Exploring the Windy City’s diverse neighbourhoods, from the Gold Coast to Magnificent Mile, is key to discovering what makes Chicago tick. (Please, don’t call it Chi-town.) Below our Chicago City Guide helps you prepare for the perfect blend of sophisticated culture and Midwestern hospitality.
PLACES TO STAY
Panoramic views and posh rooms are the stuff of Chicago hotels
Rooms with a view or two
The Lobby. Photo by the Langham Hotel, Chicago
Bedding down for the night in a Mies van der Rohe building is part of The Langham allure. Rooms offer panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River and there’s that 20-metre swimming pool. From US$383. langhamhotels.com
Book-lover’s dream
Staying in the Author Suite on the 46th floor of the Four Seasons Chicago means you have the hotel’s extensive literary collection all to yourself. The award-winning Allium Restaurant & Bar promises fine lobster nachos and a Chicago Dog “with house-made everything.” From US$358. fourseasons.com/Chicago
Portable VIP
PHOTO: Chicago Peninsula
Through the Keys to the City program, guests at the Peninsula Chicago get special access to VIP lounges in the city, personal tours of the Michelin-starred Grace Restaurant and are fast-tracked through museums and gallery lineups. From US$535. chicago.peninsula.com
Everything old is new again
Thanks to a $100-million renovation, the 434-room Ritz-Carlton Chicago has swapped its traditional design for a more modern vibe. Great views of the pier from the Rooftop at Torali bar or from a treadmill in the fitness centre. From US$329. ritzcarlton.com
Make it a spa day
Lobby. PHOTO: Waldorf Astoria
After a day spent touring the Windy City, spoil yourself with the Waldorf Cleanse in the spa at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago. Well-appointed rooms on the northwest corner of the hotel overlook the iconic Gold Coast neighbourhood. From US$375. waldorfastoriachicagohotel.com
PLACES TO EAT
Deep dish pizza is a must, but so are the award-winning eateries
Michelin-starred dining
Panzanella | Heirloom Tomato, Cucumber, Burrata. PHOTO: Next Restaurant
Chicagoans who’ve patronized Grant Achatz’s three-Michelin-starred Alinea now line up for the chef’s themed tasting menu at his latest eatery, Next. Insider tip: The prix-fixe menu costs less on weeknights. nextrestaurant.com
From a sow’s ear
James Beard award-winner Jimmy Bannos, owner of The Purple Pig, has a thing for pork. Try the pork saltimbocca with prosciutto and honey or the sweet and crunchy pig’s ears. thepurplepigchicago.com
No-frills thrills
BYOB. Minimalist setting. No coat check. The cooks at Michael Carlson’s 26-seat, 1 Michelin Star – Schwa Restaurant serve your food. The menu changes every six weeks, but almost always includes the popular parsnip custard with candied sweetbreads. Book ahead. schwarestaurant.com
The art of donut-making
How about an Horchata Old Fashioned Boston Cream? The Doughnut Vault specializes in artisanal donuts at its two locations (North Franklin and North Canal). doughnutvault.com
Oh, for the love of goat!
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Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard, who’s behind a handful of successful Chicago restaurants, serves up sophisticated takes on traditional Peruvian Cuisine at Cabra Chicago. Pollo a la Brasa: half cornish hen, yuca fries, ají verde, aj́i pickes, salsa criolla is a must! Her other restaurants are Little Goat Diner, Girl & The Goat, Duck Duck Goat. littlegoatchicago.com
PLACES TO DRINK
Chicago mixologists think outside the glass
Creative cocktails in Fulton Market
The Kimchi
If you’re thirsty and peckish in Fulton Market, The Aviary serves a five- or seven-course cocktail-and-food tasting menu that should satisfy both needs. Try the Kimchi, a blend of kimchi juice, soju, granny smith, and cucumber. theaviary.com
A chocolate chip cookie with that cocktail?
Gin-infused cocktails rule at the Victorian-style Scofflaw Bar in Logan Square. Complimentary chocolate chip cookies are served at midnight. scofflawchicago.com
Behind the façade
Lie Chi & Steal: Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, Cihuatan Jade Rum, lychee, ginger, honey, coconut & lime bitter.
The James Beard award-winning Violet Hour Bar is dedicated to artisanal cocktails. Consider the Lie Chi & Steal: Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, Cihuatan Jade Rum, lychee, ginger, honey, coconut & lime bitter. No cell phone use inside the lounge. theviolethour.com
THINGS TO SEE & DO
Impressionists, improv, innovative theatre and more
PHOTO: ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
Plan your art attack!
The Art Institute of Chicago is mammoth. If strapped for time, head directly to the Impressionist galleries. Expect fewer lineups at lunchtime and early afternoon. artic.edu
The right cruise
Riverboat cruises are plentiful. However, Chicago Architecture Foundation’s tours are led by specially trained docents who are well-versed in the architectural wonders along the Chicago River. architecture.org/tours
Heights of fancy
Panoramic Views of Chicago from the the Ledge. Photo by @tibosantacruz
Catching the view from the Skydeck atop the 412-metre Willis Tower is a rite of passage for first-time visitors to Chicago. Insider tip: arrive just before dusk to glimpse the cityscape at night. theskydeck.com
Get your game on
Wrigley Field encapsulates more than 100 years of baseball history. Remember that tours held on game-days do not include a Club House visit. mlb.com/cubs/ballpark/tours
They’re funny that way
Tina Fey and Steve Carell crafted their improv at the Second City Comedy Club in Chicago. For great sketch comedy, book tickets for Mondays at 8pm or weekends at 4pm. secondcity.com
Now for something completely different
The Neo-Futurists have been performing fast-clipped experimental theatre since 1988. In their Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, the troupe performs 30 plays in 60 minutes. Oh, and your ticket price is determined by a throw of the dice. neofuturists.org
