The Monocle Travel Guide Series – Chicago

Chicago is a city of many different faces. It’s sweltering in the summer and ice-bound in the winter. For every soaring skyscraper there’s a Prairie-style property with a porch. Fine-dining establishments brush shoulders with classic American diners. It may be hundreds of miles from the ocean but Lake Michigan creates the illusion of sweeping seaside views. We’ve ridden the rattling L train around the Windy City in search of our favourite hotels, from luxury lodgings in the Loop to a family-run find in a former publishing house. We’ve explored the museums and galleries shaking up the art world, and the improv clubs making us laugh until we cry. Chicago is a welcoming city that brings together the best of many metropolises in the US – from the sandy beaches of Los Angeles and the neighbourhood feel of San Francisco to the vibrant culture of New York – with a dash of that famous Midwestern hospitality. We’re pulling into the station; hop on board.

About The Monocle Travel Guide Series:
Monocle reports from around the globe in print, on radio, and online. As its editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar. That information is now available in Monocle’s Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to you in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning markets.

These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the best out of a city—no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning; Monocle’s team won’t list a hundred places to eat but they will tell you where’s best for everything from some tasty fast food to something truly celebratory.

Cities are fun. Let’s explore.