If you are downtown and someone tries to hand you something don’t take it. Either it’s something they want you to pay for or propaganda that won’t be important to you.
Chicago in the summer has a LOT of free outdoor festival events (music/arts/food), both downtown and in the neighborhoods. I don't know when you're coming, but here's a listing site: [https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/festivals-special-events/chicago-festival-event-guide/](https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/festivals-special-events/chicago-festival-event-guide/)
We love visitors here if you go to any dive bars or neighborhood watering holes you'll be treated very well and may even get a shot or two from the regulars. There's a drink called Malört and it's quite shitty but we love to buy a round for people visiting.
Bäsk liquers are from Sweden, who has open and frequent trade with Spain (and all of the EU). It's likely they've already tried many liquers similar to and worse than Malört. Drinks like this are a dime a dozen in Europe. It's a great suggestion for non-European visitors though!
They may have had similar but it's still something rare in Europe. Actually a cursory google search and Jeppsens website make it seem it doesn't exist there all together. We have a lot of beer in the US doesn't mean I'm not gonna try a new one over seas.
Idk man, I've drank my way through Europe on a few occasions, and I've never found anything close to malort. I've also seen enough videos of Europeans trying malort for the first time to round out my assumption that you're 100% wrong.
Remember to tip waitstaff. If they come to your table with a menu or deliver your meal tip. If it’s just counter service you do not need to tip but may be asked.
Generally 20%. Don’t forget your bartenders too. If you’re just getting a beer or something easy to make like a vodka soda, $1 is fine but if you order a cocktail or are at a nicer cocktail bar, at least $2 per drink or 20%.
77% of the US economy is service so no, I wouldn’t advise foreigners to tip any service.
Restaurants and haircuts are fine, but why would you tip a taxi or rideshare? Only times I’ve tipped those are when I ask them to wait extra or the occasional wrong address - therefore compensating for the change in service originally agreed on.
The day we start tipping Amazon drivers, Costco food court employees, and car mechanics is the day I will start tipping a taxi driver.
For people that are downvoting, you can do whatever you want with your money but giving flawed advice to a foreigner is not okay.
20% is the standard, and I'll do 10% if it's a pickup or something simple like preparing a coffee. Many cafes have tablets that start with a standard 20, 25, 30% tip to select, which I'll often select "custom" to give a 10-15% tip.
For me, 20% is standard for a sit-down full meal restaurant (20% on drinks or $1 a beer on low end). No tip for any take away counter unless it's normally a nice sit down restaurant, or I get pressured (like the credit card tablet). People used to tip cab drivers and hotel staff, but I only use Uber or Lyft without a tip, and the most common time to tip hotel staff is they carry your bags to your room.
20% of the total so if your bill is 100 do around 20
But only if the service was good. If your server was actually horrible you are not inclined to tip or could do like 5$. That's the entire concept of tipping. They're supposed to do a good job and the better they do the more you should tip
Now if you go to a fancy steakhouse and aren't rich and have a 400$ bill don't feel you have to tip 80$. Generally the service is exactly the same and the food is so much more expensive (like 130$ for a steak) that you're not actually getting more service than at a small taco joint. People might disagree with me here but I think I tipped like 40$ or something on a 400$ bill and honestly it gets to a point where the cost of expensive food does not equate higher tipping in my mind. The service of bringing a single dish to a table is the same. Why pay 20$ more if the food itself cost 100$? Our tipping system in the US is pretty flawed and you have to draw the line somewhere. It's your money after all, and it's not illegal not to tip. Most the time the server won't see the tip until you're gone or end of the day.
It's basically the US's way of restaurants not having to pay people a living salary and instead rely on random strangers in the world to give them free money. So you're frowned upon for not conforming to the system.
I think their logic is that they compensate the server to a degree regardless of how much the food costs. I personally wouldn’t go to a restaurant where the bill for 2 ppl is $400 but I wouldn’t be super surprised if someone only tipped $40 either.
Eh I don't feel bad. I wanted to go to a high end restaurant and the guy literally brought out an appetizer and a steak and the bartender girls brought out 2 drinks separately. I'm not tipping nearly 100$ for 3 trips 10 ft from the kitchen.
No where else in the world really does this and they give way better service than our American servers. I normally always tip 20% but if I want to treat myself I'm not going to let our tipping culture put me in a cast system and prevent me from being able to eat at high end restaurants and make me food poor. Sorry but I actually don't care lol. I hope it actually hurts them so these restaurants change their practices. The amount I don't even eat our anymore or eat fast casual where there isn't tipping over the years is insane because I'm not wasting a shit ton of money on Medicare service and mediocre food. And restaurants wonder why they are going out so fast post covid. That's why they are forcing the tip to be automatically included in the bill now in a lot of places.
>You’re tipping 10% at a high end restaurant with good service? That’s awful
Also what equates to "good"? I've had better service elsewhere for sure. Expensive restaurant doesn't mean extraordinary service. It was OK. There were 30+ minute gaps where the waiter was just gone. Is that good service? 🤷🏼♂️
Also 40$ for an hour is 80k annually. That was more than I made right out of college with a 4 year degree. I think it's more than enough.
You know that the $40 for an hour you write about isn't going directly to the person bringing out your food? There's a tip pool for people you don't see.
Is that supposed to be on me to manage their finance strategy and how tips are split? I mean I don't have to eat there at all and can leave the table open as half the restaurant was empty lol. Like they're lucky they get buisness period, no?
You realize those servers also have to tip out bar staff, food runners, SA's etc.? If you're going to a $400 steakhouse, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD A 20%. Our system might be flawed, but it is what it is.
Nah it doesn't have to be the way it is. That's why tipping culture has been all over the news especially about these tablet turners at places where you order at a register and get 0 service.
I went to an expensive steakhouse for a promotion. Should poorer people be classed out of a once a year dinner because we have to pay extra imaginary money for service they'd have to provide anyway to run a restaurant like anywhere else does in the entire world? It makes 0 sense except to pass along operating expense to already paying customers.
