Breakfast


Hashbrowns Cafe is one of our favorite casual breakfast spots, there is a few around the city, we frequent the Old Town location. Its great for a quick bite, no reservation needed.


Beatrix is a bit more upscale and serves a great brunch, but is still cost effective. It has a nice outdoor patio and serves more basic breakfast or more intricate brunch options. It is located in the River North neighborhood, and may require a reservation.


Coffee & Bakeries


La Fournette is a french bakery in the Old Town neighborhood, great for coffee and pastries (to go, or dine-in). Their danishes (apple is the best) are incredible, and so are their macaroons! Be sure to go earlier in the day, they close somewhat early and can run out of their more popular pastries.


La Colombe Coffee Roasters is a coffee shop in the Gold Coast neighborhood, great for a grab and go coffee and pastry. They have limited seating, so better for on the go!


Lunch


Shore Club is a great spot for lunch with a wide variety of sandwich and salad options, and comes with an incredible view of Lake Michigan as it sits right on the beach in the Gold Coast/Lincoln Park neighborhood.


The J. Parker is located right near the wedding venue and is located on the rooftop of the Lincoln Hotel and offers stunning views of the lake and all of Lincoln Park -- it also happens to be where David took Blair for dinner the night he proposed! Reservation recommended.


Lux Bar is a great restaurant for a meal any time of day, serving American food and offering breakfast/brunch, lunch and dinner as well as having a fun bar area. Located in Gold Coast, it's in a great area for walking around and shopping. Reservations are recommended!


Dinner


Small Cheval has one of the best burgers in the city. It is a casual spot for walk-ins; order at the counter and grab a spot at one of the picnic tables on their patio. Located on Wells St in the Old Town neighborhood, it is one of our favorite spots for a quick bite.


Gallucci is one of our favorite spots for a date night, serving fantastic brick-oven pizza and handmade pastas. Our favorite dishes are their arancine, cavatelli con pesto, and the terra mia pizza. We would recommend making a reservation a day or two in advance due to is popularity!


Kamehachi is a sushi restaurant in Old Town near Blair and David's apartment. It is a casual spot with great food and drinks, and good for last minute reservations.


Broken English Taco Pub is a Mexican restaurant in Old Town on Wells St. It is a great spot for casual drinks and dinner with both indoor space and outdoor seating. Reservations recommended, especially if you want to sit outside!

Lincoln Park Zoo is perfect for a warm, dry day to walk around the middle of the city with beautiful scenery and see the animals- and the best part is that it is completely free.

If you like museums, Chicago offers some pretty incredible ones for whatever your interests may be. Blair's favorite is the Field Museum - especially for their ancient Egypt and dinosaur exhibits. If you like interactive museums, check out David's favorite: The Museum of Science and Industry.

If you're looking for a more laid back activity, take a walk down (or rent a Divy bike) the lake front path or the Chicago Riverwalk, or spend the day in the sun on one of the city's many beaches. Our favorite is the North Avenue beach.

If you are looking to do some shopping, walk up and down state and rush in Gold Coast for more upscale shopping or visit Water Tower Place for more diversified options!

Bars in the City

Utopian Tailgate in Old Town is one of our favorite spots, located right above the Second City Comedy Club. This bar has fun cocktails and an indoor space, as well as a rooftop outdoor space with lots of games and space to sit or roam. Reservations recommended, especially if you want to sit on the rooftop.

Old Town Pour House is a great spot for a beer, or a flight of beers in Old Town. They serve burgers if you are looking for dinner and a drink. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. While it is a large bar, you may still want a reservation to guarantee a spot!

Headquarters is a Bar-Cade (bar + arcade) in River North where you can go, have drinks and food, and play all your favorite retro video games. Make sure you go upstairs and check out their pop-up themed area. Make sure you play Blair's favorite game -- Mortal Kombat.

Big Mini Putt Club in Boystown or Wicker Park is a bar that offers 9 holes of mini golf and is fun for a night out.