Samantha Nelson

A fusion of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball's popularity has surged in the U.S., and its increased following is especially apparent during summer in Chicago, when pairs of players and groups of four can be spotted hustling around courts throughout the city. Best of all: It’s easy to pick up the sport if you want to get in on the fun. Whether you’re looking for an active way to enjoy a beautiful day or need a good indoor activity when the weather isn’t cooperating, you can get your game on at one of the best gyms in Chicago or play for free at a Chicago park by bringing your own equipment. These are the best places to play pickleball in Chicago right now. RECOMMENDED: The best outdoor activities in Chicago

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games kick off July 26 and even if you aren't able to make it across the pond to Paris, there are still plenty of ways to catch all of the action here in Chicago. For two weeks, the world's best athletes will compete in a host of sports (see the full schedule here), and you can watch it on big screens at the city's best sports bars, French restaurants and more. Some places will be featuring special deals during the games, while others simply serve the best wings or offer an extensive selection of craft beers for guests to enjoy. Whatever you're looking for, these are the best spots to watch the 2024 Olympics in Chicago.

Lincoln Park truly lives up to Chicago’s “city in a garden” motto, with its massive namesake park, long stretch of beaches, and a free zoo and conservatory that provide the perfect way to spend an entire day immersed in nature. But you shouldn’t head out as soon as the sun sets. The neighborhood offers an eclectic mix of nightlife destinations, ranging from a cocktail bar offering tarot readings to a legendary blues club. You can also take in the gorgeous views of Lake Michigan from a rooftop bar or sample a vast collection of brown spirits at one of the best whiskey bars in Chicago. So take a load off and enjoy a stiff drink by checking out one of these great bars. RECOMMENDED: Discover more of the best bars in Chicago

If you’re intimidated by the extensive wine lists found at some of the best wine bars in Chicago and want to expand your knowledge, there’s no better way than going directly to the source. While a trip to Bordeaux or Napa might not be in the cards, there are plenty of Midwest wineries you can visit—during a day trip from Chicago—to tour vineyards, learn about the fermentation and aging process, and taste plenty of vinos to figure out the styles you prefer. Some of these wineries are also breweries or distilleries, serving beer, spirits, cocktails and mocktails so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So expand your palate and have some fun on a trip to one of the best wineries near Chicago. RECOMMENDED: Boozy day trips from Chicago

Most of the best bars in Chicago don’t open until the evening, but if you’ve got the day off, there are still plenty of options to get a drink during daylight hours. Rooftop bars and spots with sprawling patios cater to customers who want to spend a beautiful day leisurely drinking refreshing sippers and sharing some snacks, and Chicago's best breweries often open early to provide more opportunity to taste your way through some local beers. Whether you’re looking for a place to watch sports or a spot where you can seamlessly transition from coffee to cocktails, these 13 bars are the best places for day drinking in Chicago. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best beer gardens in Chicago

There are few better ways to beat the heat in Chicago than by hitting one of the many sandy beaches along the shores of Lake Michigan. From the North Shore to the South Shore, there are plenty of options to choose from, whether you’re looking for a chill day of sunbathing, want to take in the skyline from a kayak or paddleboard, or love to get competitive with a game of volleyball. Make the most of summer in Chicago by packing a towel, snacks and some sunscreen and heading out early to secure a spot. If you’re really looking for vacation vibes, you can visit a waterfront restaurant serving drinks and hosting live music. Just be sure to check the water conditions before you go and consider visiting a public swimming pool if the lake is off limits. Note: Chicago's summer beach season runs through Labor Day. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Chicago

West Loop is one of the city’s hottest neighborhoods, home to some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants. Reservations at the best West Loop restaurants can be hard to come by, meaning you might wind up visiting at odd hours or having to wait for a walk-in table. Use the downtime to your advantage by checking out one of these West Loop bars, which include some of the top Chicago breweries. The area is also home to some of the best cocktail bars in Chicago, making it worth the trip even if you aren’t trying to score a seat at a place run by a high-profile chef. So hit up the best bars in West Loop and see what all the buzz is about. RECOMMENDED: Discover more of the best bars in Chicago