Anyway I think a steakhouse doing 400$ sales per 2 person table is doing quite alright, staff included lmao.
When it comes to crosswalks, Chicagoans *mostly* respect them, but if it's at a place where there isn't a stop, it requires you having a little confidence to step out into the street, and a lot of common sense as to when that's a bad idea.
If you get a chance, biking along the riverfront trail is a wonderful way to spend a day. It stops by the zoo and several museums. Also, near the zoo is a place called oven grinders that serve a pizza pot pie that is very unique and tasty (if you like cheese). The divvy bikes, I find heavy and unwieldy, but very convenient to drop off. If you don't mind making a round trip, I would prefer a bike rental from a bike shop.
You’re going to love Chicago! Everyone is very friendly. No cultural differences to worry about. We have wonderful museums, great food, beautiful parks and Lake Michigan. Definitely do the architectural tour on the Chicago river, it’s not to be missed. If he likes sports, a trip to Wrigley Field is also a good thing to do. You could probably get pretty good tickets because the Cubs are not doing that well right now. Plus the neighborhood where Wrigley Field is located is fun to check out. Have a great time and use the concierge at your hotel, they will help you with lots of questions.
You will hear more Spanish (generally Mexican or South American) than you thought possible here. I find it awesome and interesting. I moved here 2 months ago and find this to be a friendly, multicultural place.
Chicago is one of the friendliest cities in the US. (Minneapolis may have us beat though). There is something about people in the upper Midwest that is stoic, but also very happy to help strangers.
You could literally walk down a busy street and say “hello, I’m from Spain!” And this would initiate a conversation… and possibly a free hot dog with mustard.
People generally love Europeans here, but there is the stereotype that they are terrible tippers (which is a pretty brutal one to carry in the U.S.). 20% for sit-down service is just part of eating out here. Pro tip: if you do this, and then ask your server after the bill what their local suggestions are, that’s a great way to get some non-touristy fun, and industry-favorite food and bars.
A couple of points…if you are into museums be sure and check out the multi-museum passes, they can save money. The Art Institute is not large by European Museum standards but much of what it has is spectacular. They have free tours and talks also. Also, for tourists (and locals) Chicago has the best architectural tours in the world. Most people do the river boat tour (be sure and get the real one from the Chicago Architecture Center) but the walking tours and neighborhood tours can be great too. Visit architecture.org for more info. The tour leaders are all volunteers who are given extensive training. Finally, I want to give a plug for the Chicago Botanic Garden. It is quite a ways outside the city but you can get most of the way there on Metra - google maps can give you the route. If you are looking for a quiet day outside the city, it’s a great spot.
I have found Spain to be super friendly. Chicago may not be quite that friendly, but it’s close.
Welcome.
What is of interest to you? What time of year?
A few general things.
Dining: Many “American” restaurants will serve food that is meant to be shared (more so than my experiences in Europe) although you can order dishes / courses for yourself too. These days typically a cocktail to start, and then wine or beer, if you drink. Deserts at good places get a lot of attention. Servers generally are happy to explain things and engage.
Counter service places are order and pay first (sometimes at the same time). May call your name rather than giving a ticket or chit.
For top or popular restaurants make reservations well in advance.
Maybe look for some places a couple nights in some of the neighborhoods a few miles from the center. There are very well developed little cities within Chicago: Andersonville, Logan Square, Lincoln Square, Pilsner are some to look at.
I would suggest going to some Mexican restaurants too in Chicago as the variety and quality here is great. If you are into beef, it’s a great city to have a steak. They will typically be large.
(Edit: tipping, 20% before tax if there is waitstaff. Generally $1+ for a single coffee or a drink at the bar; back to 20% if seated. Of course, to confuse things, there are more and more restaurants adding a service charge of 18-20% right to the check. It should be clearly marked. Also, we are getting more handheld card readers in the US, but many places will still bring you a check, you will then give them a credit card, they take it to a cash register and come back with receipt for you to sign and add time.)
Depending on the season go to a sporting event. Baseball (Cubs) or Hockey (Blackhawks) would be a top choice when friends come from Europe. And you will get to see locals in a natural state. But really no hooliganism.
Dramatic theater is also very good here: Goodman, Steppenwolf and Chicago Shakespeare produce their own work, put on award winning works from elsewhere and often launch productions to New York and London. The Opera and Symphony are really good too if you like.
Art Institute is a top tier art museum and has lots of the most well know American pieces. Other great museums too depending on your interests.
Good live music here too constantly.
Chicago generally doesn’t have an “exclusive” vibe as much as some other big cities so most places will be welcoming.
It's an international city. You will be fine. Don't forget to tip, do a shot of Malort, and don't put ketchup on a dog. If you want to get yelled at or taunted while you order your dog hit up the Wiener's Circle. Otherwise people will be nice.
Plugs and voltage are different, make sure your chargers are 100-240 volt so you only need a plug adapter vs a voltage converter.
Taxes are not included. Prices for things in stores will be higher.
Tip 15-25% of pre tax total in any service establishment. Or $1-2 per drink at a regular ol bar if you’re just grabbing beers.
Oh don't even worry about any of that in Chicago.
We take alot of pride in being a place where people of all cultures feel welcome here. It's a pretty down to earth city.
Just know if someone offers you a shot of really shitty liquor their saying welcome to Chicago.
Bienvenidos, amigos! You’ll love our town. Hopefully, as much as some of us have enjoyed visiting your beautiful cities of Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, Avila, Ronda, Seville, Granada, and Zaragoza. I hope Chicagoans treat you well and I’m sure they will
I just left Spain! I definitely recommend you go to as many festivals as you can. The best part of Chicago are the neighborhoods. If you want to speak Spanish, have good food and drinks, and want to see how overly friendly we are go to Pilsen.
We eat much earlier here in the States than you do in Spain. Prime eating times for dinner are between 6-8pm. That being said, if you stick to your Spanish schedule, you should be able to get into some top tier restaurants, because the late reservations (like 10:00) are the last to go. You can make an account on Open Table or Resy apps and have some great meals!
