Dining, Drinking, and Snacking Tips for Lollapalooza
Attending Lollapalooza’s three-day spree of music, taking place July 31 through August 2, requires ample sustenance in order to maintain stamina, something easily and deliciously achieved with visits to restaurants close by and/or offering Lollapalooza specials.
Located a stone’s throw from Lollapalooza in Grant Park is Adamus, a chic contemporary American lounge situated inside the Silversmith Hotel. This restaurant fits the bill as an easily accessible dining option with unique menus hinged on seasonality and locality. In the morning, fuel up with cardamom-soaked French toast with crushed strawberries and cream, while lunchtime affords ample sustenance in the form of chilled watermelon gazpacho, artichoke and chèvre flatbreads, BBQ brisket melts, and Southern fried pickles.
Pre-game for Lollapalooza with a taste of the tropics at The Gage. During Lollapalooza weekend, The Gage will be featuring a cocktail from its sister restaurant in West Town, The Dawson. The drink is The Dawson’s Frozen Bacardi Mai Tai, which comes in a festive Mai Tai neon cup.
If you’re in need of a sugar rush, Magnolia Bakery is offering special Lollapalooza-themed cupcakes during the festival weekend. The limited time treats are classic vanilla or chocolate cupcakes topped with a swirl of blue and orange buttercream. They’re all capped off with a dusting of edible blue glitter.
Lastly, The Florentine is embracing Lollapalooza thoroughly as inspiration for a slew of special dishes and drinks. Influenced by the festival’s headlining acts, like Sir Paul McCartney and Florence and the Machine, the Lollapalooza specials include the Shuck and Destroy, a plate of grilled Kumamoto oysters with lemon aioli, pickled fresno chilies, and fried capers, inspired by Metallica’s “Seek and Destroy.” Back to the Egg(plant) is an ode to McCartney’s vegetarian diet and song “Back to the Egg,” featuring a vegetable lasagna with tomato sauce, grilled zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, wild mushrooms, buffalo ricotta, and grana padano. Hurricane Drunk is a special cocktail named after the Florence and the Machine song of the same name, consisting of Flor de Caña, citrus juices, