The Loop is Chicago's downtown core, with the theaters, Millennium Park, the Art Institute and a lot of office towers. It's full of lunch chains, but these Loop institutions and local favorites are worth seeking out.
Chicago classics
- Luke's Italian Beef: an old-school grease joint that has fed the office lunch crowd for more than 30 years. Order it dipped, with hot giardiniera. How to order an Italian beef →
- Pizano's: a buttery, crackly thin crust cut in squares, opened by a son of the Pizzeria Uno founder.
- Exchequer Restaurant & Pub: a family-owned pub serving deep dish since 1969, in a space said to have been a Capone-era speakeasy. It's an easier table to get than the big-name deep dish spots.
- The Jibarito Stop: Chicago's plantain sandwich, right downtown. What's a jibarito? →
Near Millennium Park
- The Gage: a gastropub across from the park. Its venison burger with grilled onions has been a downtown favorite for years.
- Cindy's: a rooftop bar on the Chicago Athletic Association hotel, looking straight over Millennium Park and the lake. Go for a drink with a view.
- Venteux: a French brasserie in the Art Deco Carbide & Carbon Building, good for a polished downtown brunch.
Before the theater
- Momento Cantina: a big, pink, high-energy cantina pressing its own blue corn tortillas. Get the birria tacos.
Snacks
- Chicago Kernel: Chicago mix popcorn from a small shop in the commuter tunnel near Millennium Park.
Thinking about living downtown? Browse apartment buildings in the Loop →