Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Best local café in the area and a quick walk down Broadway.
95 locals recommend
Intelligentsia Coffee Broadway Coffeebar
3123 N BroadwayBest local café in the area and a quick walk down Broadway.
Great spot for those tea drinkers who want a wide variety of options, from mate to chai to smoothies. The place allows two hours of free wi-fi for guests (keep your receipt for the code!).
19 locals recommend
Argo Tea
3135 North BroadwayGreat spot for those tea drinkers who want a wide variety of options, from mate to chai to smoothies. The place allows two hours of free wi-fi for guests (keep your receipt for the code!).
Featured on The Cooking Channel, this Korean fried chicken spot uses hormone-free chicken and glazes it with a choice of amazing sauces and spices.
98 locals recommend
Crisp
2940 N BroadwayFeatured on The Cooking Channel, this Korean fried chicken spot uses hormone-free chicken and glazes it with a choice of amazing sauces and spices.
This is our favorite restaurant in the city. They have craft margaritas, guacamole with pomegranate seeds, and to-die-for tacos. Weekends are energetic and swanky, but Tuesday nights have specials!
26 locals recommend
Mercadito
108 W Kinzie StThis is our favorite restaurant in the city. They have craft margaritas, guacamole with pomegranate seeds, and to-die-for tacos. Weekends are energetic and swanky, but Tuesday nights have specials!
Go here for a steaming bowl of soup noodles. Sounds crazy but start with the duck fat fried chicken as an appetizer. It's Japanese comfort food in a cool atmosphere and a great intro to River North.
15 locals recommend
Slurping Turtle
116 W Hubbard StGo here for a steaming bowl of soup noodles. Sounds crazy but start with the duck fat fried chicken as an appetizer. It's Japanese comfort food in a cool atmosphere and a great intro to River North.
This is a great little Cuban café downtown with the best café con leche in the city and cheap sandwiches. It's right off Michigan Avenue and a quick break to your jaunts throughout the downtown area.
20 locals recommend
Cafecito
7 N Wells StThis is a great little Cuban café downtown with the best café con leche in the city and cheap sandwiches. It's right off Michigan Avenue and a quick break to your jaunts throughout the downtown area.
Chilam Balam is a sustainably minded BYOB restaurant serving Mexican shared plates with a farm fresh twist.
31 locals recommend
Chilam Balam
3023 N BroadwayChilam Balam is a sustainably minded BYOB restaurant serving Mexican shared plates with a farm fresh twist.
Wow, just wow.
Taverna 750 is the latest ZAGAT rated hotspot in Chicago's East Lakeview! Taverna 750 is the best of old school Italian with a contemporary flair.
33 locals recommend
Taverna 750
5420 North Clark StreetWow, just wow.
Taverna 750 is the latest ZAGAT rated hotspot in Chicago's East Lakeview! Taverna 750 is the best of old school Italian with a contemporary flair.
We love this spot for an amazing cheap lunch. It's Thai at its best, and the location is charming.
50 locals recommend
Joy's Noodles & Rice
3257 North BroadwayWe love this spot for an amazing cheap lunch. It's Thai at its best, and the location is charming.
This traditional southern Greek fare is simply exceptional. The stuffed grape leaves and moussaka are a few of our favorites.
Melanthios
3114 N BroadwayThis traditional southern Greek fare is simply exceptional. The stuffed grape leaves and moussaka are a few of our favorites.
This is the only place we recommend for brunch in Chicago. Period.
84 locals recommend
Southport Grocery and Cafe
3552 N Southport AveThis is the only place we recommend for brunch in Chicago. Period.
One of our favorites city-wide. A Peruvian spot with innovative fare but good portions.
33 locals recommend
Tanta Chicago
118 W Grand AveOne of our favorites city-wide. A Peruvian spot with innovative fare but good portions.
Essentials
This spot is the closest grocery store to our flat and features a wide selection of international foods, as well as great organic produce.
63 locals recommend
Treasure Island Foods
This spot is the closest grocery store to our flat and features a wide selection of international foods, as well as great organic produce.
We cannot say enough good things about this carefully curated cheese shop. The personnel there are knowledgeable and friendly; make sure you try something from nearby Wisconsin!
44 locals recommend
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine
2945 N BroadwayWe cannot say enough good things about this carefully curated cheese shop. The personnel there are knowledgeable and friendly; make sure you try something from nearby Wisconsin!
Shopping
This is a great place to pick up loose-leaf teas or coffee beans to bring back to the apartment. This is NOT a sit-down café, but if you like working cozily at home, stop in there to stock up.
22 locals recommend
The Coffee & Tea Exchange
3311 N BroadwayThis is a great place to pick up loose-leaf teas or coffee beans to bring back to the apartment. This is NOT a sit-down café, but if you like working cozily at home, stop in there to stock up.
Featured on Monocle magazine, this bookstore is our favorite in the city. Do not miss their basement selection of incredible travel books! The staff is ready to give you fiction recommendations, too!
18 locals recommend
Unabridged Bookstore
3251 N BroadwayFeatured on Monocle magazine, this bookstore is our favorite in the city. Do not miss their basement selection of incredible travel books! The staff is ready to give you fiction recommendations, too!