Chicago Travel Guide: Food to Eat + Things to Do

Chicago is a city after my own heart. Right on the lake, delicious food, trendy spots, great shopping, and a bustling community-- what else could you want? After some amazing summer visits over the past few years, I finally feel like I have a good handle on which places are my favorites in the city, as well as what is the most fun to do. Hopefully this guide will be helpful to you no matter what your plans are for Chicago: day trip, work trip, or girls' trip!

FOOD TO EAT

While in Chicago, you have to take advantage of the food scene. These are my favorite places, organized by meal.

Coffee, Pastries, and Breakfast

The best way to start your day!

1. La Colombe
Location: All over Chicago!
My order: Iced Oat Milk Latte or their Cornerstone Brew
Thoughts: This place was great to grab a quick coffee on my way to work. It was bustling, energetic, and they had a ton of milks to choose from!

2. Sawada Coffee
Location: Fulton Market District
My order: Matcha Latte
Thoughts: From the second I saw the exterior covered in street art, I already loved Sawada's urban and eclectic vibe. The inside is huge and definitely lends itself to a more social coffee shop, rather than a place you would go to do work. This would be a super fun place to hang out with friends and their baristas were super friendly and genuine. The matcha I had was on the sweeter side (while I like them more bitter) so I'm excited to try one of their coffees next time I'm in Chicago.

3. Firecakes Donuts
Location: River North and Lincoln Park
My order: We got a ton of donuts but I loved the vanilla pearl one!
Thoughts: This is THE SPOT for gourmet, delicious donuts. Plus, you can sit at the outdoor tables if it's a nice day!

4. Blue Door Farmstand
Location: Lincoln Park
My order: Eggs Benedict with ham and arugula on a honey pepper biscuit (heart eyes!)
Thoughts: My aunt and I ducked into Blue Door on a rainy morning and it could not have been cozier! Everything on the menu sounded amazing, plus they have lots of juices and coffee drinks.

5. Goddess and The Baker
Location: The Loop, Navy Pier, Wacker & La Salle
My order: Nitro cold brew or kombucha (on tap!)
Thoughts: I grabbed a coffee here after SoulCycle next door and it was such a bright + colorful space! The cold brew I had was super strong, and I have also had their kombucha which was tart and refreshing.

Lunch or Dinner

The vibrant array of Chicago restaurants won't disappoint you for lunch and dinner!

1. Duck Duck Goat
Location: Fulton Market District
My order: My mom and I split the Chilly Chili Noodles, Char Siu Bao (steamed bbq pork buns), and Chiu Chow Fun Gor (shrimp and peanut dumplings)
Thoughts: This had to be my favorite meal of my most recent trip, from the expertly decorated interior and lively atmosphere to the best Chinese food I've ever had. Each of the dishes we had I would 100% order again-- especially the dumplings! I want to go back for Dim Sum ASAP.

2. Cruz Blanca
Location: Fulton Market District
My order: Avocado Tostada (mine) or La Clasica Tostada (mom's)
Thoughts: This laid-back brewery and taqueria was the perfect refreshing and relaxing meal after our flight. They had a great patio area and Mexican food that was different from your typical restaurant (and you can get a tostada that's bigger than your face).

3. Restoration Hardware
Location: Gold Coast
My order: Truffle grilled cheese + garlic fries
Thoughts: Yes, you read that right, Restoration Hardware in Chicago serves food! Eating in the atrium of RH made me feel like I was dining out on a terrace in Paris-- it's a must-see during daylight. If I could do this meal again, I'd go in the morning or afternoon and just get coffee and juices. While the food was good, it was a little overpriced. However, eating here is definitely not about the food! After you eat, take a walk through the many floors of the RH showrooms, ending with the rooftop patio.

4. The Hampton Social
Location: River North
My order: Lobster mac + cheese
Thoughts: This restaurant definitely brought a bit of the Hamptons' beachy-chic vibe to Chicago. Get the lobster mac + cheese!

