IUG 2026 - Local Arrangements for Chicago

Note: A small chain from Madison, WI that has some of the best New York style bagels and schmears outside of New England. Also a place for breakfast sandwiches

Pricing: $

Goddess and the Baker

Location: 44 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: For pastries and coffee

Pricing: $

Beatrix

Location: 519 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Upscale restaurant that serves coffee, breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Pricing: $$-$$$

Egg Harbor Cafe

Location: 220 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Great little breakfast chain with locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Georgia for some reason

Pricing: $$

Sunny Side Up

Location: 42 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Nice little breakfast spot for American classics

Pricing: $$

Egg Tuck

Location: 326 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: Asian-style egg sandwich chain from California

Pricing: $

Do-Rite Donuts and Chicken

Location: 233 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: One of the best donut chains in Chicago. They also have chicken sandwiches (including chicken sandwiches with donuts for a bun). Try the old fashioned donut

Pricing: $

Yolk

Location: 340 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Breakfast chain specializing in eggs

Pricing: $$

Nutella Cafe

Location: 189 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: Got a nutella obsession? The first Nutella Cafe in the world here in Chicago. They have coffee, and nutella filled bites.

Pricing: $-$$

Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe

Location: 130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: They have great pancakes! Get here early or there will be a giant line

Pricing: $$

Eggy's Diner

Location: 333 E Benton Pl Suite 301, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: Diner with breakfast next to a secluded park

Pricing: $$

Lunch

Ramen-San

Location: 59 W Hubbard St #2, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: For ramen lovers

Pricing: $$

Shake Shack

Location: 66 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: The New York smashburger chain

Pricing: $

Eataly

Location: 43 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Big Italian grocer, importer, and food spot. It has several counters and restaurants inside for the different types of Italian meals and snacks you might want

Pricing: $$-$$$

Star of Siam

Location: 11 E Illinois St # 1, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Local Thai spot

Pricing: $$

Kyuramen

Location: 6 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Eat ramen in a hexagonal booth! Very instagram friendly. Incidentally, the ramen is also good here

Pricing: $$

Luke's Lobster City Hall

Location: 134 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60602

Note: Maine-bred seafood shack that highlights superior ingredients. I've eaten here when ALA is in Chicago.

Pricing: $$

Xoco

Location: 65 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: For Rick Bayless' style of Mexican street food. Make sure you get the churros. Also next to his super fancy place Topolobampo if you have money to burn for super fancy Mexican food

Pricing: $$

Quick and Easy

Potbelly

Location: 50 E Grand Ave Block 120, Suite 107, Chicago, IL 60610

Note: Local sandwich chain. Like a subway if subway was good

Pricing: $

Nando's

Location: 227 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Portuguese chain for peri-peri chicken

Pricing: $$

Bowlicious- The Shops at North Bridge

Location: 520 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Healthy bowls with fresh ingredients

Pricing: $

Panda Express- The Shops at North Bridge

Location: 520 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: American Chinese

Pricing: $

Chick-fil-A

Location: 500 N Michigan Ave Ste 140, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Fast food chicken

Pricing: $

Chicago-Style

Portillo's

Location: 100 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60610

Note: Famous Chicago chain for hot dogs, Italian beef, burgers, etc.

Pricing: $

Mr. Beef

Location: 666 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Have you seen The Bear? Want to go to the original spot where they filmed the first season? Get your Italian Beef here and pretend to get yelled at by Carmy

Pricing: $

Al's Italian Beef

Location: 548 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: If you want an Italian Beef actual Chicagoans eat at, go here. Their spot in Little Italy is better though

Pricing: $

Pizzeria Uno

Location: 29 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: The original deep dish pizza. It was invented here.

Pricing: $$-$$$

Giordano's

Location: 730 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: For a different style of deep dish pizza. The crust is breadier and the pizza much saucier

Pricing: $$-$$$

Gino's East

Location: 162 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Another different style of deep dish pizza. The crust is denser. Still very saucy

Pricing: $$-$$$

Lou Malnati's

Location: 439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Yet another different style of deep dish pizza. Favorite of mine. The crust is thinner and crispier and buttery. The pizza is less saucy. Also with gluten free options

Pricing: $$-$$$

Devil Dawgs

Location: 804 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: For a good, classic Chicago Style hot dog

Pricing: $

Billy Goat Tavern

Location: Lower 430 North, Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Cheezborger, cheezborger, cheezborger! Visit the place made famous by a 50 year old SNL skit!

