Mentioned by Spoon University
The 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago, According to a Local
"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 Donuts are next on our list of the best desserts in Chicago. Stan’s Donuts is a classic choice for desserts in Chicago, and they’re seriously delicious too!. In fact, if you ask any local Chicagoans they’ll probably have heard of Stan’s Donuts!"
"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."
"Find your way to this cute cafe and you’ll be forced to leave all your cravings at bay. Order their Concord grape and salty brown butter walnut tarts, honey pie, coffee cake, almond croissant, or even pecan roll, and you’ll find your senses thanking you for such a lovely reward. The cafe is well lit, and the environment is clean and chic, service too, is friendly and quick."
"This bright cafe and bakery is known for their rustic French pastries, made using fresh ingredients sourced from local, sustainable farms. Head straight to the dessert case to choose from a rotating selection of from-scratch goodies, like croissants, Basque cake, fruit galettes, and more."
"Come for Marty McFly's Delorean, stay for the coffee in this cozy Wicker Park space. The Wormhole is a fan favorite, and owner Dan Weiss is planning a ‘90s-style sequel in Bucktown called Wormhole 2."
"The Wormhole Coffee is one of the best-reviewed coffee shops in Chicago. It’s located in Wicker Park. The interior has this relaxed retro vibe going on."
"Located just steps away from Millennium Park in Chicago’s South Loop, Wildberry Pancakes & Café is one of the best breakfast joints in town, with a range of mouthwateringly delicious choices for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The café’s all-encompassing menu features everything from eggs and skillets to yes, you guessed it, pancakes, and the casual eatery is always packed with crowds of locals and tourists alike waiting for a table. The menu boasts a wide range of egg dishes from omelets and scrambles to egg entrees and skillets, but it’s the signature specialty pancakes that draw the crowds, with toppings such as chocolate chip and banana, Oreo cookies, fresh berries and granola, and lemon buttercream and vanilla crème Anglaise."
"Restaurants Coffee shops Lincoln Park. This Milwaukee import is making busy Chicagoans swoon with a large outdoor patio, delicious seasonal pastries, beer on tap and, of course, fantastic coffee. The sprawling cafés in Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Andersonville are colorful and cheerful, making Colectivo an ideal destination for a pre-work boost or winding down after a long day."
"Not only is Colectivo Coffee Co. home to some of the most delicious coffee in the city, but all five of their Chicago locations also feature a wonderful outdoor patio."
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"Making fetch happen: This friendly neighborhood sports bar in the West Loop welcomes your pooch to their patio, and that’s reason enough to visit in my opinion. Your pup will watch jealously as you scarf up your crispy Chicken Tenders, Mini Cheeseburgers, Blackened Mahi Fish Tacos, or Big Pepperoni Pizza. There’s also a Kale Salad for those so inclined."
"Kids love the lively atmosphere and sports focus at WestEnd. Even young Chicago sports fans enjoy supporting their team together with a group of people. Kids can grab a soda and some wings, while watching as their parents and siblings cheer on a hometown team."
"Located near River North, the Underground nightclub takes its mood of exclusivity seriously with a military themed bar and entrance. Those who like a see-and-be-seen atmosphere will not feel strange here. VIP Bottle service and celebrity sightings are pretty normal here, after"
"If you don’t want to bake, or fry in this case too, then decorate with DIY cookie and doughnut kits ($14) starring colorful icing and sprinkles. You may find inspiration in the bakery’s smiley face cookies and Easter lamb cakes, wearing icing medical masks. Owner Can Lao, who revived the historic bakery in the Bridgeport neighborhood back in February, recently added Chinese egg tarts, plus a few staple items like paper towels, gloves, milk and Yakult, the yogurt-like drink."
"Restaurants Bakeries Bridgeport. This iconic Polish bakery closed in October 2019 after decades of serving pączki, doughnuts, cookies and other candy-colored sweets to its fans. Thankfully, new ownership swept in and restored the spot to its former glory."
"There is a mini-zoo with farm animals including chickens, goats and llamas in this park on the city's north side. While it also includes a playground, unlike other parks, this one is a big wooden castle with slides, bridges and tunnels so kids of varying ages can really enjoy running around. Flanked by large apartment buildings which may give off a cool feel to the space, the pond with geese and ducks on the grounds and large willow trees providing shade is a beautiful, peaceful respite that transports you from the busy city."
"This park is smaller than the others so far on this list; it occupies a square block in a quiet, residential section of the West Rogers Park neighborhood. But if you visit Indian Boundary Park, you might find some surprises – most notably that Lincoln Park isn’t the only city park with a zoo. Bounded by Estes Avenue on the north, Lunt Avenue on the south and Rockwell Street on the west, Indian Boundary Park includes a small lagoon filled with ducks, a children’s spray pool, and a sandbox."