5. Stella Barra
Location: Lincoln Park
My order: Avocado + Arugula Pesto Pizza
Thoughts: I came here with my aunt and uncle who eat a plant based diet. While my pizza was not vegan (it had goat cheese), their "red pizza" with tomato jam looked delicious. If you are vegan or someone you're traveling with is-- check this place out, they are very accommodating! And if you are not vegan, you'll love it just as much: I could've eaten my entire pizza by myself. I forgot to take my leftovers home and it's one of my biggest life regrets.

photo via foxtrot

6. Foxtrot
Location: Lincoln Park, West Loop, River North, Wicker Park
My order: Meditteranean salad
Thoughts: Foxtrot is essentially a swanky convenience and gift store. If you want good snacks for your hotel room or a pre-packaged but fresh lunch for work-- check it out. They also have kombucha on tap and a Jeni's Ice Cream connected to the Lincoln Park location!

7. Somerset
Location: Gold Coast-ish
My order: Roasted Turkey & Avocado Sandwich
Thoughts: Walking into Somerset feels like you're entering a nice cruise ship/country club. The food, service, and atmosphere were all awesome-- get a reservation, though!

8. Beatrix
Location: Fulton Market District, Streeterville & River North
My order: Straight A or Caesar Salad, Kennebec Fries, Arize Kombucha
Thoughts: Beatrix serves fresh and healthy fare in a minimalistic yet chic restaurant/market space. My salads were delicious, but I also love stopping into Beatrix for a kombucha, coffee, or cookie. AND their fries have thinly sliced fried lemon on top (so unexpectedly good!)

Sweets

Indulge your sweet tooth at one of these cute shops

1. Sweet Mandy B's
Location: Near DePaul
My order: Confetti Cookie with Icing
Thoughts: Don't tell anyone...but my aunt and I got cookies from Sweet Mandy B's to sneak into the movie theater, and it was the best decision ever. Their frosting was so melt-in-your-mouth good and they definitely are not stingy with it.

2. Jeni's Ice Cream

Location: All over

My order: Salted PB with Chocolate Flecks and Wildberry Lavender Ice Cream

Thoughts: As an Ohio girl and a Jeni Britton Bauer admirer, Jeni's ice cream will always be one of my favorites! If you don't have one at home it will definitely be worth a visit.

3. Sprinkles Cupcakes

Location: Right off the Magnificent Mile
My order: Strawberry Cupcake
Thoughts: You've probably seen Sprinkles' legendary "Cupcake ATM" on Instagram before...go pay it a visit (or order in store). Their cupcakes really are worth the hype.

THINGS TO DO

There's always something fun to do while in Chicago!

1. Soulcycle
I took my first Soulcycle class while in Chicago and loved it! The intense and motivating atmosphere made for a really fun (and challenging) workout.

2. Shopping
...Duh! Walk the Magnificent Mile and stop into huge, glittering storefronts like Zara and Nordstrom.

3. The Skydeck
This is something everyone should do once. You can't beat the view! I went at sunset which was absolutely gorgeous. The wait can get long though, so try going right when it opens or after 5 PM.

4. Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd is an awesome place to spend your afternoon. Seeing such cool aquatic life made me feel like I was in Finding Nemo!

That's all for now! I hope these tips were helpful in planning your next trip to The Windy City.

Stay Sunny,

Meg

PS: Do you have any Chicago recommendations? I'm always looking for new things to try!

A Week of Outfits: Internship Edition

As many of you know, I had the awesome opportunity to spend the past week in The Everygirl office as an intern. This was my first formal internship, and I have to say it was better than I could've ever imagined! Being able to see the editorial process from start to finish against the backdrop of the Fulton Market District in Chicago was a dream come true. The all-female staff was a picture of smarts, strength, creativity, and ambition. They showed me women supporting women in such a real way and I am so grateful to have gotten to spend time with them. 

My time with The Everygirl contained tons of new experiences, including dressing in office wear for a week. Because the dress code was relaxed, I had a ton of fun creating these outfits. I wanted to share them for those of you with internships, office jobs, or other "business casual" events so that you can break out of your workwear routine and mix up your wardrobe.

MONDAY

With Monday being my first day, I chose to wear my most formal outfit of the week. A good rule of thumb is to dress a bit nicer than you think you have to, especially if you are not sure of your office's dress code or are in the interview stage. Being slightly overdressed will make a good first impression while being underdressed might come off as sloppy or uncaring.