Summers in Chicago can be muggy scorchers, making ways to beat the heat all the more important. If you’re looking to cool off with a frozen treat, the city has a huge variety of ice cream shops, ranging from classic institutions that have served generations of families to brand new spots offering creations inspired by Japan, Thailand and Ireland. There’s even vegan soft serve so no one has to miss out. Spend the day enjoying outdoor activities and then satisfy your sweet tooth at one of the best ice cream shops in Chicago. Just eat fast before your dessert melts away! RECOMMENDED: Explore more of the best restaurants in Chicago

The question of who dishes out the best pizza in Chicago is a contentious one, spurring arguments about what’s the best regional style and what restaurants do each version justice. Almost every Chicagoan has a strong preference when it comes to who serves the best deep dish pizza, but the city’s pizza scene casts a wide net. Thin crust, tavern-style has its own claim to being the real Chicago-style pizza, and you can also find the city's best Italian restaurants serving traditional Neapolitan pies, Detroit-style squares loaded with quirky toppings, and even New York-style slices. Whether you’re ordering takeout or delivery or plan to dig in while the cheese is still bubbling, check out our guide to the best pizza spots in Chicago to find your new favorite. RECOMMENDED: Discover more of the best restaurants in Chicago

Sometimes, capping the perfect summer day in Chicago after checking out a street festival involves a movie in one of the city's many beautiful public parks. With free screenings all summer long, there's no better reason to pack up the blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets for an evening under the stars. The Chicago Park District's Movies in the Parks series features dozens of different films across neighborhoods from Rogers Park to South Shore, and runs at some top destinations like Belmont Harbor and Osterman Beach. But that's not all—you can also catch free showings outside Wrigley Field at Gallagher Way and during the Millennium Park Summer Film Series. There's plenty to chose from in the scheduled selection. Missed seeing Wonka in theaters? You have plenty of chances to see it this summer (15 chances, to be exact). Want to dabble in French cinema to elevate upcoming dinner party conversation? Check out a few of the more lowkey, international flicks this summer. And, of course, there's a chance to see Ferris Bueller's Day Off like never before.  Check out our guide for the full lineup and pick a night that suits your tastes and schedule. Movies at the Parks screenings begin at dusk. Movies at Gallagher Way screenings begin at 7:30pm. Movies at Millennium Park begin at 6:30pm. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best drive-in movie theaters near Chicago JUNE The Great Gatsby (1974) (June 11 at Belmont Harbor) Best in Show (June 12 at Bartelme Park) Wonka (June 12 at Gallagher Way)

Fresh berries are one of the great joys of summer in the Midwest, and you can find them at farmers markets or integrated into the seasonal menus of the best restaurants in Chicago. But if you want to enjoy strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries at their absolute freshest, take a drive to a local u-pick farm and grab them right from the field. It’s one of the best kid-friendly things to do, letting little ones get a sense of how food is grown while also enjoying other farm activities, ranging from train rides to petting zoos depending on the season. Just be sure to check ahead to make sure the produce you’re looking for is still available before you head out to one of these farms for berry picking near Chicago. RECOMMENDED: The best family weekend getaways from Chicago

One of the greatest joys of summer in Chicago is the chance to soak up the sun at an outdoor restaurant or bar with friends, including your four-legged ones. While pooches aren’t welcome everywhere, there are plenty of places happy to let well-behaved pups chill and some that will even pamper them with treats, water bowls and special dishes—because let’s face it, seeing dogs on a patio only makes the experience more memorable. So enrich your furry BFF's life by heading to one of these dog-friendly patios that are guaranteed to make tails wag. RECOMMENDED: The best rooftop restaurants in Chicago

Golf ball-sized pieces of sausage are arranged in a neat grid atop thin crust at Villa Nova, which has been serving some of the best tavern-style pizza in the Chicago suburbs since 1955. Those who prefer a slightly thicker crust can opt for the double dough to load up with extra toppings like giardiniera and green olives. There’s no dining room, so order ahead for pickup.

A secret sauce recipe is at the heart of the deep dish and cracker thin tavern-style pizzas My Pi Pizza has been slinging since 1971. Start with some mozzarella-stuffed garlic bread before customizing your own pie or ordering a classic like Hawaiian or chicken pesto. My Pi also offers various vegan selections along with portabella posole from sibling spot Li’l Guys. BYOB to dine on the covered patio or order the pizza shipped anywhere in the country via Goldbelly.

