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The extensive menu at this Middle Eastern diner makes decisions difficult, but combination plates let you try an assortment.

This hip restaurant specializes in steaks and seafood. There’s also a champagne bar and the Ghost Bar for drinks and dancing.

High style on sale at a fraction of the original prices lure bargain hunters to this charming little sister of the upscale and pricey Nordstrom.

When summer finally graces Chicago with its presence, locals of all ages and nationalities converge on this short, but inviting stretch of beach. Running along its edge is the lakefront path, where cyclists, in-line skaters, runners, and walkers stream by. An outdoor gym gives confident folks a place to strut their stuff, sand volleyball courts allow the energetic to let off steam, and the rooftop bar of the steamship-shaped beach house is perfect for downing a cool drink while lazily watching the activity below.

Hidden from the road in leafy Lincoln Park, North Pond is a treasure – once you find it. Lodged in an Arts-and-Crafts-style building, the café offers a seasonal menu with an emphasis on produce sourced in the Midwest. Though dinner is the star, lunches of sandwiches, soups, and salads are equally creative and well presented (see North Pond).

Named after an ancient legendary fish god, this Celticinspired boutique brings contemporary design to ancient crafts. High style wares include home accessories, jewelry, fine art, gifts and knitwear.

If you have to ask how much it costs, you should probably plan on just window-shopping along this stretch of Chicago’s upper-crust Gold Coast. Boutiques here sell designer wear, accessories, and shoes fit for a Paris runway – and include some shops exclusive to Chicago such as Tessuti (mens-wear) and Designs by Ming (custom clothing design).