Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

If you're looking for some inspiration on how to spend the upcoming holiday season, it's time to take cues from fellow Indians. A recent study by American Express has highlighted that a staggering 97% of Indians have their travel plans set for the forthcoming festive season, and more than 30% have already made their bookings. What's more, around 93% won't shy away from spending a few extra bucks if it means making their trip more comfortable and fun. <br /><br /> A recent <keyword id="23687478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Skyscanner-report" source="keywords">Skyscanner report</keyword> titled Travel Trends 2025 also underlined this growing preference for <keyword id="23687479" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="comfortable-travel" source="keywords">comfortable travel</keyword> among Indians. Per the report, 57% of Indians were okay spending a little extra to get a good quality in-flight meal. For 47%, good seats and hence, seat selection was a priority, and 42% of surveyed Indians preferred comfort right from the trip's start-valuing access to airport lounges. <br /><br /> Per the <keyword id="23687477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="American-Express-study" source="keywords">American Express study</keyword>, while most people (63%) just want to let their hair down and relax, 54% want to don their explorer hats and see new places. About 27% just want to get away from the chaos of their daily lives and spend time with their near and dear ones. Most of us (around 88%) just have Bharat Darshan on our itinerary, while 61% felt like the world was calling us, which is why they plan to travel internationally. Irrespective of destinations, a staggering 91% of Indian travelers believe holidays can help build resilience and strength, so they’re better able to handle the stresses of everyday life.<br /><br /> But even amidst all this traveling, Indians do not forget to be budget-conscious, which explains why 73% of Indians won't shy away from generously using their <keyword id="23687480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-card-points" source="keywords">credit card points</keyword>, <keyword id="23687481" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airline-miles" source="keywords">airline miles</keyword>, or loyalty rewards.<br /><br /><strong>Soak in the festivities and experience</strong><br /> The American Express study, which spanned Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, apart from India, only reinforced that pretty much everyone across the world is in a mood to travel and relax. <br /><br /> Globally, 58% of respondents from these countries had plans to visit their family and friends. For those few who had no travel plans but rather wanted to lounge and laze in their homes, 40% had family or friends visiting them. But quality time with loved ones was not the only thing on the list, with 55% also taking trips outside of visiting family. <br /><br /> Also, buying gifts during the season is seemingly passe. Every 1 in 3 respondents chose gifting their loved ones an experience rather than a material gift. Atop this gift list are entertainment-related experiences, preferred by 59% of respondents. Travel-related experiences come next, chosen by 54% of those surveyed, followed by food and drink-related experiences, which were opted for by 49% of respondents. <br /><br /> The Skyscanner also highlighted that 66% of Indian travelers plan to travel more in 2025. As to the deciding factors for choosing the next travel destination, food, culture, and weather played a crucial role for 63%, 58%, and 57% of respondents, respectively. <br /><br /> Skyscanner's report also highlighted this trend, noting that people were increasingly looking forward to having unique experiences. 53% of Indians surveyed wanted to travel to watch a live game or sporting event in 2025. At 54%, this number was slightly higher amongst the 25-34 age cohort.<br />

