As the unofficial start to summer in the Chicagoland area, take advantage of the long Memorial Day Weekend at some of Chicago’s hottest venues! Whether you’re opting for a staycation in the city, a thrilling adventure, or a unique dinner at a gorgeous restaurant, we’ve got you covered with our list of top Memorial Day Weekend spots:
If you’re looking for… a night out on the town:
To enjoy topnotch views in the heart of the city, head to Aire, located at 100 W. Monroe St., on the 24th floor of Hyatt Centric the Loop Chicago. Enjoy 360-views with a new Midwestern-inspired menu, including small plates and appetizers meant for sharing and a robust beverage program sure to delight. Aire features fire pits, cabanas, couches, outdoor games, and an outdoor bar with an unmatched urban feel. To make a reservation, please visit TOCK .
Spend the weekend with the best vibes and views in Chicago at Kennedy Rooftop located in the heart of Wicker Park. Chicago’s top spot to enjoy unobstructed views of the city skyline boasts a refreshing Signature cocktails menu and a new menu with delicious offerings to satisfy any craving or sweet tooth. Reservation are available by phone. For more information, please visit www.kennedyrooftop.com. Enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend at Offshore Rooftop, the world’s largest rooftop deck as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records and one of Chicago’s most exciting hotspots located at Navy Pier. Boasting over 42,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space with unmatched views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan, this year-round rooftop destination offers Chicagoans and travelers alike a full-service bar and world-class kitchen, along with cozy fire pits, a gaming area, and multiple large gathering spaces for you and your friends to take in the return of the Navy Pier fireworks and enjoy unparalleled sunsets.
Open Saturday and Sunday Memorial Day weekend, get the party going at Carnivale, Chicago’s most vibrant Latin-fusion destination located in the bustling Fulton Market District. Known for their iconic colorful dining room, Carnivale is open for dinner service and boasts an incredible menu incorporating nuances from a variety of South American countries and cultures. To make a reservation, please visit www.carnivalechicago.com.
Located on the iconic corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, Ocean Prime offers al fresco dining on the outdoor patio just steps away from the city’s top attractions. The modern American restaurant and lounge from award-winning Cameron Mitchell Restaurants offers an impressive menu of seafood and steak, signature cocktails, and a Wine Spectator-honored wine list coupled with truly exceptional hospitality. To visit this weekend, book a reservation on OpenTable.
Formerly Engine Company 104 of the Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, the landmark restaurant at 1401 South Michigan Avenue features both a lush backyard patio providing a quaint escape in the city as well as an outdoor veranda affording picturesque views of the South Loop skyline. The timeless house favorites, including steaks, chops, and seafood, are complemented by distinctive, contemporary seasonal dishes for all to enjoy. Take advantage of outdoor dining Memorial Day Weekend and get your reservation today via their website.
Those looking to turn back time this Memorial Day weekend are invited to check out Chicago’s favorite arcade bar located at 2833 N. Sheffield, Replay Lincoln Park, for their latest ReplaY2K pop up, complete with iconic moments from the early 2000s such as homages to Radio Shack and Blockbuster, references to Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ legendary denim ensemble and N’SYNC’s No Strings Attached album cover, along with themed trivia nights, boy band karaoke, themed cocktails and menu items, and much more. Replay Lincoln Park features rotating pop-up events spanning 9,000 square feet of gaming areas including their outdoor patio. To learn more about upcoming pop-ups, please visit www.replaylincolnpark.com.
Look out from the sunlit dining room to breathtaking Lake Michigan, or step out onto the 150-seat patio and into the open air to experience the awe that is Lírica, Chicago’s chic dining destination at 900 E. Grand Ave., which opened in 2021 as the first and only Latin-inspired venue on Navy Pier. Drawing inspiration from more than a dozen South American countries and encouraging guests to embrace “Comiendo con Ritmo” or “eating with rhythm”, Lírica’s menu boasts only the best in everything from fresh-cut fish to tender meats including Braised Beef Short Rib and of course, plenty of delicious starters or “primeros,” such as Latin Spiced Chicken Wings. Lírica takes guests on a culinary tour of Latin America, boasting a combination of rich and rustic flavors and a vibrant atmosphere to create a colorful experience. Lirica is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and accepts reservations online at www.liricarestaurant.com.
