Welcome to Chicago

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, and we’ll be celebrating our wedding primarily in the Fulton Market neighborhood and the industrial corridor directly west of it.

Fulton Market is a former warehouse and meat-packing district now best known as the home of some of the best restaurants in Chicago. Below you’ll find some of our recommendations for our favorite places to eat and drink in this neighborhood.

If you plan to spend a little more time in the city, there are plenty of things to eat, see, and do beyond Fulton Market.

With that in mind, we’ve also shared our top recommendations across the neighborhoods we frequent (especially our home neighborhood, Logan Square) including our favorite restaurants, bars, museums, and activities.

FULTON MARKET/West Loop

Where to eat

If you’d like to visit any of these restaurants during your stay in Chicago, we strongly recommend making a reservation well in advance. Some can book up as far as months out!

  • Trivoli Tavern

    Old school classic restaurant vibes with whatever you want — burgers and steaks, pasta, seafood, and more.

    Website

  • Roister

    Elevated comfort food. Get the fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

    Website

  • Duck Duck Goat

    Top Chef winner and Iron Chef Stephanie Izard’s take on American-style Chinese food.

    Website

  • Fioretta

    A modern take on a classic Italian steakhouse located right behind the Emily Hotel. Get the chicken parm!

    Website

  • Au Cheval/Small Cheval

    If you can get into Au Cheval without a 3+ hour wait for their famous burger, great! If not, simply go down the street to Small Cheval for the “fast food” version (and a milkshake!).

    Website

  • Monteverde

    Modern meets traditional Italian. Ben recommends the Ragù alla Napoletana.

    Website

  • St. Clair Supper Club

    An upscale take on the classic Wisconsin Supper Club located underneath Roister — go for Wisconsin Old Fashioneds, prime rib, and decadent desserts.

    Website

  • Girl and the Goat

    One of the original restaurants on Fulton Market’s Restaurant Row and still going strong, also from Top Chef winner and Iron Chef Stephanie Izard.

    Website

  • Riccardo Osteria

    A more laid-back Italian spot with a neighborhood feel — try the stuffed gnocchi!

    Website

  • Athena Restaurant

    Just south of the Fulton Market area, try Athena or one of Greektown’s many other restaurants.

    Website

Where to drink

  • Bisous

    Martini-focused cocktail bar inspired by Paris in the 1960’s, located right around the corner from the Emily Hotel.

    Click Here

  • Moneygun

    Dark and moody with an extensive list of classic cocktails.

    Website

  • Sunnygun

    Located behind MONEYGUN, stop by for a cocktail at this Palm Springs-themed patio.

    Website

  • Lazy Bird

    Another dark and moody spot with a lengthy list of classic cocktails. Find it downstairs at the Hoxton Hotel.

    Website

  • Lone Wolf

    A great place to wait for a table at one of the surrounding restaurants.

    Website

  • Estereo FM

    Fulton Market outpost of a Latin-inspired Logan Square staple. The large open windows are great for people watching.

    Website

  • The Aviary

    Grant Achatz’s high-end, modernist cocktail lounge. Expect playful and experimental takes on classic (and not-so-classic) drinks.

    Website

  • Guinness Open Gate Brewery

    Guinness’s second brewery in the US, their Chicago location features a bar, restaurant, bakery/cafe, and gift shop. Stop in for a classic pint or one of their many other beers!

    Website

  • The Dawson

    Good patio!

    Website

THINGS TO DO + See

  • Chicago Architecture River Cruise

    Cruise down the Chicago River in the beautiful June weather while getting an expert overview of Chicago’s architecture and history.

    Website

  • Art Institute of Chicago

    Explore one of the great art museums of the world. The Art Institute’s collection ranges from ancient treasures to the modern avant-garde and houses many iconic works. Or, check out one of Chicago’s other museums like the MCA, the Field, and more.

    Website

  • Lincoln Park Zoo + Conservatory

    Visit the animals at Lincoln Park Zoo, one of North America’s oldest zoos and one of the few remaining zoos with free admission. Nearby, check out the Lincoln Park Conversatory’s extensive plant collection.

    Website

  • The Second City

    See a show at the famous Second City theater, where many comedy legends got their start. Or, check out one of Chicago’s many other comedy theaters like the iO or the Annoyance.

    Website

  • Music Box Theatre

    Catch a movie at the Music Box, a beautiful historic theater that has been operating since 1929.

    Website

  • The Green Mill

    Take in a performance at one of Chicago’s classic jazz clubs. Open since the early 1900s, you can still see Al Capone’s favorite booth.

    Website

  • Chicago Blues Festival

    A beloved Chicago summer tradition, this year’s Blues Fest take place Friday through Sunday at Millennium Park and admission is free! Sunday’s headliner is the legendary Buddy Guy, giving what has been announced as one of his last-ever Chicago performances.

