Guidebook for Elgin

Mandy And Dan
Guidebook for Elgin

Food Scene

We love this little diner for their classic breakfast fare--especially their veggie and golden skillets. Bonus: it's a lovely morning walk away.
Golden Skillet
740 W Chicago St
We love this little diner for their classic breakfast fare--especially their veggie and golden skillets. Bonus: it's a lovely morning walk away.
Fresh breads, doughnuts, cookies, cakes, and other treats are practically right across the street at Herb's. They're not open super late in the day, but definitely worth getting up for.
Herb's Bakery
1020 Larkin Ave
Fresh breads, doughnuts, cookies, cakes, and other treats are practically right across the street at Herb's. They're not open super late in the day, but definitely worth getting up for.
Fantastic curry and noodle bowls, very vegetarian friendly, and Mrs. Toom is a dear.
Toom Toom Thai
23 S Grove Ave
Fantastic curry and noodle bowls, very vegetarian friendly, and Mrs. Toom is a dear.
One of our favorite, hole-in-the-wall, late-night Mexican joints. Awesome flautas, beans, and burritos the size of your head.
El Faro Restaurant
1315 Lillian St
One of our favorite, hole-in-the-wall, late-night Mexican joints. Awesome flautas, beans, and burritos the size of your head.
Best pizza in town. All components are homemade, so we love to order the double crust with extra sauce. Service is really friendly (including delivery guys!), and they're just a short walk away.
Mel's Pizza
728 W Chicago St
Best pizza in town. All components are homemade, so we love to order the double crust with extra sauce. Service is really friendly (including delivery guys!), and they're just a short walk away.
This place has our favorite Chicago-style, deep dish pizza in Elgin. Big delicious crusts and very cheesy. Carry out only.
Geno Nottolini's Pizza & Catering Company
1061 N Liberty St
This place has our favorite Chicago-style, deep dish pizza in Elgin. Big delicious crusts and very cheesy. Carry out only.
Al's has an old-time soda fountain feel, and some of the best out-door seating in Elgin. They are known for their shakes and malts, but we also love the inexpensive bottles of wine.
Al's Cafe & Creamery
43 Dupage Ct
Al's has an old-time soda fountain feel, and some of the best out-door seating in Elgin. They are known for their shakes and malts, but we also love the inexpensive bottles of wine.
White Pearl is our favorite place for pad thai, pho soups, and outstanding spring rolls. It's not much to look at inside, so we often carry out, but their garden full of Thai peppers out back is something to see.
265 S McLean Blvd
265 South McLean Boulevard
White Pearl is our favorite place for pad thai, pho soups, and outstanding spring rolls. It's not much to look at inside, so we often carry out, but their garden full of Thai peppers out back is something to see.
This place is no longer Ravenhart, but IS Blue Box Cafe - a Dr. Who themed cafe with free wifi and great sandwiches and decent espresso--a local lunch favorite. We like to order Americanos and sit by the big front window.
Ravenhart Coffee
176 E Chicago St
This place is no longer Ravenhart, but IS Blue Box Cafe - a Dr. Who themed cafe with free wifi and great sandwiches and decent espresso--a local lunch favorite. We like to order Americanos and sit by the big front window.
Awesome little shop selling a constantly changing selection of gourmet popcorn. The Elgin Mix is by far the best!
Mama Lee's Gourmet Popcorn
100 S Spring St
Awesome little shop selling a constantly changing selection of gourmet popcorn. The Elgin Mix is by far the best!
Fantastic BBQ, ribs, pulled pork, brisket tacos, etc. Casual little spot that serves smoked goodness that tastes as delicious as it smells.
Elgin BBQ Pit
970 Dundee Ave
Fantastic BBQ, ribs, pulled pork, brisket tacos, etc. Casual little spot that serves smoked goodness that tastes as delicious as it smells.
Local coffee shop with great coffee and the best pastries in town. Co-owner Brian is a French-trained pastry chef who bakes his bread and "cinnamon cyclones" early every morning. His wife, Diane, is the coffee expert and serves beautiful lattes, Mighty Leaf tea, and delicious coffee. This is a great spot for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. They also have free Wi-fi.
Arabica Cafe
59 Douglas Ave
Local coffee shop with great coffee and the best pastries in town. Co-owner Brian is a French-trained pastry chef who bakes his bread and "cinnamon cyclones" early every morning. His wife, Diane, is the coffee expert and serves beautiful lattes, Mighty Leaf tea, and delicious coffee. This is a great spot for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. They also have free Wi-fi.
Great gluten free and dairy free food and beverages options. Great for breakfast and lunch. Friendlies owners, patio, and occasional live music.
Café Revive
51 S Grove Ave
Great gluten free and dairy free food and beverages options. Great for breakfast and lunch. Friendlies owners, patio, and occasional live music.

