Best Bakery and Cake Shops in McCormick Place

"Part of renowned Chef Stephanie Izard’s Goat concept, the Little Goat Diner is a retro diner that serves all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual and cozy setting. Drawing inspiration from global influences, the menu features classic dishes with creative twists such as Spanish omelets stuffed with cheese, pickled peppers, and masa chips, okonomiyaki (Osaka street food with pork belly), and parathas burritos with Indian flatbread, sunny side up eggs, and avocado bean salad. There are also the regular favorites such as bagels, biscuits, pancakes, and waffles along with heartier dishes such as bowls of goat chili heaped with sour cream, cheddar, and tortilla strips."

"Chips drenched in cheese and sour cream and covered with bbq pork, beans, peppers, and avocado. It’s food porn heaven. Just don’t forget to share them, so you leave room for the rest of the meal."

"Sticking with the theme of escaping the cold, another option if you’ve landed in Chicago at the wrong time is to go to Summer House Santa Monica, where the plants and California vibes will make you forget (albeit temporarily) where you are. The glass ceilings provide the perfect amount of lighting for the perfect #nofilter photos."

"How important are cookies to the ethos of this Lettuce Entertain You Lincoln Park favorite?. The huge display case is the first thing you see when you walk in the door. That is no accident, my friends."

"Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Summer House is the perfect place to escape the city to feel like soaking up the sunny vibes of the West Coast. The setting features..."

"Given that Sweet Mandy B's and Floriole are the charming bakeries sharing the same block and producing some of the best baked goods in the city -- let alone, their neighborhood -- we couldn't recognize one without the other. Washed in pastel hues and equipped with a pastry display bursting with colorful cookies and cupcakes, Sweet Mandy B's is a veritable sugar fiend's fairytale. Floriole plays it a bit more simple, with an airy space conducive to working while you munch on European pastries, like almond-y gateau Basque, pain au chocolat, and a variety of scones; don't forget to pick up a loaf of fresh-baked bread on your way out."

"When you hit up Sweet Mandy B’s you can’t fight the urge to slow the pace and plant yourself to savor whatever treasure you find in the glass encasement and soak up the old-school nostalgia. One taste of their icing will have you wishing you had a vat full and a giant spoon. Call the bakery or stop in to place your special cake order and enjoy the warmth the pastel colors and old-fashioned decor evokes."

"Pastel frosting and rainbow sprinkles may make you write this one off as kid stuff, but the bakery’s exemplary buttercream is plenty grown-up—lush and never tooth-achingly sweet. $3.25 for a four-inch version, 1208 W."

"If you’re still trying to diet in this pandemic, well you should definitely avoid following Stan’s Donuts & Coffee’s Instagram, because one look at their photos will completely override any self discipline you thought you had. More importantly, Stan’s has the flavor to back it up. Featured flavors include: Biscoff Banana Pockets, Glazed Pretzels, Lemon-Pistachio Old Fashioneds, and their new Caramel Marshmallow Pockets."

"Stan’s embraces the vintage vibe of a classic donut shop, with a modern spin. They’ve perfected the classics (glazed old fashioneds, cinnamon sugar cake donuts, massive apple fritters) and added in some of their own creations (peanut butter pockets, croissant-donut hybrids, and gluten-free options). Find the one closest to you here"

"There are regular doughnuts and then there are doughnuts topped with sprinkles and filled with bananas and Nutella, and Stan's specializes in the latter."

"Restaurants Bakeries Near South Side. Life's sweet at Veranda Runsewe's South Loop bakery, where the pastries are baked fresh daily and the custom cakes are crafted with love. The muffins and loaf cakes pair nicely with the lengthy list of tea varieties, from cinnamon-plum and jade oolong to matcha-ginger buzz."

"Tucked away to the left of the cupcakes is a tiny ice cream display in this cupcake shop. All their ice cream is homemade and the cookie sandwiches and cupcake shakes are the perfect combination of ice cream and your favorite baked goods."

