If you find yourself north of Chicago for an outing at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, a concert at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park or a performance at the Writers Theatre in Glencoe, both Highland Park and Highwood have some excellent dining options and architecture to explore.
Highwood
Highwood is a small Lake County town north of Highland Park that has been a top restaurant destination for many years. I went back in August 2026 and enjoyed exploring again. I was told that there are several new restaurants that will be opening soon.
I have always liked Froggy’s French Cafe at 306 Green Bay Rd., since it opened in 1980. I had not been back in many years, so just made a special trip to have lunch with a local friend who lives nearby. I thought the menu choices and service were excellent. The food was really great! I was there for lunch so the cafe was perfect on a sunny winter day. The cozy back dining room is perfect for dinner. It was well-worth the drive from Chicago to have a great experience!
Make a point to stop in before or after at the Gourmet Frog at 316 Green Bay Rd. where you can buy one of their great pastries, croissants, macaron or cakes. I thought the apricot tart was excellent. Formerly owned by Froggy’s, it is now owned by Antonio Larrondo who has been part of the Froggy’s family for over 25 years.
Other fun spots to try include The Del Rio Restaurant at 228 Greenbay Road. for classic Italian fare that opened in 1923, and Miramar Bistro for French food with a few Cuban accents. Both get good reviews. I also want to try Dissoto, an Italian restaurant, at 310 Green Bay Road and Avec, the popular Chicago restaurant, that will open a new location at the end of 2026 at 250 Waukegan Ave.
I recently read about Tala Coffee Roasters in the Chicago Tribune for its quality. I went for coffee with a friend and enjoyed it. It has both indoor and outdoor patio seating and is located in a former Highwood fire station. 428 Green Bay Road, Suite B
I recommend that you stop in at Toffee Traditions at 323 Waukegan Ave. This is a small boutique that features English toffee made in house with the owner Kristen’s time-honored family recipes. I bought some of their popular dark chocolate with pecans and almonds. It was excellent and definitely worth the calories. Please stop by and support this local business.
Nearby is Bent Fork Bakery at 335 Waukegan Road. This is a small local bakery featuring their homemade cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies and bars along with, pastries. I bought a great oatmeal raisin cookie and a berry scone which I had for breakfast the next day.
Also in Highwood is the 28 Mile Distilling Co. at 454 Sheridan Rd. It was just recommend to me. They produce award-winning vodka, gin and a two bourbons. They also have a tasting room and a venue where they feature live music. They also have pizza menu. Unfortunately it has been closed when I was in town, but I hope to go back in the future.
I also recommend that you visit Broken Tee Brewing Company at 406 Greenbay Road.This is a small, craft brewery that produces several IPAs, lagers, a sour German ale, a Belgian witbier and a coffee lager I enjoyed meeting Paul Bumbaco, the owner and head brewer. I enjoyed the Dew Sweeper Coffee Lager which is made with their lager and cold brew coffee from Tala Coffee Roasters up the street. They also have food items and both indoor and patio seating. It is also a member of the Lake County Libation Trail.
Highland Park
Downtown Highland Park has some great shops and restaurants to visit. Walker Bros. Original Pancake House at 620 Central Ave. is popular for breakfast and brunch, but the lines can be out the door. So a fun alternative is Country Kitchen down the street at 446 Central Ave. where they serve breakfast all day. I went with local friends and had a great Sunday brunch. The same local friends also love Norton’s at 1905 Sheridan Rd. for live music, burgers, salads and more. Prefect Blend Coffee at 491 Central Ave. downtown is a great spot for coffee.
A longtime friend who lives in Glencoe to the south, highly recommended That Little French Guy – Patisserie & Café, a French café and bakery at 1791 St. Johns Ave. Based on her recommendation, I had to go on my last visit to town. The menu is quite extensive and the pastries are wonderful. I loved the macarons and my latte.
I recently met local friends for coffee at Madame ZuZu’s Teahouse at 1876 First St. Owned by Billy Corgan, founder of the band The Smashing Pumpkins, and his partner Chloe Mendel, they feature tea and coffee drinks along with a plant-based menu of soups, sandwiches, salads and bowls. It is a fun spot that also features live music performances.
Nearby is Terry’s Toffee at 1853 2nd St. I enjoyed going in the past when they were in Lincoln Park in Chicago, but they moved to Highland Park in 2023. They have menu of toffee candy, gelato and tea and coffee drinks. I enjoyed the hazelnut gelato, a latte and the McCalls dark chocolate toffee.
Across the street at 1850 N. 2nd St. is Denucci’s Highland Park. I have enjoyed their Chicago Lincoln Park location. They opened a second location in Highland Park in 2024. I am excited to try it in the future.
Highand Park’s Ravinia District is located south of downtown on Roger Williams Ave. between Greenbay Rd. and Sheridan Rd. Here you can find some small shops, a coffee shop and restaurants. During the summer months, there is a Farmers Market every Wednesday and Food Truck Thursdays with food and live music every Thursday night.
I recommend that you visit the taproom of Ravinia Brewing Company which has been rebranded as Steep Ravine Brewing Co. Here you can try one of their lagers, sours, IPAs, stouts, pilsners along with a food menu of tacos, burritos and sides. They have a small indoor space along with outdoor seating in the front and rear. Their Foodtruck Pilsner was very refreshing. 582 Roger Williams Ave.
Frank Lloyd Wright Homes
As a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, I was pleased to see that there are three homes he designed in Highland Park. So on a recent visit to the area, I made a point to see all three. If you have time, I suggest you do the same. In order of the year built, they are:
The Ward Willits House, built in 1901, at 1445 Sheridan Rd. is considered one of Wright’s first true Prairie-style houses. It has a complex shape, consisting of a rectangular central space with a rectangular wing projecting from each side of that space
“The new owner and his wife mainly completed the work, focusing on returning the building to a point in time approximating 1909, and they made sure to maintain Wright’s unique features throughout the house. The restoration was acknowledged by many to be Museum quality, and received a Driehaus award.”
Mary Adams House, 1905, 1923 Lake Ave. The Adams House is a two-story home, Prairie School home, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms with a light stucco exterior and wooden trim that emphasizes the horizontal. It as listed in the National Register of Historic Places in September, 1982. New owners purchased the home in December 2010 and embarked upon an 18-month restoration using the original plans of Frank Lloyd Wright.
George M. Millard House, 1906, 1689 Lake Ave. This Prairie School house by Wright with a floor plan that is cruciform in design. The exterior walls are brown-stained board and batten siding laid horizontally. Like the Mary Adams House is was was recognized by the National Park Service with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places on September 29, 1982.
I also just saw on a local newscast that there is a Highland Park Arts Center at 1957 Sheridan Rd. It offers exhibitions, classes and other events. I went on my recent visit to the area and was very impressed with the current exhibition and the number of classes and programs that offer.
