Whether you know Chicago as the Windy City, the City that Works, Chi-Town, or the City of Big Shoulders, the bottom line is that it’s a city built on making, moving, and modernizing. The perfect backdrop for Automate 2026. A short ride from McCormick Place, neighborhoods like South Loop and West Loop offer strong coffee, standout food, and plenty of spots to keep conversations going before, during, and after the show.
Where to start your day
Get your caffeine fix before the show floor lights up. Within a quick ride of McCormick Place, you’ll find grab-and-go spots for a fast latte, cafes to sit and savor, and laptop-friendly corners beyond the show floor.
For convenience while you’re onsite, McCormick Place offers a variety of cashless options, from coffee to pizza. For more information, check the official McCormick Place dining guide.
Grab & Go
- Spoke & Bird (South Loop): Specialty lattes, coffee, and teas with a large selection of breakfast sandwiches and pastries (16-minute walk from McCormick Place)
- Stan’s Donuts & Coffee (South Loop): Drip coffee and donuts
- Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks Coffee (Various locations): Mobile-order reliability (10-minute walk from McCormick Place)
Sit & Savor
- Yolk (South Loop): Contemporary breakfast chain known for its omelettes and breakfast sandwiches
- Eleven City Diner: Hearty Jewish deli plates with nostalgic charm
- Lou Mitchell’s (West Loop): A classic Chicago diner, worth the ride to West Loop
Work & Write
- Momentum Coffee (South Loop): Reliable Wi-Fi and outlets for work (15-minute walk)
- Necessary & Sufficient Coffee (Printer’s Row): As the name suggests. Casual coffee spot with a selection of pastries
- Overflow Coffee: Coffeehouse serving organic coffee, pastries, and sandwiches with proceeds benefitting charities
Where to Eat in Chicago for Lunch
Sneak out for a bite near McCormick Place.
Grab & Go
- McCormick Place food courts and kiosks: On-site salads and wraps for a quick bite
- Jimmy John’s / Potbelly Sandwich Works (South Loop): Quick sandwiches, available through mobile order
- Fatpour Tap Works (McCormick Place): Quick burgers and shareables
Sit & Savor
- MingHin Cuisine (South Loop, Chinatown): Quick and casual dim sum spot, voted one of the top dim sum restaurants in the Midwest.
- Giordano’s or LouMalnati’s (South Loop): Try out Chicago’s iconic deep-dish pizza
- Flo & Santos (South Loop): If deep-dish isn’t your thing, try tavern-style pizza at Flo & Santos. Don’t miss out on their pierogies and other classic Polish dishes.
After the Show
The show doesn’t end when the floor closes. From standout dinners to creative cocktails and a rich live music scene, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Chicago once the sun goes down.
Where to Eat in Chicago for Dinner:
- The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant (South Loop): Classic steakhouse located in a former firehouse dating back to 1905
- Girl & the Goat (West Loop): Award-winning small plates
- Apolonia: Contemporary Mediterranean restaurant with an open kitchen and wood-fired oven
Drinks:
- VU Rooftop Bar (near McCormick Place): Rooftop bar with sweeping views of the Chicago skyline, just a few minutes' walk from McCormick Place
- Buddy Guy’s Legends: World-renowned blues bar featuring live music, seven nights a week
- Cindy’s Rooftop / The Game Room (The Chicago Athletic Association): While both are located in the Chicago Athletic Association building overlooking Millennium Park, Cindy’s Rooftop offers unobstructed views of the city and innovative cocktails, and The Game Room (second floor) offers a more casual experience, offering billiards, chess, and other board games
Things to Do and See in Chicago
- Kingston Mines (Lincoln Park): Chicago’s oldest continuously operating blues club with two stages of live music.
- Andy’s Jazz Club (River North): Historic jazz venue with a focus on traditional and contemporary jazz
- Reggie’s Chicago (South Loop): Intimate rock gigs and draft beer
- Redhead Piano Bar (River North): Lively piano bar featuring live music seven nights a week
- Navy Pier (Streeterville): 50 acres of restaurants, bars, shops, live entertainment, and attractions, all right on the edge of Lake Michigan. Take a ride on the Centennial Wheel for a great view of the city!
- The Skydeck (Loop): Head up to The Skydeck on floor 103 of Willis Tower and step out onto The Ledge, a glass balcony extending 4 feet out from the building. Enjoy views spanning across four states while 1,353 feet in the air.
- Chicago Architecture Center: Ever wondered how the Chicago-style trunnion bascule bridges work? The Chicago Architecture Center offers tours of Chicago’s architecture via walking tours, bus, and boat. From Frank Lloyd Wright to exploring brutalism in Chicago, this is a can’t-miss.
- Museum Campus (Loop): Home to Soldier Field, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium, the Museum Campus is easy to get to from McCormick Place. Explore the museums, soak in the lakefront, and snap some of the best skyline photos in the city.
- Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Hyde Park): From a World War II submarine to a walkthrough model of a human heart, the Griffin MSI offers immersive exhibits on science, technology, and engineering. Take a tour down into the coal mine, experience indoor lightning with a Tesla coil suspended 20 feet overhead, and dive into the history of space exploration at the Henry Crown Space Center.
Ways to McCormick Place
Getting to McCormick Place is easy. For those who are staying along the Mag Mile, Loop, or River North, just take the CTA Green Line to the Cermak-McCormick Place station, or opt for a rideshare that typically takes 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic. If you’re driving or parking onsite, valet and garage spots are available. For more information on public transit, parking, and more, check out McCormick Place’s complete Getting Here guide.
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