23 Real Chicago Gifts That Capture the City’s Flavor in 2025
When it comes to Chicago gifts, you’ve got choices. None more obvious than the city’s amazing food scene. According to Travel + Leisure, “Chicagoans are most passionate about their deep-dish pizzas and their unique ketchup-free hot dogs.” But that’s just the start. From drag brunches to live-fire kitchens and wine bars the size of small stadiums, Chicago knows how to serve flavor with feeling.
That same energy makes it a goldmine for gift-giving. Chicago gifts aren’t just souvenirs — they’re statements. A pizza pan that brings Lou Malnati’s home. An improv class for your favorite goofball. The best Chicago gift ideas are rooted in what the city does best: bold food, bigger laughs and unforgettable experiences.
Shopping for a “transplant,” a tourist or a lifelong local? These Chicago-themed gifts tap into everything that makes the Windy City so good at winning hearts, and wrapping them up with a bow.
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- Chicago Gifts for Foodies
- Unique Chicago Gifts
- Creative Chicago Gifts
- Popular Chicago-Themed Souvenir Ideas
Chicago Gifts for Foodies
1. Cooking Classes in Chicago
Chicago’s foodie scene delivers. It’s often touted as one of the top foodie cities in the U.S. So, if you really want to get to know the city, start with its food. And a cooking class in Chicago is a great place to start. You can learn to make amazing classic Chicagoan dishes like deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef, as well as everything from sushi to handmade pasta. Alternatively, you can gift online cooking classes devoted to Chicago’s best wherever you happen to be.
2. Visit an Urban Winery
Chicago’s wine scene might surprise you. From the cozy tasting rooms of City Winery in the West Loop to the sleek vibe of Bronzeville Winery, these spots blend local flavor with sophisticated pours. Both offer tastings, tours and entertainment. Visit the winery and take home a few bottles of Chicago wine as great souvenir gifts for wine lovers.
3. Visit the Foodseum
Foodseum brings Chicago’s culinary legacy to life through exhibits you can see, smell and sometimes even taste. Its first showcase, a tribute to the city’s iconic hot dog and the global love of encased meats, gave visitors a flavorful glimpse into Chicago’s place in food history, with plenty of cheek and sensory appeal. It’s part museum, part memory lane, and a great gift for foodies who want more than just a meal.
4. Deep Dish Pizza Pan
Let them bring the city’s most iconic dish home with a Chicago-style deep dish pan. Brands like Chef Pomodoro deliver restaurant-worthy results straight from your oven. It’s a must-have for anyone missing their favorite slice or mastering the art of thick crust at home.
Chef Pomodoro is available on Amazon along with a wide selection of deep dish pans that make great Chicago gifts.
5. Chicago Food Subscription Boxes
Tastes of Chicago ships deep-dish, Italian beef and cheesecake from local icons like Eli’s Cheesecake, Lou Malnati’s, Portillo’s and Garrett Popcorn. A gift box makes for a perfect going away gift, or you could go the subscription route with a curated selection of Chicago’s best foods delivered every 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.
Unique Chicago Gifts
6. Dance Classes
Give the gift of rhythm in a city that practically moves to its own beat. From the birthplace of house music to the razzle-dazzle of Broadway’s Chicago, dance has deep roots here. You can find excellent dance classes in Chicago covering everything from salsa to ballet, swing dancing to hip hop. It makes for a particularly memorable experience gift in Chicago and works really well for a date idea in Chicago — even a first date if you're feeling adventurous.
7. Chicago Architecture Tour
Chicago’s skyline tells a story, and the Chicago Architecture Center’s (CAC) boat tour is one of the best ways to hear it. You’ll cruise past the towers that rose from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire, while learning how three centuries of design shaped the city’s character. If the boat tour’s not your thing, the CAC also offers a number of walking tours. Tickets make great Chicago gifts and work well if you’re looking for a family gift idea.
8. Sports Tickets
Chicago’s sports legacy runs deep, and a gift that taps into that pride is always a win. While game-day tickets for the Cubs, Bulls, Bears or Blackhawks can be tough to snag, stadium tours and team merch offer another way to celebrate their favorite franchise. Wrigley Field tours are especially iconic Chicago gifts for him, especially for locals and superfans alike.
9. Haunted Chicago Tour
For the more adventurous, a haunted tour through Chicago’s ghost stories is a gift with spine-tingling charm. Tours are available on foot or by bus and cover some of Chicago’s most famous hauntings and paranormal spots, including the site of the Eastland ship disaster, Resurrection Cemetery and the rumored-to-be-haunted Congress Hotel.
10. Grab a Hot Desk
For digital nomads with cabin fever, consider getting them a hot desk at one of the top coworking spaces in Chicago. It may sound like a silly idea, but it’s a thoughtful way to give them a break from the home office and a taste of the city’s energy.
Creative Chicago Gifts
11. Art Classes
Chicago’s galleries and museums might steal the spotlight, but there’s something special about making art of your own. Local studios across the city offer pottery, painting, and other creative classes for all skill levels. Sign them up for art classes in Chicago or pottery classes in Chicago for the perfect creative Chicago gifts.
