9 Unique Souvenirs To Bring Home From Chicago

Garrett Popcorn has been Chicago’s go-to snack since 1949, when the first shop opened downtown and served just four flavors: plain, buttered, cheese, and caramel. Today, there are more than 50 shops worldwide, but the brand remains deeply rooted in its hometown. You can order online, but enjoy a true Chicago experience by visiting in-person to fill a commemorative tin with a custom choice of flavors.

The biggest seller is cheddar and caramel tossed together, a sweet-and-salty concoction so iconic that it’s known simply as “the mix” and one of the best food souvenirs from Chicago. (And if you’re still hungry after some snacking, there are plenty of Chicago food tours to help you find the best bites to enjoy while you’re in town.)

Best for: Foodies of all ages (and popcorn lovers, of course).

Where: There are four Garrett Popcorn shops in the Loop, Chicago’s central business district.

The massive Art Institute of Chicago, occupying a full city block between Michigan Avenue and Grant Park, is the city’s premier art museum. Its galleries house one of the finest collections of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art outside of France, and the museum shop bursts with high-quality prints and posters of works by Monet, Renoir, and other masters.

Pick up a reproduction to frame or choose from the vast collection of whimsical art-forward apparel, toys, and decorations, including umbrellas decorated with Monet’s Water Lilies or bookends that reproduce the bronze lions flanking the museum’s entrance, for striking Chicago cultural souvenirs.

Best for: Anyone, but especially art enthusiasts and kids.

Where: The shop is located at the Art Institute of Chicago entrance—you don't need museum tickets to enter.

Chicago has been known for its vibrant music scene since the early 20th century, when Black Americans from the South migrated to the city, bringing their rich musical traditions with them. Since then, the city has been a hub for jazz and blues—and, more recently, soul, rock, hip hop, and gospel—with numerous live concert venues, plus major music festivals dedicated to different genres.

Bring the sound of the city home by crate digging for jazz and blues classics at Reckless Records, considered one of the best sources for vintage vinyl in the city and a top spot for unique gifts from Chicago.

Best for: Music lovers and vintage vinyl collectors.

Where: Reckless Records has three locations in the city, including the Loop, Wicker Park, and Lakeview.

Sport is a huge part of Chicago culture, and the Bulls (basketball), Cubs (baseball), White Sox (baseball), Bears (football), and Blackhawks (hockey) are revered and reviled with equal affection, depending on the season and neighborhood.

Pick up team jerseys and branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and other apparel at the team shops inside the United Center, Wrigley Field, Rate Field, or Soldier Field (or head to a general sports emporium) to support your favorite from afar. For a true Chicago sports fan memento, opt for a beer koozie printed with a team logo.

Best for: Sports fans young and old.

Where: Chicago Sports, a locally owned shop dedicated to Chicago’s teams, with four locations in the city (Michigan Avenue, McCormick Place, Navy Pier, and Rate Field).

Though Frango Mints were created in Seattle, these mint-infused chocolate candies were introduced to Chicago by the historic (now defunct) Marshall Field’s department store a century ago and soon became a local favorite. Today, Garrett Popcorn owns the Frango Mint line, so you can stock up on two heritage Chicago treats in one stop.

Choose the classic milk chocolate flavor or an assortment box that also includes the newer dark and white chocolate varieties. In the summertime, do as locals do and pop your Frango Mints into the freezer for a cool morsel when temps soar.

Best for: Chocolate lovers, foodies.

Where: Frango Mints are sold at Garrett Popcorn shops in the Loop, as well as Macy’s on State Street.

Set in the colorful Andersonville neighborhood just north of the Loop, the Andersonville Galleria showcases more than 100 local artists and artisans who create one-of-a-kind apparel and accessories, art, home furnishings, gourmet delicacies, and more. Topping the list of where to shop in Chicago, the gallery is a paradise for visitors (and locals) seeking handmade Chicago gifts, as well as vintage and ethically sourced treasures.

After visiting the gallery, stroll along North Clark Street to shop at nearby local favorites such as the Women and Children First bookstore, Andersonville Antiques, and Transit Tees.

Best for: Hard-to-please family and friends, lovers of the odd and quirky.

Where: North Clark Street is Andersonville’s bustling retail corridor, so take your time walking up and down to make sure you check out all of the (many) shops.

From steel-framed skyscrapers to Prairie School houses, Chicago offers a mix of architectural styles and movements. Capture the dynamic skyline with souvenirs inspired by the city’s distinctive buildings at the Chicago Architecture Center shop, stocked with books, home decor, posters, and other gifts celebrating the cityscape and the architects who created it.

The Frank Lloyd Wright collection is particularly unique, with housewares, toys, and jewelry that capture the architect’s signature geographic designs and motifs.

Best for: Architecture buffs and fans of home design.

Where: The Chicago Architecture Center is located on East Wacker Drive at the base of the Magnificent Mile, the city’s main shopping stretch of Michigan Avenue.

No city is as attached to its public transportation as Chicago is to its beloved ‘L’ train. (The elevated train’s circular route even gave the city’s downtown its nickname—the Loop.)

You can find mugs, t-shirts, and other gifts printed with the ‘L’ map in souvenir shops around the city, but for authentic CTA merchandise, check out the official store. Though there's no brick-and-mortar shop to browse, the online collection ranges from everything from ‘L’ car-shaped Christmas ornaments to vintage CTA poster reproductions.

Best for: Fans of unique gifts and train enthusiasts.

Where: Official CTA souvenirs are only available via their online shop, but plenty of unofficial merchandise can be found in stores all over Chicago.

The world’s most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton is the star of the show at the Field Museum of Natural History, and the museum shop overflows with dino-related merch and toys. But locals in the know also head here for natural history–related books and toys for kids on their gift list, as well as to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry farther south along the shores of Lake Michigan.

One of the largest science museums in the US, this blockbuster complex also boasts a sprawling shop that sells an endless array of toys and souvenirs for science lovers of all ages.

Best for: Kids, science buffs.

Where: Both museums are located south of the Loop along the shores of Lake Michigan—you don't need museum tickets to enter the shops.