Travel, Eat, and Have Fun: How Indians plan to spend their holidays

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk was named by Donald Trump to cut spending with his Department of Government Efficiency.</li><li>Musk reposted on Wednesday a list of cuts from Sen. Rand Paul, a longtime critic of the federal budget.</li></ul><p><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-department-government-efficiency-doge-2024-11">Elon Musk</a> is on the hunt for federal spending to cut — and a Republican senator's list caught his eye.</p><p>Musk late on Thursday reposted part of a long-running series by Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican who has devoted much of his career to lamenting federal spending.</p><p>In Paul's crosshairs were medical research projects, foreign aid, and public information projects.</p><p>"The Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE ) will fix this," said a post by Musk's America PAC, which Musk <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/america/status/1857228761915412814/photo/1">reposted on X</a>.</p><h2 id="ed7520d5-8d1b-4d2e-a51b-350e8f79c556"><strong>'Festivus' complaints</strong></h2><p>It could offer a window into the types of programs that will attract the focus of Musk and his partner in the project, Vivek Ramaswamy.</p><p>Paul has been publishing his end-of-year spending critiques for at least a decade, calling them "The Festivus Report" in a nod to the holiday popularized on "Seinfeld" that celebrates complaining.</p><p>Though the America PAC post said DOGE would act on the list, that is far from a sure thing.</p><p>The list includes long-standing focuses of Paul's — like his opposition to federal health agencies — and also highlights spending that isn't easy to cut, like the cost of mistakes or debt on interest.</p><h2 id="4c0bdd06-3567-4514-a2f2-cd51467f3e51"><strong>African tourism, public information projects</strong></h2><p>The lists are sourced from internal government watchdogs, media outlets, and congressional and government websites.</p><p>In his latest list, published last year, Paul highlighted foreign aid spending, including an $8.6 million investment in the port city of Esna, Egypt, meant to support tourism jobs there. (That program was due to end in October 2024.)</p><p>A prior report highlighted <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tn.usembassy.gov/the-united-states-injects-usd-50-million-into-tunisias-tourism-sector-with-the-visit-tunisia-project/">$50 million of US funding for Tunisia's tourism industry</a>, meant to help it increase visitor numbers through 2026.</p><h2 id="cbcc6b7c-683c-4395-a63d-9f5ac3499d0a"><strong>Government ad campaigns</strong></h2><p>The most recent report noted that an agency of the Department of Homeland Security produced graphic novels to increase public awareness of disinformation.</p><p>And in 2022 the report noted the Department of Transportation spent $200,000 to encourage people to obey safety rules at railway crossings.</p><h2 id="684d1fd2-e26f-400a-81a1-7443926bf0af"><strong>Animal research</strong></h2><p>A frequent target is research programs on animals, which came up five times in the 2023 report and 12 times since 2021.</p><p>The 2023 report outlined a USDA study on whether Labrador fur color affects their body temperature, while the 2022 report highlighted a Cornell University study on social communication between parrots.</p><p>The 2023 report noted government-funded research on monkeys, including funding for an island off South Carolina where some 3,500 rhesus monkeys are kept for research.</p><p>It also featured studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, examining the effects of hormones and drugs on monkeys, which the authors said could have implications for human health.</p><p>Those criticisms are familiar topics<strong> </strong>for Paul, a prominent critic of agencies like the NIH and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.</p><h2 id="0133be91-571a-438f-af98-bc19ac01b7bd"><strong>Old-fashioned incompetence</strong></h2><p>Another major feature of Paul's lists are accidental waste, often by the US military.</p><p>The 2023 report highlighted some $150 million of military equipment that was written off after being stored in the open air, and more than $200 billion that federal agencies paid out by mistake.</p><h2 id="373674a4-9816-4d5f-9180-2a4343455bf3"><strong>The DOGE agenda</strong></h2><p>Details are still scarce on how or when DOGE would take any action. But Musk has emphasized his desire to do identify wasteful spending in public, culminating in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-doge-leaderboard-federal-government-spending-trump-2024-11">a leaderboard of spending deemed wasteful</a>.</p><p>Writing on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1856520760656797801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856520760656797801%7Ctwgr%5Ee41af7071c96f14e61e48a8fa993a290769e757a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Felon-musk-doge-leaderboard-federal-government-spending-trump-2024-11">X</a> on Wednesday, Musk said the DOGE's actions "will be posted online for maximum transparency."</p><p>"Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know!" he said.</p>

Elon Musk is looking for DOGE cuts. A GOP senator's list caught his eye.