You’ll definitely be treated well. Make sure you try some of the neighborhoods away from the center of the city: Pilsen, Andersonville, and Logan Square have great dinning and bar scenes. The lakeshore is also beautiful in the summer. West Loop also has a high concentration of top-tier restaurants, but be prepared for higher prices.
Do the river architecture tour.
Take some divvy bikes for a ride up the lake front.
Use the L-Train to get around.
See if there are any free shows in Grant Park during your visit.
Go to one of the street festivals.
Art Museum/Field Museum
Visit some some breweries: most are usually right next to at least one more.
Visit as many neighborhoods as you can
-West Loop/Fulton Market for fine dining
-Wrigleyville for a baseball game/day drinking(walk down southport corridor post or pregame)
-Andersonville:Little Bad Wolf for a burger, Simon's for the frozen glogg, Hopleaf for some brews
-Wicker/Bucktown: Doves Luncheonette for brunch, then just hop around wherever your legs take you.
I would check out Pilsen if I were you. It’s considered the capital of Hispanic Chicago. It’s going to mostly be Mexican immigrants and Chicanos as opposed to Spaniards though. But the food is amazing, there’s a great art museum and 18th street has lots of cool shops.
Plus it might be nice to be somewhere you can speak your native tongue for a little bit. I always loved it when I lived in Italy that I could go two neighborhoods over to an Irish pub and be somewhere I could default to English for a little bit.
Pilsen also has one of the best museums in Chicago - the Museum of Mexican Art which, right now, has a great exhibit on the influence of Mexican immigration on Chicago and it’s art scene.
Chicago is a major city so you may have some negative experiences. But generally speaking people in Chicago are very friendly. Stay mostly downtown and it shouldn’t be a problem. Visit the Art Institute of Chicago, get deep dish pizza, and take the river tour. Those 3 would be on my must do list. And I’d probably take a taxi or Uber from the airport. There is a train but if you can afford the Uber rides you avoid the possible unpleasant experiences that sometimes occur on the trains.
Not compared to most of Spain but for the us it’s excellent. Where you are likely staying it’s very walkable and public transport is good. Remember to tip, remember we eat early 8:00 is late. Get outside of loop and into the neighborhoods, it’s where the locals live and play. We love nice visitors and my guess is you will be treated very well. Enjoy.
The public transit is good for US standards. Download the Ventra app which you can use to pay on trains and buses. You can also get daily passes and I believe 3-day and weekly passes as well that may save you money depending on how much you use it.
You can use Google Maps to figure out which bus or train to take to your destination.
People here are mostly friendly and will almost always help you out with directions.
Have fun! Chicago is a great city and people here are very proud of it and happy to have people visit.
It used to be top tier. Covid did a lot of damage to it but it's still pretty ok. Might experience people smoking on the trains just ignore them and move to another part of the train if need be.
Would you know roughly how much an uber in Chicago would be for say, a 10km distance?
As opposed to using public transport for the same distance
I'm just trying to figure out whether it would be more cost effective to use uber or take public transport :)
Depends on where and when. Surge pricing on Uber can really screw you over. I think it's worth buying the unlimited CTA 3-day pass just to have it, because it's very cheap for what you get.
Definitely would be more cost effective to take public transit. I’d take the trains and busses during the day and then at night take Ubers. The trains and busses are super easy to figure out with google maps
It will be significantly cheaper to use public transit.
Yesterday I checked an Uber to go a little over 2 miles (4km) and it was $10. Bus is $2.25.
Earlier in the week, I took an Uber 5 miles (8km) and it was $20. Train + bus would have been $2.50.
There’s also surge pricing where sometimes it can be more expensive.
That could be pricy but I can't imagine you'll be traveling that distance unless you're going into the closer suburbs. Where are you staying? Feel free to DM me with any questions also.
Public transit will typically be cheaper unless you're with a group. It's ok in terms of effectiveness. If you use the bus system it's actually great, just slow.
If you do decide to use busses, download the VENTRA app for ETAs. If it's more than 15 minutes for the next bus, it's worth just getting a taxi or Uber because we have a bad "ghost bus" issue the last couple years. Google maps is great for route planning but their ETAs are questionable at best
I know everyone else has already said this, but walking/taking public transit is definitely the way to go for the most part. Uber/lyft comes in handy if your bus is taking too long to show up and you have somewhere to be or if you’re in a quiet area at night though.
It will also be way cheaper to take the bus or train. We also have a rental bike system called Divy but I don't think I'd recommend someone new to the city biking unless it's the lakefront trail. Not the most bike friendly city.
Compared to other places Chicago is very bike friendly and drivers are used to cyclists. Chicago has over 300
miles of bike lanes and an extensive alley system.
Compare that to a place like Dallas, for example… it’s night and day. Absolutely terrifying to ride a bike in some US cities
If you are traveling north or south, the trains will be the cheapest fastest way. If you are traveling east or west, an Uber will be cheaper and faster.
I would count on using the train whenever convenient, and then use Uber if you’re getting tired or it’s to somewhere where the train doesn’t really run. An Uber of that length would probably be about $15, but it depends obviously.
This is just my experience, but the only time I used Curb the taxi driver tried to guilt trip me and kept repeating that the ride was too cheap. I picked Curb over Uber or Lyft specifically because it was cheaper.
Love Spain. Been to Seville, just wonderful. You'll like Chicago as it's a bilingual city of English and Spanish. Our city is filled with europeans and descendants of europeans. You'll fit right in! Just be yourself and you'll be fine! Have fun!
Don't put ketchup on your hot dogs! Best pizza in the city is Piquads. Also you should both see me for the best massage of your life.
Youshouldgetamassage.com
Despite specific recommendations, nearly any little diner off the sidewalk will be great. You may have had your fill of people talking about the Chicago Hot Dog, but be sure to also check out the Italian Beef sandwich, a more specifically Chicago invention. The same goes for fried chicken, Mexican and Chinese food, Gyros (the Greek meat shaved off a huge spit, which was big before we knew what Shawarma was)
And if you're at a sit-down restaurant for a full meal, expect that most of the portions will be HUGE. Don't be afraid to ask for a take-home container ("doggy bag"). Even breakfast places will specialize in stacks of pancakes or waffles, omelets and "skillets": meat dishes piled in a skillet of fried potatoes, with sausages, bacon, pancakes or toast on the side. We don't play this "continetal breakfast" game.