Drinks & Nightlife

This is a chef-owned pub, so the bar food is better than average (best kobe beef and black bean burgers in town). Huge bottled beer selection, and they often have live music upstair on the weekends.
10 íbúar mæla með
Elgin Public House
219 E Chicago St
10 íbúar mæla með
This is a chef-owned pub, so the bar food is better than average (best kobe beef and black bean burgers in town). Huge bottled beer selection, and they often have live music upstair on the weekends.
Bartenders make a mean, dry, gin martini with extra bleu cheese olives. Regular drink specials, but no food. Decor is very dark--we find it a slightly dramatic place to start or end an evening. :)
Martini Room
161 E Chicago St
Bartenders make a mean, dry, gin martini with extra bleu cheese olives. Regular drink specials, but no food. Decor is very dark--we find it a slightly dramatic place to start or end an evening. :)
Owned by life-long Elgin-ites, this casual restaurant features craft beer from local breweries and tasty comfort food like tots and pulled pork.
Dog's Paw Brewing
74 S Grove Ave
Owned by life-long Elgin-ites, this casual restaurant features craft beer from local breweries and tasty comfort food like tots and pulled pork.

Shopping

The antique shop takes up two store fronts, and one of them also includes a great little record shop. The proprietor is lovely, and is never shy about cutting us a deal.
Elgin Antiques & Uniques
207 E Chicago St
The antique shop takes up two store fronts, and one of them also includes a great little record shop. The proprietor is lovely, and is never shy about cutting us a deal.
Classic sprawling resale book shop with free wifi, good espresso, and a beautiful back patio that faces the river. Great for working, reading, and browsing.
Elgin Books & Coffee
66 S Grove Ave
Classic sprawling resale book shop with free wifi, good espresso, and a beautiful back patio that faces the river. Great for working, reading, and browsing.
Great little shop with repurposed goods, boutique clothing, and lots of other little treasures.
Soulful Sparrow
10 Douglas Ave
Great little shop with repurposed goods, boutique clothing, and lots of other little treasures.
The owners of this great Antique shop are what make it so fantastic. They know their inventory so well that they can act as personal shoppers for even the most unique requests!
Whatnots & Whimsies
211 E Chicago St
The owners of this great Antique shop are what make it so fantastic. They know their inventory so well that they can act as personal shoppers for even the most unique requests!

Essentials

Great little Aveda spa with very nice service. Fun (and inexpensive) place to get a no-chip manicure or pedicure.
Salon Couture
176 E Chicago St
Great little Aveda spa with very nice service. Fun (and inexpensive) place to get a no-chip manicure or pedicure.
This is a large, standard, one-stop-shop market where you can find just about everything: produce, canned goods, liquor store, deli, meat/fish market, and pharmacy.
Jewel-Osco
1040 Summit St
This is a large, standard, one-stop-shop market where you can find just about everything: produce, canned goods, liquor store, deli, meat/fish market, and pharmacy.

Arts & Culture

Gail Borden is one of Elgin's gems. It often hosts special events, and has an upstairs reading room with a giant fireplace, big comfy chairs, and a stunning view of the river. Also has a great cafe!
8 íbúar mæla með
Gail Borden Public District Main Library
270 N Grove Ave
8 íbúar mæla með
Gail Borden is one of Elgin's gems. It often hosts special events, and has an upstairs reading room with a giant fireplace, big comfy chairs, and a stunning view of the river. Also has a great cafe!

Entertainment & Activities

Reclining lazy boy seats in every theatre. IMAX screen. $5 movies all day every Tuesday! Tickets sold through Fandango.
Marcus Elgin Cinema
111 South Randall Road
Reclining lazy boy seats in every theatre. IMAX screen. $5 movies all day every Tuesday! Tickets sold through Fandango.