We will be staying at the Intercontinental in downtown Chicago for several days. We are breakfast folks that like to try good spots on our travels. Any special breakfast locations (not buffet brunches) in the downtown area? They can be elegant or hole-in-the-wall places. We just like good food (plain or fancy) to start our day off well.

It's a cab ride but we had a breakfast and a dinner at Wishbone (the one on Washington) ur last visit to Chicago. Eggs for bfast, shirimp and grits for dinner. So good.

The Breakfast Club on W.Hubbard, Ann Sather's, (several locations), The Original Pancake House on E. Bellevue.

Wishbone is excellent...other favorites:
Over Easy Cafe - This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It's a bit of a ride north, but well worth it. The lines are crazy long, but if you want a special breakfast (special delicious, not special fancy), this is it.

Bongo Room - a very close second - 2 locations...your closest option is in the South Loop, but I prefer their original location in Bucktown.

Have fun in Chicago!

Saving for future trips-thanks.

Try Lou Mitchell's for a diner experience. There is usually a line after 8:15 AM. They give you a small box of milk duds and a donut hole when you come in. There are prunes and oranges on the table and your breakfast comes with ice cream. The food is good and it is a fun experience.

Try Tempo for breakfast. You get a lot of food & the prices are reasonable. They have outdoor dining. I'm not too familiar with Chicago so I don't know exactly where it is, but it's definitely downtown, near Michigan I think.

My daughter also recommended Margo's Bistro in Old Town for breakfast but we didn't have time to eat there.

Love Tempo. It's at 6 E. Chestnut, a couple blocks west of Michigan Ave. Lou Mitchell's is fun, too. Have a great trip!

we enjoyed cafe deluxe in chicago for breakfast.

When we stayed in Chicago two years ago, we ate breakfast twice (once late at night, the other in the morning), at the Artists Cafe at 412 S. Michigan Avenue. It was convenient to the Hilton Hotel, where we were staying (got a really good deal on PriceLine), and the food was decent enough that we went back a second time.

http://www.artists-cafe.com

If you do happen to dine at the Artists Cafe Snack Shop, be sure to check out the Fine Arts Building that the cafe is located in. The entrance to the building is just to the right of the cafe. Take the elevator up a floor or two, and just wander around the halls, and enjoy the art deco architecture, and the wonderful sounds eminating from the different offices occupied by musicians and artists. It's a different kind of Chicago experience. Enjoy your travels.

Robyn

I know you mentioned no brunch/buffets, BUT . . . If you are there on a Sunday, I would recommend the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues. Book a private sky box not much more per ticket. It is a great show and food is good too. Private box is the way to go though otherwise you are put into general seating with people you don't know. First Sunday of the month is children group -- not as good as the other Sundays when the adult groups perform.

My husband and I enjoy the Atwood Cafe, in the Hotel Burnham. Wonderful, fresh fruit, omelets, and English Muffins made in the kitchen. My husband says the corned beef hash is the best he's ever tasted.

http://www.burnhamhotel.com/atwood-cafe.html

Sandy

Thanks for all the good ideas. I ended up with appendicitis and had to cancel the trip and have surgery! I'll save the info for a later trip though.

Feel better and if you stay at the Intercontinental next time, West Egg Cafe on N. Fairbanks is nearby, a classic breakfast place.