With the past year of school being mostly online, we know there are a lot of people coming to campus and Chicago for the first time. Although moving to a new city can be intimidating, it’s also exciting. We both moved to the city from out of state, so we know how it feels being far from home in a brand new environment.

In this episode of The Radio DePaul Podcast, we asked our listeners about their favorite places in Chicago. Then, we visited as many of these places as we could in one day.

We started the day with breakfast from Nhà Hàng Vietnam Restaurant off of Argyle. Then we made our way to First Sip Cafe nearby before heading to our next destination — Wunders Cemetery. Afterwards, we visited the Garfield Park Conservatory before ending our adventure with dessert at Margies Candies.

The rest of our listeners’ recommendations are listed below. We hope this serves as a brief guide to some must-see Chicago destinations, for those who are new to the city or anyone looking for new places to visit.

Coffee:

Cafecito: A Cuban coffee house and cafe with locations across the city.

Colectivo Coffee: With locations across Chicago and Miluwakee, Colectivo serves a range of coffee and food. The Lincoln Park location has a heated patio with an outdoor fire pit during the colder months.

Ritual Coffee House: Located off Irving Park, this cozy cafe offers coffee, baked goods, croissants and breakfast sandwiches.

Floriole Cafe: This Lincoln Park cafe carries an array of European-style pastries, coffee and lunch.

Starbucks Reserve: The seven story roastery located downtown is a colorful environment, serving coffee, cocktails and food.

Cafe Colao: This neighborhood cafe in Wicker Park offers coffee, sandwiches & pastries in a comfy setting — a prime study spot for students. Sawada coffee: This coffee shop is owned by Hiroshi Sawada, a barista and latte art expert, has a curated menu and a ping pong table.

Food:

Beacon Donuts: WGN describes the donut shop as “insta-worthy.” Their doughnuts are hand-made in small batches on a daily basis with a range of fun flavors.

Smack Dab Donuts: One donut shop isn’t enough. This casual, modern cafe offers signature gourmet breakfast sandwiches, small-batch donuts and coffee.

Ann Sathers: This longtime Chicago diner serves Swedish-American breakfast & lunch. We recommend trying out the famous cinnamon rolls!

Left Coast Juice: This cafe brings a taste of the West Coast to the heart of the Midwest, offering healthy and flavorful breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Pick Me Up Cafe: This Chicago staple has a variety of vegan, vegetarian and meat friendly options in Chicago.

Cozy Noodles: It’s called cozy for a reason. This intimate Pan-Asian restaurant serves BBQ wings, noodles and curries.

Middle Eastern Bakery: Located in Andersonville, this bakery is popular for their traditional spices & ingredients. The falafel wrap and mango juice is an unmatched combination.

BopNgrill: This Korean fast food restaurant has served Korean influenced burgers and bowls for over 10 years.

Litehouse Whole Food Grill: If you find yourself in Hyde Park, this spot offers classic American wraps, burritos, tacos and pizza — all with vegetarian friendly options.

Golden House Restaurant & Pancake House: This old-school diner spot serves full breakfasts, burgers, burritos and more.

Lou Malnati’s: No Chicago guide is complete without a deep dish pizza recommendation. Lou Malnati’s was founded by the son of Rudy Malnati, who was instrumental in developing the recipe for Chicago-style pizza, and it has become one of the area’s best-known local lines of pizza restaurants.

Nonnina: This upscale destination offers classic Italian specialties, small plates and pizza.

Phoenix Restaurant: This classic Chinese restaurant serves numerous authentic dishes including dim sum and more.

Shopping:

Village Discount: With locations across the city, you’re bound to find some gems at this chain of thrift stores.

Sunnyside Mall: Located in Uptown, this public plaza and gathering area creates an engaging community space in the heart of Sheridan Park. Keep an eye out for upcoming events year round.

Plant Salon: This is not your average plant shop. Plant salon intersects self care with plants and offers a curated collection of greenery, cosmetics and skincare.

Brown Elephant: With three locations across Chicago, Brown Elephant Resale Shops are your source for fashionable finds, home décor and everyday vintage style.

Museums:

Shedd Aquarium: This famous indoor public aquarium holds about 32,000 animals and is a must see for tourists and locals alike.

Art Institute of Chicago: DePaul students get free admission to one of the oldest and largest art museums in the nation with their student I.D.

National Museum of Mexican Art: Located in Pilsen, the National Museum of Mexican Art features Mexican, Latino and Chicano art and culture.

Nature spots:

Montrose Beach and Montrose Dog Beach: A great spot to hang with friends, puppy-watch and see an amazing view of the city.

Belmont Harbor: Located in the heart of Lincoln Park, Belmont harbor and is one Chicago’s largest.

Jackson Park: Located south of 57th Street, Jackson Park is the third largest of the city’s 500+ parks and is home to the famous Museum of Science and Industry.

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary: A small extension into the lake, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary has over 300 species, including some of the rarest birds ever recorded in the state.

Garden of the Phoenix: Located in Hyde Park, this Japanese garden on Jackson Park’s Wooded Island features a waterfall & foot bridges.

River Park: River Park has over 28 acres and offers a rich wildlife habitat, fishing and a canoe launch.

Lincoln Park Zoo: Just a short trip from campus, the Lincoln Park Zoo is free for all.