Chef/owner Francisco Bolaños celebrates his hometown and his grandmother’s cooking by serving up traditional Spanish fare, including grilled octopus over fried potatoes; paella loaded with mussels, clams and shrimp; and churros with hot chocolate for dipping. Service is attentive and the low lights and emphasis on sharing make it a perfect date night destination. The spot is BYOB, so bring a bottle of Rioja or order a cafe con leche or non-alcoholic sangria.

Named for its collection of rare and classic cars, Double Clutch Brewing Company always has something going on from trivia to live music to bingo to brewmaster-led tours and tastings. The brewery, which has earned accolades from the Great American Beer Festival, focuses on German styles like helles lager and kolsch, which complement dishes like pork schnitzel, smoked brats and pierogies.

The owners of Skokie favorite Libertad opened Zentli in Evanston in 2023, with the more casual concept delivering the same creative approach to Mexican fare. Named for the Nahuatl word for corn, the restaurant offers a wide variety of tacos including housemade chorizo and a vegan mushroom tinga wrapped in blue corn tortillas and served with cilantro, onions and green and red salsa. Complete the meal with a Chicha, a mezcal cocktail made with purple maize, hibiscus and pineapple.

The bright colored walls, vibrant mural and local artwork at La Malinche Coffee & Tea House will help get you in a good mood in the morning, though the rest of the work will be done by a cafe de olla or one of their artisanal fruit teas. The blends of dehydrated fruits and flowers like strawberry & mango or the ponche-inspired guava punch are delicious hot or cold and you can even grab a bag to take home.

The only decision you’ll need to make at this casual counter-service joint is how many of the signature tacos you want and if you’d like to opt for chicken, shrimp or veggies instead of the traditional birria. Made with cheese quesadillas and corn tortilla soaked in fatty broth, the gooey tacos are served with a side of rice and beans plus onion, cilantro, green salsa and bussin sauce. They regularly sell out, so be sure to get your fix early.

Husband-and-wife duo Melanie and Stefano Casati serve up light fare inspired by Stefano’s native Florence at their gorgeous neighborhood restaurant, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. When the weather’s too cold to dine on the patio, order in to get a taste of pinsa, a healthier alternative to pizza made with an imported Italian flour mix of water, rice, soy and wheat. Casati’s also offers plenty of vegan and gluten-free options such as crispy brussels sprouts with fresno peppers, and seafood risotto.

The newest concept from Ballyhoo Hospitality opened across the street from the restaurant group’s first concept Gemini in 2023. It offers the same New York-style pies as Wilmette's Pizza By Sal, along with a small menu of Italian entrees like chicken parmesan. Swing by for truffle and prosciutto white pizza or a gluten-free Sicilian style-pie topped with spicy pepperoni and hot cherry peppers.

You’ll need to plan ahead to get a taste of Chicago’s only Laotian restaurant as the restaurant operating out of The Hatchery only offers pickup and delivery on Fridays and preorders close Wednesday night. Get a taste of their most popular items with a shareable meal for two including beef egg rolls, spicy green papaya salad and grilled chicken wings all meant to be enjoyed with sticky rice and sweet and spicy dipping sauces.

While Paulee Gee’s Logan Square outpost just offers a limited menu for pick up, you can grab just a slice to go or order a full pie delivered from the Wicker Park location. The chewy crust and generous portions of eclectic toppings like bacon jam, pickled jalapenos and vodka sauce make these pies among the best in Chicago, especially if you warm it up just a bit in your open at home to make sure it’s bubbling hot.

Support economic and environmental justice at this 10th annual market in Lincoln Park that runs through December 24. More than two dozen Chicago businesses bring together works from artisans around the world, including glassware, ornaments, sweaters, coffee and candles.

Chicago has 77 neighborhoods, but tourists seldom make it out of the downtown area to explore them. 360 Chicago, which operates the 94th floor of the building formerly known as the John Hancock Center, is aiming to provide a taste of what they have to offer with a $2 million update centering on a new bar. “Central to all of our decisions around investments and concepting in the space is trying to find the opportunity to amplify Chicago's neighborhoods,” said Nichole Benolken, managing director of 360 Chicago’s parent company Magnicity. “We did that by identifying partners out in the neighborhoods that could bring influence to our food, our merchandise, and our cocktails.” The menu at CloudBar, which had its grand opening on September 14, lists a neighborhood inspiration for every dish and drink. Some are broad, like quesadillas and carnitas for Pilsen or margarita flatbread ascribed to Little Italy, but others are based on partnerships with local businesses. The cocktail menu features two exclusive cocktails from Lakeview’s Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club including the Heavenly Martini, a blend of lemon vodka, Alize and blue curacao topped with dry ice to provide a cloud effect. CloudBar already has a menu of eight more Kit Kat drinks that they will roll out slowly. Photograph: Courtesy of CloudBar at 360 Chicago “We have a broader vision for both the cocktail menu and the food menu that will expand and evolve over the next two or three months as we learn more about what our g

