Blog
Curated guides to Chicago's food and drink scene, written by people who actually live here.
Square Roots Festival 2026: Where to Eat & Drink in Lincoln Square
Square Roots is back in Lincoln Square July 10-12, 2026, 50+ bands, craft beer, and local food vendors. Here's the lineup, the eats, and the Lincoln Square bars and restaurants running deals all weekend.
July 2026
Taste of Chicago 2026: Dates, Music & Where to Eat and Drink Nearby
Taste of Chicago returns to Grant Park July 8-12, 2026, free admission, 20+ food trucks, and headliners Common, Babyface, and Beach Bunny. Here's the lineup, the food, and the Loop and South Loop deals around it.
July 2026
Windy City Smokeout 2026: BBQ, Country & Where to Eat Near the United Center
Windy City Smokeout returns to the United Center lot July 8-12, 2026, with Lainey Wilson, Jordan Davis, Hootie & the Blowfish, and championship BBQ. Here's the lineup and the West Loop bars and deals around it.
July 2026
The Best Birria in Chicago: Where to Get Quesabirria & Consommé
Birria took over Chicago, stewed beef, crispy quesabirria tacos, and a cup of consommé for dipping. Here's the honest guide to where to get it and how to order.
June 2026
The Best Breweries in Chicago: A Local's Guide
Chicago's craft beer scene runs deep, taprooms, beer gardens, and neighborhood breweries across the city. Here's the honest guide, plus where to find beer deals and brewery happy hours.
June 2026
The Best Chicago-Style Hot Dog: A Local's Guide
Dragged through the garden, never ketchup. Here's the honest guide to the Chicago-style hot dog, what goes on it, where to get a great one, and the one rule everybody actually enforces.
June 2026
Best Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago (2026): A Local's Ranking + Prices
An honest, local ranking of Chicago deep dish: Lou Malnati's vs Pequod's vs Gino's East vs Giordano's, what to order at each, which is closest to downtown, and today's live BOGO and weeknight pizza deals.
Updated July 2026
The Best Italian Beef in Chicago: A Local's Guide
Dipped, hot, and sweet, Italian beef is Chicago's true sandwich. Here's the honest guide to the institutions, the order to know, and how to do it without wearing it home.
June 2026
The Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago for 2026 (and How to Drink There for Less)
Chicago rooftop season is short and glorious. Here are the rooftops worth the elevator ride in 2026, skyline views, beer gardens in the sky, and the happy hours that make them affordable.
June 2026
The Best Tacos in Chicago: A Local's Guide
From Little Village taquerias to birria spots and late-night taco trucks, here's the honest guide to Chicago's taco scene, plus where to find $1 tacos and Taco Tuesday deals.
June 2026
The Best Tavern-Style Pizza in Chicago: What Locals Actually Eat
Forget the deep dish debate, thin, crispy, square-cut tavern pizza is what Chicagoans order on a weeknight. Here's the honest guide to the city's real pizza, plus where to find it cheap.
June 2026
Where to Watch the Bears in Chicago: Best Game Day Bars & Specials
Da Bears are back. Here are the best bars in Chicago to watch every Bears game, die-hard supporter spots, big-screen sports bars, and the game-day food and drink specials that make Sunday worth it.
Updated for the 2026 season
Where to Watch the 2026 World Cup in Chicago: Bars, Beer Gardens & Watch Parties
The 2026 World Cup runs June 11–July 19. Chicago isn't a host city, but it's one of the best watch-party towns in the country. Here's where to catch every match, by neighborhood, kickoff time, and crowd.
June 2026
Chicago's Cheap-Drink Comeback: Why $1 Beers and $10 Cocktails Are Winning in 2026
Inflation didn't stop Chicago from going out, it just made everyone smarter about it. Beer sales are up, the $20 cocktail is dying, and we mapped 1,900+ beer deals and the city's best value cocktails to prove it.
June 2026
Father's Day 2026 in Chicago, The Steakhouse, the Smoke Joint, or the Patio
Father's Day 2026 in Chicago falls on Sunday June 15. Where to book by Friday for the high-end steakhouses, where to walk in for the BBQ joints, and which patios are the move if the weather holds.
Updated May 2026
Memorial Day Weekend 2026 in Chicago, Where to Eat, Drink, and Sit Outside
Memorial Day weekend in Chicago: where to find BBQ specials, drink deals, the best patios for Saturday-Sunday-Monday, and what to book by Thursday before the rooms fill.
Updated May 2026
Mother's Day 2026 in Chicago, How the City Showed Up
A look back at Mother's Day 2026 in Chicago: where moms went for brunch, the bottomless-mimosa standouts, gift-card flash sales, and the sashimi bouquets at Sushi-san.
Updated May 2026
Cubs Opening Day 2026, How Wrigleyville Showed Up
A look back at Cubs Opening Day 2026: March 26 vs. the Nationals at 1:20 PM, the best Wrigleyville bars, pre-game brunch, and game day drink specials.
Apr 7, 2026
March Madness Chicago 2026, Where We Watched the Tournament
A look back at the 2026 NCAA tournament in Chicago. Sweet 16 and Elite 8 at United Center, college alumni bars by team, and the game day deals that fueled it all.
Apr 7, 2026
11 Best Bars to Watch a Bears Game in Chicago
From Lincoln Park to Oak Lawn, the best Bears bars with real drink deals, big screens, and game day energy. Updated for 2026.
Mar 10, 2026
Chicago St. Patrick's Day Deals 2026: The Complete Guide
160+ St. Patrick's Day food and drink specials across Chicago, from River North to Lakeview, The Loop to Lincoln Park. Every deal with prices, times, and neighborhoods.
Mar 9, 2026