<p class="headline-regular financial-disclaimer">Our experts answer readers' banking questions and write unbiased product reviews (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/personal-finance-editorial-standards#rating-banking-products" class="not-content-link" target="_blank">here's how we assess banking products</a>). In some cases, we receive a commission from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/our-partners" class="not-content-link" target="_blank">our partners</a>; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Most banks follow the Federal Reserve System's holiday schedule.</li><li>If you're part of an online bank, transactions aren't processed on holidays.</li></ul><p>Once a holiday weekend comes around, everything can become a frantic rush — family gatherings, last-minute shopping trips, ever-changing holiday decorations. It's easy to lose track of which days your bank is closed, but you also don't want it to affect your day off if you need to access money in one of your bank accounts.</p><p>We've included a list of holidays when most banks close, plus alternatives for accessing cash if you need money quickly. We also maintain a list of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-banks">best banks</a> in the U.S. </p><h2>Are banks open on New Year's Eve?</h2><p>Most financial institutions will be closed on New Year's Eve because it falls on a Sunday this year. If a bank or credit union is regularly open on a Sunday, branches may be open for limited banking hours since New Year's Eve isn't a federal holiday. Contact your local branch for specific hours.</p><h2>Are banks open on New Year's Day?</h2><p>Financial institutions will be closed on Monday, January 1, because it's a federal holiday. Brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions will close their branches on New Year's Day. If you use an online bank, your transactions may be delayed until the next business day. Most institutions will reopen with regular banking hours on Tuesday, January 2.</p><h2>When are banks closed? </h2><p>Financial institutions close on federal holidays. Most have a holiday list on their website to let you know and prepare ahead of time.</p><p>Some brick-and-mortar <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-national-banks" rel="noopener">national banks</a> have a list in the FAQ section of the website.</p><p>Others, like <a href="https://www.td.com/us/en/about-us/holiday-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TD Bank</a> and <a href="https://www.regions.com/about-regions/bank-holidays" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regions Bank</a>, have separate pages with bank holiday schedules. During these holidays, brick-and-mortar banks will close all of their branches or modify their branch hours. Customer service hours may also vary depending on where you bank.</p><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> If a bank doesn't have a holiday schedule on its website, your best bet will be to call your nearest branch to know which holidays it's observing. </p><p>Online banks usually don't have physical branch locations, but you still may be affected. When an online bank observes a holiday, transactions may be delayed until the next day.</p><p>Customer service availability will usually stay the same with online banks, but there are some exceptions. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/capital-one-bank-review" rel="noopener">Capital One 360</a> offers customer service support for all holidays except the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.</p><p>Most financial institutions follow the <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/k8.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Reserve System's holiday schedule</a>. Here is the holiday schedule for 2024. </p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"><strong>Holiday</strong></td><td style="width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 21px;"><strong>2024</strong></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">New Year's Day</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">January 1</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Martin Luther King, Jr. Day</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">January 15</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day)</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">February 19</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Memorial Day</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">May 27</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Juneteenth</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">June 19</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Fourth of July</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">July 4</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Labor Day</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">September 2</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Columbus Day</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">October 14</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Veterans Day</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">November 11</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Thanksgiving Day</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">November 28</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px;">Christmas Day</td><td style="width: 16.6667%; height: 21px;">December 25</td></tr></tbody></table><p>If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the bank will still be open on a Friday. But if a holiday occurs on a Sunday, the bank will be closed the following Monday.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/is-the-stock-market-open-today">The stock market is open</a> on most of the same days as banks, with a few exceptions.</p><h2>Do transactions go through on bank holidays? </h2><p>Most banking transactions don't process on bank holidays, regardless of whether you use an online or brick-and-mortar bank. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/ally-bank-review" rel="noopener">Ally Bank</a>, for instance, doesn't let you make any money-related transactions on federal holidays. The online banking platform Chime also has a <a href="https://help.chime.com/hc/en-us/articles/10017608952727" target="_blank" rel="noopener">list of holidays when it can't process direct deposits</a>. </p><p>Transactions at brick-and-mortar banks like Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America won't be processed until the next business day. Business days are weekdays when branches are in operation.</p><p>So, instead of hinging on a lagging <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/direct-deposit" rel="noopener">direct deposit</a>, you may want to come up with a backup plan in case the transaction gets delayed.</p><h2>Where can I get cash when banks are closed? </h2><p>Branches are closed on federal holidays, but ATMs aren't. If you have a debit or ATM card, you can still use a machine to take out cash during the holidays.</p><p>If you're out of town, you can also use a debit card to get cash back at a store if you don't have any free ATMs nearby. That way, you don't have to pay an out-of-network <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/bank-atm-fees" rel="noopener">ATM fee</a> if your bank doesn't reimburse charges.</p><h2>How can I cash a personal check when banks are closed? </h2><p>If you receive a personal check during the holidays, there are a few roundabout ways access to your money quickly.</p><p>You can cash the check out at a store if you need money in a pinch.</p><p>Some ATMs let you cash or deposit checks, but you may already need to have those funds in your account. If your bank's ATM network doesn't let you make check transactions, you can deposit the check using your bank's online or mobile features, then cash your check out using an ATM.</p><p>Funds likely won't be available right away, so this alternative works best if you prefer to have money safe in your account and don't mind waiting a day or two.</p>

