Chicago's top attractions, Navy Pier is an iconic pier (and iconic Ferris Wheel) located in Streeterville. Our humble opinion, it's a bit of a tourist trap, but fun to check off your list.

Second City

Love SNL? Then you'll love Second City. Highly suggest booking a comedy show while you're in town! Several Second City-bred performers and writers have found a home at SNL, including Peter Aykroyd, Vanessa Bayer, Jim Belushi, Aidy Bryant, Brian Doyle-Murray, Rachel Dratch, Robin Duke, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Mary Gross, Bill Hader, Tim Kazurinsky, David Koechner, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tim Meadows, Jerry Minor, Alex Moffat, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Mike O’Brien, Bob Odenkirk, Amy Poehler, Chris Redd, Tim Robinson, Tony Rosato, Horatio Sanz, Martin Short, Cecily Strong, Jason Sudeikis, and Nancy Walls.

Shedd Aquarium

While Chicago has many museums and places to see, Shedd Aquarium is one of Joann's favorites and also was her favorite place to go to while growing up. Shedd is a 5 million gallon aquarium that holds about 32,000 animals and is the third largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere.