HotelWest Loop / Fulton Market
Nobu Hotel Chicago
💲💲💲💲 · $350-600/night
🏟️ 1.5 miles — short Uber or walk
Book NowAffiliate link
Chicago, IL
United Center
Home court for hoops royalty — and a food and drink scene that plays at the same level.
HotelWest Loop / Fulton Market
The Emily Hotel
💲💲💲 · $250-450/night
🏟️ 1.5 miles — short Uber
Book NowAffiliate link
HotelWest Loop
Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop
💲💲 · $150-250/night
🏟️ 1.0 mile — short Uber or walk
Book NowAffiliate link
HotelIllinois Medical District
Hyatt Place Chicago Medical/University District
💲💲 · $140-220/night
🏟️ 0.6 miles — 12 min walk
Book NowAffiliate link
HotelWest Loop / Fulton Market
Hyatt House Chicago West Loop-Fulton Market
💲💲💲 · $200-350/night
🏟️ 1.2 miles — 5 min Uber or 20 min walk
Book NowAffiliate link
HotelWest Loop
Hampton Inn Chicago West Loop Fulton Market Area
💲💲 · $160-280/night
🏟️ 1.5 miles — short Uber
Book NowAffiliate link
West Loop / Fulton Market
0.5–2 milesChicago's culinary epicenter. A former meatpacking district turned Restaurant Row with converted warehouses and cobblestone streets.
Areas: Randolph Street ('Restaurant Row'), Fulton Market, Green Street, Lake Street
Best For: Pre-game dinners, craft cocktails, late-night eats, the full Chicago culinary experience
💡 Pro Tip: Randolph Street between Halsted and Racine is where the magic happens. Book reservations 2–3 weeks out for the heavy-hitters.
Near West Side / Madison Street
0.2–1 mileThe game day nerve center. Madison Street is the main artery to the United Center, lined with neighborhood sports bars.
Areas: Madison Street between Racine and Damen
Best For: Game day warm-up, shuttle service to UC, no-frills sports bar energy
💡 Pro Tip: The Crossroads, Third Rail, and Kaiser Tiger all offer free shuttles to the United Center on game nights.
River North
2.5 milesUpscale energy meets late-night scene. High-end steakhouses, buzzy new openings, and nightlife that runs deep.
Areas: Wells Street, Kinzie Street, Grand Avenue
Best For: Night-before-the-game dinners, celebratory steakhouse vibes, late-night action
💡 Pro Tip: Bavette's is one of the hardest reservations in the city. Book the moment you know your travel dates.
River West
2 milesGritty-meets-gentrified. Old-school Chicago institutions sit next to new development. The neighborhood that kept its character.
Areas: Grand Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago Avenue
Best For: Old-school Italian, dive bars, a taste of real Chicago that the tourists miss
💡 Pro Tip: La Scarola is phone-only for reservations (312-243-1740). Richard's Bar is cash only. This neighborhood rewards people who know where to look.
Lincoln Park
4 milesClassic Chicago neighborhood. Tree-lined streets, neighborhood bars, and the kind of spots where locals actually hang.
Areas: Southport Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Armitage
Best For: Wings and beer, low-key neighborhood vibes, a break from the West Loop scene
💡 Pro Tip: Bird's Nest on Southport has been slinging what many call the best wings in Chicago since 1995.
Night Before Games
Dinner Option 1 (Splurge): Bavette's Bar & Boeuf — bone-in ribeye, Old Fashioned, dim lighting. Option 2 (Local Favorite): Monteverde — pasta tasting menu, walk from your West Loop hotel. Option 3 (Old-School Chicago): La Scarola — red-sauce Italian institution on Grand Ave, huge portions, call for reservations. Option 4 (Casual + Fun): Zarella Pizzeria — tavern-style pizza upstairs, speakeasy cocktails downstairs. After-Dinner Drinks: Bisous for a Parisian nightcap, Lazy Bird for jazz and cocktails, or Richard's Bar for a no-frills dive bar nightcap.
Day of — Morning
Brunch at The Loyalist (Eggs Mousseline and the famous cheeseburger) or Aba for a Mediterranean rooftop brunch spread. Afternoon: Bonci for a quick Roman-style pizza lunch, then Kaiser Tiger beer garden for sausages and yard games.
Pre-Game
Start at Kaiser Tiger for the beer garden and sausage boards, or Third Rail for whiskey flights — both offer free shuttles. For rooftop energy, Texan Taco Bar for margs and skyline views. Photo with the Michael Jordan statue outside Gate 4.
Post-Game
If You Have Time for Only ONE Thing: Green Street Smoked Meats. Walk down the alley, order brisket, grab a beer. Immediate Post-Game: The Vig for late-night drinks (open til 2–3 AM). Dinner: Rose Mary or Trivoli Tavern. Wind-Down: After cocktail lounge or MoneyGun.
⏱️ If You Only Have Time for One Thing
🍽️ Food: The Loyalist cheeseburger — beneath a 3-Michelin-star restaurant, $25, and unbeatable
🍺 Bar: Bisous — a 1960s Parisian cocktail bar in the middle of Fulton Market. World-class.
