Chicago Travel Forum

Hi

Please can someone help. I am visiting Chicago on 15th May for 9 days with my boyfriend. Please could someone recommend nice restaurants to eat at? I realise I could just look on the internet for places (which I already have done) but obviously the people of chicago know where is good and where is not! Also my boyfriends football team has a very important match whilst we are away, are there any sports bars which would televise english football matches? I also would like to go to a spa for a facial, anyone know of any nice ones which wont scar me for life or anything like that?! One more question: I love to shop and am bringing a few thousand dollars. Where are the best places to shop? Any general suggestions of things I must see and do while I am visiting would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your help!

You may get other answers but if I were in your place I would go to the Chicago link here: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Illinois/Chicago-777256/TravelGuide-Chicago.html

If you look at the top rated pages for Chicago you will see the ones of Dabs and Deecat as the top 2. Both of them live in Chicago and have many, many tips about everytning there. Check them out and if you have specific questions I am sure either of them would be more than happy to respond to an e-mail question from you (there is an e-mail link on each VT members' home page). They will steer you right - both are local, wonderful women and excellent at giving helpful information.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago is The Rosebud http://rosebudrestaurants.com/rest1.php really great Italian food. There is plently of world class shopping on Michigan Avenue in the mile north of the Chicago River, for discount outlets look down in the loop.

Enjoy!

David

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=chicago%2C+il&ns=1&rpp=10

Great, thanks so much i'll definatley check it out!

Chicago has oodles and oodles of restaurant, I can suggest a few if you can tell me what kind of food you are looking for, what price range, and where you want to eat (near a certain hotel or attraction perhaps). I'm got my favorites listed on my Chicago page but many are out in the neighborhoods, look at the ones that say Loop, River North or North Michigan Avenue if you are staying downtown. Most people want to try Chicago style pizza while here, a few popular ones are Lou Malnati's, Pizzeria Uno, Pizzeria Due, Gino's East, or Giordano's. Most people also want to try a Chicago hot dog, Portillo's is a good option in the central part of the city. If you're willing to go a little further out, Superdawg and Hot Doug's are two other good choices.

This might help you for the football question, otherwise I would ask at your hotel about English/Irish pubs in Chicago where they'd be more likely to play football matches
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080424112008AAA3fDI

This link might be helpful for spas, I've only had facials done a couple of times so I'm not much help
http://www.timeout.com/chicago/section/spas-gyms

Shopping-there are two major shopping areas in Chicago, North Michigan Avenue and State Street, you'll find everything from discounters like Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, Filene's Basement and H & M to very high end like Jimmy Choo and Kate Spade. The really high end stuff is mostly on Oak Street and North Michigan Avenue, the discounters are in both locations. The outlet malls are well outside the city and not always worth the journey to get there, esp. if you are not driving.

Dabs thank you so much for taking the time out to write all that! That information is definatley going to be helpful! I hope all you chicagoeans (dont think that is the right word!) are just as friendly as the people who have responded on here.

You were right except for the spelling, we are Chicagoans :-)

Timeout is also a good resource for dining, you can look online, they have it broken down by area, you'll want to look at River North/Old Town and Loop/South Loop. I like that slightly better than user based sites like Yelp.com or metromix.com (although the critic reviews are OK to look at) although I find them to be useful as well. Finally, if you are a foodie, you might have a look at LTHforum.com or chowhound.com, both of which are for serious eaters, not necessarily expensive restaurants but a lot are well outside of the center.

If you want a free tour given by a local, check out www.chicagogreeter.com and go out with them to one of the neighborhoods. You must reserve with them in advance, I think they also still have the instagreeter service where you don't have to reserve in advance at the Chicago Cultural Center which is also free, check on the website