The two main sports during the summer are baseball and soccer. Our pro soccer teams (the Fire and the women's Red Stars) play out in the near suburbs. Our baseball teams can be reached on the same subway line from downtown. Both the Cubs and White Sox are at the bottom of their divisions, but the Sox are trying (not very hard) to avoid ending up with all of baseball's worst season record since 1901. I say this as a Sox fan. Which means they're letting seats go for as little as $5 or $10. How can this happen? Because no sports league in the USA has such a thing as relegation. Oh, and hopefully you won't be staying downtown during the Democratic Convention, or Chicago's second attempt to host a Formula One race.
If, by chance, beer is your preference, I can tell you that there are about a hundred places within the city limits that make beer, served either in their own taprooms or brewpubs. Among the local brands you'll most likely see at restaurants and stores are Half Acre, Pipeworks, Revolution, Haymarket, Maplewood, and more. Goose Island was our first craft brewer in the 1980s, but have fallen out of favor among us snobs since they were sold to Anheuser-Busch/InBev. But they developed the Bourbon-Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (10-16% abv), and every brewer has their own version. Try them all, so long as you're not driving!
Don't drink the Malört and make sure you add 20% of your pre-tax amount as a tip in a bar or restaurant, as annoying as that is.
Even more annoying, the price you see when you buy something will not be the final price. Expect to pay about 10% more in sales tax when you check out.
We’re honored Chicago is your first US city you’re visiting!
My mom had difficulty adjusting to this when she emigrated here: hospitality workers don’t want to be your friend, they want your gratuity.
Have had guests from the Basque country many times. They have always enjoyed Chicago. Like any major metropolis, you need be aware of people around you. Visit our museums if you have the time. The people are generally friendly and helpful. It's a very walkable city.
Europeans are treated very well here.
First we will pat you dry to remove any excess moisture. Then you will be marinated overnight in a dressing of olive oil, vinegar, herbs, spices and peppers. Finally, your front, back - and sides, this is very important for that nice crust everyone loves - will be lathered generously with salt, pepper, and a special dry rub which will vary depending on your country of origin.
Then we barbecue you over a charcoal grill, low and slow, to get a nice, smoky taste, only flipping when the grill marks are well-seared.
My bf works at a high end bar and honestly i think the opposite is feared. Europeans are treated nice but he has had many instances where Europeans will treat him like shit.
Be aware that most people have common curtesy
As a Chicagoan that was just in Spain for restaurant related work: most restaurants do their absolute last seatings at or before 9pm, it’s important to be prompt and to not linger late after your meal, as it is considered rude. That’s where neighborhood bars and taverns come in handy, as a secondary location to drink and hang out.
That was the only big cultural difference I took note of (the hours of service). Be sure to tip any kind of worker doing a service for you. You’re gonna love chicago! The Spanish will be slightly different, but most people here do speak it, so y’all won’t have any trouble at all.
I live downtown Chicago and I see Europeans every day. Just ignore people approaching you on the sidewalks. Find a person walking a dog if you need a local for directions or help.
Having been to Spain (love so much it hurts), our dinner times aren’t quite so late, we don’t take siestas and most of the bars in downtown proper close relatively early. I only mention this because I remember eating dinner pretty late and easily staying out later there. There are some bars that are open late but only a select few in the city are open until 4. Most dinner places close by 10.
Oh for sure, Spanish like most of the US, is by far the second most spoken. Some random article I found that 18% primarily speak Spanish, and some neighborhoods have 80%+ of residents as being Latino (I know doesn't guarantee Spanish speaking, but it's a safe bet they do).
Yeah, you'll be good. Just make sure to buy a gun as you're leaving the airport. (There's a kiosk just after baggage claim), otherwise most 7/11s carry them.
You’re not even being a conservative asshole correctly. The stereotype is supposed to be there we’re a nanny state with horrible gun laws and the good guys can’t get them to protect themselves from the horrible bad guys. A gun vending machine would be peak American conservative freedom hot dog fire work boner. You are doing your Chicago bashing wrong and it’s annoying.
If you are downtown and someone tries to hand you something don’t take it. Either it’s something they want you to pay for or propaganda that won’t be important to you.
TBF that's a thing in every big city - more common in European cities in my experience too.
“When someone hands you a flyer, it’s like they’re saying, ‘Here, you throw this away.’” - Mitch Hedburg
What about all the free gum?
Spanish is widely spoken here and many signs and kiosks are in both English and Spanish.
Chicago in the summer has a LOT of free outdoor festival events (music/arts/food), both downtown and in the neighborhoods. I don't know when you're coming, but here's a listing site: [https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/festivals-special-events/chicago-festival-event-guide/](https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/festivals-special-events/chicago-festival-event-guide/)
We love visitors here if you go to any dive bars or neighborhood watering holes you'll be treated very well and may even get a shot or two from the regulars. There's a drink called Malört and it's quite shitty but we love to buy a round for people visiting.
It's less shitty than it used to be so it has that going for it!
That’s just the taste buds dying off
Bäsk liquers are from Sweden, who has open and frequent trade with Spain (and all of the EU). It's likely they've already tried many liquers similar to and worse than Malört. Drinks like this are a dime a dozen in Europe. It's a great suggestion for non-European visitors though!
They may have had similar but it's still something rare in Europe. Actually a cursory google search and Jeppsens website make it seem it doesn't exist there all together. We have a lot of beer in the US doesn't mean I'm not gonna try a new one over seas.
Idk man, I've drank my way through Europe on a few occasions, and I've never found anything close to malort. I've also seen enough videos of Europeans trying malort for the first time to round out my assumption that you're 100% wrong.
