Visiting Chicago for the first time...

There are lots of threads about this sort of thing that will have more options that I list.

For bars, my personal favorite is Local Option. They always have an amazing taplist.
Hopleaf has amazing food and a great beer selection. Both of those are must-visits.

Sheffield's is also a great bar. Beercade is amazing if you like retro arcade games. Fountainhead is also a good one.
The Goose Island brewpub is nice, but don't expect any rarities on tap.

For a nice restaurant, I really like The Girl And The Goat. You have to make reservations way in advance, so if that interests you, probably do it a month in advance.
The Signature Room on top of the John Hancock building (95th floor) has great food and you'll have a kickass view if you get a window seat. They also have an amazing European style brunch on Sundays.
Or you might as well get some Chicago-style deep dish while you're there. My favorite place is Lou Malnati's, but there's also Gino's and Giordano's scattered throughout downtown. Bacino's is also amazing.

 

Give Au Cheval a try if you want what is widely considered one of the best burgers in the country (probably my #1) at the moment. They've also got a pretty decent beer menu.

Check out Binny's in LP (check out their awesome tap room) and Goose Island across from them. Definitely do Lou Malnati's, Gino's, or Giordano's for some Chicago-style pizza, or if there's a specific type of food you wanna check out, let us know.

Half Acre is a great place, but you'll need to bring food in (they don't have food on location), and Bad Apple is right near there, if you're looking for another place with great burgers (good taplist as well). In the same vein, Kuma's has a bunch of highly thought of burgers, and a good taplist (Zombie Dust is frequently on tap).

There's so much to do, see, eat and drink here, it's hard to give you options.

 

Also, if you're a little drunk and hungry at 2 or 3 AM and want to have a little fun, go check out Wiener Circle.

 

If you want pizza, screw Lou Malnati's, Gino's, or Giordano's and go with Pequod's. Great beer too...

 

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit, but we'll be coming out in just over 2 weeks from So Cal to move our son into DePaul. We'll be staying within walking distance of Kuma's Too and Paddy Long's, and plan to hit Local Option, Homeslice, Pequod's, Hopleaf and want to go to Hot Doug's before they are gone. Really want to drive to 3 Floyd's too but may settle for some Zombie Dust, etc. locally if i can find it.
So many choices but we'd like to keep it as close to LP as we can. Only have a car for a few days. Am I missing anything obvious? Oh yeah, Binny's too.

 

If you are going for pizza....and great local beer is a priority as well....you would be missing out if you neglected Piece Brewing & Pizza Co.


Also, budget for what you think you will spend and then double it...if not triple that amount. Dollars add up too quickly in Chicago, even when trying to be thrifty!

 

Yeah, that scares me. 4 years of college and all that entails. May have to be selective about visits!
Yes, Piece is definitely on the list, but don't want it to be too pizza heavy. Gotta sneak in a Cub game too.

 

THIS^n

 

Yeah, hit Piece, visit Maproom after....

 

I second local option awesome tap list great food! Half acre's. Binnys south loop. 3 Floyd's is bout 30 mins away as well.tons of more places in Chicago to go to as well

 

craft beer temple, i think there is a good hot dog spot down the road too. CBT has the freshest IPAS and a very good selection all around.

 

Don't mean to change the subject of the original thread but if you're gonna catch a Cubs game and want somewhere to get a pre/post game buzz at go to Sheffields. Very good tap and bottle selection and awesome food. Within walking distance to Wrigley as well

 

Thanks. Will definitely hit that place if we do catch a game.

 

How bad will the wait be do you think for next Tuesday night before the cub/brewer game? I've read several reviews on BA that advise against going there before or after a game.

 

If you are looking for a great FREE view of the loop--the Cook County Law Library on the 29th floor of the Daley Center is amazing.

 

Eat at the Publican, Farm House or the Gage. All super solid and will be aniversary worthy!

 

Having just returned from Chicago I must echo the suggestion of Binny's at LP. Should you find yourself shopping on the mile, I'd really suggest visiting blue frog local 22 for a snack. They have a great selection of local drafts and bottles.

 

Honestly, I can't imagine it being that bad. Cubs games aren't exactly that crowded anymore.