Chicago Travel Guide
I had been to Chicago twice before, once as a teenager and again for a quick trip in my twenties, but I never felt like I had truly explored the city. So when I returned this past May, it almost felt like my first real visit.
This trip will always hold a special place in my travel memories because it was the first time I found the balance between business, exploration, relaxation, and wellness. I came home feeling rested rather than exhausted, which isn’t always the case.
I was in Chicago for a work conference, so I spent part of my days attending sessions and events and the rest exploring the city, trying restorative movement classes, and even spending an afternoon at an ancient bathhouse. By intentionally making time to prioritize myself and my well-being, this ended up becoming one of my favorite trips and a new standard for how I want to approach travel moving forward.
There is so much to experience in this city, and I had far more restaurants, wellness spots, and places on my list than I could fit into one trip. But that just means I’ll be returning to Chicago.
Below, you’ll find my suggestions on where to stay, what to do, where to eat, and more in Chicago.
Where to Stay
I stayed at the Aloft Chicago Downtown River North and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my stay. This isn't a luxury hotel, but if you're looking for something comfortable, convenient, and relatively affordable in a great location, I think it's an excellent option.
The biggest selling point for me was the River North location. I was within walking distance of so many restaurants, coffee shops, and even yoga and fitness studios, which made it incredibly easy to explore the city in between conference sessions. Another perk is having Ema and Beatrix right downstairs for restaurant options.
The room itself was simple but modern, comfortable, and a great size for a solo traveler. The bed was cozy, and I loved being able to log into Netflix on the TV and wind down with a show at the end of the day. The hotel also has a surprisingly good fitness center with two separate spaces, one with free weights, yoga mats, and room for your own workout, and another with cardio machines and additional equipment.
Overall, I would absolutely stay at Aloft again, especially at a similar price point. It gave me everything I needed from a city hotel, and the location made it incredibly easy to experience Chicago while still having a comfortable place to come back to at the end of the day.
Pros
Excellent River North location
Great value, especially with a discounted rate
Walkable to restaurants, coffee shops, and fitness studios
Comfortable, modern rooms
Great fitness center with free weights, yoga mats, cardio equipment, and more
Ema and Beatrix conveniently located downstairs
Netflix available on the in-room TV
Cons
Not a luxury hotel if you're looking for a more elevated stay
Beatrix was convenient, but I wasn't overly impressed with taste of the breakfast
Where to Eat
3 Arts Club is a beautiful café inside the Restoration Hardware (RH) store, housed in a gorgeous historic building. If you’ve ever been inside an RH, you know they’re known for their beautifully designed spaces, but this one is especially stunning. Think soaring glass ceiling with black framing, a massive chandelier, exposed brick, and plenty of greenery.
I stopped in for breakfast and ordered the avocado toast, which may not look like a huge portion, but was surprisingly filling. The cappuccino was delicious, too, and came with the cutest little RH-branded cup.
Tip: Make a reservation in advance, as this is a popular spot and will book up.
Maxwell’s Trading ended up being my favorite restaurant I tried in Chicago, and completely by accident! I had come here for an event in the upstairs event space and, afterward, decided to stay for dinner.
It’s a contemporary American restaurant with Asian influences, and the menu centers on shareable dishes. I went with a friend, and we split the half chicken, a pasta, and a salad. Everything was delicious! The menu changes seasonally, so I won’t recommend the specific dishes I ordered. However, I’d definitely suggest ordering a few things to share so you can try a little of everything.
The atmosphere was another highlight. It has a fun, lively energy in the evening without feeling overly trendy or stuffy, and it was exactly the kind of place I would want to go for a fun dinner with friends.
Tip: Make a reservation in advance, especially for dinner. And if you’re looking for a fun dinner night out, I’d definitely add this one to your list!
Beatnik on the River is in a beautiful location right along the Chicago River, with gorgeous decor that makes the whole experience feel special. I think it would be a particularly fun spot for a girls’ brunch or catching up with friends.
The food was good, but not necessarily something I’d go out of my way for. That said, I would absolutely come back for the atmosphere and the river views!
Avec is one of those Chicago restaurants that has been around for years and has really become a staple of the city’s dining scene. The original Avec opened in the West Loop in 2003, so this is definitely one of Chicago’s OG restaurants.
The menu is Mediterranean-inspired with a focus on small, shareable plates. I kept seeing reviews for the chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates, so of course we had to try them. They were definitely delicious, but you need to like chorizo to really enjoy these since the flavor comes through strongly. We also ordered the maitake mushroom pizza and tagliatelle, and everything we tried was delicious.
