Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in Merrionette Park

"The avocado toast is one veggie highlight at Beatrix|© Jeff Marini. Now with three locations, Beatrix continues to serve the Chicago community with vegetable-centric fare. Whether you come for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, there’s always something for non-meat eaters."

"Before you even walk into Sun Wah, crisp-skinned poultry beckons from hooks behind the front window display. A massive, open floor plan with room for well over a hundred diners declares its status as a Chicago institution for Hong Kong–style Chinese barbecue. The menu is immense, with more than 150 items."

"West LoopThis long-revered Mediterranean-influenced fixture from One Off Hospitality has held it down as one of the area’s go-to date night spots since opening its minimalist doors back in 2003, well before many of us could even define romance. And not much has changed -- the wine list is still spectacular, the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates are still iconic, and a reservation for the intimate front patio is still highly coveted."

"Go to this Euro-style wine bar when you're feeling gregarious; the rather stark space has seating for only 48 people, and it's a tight fit....Read More"

"This Lakeview hangout is a sister restaurant to Evanston’s Farmhouse and River North’s Farmhouse Tavern, and a similar vibe of regional Midwest cuisine and, well, farmhouse décor prevails. The Breakfast Flatbread — laden with herbed goat cheese, sunnyside egg, veggies, and sausage — is the perfect table snack while waiting for your entrée. A Farm Bar Quinoa Bowl, chockful of smoked trout, quinoa, green chickpeas, kale, feta, and more, is one of the healthier choices, so feel free to order a Buttermilk Biscuit on the side!"

"But this is America, and if a Chinese restaurant wants to have sushi and kalbi, and it’s good, who are you to stop them?. Besides that mix, follow’s owner Dee Kang’s journey from a Chinese-Korean family to Japan and then Chicago. Dee’s is no secret to Lincoln Park locals, who have kept the place open since 1983."

"Dozens of IPAs, porters, Belgian-style ales, pilsners and the like are made regularly at Revolution, the state’s largest independently-owned brewery. The Brewpub in Logan Square has a huge draft list, which includes favorites like Every Day Hero, Fist City, Anti-Hero, and the double oatmeal stout Café Deth. A pub menu—baked pretzels, cheese curds, wings, pizza, salads, and burgers—is also available to soak up all of that beer."

"2323 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago IL 60647 (773) 227-2739. Trust us when we say to wear your ‘eating pants’ (i.e., pants with a stretchy waistband) when visiting Revolution Brewing. When you see the menu, you’ll be like a deer in headlights as you try to decide between the Pulled Pork Sandwich, Hombre Burger, and the Fish and Chips."

"This brewery, which opened in 2010, appeals to the younger, more bohemian denizens of Chicago. Revolution produces about 50 varieties of beer each year and is located in Logan Square. They offer a selection of specialty beers, deep-wood beer, and year-round staples."

"PilsenImmerse yourself in Mexican culture The Pilsen neighborhood in itself is rich with Mexican murals and culture, but the National Museum of Mexican Art holds a 10,000-piece permanent collection by artists from both Mexico and America, offering a 3,000-year overview of works that often go overlooked in the American art world. Enjoy folk art, photography, sculpture, paintings and more, and make a visit here a priority during October for the museum’s Día de los Muertos exhibit, which features altars and other Day of the Dead art. What to know before you go: The museum is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is always free."

"The National Museum of Mexican Art, southwest of the Loop, is dedicated to stimulating and preserving knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture. It is one of the largest collections of Latino art in the nation, and it is also the only Latino institution to receive accreditation from the American Association of Museums. The current collection includes more than 5,500 objects."

"Head to the National Museum of Mexican Art for one of the best collections of Latin works in the country. Mexican culture is celebrated with art spanning over 3,000 years and a whopping 10,000 piece permanent collection."

"The Lincoln Park Zoo is possibly the biggest and one of the best zoos in Chicago. Spread over a total area of over 35 acres, it is located in the Lincoln Park of Chicago and hence the name. It is completely a free admission zoo and is one of the few such zoos that’s spread around the entirety of the United States."

"Start your morning by visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo which has free admission and is one of the oldest zoos in the USA (opening in 1868). Plan to spend two hours (or more) exploring the zoo grounds."

"The Helen Brach Primate House is yet another extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo and is home to primates of varying shapes, sizes and colour. The area is made in a way to imitate the natural habitat for the primates to make them feel safe and familiar at the place that they are residing in. It was opened back in 1927 which finally underwent an extensive renovation in the year 1992."

"Lincoln Park Zoo is a renowned 35-acre zoo in Lincoln Park and a hotspot for tourists. It’s the zoo’s pavilion, designed to provide shelter for open-air on-site classes, that offers such a fantastically picturesque snap. With the design drawing inspiration from the appearance of a tortoise’s shell, the stunning curved wooden pavilion elegantly frames the Chicago skyline."

"Try as I might, I haven’t found a place to top this one no matter which of the best places to eat in Chicago we dine at. Mortal and Pestle is a classic, hipstery, modern-looking restaurant with big windows perfect for people watching. Last time I was there, I felt comfortable seated in the window seats watching the world go by."

"I’ll admit, I haven’t been here yet – but I keep hearing that it’s amazing!. The menu looks super inventive, too. Where else can you find Alaskan King Crab Benedict and Fois Gras + Eggs with truffles?"