Local Deals for Chicago

Skip the trip to the store and get six bottles of premium wine delivered to your doorstep with this Local Deal from Virgin Wines, part of the world-renowned Virgin brand. Virgin Wines, which just arrived in the U.S. last year, is now offering Travelzoo subscribers a case of wine worth up to $94 for only $29 (sales tax and shipping charges of $19.99 are not included).

Rated "very good" by Zagat for its fajitas and tableside guacamole, Zapatista is one of the "Top 10 Best Mexican Restaurants" in Chicago according to Gayot. For $39, two can enjoy a three-course dinner topped off with two margaritas -- a dining experience worth up to $96.

The critically praised deca Restaurant + Bar recently received a Bib Gourmand award from the internationally recognized Michelin Guide, and Pat Bruno of the Chicago Sun-Times called his "luxury" dinner at deca a "standout meal" of 2010. For $65, two diners can savor three courses from chef Mark Payne's locally focused brasserie menu along with pre-dinner drinks, regularly $134.

Dine like royalty on a four-course feast and save more than 40% with this Travelzoo Local Deal for tickets to see the new jousting and sword-fighting show at Medieval Times in Schaumburg. Adult tickets are $39 (regularly $67.60 w/tax and fees) and child tickets (ages 3-12) are $29 (regularly $41.74 w/tax and fees) for subscribers. These deals can be redeemed for most shows through Jan. 13, 2013.

Take to the waters of Lake Michigan on the Windy, a four-masted, 148-foot schooner, with this deal for the official Tall Ship of the City of Chicago. For $15, subscribers can sail the lake during one of more than a half-dozen different hour-long or 75-minute cruises, regularly valued up to $30.

View Chicago from the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center, the city's No. 1 Building according to Chicago Magazine. With this deal, John Hancock Observatory is offering its Sky High Annual Pass for $39, regularly $89, along with a special $10 promotional credit.

NBC Chicago calls Leah Chavie a "skin guru," and PopSugar raves that the staff at her Skincare Boutique in Lincoln Park is "dedicated to understanding your skin and working to improve it." Examiner.com say the services "can take your skin from so-so to ooh-la-la" in just one visit. With this Local Deal, subscribers receive $100 worth of any service on the menu for $45. 

Dine and dance aboard the Spirit of Chicago or Mystic Blue on a Lake Michigan dinner cruise for $55, regularly up to $108.66 per person, with this exclusive Local Deal. Take in sweeping views of the Chicago skyline during this three-hour cruise, which sets sail from Navy Pier throughout the week and includes a DJ and dancing. Or for $65, take the same cruise on a Friday or Saturday, regularly $135.86.

Named the "Best Wine Bar" and "Best Romantic Bar" by Citysearch, the Tasting Room in the West Loop boasts "some of the best views of Chicago" according to Zagat, which gives its food a "very good to excellent" (20) rating. For $29, relax in the second-story lounge and savor two wine flights and a gourmet cheese and charcuterie platter, worth $63.

Frommer's says the Palmer House retains "a Gilded Age aura" in its grand lobby, which carries over to the luxurious Balance Spa located inside. For $75, indulge with an exclusive package of three treatments at this downtown retreat, regularly $155.

Be one of the first to experience the new, luxurious Balance Spa at the Palmer House Hilton with this exclusive two-service package. Relax with a massage, facial and access to all the spa's amenities for $99, regularly $220.

Rated "very good" by Zagat for its fajitas and tableside guacamole, Zapatista is one of the "Top 10 Best Mexican Restaurants" in Chicago according to Gayot. For $39, two can enjoy a three-course dinner topped off with two margaritas -- a dining experience worth up to $96.

"Jersey Boys," the 2006 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, arrives in Peoria this month, and Travelzoo subscribers can save up to 40% on performances through Feb. 20.

CBS Chicago praises The Mountain Top at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva as "one of Wisconsin’s premier ski and snowboarding destinations," and USA Today's Travel Tips section likes the "snowy, sport-filled atmosphere." With this exclusive Local Deal, hit the slopes for as little as $14 per person.

"Eat like a Frenchman without the airfare,” according to Zagat, when you dine on a decadent three-course meal at Cyrano's Bistrot in River North. For $49, enjoy two soups, salads or appetizers; two entrees; and two desserts from anything off the original menu, regularly $126.

"Peter Pan" is flying into the Cadillac Palace Theatre next week, starring Cathy Rigby as the boy who never grew up. Tickets to see her in a new production of the childhood favorite are 40% off for a limited time.

Experience a unique culinary blending of cultures at Mexican-French fusion restaurant Sabor Saveur. For $39, enjoy dinner for two at this chic Wicker Park establishment, regularly up to $78. While dining amid the elegantly chic yet sparse decor, choose from any two soups or salads, two entrees and two desserts from the entire menu.