Are banks open today? Here's a list of U.S. bank holidays for 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Cookeez Makery appears to be one of the hottest toys this holiday season.</li><li>Some retailers have been selling out and people are reselling the toys for much higher prices.</li></ul><p>A children's oven that looks like it turns dough into freshly baked plushies is in high demand among kids this holiday season, leaving some parents scrambling to track them down.</p><p>A Cookeez Makery set, typically retailing at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.moosetoys.com/brand/cookeez-makery/">$34.99</a>, contains ingredients that you mix together, put into an animal-shaped mold, and place in a small oven made from cardboard and plastic. After 90 seconds, the oven pings and you can open the door to reveal a scented and warm freshly-baked plushy – or so it seems.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/style/cookeez-makery-toy.html">The New York Times</a> reported that the oven shelves actually move around once the timer is set, meaning the dough moves into a hidden bottom shelf and is replaced with the plushy. Pellets in the animals' bodies give them their smells and the toy heats up when squeezed.</p><div type="image" title="A child plays with a Cookeez Makery oven" height="1046" width="1270" msid="105968309" hostid="261" sizebytes="73350"></div><p>There are currently <a target="_blank" href="https://www.moosetoys.com/brand/cookeez-makery/">three different models</a> of the toy, and each could come with a cat, dog, or rabbit – it isn't clear which one you're getting until you open up your set and see which animal mold is included.</p><p>Moose Toys, the Australian company that makes Cookeez Makery, said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moose-toys-newest-innovations-hit-1-301992754.html">press release</a> that it was the top-growing new toy brand in October, citing data from Circana. Business Insider has contacted Circana for confirmation. On <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-62179-20&amp;h=0deb79ae251ac037414d68ff526b7605c5d57778c0a332f2d10c70056a29f5cf&amp;postID=6579a1dab5ceb3ceac882825&amp;postSlug=cookeez-makery-bizarre-toy-oven-tops-kids-wish-lists-holiday-2023-12&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FCookeez-Makery-Cinnamon-Scented-Interactive%2Fdp%2FB0BQNFZXTQ%2Fref%3Dzg_bs_g_166350011_sccl_1%2F137-1609218-0418605%3Fth%3D1">Amazon</a> it's ranked as the best-selling toy cooking appliance, and it's listed as a best seller on <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-62179-20&amp;h=d097dd4060d56446d0b3dbf586b6875bbee321b459a3e011ef277f3e73bcda0c&amp;postID=6579a1dab5ceb3ceac882825&amp;postSlug=cookeez-makery-bizarre-toy-oven-tops-kids-wish-lists-holiday-2023-12&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FCookeez-Makery-Sweet-Treatz-Oven-Playset-Exclusive-Edition%2F5049001170%3Fathbdg%3DL1600%26from%3D%2Fsearch">Walmart's website</a> too.</p><p>Moose Toys <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moose-toys-social-media-sensation-cookeez-makery-sees-retail-sell-out-301942512.html">said</a> Cookeez Makery had "flown off shelves" since its release in the summer, which <a target="_blank" href="https://nypost.com/2023/12/05/lifestyle/moms-scrambling-to-find-hottest-toy-of-the-year-as-it-sells-for-3-times-as-much-on-amazon/">The New York Post</a> reported was leading to some retailers selling out and people reselling them online for much higher prices. Moms have been scrambling to find it on sale at a sensible price in time for the holidays, and one <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@danii_vicious/video/7299292834874576170?_r=1&amp;_t=8hw1ifBz9vH">TikToker</a> expressed her surprise at being able to snap one up for $24.96 at Aldi.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cookeezmakery">Dozens of videos on TikTok</a> show people trying out the toys. <a target="_blank" href="https://thetoyinsider.com/?s=cookeez+makery&amp;orderby=post_date&amp;order=desc">The Toy Insider</a> has listed it as one of the hottest holiday toys for 2023.</p><p>"I fully expected maybe not to love this but I do love it," one toy reviewer said on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B8AHbv5Jb0">YouTube</a>. "You could play with this over and over, like you could reset it and do it again. I think it was worth $to 35."</p>

