By Ellery Jones
The best part about any journalism conference is spending the entire week inside a hotel.
Well, maybe it is for some people, but this year, the Online News Association conference is in the best city in the world. At least, I think Chicago is the best city in the world. The conference hotel, the Hilton Chicago, is centrally located in the South Loop neighborhood, making it the perfect home base for your city adventures.
To help you plan your visit, I’ve pulled together some of my favorite spots near the conference hotel. I’ve skipped over the deep dish and hot dogs — you can Google that. This list is highly subjective, based on my experience living on the South Side and working at the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ as the newsroom innovation editor.
Whether you trust me or not, please don’t spend your whole conference inside the Hilton. Please?
Dining within walking distance
You don’t have to go far to experience Printer’s Row, a historic stretch of shops on South Dearborn Street that used to be the Midwest’s most important printing and publishing hub.
- Tilly’s Bagels: Delicious sourdough bagels with a Chicago twist.
- Cafe Deko: You can’t miss the interior design here.
- Printers Row Wine Bar and Shop: Pick up a bottle to go or enjoy a glass at the bar.
- Vitology on Dearborn: A new addition to the neighborhood with small plates and unique cocktails.
- Bistro Monandock: This is out of my price range personally, but if you’ve got the funds, its worth it for the historic building alone (check out Field & Florist while you’re there).
If you head north, you’ll wind up in the Loop, named for the loop of tracks formed by the elevated “L” lines. Restaurants here are usually focused on commuters or tourists, but there are a few hidden gems.
- Oasis Cafe: This lunch spot is a hidden oasis for downtown commuters, tucked inside a jewelry shop on Jewelers Row.
- Pittsfield Cafe: A cozy, classic diner located inside of an Art Deco skyscraper in the middle of the city.
Free and cheap downtown sightseeing
If you get tired of talking about journalism — not that anyone ever would — there’s plenty of Chicago around the conference hotel worth exploring.
- Lake Michigan: It’s not that cold. Put on a coat. I promise it’s worth it to walk through Grant Park to see it.
- Harold Washington Library: The glass-enclosed Winter Garden on the top floor is a quiet winter respite in the Loop. The galleries and exhibits on the same floor also make for a good crash course in Chicago political history.
- Exile in Bookville: This cute bookstore is located in the historic Performing Arts Building. For classical music nerds, head up to Performers Music to browse their extensive selection of sheet music.
- Millenium Park: Sure, you can go see the “Bean” like everyone else. But don’t skip the Lurie Garden, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the BP Pedestrian Bridge.
- Chicago Cultural Center: While you’re in the area, walk across Michigan avenue to see work from local artists and the world’s largest Tiffany stained glass dome.
- Buddy Guy’s Chicago Legends: Get a taste of Chicago blues, or head over to Chicago Jazz Showcase in the historic Dearborn Station if that’s more your speed.
- Art Institute: It’s not free, but it’s nearby and it’s worth the $32 at least once.
Chinatown
To experience what Chicago is really like, you’ll need to leave downtown. If you take the Red Line two stops south from Harrison to Cermak-Chinatown, you’ll be in the middle of one of the city’s most interesting food neighborhoods.
- Ping Tom Memorial Park: A must-visit park with some of the best views in the city.
- Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings: A highly-regarded nearby dumpling shop.
- Richland Center Food Court: If you venture into the basement of this rather non-descript building, you’ll find some of the most interesting food in Chicago.
- Yao Yao: A Michelin Bib Gourmand spot for Sichuan fare and signature pickled fish.
- Slurp Slurp Noodles: A great noodle spot. Also try Yummy Yummy Noodles nearby.
- Chiu Quon Bakery: One of the neighborhood’s most popular bakeries.
- Nine Bar: A unique and trendy cocktail bar hidden behind a takeout restaurant.
Pilsen
Nearly 30% of Chicago’s population is Hispanic or Latino, and you can’t really say you’ve experienced the city without visiting the West Side. Pilsen is a great place to start — catch the Pink Line, 18 bus or call a rideshare to get there.
- National Museum of Mexican Art: This free museum showcases the Mexican-American community in Chicago and beyond.
- Carintas Uruapan: Pilsen is known for pork carnitas. Stop here or Carnitas Don Pedro to see what the hype is all about.
- Rubi’s Tacos: There are too many great taquerias in Pilsen and Little Village to list here, but Rubi’s is a great starting point. Try a taco or quesadilla with huitalacoche!
- Mariscos San Pedro: A seafood spot with a Mexican spin, located in Thalia Hall, one of my favorite venues in the city. Also nearby is Everything, a hard-to-describe boutique that focuses on vintage fashion and artist-made pieces.
- Pilsen Community Books: My favorite bookstore in the city.
- Panaderia Nuevo Leon: If you’re looking for a sweet treat, try this classic Mexican bakery or Kristoffer’s Cafe and Bakery, famous for their tres leches cake.
West Loop
The West Loop is one of the city’s biggest hotspots for trendy — and sometimes over-hyped — dining. I’m including it on the list because some of the city’s most famous restaurants are here. Take the Green Line or a rideshare from the conference hotel to get there.
- Elske: A trendy, Danish-influenced restaurant that was recently awarded its first Michelin star. The team behind the restaurant also just opened a new spot next door, Creepies, that is slightly more accessible on a journalist’s salary.
- Maxwell’s Trading: This was one of my favorite recent birthday dinners, but for most journalists, maybe only if you’re on a per diem.
- Italian Homemade Company: A casual and cozy spot for handmade pasta.
- J.P. Graziano Grocery: A landmark sandwich shop that’s been around since 1937.
- Bonci Pizzeria: A Roman-style slice shop chain where you pay by weight.
- Tamu Sushi: A trendy handroll spot with a lunch omakase option. I’ve gone here for special occasions too — it’s some of the best sushi I’ve ever had.
- Girl and the Goat and Au Cheval: These are two of the most famous names in Chicago dining, for better and for worse. Good luck getting a table.
Ellery Jones is the assistant editor for innovation at Chicago Public Media, home to the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. Previously, she worked on the Sun-Times audience team, as a news planner for Gannett’s Midwest region and as a reporter at the Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot in Tidewater Virginia. She lives in Bridgeport in a former Polish tavern.
