THE WORD ON THE STREET
Life is an adventure... make it exciting!
AROUND TOWN
Below you will find all of the amazing places I have discovered during my semester!
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Have suggestions of where I should go? Follow the prompt at the bottom of the page!
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COFFEE
THE STARBUCKS RESERVE ROASTERY
646 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Looking for good coffee and so much more? Check out the four story Starbucks Reserve Roastery which houses a large café, a bakery, a coffee bar, a cocktail bar, and an outdoor patio on the roof! Get ready for the coffee experience of a lifetime!
LA COLOMBE
4 E Elm St, Chicago, IL 60611
This is where I got my first cup of coffee from after getting out of quarantine! I ordered my usual medium dark roast, which I highly recommend. A friend also introduced me to their oat milk black and tan drink - cold brew coffee mixed with foamed oat milk. It is a frothy, smooth beverage and perfect if you like a little cream in your coffee.
INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE OLD TOWN COFFEEBAR
1233 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
This was a fun one to try! Very modern coffee and fun atmosphere. I ordered a delicious Puerto Rican inspired seasonal beverage with coconut, cinnamon, and oat milk. This particular drink is best over ice!
HERB AND ALCHEMY
1165 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614
I found this great coffee shop very close to my internship. I ordered a unique cinnamon and licorice seasonal roast. This place is very fun and original. They even have a walk up window on the side of the building with a heater to stay warm!
PINIPICO BRAZILIAN CAFE
1538 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610
This incredibly unique cafe boasts a Brazilian theme and was voted one of the best in Chicago. It offers a variety of Brazilian inspired food and drink and brings a little bit of Brazil to the streets of the Windy City.
BIG SHOULDERS COFFEE
858 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
Another coffee shop unique to Chicago! Big Shoulders boasts specialty roasted coffee and a friendly environment. I was able to grab a cup before class and I recommend a visit! I ordered their brewed coffee, which was smooth and bright, making it perfect for a cold winter morning!
TEAGSCHWENDNER
1160 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
While this is not a coffee shop, I figured it could go in this section. This German tea shop offers a large selection of loose leaf tea as well as prepackaged teas and accessories. I ordered a cup of the Coffee Kisses tea - a black tea with coffee notes - and it was great! The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. If you are looking for a great cup of tea, this is your place!
MARSHALL'S LANDING
222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654
This might perhaps be my new favorite place to get coffee from... Marshall's Landing, located on the second level of the Merchandise Mart, is a small, upscale coffee shop serving craft coffee and coffee drinks. The Dark Matter and Passion House are the specialty brews and they are both incredible. They are bold, dark, and smooth which is my favorite!
GOTHAM BAGELS
1212 N Dearborn St Unit B, Chicago, IL 60610
Located just behind Canterbury is Gotham Bagels which specializes in New York style bagels. I have yet to try the bagels, but the coffee was really good. All orders can be placed online and picked up to go.
STEFARI CAFE
150 N Schuyler Ave Ste 101, Kankakee, IL 60901
This is not in Chicago, but should you find yourself in Kankakee, IL, be sure to stop by Stefari Café. This is a modern, chic coffee shop with delicious coffee and yummy food. There is also plenty of seating if you wanted to stay for a bit!
THE WORMHOLE COFFEE
1462 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
If you visit Wicker Park, be sure to make a stop to The Wormhole! It may look a little sketchy on the outside, but inside is like a trip back to the 1980s complete with a flying DeLorean. The coffee is great and the throwback experience is incredible!
FIRECAKES DONUTS
68 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
Incredible artisan donuts served with La Colombe coffee!
HEROÂ COFFEE BAR
22 E Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604
Located in a historic area, this unique walk-up coffee shop offers a variety of delicious specialty drinks.
PHILZ COFFEE
1555 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
This is a one-of-a-kind coffee shop and a must if you are in the area! The menu is very unique and the staff is so wonderful!
EVERYBODY'S COFFEE
935 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Located in the Uptown neighborhood, just off the Wilson redline stop, Everybody's Coffee truly does have something for everybody!
WHISPERS COFFEE AND TEA
Mariano (Louis) Park - 1031 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
In the Gold Coast? Stop by Whispers for a quick coffee or a fresh fruit juice or smoothie! After you order, enjoy your drink at one of the nearby tables or benches.