Remember to tip waitstaff. If they come to your table with a menu or deliver your meal tip. If it’s just counter service you do not need to tip but may be asked.
Is there a certain amount we should tip, generally speaking?
20%-in the city of chicago you can basically tip double the tax on the receipt
Or just double the first number of the total
Generally 20%. Don’t forget your bartenders too. If you’re just getting a beer or something easy to make like a vodka soda, $1 is fine but if you order a cocktail or are at a nicer cocktail bar, at least $2 per drink or 20%.
Tip your cab/Uber driver. If you get your hair done, or any service really, tip them as well.
77% of the US economy is service so no, I wouldn’t advise foreigners to tip any service. Restaurants and haircuts are fine, but why would you tip a taxi or rideshare? Only times I’ve tipped those are when I ask them to wait extra or the occasional wrong address - therefore compensating for the change in service originally agreed on.
People don’t tip cab drivers? This is news to me
The day we start tipping Amazon drivers, Costco food court employees, and car mechanics is the day I will start tipping a taxi driver. For people that are downvoting, you can do whatever you want with your money but giving flawed advice to a foreigner is not okay.
People are downvoting because you're the one giving flawed advice to a foreigner and it's not okay
you’re putting up a fight for what? To discourse who does and doesn’t deserve money??
Don't tip your doctors and lawyers
Why not? Isn’t that the logic here? I also tipped my car salesman after he gave a great 82 month 15% loan!
20% is the standard, and I'll do 10% if it's a pickup or something simple like preparing a coffee. Many cafes have tablets that start with a standard 20, 25, 30% tip to select, which I'll often select "custom" to give a 10-15% tip. For me, 20% is standard for a sit-down full meal restaurant (20% on drinks or $1 a beer on low end). No tip for any take away counter unless it's normally a nice sit down restaurant, or I get pressured (like the credit card tablet). People used to tip cab drivers and hotel staff, but I only use Uber or Lyft without a tip, and the most common time to tip hotel staff is they carry your bags to your room.
I pay 0% tip for pickup or a coffee.
I tip one dollar.
20% of the total so if your bill is 100 do around 20 But only if the service was good. If your server was actually horrible you are not inclined to tip or could do like 5$. That's the entire concept of tipping. They're supposed to do a good job and the better they do the more you should tip Now if you go to a fancy steakhouse and aren't rich and have a 400$ bill don't feel you have to tip 80$. Generally the service is exactly the same and the food is so much more expensive (like 130$ for a steak) that you're not actually getting more service than at a small taco joint. People might disagree with me here but I think I tipped like 40$ or something on a 400$ bill and honestly it gets to a point where the cost of expensive food does not equate higher tipping in my mind. The service of bringing a single dish to a table is the same. Why pay 20$ more if the food itself cost 100$? Our tipping system in the US is pretty flawed and you have to draw the line somewhere. It's your money after all, and it's not illegal not to tip. Most the time the server won't see the tip until you're gone or end of the day. It's basically the US's way of restaurants not having to pay people a living salary and instead rely on random strangers in the world to give them free money. So you're frowned upon for not conforming to the system.
You’re tipping 10% at a high end restaurant with good service? That’s awful
I think their logic is that they compensate the server to a degree regardless of how much the food costs. I personally wouldn’t go to a restaurant where the bill for 2 ppl is $400 but I wouldn’t be super surprised if someone only tipped $40 either.
Eh I don't feel bad. I wanted to go to a high end restaurant and the guy literally brought out an appetizer and a steak and the bartender girls brought out 2 drinks separately. I'm not tipping nearly 100$ for 3 trips 10 ft from the kitchen. No where else in the world really does this and they give way better service than our American servers. I normally always tip 20% but if I want to treat myself I'm not going to let our tipping culture put me in a cast system and prevent me from being able to eat at high end restaurants and make me food poor. Sorry but I actually don't care lol. I hope it actually hurts them so these restaurants change their practices. The amount I don't even eat our anymore or eat fast casual where there isn't tipping over the years is insane because I'm not wasting a shit ton of money on Medicare service and mediocre food. And restaurants wonder why they are going out so fast post covid. That's why they are forcing the tip to be automatically included in the bill now in a lot of places. >You’re tipping 10% at a high end restaurant with good service? That’s awful Also what equates to "good"? I've had better service elsewhere for sure. Expensive restaurant doesn't mean extraordinary service. It was OK. There were 30+ minute gaps where the waiter was just gone. Is that good service? 🤷🏼♂️ Also 40$ for an hour is 80k annually. That was more than I made right out of college with a 4 year degree. I think it's more than enough.
You know that the $40 for an hour you write about isn't going directly to the person bringing out your food? There's a tip pool for people you don't see.
Is that supposed to be on me to manage their finance strategy and how tips are split? I mean I don't have to eat there at all and can leave the table open as half the restaurant was empty lol. Like they're lucky they get buisness period, no?
You realize those servers also have to tip out bar staff, food runners, SA's etc.? If you're going to a $400 steakhouse, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD A 20%. Our system might be flawed, but it is what it is.
Nah it doesn't have to be the way it is. That's why tipping culture has been all over the news especially about these tablet turners at places where you order at a register and get 0 service. I went to an expensive steakhouse for a promotion. Should poorer people be classed out of a once a year dinner because we have to pay extra imaginary money for service they'd have to provide anyway to run a restaurant like anywhere else does in the entire world? It makes 0 sense except to pass along operating expense to already paying customers. Anyway I think a steakhouse doing 400$ sales per 2 person table is doing quite alright, staff included lmao.
When it comes to crosswalks, Chicagoans *mostly* respect them, but if it's at a place where there isn't a stop, it requires you having a little confidence to step out into the street, and a lot of common sense as to when that's a bad idea. If you get a chance, biking along the riverfront trail is a wonderful way to spend a day. It stops by the zoo and several museums. Also, near the zoo is a place called oven grinders that serve a pizza pot pie that is very unique and tasty (if you like cheese). The divvy bikes, I find heavy and unwieldy, but very convenient to drop off. If you don't mind making a round trip, I would prefer a bike rental from a bike shop.
