What to do in Chicago | La Presse

(Chicago) There’s so much to do in the Windy City. Here are some more suggestions.

Read “Inside the Belly of the Bear in Chicago”

Or sleep ?

Chicago has no shortage of beautiful and architecturally significant hotels, including the stunning Pendry, the bustling Chicago Athletic Association, The Hoxton, The Langham (for the pool and Travelle restaurant!), The Robey, Freehand Chicago (with “luxury” dorms), Emily Hotel, and many others. We stayed at the Loews, a hotel with less history and character, but a great location just steps from the must-see Riverwalk. Walking home along the river in the evening was a breathtaking experience every time. The rooms are modern and spacious. The two swimming lanes in the sports center are not very busy, much to the delight of swimmers. We also liked that there was a small coffee shop waiting for us at the bottom of the elevators for our morning caffeine fix before a big day of exploring. The Loews is a conference hotel, so there can be a lot of action and noise in the (beautiful) foyer. As is often the case these days, room prices vary wildly depending on the day of the week or time of year. We’ve seen rooms for $250 and others for $650.

Visit the Loews Chicago website (in English)

A pizza trip

While Chicago may automatically be associated with deep dish pizza, a style that you either love or hate, the city celebrates the cheesy pie in all its forms. Jonathan Porter, founder of Chicago Pizza Tours, is a huge connoisseur of the subject and also a particularly colorful host. We went on one of his tours. First stop: Pizano’s, the small chain (four locations) created in 1991 by the son of Rudy Malnati, inventor of the deep dish in 1943. You should know that the particularity of this pizza is its crust, which generally contains a good amount of fat, making it similar to a pie crust. Then, the sauce and toppings are added ON a generous layer of cheese.

At Pizano’s, we also taste a “tavern style”, this little-known thin-crust pizza from Chicago, which is cut into squares rather than slices. It’s already more digestible. At Flo & Santos, three “tavern” pizzas await us, including one with the famous “Italian beef” normally reserved for sandwiches. Coalfire, which cooks its 14-15 inch pizzas in a coal oven at 1200 °F, is the most refined of the places we visit. Bartoli’s gives the final blow with a “deep dish” so robust that no one finishes their slice. Fortunately, Jonathan and his colleague Collin, two real jokers, are there to work our abs as they are so entertaining.

Visit the Chicago Pizza Tours website

Architectural cruise and view from above

If you’ve ever been to Chicago, chances are you’ve done this activity, it’s such a must-do. Even Sydney gets in on it in the fourth episode of The Bear. For the sous chef looking for inspiration, the city’s iconic buildings become pasta shapes. Our volunteer guide from the Chicago Architecture Center was incredibly knowledgeable about each of the towers she talked about and the history of the city that had to rise from the ashes after the Great Fire of 1871. This cruise will deepen your knowledge of Chicago while giving you an hour and a half to rest your legs. For a completely different perspective, you can go up to the Skydeck and walk out onto The Ledge, on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower).

Visit the Chicago Architecture Center website (in English)

Visit the Skydeck website (in English)

A moment of relaxation

AIRE Ancient Baths is a high-end spa chain with baths in Chicago, New York, London, Copenhagen, Barcelona, ​​and more. The spaces are particularly cozy and relaxing, with a large floatation bath, steam baths (which could be warmer), and a host of pools at different temperatures. The experience is not cheap. You have to pay a minimum of $140 US for just 60 minutes of bathing, $175 US for 90 minutes, and $275 US for a 60-minute massage with 75 minutes of bathing. Then there are ways to spend much more if you really want to spoil yourself.

Visit the AIRE website (in English)

Other gourmet addresses

Great coffee shops, restaurants, and cocktail bars abound in Chicago’s many neighborhoods, so here are a few more recommendations! Founded in Chicago in 1995, Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters is a third-wave pioneer with three locations in the city. The Au Cheval burger is a classic. Go for it around 3-4pm to avoid the crowds. Monteverde’s Italian cuisine is generous and creative. Get insulted (gently!) by the waitresses at The Wieners Circle or experience Superdawg (two locations). Boonies serves Filipino cuisine with a twist. If you’re a fan of birria tacos, Birrieria Zaragoza (two locations) is a must. For a more modern take on deep dish (in the style of Pequod’s), Milly’s Pizza in the Pan is the new hot spot. Smyth and The Loyalist remain two of Chicago’s best big-name restaurants. The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel’s micro bar, Milk Room, offers one of the most advanced cocktail and spirits experiences in town. Reservations are required. Cheers!

Part of the cost of this trip was paid by the Choose Chicago tourism office, which had no control over the content of this report.