FOXTROT MARKET
401 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654
This is an incredibly cool place! It's a modern market and also a coffee bar with awesome coffee! Whether you need a snack, a quick lunch, a late-night ice cream, or just a coffee, they have it all!
DOLLOP COFFEE CO.
345 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611
A cool, modern coffee shop with locations all over the city! The environment is quiet and would make for a great study space. The drinks are awesome, and while I did not try them, the specials looked really good!
STAN'S DONUTS AND COFFEE
259 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611
A Chicago classic, Stan's has been serving donuts since 2014! The service was great and the staff was friendly. It made for a great, quick stop before church and the donuts and the coffee were really good. There were so many options, I need to go back to try more!
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FOOD and DRINK
WHISKEY BUSINESS
1367 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Found this place while exploring Milwaukee Ave! The atmosphere is incredibly fun and there are great deals on food and drinks. I had delicious Nashville Hot Chicken sliders. The nice heat was balanced with a tangy slaw. They also have a fun outdoor space where they show movies three nights a week!
PORTILLO'S
100 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60654
Ever wondered what a real Chicago hot dog or an Italian beef sandwich tastes like? Portillo's is the place to go! This Chicago staple is famous for these items as well as their chocolate cake and the chocolate cake shake. The food is great, plus the restaurant is the home to tons of Chicago memorabilia.
HAPPY CAMPER PIZZERIA
1209 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
Looking for good pizza? Happy Camper offers a great option! This pizzeria has really cool vibes and offers a wide variety of pizzas. The other drinks, appetizers, and specials also looked incredible and will be worth a trip back! I highly recommend the side of fries which is served with 1000 Island dressing. I also shared a pepperoni pizza with a couple others and it was perfect. It was enough for us all and it was a great bite of Chicago pizza!
SUNNY SIDE UP CHICAGO
42 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611
I was finally able to make to a brunch on the town and this place did not disappoint! The menu options were diverse and all looked so good. We were able to get right in and the service was great. We even got a seat on the third story! The coffee was delicious and my Sunny Side Up Baguette with tomato, poached eggs, and balsamic was incredible!
LOU MALNATI'S PIZZA
1120 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
With locations all over Chicago it is not hard to find a Lou Malnati's Pizza! I am lucky to have one just up the road. Lou Malnati's was the first stop on the Chicago Semester pizza tour and it did not disappoint. I stuck with the classic pepperoni and I loved it. We each received an individual pizza and it was plenty. It is one of Chicago's famous pizza joints, so give it a try if you stop!
MOM'S PLACE - A CHICAGO GATHERING SPOT
650 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654
A couple friends and I found this place online and just had to check it out! A local spot with great specials, this is a fun place to hang out with a few others! If you are a fan of chicken tenders, fries, or tots I highly recommend!
THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY
875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Everyone loves cheesecake and The Cheesecake Factory located under the John Hancock Tower is the place to go! The variety is huge and the portions are even bigger! It's the perfect place for a little treat after a long week at work!
VELVET TACO
1110 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
Looking for something a little unusual? Velvet Taco offers more than the typical taco! With staples like the chicken and waffle taco, the brisket taco, and the fish and chips taco there are no wrong choices. There are so interesting combinations to choose from including a weekly rotating special. I am a big fan of the Nashville Hot Chicken special and highly recommend the fish and chips taco.
JOJO'S SHAKE BAR
23 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
Looking for sugar on sugar on sugar? JoJo's Shake Bar has you covered! If you visit Chicago, add JoJo's to your list and prepare for an experience like no other. JoJo's specializes in loaded shakes and even hot chocolate! There is also food if you are looking for a whole meal, but one shake is a lot! This is a unique stop you will want to make it to at least once!
UTOPIAN TAILGATE
1608 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
This was an incredibly cool bar and restaurant! Very modern and fun, the Utopian Tailgate boasts great vibes, great food and drink, and even rooftop games like giant Connect Four!
HOPSMITH CHICAGO
15 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60610
It's awesome to have so many great food places by us and Hopsmith is one of them! They have great fries and the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich is awesome! The drinks are good too! Be sure to make a reservation, but if the inside fills up, there is usually outdoor tent seating.