Take advantage of the long weekend and (fingers crossed) great weather by dining al fresco for Brunch at Fulton Market Kitchen. Part restaurant, part art gallery, FMK is known for their artful, inspired dishes and the incredible art that dons the walls of the space. Open for weekend Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, FMK offers a variety of unique breakfast-style dishes like their Sprouted Red Quinoa Pancakes, Roasted Broccoli Scramble as well as everything from Market Oysters to a Charred Octopus Salad. Paired perfectly with their vibrant menu, FMK brings the party to brunch with a variety of sparkling waters spiked with adaptogens and antioxidants, and of course the brunch staples: Mimosas, Bloody Marys, Irish Coffee and more. To make a reservation, please visit www.fultonmarketkitchen.com.
This extended weekend, take your taste buds on an exquisite journey at Kōmo Chicago, a boundless Japanese fine dining destination on West Loop’s Restaurant Row, 738 W Randolph St. Executive Chef Macku provides precision thoughtfully woven into each dish and delivers the utmost attention to the quality of each ingredient. A contemporary design that seamlessly pays homage to Japanese culture, Kōmo takes fine dining to another level amidst an already impressive culinary scene in the city’s most famous dining districts.
Carraig Irish Pub at Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 147th St. in Oak Forest, will feature live music and entertainment on Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29 at 8 p.m. Indulge in traditional Irish and contemporary dishes, draft beer, wine, and craft cocktails at the pub and its expansive outdoor patio. To make a reservation, please call Gaelic Park at (708) 687-9323.
What better way to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend than a Southern-style backyard-inspired meal? With three Chicago locations in Lakeview, South Loop, and Chinatown, Lowcountry invites guests to embrace the tradition of gathering with friends and family over a seafood boil. Diners can order their choice of protein: shrimp, snow crab, mussels, clams, crawfish, or lobster tails by the pound, served with delicious sides and flavor-forward sauces.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Roosevelt Collection and Chicago French Press invite local residents to a curated event featuring Chicago’s talented artists entitled “Healing and Harmony” on the shopping center’s picturesque rooftop this Memorial Day from 12-2 pm. Enjoy live music and complimentary goodies for local residents. For more information, please visit www.chicagofrenchpress.com.
If you’re looking for… a new adventure:
Kick off the start of summer and Navy Pier’s Fireworks season with a Memorial Day Weekend cruise on City Cruises’ luxurious vessels including the Odyssey Lake Michigan, Spirit of Chicago, Chicago Elite, and the Odyssey Chicago River. Whatever the holiday or occasion, it’s better on a yacht. Guests can enjoy curated cocktails and cuisine during brunch and dinner cruises, all while taking in the unmatched views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline from the Chicago River, along with the Navy Pier fireworks.
Plan a tee-time with friends this Memorial Day weekend! Puttshack, located inside the Oakbrook Center, is unmatched as they have reimagined and re-engineered social entertainment space to fully showcase tech-infused mini golf, a unique and world class food & beverage menu and an inclusive, dynamic, in-venue experience. Bring your best buds in for a fun round of golf and delicious drinks and food such as their ‘Perfect “10” Old Fashioned,’ ‘Smokin’ Painkiller’, ‘Tuscan Pork Porchetta Sandwich’, ‘Mighty Meatball Flatbread’, ‘Fried Chicken Cobb Salad,’ and much more. To learn more or book a reservation, please visit here.
Pixar Putt, located at Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier, is open to the public on Saturday, May 28! The course features 18 fun and interactive holes inspired by Disney and Pixar film favorites such as Toy Story, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Coco, A Bug’s Life, Wall-E, and Inside Out. The course will be open seven days a week, Monday-Friday from 12 pm-10 pm (last entry 8:30 pm) and Saturday-Sunday from 10 am-10 pm (last entry 8:30 pm); Pixar Putt After Dark, evening sessions for 18+, will take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00 pm – 10 pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.pixarputt.com/chicago.
Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “A good laugh and a fun night out!”, Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man is currently performing at Chicago’s Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue. Becoming Off-Broadway’s Longest-Running Comedy in New York and launching a national tour before making its Las Vegas debut, this “perfect date-night show” (Around The Town Chicago) takes the audience on a hilarious and wild ride where no topic is taboo and the insider ‘tips’ come straight from the source: a gay man. The performance schedule is as follows: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm. during Memorial Day Weekend Regular tickets range from $39.95 to $69.95 plus processing fees, and group tickets start at $49.95. For tickets and more information, visit SexTipsPlay.com or call the Greenhouse Theater Center Box Office at 773-404-7336.