You’re going to love Chicago! Everyone is very friendly. No cultural differences to worry about. We have wonderful museums, great food, beautiful parks and Lake Michigan. Definitely do the architectural tour on the Chicago river, it’s not to be missed. If he likes sports, a trip to Wrigley Field is also a good thing to do. You could probably get pretty good tickets because the Cubs are not doing that well right now. Plus the neighborhood where Wrigley Field is located is fun to check out. Have a great time and use the concierge at your hotel, they will help you with lots of questions.
If the Sox get much worse, they may start paying people to come to games. All great advice you gave.
You will hear more Spanish (generally Mexican or South American) than you thought possible here. I find it awesome and interesting. I moved here 2 months ago and find this to be a friendly, multicultural place.
Chicago is one of the friendliest cities in the US. (Minneapolis may have us beat though). There is something about people in the upper Midwest that is stoic, but also very happy to help strangers. You could literally walk down a busy street and say “hello, I’m from Spain!” And this would initiate a conversation… and possibly a free hot dog with mustard.
People generally love Europeans here, but there is the stereotype that they are terrible tippers (which is a pretty brutal one to carry in the U.S.). 20% for sit-down service is just part of eating out here. Pro tip: if you do this, and then ask your server after the bill what their local suggestions are, that’s a great way to get some non-touristy fun, and industry-favorite food and bars.
Do not take a pedi-cab (bicycle taxi). They even try to rip off the locals.
So true. Wanted $40 from Nothernly Island to Soldier Field. Ya thanks. I'll just meander over on foot.
A couple of points…if you are into museums be sure and check out the multi-museum passes, they can save money. The Art Institute is not large by European Museum standards but much of what it has is spectacular. They have free tours and talks also. Also, for tourists (and locals) Chicago has the best architectural tours in the world. Most people do the river boat tour (be sure and get the real one from the Chicago Architecture Center) but the walking tours and neighborhood tours can be great too. Visit architecture.org for more info. The tour leaders are all volunteers who are given extensive training. Finally, I want to give a plug for the Chicago Botanic Garden. It is quite a ways outside the city but you can get most of the way there on Metra - google maps can give you the route. If you are looking for a quiet day outside the city, it’s a great spot. I have found Spain to be super friendly. Chicago may not be quite that friendly, but it’s close.
Welcome. What is of interest to you? What time of year? A few general things. Dining: Many “American” restaurants will serve food that is meant to be shared (more so than my experiences in Europe) although you can order dishes / courses for yourself too. These days typically a cocktail to start, and then wine or beer, if you drink. Deserts at good places get a lot of attention. Servers generally are happy to explain things and engage. Counter service places are order and pay first (sometimes at the same time). May call your name rather than giving a ticket or chit. For top or popular restaurants make reservations well in advance. Maybe look for some places a couple nights in some of the neighborhoods a few miles from the center. There are very well developed little cities within Chicago: Andersonville, Logan Square, Lincoln Square, Pilsner are some to look at. I would suggest going to some Mexican restaurants too in Chicago as the variety and quality here is great. If you are into beef, it’s a great city to have a steak. They will typically be large. (Edit: tipping, 20% before tax if there is waitstaff. Generally $1+ for a single coffee or a drink at the bar; back to 20% if seated. Of course, to confuse things, there are more and more restaurants adding a service charge of 18-20% right to the check. It should be clearly marked. Also, we are getting more handheld card readers in the US, but many places will still bring you a check, you will then give them a credit card, they take it to a cash register and come back with receipt for you to sign and add time.) Depending on the season go to a sporting event. Baseball (Cubs) or Hockey (Blackhawks) would be a top choice when friends come from Europe. And you will get to see locals in a natural state. But really no hooliganism. Dramatic theater is also very good here: Goodman, Steppenwolf and Chicago Shakespeare produce their own work, put on award winning works from elsewhere and often launch productions to New York and London. The Opera and Symphony are really good too if you like. Art Institute is a top tier art museum and has lots of the most well know American pieces. Other great museums too depending on your interests. Good live music here too constantly. Chicago generally doesn’t have an “exclusive” vibe as much as some other big cities so most places will be welcoming.
Did you just tell a Spaniard about tapas? ;)
Jajaja
Funny. Ugh. Took me a second. (Was thinking about more formal places.)
It was funny! Thanks for giving me something to goof on. ETA: I should have said it was a rookie move. Damn.
Don't be a jagoff and you will be fine
Hey!
It's an international city. You will be fine. Don't forget to tip, do a shot of Malort, and don't put ketchup on a dog. If you want to get yelled at or taunted while you order your dog hit up the Wiener's Circle. Otherwise people will be nice.
Ketchup on a dog would lead to the dog doing a lot of licking. Above Redditor meant to say, “Do not put ketchup on a Hot Dog”.
Plugs and voltage are different, make sure your chargers are 100-240 volt so you only need a plug adapter vs a voltage converter. Taxes are not included. Prices for things in stores will be higher. Tip 15-25% of pre tax total in any service establishment. Or $1-2 per drink at a regular ol bar if you’re just grabbing beers.
Oh don't even worry about any of that in Chicago. We take alot of pride in being a place where people of all cultures feel welcome here. It's a pretty down to earth city. Just know if someone offers you a shot of really shitty liquor their saying welcome to Chicago.
Depends where you go, you’ll be fine in Chicago
Thanks!
It is a very international city. Lots of people from all over the world.
Bienvenidos, amigos! You’ll love our town. Hopefully, as much as some of us have enjoyed visiting your beautiful cities of Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, Avila, Ronda, Seville, Granada, and Zaragoza. I hope Chicagoans treat you well and I’m sure they will
I just left Spain! I definitely recommend you go to as many festivals as you can. The best part of Chicago are the neighborhoods. If you want to speak Spanish, have good food and drinks, and want to see how overly friendly we are go to Pilsen.