TUESDAY

I love how the tie-front on this blouse adds a sassy touch. I paired it with the most comfortable jeggings ever and low profile slides.

WEDNESDAY

I was able to show my personality by adding fun earrings to a more formal dress. The dress also had a long keyhole opening in the back, so I made it more office-appropriate by layering a black tank top underneath. The dress itself is custom from Fame & Partners, but you can customize your own here.

How cute are the other interns!?

THURSDAY

I dressed up the pants from this post by pairing them with a popover shirt. I ended up getting huge blisters from these shoes, so I linked similar looking (but hopefully higher quality) pairs below to spare you the pain.

FRIDAY

Yes, there are avocados on my scarf! If your office allows it, don't be afraid to have fun and show what you love through your clothing.

Stay Sunny,

Meg

Check out my first article published on The Everygirl here.

A Very Blog-able Birthday

On May 10th, I turned eighteen! I celebrated the start of a new year in the same way I did last year, with lots of pizza and good company. After dinner, my boyfriend, Greg, handed me an envelope that said "Open on Friday night" and asked that I keep my entire Saturday free. I'm not usually one for surprises, but I knew he had something good up his sleeve so I happily agreed. Come Friday night, I tore into the envelope to find a very formal letter printed in calligraphy font that read, "Today you will partake in a Blog-able Birthday, consisting of great fun documented by a nice camera. Are you up for the day?" followed by a packing list and some instructions. I packed a bag of some "dope outfits" (in Greg's words), and went to bed-- excited for what the day would hold! In this post, I wanted to share not only the photos that Greg took, but also the day's agenda because it was one of the most fun and well thought out days I've ever had!

Greg picked me up at 11, handed me a blindfold to wear in the car, and took me for a "blog-able" coffee run: iced lavender and orange zest lattes.

Practicing his newly aquired photography skills

We then headed downtown for lunch on an adorable outdoor patio. Like any good blogger, Greg pulled the car over when he saw some aesthetically pleasing backgrounds for photos.

outfit details: pants | platform sandals (3 colors!) | similar shirt

After lunch, my blindfold went back on and Greg drove us to a dog park, where some of my best friends and THEIR DOGS and MY DOG were waiting! We played at the park for a while then sat outside to eat ice cream at Ben and Jerry's (my favorite).

After that, we got back in the car for what Greg told me would be a "20 minute drive." Well, an hour later, we were in Newport, Kentucky. We had matcha lemonades on a balcony that overlooked the river and snapped some photos before heading 10 minutes south into Cincinnati.

outfit details: leather sandals | top | similar skirt

When I took off my blindfold in Cincinnati, I immediately recognized the venue as Washington Park, but I had no idea what was going on or why so many people were gathered. Greg told me it was the annual Asian Food Festival, which got me excited because I love international foods. Little did I know that Greg had schemed with my best friend, Caroline, who goes to Miami University to meet us at the festival. Needless to say, I freaked out a little when I saw her.

This day was the perfect start to my 18th year, and I can't wait to see what other good things are to come during it!

Thank you, Greg, for planning this day and thank you to all of my friends who joined us in the fun!

Stay Sunny,

Meg

Pom Pom Pants

I have to say, I thought pom poms had their moment. I assumed that after their popularity last summer, they were on their way to the land of forgotten trends along with chevron and bubble statement necklaces (cringe). That was, until these J.Crew pants proved me wrong. I love the mix of the refined, structured linen pant with the fun yet subtle touch of pom poms. Both of my internships this summer have creative, casual dress codes so I am looking forward to wearing these!

I styled the pants with a tie shoulder tank top, my Cuffed by Nano choker, and white platform sandals. See more colors and sizing information linked at the end of this post!

Huge thank you to Molly Goheen for taking these photos!

So for now, pom poms are here to stay, and I don't see them leaving anytime soon.

shop the post:

top in white and black (I sized up 1 size) | pants in white and black (I sized down 1 size) | sandals (true to size) | necklace

stay sunny,

Meg

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