BUTCH MCGUIRE'S
20 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60610
Another Division St. staple! Butch McGuire's is all Irish all year! The food, the drinks, and the vibes are all awesome and the staff is great! Great place to go and hang out with friends!
THE STRAY HEN
2423 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
I am a huge fan of brunch and I am so glad I found this place! The menu has something for everyone and they have a great selection of fresh juices! The Stray Hen is located just a couple blocks from Lincoln Park which is a great place to enjoy a brunch! I highly recommend the breakfast sliders!
THE BUDLONG HOT CHICKEN
1008 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
If you are a fan of Hot Chicken like me, The Budlong is a place to be sure to stop at. Even though I was in the middle in Chicago, I felt like I was in the South when I stopped here. The chicken tenders are great and pair well with the macaroni and cheese and the house comeback sauce is a must!
BOB'S PIZZA
1512 N LaSalle Dr, Chicago, IL 60610
If you want good pizza, Bob's has it! It is a pan style pizza and so good! If you like Blaze Pizza, this reminds me of a large version of that. It's a little off the beaten path, but definitely worth it.
ELI'S ARK
1843 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
By far one of the most unique places I have visited during my time here. Eli's Ark is an artisan gelato shop that makes scoops of gelato look like adorable animals. The gelato was divine and the animals were so fun! I almost did not want to eat the llama I got!
RAISING CANE'S CHICKEN FINGERS
3700 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
This was new to me as we do not have many Cane's in Michigan, but a friend from Ohio told me this place was awesome, a fact I can agree with. The chicken finger combo meal with fingers, fries, slaw, and garlic toast is the way to go. And you don't forget to order extra Cane sauce!
JENI'S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS
1419 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
Another great spot for artisan ice cream! Jeni's is well known in the Chicago area and has a variety of unique flavors. The best deal is to get the trio, which comes with three half scoops and a waffle wedge!
GOOSE ISLAND BREWHOUSE
1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Want to try some of Chicago's craft beverages? Stop by a Goose Island Brewhouse for some great variety and Chicago staples like the GI 312. The drinks are good, but the space is also a great place to hang out with friends!
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ACTIVITIES
THE LAKESHORE
Lake Michigan
It may be cold and windy, but the view is incredible. In one direction, nothing but turquoise blue water. In another, looming skyscrapers, and in another, a stretch of beach for miles. If you look closely you may even be able to find a few pieces of beach glass - the greens and blues in stark contrast to the brown sand.
360 CHICAGO
875 N Michigan Ave 94th floor, Chicago, IL 60611
Want one of the best views in town? Take the incredibly fast elevator ride to the 94th floor of the John Hancock tower observatory. This observatory offers wide views in all directions, including views of surrounding states! Learn facts about Chicago, the tower, and even view the contents of a time capsule! Plus, the pictures are amazing!
GOODWILL STORE & DONATION CENTER
1201 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
Need to do a little thrifting in the city? Stop by the Goodwill on Washington Blvd. Very friendly staff and a large selection of items makes this trip worth it! I bought my fish a new home for a great price. There is a line to get in, but it moves pretty quickly.
FIRST ASCENT CLIMBING AND FITNESS
108 N State St suite 420, Chicago, IL 60602
Are you a fan of bouldering or rock climbing? First Ascent in Block 37 is the place to go! It's a ton of fun, and also a great workout!
GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY
300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624
If you love plants, this is the place to go! Just be sure to make a reservation before you go! However, even a walk around the outside is beautiful!
THE 606
1805 N Ridgeway Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Enjoy a beautiful 2.7 mile trail through a few of Chicago's gorgeous neighborhoods! This trail is a renovated portion of the L system and is a great place to take a walk, go for a bike ride, or enjoy a number of parks!
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
If you visit Chicago you have to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo at least once! It is a 35 acre zoo AND it is free admission! It's even better if the day is cloudy and a little cooler as more animals tend to be out those days! There is also a great nature trail on the south side of the zoo with beautiful views of the city skyline.
WRIGLEY FIELD
1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613
Wrigley Field is home to THE Chicago Cubs, one of Chicago's two major league baseball teams! Wrigley contains lots of character and is a stadium unlike others with it's famous red sign, hand-played organ, and hand-moved scoreboard. Go Cubbies!