Daley Bicentennial Plaza
Daley Bicentennial Plaza
4
6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
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Top ways to experience Daley Bicentennial Plaza and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown / The Loop
Often visitors' first stop in Chicago, The Loop is a good starting point to sample the city's energy and flavor. This central business district boasts Michelin-rated restaurants, upscale hotels, premier shopping, and enough arresting architecture to keep your camera busy for hours. You won’t find too many photo galleries of downtown Chicago without a shot of Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. A stunning skyline coupled with cultural attractions like the Art Institute of Chicago present a Downtown where work and play peacefully coexist.
How to get there
- Randolph/Wabash • 8 min walk
- Lake • 10 min walk
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Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
2,961 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,004 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
58 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
25
Average
7
Poor
4
Terrible
3
Irina
United States14,366 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
Daley Plaza, located in the central part of Chicago Loop, looks busy in any time of the year, and from the mid-May till the beginning of October, it is the place, hosting on Fridays the Chicago Food Truck Festival (or simply, Chi Food Truck Fest). It features a rotating selection of food trucks from around the city.
Representing many businesses in the food industry, food trucks offer a wide variety of food from American, Cajun, Mexican, Asian cuisines; there are tables and chairs in the shaded seating areas, where customers can enjoy the food and relax in the open air during a warm summer season.
A famous Picasso sculpture -- "The Picasso", surrounded by food trucks, these days-- stands in the center of the plaza all the year round, attracting a lot of people to take photos.
The ambiance on the plaza was very relaxed and casual, many people were just relaxing in the shade, and enjoying the views of this busy city: there's a lot of iconic buildings around the plaza -- Chicago City Council, Daley Center, Chicago Temple, also theatres, shops, and restaurants nearby.
Representing many businesses in the food industry, food trucks offer a wide variety of food from American, Cajun, Mexican, Asian cuisines; there are tables and chairs in the shaded seating areas, where customers can enjoy the food and relax in the open air during a warm summer season.
A famous Picasso sculpture -- "The Picasso", surrounded by food trucks, these days-- stands in the center of the plaza all the year round, attracting a lot of people to take photos.
The ambiance on the plaza was very relaxed and casual, many people were just relaxing in the shade, and enjoying the views of this busy city: there's a lot of iconic buildings around the plaza -- Chicago City Council, Daley Center, Chicago Temple, also theatres, shops, and restaurants nearby.
Written 22 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin S
Cranford, NJ1,691 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
Daley Bicentennial Plaza is a large open space in the downtown area of Chicago, known for its beautiful fountain, the Picasso Statue and the place where the Chriskindlemarket is held In December.
Its also a place to hang out or gather ( over the lunch hour on workdays or whenever).
I have enjoyed hanging out here as a resident of the city ( great people watching and just enjoying the nice weather).
If you are a tourist, give it a try by planting yourself for awhile and just observing the city happen.
Its also a place to hang out or gather ( over the lunch hour on workdays or whenever).
I have enjoyed hanging out here as a resident of the city ( great people watching and just enjoying the nice weather).
If you are a tourist, give it a try by planting yourself for awhile and just observing the city happen.
Written 2 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irina
United States14,366 contributions
Dec 2019
... It's like a holiday tradition for many - to shop at Daley Plaza before Christmas. And Christkindlmarket there is usually packed with shoppers, as was the case past Saturday. It was cold. Over the years, I've visited the place several times (and also in a warm weather!), and even if I am not particularly keen on holiday shopping frenzy, I enjoyed the festive mood of the plaza, packed with thousands of folks celebrating different holidays. Dozens of kiosks were selling delicious food and glitzy holiday decorations, and dense, happy crowds, friends and families, local public and visitors - all looked good on pictures!...
Written 18 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FoodExcursionist
Missouri187 contributions
Nov 2019
Way, way, way too crowded. Crowded to the point where you can't even see what is in the shops. Lines everywhere. Things that we were able to see were WAY overpriced. Food looked ok, but again, overpriced with long lines so we didn't bother.
The good news is there were bathroom facilities. They were porta-potties and smelled like death, but it was better than nothing.
I will not bother to go back. Unfortunate.
The good news is there were bathroom facilities. They were porta-potties and smelled like death, but it was better than nothing.
I will not bother to go back. Unfortunate.
Written 1 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luvs2TravelAnywhere
New York City, NY7,170 contributions
Apr 2016
The Daley Bicentennial Plaza was very quiet when I visited, and I enjoyed my guide's interpretations of The Picasso Sculpture.
Written 11 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TriciaJR
Michigan61 contributions
Dec 2019
Our Christmas visit to Chicago was to experience the Christkindlmarket. What a HUGE disappointment. Hugely over-priced tat, many stalls having the same merchandise. Very busy, jostling with many others, and for what??? We also visited the smaller one at Wrigley Field, which was very much the same. I would highly recommend you give this a miss; certainly do NOT make this your main reason to visit Chicago. Hyped up and over-rated AND much smaller than expected.
Written 23 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lori T
Dawsonville, GA2,566 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
All year long, the Daley Plaza is a great place to watch people and get fresh air. In November, we visited the Christkindlmarket which fills the plaza with vendors selling holiday food and crafts. Given that it was opening weekend and probably some of the best weather the market will have all season, it was expectedly crowded, but the air was buzzing with holiday cheer. From German potato pancakes with salmon and herbed sour cream to savory Samosa pies from India, our group found plenty to eat, and We enjoyed it all. We even brought home a hand carved dragon to remind us of our visit to the Christmas market in Chicago.
Written 17 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen L
Manassas, VA712 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Daley Plaza hosts Chriskindelmarket, an outdoor market with traditional German food, drinks, bakery items, Christmas ornaments and other trinkets. This is wildly popular, for good reason. The German food was authentic (brats, potato pancakes, gingerbread, mulled wine, etc.) and the people were in a very upbeat and patient mood. The drawback is that the space is too small for the crowds, although Chicago crowds seem to be far less aggressive than, say, New York City. So glad we stopped by for lunch!
Written 19 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon from Dallas
Dallas, TX1,648 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
This is the exact spot where the Blues Brothers came to pay the $5,000 taxes for St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud Orphanage in Calumet City, Illinois. They saw Picasso's untitled sculpture in Daley Plaza on their way to the Cook County Tax Assessor's office.
Jake & Elwood were on a mission from God.
Jake & Elwood were on a mission from God.
Written 24 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oneisawanderer
Arlington, VA195 contributions
Mar 2013 • Family
Daley Plaza and the Picasso sculpture are what set Chicago apart from any other big American city. You're walking through the Loop, trying not to get crushed by all the commuters anxious to get home, when suddenly the space opens up and there is Picasso's sculpture. You catch your breath, and before you know it, your feet have taken you into the Plaza to marvel at all that is around you!
Written 29 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Any good/decent priced restaurants close to Daley Plaza that are open on Sunday?
Written 1 December 2018
Approximately 1 mile down Randolph is Au Cheval. Named best hamburger in US and it lives up to its reputation. You will wait for a table but there’s a few bar/breweries you can enjoy a beverage in while you wait for an hour or two. Worth the wait!
Written 2 December 2018
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