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Top spots in Chicago
Millennium Park
OutdoorsLoop
Anish Kapoor's Bean (Cloud Gate), free concerts at Pritzker Pavilion.
Chicago Riverwalk
OutdoorsLoop
Walk or kayak past the city's famous architecture on river level.
Wrigley Field
FamilyWrigleyville
Ivy-covered walls and Old Style beer — catch a Cubs day game.
North Avenue Beach
FamilyLincoln Park
Boathouse-shaped beach pavilion and skyline-backed swims.
Where to eat
Alinea
$$$$Modernist tasting · Lincoln Park
Grant Achatz's three-star theater on a plate.
Pequod's Pizza
$$Deep-dish · Lincoln Park
Caramelized cheese crust — the locals' deep-dish pick.
Au Cheval
$$Diner / Burgers · West Loop
Two-hour wait for the country's most-talked-about cheeseburger.
Girl & The Goat
$$$Modern American · West Loop
Stephanie Izard's wood-fired plates, share everything.
Lou Mitchell's
$Diner · West Loop
Route 66 diner since 1923 — fluffy omelets and free Milk Duds.
Live & on stage
Lollapalooza
Grant Park · Jul 30 – Aug 2 · Festival
Pitchfork Music Festival
Union Park · Jul 18–20 · Indie
Chicago Blues Festival
Millennium Park · Jun 5–7 · Blues / Free
Christkindlmarket
Daley Plaza · Nov 21 – Dec 24 · Holiday
Frequently asked
- Standouts right now: Millennium Park, Chicago Riverwalk, Wrigley Field. The shortlist is curated by people who live in Chicago and refreshed regularly so it reflects what's actually open and worth your time.