National Restaurant Association Show: Hotels & Where to Stay
22 May – 25 May 2027 McCormick Place 58,000 attendees
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The National Restaurant Association Show is the largest foodservice and restaurant trade show in the Western Hemisphere, held annually each May at McCormick Place in Chicago. It gathers restaurant owners and operators, chefs, foodservice buyers, distributors, and equipment and food-tech vendors, with more than 2,000 exhibitors and over 53,000 foodservice professionals from 100-plus countries across some 700,000 square feet of exhibits. For a hotel-booking traveller, McCormick Place's location just south of downtown is well served: the CTA Green Line stops at Cermak-McCormick Place, Metra Electric District trains stop at the venue, and the show typically runs dedicated shuttle buses to the main convention hotel block. O'Hare International Airport lies about 18 miles northwest, reachable by taxi or by the Blue and Green lines. Basing yourself in the South Loop near the venue or in the downtown Loop keeps you close to both the halls and the show shuttle, though May is peak convention season, so rooms are pricey and early booking pays off.
Popular areas for attendees: South Loop · The Loop · Magnificent Mile.
- McCormick Place is served by the CTA Green Line at Cermak-McCormick Place and by Metra Electric trains.
- The show runs dedicated shuttle buses to the main convention hotel block on event days.
- A South Loop or downtown Loop base keeps you close to the halls and the shuttle.
- May is peak convention season in Chicago, so early booking secures rate and availability.
Event at a glance
- Dates
- 22 May – 25 May 2027
- Venue
- McCormick Place
- City
- Chicago, United States
- Airport
- ORD
- Attendance
- 58,000
Recommended Hotels for Business Travellers
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Stay close to the venue
Hotels ranked by walking distance.
Flexible bookings
Pay Weekly available on free cancellation rooms.
Rates shown for the event window, Fri, May 21 → Wed, May 26 (arrive the day before, leave the day after) — or choose your own dates above.
Hotel rates near major event venues rise as the dates approach and the closest hotels sell out first. Booking a free-cancellation rate early locks the price with no downside.
On the map
The venue, your hotel options and where to eat — all in one view. Tap the map to explore it full screen.
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- The best hotels within walking distance of the venue
- Where to host clients for dinner near the halls
- How to beat the sold-out fair-week rooms
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Where to eat during National Restaurant Association Show
McCormick Place sits in the South Loop, an easy ride to both the South Loop's own tables and the West Loop restaurant scene. Chicago is a genuine food city (Smyth holds three Michelin stars and Alinea two), so book the marquee names well ahead when a big show is in town.
Girl & the Goat
New American / Small plates
West Loop (Randolph St), ~15 min drive from McCormick Place
Stephanie Izard's flagship on West Loop's restaurant row, serving inventive, shareable plates in a buzzy room. One of the toughest and most rewarding reservations in the city.
Tip: Book weeks out; walk-in bar seats are the backup plan.
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Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
Steakhouse
Gold Coast (Rush St), ~15 min drive from McCormick Place
The quintessential Chicago steakhouse: big steaks, martinis and a see-and-be-seen energy that suits entertaining clients. A local institution on Rush Street.
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Mercat a la Planxa
Spanish / Catalan tapas
South Loop (Michigan Ave), ~7 min drive from McCormick Place
A lively Catalan tapas room overlooking Grant Park, one of the closer upscale options to McCormick Place. Good for a shared, unhurried group dinner.
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Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
Deep-dish pizza
South Loop (State St), ~8 min drive from McCormick Place
The classic Chicago deep-dish, from one of the city's most storied pizzeria families. The South Loop location is an easy, casual team meal near the convention center.
Tip: Deep-dish takes ~40 min to bake, order as soon as you sit down.
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Intelligentsia Coffee (Millennium Park)
Coffee / Cafe
The Loop (Millennium Park), ~12 min drive from McCormick Place
The Chicago-born roaster widely credited with helping start the third-wave coffee movement in 1995. The Millennium Park coffeebar is an ideal caffeine stop when you're up in the Loop.
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Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen
Jewish deli
South Loop, ~6 min drive from McCormick Place
A cash-quick, cafeteria-style Chicago deli institution famous for its corned beef and matzo ball soup. About as fast and local a lunch as you'll find near the convention center.
Tip: Lunch-focused; it winds down by mid-afternoon.
Open in Google MapsAfter the halls close: Chicago
Client dinner, team night out or a free day after National Restaurant Association Show — bookable experiences in Chicago, same account, same checkout.