✨ Experience: The brick-alley walk into Green Street Smoked Meats + High Five Ramen in the basement
☕ Breakfast: The Loyalist Brunch or Aba rooftop Mediterranean spread
🌙 Late Night: The Izakaya at Momotaro — neon-lit Tokyo basement, great burger, Monday karaoke
Getting There
- 🚗 From O'Hare Airport (ORD): 18 miles, 30–60 minutes via I-90/94 East to Madison Street exit.
- 🚗 From Midway Airport (MDW): 11 miles, 25–45 minutes via I-55 North to I-90/94. Exit at Madison Street.
- 🚗 United Center Official Lots: $30–50 depending on the event. West Loop street parking $15–25 in private lots.
- 🚗 SpotHero app for pre-booked spots saves money and stress.
- ✈️ Two airports serve Chicago: O'Hare (ORD, main hub — CTA Blue Line to downtown in 45 min, $5) and Midway (MDW, Southwest hub — CTA Orange Line to downtown in 30 min). Most major carriers fly into O'Hare.
🅿️ Parking Strategy
Don't drive to the United Center if you can avoid it. CTA Blue Line to Illinois Medical District puts you a 15-minute walk from the arena. If you must drive, park in the West Loop ($15–25 lots along Randolph and Madison) and take a free shuttle from The Crossroads, Third Rail, or Kaiser Tiger. Pre-book on SpotHero.
At the Arena
- 🚇 CTA Blue Line to Illinois Medical District stop puts you a 15-minute walk from the arena. Green/Pink Lines run through the West Loop. Download the Ventra app for transit passes.
- 📱 Uber/Lyft surge pricing is brutal around the United Center during events. Set your pickup 2–3 blocks away (try Madison and Wood) to cut surge significantly. Or take a free shuttle from The Crossroads, Third Rail, or Kaiser Tiger.
- 🏟️ Gates open 90 minutes before tip-off. Mobile tickets only — have your phone charged. Clear bag policy (14" x 14" x 6" or smaller). No backpacks. Small clutch purses (4.5" x 6.5") allowed.
- 👜 Clear bag policy — bags must be 14" x 14" x 6" or smaller and clear. No backpacks. Small clutch purses allowed.
- ✓Layer up. Late March in Chicago can be 35°F in the morning and 55°F by afternoon. Wind off the lake makes it feel colder. Bring a waterproof jacket.
- ✓Book reservations NOW. Monteverde, Bavette's Bar & Boeuf, Trivoli Tavern, and Pizz'Amici fill up fast, especially during March Madness weekend.
- ✓Cash is rarely needed. Almost every bar and restaurant accepts cards. Keep $40–60 on hand for a few dive bars.
- ✓Download these apps: Ventra (CTA transit), SpotHero (parking), Tock, Resy, OpenTable (reservations), and the United Center app for mobile tickets.
- ✓Walk the West Loop. Randolph Street from Halsted to Racine is the greatest restaurant row in America.
- ✓Pre-game timing matters. Madison Street bars fill up 3 hours before tip-off during March Madness. Arrive early.
- ✓Try the Italian Beef. Al's #1 Italian Beef (1079 W Taylor St) is the classic. Order it dipped with hot giardiniera.
- ✓Don't skip the deep dish. Pequod's is the move — caramelized cheese crust that's unlike anything else. If the wait is too long, Lou Malnati's is the classic backup. Buttercrust, sausage patty, chunky tomato sauce.
- ✓The CTA is your friend. Blue Line from O'Hare to downtown is $5 and 45 minutes. Faster and cheaper than Uber.
What's the best pre-game spot near the United Center?+
Kaiser Tiger (beer garden with free shuttle), The Crossroads (classic sports bar with free shuttle), or Third Rail Tavern (300+ whiskeys with free shuttle). All on Madison Street within a mile of the arena.
What's the one restaurant I shouldn't miss?+
Monteverde for James Beard-winning pasta blocks from the arena. Bavette's Bar & Boeuf for a splurge-worthy steakhouse. The Loyalist for the best burger in Chicago beneath a 3-Michelin-star restaurant.
Best late-night food after the game?+
Green Street Smoked Meats in the West Loop (walk down the brick alley, order brisket). The Izakaya at Momotaro for a neon-lit Tokyo basement burger. The Vig stays open until 2–3 AM.
What's the best way to get to the United Center?+
CTA Blue Line to Illinois Medical District (15-minute walk). Or take a free shuttle from The Crossroads, Third Rail, or Kaiser Tiger. Skip driving — parking is expensive and Uber surges hard.
Is Chicago friendly to visiting fans?+
Very. Chicago is a huge sports town and welcomes tournament crowds. The March Madness atmosphere is electric — expect mixed fan bases, trash talk, and good-natured energy everywhere.
What neighborhood should I explore beyond the arena?+
The West Loop / Fulton Market. Randolph Street is the greatest restaurant row in America. Monteverde, Bisous, Lazy Bird, Green Street Smoked Meats, and a dozen more are all here.
Got a Spot We Missed?
Know a restaurant, bar, or hidden gem in Chicago? We're always looking for local recommendations.