    Website

  • Rooftop Cinema Club

    Rooftop Cinema Club screens movies throughout the summer on the rooftop of The Emily Hotel. Check out the website to see what’s playing!

    Website

Craving deep dish pizza?

You have lots of options, but we recommend Pequod’s Pizza in Lincoln Park.

Brewery crawls

Logan
Square

Check out one of the many breweries in our neighborhood, such as Hopewell, Maplewood, Solemn Oath, Ravinia, or Revolution. Learn more.

Ravenswood
Malt Row

The Ravenswood Industrial Corridor is home to multiple breweries, taprooms, and and even a winery and distillery. Check out Begyle, Dovetail, Half Acre, and more. Learn more.

…and more

OUR Neighborhood restaurants

  • Andros Taverna
    Greek classics with a modern twist. We recommend the taramasalata!

  • Bungalow by Middle Brow
    Beer, wine, and wood fired pizzas.

  • Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar
    Chinese-American classics and great cocktails.

  • Daisies
    Neighborhood favorite for hand-made pasta and morning bakery counter.

  • Lonesome Rose
    Tex-Mex - great burritos and margaritas! They have a cocktail bar downstairs, too.

  • Longman & Eagle
    Neighborhood tavern with modern takes on gastropub fare. Great burger!

  • Lula Café
    A Logan Square classic since 1999.

  • Mi Tocaya Anotería
    Award-winning Mexican small plates and regional specialties.

  • Monster Ramen
    One of Chicago’s best ramen spots - try any of the bowls with their signature gyukotsu beef broth.

  • Parson’s Chicken and Fish
    Hang out on the patio with some fried chicken and a frozen negroni.

  • Pizza Lobo
    Casual patio and bar serving New York style pizza. Was featured in an episode of The Bear!

  • Staropolska
    Polish classics - pierogi, stuffed cabbage, and more. Try the sour rye soup!

OTHER favorite restaurants

  • Armitage Alehouse (Lincoln Park)
    An upscale version of a classic British pub, with an Indian influence. Try the pot pies!

  • Barba Yianni (Lincoln Square)
    Lincoln Square’s neighborhood Greek favorite. Get a couple of mezes and make a meal out of them.

  • Ciccio Mio (River North)
    One of our all-time favorites - impeccably done Italian-American classics.

  • Club Lucky (Bucktown)
    Neighborhood Italian serving old-school favorites.

  • Demera (Uptown)
    If you’ve never had Ethiopian food you are missing out. Get a Messob platter to sample several dishes!

  • Eleven City Diner (South Loop)
    Retro-style diner and deli with excellent pastrami and all-day beakfast.

  • Elina’s (West Town)
    What we like to call “spaghetti luxe” — a modern take on a classic red sauce Italian joint.

  • Frontera Grill (River North)
    Any Rick Bayless Mexican spot on the same block is a good choice, including the cocktail bar below Frontera.

  • Gene & Georgetti (River North)
    A classic Chicago Italian steakhouse once frequented by Sinatra.

  • Le Bouchon (Bucktown)
    Classic French bistro. Katie’s favorite spot for a weekday lunch.

  • MingHin Cuisine (Chinatown)
    Check out MingHin or one of the other great restaurants in Chicago’s Chinatown.

  • San Soo Gab San (Lincoln Square)
    Korean BBQ over an open charcoal flame. So many banchan!

  • Spacca Napoli (Ravenswood)
    Our favorite pizza in the city - classic Neapolitan pies.

Our neighborhood bars

  • Best Intentions
    Perfect dive bar with a patio and surprisingly great food.

  • Central Park Bar
    Great patio!

  • Logan Arcade
    Sip a drink while playing some classic arcade games.

  • The Meadowlark
    Upscale cocktails based around a rotating theme — now childhood nostalgia.

  • Quality Time
    Just up the street from our place!

  • Spilt Milk
    Another great local bar for cocktails and a rotating kitchen — currently Umamicue Wednesdays-Sundays.

More places to drink

  • The California Clipper (Humboldt Park)
    Classic neighborhood tavern, originally opened in 1937.

  • Gene’s Rooftop Beer & Wine Garden (Lincoln Square)
    In the summer, the rooftop of this European grocery store and sausage shop becomes a neighborhood hangout.

  • The Hi-Lo (Humboldt Park)
    Great patio!

  • Hopleaf Bar (Andersonville)
    One of the greatest beer bars in Chicago (and maybe anywhere), Hopleaf focuses on Belgian beer and food.

  • The Old Town Ale House (Old Town)
    Famous Chicago dive bar where many Second City luminaries used to hang out.

  • Three Dots and a Dash (River North)
    Go on a tiki adventure. Get the Pu Pu Platter if you’re hungry!

Ice cream!

  • Margie’s Candies
    Classic ice cream parlor since 1921.