What to Do in Chicago If You’re Here for Business (2026)

Chicago at all times has one thing to show. When it went up in opposition to New York for the 1893 World’s Honest, a New York Solar reporter known as out its “windbag” campaigners. Illinois ended up internet hosting the truthful, and Chicago embraced its new id because the Windy Metropolis. That chip-on-the-shoulder power nonetheless defines this metropolis, a metropolis that builds, innovates, and competes prefer it has every thing to lose.

Chicago’s tech scene is a various panorama that shouldn’t be slept on—however you in all probability know that. The Second Metropolis’s tech sector has grown by 18 % over the previous decade, including greater than 106,000 direct jobs and practically 150,000 oblique jobs, in accordance with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. The town’s universities produce extra laptop science graduates than wherever else within the US. Giants like Google, Salesforce, and Meta have satellite tv for pc operations right here, whereas startups like Tegus, Uber Freight, and G2 have relocated from Silicon Valley, drawn by Chicago’s expertise pool and inexpensive value of dwelling.

Chicago’s tech scene isn’t siloed; practically half of all tech positions are tied to core industries like well being care, finance, and logistics. Final August, the TechChicago convention spotlighted quantum computing, energy-efficient knowledge facilities, and equitable entry to capital, demonstrating that Chicago is considering how expertise can improve on a regular basis life.

To be in Chicago is to work exhausting, play more durable. Dinner in Fulton Market, drinks on the Riverwalk, and a comedy set to shut out the night time.

Soar to Part

The place to Keep

Whereas Chicago’s tech scene spans town, chances are high your work journey landed you someplace within the Loop, River North, or West Loop space. Our lodgings preserve you shut, comfy, and surrounded by fellow professionals.

Courtesy of The St. Regis Chicago

363 E. Wacker Drive, (312) 787-3447

The place the Chicago River and Lake Michigan meet, the St. Regis delivers town’s pinnacle of luxurious, full with a world-class spa, health services, and acclaimed eating. The Signature Butler Service takes care of unpacking, go well with urgent, shoe shines, and morning espresso (or tea), so you’ll be able to give attention to the enterprise that introduced you right here. A complimentary home automotive can get you to close by conferences or lunches inside a 2-mile radius. Begin with the Tokyo Breakfast at Japanese restaurant Miru, return at 5 pm for the resort’s day by day champagne sabrage, then head to Tre Dita for handmade pasta and Tuscan wood-fired steaks—you should definitely reserve forward.

200 N Inexperienced St., (312) 761-1700

If you’d like a resort that looks like a part of town, it’s the Hoxton within the West Loop. Verify out and in anytime while you e-book immediately. Workspaces can be found, from library desks to coworking areas and assembly rooms. In case you’re hungry, the on-site café serves Aya Bakery pastries and occasional, and in the event you want a break, daybeds await, which are perfect for an influence nap or nursing a hangover. Climate allowing, their outside terraces double as one other place to get work achieved. You don’t even have to go away the Hoxton to hit the neighborhood’s hottest eating and consuming spots; Cira serves Mediterranean-inspired eats all day, Cabra Cevicheria dishes Peruvian bites on the rooftop, head downstairs to Lazy Hen for cocktails and stay music Thursday via Saturday, and Milk Bar can be in-house for a late-night sugar repair.

What to Do in Chicago If Youre Here for Business

311 N Morgan St., (312) 764-1919

In Fulton Market, the Emily Lodge is ideal for vacationers who desire a native vibe with all of the luxuries and tech conveniences. Seize a espresso on the in-house espresso bar, lunch at Fora, cocktails at rooftop bar Selva, and dinner at Sushi by Bou. Keep energetic within the 24/7 health middle, and if the climate permits, catch a movie on the resort’s terrace cinema.

900 E Grand, (872) 710-5700

At Sable, you’ll have every thing you want for an satisfying keep. Seize a espresso within the foyer at Kisbi, the place single-origin beans from Costa Rica, Kenya, and Ethiopia make your morning really feel immediately richer. Lirica, the Spanish- and Iberian-inspired restaurant, is ideal for a solo lunch or crew dinner. The Offshore Rooftop has unbeatable views of the skyline and Lake Michigan, plus a full-service bar. As for facilities, there’s a 24-hour health middle, assembly rooms if it is advisable to get work achieved, and, in fact, Navy Pier itself simply outdoors your door—full outlets, eating places, and sights to maintain you entertained. It’s a bit like dwelling in a mall.

