Chicago Travel Blog

Chicago has so many high-quality coffee shops, and many of them are brewing up locally roasted beans.  The roasters range from large producers to tiny in-store operations, and they’re all worth sampling. Raw and Roasted Coffee Beans Intelligentsia coffee can be tasted all over the city at restaurants...

When it comes to dairy, Chicago is well connected (Wisconsin is Illinois’ neighbor to the north), and despite the cold, cold winters, even the most frigid Chicagoans have a warm spot in their hearts and bellies for good ice cream. Chocolate Raspberry Tartufo and Pistachio gelato from Bellezza Gelato...

Vegetarian cuisine continues to build in popularity, and while almost all restaurants keep veggie-friendly options in mind, some are designing outstanding menus that will please carnivores and vegans alike.  Here is a rundown of some of Chicago’s finest vegetarian dining. Stylish soup at Green Zebra In...

Chicago continues to rise to the top of foodies’ favorite city lists for many good reasons.  Central to the urban gardening movement, the Windy City draws from local farms in Illinois, buIndiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.  Some restauranteurs are getting their green thumb going in rooftop gardens...

“Chicago-style” deep-dish pizza is the Windy City’s version of local cuisine.  Try to picture/smell/taste it: flaky, golden brown crust packed with about an inch of gooey cheese covered in a rich tomato sauce, and, depending on your taste, stuffed with anything from ham and pineapple to spinach...

Cafés pop up all over Chicago, and sadly many of them come and go quickly.  The best ones stick around for the long haul, and here’s a roundup of our favorites. Julius Meinl has three locations on the north side—Lakeview, North Center, and Lincoln Square.  All three are equally adorable and...

If you’re craving dessert in Chicago, you’ll only run into one problem: too many choices.  Here are some top-notch choices to appease your sweet tooth. Mindy Segal has won the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Pastry Chef” every year from 2007-2011.  Enjoy dinner at her Wicker Park restaurant...

Looking for a cozy nook to call your own or something grandiose to prove your love to one another?  Here are a few ideas for romantic dining in the Windy City. Romantic dessert at NoMI Kitchen Quiet and Candlelit Lincoln Square’s Bistro Campagne brings just a touch of French country rusticism to a...

River North Stop into BIN 36 to enjoy house label wines, pair them with selections from the enormous (and delicious) cheese program, and take in the sights of the nearby iconic Marina City towers.  Choose from wine flights with names like “Low Down Dirty Reds,” “Express Yourself,” and...

Here are five of the top destinations for fine dining in the Windy City: Alinea Having quickly risen to legendary status, Alinea is full of surprises.  A meal here is as much about experience as flavor.  Chef/owner Grant Achatz’s 24-course tasting menu, which uses ingredient pairings and presentations...