"Disney On Ice presents Rockin' Ever After," a new production featuring princesses like Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel and Merida, skates into Rosemont's Allstate Arena and Chicago's United Center this week. Travelzoo subscribers save 25% on tickets with this Local Deal, starting at $19.50.

Enjoy drinks and live music at The Joynt in River North, a club Metromix praises for its "sophisticated atmosphere." For $19, two people can split four drinks at this two-level lounge at Dearborn and Erie. This deal also includes weekend cover charge for two, an entertainment package that would normally cost $68.

Centerstage Chicago calls Shula's Steak House a "meaty, manly steakhouse for football lovers and carnivores of all kinds," and Zagat rates the food at the famous coach's restaurant "very good to excellent" (21). With this exclusive deal, two people can dig into dinner at this NFL-themed eatery for $69, regularly $121.

Chicago Magazine praises the sweet and savory cuisine at Waffles, saying that "the menu smacks of waffle creativity," and "190 North" on ABC7 says "you really can't go wrong" with any of the dishes. For $19, two people can savor breakfast, brunch or lunch with hot chocolate flights at this new South Loop hot spot, regularly $40.

The 2012 Chicago Michelin Guide recommends Frontier as a "sexy saloon-style eatery for a good old fashioned meat-feast," and the Chicago Reader listed it among its favorite new restaurants of 2011. With this deal, subscribers can enjoy either dinner for $35 (regularly $69) or lunch for $19 (regularly $38) at this West Town local favorite.

Experience the exhilaration of riding a real NASCAR race car at top speeds on the Chicagoland Speedway with today's Local Deal. Choose between a ride-along with a professional racing instructor or sit in the driver's seat for a thrilling ride and save more than half off the regular price.

Head downtown this January for a day of family fun at Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier, a 170,000-square-foot indoor playground Time Out Chicago Kids says is a good seasonal activity. With this exclusive Local Deal, Travelzoo subscribers can snag wristbands good for a variety of winter-themed rides and activities, including an indoor carousel and a simulated snowmobile ride, for just $7.50 per person (regularly $15).

The newest addition to the Loop happy hour scene, Rittergut Wine Bar & Social Club opened just over a month ago. For $25, two people can sample wine flights and a cheese and charcuterie plate at this new riverfront venue, regularly $54.

Metromix praises the "beautiful riverfront seating" at Rittergut Wine Bar & Social Club, and Chicagoist.com calls the Loop locale a "hidden gem ... with a great menu and an amazing selection of wines." With this deal, perfect for after-work drinks throughout the summer, subscribers can enjoy two wine flights and a charcuterie and cheese platter for $25, regularly $54.

Take a deeper look at the inner workings of the human body and save 50% on admission with this deal for "Our Body: The Universe Within," now entering its final weeks on display at Chicago's International Museum of Surgical Science.

Experience the exhilaration of driving a real open-cockpit IndyCar race car at top speeds with Mario Andretti Racing Experience. Choose to sit in the driver's seat for a thrilling ride at Chicagoland Speedway, or ride along with a professional racing instructor, both more than half off the regular price.

Sample the sweet and savory breakfast options at the newly opened Marmalade in Ravenswood where the service is "friendly and attentive" and the cooking is "adventurous" according to the Chicago Reader. For $15, two people can select any two entrees and two drinks from the menu, normally $30.

The critically praised deca Restaurant + Bar recently received a Bib Gourmand award from the internationally recognized Michelin Guide, and Pat Bruno of the Chicago Sun-Times called his "luxury" dinner at deca a "standout meal" of 2010. For $65, two diners can savor three courses from chef Mark Payne's locally focused brasserie menu along with pre-dinner drinks, regularly $134.

Golfweek called Bolingbrook Golf Club one of the "Best Courses You Can Play" in 2009, while readers of Golf World magazine named it one of the Top 50 Public Courses in the nation in 2010, the only Illinois course to make the list. For $139, normally $248, two people can tee off at this championship course with this exclusive Local Deal, which includes 18 holes, cart rental, range balls, lunch or dinner with drinks, and a custom ball mark tool.

Dine at an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet aboard the Spirit of Chicago or Mystic Blue while enjoying the sprawling view of the city skyline from Lake Michigan. Travelzoo subscribers pay only $55 per person for Sunday through Friday cruises, which includes dinner and a champagne toast and regularly costs up to $120.

Time Out Chicago says that "the food is the real deal" at West Town's Frontier, Metromix readers call their brunch one of "Chicago's Best," and the Chicago Reader says chef Brian Jupiter "has got his game on." With this exclusive deal, two diners can savor brunch with drinks from the breakfast menu for $25, regularly $53.