505 N Michigan Ave., (312) 944-4100

Within the coronary heart of the Magnificent Mile, the InterContinental blends big-city enterprise power with old-school glamour. That’s partially because of its indoor pool, a 1929 stunner tiled in Spanish Majolica and watched over by a terracotta Neptune fountain, floating 14 tales above Michigan Avenue. Through the week, you’ll principally see enterprise vacationers, although households typically keep right here, too. The sensible facilities are coated, together with assembly rooms, printing companies, and even a notary. There’s a Starbucks within the foyer, however with so many higher native cafés close by, it’s value wandering out.

The place to Work

You’ll be able to work from any of the lodges on our listing, however in the event you want a change of surroundings, Chicago has loads of coworking choices, too. Under are a few of our favorites, and Deskpass is a superb useful resource for extra choices.

20 N. Wacker Drive, twelfth Flooring

Contained in the Civic Opera Constructing within the metropolis’s enterprise district, this 60,000-square-foot workspace is designed for tech professionals. Quick Wi-Fi, ergonomic setups, assembly rooms, and even a rooftop terrace and health middle. Drop in for $35 a day on Deskpass.

3130 N Rockwell St.

In Avondale, Guild Row provides a sunlit workspace with excessive ceilings, personal Zoom cubicles, and a café and bar for breaks. The Belmont Room hosts workshops, talks, and occasions, however the total environment is calm and targeted for getting work achieved with out distractions. It’s an area to recharge, meet like-minded folks, or settle in for a productive day. You should purchase a day go for $28.

1821 W Hubbard St Unit 209

Within the West Loop, Artwork/Work Coworking is a artistic lab that pulls within the metropolis’s creatives, techies, and freelancers. Open 24/7 with automated entry, it provides desks and bookable assembly rooms. Drop in with Deskpass, or e-book a convention room beginning at $50 an hour.

The place to Get Your Espresso

112 N Inexperienced St.

In case you want a dependable off-site work spot, Sawada Espresso has loads of seats, robust Wi-Fi, and powerful espresso. Based by Japanese barista Hiroshi Sawada, Sawada Espresso is famend for the Army Latte—a wealthy jolt of matcha, espresso, and cocoa—however additionally they have cortados, cappuccinos, and cookies readily available to maintain the workflow regular.

714 N Wells St.

Owned by Palestinian American buddies, Oud Espresso is a River North favourite for craft lattes and bites. The signature Oud latte blends pistachio syrup, cardamom spice, and recent mint, whereas the menu additionally contains Turkish espresso, tea, and smoothies. Snack on Manakeesh flatbread, stuffed dates, or baklava. Spacious indoor seating makes it a stable spot to atone for work, or sit outdoors if the climate permits. There’s one other location in Wicker Park, ought to you end up nearer to that neighborhood.

5531 N Clark St.

The Understudy is a theater-bookstore-slash-café, with ardour fruit syrup on provide alongside lavender, wild rose petal, and hazelnut. Non-coffee drinkers can sip iced ube lattes, glowing matcha lemonades, or a lychee roasted goddess tea. Come for the flavour, keep for the artistic environment, with light-filled nooks that make it simple to lose a day.

3101 S Morgan St.

Bridgeport Espresso has been roasting on the South Aspect since 2004, and it’s nonetheless one of many metropolis’s greatest stops for a cup of espresso that truly tastes like the place it got here from. The store sources beans immediately from growers, chopping out middlemen for higher taste and fairer commerce. There are solely a few counter seats and a handful of tables, however it’s a comfortable place to work in the event you snag a spot.

The place to Eat

Chicago’s hottest eateries are sometimes booked stable, however we’ve discovered the candy spots that truly have availability.

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932 W Fulton St.

At Rose Mary, a Chicago native and Prime Chef winner brings collectively Italian and Croatian cuisines in what he has dubbed “Adriatic consuming meals.” The menu adjustments with the seasons, however the zucchini fritters with pesto aioli, the tuna crudo, and the radiatore cacio e pepe really feel virtually nonnegotiable after I go. Past the trifecta, you’ll be able to count on daring takes on fish, meats, pasta, and risotto. The eating room is nearly at all times full and buzzing, which makes it a full of life selection for a enterprise dinner or post-work meal that turns into one other spherical of drinks.

2534 N Milwaukee Ave.

For enterprise vacationers craving pasta, Mano a Mano is a should. The tagliatelle bolognese and bucatini cacio e pepe are heavenly, however each pasta dish is value tasting, from the stuffed farfalle to lobster ravioli and quick rib ravioletti. In case your schedule permits for a Sunday reservation, Spaghetti Sundays are a deal with: $45 per particular person will get you a curated lineup of antipasti, an argula Caesar salad, a pasta dish, and gelato to complete. It is an ideal place for entertaining purchasers or recharging with coworkers after a protracted day.

