Chicago’s museums, restaurants, attractions, and more are currently open with new safety guidelines and limited capacities. The city continues to reopen responsibly, while introducing health and safety measures to protect Chicagoans and visitors. Social distancing and face coverings are required whenever possible. Learn more about what’s open in Chicago below.
What’s open in Chicago?
- Restaurants & bars
- Museums
- Tours & attractions
- Theatres & music venues
- Parks & gardens
- Shopping
- Hotels/lodging
- Salons, fitness centers, and more
Restaurants & bars
Chicago bars and restaurants are open for indoor and outdoor dining with limited capacity and takeout/delivery with appropriate safety measures. Indoor dining is limited to 50 people or 50% capacity per room (whichever is less).
- Find restaurants with outdoor seating
- Find restaurants with indoor dining
- Explore restaurants in Chicago
Know before you go: Diners can have up to six people per table indoors and 10 people per table outdoors. Customers must wear masks when not seated, while interacting with waitstaff and other employees, when food and beverages are brought to the table, and when picking up takeout orders.
Museums
Chicago museums and cultural institutions are reopening with limited capacity. Check with individual museums for reopening details, safety precautions, and ticketing information.
- Field Museum is now open
- Shedd Aquarium is now open
- Art Institute of Chicago is now open
- Chicago History Museum is now open
- wndr museum is now open
- Immersive Van Gogh is now open
- Explore more open museums in Chicago
Know before you go: Museums are currently open at limited capacity. Masks are required. Check with individual museums for timed/advanced ticketing policies.
Tours & attractions
Chicago’s tours and outdoor attractions are open to enjoy with new safety and social distancing practices. Check out all open tours and attractions:
Attractions
- 360 CHICAGO is open
- Lake and river cruises are now setting sail
- Lincoln Park Zoo is now open
- Millennium Park is open, some amenities and attractions remain closed
- Chicago Riverwalk is open to the public
- Fox in a Box and other escape rooms are open
Tours
- Bobby’s Bike Hike Chicago is offering public and private bike, walking, and food tours
- Inside Chicago is offering private in-person tours and virtual tours
- Chicago Architecture Center is offering in-person walking tours
- Chicago Detours is now offering live virtual tours
- Chicago Greeter is offering free, in-person neighborhood tours
Know before you go: All individuals must wear masks/face coverings over nose and mouth. Physical distancing is encouraged. Check with tour or attraction for additional health and safety guidelines.
Theatres & music venues
Chicago’s music/performance venues and theatres are reopening with limited capacity. Check out a few venues open now and opening soon:
- Zanies Comedy Club in Old Town is now open
- Music Box Theatre is now open
- Laugh Factory Chicago in Lakeview is now open
- Lips Drag Show is now open
- Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Uptown is now open
- The Second City will reopen May 7
Parks & gardens
All Chicago parks, playgrounds, gardens, and the lakefront are open to enjoy:
- The Lakefront Trail is open for exercise and transit (walking, running, biking, etc.)
- The 606 is open for exercise and transit (walking, running, biking, etc.)
- Millennium Park is open, some amenities and attractions remain closed
- Garfield Park Conservatory is now open
- Lincoln Park Conservatory is now open
- Maggie Daley Park is open, the Climbing Wall opens May 28
- Chicago Riverwalk is open to the public
- Chicago Botanic Garden is open to the public
Know before you go: Please wear a mask when social distancing isn’t possible. Runners, joggers, bikers, and walkers should maintain at least 6 feet distancing while exercising.
Shopping
Both essential and non-essential retail are open. Indoor capacity is limited to allow for social distancing.
- Explore open shops and boutiques around Chicago
Know before you go: All employees and customers must wear masks at all times. Physical distancing, contactless payments, and use of hand sanitizers when provided.
Hotels/lodging
Chicago hotels and accommodations are open. Check out the latest hotel special offers for deals and discounts.
- Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel is open along the Chicago River in the Loop
- The Peninsula Chicago in the Gold Coast is open, along with their award-winning restaurants
- Sophy Hyde Park is open, featuring the in-house Mesler restaurant and lounge
- Aloft Chicago is open on The Magnificent Mile
- Kimpton Gray is now open in the Loop
- Hotel Lincoln is open, with their rooftop bar, across from scenic Lincoln Park
- The Hoxton is open in the trendy West Loop, boasting a buzzing rooftop eatery
- Freehand Chicago offers affordable rooms in River North
- Claridge House in Gold Coast is now open
- Explore open hotels in Chicago
Know before you go: Face coverings are required for guests and employees in all common areas. Physical distancing and mobile check-ins/outs are encouraged.
Salons, fitness centers, and more
- Personal services (e.g. hair/nail salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors)
- Public transit, regional transit, taxis and rideshare
- Gyms and fitness centers
- Childcare centers and family childcare
- Libraries and other city services
- Places of worship
- Office-based jobs, professional services, and real estate services
- Hospitals, dentists, and community mental health centers
What is Phase Four of Chicago’s reopening plan?
The goal of Phase Four of the Protecting Chicago plan is to continue cautiously reopening the city, while ensuring the safety of residents and visitors. Guidelines include:
- All indoor social gatherings are limited to the lesser of 50 guests or 50% capacity. All outdoor gatherings are limited to the lesser of 100 people or 50% capacity.
- Outdoor dining, carryout, and delivery are allowed at restaurants/bars. Indoor dining is allowed at establishments that allow food, with limited capacity
- Indoor museums, cultural institutions, and performance arts centers are currently open with limited capacity.
- Social distancing and face coverings are required whenever possible.
- Advanced ticketing/reservations are encouraged whenever possible.
