Best of Chicago Here are 30 of the city’s top things to taste, see, hear, and experience, featuring buzzy artists, croissant-wrapped hot dogs (yes, you read that right), and a certain bat-shaped beverage holder. Photography by Clayton Hauck and Jeff Marini July 18, 2023, 6:00 am Best Roller-Skating Guru Best Dishy Podcast Best Place to Drink Beer and Not Get Drunk Best Mini-Museum in a Hotel Best Place to Thrift Shop Before a Concert Best Heartsick Troubadour Best (and Tastiest) Tribute to Produce Best Surprise Return for Imbibers Best Addition to Chicago’s Comedy Scene Best Short-Form Podcast Best Indulgent Self-Care Best New Niche Bookstores Best Gourmet Take on the Chicago Dog Best Poetic Journey Through the South Side Best Reason to Make Tuesday Pizza Night Best Stuck-On-Your-Ex Song (Maybe) About Chicago Best Storefront Theater on a Mission Best TikTok for Food Geeks Best Emerging Artist Interpreting the Black Diaspora Best Baseball-Themed Vessel for Drinking Booze Best Emerging Voice in Dance Best Cake Artist Best Fashion Boutique Expansion Best R&B Opus Best Singularly Obsessed Restaurant Best New Spot for Vinyl Browsing Best Incorporation of Mexican Heritage Into Fashion Design Best Reason To Stop Being Sad That Hot Chocolate Closed Best New Reason to Visit Wrigley Field Best Excuse to Go Out on a Monday Night Best Storefront Theater Incubator Best RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing Party Best Place to Wait for Your Ship to Come In Best Bald Eagle Spotting Within City Limits Best Place to Crush a Baseball Best Vibes on Karaoke Night Best Aquatic Respite Away from the Lake Best Small Setting for Big-Name Comedy Best Place to Blow Your Kid’s Mind Best Public Sculpture Not Modeled After an Afghan Hound Best Place to Enjoy a Premovie Sake Best Place to LOL with the Literati Best Spot to Get Your Horror Fix Best Brainy Battle of Words Best Venue for Sacred Music Best Spot for Judging Tourists Best Loop Sanctum Best Place to Get Your Gospel Groove On Best Sidewalk for Movie Chats Best Way to Visit England Without Leaving the North Shore Best Place to Climb With Lake Views, Not Crowds Best Boat Ride Not Geared for Tourists Best Show for Two-Stepping into the Weekend Best Way to Introduce Your Toddler to the CTA Best Introduction to Classic Cocktails Best Low-Key Patio for Kicking Back Best Meal Deal for Littles Best Spot for Java Aficionados The Best of Chicago’s Trio of Classics Best Rooftop Biergarten Best Spot to Pregame the DNC Best Martini Service Best Use of Cookies in a Cocktail Best Verdant Oasis Best Rooftop Scene for Those Who Don’t Want a Scene Best Brewery for Beer Nerds Best Sports Bar That Doesn’t Act Like a Sports Bar Best Place to Explore the World of Fermentation Best Place to Have a Pint at 7 A.M. Without Judgment Best Designer for Dressing You Like Michelle Obama Best Place to Sample Snail Secretion Masks Best Spot for Classy Chicago Souvenirs Best Place to Pretend You’re Shopping in Paris, Not Edgewater Best Spot for Hunting Eclectic Vinyl Best Place to Discover a Cheap Weird Gift Best Trash-to-Treasure Pipeline Best Way to Slow Your Fashion Roll Best Shopping Stretch for Guys Best Place to Find a Sofa Shaped Like Lips Best MoviePass Substitute for Film Snobs
