How 53 People in Chicago Cure Their Hangovers

From bagels to coffees to jumps in the lake.

The burger from Au Cheval that certainly lived up to the hype.

I’ve always had a negative relationship with the city of Chicago despite acknowledging that it’s one of the best American cities out there. The reason? Well, hangovers.

For years, my experience with Chicago was wash, rinse, repeat — arrive in the city, drink in bars all weekend, and get shot out of a cannon back to my bed in Northern Michigan. While I did enjoy my time there, I was always licking my wounds afterward for far longer than I’m willing to admit. Even thinking about my hangover from Saint Patrick’s Day 2011 sends shivers down my spine.

Given that Chicago has more Sunday Scaries followers than any city except New York, I thought it was the perfect place to start.

Here’s the entire list of Chicagoan hangover cures:

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Small Cheval; double cheeseburger and fries with the garlic aioli.

Red Juice from Chicago Health Foods. Start your walk north to the Lincoln Park Nature Walk and then come back down via the Lake Shore Path. Order the Downstairs Burger from 8bar.

Without a doubt, the best hangover cure in the city is a walk to the lake and a swim, then walking to Gotham Bagels in Lakeview for a bagel sandwich and a coffee. Jump in the lake jolts your system and the walk to get bagels helps you sweat out the booze.

Eleven City Diner will heal your soul.

Whatever you do, get to Pleasant House Pub in Pilsen. The brunch burger is outstanding, and you can watch a soccer match in your elevated sweats. Aire Ancient Baths is nice for recovery if you’re not too sick, but I don’t recommend the massages there.

Chicago Bagel Authority. A Messy Katie can fix the worst of them.