Friday
- Evening
Girl & The Goat
Modern American · $$$ · West LoopOpen the weekend here — Stephanie Izard's wood-fired plates, share everything.
Why this pick- ·A standout for food-first weekends
- ·Dinner-grade kitchen worth lingering at
- ·Keeps you in West Loop — short walk from your other stops
Saturday
- MorningMillennium ParkOutdoors · Loop
Anish Kapoor's Bean (Cloud Gate), free concerts at Pritzker Pavilion.
Why this pick- ·A standout for food-first weekends
- ·Best early — lighter crowds before noon
- ·Keeps you in Loop — short walk from your other stops
- Lunch
Pequod's Pizza
Deep-dish · $$ · Lincoln ParkCaramelized cheese crust — the locals' deep-dish pick.
Why this pick- ·A standout for food-first weekends
- ·Strong lunch option, quick enough to keep the day moving
- ·Keeps you in Lincoln Park — short walk from your other stops
- AfternoonArt Institute of ChicagoCulture · Grant Park
American Gothic, Nighthawks and one of the world's great impressionist collections.
Why this pick- ·A standout for food-first weekends
- ·Holds up in the afternoon energy lull
- ·Keeps you in Grant Park — short walk from your other stops
- Evening
Au Cheval
Diner / Burgers · $$ · West LoopTwo-hour wait for the country's most-talked-about cheeseburger.
Why this pick- ·A standout for food-first weekends
- ·Dinner-grade kitchen worth lingering at
- ·Keeps you in West Loop — short walk from your other stops
Sunday
- Brunch
Lou Mitchell's
Diner · $ · West LoopRoute 66 diner since 1923 — fluffy omelets and free Milk Duds.
Why this pick- ·A standout for food-first weekends
- ·Keeps you in West Loop — short walk from your other stops
- ·A shoulder-season favorite
- AfternoonChicago RiverwalkOutdoors · Loop
Walk or kayak past the city's famous architecture on river level.
Why this pick- ·A standout for food-first weekends
- ·Holds up in the afternoon energy lull
- ·Keeps you in Loop — short walk from your other stops
Want a different vibe?
Try one of the other ready-made Chicago plans.
