17 Best Experience Gifts in Chicago for 2024

Looking for the perfect experience gift in Chicago? With a vast variety of cultural, educational and culinary experiences, the Windy City is great for offering singular and memorable experience gifts that work for birthday celebrations, anniversaries, holidays and more.

Experience gifts are often a great way to share the city with both long-time residents and new visitors alike. 

What experience can I gift? A great place to look is the recipient's hobbies and interests. Whether it's crafting, cooking, relaxing or sports, we’ve rounded up a few perfect options that will be sure to grant a memorable experience that goes far beyond material objects. 

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• Foodie Experience Gifts in Chicago
• Creative Experience Gifts in Chicago
• Unique Experience Gifts in Chicago
• Luxury Experience Gifts in Chicago
• Best Experience Gifts in Chicago for Him
• Best Experience Gifts in Chicago for Her

Foodie Experience Gifts in Chicago

1. Cooking Classes

Chicago is a city known for its memorable food, from city classics like classic Chicago hot dogs to deep-dish pizza. The city’s various neighborhoods also represent their own flavor and cultures of food, which often blend several cuisines.

A great experience gift for foodies in Chicago is enrolling someone in a cooking class. Cooking classes in Chicago can teach you any manner of Chicago foods, global cooking styles and how to craft exquisite baked goods. If you're unsure which class they want to take, get them a Classpop! gift card so that they can choose.

2. Brewery Tour

Chicago is home to a vast culture of independent brewers making everything from rich stouts to pale ales. A perfect experience gift in Chicago for beer lovers is a tour of one of the city’s many small breweries, like Goose Island or Revolution Brewery, which offer regular tours and tasting events.

A fun and laid-back outing, a tour makes a great Chicago experience gift idea for couples.

3. Pizza Tour

Chicagoans have serious, sometimes combative, opinions about pizza. Whether it's a classic deep dish or thin-crust served tavern style, the city offers varieties and toppings to suit every foodie’s desires.

A great experience gift for food lovers is a tour of some of the city’s most famous pizzerias. Check out Chicago Pizza Tours for a fun ramble across the city complete with everyone’s favorite dish.  

Creative Experience Gifts in Chicago

4. Art or Craft Classes

Whether your recipient is an experienced artist or crafter or completely new to a creative field, a great experience gift in Chicago is enrollment in an art or craft class.

You can find a variety of offerings at educational institutions, art or craft stores and community centers teaching everything from watercolor to handmade pottery.

Art classes in Chicago can be found in many genres and techniques. You can also enroll in pottery classes in Chicago or photography classes in Chicago.

If you’re unsure which class to gift, try a Classpop! gift card, which is great for creative experiences of all kinds and a perfect gift for artists both old and new.

5. Paint and Sip

Paint and sips make a great experience gift in Chicago for both beginners and seasoned artists. They offer a chance to make a cool piece of art while socializing and enjoying cocktails.

Paint and sip in Chicago make a perfect group gift or date night experience gift with a celebratory and educational bent. Paint and sips also make a perfect date idea in Chicago.

6. Design a Personal Scent

A perfect experience gift in Chicago for perfume lovers is enrollment at  The Aroma Workshop, which offers courses in blending various scents to create the perfect bottle of perfume.

Blend floral, woodsy and citrus notes, learn about perfume as an art and take home your custom bottle when you’re finished.

Unique Experience Gifts in Chicago

7. Dance Classes

A great experience gift in Chicago is enrollment in one of many Chicago dance classes. Encompassing everything from jazz, tap and ballet to partner dances like ballroom and salsa, you’ll find a great number of dance classes in Chicago that will have you kicking up your heels.

8. Comedy Club Outing

As home to the renowned Second City, Chicago is known for its rich comedy and improv scenes that have spawned some of the great comedic talents of the past 50 years.

Spend an evening at one of Chicago’s comedy venues like Second City, The Laugh Factory or IO to sample some of its latest rising stars for a unique experience gift in Chicago.

9. Museum Membership or Passes

Chicago is home to some of the most renowned museums in the world which house classic and modern artwork, archaeological finds, natural specimens and items reflecting local Chicago history.

What is a good experience gift for a family? A great experience gift in Chicago for the lifelong learner or curious soul of all ages is an annual membership or day passes to one of the city’s great institutions like The Field Museum of Natural History, The Chicago History Museum or the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Luxury Experience Gifts in Chicago

10. Rent a Luxury Airbnb

While Chicago has much to offer in terms of excellent hotel stays, get a more residential experience by staying in some of Chicago’s most posh Airbnb stays.

Located in the heart of the city, many have panoramic views of the city’s most popular areas like the Loop, The Magnificent Mile and River North.

Many are strategically located near shopping, dining and museums and feature huge residential units with every amenity and luxury for your stay. A luxury weekend makes a fun birthday experience gift in Chicago.

11. Charter or Join a Boat Tour

Chicago is defined as much by its beautiful waterways as it is by its land. The lakefront and the river are ever-dominant in the city.

A uniquely luxurious experience gift in Chicago is one of the many boat tours, dinner cruises and charters that offer a waterfront view of one of the world’s most picturesque cities. 

Best Experience Gifts in Chicago for Him

12. Axe Throwing

A fun way to work out some stress and get in some physical activity is an evening at Bad Axe Chicago, which offers a great chance for team building activities in Chicago, socialization and competitive fun.

It makes a great experience gift in Chicago for birthdays and other occasions. It’s also a fun date night experience gift.

13. Sports Tickets

Chicago is known for its fervent sports fans. For them, the best experience gift in Chicago is single-game or season tickets to one of the amazing teams that call Chicago home like the Bulls, the Bears or the Blackhawks. Sports tickets are one of the best Chicago gifts for first-time visitors.

14. Chicago Auto Show

A great experience gift for him in Chicago during the winter months is the annual Chicago Auto Show, which brings the opportunity to peruse cars that are both state-of-the-art and old classics. Hosted in mid-February, it makes an excellent Valentine's Day experience gift. 

Best Experience Gifts in Chicago for Her

15. Spa Day 

You can get a Spafinder gift card, an experience gift card that is good at salons everywhere. The recipient will enjoy steam baths, massages, yoga and other activities to destress. Spa days make the best Chicago experience gift for girls’ nights, bridesmaid outings and birthday gatherings.

16. Personal Styling Consultation

A great experience gift for her in Chicago is giving the recipient a chance to find their style and best colors in fashion, accessories and makeup. Chicago is home to many style consulting professionals who can help you create a distinct and unique style that puts your best foot forward. 

17. Custom Candle Making

What better way to take home a great souvenir from a fun experience than a candle? You can take candle making workshops at Chicago Candle Co. or Black Luxe Candle Company that furnish wax, scented oils and other supplies to make your new favorite candle scent. 

Whether you are gifting an experience to a Chicago resident or looking for the perfect welcome or goodbye gift for visitors, Chicago has a vast number of great experience gifts as perfect for those who call the city home as they are for first-time visitors. 

For even more fun experience gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!