Chicago's Best Free Wi-Fi Spot 2008

Popular Lincoln Park brewpub serves beer on tap, beer-soaked burgers, beer-battered fries, beer-marinated chicken and even beer bread.

Reviews:

• “Blah”
• “Great beer, good food, fun service”
• “Terrible Service”
• “Beer way too $$$$”
• “Great seafood spot”

Tips: More than 40 beers are brewed throughout the year. Order a sampler: three or more five-ounce glasses at $1 each.

Goose Island – Clybourn or email Goose Island – Clybourn

The heart of Chicago’s Loop honors the first Mayor Daley.

Reviews:

• “Great public plaza”

Tips: The Art Institute has Picasso’s much-smaller model for the sculpture on display.

Richard J. Daley Center and Picasso Sculpture

New Haven-style pizza stars at this loud, loft-like brewpub.

Reviews:

• “CARDBOARD!!”
• “Piece It Together”
• “Great east coast stle pizza”
• “Top Favorite Choice for Pizza in Chicago”
• “Snobby c*nts on the female staff”

Tips: Piece brews its own beer, and has won awards for its Worryin’ Ale and Golden Arm. There’s also an international selection of bottles like Chimay, Leffe, Czechvar and a light Belgian brew called Delerium Tremens.

Piece

Chicago outpost of a national bar franchise with Celtic charm and one of the best Guinness pours around.

Reviews:

• “good place”
• “Just like Ireland”
• ""
• “bad experience”
• “Cracking good spot”

Tips: Soccer fans come here to catch their favorite team on TV, and there is often a line out the door during the World Cup Soccer tournament.

Fado Irish Pub or email Fado Irish Pub

A comfortable spot downtown to grab a few beers with the after-work crowd or co-ed softball team.

Reviews:

• “They always put my Saints game up on an HD for me”
• “Discrimination central… Non-Chicagoans beware!”
• “My favourite bar/lounge in the city.”
• “Best bar!”
• “IF YOU LOVE SPORTS AND WANT A REAL SPORTS BAR THIS IS YOUR DOMAIN! ;-)”

Tips: Laptoppers can order their beer and a Wi-Fi password from the bartenders at this comfortable downtown spot.

Mother Hubbard’s

A premier store on Magnificent Mile to buy anything Apple.

Reviews:

• “DO NOT use Apple Store computers for email or any other personal accounts”
• ""

Tips: In-store workshops on everything digital—from movie making and photography to Web design and software—are presented weekly.

Apple Store

The TV star owners may have left, but this Boys Town restaurant is still home to twists on New American classics.

Reviews:

• “A neighborhood favorite”
• “This Sunday Brunch will make you forget your lousy weekend!”
• “SHUT UP and GET YOURSELF TO HB NOW!…Consistently OUTSTANDING!”
• “Amazing!”

Tips: HB is B.Y.O.B., so grab that bottle of vino before heading down to Halsted

HB Home Bistro

This casual coffee bar proves it’s possible to be hip and homey at the same time.

Reviews:

• “A MUST visit”
• “Good coffee.”
• “Perfect cup of coffee!!!”
• “Best coffee definitely, best coffeeSHOP, debatable”
• “Great hang out.”

Tips: Go to the back to buy coffee beans, of which Intelligentsia stocks more than 30 varieties from its Bucktown roastery.

Intelligentsia Coffee

Northwestern students kick-start their days with fancy coffee drinks in a mock-Renaissance, intellect-friendly setting.

Reviews:

• “great coffee and food, open late”
• “terrible service, water tastes like sewage”
• “Evanston’s Cafe!”
• “Nice place but…”
• “great place!”

Tips: Get there early to snag the comfortable chairs and sofas in the front or rear of the cafe.

Kafein

Artists, musicians and poets congregate at this coffee shop over java and board games.

Reviews:

• “Great Place to Hang Out”

Tips: The cafe hosts daily and weekly chess matches. E-mail kristofferscafe@kristofferscafe.com for details on upcoming tournaments.

Kristoffer’s Cafe & Bakery

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