Lincoln Park Conservatory

A longtime French bistro on Lincoln Park West with a dedicated kids' menu and a lively, loud dining room that tends to absorb toddler noise well.

A nature museum with a walk-through butterfly haven of more than a thousand live butterflies and a separate nature-play space built for kids eight and under.

A free zoo where a toddler can pet a goat in the barn one minute and climb a play treehouse the next, with no ticket line to manage in between.

A well-regarded Tuscan trattoria with a small dining room.

Old-school burger and shake joint with a relaxed feel, across the street from the zoo.

A 40-plus-year Lincoln Park pizza tavern with a dog-friendly patio, casual and walk-in friendly for families.