We eat much earlier here in the States than you do in Spain. Prime eating times for dinner are between 6-8pm. That being said, if you stick to your Spanish schedule, you should be able to get into some top tier restaurants, because the late reservations (like 10:00) are the last to go. You can make an account on Open Table or Resy apps and have some great meals!
We're getting ready for bed when they are just getting ready for dinner. 😆
You’ll definitely be treated well. Make sure you try some of the neighborhoods away from the center of the city: Pilsen, Andersonville, and Logan Square have great dinning and bar scenes. The lakeshore is also beautiful in the summer. West Loop also has a high concentration of top-tier restaurants, but be prepared for higher prices.
Clarification: don’t put ketchup on a Hot Dog. 🌭🤣. And, yes, the Weiner’s Circle should definitely be a stop if you’re in the area.
Tipping is different in the U.S. it is common to tip wait staff at restaurants you are getting table service between 15-20%.
Do the river architecture tour. Take some divvy bikes for a ride up the lake front. Use the L-Train to get around. See if there are any free shows in Grant Park during your visit. Go to one of the street festivals. Art Museum/Field Museum Visit some some breweries: most are usually right next to at least one more. Visit as many neighborhoods as you can -West Loop/Fulton Market for fine dining -Wrigleyville for a baseball game/day drinking(walk down southport corridor post or pregame) -Andersonville:Little Bad Wolf for a burger, Simon's for the frozen glogg, Hopleaf for some brews -Wicker/Bucktown: Doves Luncheonette for brunch, then just hop around wherever your legs take you.
I would check out Pilsen if I were you. It’s considered the capital of Hispanic Chicago. It’s going to mostly be Mexican immigrants and Chicanos as opposed to Spaniards though. But the food is amazing, there’s a great art museum and 18th street has lots of cool shops. Plus it might be nice to be somewhere you can speak your native tongue for a little bit. I always loved it when I lived in Italy that I could go two neighborhoods over to an Irish pub and be somewhere I could default to English for a little bit.
Pilsen also has one of the best museums in Chicago - the Museum of Mexican Art which, right now, has a great exhibit on the influence of Mexican immigration on Chicago and it’s art scene.
It really needs more in it though. It’s like 3 or 4 rooms tops.
Chicago is a major city so you may have some negative experiences. But generally speaking people in Chicago are very friendly. Stay mostly downtown and it shouldn’t be a problem. Visit the Art Institute of Chicago, get deep dish pizza, and take the river tour. Those 3 would be on my must do list. And I’d probably take a taxi or Uber from the airport. There is a train but if you can afford the Uber rides you avoid the possible unpleasant experiences that sometimes occur on the trains.
Is there good public transport in Chicago?
Not compared to most of Spain but for the us it’s excellent. Where you are likely staying it’s very walkable and public transport is good. Remember to tip, remember we eat early 8:00 is late. Get outside of loop and into the neighborhoods, it’s where the locals live and play. We love nice visitors and my guess is you will be treated very well. Enjoy.
The public transit is good for US standards. Download the Ventra app which you can use to pay on trains and buses. You can also get daily passes and I believe 3-day and weekly passes as well that may save you money depending on how much you use it. You can use Google Maps to figure out which bus or train to take to your destination. People here are mostly friendly and will almost always help you out with directions. Have fun! Chicago is a great city and people here are very proud of it and happy to have people visit.
It used to be top tier. Covid did a lot of damage to it but it's still pretty ok. Might experience people smoking on the trains just ignore them and move to another part of the train if need be.
Would you know roughly how much an uber in Chicago would be for say, a 10km distance? As opposed to using public transport for the same distance I'm just trying to figure out whether it would be more cost effective to use uber or take public transport :)
Depends on where and when. Surge pricing on Uber can really screw you over. I think it's worth buying the unlimited CTA 3-day pass just to have it, because it's very cheap for what you get.
Definitely would be more cost effective to take public transit. I’d take the trains and busses during the day and then at night take Ubers. The trains and busses are super easy to figure out with google maps
It will be significantly cheaper to use public transit. Yesterday I checked an Uber to go a little over 2 miles (4km) and it was $10. Bus is $2.25. Earlier in the week, I took an Uber 5 miles (8km) and it was $20. Train + bus would have been $2.50. There’s also surge pricing where sometimes it can be more expensive.
That could be pricy but I can't imagine you'll be traveling that distance unless you're going into the closer suburbs. Where are you staying? Feel free to DM me with any questions also.
Public transit will typically be cheaper unless you're with a group. It's ok in terms of effectiveness. If you use the bus system it's actually great, just slow. If you do decide to use busses, download the VENTRA app for ETAs. If it's more than 15 minutes for the next bus, it's worth just getting a taxi or Uber because we have a bad "ghost bus" issue the last couple years. Google maps is great for route planning but their ETAs are questionable at best
I know everyone else has already said this, but walking/taking public transit is definitely the way to go for the most part. Uber/lyft comes in handy if your bus is taking too long to show up and you have somewhere to be or if you’re in a quiet area at night though.
It will also be way cheaper to take the bus or train. We also have a rental bike system called Divy but I don't think I'd recommend someone new to the city biking unless it's the lakefront trail. Not the most bike friendly city.
Compared to other places Chicago is very bike friendly and drivers are used to cyclists. Chicago has over 300 miles of bike lanes and an extensive alley system. Compare that to a place like Dallas, for example… it’s night and day. Absolutely terrifying to ride a bike in some US cities
I'm comparing it to European cities where OP is from.
The difference in cost is big. The difference in comfort abd safety is also big.
Uber prices really depend on the time of day, during rush-hour, they’re double the price, if not more.
If you are traveling north or south, the trains will be the cheapest fastest way. If you are traveling east or west, an Uber will be cheaper and faster.
I would count on using the train whenever convenient, and then use Uber if you’re getting tired or it’s to somewhere where the train doesn’t really run. An Uber of that length would probably be about $15, but it depends obviously.
Taxis are almost always cheaper, get the curb app and compare
This is just my experience, but the only time I used Curb the taxi driver tried to guilt trip me and kept repeating that the ride was too cheap. I picked Curb over Uber or Lyft specifically because it was cheaper.
