Others I particularly liked were Michelle Tan, whose range includes very feminine skirts with soft fabrics and polka dots, P45 which, despite its somewhat off-putting name, held collections from many different up and coming designers and had fantastic shoes, and Helen Yi, whose ultra-chic style was more familiar but managed to combine contemporary ideas with more couture design concepts. The local designers seemed to operate a kind of mutual support system, pointing customers in the right direction for other styles if they had nothing suitable and all the shops seemed friendly and welcoming.

Where to eat
As everyone knows, shopping makes you hungry and there are plenty of places to suit every budget. If it's an instant fix you're after, head to Piece at 1927 W North Avenue in Wicker Park. This is a micro brewery and thin crust pizza joint, with a kind of spacious loft feel. I'm not usually a fan of pizza, but it was very good and we sampled the Golden Arm beer - a light-brewed Kolsch beer (that'll be lager to you and me!) which went down a treat.

If sushi's your thing, hop in a cab and go to Sushi Samba at 504 North Wells. I admit I was dubious when they said they served a blend of Peruvian, Brazilian and Japanese sushi, but I was soon won over (Vince Vaughn is a fan of the place, so it must be good!). I particularly enjoyed the tiny crispy crabs which you give a squirt of lime then crunch whole and the yellowtail tuna sashimi. If you're with a group of friends, order the cocktail samplers, which come served in small glass on a kind of mini candelabra for dramatic effect!

In the evening, splurge on a gourmet feast at the Shanghai Terrace of the Peninsula Hotel at 108 East Superior Street. This sumptuous hotel plays host to Gwyneth Paltrow when she's in town, so you can imagine just how gorgeous it is. The dim sum is out of this world (be sure to try the scallop shu mai, which is absolutely delicious) and the herbal chicken tea which is a bit like a consomme but flavoured with cordyceps - a tasty root that looks a bit like a caterpillar but is apparently very good for your throat and lungs.

Peninsula Hotel If you're a hardened carnivore, head to David Burke's Primehouse, in The James Hotel - an all-American steakhouse with a difference. All the cows are sired by their very own bull, which are then treated with Himalayan salt and matured on site. You can choose from different cuts that have been aged for different periods of time. For example, you can order a steak that's been hanging for up to 84 days. These extremely tasty steaks were as tender as you could hope for and the place has a boisterous yet relaxed atmosphere.

Home of the Blues
For nightlife, Chicago is the home of the Blues, so a visit to a Blues club is a must. We went to Kingston Mines at 2548 N. Halsted Street. This is one of the oldest and largest clubs in Chicago and had two bars with stages playing non-stop solid electric blues. Almost opposite is B.L.U.E. - a much smaller venue with more great music. The atmosphere here is more intimate and the stage is so small that not all the musicians can fit on it at once!

As you would expect in a big city, Chicago has many bars and nightclubs, and they cater for different styles and tastes. Rockit Bar and Grill on 22 W Hubbard, is a lively, friendly place that serves gourmet Bloody Marys. It's open during the day for lunch and brunch on a Sunday and there's often live music. J Bar at 610 North Rush Street is a small, trendy bar with cubist furniture and cool clientele.

Another Chicago tradition you should indulge in is a visit to Ina's for breakfast. Based at 1235 West Randolph Street, Ina's been serving good, home-cooked food since 1991. She explained her philosophy of supporting the local community and buying all her products locally. Try her cornmeal black bean scrapple, a dense savoury porridge that sets into a cake and is fried (sounds bad I know, but tastes really good) served with eggs, or her breakfast frittata.

Where to stay
We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel at 230 N Michigan Avenue. This hotel is in the historic Carbide and Carbon Building and is an Art Deco landmark. Don't be put off by the dark lobby area, the rooms are light and spacious, and you'll find rock memorabilia on each floor.

Need to know
Get more shopping tips from Melissa Turner at www.gochicago.com, where you can download a free podcast.

Take a greeter tour
Get your own tour guide with a greeter! These Chicago natives give you an insider's look at Chicago's many vibrant and unique neighbourhoods. Find out more at www.chicagogreeter.com

United Fact Box:
Everyday low fares are available at www.unitedairlines.co.uk or by calling 08458 444 777. From London Heathrow, United operates frequent daily services to key U.S. gateways at Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.