EXPLORE CHICAGO
We love Chicago. We lived in the city for over 15 years and have been visiting our entire lives. Whether visiting for the day or staying for a long weekend, there are endless restaurants, bars, coffee shops, events and things to do. Trying to capture the best places in Chicago requires much more than a page so instead we have curated our favorite sources for discovering places to eat, drink, stay and play. Let us know your favorite Chicago guides and resources here.
EAT
Eater Chicago Our favorite source for finding restaurants and keeping up with the Chicago restaurants scene.
The Infatuation Another great source with tons of guides and maps for every type of occasion, cuisine and neighborhood.
James Beard One of the top awards for the restaurant industry. You can easily search for past winners and nominees on their website.
Michelin Guide Chicago is home to numerous Michelin star restaurants, which is the ultimate recognition for fine dining. Michelin also releases the Bib Gourmand awards each year, which is great list of restaurants where the average meal price point is around $50.
NY Times A solid list from The New York Times that includes a variety of cuisines, price points and neighborhoods across Chicago (and a few spots in the burbs).
DRINK
Eater’s Best Coffee Shops Eater’s list of the best coffee shops and roasters across Chicago
Time Out’s Best Coffee Shops Time Out’s list of the best coffee shops and roasters across Chicago
Eater’s Best Brewery Tasting Rooms Eater’s list of the best brewery tasting rooms across Chicago
Time Out’s Best Breweries Time Out’s list of the best breweries and tap rooms across Chicago
Eater’s Where to Drink Cocktails Right Now Eater’s list of the best places to drink cocktails across Chicago
Time Out’s Best Cocktail Bars Time Out’s list of the best cocktail bars across Chicago
STAY
Condé Nast Traveler A great list of hotels across Chicago. Our favorite hotel is the Hoxton in the West Loop.
Michelin Guide Hotels Most people only think of Michelin for restaurants but they review hotels as well.
PLAY
Time Out Chicago A great source for discovering events, activities and things to do around Chicago.
Chicago Parent A great resource for families to find fun Chicago activities and things to do with kids.
Choose Chicago A great resource for all things Chicago including the ultimate bucket list that includes something for everyone.
