Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The Bard is represented on the sign.
The Shakespeare
This restaurant celebrates a country that only existed for a few weeks.
The Republic of the East
Introducing one of the only train station lobsters that won't leave you filled with regret
Grand Brasserie
A simple box of soba noodles with aburaage (fried tofu), the foxes’ favorite food.
Inari Soba Mansei
Chef Boyardee Statue
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All United States Illinois Chicago

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Chicago

156 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Chicago, Illinois

Updated June 19, 2024

Thereʼs more than wind in the metropolis of the Midwest. Fascinating foods, marvelous museums, and an actual 1957 Cadillac De Ville encased in 15 cubic yards of concrete. This place has everything.

Email
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Chicago

Tin Man at Oz Park.

Chicago, Illinois

Oz Park

This whimsical Oz-themed park had a wonderful impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities

Chicago, Illinois

Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities

This morbid, delightful curiosity shop offers everything from animal bones to human teeth.

Chicago, Illinois

Tiffany Dome

This massive stained-glass masterpiece is thought to be the largest Tiffany dome in existence.
The fern garden.

Chicago, Illinois

Garfield Park Conservatory

A lush green oasis in the middle of Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois

Willis Tower Glass Platform

Four glass boxes hover over 1,000 feet in the air to give visitors an unparalleled view of Chicago.
Shit Fountain

Chicago, Illinois

Shit Fountain

A giant bronze coil of feces is both a tribute to doggie defecation and a reminder to pick it up.

Chicago, Illinois

The Violet Hour

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.
This is what Myopic books looks like.

Chicago, Illinois

Myopic Books

A Bibliophile's Dream.
See All 156 Things To Do in Chicago

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

The Violet Hour

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.
Frozen strawberry with wasabi

Chicago, Illinois

Alinea Restaurant

The subtle science of a master molecular gastronomist.
The hotel lobby

Chicago, Illinois

Palmer House Hilton

This historic hotel invented the chocolate brownie.

Chicago, Illinois

Rainbo Club

Beloved bar home to musicians of all eras and reputations.
See all 11 Places to Eat in Chicago
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Feminist Road Trip Across the U.S.

Atlas Obscura has a tradition of exploring the stories of women who changed the world, from wildlife biologists and mountain climbers to Civil War spies and tattoo artists. To celebrate these daring women who struck out on their own, we’ve put together a cross-country road trip. Over 12 stops and more than 3,000 miles, this route will give you a front-row seat to women’s history in America.

View Itinerary

Explore Chicago, Illinois

Architecture 24
Museums 17
Shops 17
Architectural Oddities 16
Art 14
History 13
Statues 11
Collections 11
Unique Restaurants & Bars 11
Sculptures 10
Monuments 10
Film 7
Places To Stay 2

Chicago Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Rebekah Otto
    8
  2. lizzieboyle
    7
  3. Elliot Carter
    6
  4. Paul Dailing
    5
  5. Tim Stafford
    5

Places Edited

  1. Blue Jay Away
    25
  2. mocchiatto
    24
  3. Gerard Nolan
    19
  4. Collector of Experiences
    17
  5. IronQueen
    15

Places Visited

  1. kevbot
    145
  2. apbreuhan
    133
  3. sheilacostelloe
    124
  4. eliaszafrane
    123
  5. kevinpb
    121

Recent Chicago Activity

  • worldder

    has been to Merz Apothecary

  • worldder

    has been to Lucent

  • worldder

    has been to Money Museum

  • worldder

    has been to Wabash Arts Corridor

  • worldder

    has been to Busy Beaver Button Co.

Stories About Chicago

One of the many stands vending orange cider at the fair.

The Hottest Drink of the 1893 World's Fair Was an Artificial Orange 'Cider'

"You're drinking something that some guy just cobbled together out of Lake Michigan water and food dye.”
by Anne Ewbank
March 25, 2024
Taken at West Lawn Park, near Chicago's Midway International Airport, this photo shows one of the city's many "Astronomer Joe" fan bases.

‘Astro Joe’ Invites Chicagoans To Gaze at the Night Sky

Self-taught astronomer, Joe Guzman has been educating Chicago residents about space for decades.
by Jonathan Feakins
March 15, 2024
Nicknamed the "Christmas Tree Boat," the evergreen-laden Rouse Simmons disappeared beneath Lake Michigan waters in November 1912.

The ‘Christmas Tree Boat’ Shipwreck That Devastated 1912 Chicagoans

Marine archaeologists are beginning to understand what really happened to Captain Santa's ill-fated ship.
by Jonathan Feakins
December 13, 2023
This 1962 cover of Official Detective features a Halloween candy poisoner at work.

Why Halloween’s ‘Poison Candy’ Myth Endures

Even though we know better.
by Jennifer Byrne
October 19, 2023

Podcast: Fairy Castle

A famous 1920s actress left the world a lasting piece of art: a remarkable miniature home.
by The Podcast Team
June 5, 2023

Podcast: The Hampton House

Inside the childhood home of a civil rights icon.
by The Podcast Team
February 28, 2023

Podcast: Green Mill Jazz Club

Home to more than a century of music history and unlimited stories.
by The Podcast Team
January 16, 2023

Podcast: Chicago Bridge Houses

Where the Windy City's drawbridge operators nestled in, at the bases of their places of work.
by The Podcast Team
January 10, 2023

Lists Featuring Chicago

The fern garden.
The Henry Rokham House

14 Surprisingly Romantic Places in Chicago

The most interesting spots to spend Valentine's Day in the Windy City.

15

Including Garfield Park Conservatory, Tiffany Dome, and The Violet Hour

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

Palmer Tomb
Entrance to Bohemian National Cemetery. (Wikimedia Commons)
Confederate Mound.

Unique Cemeteries in Chicago

Strange and fascinating graveyards to visit in the Second City.

7

Including Rosehill Cemetery, Graceland Cemetery, and Bohemian National Cemetery

Shop window of Merz Apothecary.
Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities
This is what Myopic books looks like.

7 Cool Shops in Chicago

Wonderfully unique stores to visit in the Second City.

7

Including Merz Apothecary, Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities, and Myopic Books

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ
  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2024 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.