How To Spend a Day in Hyde Park
Hyde Park is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Chicago. My husband and I love to have breakfast there and walk around, taking in the gorgeous architecture and all the trees. Here’s how to spend a day in Hyde Park:
Breakfast at Roux
You have to have breakfast at Roux. This is our all time favorite brunch place, and where we take a lot of our out of town guests (spoiler alert: they all love it). The cuisine is New Orleans/French inspired, so the food is very flavorful and delicious. The menu is big enough to have options for everyone, yet small enough where they’re all done really well. My go to is the fried green tomato tartine and beignets.
57th Street Books
Just a short walk away from Roux is 57th Street Books. This bookstore is so quaint and charming, with a red telephone booth right outside the door. It’s kind of in a basement, so you step down the stone stairs into a really cozy store with winding hallways. It’s a great place to roam around and find your next read!
University of Chicago
Also a short walk from Roux is the University of Chicago. We absolutely love walking around this campus - spring, summer, or fall. The architecture is striking, often covered in ivy. It’s just really romantic.
Jackson Park
On our most recent jaunt to Hyde Park, we went to Jackson Park so we could see the Japanese Gardens, AKA Garden of the Phoenix. The gardens were set on the pond overlooking the Museum of Science and Industry. It was very beautiful and peaceful there. In the spring, there are a lot of cherry blossoms that bloom, so we will be heading back!
Stony Island Arts Bank
Picture source from left to right: Pinterest, Daily Mail UK, Pinterest,
I have yet to visit the Stony Island Arts Bank, but it’s been on my bucket list for a while. It’s an old bank that was converted into an arts center. They have different galleries and shows, but they also have an amazing collection of books that is just gorgeous. They often close temporarily during different seasons, so make sure to check their website before heading over.
Mesler
Make your way over to Mesler for a chic dinner vibe. We went here for a family dinner and it was a hit. I ordered the lobster roll, and most everyone else ordered steak. It was all so delicious, and the interior was both cozy and aesthetically modern. It’s located at the bottom of the Sophy Hotel.
I hope you get to spend a day in Hyde Park and love it!
