Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Grant Park

"It’s interactive performance art — think an apple-flavored balloon that actually floats and gelatin bites that taste like a Chicago-style hot dog. Chef Grant Achatz has led the famed Lincoln Parkestablishment since 2005, earning the most elite accolades in the culinary world. Today, it’s one of 15 restaurants to hold three Michelin stars and is frequently named among the best restaurants on the planet."

"Chicago's lone three-Michelin-starred restaurant, helmed by the great chef Grant Achatz. Why we love it: Arguably Chicago's finest fine dining restaurant, Alinea is as focused on the experience of having a meal as it is about what you consume. Settle in for an evening of deconstructed dishes, billowing dry ice and edible balloons filled with helium."

"For those of you who prefer fine dining, this is more of an upscale restaurant experience. Blackbird is a restaurant where you’ll find fantastic mid-western food showcasing farm-to-table ingredients. They offer great choices for meat eaters and vegetarians alike."

"Go to this Euro-style wine bar when you're feeling gregarious; the rather stark space has seating for only 48 people, and it's a tight fit....Read More"

"This Lakeview hangout is a sister restaurant to Evanston’s Farmhouse and River North’s Farmhouse Tavern, and a similar vibe of regional Midwest cuisine and, well, farmhouse décor prevails. The Breakfast Flatbread — laden with herbed goat cheese, sunnyside egg, veggies, and sausage — is the perfect table snack while waiting for your entrée. A Farm Bar Quinoa Bowl, chockful of smoked trout, quinoa, green chickpeas, kale, feta, and more, is one of the healthier choices, so feel free to order a Buttermilk Biscuit on the side!"

"Also on the sands of North Avenue Beach, the resort-inspired Shore Club feels like an island getaway without leaving the city. Offering three different spaces — the Patio, the Oasis, and the Restaurant — the Shore Club’s menu features Mediterranean-inspired shared plates and plenty of summer-y cocktails. In the exclusive Oasis area, reserve a private cabana where you can lounge in a daybed while enjoying personalized bottle service."

"If you catch yourself in needs of Boystown brunch options, Angelina Ristorante’s champagne brunch is a sure bet. Get a brunch item (including go-to’s like omelettes, french toast, a croissant sandwich and bagel and lox) and bottomless mimosas for a cool $25."

"Dedicated to showcasing the rich culture and flavors of Peru, Tanta serves a creative menu of authentic Peruvian dishes and beverages in a casual, laid-back setting. Created by Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio, the menu combines traditional Peruvian and Spanish flavors with Chinese and Japanese influences, taking diners on an unforgettable international culinary journey. Tanta is committed to supporting sustainable farming and fishing by using locally sourced ingredients and products."

"Tanta’s River North rooftop is one of Chicago’s best, with twinkly lights for good vibes, foliage and flowers for flair, and shade for sunny days. Food here tours Peru, from ceviches and empanadas to grilled octopus with chimichurri and lomo saltado, with cheffed-up touches such as ponzu gel and avocado mousse showing up in various dishes."

"Mercadito has some of the best Mahi tacos you’ll ever taste, topped with chipotle aioli and Mexican coleslaw. Get ready for tacos to be your next favorite and go-to seafood dish. At UrbanMatter, U Matter."

"Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery is a welcoming and engaging craft beer experience with a variety of unique craft beer freshly brewed on site to pair with our popular American crave-able food like our Brewery Nachos Bacon Chicken Mac n’ Cheese, Fish and Chips and Bacon Cheddar Burger."

"A southside brewery that edges so far down, it’s hardly considered urban territory, Open Outcry is an unexpected oasis in this part of the city, encouraging you to quench your thirst in their garage-style taproom. Featuring a flight inspired by the colors of the original Rainbow Cone—Palmer House IPA, Strawberry Imperial Stout, Orange Milkshake IPA, Pistachio Brown Ale—Open Outcry promises that you can’t go wrong with any of their signature brews. And their blissful beer garden with yellow accents is the go-to lounge for the summer!"

"If you’re looking for a comedy club in Chicago with rich, long-standing history, Zanie’s Comedy Night Club is the place to go. Located on North Wells, this comedy club is for the 21 and over crowd and hosts nationally-known headliners on a weekly basis. Listen and laugh with the likes of Jeff Garlin, Doug Benson, Josh Blue and more when stopping in at Zanie’s Comedy Night Club."

"Zanies has been a premiere location in Chicago for standup comedy since 1978. Local favorites, big stars, and newcomers all share the same stage for the purpose of making at least one of your two-drink minimum come shooting out of your nose. They have three locations to serve the Chicago area, and they provide standup shows on a nightly basis."

"A post shared by Mandy & Morgan (@bacon_wrappeddates) on Oct 16, 2018 at 7:44pm PDT. Zanies Comedy Night Club might be small (patrons literally sit beside each other), but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in humor. Do note that there’s a minimum two-drink and food policy here."

"Located on North LaSalle Drive in downtown, The Comedy Bar is a popular Chicago comedy club that brings the laughs to you on a nightly basis. Featuring an upper-level stage and a main-level stage, this popular Chicago attraction overlooks Gino’s Brewing company and each stage seats more than 100 people. Enjoy a cocktail, a few laughs and a casual night out in downtown with a trip to this venue, known as one of the best comedy clubs in Chicago."

"This club has a lot going for it: no drink minimum; no age requirements; pizzas, snacks, and drinks for purchase; and tons of stand-up comedians. Open-mic nights are free, but with relatively inexpensive tickets available for other shows, you might want to consider going to a headlining act — either on the main or B stage. The shows run every night of the week, attracting some of the funniest talent in the city."

"A post shared by Chris and Kerry Walker (@thewalkertwiins) on Oct 3, 2018 at 8:25am PDT. Guests can enjoy good food and drinks while they watch the acts on stage. Besides comedy shows, burlesque shows are also held here, so check the schedule and plan accordingly if you wish to watch a specific performance."

"An absurd amount of comic talent has come out of Chicago over the last 60 years, and one of the reasons for that is Second City. This fabled comedy club and improv company on Wells Street counts Steve Carell, Billy Murray, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi and John Candy among its alumni. There are three stages at Second City, “Mainstage” and “e.t.c."

"Chicago is the place where comedians Steve Carell, Tina Fey and John Belushi all launched their careers. So, as you can imagine, there’s a thriving comedy scene here. If you love improv and sketch comedy, then one of the best places to visit is The Second City."

"How long has it been since you’ve enjoyed a real, honest-to-God belly laugh?. If you can’t remember the last time that you cracked up, Second City Chicago can help. It’s more than just a comedy club."

"Great money wise and you get a huge variety of things to eat--not just Chinese food. Their Won Ton Soup is the bomb!"