Pricing: $

Garrett's Popcorn

Location: 625 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Best popcorn in the city. The caramel and cheese mix is the Chicago standard

Pricing: $

Malort

Location: Any dive bar in the city

Note: Infamous shot you can get about anywhere. Pair it with an old-style for a Chicago handshake. Not for the faint of heart or palate.

Pricing: $

Jibaritos y mas

Location: 3400 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Note: For jibaritos which are a puerto rican sandwich with meat between two fried plantains. Unique to Chicago

Pricing: $

Dinner

Purple Pig

Location: 444 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Modern Mediterranean restaurant with a Bib Gourmand recommendation from the Michelin Guide

Pricing: $$-$$$

Labriola

Location: 535 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Italian restaurant with pasta and pizza

Pricing: $$-$$$

Monarch and Lion

Location: 302 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: British restaurant

Pricing: $$$

Girl and the Goat

Location: 809 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 69517

Note: Flagship restaurant of celebrity chef and Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard

Pricing: $$$

Rosebud on Rush

Location: 720 N. Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Fantastic Italian food, ample portions.

Pricing: $$

The Publican

Location: 837 W. Fulton Mkt., Chicago, IL 60607

Note: Famed for the meats and their breads (which you can get at their bakery or elsewhere on other menus in the city)

Pricing: $$$

Pizza Portofino

Location: 317 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: On the river front- mediterranean style pizza

Pricing: $$

The Smith

Location: 400 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Casual American brasserie

Pricing: $$

Barrio

Location: 65 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Casual and modern Mexican food

Pricing: $$

Siena Tavern

Location: 51 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Upscale, classic Italian

Pricing: $$$

Quartino

Location: 626 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Italian- shared plates style

Pricing: $$

Green Street Smoked Meats

Location: 112 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

Note: Central Texas inspired BBQ

Pricing: $$

The Berghoff

Location: 17 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603

Note: Long standing pub with German and English food and a good selection of beer.

Pricing: $$

Sunda

Location: 110 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Popular space for Southeast Asian fusion and sushi

Pricing: $$$

Ed Debevic's

Location: 159 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: A diner where the servers are mean in a fun way.

Pricing: $$

Happy Hour Menus

Siena Tavern

Location: 51 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Sun-Fri 3-6pm

Quartino

Location: 626 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Wed-Thur 4-6pm

The Evie (at the bar)

Location: 537 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Mon-Fri 3-6pm

The Gwen Hotel

Location: 521 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Mon-Thur 4-5:30pm

The 101 Bar and Grill

Location: 101 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Everyday 5-7pm

Hampton Social

Location: 164 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Mon-Fri 4-6pm

Yardbird Table and Bar

Location: 530 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Mon-Fri 3-6pm

Charlie Martins

Location: 736 N Clark St Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Tues-Sat 5-7pm

The Albert

Location: 228 E Ontario St Fl 1 Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Mon-Sun 4-6pm

Bistro Monadnock

Location: 325 S Federal Chicago, IL 60604

Note: Tue-Sat 2:30-5:30pm

Bars

Gus Sip n Dip

Location: 51 W Hubbard St Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Classic styled bar with a large menu of delicious mixed drinks.

Pricing: $$

Three Dots and a Dash

Location: 435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Speakeasy throwback tiki bar with fun, inventive, and also shareable drinks. You can get a treasure chest full of rum to share.

Pricing: $$

Flight Club

Location: 111 W Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: Large bar centered around darts

Pricing: $$

Mother Hubbard's

Location: 5 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Dive-y sports bar that's been in the neighborhood forever

Pricing: $-$$

Fado Irish Pub

Location: 100 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: A large Irish pub

Pricing: $-$$

O'Callaghan's

Location: 29 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Note: Cozy neighborhood Irish pub

Pricing: $-$$

Crushed by Giants Brewpub

Location: 600 N Michigan Ave 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: A new craft brewery

Pricing: $-$$

Headquarters Beercade

Location: 213 W Institute Pl, Chicago, IL 60610

Note: A barcade with retro arcade games and pinball machines

Pricing: $-$$

Guinness

Location: 901 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60607

Note: Out of the neighborhood, but Guinness has a brewery in Chicago and they don't just brew Guinness. It's quite large and very new

Pricing: $$

Things To Do

Riverwalk

Location: Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, IL

Note: Take a stroll on the river walk! The city has put a lot of work into making the riverwalk extremely pleasant and lively. There are a number of restaurants and bars on the river or go rent a kayak or an electric boat to explore the river more

Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise

Location: Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: Take a sail down the Chicago River with a docent who will tell you all about the famous buildings that populate the skyline. There are other companies that have river cruises, but this is the best and most architecture focused one.