800 W Randolph St.

At Au Cheval, Chicago’s über-celebrated burger joint, the melty, egg-topped cheeseburger lives as much as its hype. The vibe is low-key, with a diner-meets-French-speakeasy really feel, that includes dim lighting, leather-based cubicles, and an open kitchen that is at all times at full capability. It’s important to get the cheeseburger, however the chilaquiles and roasted bone marrow are additionally value ordering. There are not any reservations; swing by on a weekday afternoon, put your title down, and seize a drink at one among Fulton Market’s bars when you wait.

2542 N Milwaukee Ave.

Andros Taverna has a menu of seafood that rotates day by day to characteristic the freshest catch. In case you do not like seafood, the modern Greek restaurant’s domestically sourced lamb is dry-aged, butchered in-house, and grilled over charcoal for a smoky end. Each dish is served family-style, so it is a really perfect spot to share with colleagues or purchasers in a convivial setting that feels upscale with out being stuffy.

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1110 W Carroll Ave.

Chef Joe Flamm’s newest enterprise, Bar Tutto, has change into an all-day scorching spot for Chicago’s working crowd because it opened final December. It is good for catching up on emails, assembly a consumer, or unwinding after a workday. Begin your day right here with a crafted latte, flaky pastry, or a hearty egg wrap to energy via the morning. By lunch, this place hums with folks ducking in for salads, sandwiches, and bowls of do-it-yourself pasta. Come night, when the laptops disappear, the house shifts right into a relaxed dinner scene. Italian-inspired cocktails, a considerate wine listing, and shareable plates. Make sure that to order the Bavette steak, served with peperonata sauce, crispy frites, and a smoky garlic aioli.

630 W Lake St.

At Kumiko, chef and mixologist Julia Momosé has created one of many metropolis’s most creative consuming and eating experiences. The intimate Japanese eating bar is greatest identified for its meticulous cocktails and sake listing. You’ll be able to cease in for drinks and order from the seasonal à la carte menu, or settle in for the tasting menu, the place dishes arrive with curated cocktails, sake, or spirit-free pairings which might be simply as artistic because the alcoholic ones. Downstairs, a separate weekend bar spotlights whiskey and shochu. It is an excellent cozier cling that regulars suggest for marking an important day.

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1045 W Fulton St.

Il Carciofo is a Roman-style Italian restaurant with a seasonal menu that rotates via antipasti, pizzas, and hand-rolled pasta. The eating room channels a moody trattoria, with an open kitchen—a signature transfer at Joe Flamm’s eateries—the place you’ll be able to watch the cooks prove plate after plate. In case you order one dish, make it the rigatoni alla carbonara, however it’s exhausting to not over-order right here. And after a hearty meal, the dessert lineup provides gelatos and sorbets for a refreshing reset. In case you’re nonetheless within the temper to indulge, there’s at all times a tiramisu.

214 W Erie St.

Asador Bastian is not your typical Chicago chophouse. With Basque-inspired decor and a menu to match, the specialty is Txuleton beef—thick, bone-in steaks from mature cattle, served by the pound. However do not overlook the seafood, which seems to be simply as flavorful. I have not been myself, however I hear the bone-marrow potato purée is to die for. It is a dependable choose for consumer dinners while you need the ambiance to impress as a lot because the meals.

1202 W Grand Ave.

The house at Elina’s is intimate and candlelit, however the meals is vivid and alluring. The menu is basic Italian American consolation meals with huge parts. Order the Caesar salad, the rooster parmesan, and the rigatoni alla vodka—which is topped with crunchy, Calabrian breadcrumbs. Although the eating room is cozy, its shareable plates make it a scrumptious selection for a crew dinner.

2165 N Western Ave.

For a kitschy but upscale tackle the American Chinese language takeout you grew up on, Chef’s Particular delivers saucy, family-style classics. Suppose orange rooster, Mongolian beef, and lo mein noodles—quick. The nostalgic consolation meals is paired with tropical cocktails, from a lemongrass gimlet to an $8 shot-and-beer combo. Ideally suited for small groups or purchasers, the menu encourages sampling, making it much less about particular person plates and extra in regards to the expertise.

700 N Clark St.

Ambar is impressed by the communal Balkan custom of “Voz,” the place meals is introduced out to the desk in a steady procession. For a set value, you’ll be able to order from greater than 40 Balkan dishes. Grilled meats, slow-cooked seafood, stuffed pies, tacky flatbreads, creamy spreads, and desserts I preserve coming again for. Every part is available in small plates, so you’ll be able to order seconds (or thirds) of your favourite dishes with out disgrace. For visiting execs, the all-you-can-eat mannequin is an opportunity to entertain colleagues with out the trouble of menu math, and the abundance retains the dialog flowing.

