I decided to go to Chicago as a trip for my birthday for a couple of reasons…..One, a restaurant that I have wanted to eat at for about 20 years is there. I’m talking about Alinea, led by Chef Grant Achatz, which has been named the Best Restaurant in the World by Elite Traveler, the Best Restaurant in North America by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and the Best Restaurant in the U.S. by Gourmet and Business Insider. It is one of only 14 restaurants in the U.S. to earn three Michelin stars. The second reason was that my brother lives in western Pennsylvania and he was willing to drive to Chicago to meet us. While we didn’t take our kids on this trip, we packed as much eating and sightseeing into our trip as we could — and most of what we did would be perfect for families to do together. Here in 3 parts is a run-down of what activities we did over three days in Chicago. Click to read part 1, part 2, and part 4.
Day Three
Thursday began with a mission to try another Chicago culinary institution — the Italian beef sandwich. We made our way to Al’s which was not far from our downtown hotel, the historic Warwick Allerton, To our dismay, Al’s was closed when we got there, so we headed to Portillo’s, which was just a few blocks away. Once in there, we joined the line of locals and tourists alike. When I finally got my hands on that sandwich, I understood the hype. The thinly sliced beef was perfectly seasoned, the bread soaked just enough to be flavorful without falling apart, and the giardiniera added a spicy kick that brought it all together. Some Chicagoans will say that Al’s is the best beef, and I’m sad we didn’t get to try it. My advice to you is to get both if you can. Compare! Each place is a little different and that’s the only way you will truly find what you like best.
Portillo’s ITalian beef sandwich isn’t pretty, but it sure is good.
With our bellies full, we set off for the riverfront area called Millenium Park. To get there, ww walked down the area known as the Magnificent Mile, which is where all the high-end shops are. We hopped on an architecture cruise given by the Chicago Architecture Center. As we glided along the river, our guide pointed out the city’s most iconic buildings, explaining their historical significance, and architectural features. I was fascinated by the mix of styles, from art deco elegance to modern simplicity. The tour gave me a new appreciation for the city’s skyline and the stories behind each building.
We saw and learned about Chicago’s most iconic buildings on the river cruise.
After the cruise, we got a tip to visit CocoBar, a tropical oasis right in the heart of downtown that happens to be owned by a friend of a friend. The open-air setup, tropical club music played by a DJ, and fruity cocktails were a refreshing break. CocoBar is only open during the summer.
Book Your Stay in Chicago
The drinks at CocoBar were a refreshing break. They also had a Mexican food menu of nachos, empanadas, chips and salsas, and more.
As evening approached, we decided to check out Chateau Carbide, the rooftop bar at the Carbide & Carbon building that we’d admired earlier. We were treated to not only cocktails but also an impressive absinthe menu. We couldn’t resist trying the full absinthe experience, complete with the special drinking cup for mixing with water and sugar. While the presentation was impressive, I found the final drink a bit weak — I found it a tad heavy-handed with the water. Still, there seemed to be no better place for a great view.
Absinthe drinks with a great view from the rooftop of the historic Carbide & Carbon Building.