We ended up ordering too much food, but that’s not always a bad thing when everything sounds so good!
Tip: Come hungry and plan to share! There are so many things on the menu to try.
What to Do
AIRE Ancient Baths wasn’t just a memorable part of my Chicago trip; it’s one of those experiences I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I’ve experienced beautiful bathhouses while traveling abroad, so getting to have this type of experience in the U.S. was really special.
The Chicago location is AIRE’s largest, spanning nearly 20,000 square feet inside a beautifully restored 1902 factory. The space is absolutely breathtaking, with candlelight, historic architecture, and a maze of thermal baths at different temperatures. There’s a hot bath, cold bath, warm bath, steam room, salt bath, sauna, a bath with jets, and even an outdoor bath with a waterfall (which was so cool!).
You can book the thermal baths on their own or add on one of their many massages and spa rituals, ranging from relaxing massages to body exfoliations and more elaborate treatments.
It is definitely a splurge, as the standard 90-minute Ancient Baths experience is currently $175, but I found a really cool way to experience it for less. The Space Between hosted an AIRE Experience event that included a sound bath followed by 45 minutes to explore the baths. I paid $110 for the experience, which was less than booking the baths directly.
If you only do one thing in Chicago, let it be this. This was one of the highlights of my entire trip. I absolutely loved it and would 100% do it again.
Tip: If you’re interested in visiting, book in advance. AIRE recommends reserving ahead of time, especially for weekends, which tend to sell out.
Go Shopping
If you love to shop, set aside some time to explore Michigan Avenue, Chicago’s main shopping district. You’ll find larger locations of Zara, H&M, and Nordstrom Rack, along with plenty of higher-end stores for window shopping. I had so much fun picking up some summer clothes for my upcoming Paris trip! It’s also a fun way to explore the city and get some steps in.
Architect Boat Tour
Overall, I think this is a really cool experience to do at least once if you’re visiting Chicago. Especially if you’re interested in architecture, you’ll get to see the city from a completely different perspective. I was surprised by how much modern architecture we saw, which makes sense given Chicago’s incredible collection of skyscrapers, and I learned so many interesting facts about the design and architecture of the buildings that I otherwise would have known nothing about.
That said, I do think it’s a little expensive for what you get. My tour with First Lady Cruises was $65 and lasted about 40 minutes. It’s worth doing if this is something you’re interested in, but if you’re not that excited about architecture, I wouldn’t say it’s a must. It’s one of those experiences even locals recommend doing at least once when you’re in Chicago.
Tip: If you’re on the fence, I’d still try to fit it into your itinerary, but look for a tour at a price point you feel comfortable with.
Where to Move
I really loved my class at The Space Between. I had flown in the day before, so my body was definitely feeling the travel, and this was exactly what I needed. I took the Alive class with Mikaela, which started with a nice warm-up and gradually built into more fluid and challenging movement. It was a 45-minute class, but somehow felt like an hour in the best way. I left feeling so much better than when I walked in.
The studio itself is also gorgeous, with a beautiful wooden ceiling and hanging light fixtures that give the space a really warm, inviting feel. Mats are provided and have great grip, so you don’t need to bring your own. There are also lockers available, although I didn’t see any showers.
Tip: If you’re using Google Maps, double-check the entrance. For some reason, it directed me to the back alley, but the actual entrance is on Hubbard Street.
I took the Zen class at Half Moon Yoga, and it was such a lovely experience. This one-hour class combines restorative yoga, breathwork, meditation, and a sound bath, creating a really calming experience from start to finish. The class was completely packed and was booked full a week in advance, so I knew this was going to be a good one!
One thing I’ve noticed about Chicago yoga studios compared to LA is just how beautiful the spaces are. Half Moon Yoga was no exception. Mats and props are provided and already set up when you walk in, and the beautiful chandeliers and soft lighting immediately set the mood for the class. When you combine that atmosphere with restorative movement, breathwork, meditation, and a sound bath, it’s pretty hard not to completely relax.
I took this class toward the end of a busy day during a work conference, and it ended up being one of the best things I could have done for myself. It allowed me to slow down, get grounded, and actually rest in the middle of an otherwise very busy trip.
Tip: If you’re interested in the Zen class, book ahead! It’s clearly a popular one, and I’d hate for you to miss it.