Let's Go Chicago

Chicago has been on my lists of cities to visit for a while now, so I jumped at the opportunity when my friend Jessie invited me on a long weekend getaway to the windy city this past March (only 4 months late).

The Accommodations

The Godfrey Hotel

Our hotel was in a great location; we were able to walk to most places we had to get to. I felt very safe, even with a few shady people walking around at night. The hotel itself was a modern boutique hotel with a restaurant in the lobby and bar a few levels up. The staff was nothing but kind and when my friend and I had some issues with our hotel room they moved us over to another one.

We enjoyed a night at the bar they had in the hotel and it was both convenient and a good time. There is a dress code and they are serious about it. My friend’s sister went to check it out when we first got there in sweats and they didn’t mind her taking a look, but she wasn’t welcome to stay. We made friends with the bartender and some of the other bar patrons, it was a very friendly environment. Everything is very posh and dark, but in a good way. The music is loud and upbeat and the crowd was a fun mix of people. They had a really pretty balcony with nice city views, but it was the beginning of March and pretty cold so we didn’t last long out there.

Overall a great hotel, I would definitely recommend The Godfrey Hotel to others visiting the city.

The Food

Wildberry Pancakes and Café

This was hands down one of my favorite meals of the trip. This pancake house is right across from Millennium Park so it is the perfect place to start a day in the city. I love breakfast food and this place had it all. The wait was a little long, but they serve coffee while you wait and it honestly went by pretty fast. You get so much food for the money and it’s all delicious. Seriously, if I could only recommend one place to eat in Chicago, this would be it.

Gibsons Steakhouse

Gibsons is one of the most well know steakhouse in America apparently. Our waiter gave us a beautiful rehearsed story about how amazing and famous the steakhouse is. The steak was good, not the most amazing, but I think my issue might have been the cut I got. The French fries though, those I will recommend to everyone. Also, be careful if you order dessert. A slice of cake is the size of basketball, no joke. It was really good, but four of us couldn’t even put a dent in it. Basically, it’s worth a go, but I’m not sure if it’s quite worth the hype especially for the prices.

Giordano's

You can’t go to Chicago and not eat deep-dish pizza so we hit up Giordanos after the brewery. Personally I like a lot of sauce on my pizza so I loved the deep dish, it was amazing. It’s a chain so there might be much more authentic Chicago pizza, but Giordanos certainty hit the spot.

The Drinks

The John Hancock Center 96th Floor Bar

We didn’t go to Sears/Willis Tower, but we did take a ride up to the top of the John Hancock Building which had such amazing views of the city and Lake Michigan. We had a drink at The Signature Lounge at the 96th. My friend Gabrielle said that the views at night are just as breathtaking if you’re looking for a cool spot for drinks or dinner.

Streeters Tavern

Sometimes the best places are the ones you just happen upon. We had been walking around for a long time and we just wanted to grab a drink before we headed off to get ready for our first dinner. We found this adorable Irish pub (maybe it just seemed Irish because of all of the St. Patrick's Day decorations) that reminded me of MacLaren's in How I Met Your Mother. It was such a hole in the wall, you walked down some stairs and entered a dark room with pool tables, a bar and some great character. We grabbed some beers, some bar snacks and enjoyed a bit of time reminiscing on our adventures in Chicago.

Half Acre Beer Company

The brewery has tours every Saturday at 11:00am, but we had to get this brewery super early because they only allow so many people in due to its size. We were literally the last people in line, but we made the cut. It’s a fairly small space with room for some brewing and then a small gift shop. They had 4 beers on tap and you got 3 tickets for samples.

The best part of the brewery was the owner. While we were drinking he was just up there telling us his story and talking about his love of beer. I really liked the Pony Pilsner and  the IPA they had. If you love beer and exploring breweries then I would definitely recommend making the short drive just outside the downtown area to visit Half Acre.

Three Dots and a Dash

We didn’t go out much since it was a short trip and we were pretty tired from a lot of exploring, but we did make it out one night. We went to Three Dots and a Dash and it had a super sketchy entrance in the back alley. It was so worth it though, the place was packed and the drinks were expensive, but it’s definitely an experience. The music was good and the drinks were beautiful.

Things to Do

Millennium Park

You cannot visit Chicago for the first time and not go to the Bean. So that’s exactly what we did and I loved every single touristy moment of it. It really was a sight to see and a very fun place to take pictures.

The rest of the park was actually pretty cool too though. There was an ice skating rink that was still open. There was this cool art instillation that apparently spits water when it’s warmer. Walking around we saw other cool art pieces and some great views of the city.

The Navy Pier

If you want a picture perfect shot of the Chicago skyline, head over to the Navy Pier. I love a good view and a good skyline and Chicago’s was top notch. The Navy Pier was a bit of a hike from our hotel so we took an Uber on our last day in the city. We walked along the water and looked for a lunch spot.

The Navy Pier was worth the visit for the view alone, but for the most part it was kind of shut down. I have a feeling that it is much more lively during the summer when it is not as cold. There were a ton of restaurants (although we didn’t eat at the Pier). There was a beer garden that looked super cool, but it was closed. There was a stain glass window mini museum, a closed Ferris wheel, a greenhouse space, a theater that was closed and a gift shop or two. 

Howl at the Moon

My first time at a piano bar was quite the experience. We reserved some great seats right by the pianos and the performances were amazing. All the people up there had so much talent and could not only play the piano, they could play the guitar and the drums and they could sing! The tables were super small and the food wasn’t the best, but I feel like you go for the experience and not the food. This is also apparently a piano bar chain? So if you've been to one before it's probably pretty similar, but still a fun way to spend a night in Chicago.

Chicago is a HUGE and beautiful city. I loved how walkable everything was and it seemed like there was always something to do. A long weekend simply wasn't enough time to fit everything in. I look forward to a return to the windy city. Below are five things that I would love to do next time I'm in Chicago!

Art Institute Chicago

Sears/Willis Tower Sky Deck

Lollapalooza

Blackhawks Game

Chicago Cubs Game

Let me know what else I missed in Chicago that I need to check out next time I'm in the city!!

xx Kristen