Seafood-focused Mexican restaurant Fora opened on the first floor of Fulton Market’s The Emily Hotel on August 11, but restaurant staff say they’re already planning to drastically change their menu. “We'll double [the number of dishes] in the next two weeks,” said chef Billy Caruso, who developed the restaurant concept. “Then we'll start doing the larger tableside proteins—some veal, maybe some large fish. We’ve got a couple secrets up our sleeve. We just took some baby steps. I'm really excited about what's about to come down the pipeline.” Served in a plant-filled dining room or at fire tables on the restaurant’s outside patio, Fora’s current small menu features dishes inspired by the fare of Tulum, Mexico City and Oaxaca including a light and spicy hamachi ceviche made with pomelo and avocado and a kanpachi aguachile with smoked beets that give the fish and earthy flavor. Another summery dish is the chayote, a Mexican plant that tastes similar to a green apple and is served in a salad with cilantro, mint and shiso. Many of the herbs used to season and garnish the dishes come from the hotel’s rooftop garden. But the real star of Fora is masa, which is ground in house using heirloom corn from Mexico and the rooftop. Executive chef Matt Danko’s menu uses it in a super crispy tostada topped with steak tartare and in blue corn tortillas that accompany pasilla-glazed bone marrow served with lime and pickled onions. Fora is also serving tetela, a triangle-shaped Oaxacan snack rem

Fountainhead’s closure during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic deprived Ravenswood of one of the few rooftop bars outside the downtown area. But after sitting vacant for nearly two years, the space is once again open for alfresco dining and drinking, thanks to the arrival of LM Restaurant Group's third Land & Lake location earlier this month.  “When we saw that this space was available, the owners came and checked it out and saw a lot of potential, especially with the rooftop, for doing something really cool,” says LM communications director Lauren Hammond. “They thought that Land & Lake, given its commitment to being very neighborhood centric, would do really well here.” The renovated rooftop has a huge covered bar with ceiling fans and umbrellas that provides space for 30 people, plus open seating for another 50 at banquettes and high top tables. The rooftop nearly doubles the restaurant’s interior space, which features an open kitchen best viewed from the 15-seat bar. The new owners also installed a dumbwaiter to make it easier to bring food and drinks to the roof.   Photograph: Courtesy LM Restaurant Group   “The rooftop has been a big hit,” Hammond says. “Everyone is really excited about it. To have that in the neighborhood with a very family friendly vibe really appeals to people.” The restaurant will largely have the same menu as Land & Lake’s locations in Andersonville and the Loop, serving classic American fare along with cocktails made with local spirits such a

Chicago may be known as the Second City, but to the people who live here it’s second to none. While some locals love to complain about the weather, traffic and corrupt politicians, the pride of residents runs so deep that many want to show it off wherever they go, wearing the city’s four-starred flag on shirts, hats and even inked into their skin. The city welcomes transplants from around the world, so long as you’re willing to learn the unofficial rules of living in Chicago, pick up a little Chicago slang and prepare to have you hot dog condiments scrutinized. If you’re considering a new place to call home, here are 11 reasons to move to Chicago. 1. The dining scene It’s impossible for a tourist with a few days in the city to fully explore the best restaurants in Chicago, which range from world-renowned chef-driven fine dining establishments to 80-year-old ice cream stands. Chicago helped establish the farm-to-table and tasting menu trends, but it also boasts plenty of casual establishments where you can save some money while enjoying everything from empanadas to Chicago-style hot dogs. You'll quickly learn how to eat like a local. 2. Midwestern warmth See someone on the street waving to you? Don’t panic and think it’s someone whose name you’ve forgotten—it’s probably just a stranger being friendly. While New Yorkers are known for bring brusk and Los Angelinos just want to peruse your IMDB profile, Chicagoans are typically a welcoming bunch that are usually happy to give you