A bizarre toy oven that appears to turn dough into freshly baked plushies is topping kids' wish lists this holiday

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Erica Noblecilla is a food influencer who's lived in Chicago for four years.</li><li>Chicago is a "melting pot" of different cuisines and has delicious cheap eats as well as Michelin-starred spots, she said.</li></ul><p>Erica Noblecilla spends her days scouring Chicago for the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-restaurants-in-chicago-from-local-foodie-2024-5">best food spots</a>.</p><p>She posted her first <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ericaeatseverything">TikTok reviews</a> in spring 2021. After some of her videos went viral, she quit her job in real-estate marketing and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/become-content-creator-instagram-tiktok-six-figures-full-time-2022-3">started making content full-time</a>, visiting both well-known restaurants and hidden gems throughout the Windy City and its suburbs.</p><p>"Chicagoans take their food very seriously," she told Business Insider. Chicago was ranked third in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.foodandwine.com/global-tastemakers-best-united-states-cities-food-drink-2024-8620202">Food &amp; Wine's 2024 ranking</a> of the best cities for food and drink in the US.</p><p>Here's why Noblecilla thinks the city is such a great destination for foodies.</p><div type="image" title="A photo of Erica Noblecilla in a restaurant holding a large sandwich" height="2268" width="3024" msid="112245279" hostid="261" sizebytes="405486"></div><h2 id="3890cd4f-4e59-4592-a459-f1f1ed9b1c98">International cuisines</h2><p>Chicago is a "melting pot" of different cultures and cuisines, Noblecilla said. The city is home to a Chinatown, Little India, Little Italy, Ukrainian Village, and Greektown. There are also Polish, Mexican, Arabic, and Filipino influences, she said.</p><p>Noblecilla moved from South Florida to Chicago in July 2020. "I've never really lived in a city before that's had all of these kinds of influences," she said. "I was a little kid in a candy store moving here. It's such a food city."</p><h2 id="bfd6ffd9-f2ab-46dc-827f-f574650fb160">Chicago staples</h2><p>New York has bagels, Philadelphia has cheesesteaks, and Cincinnati has Skyline Chili. Chicago has its fair share of staples, too — there's deep-dish pizza, tavern-style pizza, Polish hot dogs, and Italian beef, for starters.</p><p>For <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/where-to-get-best-italian-beef-in-chicago-photos">Italian beef</a>, you can go to Al's or Mr Beef, Noblecilla said. The latter inspired The Original Beef of Chicagoland in the FX series <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-bear-season-4-release-date-plot-cast-2024-6">The Bear</a>.</p><div type="image" title="Giardiniera is scooped onto an Italian Beef Sandwich at Mr. Beef" height="683" width="1024" msid="112245277" hostid="261" sizebytes="79964"></div><p>For deep-dish pizza, head to Lou Malnati's. The pizza has a "delicious" and crispy butter crust and "incredibly fresh" toppings, Noblecilla said.</p><p>And if you fancy a drink to wash it down with, Malört, a liquor developed by a Swedish immigrant in Chicago in the late 1800s, is the local specialty. It's tradition then when people move to Chicago, "one of the first things you have to do is have a shot of Malört," Noblecilla said.</p><p>There's also a "big dive bar culture" in Chicago, as well as a popular speakeasy called the Drifter, she said. "It's actually a place I take lots of out-of-towners." And during the holidays, the city is full of Christmas bars, she said.</p><h2 id="165d80a5-3907-4987-86b6-4018de4da7e9">Family-owned restaurants</h2><p>As well as big chains, Chicago is full of mom-and-pop restaurants, Noblecilla said.</p><p>And some are pretty old.</p><p>"There's a good handful of restaurants that have been open since the 1940s," Noblecilla said. They have "more history than some of the museums here," she said.