"The Loop isn’t quite rife with French cuisine so this casual steakhouse, attached to the Hyatt Centric and run by WellDone Hospitality Group, has been a welcome addition to the area since opening two years ago. Whether guests stop in during lunch for a beef dip sandwich or treat themselves to a nice hunk of dry-aged beef at dinner, there are plenty of delicious choices that’ll evoke visions of Paris."

"Kick off the last day of your Chicago itinerary with brunch at Cochan Volant, a French bistro in the Loop that is basically a brunch-lovers paradise."

"Found in the heart of Wicker Park, Whiskey Business is a spacious, fun and unique Chicago rooftop bar, offering vibes and happenings pretty much every day of the week. Up at the colorful and quirky rooftop terrace you can watch classic movies on the 100” TV’s, party under the stars all weekend, or just enjoy the vibes and sounds of the 80’s and 90’s whenever. The rooftop menu comes filled with over 100 different whiskeys, crafted and seasonal cocktails, an expansive beer list, as well as a wide range of culinary creations."

"The Wicker Park bar features an outdoor curling rink, where bar-goers can test their skills at the winter sport while enjoying an array of seasonal cocktails. Or warm up inside one of the heated, private gingerbread houses decked out with holiday decor and faux fireplaces."

"It’s only fitting that one of gay culture’s leading figures, Oscar Wilde, be given a restaurant in his honor in Boystown, Chicago. The Wilde Bar & Restaurant channels Wilde’s Irish homeland with an extensive beer selection and many traditional Irish dishes. For brunch, the restaurant offers a wide variety of breakfast specials along with a host of fruity breakfast drinks, from morning mojitos to blueberry açai with Chambord liquor."

"Restaurants River North. Inspired by California, Pacific Standard Time dessert menu is rife with fresh, summery flavors. Taste the bounty with dishes like the citrus pavlova, which is paired with lemongrass pudding, yuzu curd, grapefruit granita and mint."

"The park that gave the neighborhood its name is Chicago’s largest. Its 1200 acres stretch for 6 miles from North Ave north to Diversey Pkwy, where it narrows along the lake and continues on until the end of Lake Shore Dr. On sunny days locals come out to play in droves, taking advantage of the ponds, paths and playing fields or visiting the zoo and beaches. It's a fine spot to while away a morning or afternoon (or both)."

"Once you’ve gotten your fill of sky-high views, catch a ride up to Lincoln Park, one of North Side Chicago’s trendy residential neighborhoods, and named for the city’s largest park, which is the lakeside centerpiece of this part of town. The Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory are both fun to wander through, but I love Lincoln Park for its cafes, boutiques, and adorable homes."

"If it’s warm enough when you visit, try one of the beaches in Lincoln Park. The park also houses a zoo and museums."

"The current building was designed by Loebl, Schlossman and Bennett in 1957, although the Chicago Loop Synagogue was founded in 1929 for Jewish workers downtown and visitors. A must-see here is a wall of stained glass crafted by Abraham Rattner. Open Sunday, October 20, from noon to 5 p.m."

"A name like Yummy Yummy should be catnip to any aficionado of cheap old-school Chinese takeout. Nonsensical phrases are often the first sign that you’ve found a jewel in the rough, and Yummy Yummy shines in an area of the city where great Chinese is sorely lacking otherwise. Don’t plan on eating in unless you can grab one of the five or so tables in the cramped “dining room,” but that should not stop you because all your childhood favorites (assuming you grew up eating Chinese takeout like some of us) are here, and few places do them better."

"Machine: Engineered Dining and Drink has Dirk Flannigan in the kitchen fashioning a Modern American menu of smoked mushrooms with crispy with chicken skins, Parmesan, chestnut crumbs and puffed wild rice; pillowy gnocchi with duck confit; lavender chicken; Scottish salmon; and pan-roasted Branzino. Cocktails are something to look at as well as ingest. Shareable sips include a fountain of six house-made wine shots."

"Wicker Park's new "engineered dining and drinking" spot is taking advantage of its spacious sidewalk real estate with a 105-seat patio. The restaurant's in-house florist will also expand its operations with a flower cart. Diners can purchase bouquets for their loved ones as the cart passes by."