For $35, two people can indulge in an elaborate hibachi dinner at Shinto in Naperville, which Naperville Magazine called a “hot spot for cool dates” that “delights the senses and the soul.” With this deal, diners can select $70 worth of any food and drinks on the restaurant's extensive menu.

Centerstage Chicago says Wave at the W Lakeshore boasts "breathtaking views" of Lake Shore Drive and Navy Pier, and Urbanspoon and OpenTable users give the eatery 4-star ratings. With this deal, two can enjoy dinner and free rein of chef Gregory Elliott's new menu for $49, regularly up to $92.

After getting his start selling fresh crepes at farmers markets around Chicago, French-born chef Antoine Elie now brings his knowledge to the masses with a series of classes at FliP Crepes in West Town. For $29, enroll in a two-hour crepe-making class with a full brunch buffet and mimosa per person, regularly $69.99. Bring a friend and reserve two spaces for $55, regularly $139.98.

Oxygen Spa Studio has been in business in the West Loop for just over a year, but WGN-TV has already featured its hot stone massage treatment, and the venue earns 4.5-star ratings from dozens of Yelp users. With this deal, select from five different massage options for nearly half off, starting at $50.

The Chicago Tribune praises the contemporary American comfort food at Hoyt's at Hotel 71, and the Chicago Reader loves the Loop restaurant's "swanky riverside location," which boasts great views via floor-to-ceiling windows and a patio. With this Local Deal for $35, regularly $80, two can share appetizers and four craft cocktails.

Winner of Time Out Chicago's Best New Breakfast 2012 award, Waffles restaurant taps "the full potential of its namesake dish with unexpected combinations," serving "the perfect breakfast food" in myriad ways. With this deal, diners can enjoy waffles at the South Loop or new Lakeview location for $19, regularly $40.

Gayot considers Adobo Grill one of the 2011 "Top 10 Chicago Mexican Restaurants," and Zagat gives the restaurant a food rating of "very good to excellent" (21). For $35, two people can savor three courses of authentic Mexican cuisine at this upscale Old Town eatery, regularly $69.

After spending the day perusing the luxury shops on Oak Street, treat yourself to an exclusive package from The Spa on Oak in the Gold Coast. For $79, enjoy an hour massage and hour facial, regularly $180.

WTTW's "Check, Please" says Coobah on Southport has "some of the hottest cuisine and nightlife that Chicago has to offer," and The New York Times says the restaurant "bounces with a raucous Latin beat." With this deal, two diners will enjoy three courses of Latin cuisine with drinks for $39, regularly priced at $80.

Frommer's says the Palmer House retains "a Gilded Age aura" in its grand lobby, which carries over to the luxurious Balance Spa, and Fodor's calls the fitness center "state-of-the-art." For $85, relax with an exclusive package of two treatments in this historic downtown hotel, regularly $155.

Playing at the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre through Feb. 17, "TRON: Legacy" is "visually intoxicating" and "a catchy popcorn pleasure" according to Entertainment Weekly. Now, Travelzoo subscribers can see this high-tech 3-D adventure -- complete with two regular sodas and a large popcorn -- for only $24. This exclusive package for two would normally cost up to $50.

Located in the Rush and Division area, the festively decorated Blue Agave features alfresco dining on the patio. Enjoy an authentic Mexican dinner for two with margaritas for $33, regularly $67.

The annual Travel & Adventure Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont offers expert advice for your next big trip and fresh tips about new destinations. With this deal for $9, regularly $18, two people can spend a day entering giveaways, attending seminars and participating in travel-themed activities such as a SeaWorld penguin exhibit and an 18,000-gallon scuba pool.

Enjoy what Metromix calls a "lively menu" of Cuban favorites in a "festively colored dining room" at D'Cuba Authentic Cuban Cuisine. With this Local Deal, get a three-course dinner for two including a shared appetizer, two entrees, two desserts and a pair of handcrafted mojitos for $29, regularly $77.

Unwind at the new location of Body Rituals Boutique Spa, at the Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago near the John Hancock Center. For $49, receive a 50-minute detox massage, regularly $125.

Golf Chicago Magazine said The Course at Aberdeen "has a personality all its own" and "feels like your home course," and Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly readers voted it the area's Best Golf Course. With this deal, play a round with lunch at a course that earns a 4-star rating on Golf Digest's Places to Play scale for $35, regularly $65. Two can play a round for $65, regularly $130, and save even more.

For $35, two people can indulge in an elaborate hibachi dinner at Naperville's Shinto, which is "satisfying to both the stomach and the soul," according to Naperville Magazine. With this exclusive deal, diners can select $70 worth of food and drinks from the extensive menu of this "west suburban scenester" that Zagat named a noteworthy newcomer.