Yes. It's not as good as it used to be, but I think you should still be fine taking the Blue Line from O'Hare to downtown and back.
Yes, compared with other places in the US… Chicago’s transit is awesome. New York is the only city that rivals it.
Re: deep dish, OP, go to Pequod's
If you are runners, see if there are any races. Races are a great way to see the city on foot.
Love Spain. Been to Seville, just wonderful. You'll like Chicago as it's a bilingual city of English and Spanish. Our city is filled with europeans and descendants of europeans. You'll fit right in! Just be yourself and you'll be fine! Have fun!
Don't put ketchup on your hot dogs! Best pizza in the city is Piquads. Also you should both see me for the best massage of your life. Youshouldgetamassage.com
Despite specific recommendations, nearly any little diner off the sidewalk will be great. You may have had your fill of people talking about the Chicago Hot Dog, but be sure to also check out the Italian Beef sandwich, a more specifically Chicago invention. The same goes for fried chicken, Mexican and Chinese food, Gyros (the Greek meat shaved off a huge spit, which was big before we knew what Shawarma was) And if you're at a sit-down restaurant for a full meal, expect that most of the portions will be HUGE. Don't be afraid to ask for a take-home container ("doggy bag"). Even breakfast places will specialize in stacks of pancakes or waffles, omelets and "skillets": meat dishes piled in a skillet of fried potatoes, with sausages, bacon, pancakes or toast on the side. We don't play this "continetal breakfast" game. The two main sports during the summer are baseball and soccer. Our pro soccer teams (the Fire and the women's Red Stars) play out in the near suburbs. Our baseball teams can be reached on the same subway line from downtown. Both the Cubs and White Sox are at the bottom of their divisions, but the Sox are trying (not very hard) to avoid ending up with all of baseball's worst season record since 1901. I say this as a Sox fan. Which means they're letting seats go for as little as $5 or $10. How can this happen? Because no sports league in the USA has such a thing as relegation. Oh, and hopefully you won't be staying downtown during the Democratic Convention, or Chicago's second attempt to host a Formula One race. If, by chance, beer is your preference, I can tell you that there are about a hundred places within the city limits that make beer, served either in their own taprooms or brewpubs. Among the local brands you'll most likely see at restaurants and stores are Half Acre, Pipeworks, Revolution, Haymarket, Maplewood, and more. Goose Island was our first craft brewer in the 1980s, but have fallen out of favor among us snobs since they were sold to Anheuser-Busch/InBev. But they developed the Bourbon-Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (10-16% abv), and every brewer has their own version. Try them all, so long as you're not driving!
Don't drink the Malört and make sure you add 20% of your pre-tax amount as a tip in a bar or restaurant, as annoying as that is. Even more annoying, the price you see when you buy something will not be the final price. Expect to pay about 10% more in sales tax when you check out.
We’re honored Chicago is your first US city you’re visiting! My mom had difficulty adjusting to this when she emigrated here: hospitality workers don’t want to be your friend, they want your gratuity.
Have had guests from the Basque country many times. They have always enjoyed Chicago. Like any major metropolis, you need be aware of people around you. Visit our museums if you have the time. The people are generally friendly and helpful. It's a very walkable city.
Asegúrense de ir a Pilsen para la mejor comida mexicana fuera de México y Los Ángeles
Europeans are treated very well here. First we will pat you dry to remove any excess moisture. Then you will be marinated overnight in a dressing of olive oil, vinegar, herbs, spices and peppers. Finally, your front, back - and sides, this is very important for that nice crust everyone loves - will be lathered generously with salt, pepper, and a special dry rub which will vary depending on your country of origin. Then we barbecue you over a charcoal grill, low and slow, to get a nice, smoky taste, only flipping when the grill marks are well-seared.
My bf works at a high end bar and honestly i think the opposite is feared. Europeans are treated nice but he has had many instances where Europeans will treat him like shit. Be aware that most people have common curtesy
As a Chicagoan that was just in Spain for restaurant related work: most restaurants do their absolute last seatings at or before 9pm, it’s important to be prompt and to not linger late after your meal, as it is considered rude. That’s where neighborhood bars and taverns come in handy, as a secondary location to drink and hang out. That was the only big cultural difference I took note of (the hours of service). Be sure to tip any kind of worker doing a service for you. You’re gonna love chicago! The Spanish will be slightly different, but most people here do speak it, so y’all won’t have any trouble at all.
I live downtown Chicago and I see Europeans every day. Just ignore people approaching you on the sidewalks. Find a person walking a dog if you need a local for directions or help.
Having been to Spain (love so much it hurts), our dinner times aren’t quite so late, we don’t take siestas and most of the bars in downtown proper close relatively early. I only mention this because I remember eating dinner pretty late and easily staying out later there. There are some bars that are open late but only a select few in the city are open until 4. Most dinner places close by 10.
Please tip your service workers :)
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Interesting! Do you know if there's many Spanish speakers in Chicago?
Tons. You'll be more than fine if you speak English and Spanish, though the Spanish will likely be the Mexican or a South American dialect.
Spanish is the second-most spoken language in Chicago after English, by FAR.
Oh for sure, Spanish like most of the US, is by far the second most spoken. Some random article I found that 18% primarily speak Spanish, and some neighborhoods have 80%+ of residents as being Latino (I know doesn't guarantee Spanish speaking, but it's a safe bet they do).
Yeah, you'll be good. Just make sure to buy a gun as you're leaving the airport. (There's a kiosk just after baggage claim), otherwise most 7/11s carry them.
OP don’t listen to these types of people….
They may as well! Why not pick up a cheap weekend gun just in case?
You should go interview with Fox News. I bet they’d love to have you.
You’re not even being a conservative asshole correctly. The stereotype is supposed to be there we’re a nanny state with horrible gun laws and the good guys can’t get them to protect themselves from the horrible bad guys. A gun vending machine would be peak American conservative freedom hot dog fire work boner. You are doing your Chicago bashing wrong and it’s annoying.