Millennium Park

Location: Millennium Park, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602

Note: See the Bean! Take in a concert at Pritzker pavilion! Stroll around Lurie Garden!

Art Institute of Chicago

Location: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Note: The best museum in Chicago. The largest impressionist painting collection outside of France. See classics like A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (the dots one), American Gothic (the farmer and his daughter one), Nighthawks (the one with the diner), or other works by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, El Greco, Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt

Museum of Contemporary Art

Location: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: The modern art museum of Chicago. If you want to be challenged by art in a beautiful, modern setting, head here.

Navy Pier

Location: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: A lively pier with shops, restaurants, and lake cruises. Home of the giant ferris wheel and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Harold Washington Library Center

Location: 400 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605

Note: The main library of the Chicago Public Library. Check out the special collections exhibits and the winter garden on the 9th floor.

Chicago Cultural Center

Location: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

Note: The former main library of the Chicago Public Library is now a free cultural center with rotating art exhibits and performances. Check out the Tiffany Dome

Willis Tower

Location: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606

Note: Once the tallest skyscraper in the world, go up to the sky deck, a glass box jutting out over the city with views straight down 100 stories. Tip: People in the city still usually refer to it as its previous name Sears Tower. So if people are confused as to what you're talking about, call it Sears Tower

John Hancock Building

Location: 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: A giant building named after the man with the biggest signature on the declaration of independence. There is an observation deck called 360 Chicago and see if you can endure the Tilt where you place your body against the glass while it tilts the whole floor down.

Harry Potter Shop Chicago

Location: 676 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: The Harry Potter store! Get a wand or some butterbeer

American Writers Museum

Location: 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: A museum devoted to American writers

McCormick Bridgehouse and River Museum

Location: 99 Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: A museum on the Chicago river devoted to the river and city's movable bridges

Chicago Fed Money Museum

Location: 230 S LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60604

Note: Free museum devoted to money! (Something we could all use a little more of)

Driehaus Museum

Location: 50 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: A gilded age mansion turned into a museum. Gape at the incredibly beautiful house and furnishings of houses like in that one show on HBO.

International Museum of Surgical Science

Location: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60610

Note: A museum devoted to surgery housed in a former gilded age mansion that was then turned into a college of surgery before becoming a museum devoted to the profession

Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

Location: 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Note: Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier modeled after Shakespeare's Original Globe Theatre. Will be playing the Merry Wives of Windsor

Goodman Theatre

Location: 170 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: August Wilson's play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom will be playing

Steppenwolf Theatre

Location: 1650 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

Note: The legendary Chicago theatre started by Gary Sinise will be playing Windfall

CIBC Theatre

Location: 18 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Note: Will be playing hamilton

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Location: 220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604

Note: Evgeny Kissin with the CSO, April 16, 2026

Second City

Location: 1616 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60614

Note: The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December of 1959, and a comedy revolution began.

White Sox Game

Location: 333 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60616

Note: Home games vs. the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday 4/14-Thursday 4/16

Wrigley Field

Location: 1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613

Note: The cubs will not be playing, but the famous park is a landmark and surrounded by bars and restaurants in a lively part of the city

Chicago Greeter Tours

Location: https://www.chicagogreeter.com/

Note: Free neighborhood tours with a local guide. Riverwalk and Loop tours are nearby

Buddy Guy's Legends

Location: 700 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

Note: Blues club with frequent shows from some of the world's most talented musicians.

Kingston Mines

Location: 2548 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

Note: Oldest continuously operating blues club in Chicago.

Newberry Library

Location: 60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610

Note: Historic cultural institution founded in 1887. As they describe, 27.5 miles of shelf space and 600 years of human history.

Nature

Northerly Island

Location: 1521 S Linn White Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

Note: A manmade peninsula and former airport now restored to a nature preserve

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Location: 4400 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60640

Note: This 15 acre sancuary includes prarie, savanna and woodland. It is Illinois's busiest birding spot.

Garfield Park Conservatory

Location: 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

Note: One of the largest greenhouse conservatories in the United States.

Jackson Park

Location: 6401 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

Note: A large urban park featuring lagoons and a Japanese garden. It is surrounnded by remnants of 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the future sight of Barack Obama Presidential Center

The 606 / Bloomingdale Trail

Location: 1800 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 to 1800 N Ridgeway Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Note: An above grade railway turned greenway connects several parks.

The Wild Mile

Location: 905 W Eastman Street, Chicago, IL

Note: A floating park part of Chicago's attempts to make the Chicago river more livable for all of its residents regardless of how many legs, fins, beaks or tails they may have.