12. Paint and Sip
Paint and sips in Chicago go beyond flowers and fruit bowls. You’ll find sessions built around skyline silhouettes, iconic landmarks and even Cubs colors — all with a cocktail in hand. It’s a less formal option than an art class, which allows you to ease into your creative side while socializing. If you’re looking for an experience gift card, go with a Classpop! gift card for total flexibility.
13. Improv Classes
Famous for improv and comedy, Chicago is home to The Second City and iO!, both of which offer a number of improv classes for beginning and advanced levels, which develop skills in communication and teamwork. For the less adventurous, a lively evening in the audience at either theater makes for some pretty unique Chicago gifts.
14. Writing Classes
Chicago’s rich literary tradition makes it a fitting place to start your own. Story Studio Chicago offers classes, structure, community and space to explore your voice. It’s a literary gift for anyone with a story to tell or simply an interest to get started.
15. Art Museums and Galleries
A pass to the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art is a Chicago gift with serious cultural cachet. Museums make the perfect indoor activities in Chicago. Memberships and day passes make it easy to explore world-class collections. Alternatively, you could gift a visit to one of the many amazing Chicago art galleries, many of which offer not only original art but budget-friendly prints, postcards and other objects that make excellent Chicago gifts.
Popular Chicago-Themed Souvenir Ideas
16. Neon Skyline
Bring home the Chicago skyline in light form. It’s a great gift for new homeowners, or just a visitor who can’t get the cityscape out of their head. You can find them custom-made from ShiningstarByJin on Etsy in a variety of styles and colors that will fit any decor scheme and provide a stylish focal point to any room.
17. Jeppson’s Malort
This bitter liqueur is a rite of passage in Chicago. Its roots are pure Chicago and it's often brought out to welcome newcomers to the city’s bars. Jeppson’s Malört has Prohibition-era roots and a reputation that still sparks debate in bars across the city. Give a bottle of Jeppson’s Malört to introduce (or reintroduce) someone to this infamous hometown spirit — if they’re brave enough.
18. Vintage Chicago Posters
Some of the most striking images of Chicago come from its design past. Think art deco train ads, Chicago World’s Fair prints and other stylized pieces pulled from transit and advertising history. These vintage Chicago posters celebrate the city’s design history with a perfect blend of nostalgia and style. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Make your own. Get started with a photography class in Chicago to nail the basics, find the right shot and have it printed however you choose. Gift it to someone or hang it in your home if you just can’t let it go.
19. Chicago Candies
Give a taste of Chicago’s sweet side with candies that carry a hometown legacy. Think Frango Mints from the old Marshall Field’s building, Fannie May chocolates that go back generations, or the scent of Blommer’s cocoa drifting through downtown on the right kind of day. These aren’t just treats — they’re little pieces of the city’s confectionery history, boxed and ready to gift. You can buy Marshall Field and Company’s famous Frango Mints, which are often featured in Chicago holiday gift guides, at the downtown Macy’s. Pick up a box for a great Chicago gift.
20. Chicago Handshake Card Game
This trivia and drinking game combines two great Chicago pastimes: storytelling and shots. Designed by Chicago’s own Transit Trees graphic company, Chicago Handshake is filled with Chicago trivia about its history and geography. It’s a great Chicago gift for Chicagoans transplanted elsewhere, or any gathering wherever you happen to call home.
21. Chicago Scented Candle
Chicago smells like lake breezes, blooming trees. And, if you're lucky, the sweet scent of Garrett Popcorn wafting through downtown. A Chicago-themed candle captures that sensory magic, whether it’s a tribute to your favorite neighborhood or a whiff of buttery nostalgia. For a more personal touch, gift a spot in a candle-making class in Chicago so they can craft their very own Chicago scent. It makes for great Chicago gifts for her that deliver an experience.
22. Chicago Snow Globe
Looking for Chicago gifts for out-of-towners? A snow globe is a classic pick, especially if you’re visiting during winter. Go for one featuring Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”) for a souvenir that’s iconic and full of charm. You’ll find plenty of options in various souvenir outlets, Chicago gift shops, and other retailers in the Loop. It's one of those last minute gift ideas you can pick up when you're leaving the city.
23. Cultural Center Honey
The rooftop of the famous Chicago Cultural Center on Michigan Avenue boasts a little-known secret stash of working honeybee hives. Managed by the Chicago Honey Co-op, it’s locally sourced, rare and uniquely Chicago. You can pick up a jar at the Cultural Center Chicago gift shop, local markets and from their online shop.
24. Chicago Cookbook
Cookbooks like Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites or Hot Doug’s: The Book turn local legends into kitchen adventures. From deep-dish tales to sausage stand stories, they make a thoughtful Chicago gift for anyone who loves to cook. Or just loves to eat.
Chicago gifts aren’t about playing it safe. They’re about tapping into what makes the city unforgettable. A deep-dish pan, a skyline print, a cooking class or a comedy ticket. Choose a gift that really says something about the city. Don’t choose something generic. Choose something with real Chicago flavor. You’ll find unique gifts from Chicago in the food, the grit, the laughs and the legends. That’s the Chicago way.
For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