While you're in Chicago
Chicago is a great sports and festival town, and several of its venues are an easy trip from McCormick Place.
Chicago Cubs (MLB)
Day baseball at historic Wrigley Field is a bucket-list experience even if you're not a fan.
Find ticketsChicago White Sox (MLB)
South Side baseball at Rate Field, one of the closer ballparks to McCormick Place.
Find ticketsChicago Bears (NFL)
NFL games at lakefront Soldier Field, just north of the convention center.
Find ticketsChicago Bulls (NBA)
NBA basketball at the United Center on the Near West Side.
Find ticketsLollapalooza
A four-day, multi-stage music festival in Grant Park drawing top global headliners.
Find ticketsFixtures recur each season; exact dates for your fair week are confirmed at ticket search.
Getting there
From O'Hare Airport (ORD)
- O'Hare is about 18 miles (28 km) from McCormick Place.
- A taxi or rideshare is fastest at around 26-40 minutes depending on traffic.
- On a budget, take the CTA Blue Line downtown, transfer at Clark/Lake to the Green Line south to Cermak-McCormick Place, about an hour.
By rail and the second airport
- Chicago's second airport, Midway (MDW), is closer at around 12 miles and links downtown via the CTA Orange Line.
- Metra Electric District trains stop at the McCormick Place station.
- From downtown, the CTA Green Line reaches the venue directly at Cermak-McCormick Place.
Getting around during National Restaurant Association Show
Rail to the venue
- The CTA Green Line stops at Cermak-McCormick Place station beside the venue.
- CTA bus routes 3 (King Drive) and 21 (Cermak) also serve the halls.
- Metra Electric District trains stop at McCormick Place station.
Taxis and show shuttles
- Taxis and rideshare are abundant at O'Hare, and McCormick Place has dedicated taxi stands.
- Official show shuttle buses connect the convention hotel block to the venue on event days.
- The Green Line avoids I-90/94 congestion that slows taxis at rush hour.
Visa & entry
ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program
- Visa Waiver Program nationals, including most of Western Europe, the UK, Japan, South Korea and Australia, may enter for business up to 90 days with an approved ESTA.
- Apply for the ESTA online in advance of travel.
Who needs an advance visa
- All other nationalities need a B-1 business visa obtained in advance from a US embassy or consulate.
- Apply early, as interview and appointment wait times can be long.
Entry rules change; confirm current requirements with the United States embassy or official immigration site before booking travel.
First time at National Restaurant Association Show?
- Take the Green Line to Cermak-McCormick Place to avoid highway congestion at rush hour.
- Check whether the official show hotel block includes the free shuttle when booking.
- Allow around an hour if using CTA rail from O'Hare with a transfer downtown.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as McCormick Place is vast and spread across multiple buildings.
Insider tips from repeat attendees
- Book a South Loop or downtown hotel early to stay near both the venue and the shuttle.
- The Green Line is often faster than a midday taxi when I-90/94 is congested.
- Consider Midway (MDW) as a closer alternative airport if flights suit.
- Plan your hall route in advance, as the exhibit floor is enormous.
National Restaurant Association Show travel FAQs
Where should I stay for National Restaurant Association Show?
Stay in the South Loop near McCormick Place or in the downtown Loop, both close to the venue and the official show shuttle. The Green Line at Cermak-McCormick Place connects downtown hotels directly to the halls.
How much do hotels cost during National Restaurant Association Show?
May is peak convention season in Chicago, so rooms are pricey and vary by district and category. Booking early, and considering the official hotel block with its bundled shuttle, helps secure better value near the venue.
How early should I book hotels for National Restaurant Association Show?
Book early. May is a busy convention month in Chicago and hotels near McCormick Place fill quickly, so reserving well ahead protects availability and rate, especially within the official hotel block.
Which airport do I fly into for National Restaurant Association Show?
Fly into O'Hare International Airport (ORD), about 18 miles from McCormick Place, reachable by taxi or the CTA Blue plus Green lines. Midway (MDW) is a closer alternative at around 12 miles via the Orange Line.
How do I get from downtown to McCormick Place?
The CTA Green Line runs directly to Cermak-McCormick Place beside the venue, and Metra Electric trains stop at McCormick Place station. On event days, official show shuttles also connect the main convention hotel block to the halls.
EventEscapes is an independent travel platform and is not affiliated with National Restaurant Association Show or its organizers. Dates and venues can change — verify with the official event site before booking travel.