Ask any Chicagoan, and they’ll insist that Chicago’s most popular pizza fashion is definitely a crispy, tavern-style pie. However in the event you should strive deep-dish pizza, skip the touristy Lou Malnati’s and get Pequod’s as a substitute. For Chicago-style pizza, some native favorites are Paulie Gee’s, Professor Pizza, and—my favourite—Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna, which provides each skinny artisan and tavern-style pizza. In case you handle to snag a reservation, order the Spicy Vodka pizza, the gooey mozzarella sticks, and the pineapple brown butter cake. You’ll be able to thank me later.

Portillo’s is for vacationers. If you’d like an actual Chicago canine, head to Superdawg or the Wieners Circle.

The place to Drink

Chicago drinks exhausting. Survive your first Malört shot on the stickiest dive bar you will discover, then try town’s barcades and breweries, the place you’ll be able to unwind, meet up with colleagues, or simply benefit from the metropolis.

1221 W Blackhawk St.

I really like grabbing a drink on the Goose Island Pub earlier than catching a present on the Salt Shed. On sunny days, the riverside patio and skyline views are so serene. Inside, it’s industrial however comfy, full of life sufficient to nonetheless really feel related to town. The faucet listing mixes Goose Island classics with experimental brews, barrel-aged bourbon, and seasonal rotations. Goose Island’s fundamental taproom in West City can be value a go to in the event you’re within the space, however the Salt Shed venue has a built-in live performance ambiance that makes it the right pregame joint.

213 W Institute Pl.

Downtown Chicago doesn’t overflow with true barcades, however Headquarters Beercade scratches the itch. The draw is the handfuls of arcade cupboards and an honest lineup of Stern pinball machines, all on free play, but the vibe skews extra company completely satisfied hour than underground gamer hangout. If you wish to sip on craft beer whereas mashing buttons on Road Fighter II, that is the place.

839 W Fulton Market

With three areas throughout town, you gained’t need to go far to search out Emporium. Wicker Park is normally the busiest, and the West Loop location is an ideal cease earlier than dinner at Au Cheval. Count on skee-ball, pinball, and pool tables working on tokens, plus a drink menu that rotates in native brews and seasonal exhausting kombuchas. Don’t rely on each machine working, however Emporium is much less about excessive scores and extra about blowing off steam over a beer; the video games are only a bonus.

3540 N Clark St.

Sluggers has been a Chicago staple for over 35 years. With over 40 TVs streaming video games, and partitions stacked with sports activities memorabilia, it’s the liveliest sports activities bar within the metropolis. Upstairs, you’ll discover batting cages, skee-ball, and different arcade video games.

2833 N Sheffield Ave.

Replay in Lincoln Park is a dive-bar-meets-party with a lineup of rotating craft beer and cheeky cocktails like “Shrek Is Love” and “Not My Gumdrop Buttons.” Most arcade video games are free to play, with the most recent Stern machines fairly priced. There’s at all times a theme that leans into ’90s nostalgia, and weekend DJs preserve the power excessive. The gang is cool, various, and unmistakably Midwestern. That is reviewer Louryn Strampe’s go-to spot for pinball and beer earlier than catching a present.

The place to Giggle

You haven’t actually achieved Chicago till you’ve laughed via its comedy scene, residence to the legends of each stand-up and improv.

230 W North Ave.

Second Metropolis is the birthplace of improvisational comedy, to not point out that it has launched extra SNL forged members than you’ll be able to rely (Dan Aykroyd, Tina Fey, Invoice Murray, Amy Poehler … I can go on). You’ll be able to’t go improper with the mainstage present, however the lineup branches out into family-friendly matinees, late-night experiments, and seasonal units. If one present sells out, there’s at all times one other across the nook—actually, the venue runs a number of phases directly.

1548 N Wells St.

Zanies is as basic because it will get for stand-up, the place legends and up-and-comers share the identical tiny stage. It has a low-ceilinged, brick-wall intimacy that feels unique. On weekends, you would possibly catch a touring comedian; on weeknights, it’s roast battles, showcases, and the type of rowdy power that feels extra underground than you’d count on from a venue this iconic.

3175 N Broadway

Certain, this isn’t the OG comedy membership on Sundown Boulevard, however Chicago’s Snigger Manufacturing unit has carved out its personal scene. The vibe is extra Midwestern grit and fast wit, and the rainbow-arched stage is simply as legendary in particular person. The “Chicago’s Greatest Standup” nights rotate via town’s native comics, and also you by no means know when an even bigger title will drop in unannounced. You’ll additionally discover open mics and themed exhibits that preserve nights unpredictable.

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