A few weekends ago, I took a quick jaunt to Chicago for a champagne-fueled, shopping-filled girls weekend. We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria in Gold Coast, which is located dangerously close to Bloomingdale’s and other great shopping on Magnificent Mile. From being treated to free rides in the house car to spending an afternoon in their spa, our experience was truly luxurious and relaxing. See more images from the hotel below, plus my recommendations for places to eat, drink and play during your next trip to the Windy City.

E A T

Barrio – This out-of-the-box Mexican spot mixes upbeat music and a fun vibe with the most amazing salsa trio, perfect for a girls’ night out. The cocktails were delicious and the best thing we had was the guacamole topped with roasted sweet potatoes and crispy bacon. Yes, you read that right—bacon and guac. Win, win.

Beatnik – Really, really Instagram-worthy interiors meet Mediterranean classics with a twist. We went here for brunch on Sunday and loved the Chai Cinnamon Rolls, Halloumi Cheese and Pork Cheek Fried Rice. Highly recommended.

Margeaux Brasserie – Always one for a home game, I particularly loved our post shopping, pre dinner snacks at Margeaux in our hotel. Throughout the course of our stay, we tried the french onion soup, the duck wings a l’orange and the wood-fired oysters. Let’s just say the kitchen did not disappoint.

what to do in chicago

look 1| zara dress, kendall + kylie boots, elizabeth & james bag

shop the looks

what to do in chicago

look 2 | zara blazer, tommy hilfiger t-shirt, zara skirt (old, similar style here and here), steve madden booties

D O

Celeste / Disco – Sometimes two bars are better than one. We had a blast visiting Celeste on Saturday night—a chic cocktail bar that’s apparently a Chicago nightlife staple. We had even more fun once we realized the downstairs bar area is a disco fever dance spot complete with light up dance floor and disco balls. Add this one to your list.

Chicago Twilight Architecture Tour – This is such a fun way to spend your early evening hours in Chicago. Board a massive ship and ride around the river front listening to a very passionate man talk about all of the incredible architecture in Chicago. Pro tip: Bundle up, since the best views of the tour are on the top of the ship in an outdoor area. For wimps like me, there was an inside area complete with warm cocktails. Wink.

Shop the Magnificent Mile – This one’s a bit more obvious, but the massive Gucci store and the Bloomingdale’s were the main attractions for our group.