</p><h2 id="69f4e151-363d-461f-816d-9cd45e74668d">Fine dining</h2><p>The city has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en/illinois/chicago/restaurants/all-starred?sort=distance">21 Michelin-starred restaurants</a>. Two — Alinea and Smyth — have three stars, while Filipino restaurant Kasama was ranked the fifth-best restaurant in the US in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.foodandwine.com/global-tastemakers-best-united-states-restaurants-2024-8620131">Food &amp; Wine's 2024 ranking</a>.</p><p>"There's a really great range in the kind of food that you see at the Michelin restaurants," Noblecilla said. "It's not just one sort of cuisine."</p><h2 id="cc65dcd6-b7f0-4850-b912-3162667d3df7">Alfresco dining</h2><p>"Alfresco dining is such a huge thing here in Chicago," Noblecilla said. Because it's such a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chicago-remote-worker-meet-people-socialize-freezing-winters-friends-weather-2024-6">cold city</a>, "when it gets warm, you want to be outside," she said.</p><div type="image" title="A photo showing the river in Chicago with a riverside path full of tables of customers eating and drinking" height="3468" width="4624" msid="112245282" hostid="261" sizebytes="1417292"></div><p>"Patio dining is pretty top tier here, because it's a beautiful city," she continued. "It's kept very nicely. It's kept very clean. You compare it to New York where there's trash bags piling up on the patio, on the sidewalks."</p><p>There's also a lot of rooftop dining, including some restaurants that add <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-rooftop-igloo-time-out-market-2020-1">snow globes, or heated igloos</a>, in the winter, Noblecilla said.</p><h2 id="f8f1b33e-dc13-46e2-9e47-0d371e6352a8">Cheap eats</h2><p>You don't have to spend a lot of money to eat well in Chicago. "A big part of the scene is more fast-casual dining," Noblecilla said, adding that those restaurants make up the vast majority her TikTok reviews.</p><p>Tacos are a "big Chicago staple," she said. Carniceria Maribel, for example, started as a liquor store and La Chaparrita as a grocery store, "and then they kind of transformed into taquerias because of the popularity of their tacos."</p><div type="image" title="A photo of Erica Noblecilla sat outside holding a taco tray" height="4032" width="3024" msid="112245278" hostid="261" sizebytes="1113616"></div><h2 id="245bd254-4805-4ddb-af75-1790d3c9af83">Her favourite spot</h2><p>Noblecilla's current favorite place to eat in Chicago is Brasero, an upscale Latin restaurant in the city's West Town, which she says has "Brazilian undertones."</p><p>"It just blew me away," she said. "So much flavor."</p><p>Noblecilla said that her table tried most of the dishes on the menu. Dishes she particularly enjoyed included the oysters, shrimp, lobster, ribs in a guava barbecue glaze, pão de queijo, and desserts. "The seafood stood out to me the most," she said.</p><p>At Brasero, the pão de queijo costs $16, ribs $24, and half lobster $68.</p><p>Noblecilla also recommends the $14 limonada suíça, Brazilian lemonade made by blending a whole lime with water, then adding condensed milk. For an extra $4, you can spike it with Pitu Cachaça, a Brazilian spirit, which Noblecilla said is "really unique. You can't really find that anywhere in the city."</p>

You Searched For "list of holiday" and got 5 results

Travel, Eat, and Have Fun: How Indians plan to spend their holidays

BI India Bureau

Elon Musk is looking for DOGE cuts. A GOP senator's list caught his eye.

Mikhaila Friel

Are banks open today? Here's a list of U.S. bank holidays for 2024

Sophia Acevedo, CEPF

A bizarre toy oven that appears to turn dough into freshly baked plushies is topping kids' wish lists this holiday

Grace Dean

A food influencer in Chicago breaks down why the Windy City should be on every restaurant lover's bucket list

Grace Dean

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides