Summer weekend in Chicago
How locals do summer in Chicago — patios, beaches, festivals and the long-evening rituals that only happen in July and August.
Top spots in Chicago
North Avenue Beach
FamilyLincoln Park
Boathouse-shaped beach pavilion and skyline-backed swims.
Wrigley Field
FamilyWrigleyville
Ivy-covered walls and Old Style beer — catch a Cubs day game.
Chicago Riverwalk
OutdoorsLoop
Walk or kayak past the city's famous architecture on river level.
Millennium Park
OutdoorsLoop
Anish Kapoor's Bean (Cloud Gate), free concerts at Pritzker Pavilion.
Where to eat
Au Cheval
$$Diner / Burgers · West Loop
Two-hour wait for the country's most-talked-about cheeseburger.
Lou Mitchell's
$Diner · West Loop
Route 66 diner since 1923 — fluffy omelets and free Milk Duds.
Alinea
$$$$Modernist tasting · Lincoln Park
Grant Achatz's three-star theater on a plate.
Girl & The Goat
$$$Modern American · West Loop
Stephanie Izard's wood-fired plates, share everything.
Pequod's Pizza
$$Deep-dish · Lincoln Park
Caramelized cheese crust — the locals' deep-dish pick.
Live & on stage
Chicago Blues Festival
Millennium Park · Jun 5–7 · Blues / Free
Christkindlmarket
Daley Plaza · Nov 21 – Dec 24 · Holiday
Lollapalooza
Grant Park · Jul 30 – Aug 2 · Festival
Pitchfork Music Festival
Union Park · Jul 18–20 · Indie
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.