Chicago’s Avec has made a name for itself over the past 17 years with its reliably excellent Mediterranean-inspired menu, featuring the ever-popular melt-in-the-mouth chorizo-stuffed dates and slow-roasted pork shoulder. Its new outpost in River North will serve up these old favourites alongside new dishes, including baked hake fillet and braised lamb-neck ragu. 

There used to be six cinemas in Lincoln Square; now Davis Theater stands alone. The art deco building opened in 1918 and is the longest continually open picturehouse in Chicago. Over the years it has been a home for German film, a silent cinema and a place for puppeteers and other entertainers to perform. Today it’s a classic neighbourhood cinema and a great spot to shelter from wintry weather and catch new releases in one of its old-fashioned auditoriums. 

We wouldn’t normally recommend this sort of joint but Superdawg represents a side of Chicago we couldn’t let you miss. The old-school drive-in is an authentic 1950s time warp complete with retro illustrations on its cardboard packaging, neon signage all over the building and fibreglass hot dog mascots posing jauntily on the roof. Fine dining it is not but it is fast food at its finest. Pull up into the restaurant’s parking lot, order from the intercom and wait for the carhop to deliver your order, to be consumed from the comfort of your vehicle. For the full experience, try the signature beef hot dog and wash it down with a cold strawberry milkshake.