Psst … want to discover some of the city’s top-secret spots? Make tracks to these hidden gems, tucked away in corners all over the city.
SPEAKEASY CENTRAL
Watering holes don’t get any more obscure than The Violet Hour (1520 N. Damen Ave., 773.252.1500), behind whose unmarked facade lies a lovely lounge that boasts some of the city’s most meticulously made cocktails. And nobody will find you at dark, intimate Wang’s (3317 N. Broadway, 773.296.6800), a Boystown nook that seduces with sexy Shanghai-style decor, a pumping club soundtrack, and potent lychee and ginger martinis.
OUT OF THE WAY EATS
In Lakeview, a basement setting makes Chilam Balam (3023 N. Broadway, 773.296.6901) easy to miss—but locals know that its seasonal Mexican cuisine is worth hunting down.
SECRET SIGHTS
Everyone knows Michigan Avenue is a shopper’s paradise, but the street is also home to LUMA, the Loyola University Museum of Art (820 N. Michigan Ave., 312.915.7600), whose eight galleries showcase a variety of works. And no matter how often we visit, we always find something new to love at the Art Institute of Chicago. Our latest crush? The lush, tree-filled South Garden (111 S. Michigan Ave.), which beckons with a soothing reflecting pool and gurgling fountain.
HUSH HUSH SHOPS
For brand-new collections, head to Blake (212 W. Chicago Ave., 312.202.0047). The lack of signage and window displays keeps this fashion beacon inconspicuous, but the well-edited shop houses bold-name designers like Givenchy and Martin Margiela. The Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co. (1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.772.8108) may not sound like much, but it’s merely a front; behind the drab entrance is a shop full of secret-agent gear (think X-ray glasses and disguise kits), as well as the headquarters of non-profit writing center 826Chicago.