Head indoors to the virtual links this year at one of Five Iron Golf’s three Chicago locations. Reshaping modern golf culture in Chicago and beyond, Five Iron Golf offers a reimagined, high-tech, inclusive golf experience complete with a full-service bar and restaurant for both golfers and non-golfers alike. To learn more on the latest location, please visit their website.
This Memorial Weekend, game like a legend. The legendary Horseshoe Hammond Casino, located just a quick 20-minute drive from downtown Chicago right along Lake Michigan at 777 Casino Center Drive in Hammond, Indiana, is an extraordinary 400,000-square-foot property offering the ultimate gambling experience, even playing host to the largest poker room in the Midwest. Make it a whole day and enjoy an impressive roster of restaurants as you look to win big this Memorial Day!
See it before it’s gone! The world’s most beloved musical, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, is currently at The Marriott Theatre, for a short while longer! THE SOUND OF MUSIC tells the tale of young nun-turned-governess Maria Rainer, whose free spirit has trouble fitting into the rules and regulations of the monastery. Commissioned by the Mother Abbess to serve as the governess for seven motherless children, Maria transforms the Von Trapp family home from a place of stern obedience to one filled with joy, laughter and music. Based on the true story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, this musical captures a personal tale of growth and hope amidst the horrors of World War II. Critics are raving, calling it a production “worth seeing with the entire family” and the Chicago Tribune stating, “the secret is in the kids”. The final date is June 5! For more information, please visit here.
If you’re looking for… a sweet staycation:
Looking for an incredible staycation this Memorial Day weekend? Look no further than Sable at Navy Pier, the first hotel to break ground and make waves on one of the city’s most iconic and historic landmarks! Offering sweeping, unparalleled views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, the hotel is a destination truly unlike any other. This high-end oasis combines lush accommodations with elegance and comfort, with each room boasting floor to ceiling windows with unparalleled lake and skyline views, along with corner room upgrades, serenity beds, and spacious living room areas. Those looking to get away without getting away this long weekend will be in for the ultimate treat on Navy Pier. To book an upcoming staycation this Memorial Day, please click here.
Hyatt Lodge, 2815 Jorie Blvd., located just west of Chicago, is Oakbrook’s most unique resort-style hotel located by beautiful lakes, streams, and wooded trails that continues to bring a one-of-a-kind experience to their guests. Guests are invited to celebrate Memorial Day weekend on the lakeside patio featuring live music and dancing and a scrumptious Seafood Boil executed by award-winning Executive Chef Joshua Karther on Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. For reservations, please visit OpenTable.
For those hoping to spend their long weekend out and about exploring nature, The Forester Hotel has them covered! The North Shore hotel has just launched a Picnic Package perfect to pair with any Memorial Day park plans. In addition to an overnight stay in one of their stunning guest rooms, visitors that book the package will receive a picnic basket complete with a foldable fleece travel blanket, choice of a bottle or red, white or sparkling wine, a corkscrew and a pair of drinking glasses to make for the perfect toast. Those looking to add a little fare, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, Oaken Bistro, is fully prepped to work with guests to create a custom menu perfect for any occasion. To book the Picnic Package, please visit www.theforesterhotel.com/offers.
On a long layover at O’Hare or doing some serious shopping at the Fashion Outlet of Chicago this Memorial Day weekend? Make some time to stop for some food and delicious libations at Thorn Restaurant & Lounge! This modern American restaurant and lounge located inside The Rose Hotel at 5200 Pearl St. in Rosemont is just steps away from all the Rosemont happenings, and provide incredible items as well as an awesome ambiance. Make it a whole weekend outing by booking a stay at The Rose Hotel!
Located within the Loop’s newest and most stylish hotel, Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop, Depot 226 is a chef-driven bistro boasting an inviting menu complete with craft coffees, soups, salads, sandwiches, shared plates and delicious oven-fired flatbreads, offering the perfect stop for a bite to eat during your Memorial Day weekend explorations in Downtown Chicago. Monday, May 30, take advantage of Depot 226’s happy hour from 4:30 – 6:00 pm, offering $5 Domestic Beers, select Red and White Wines for $6, Local Draft Beers for $7 and select food items for $10 each. To book a guestroom, please visit their website.
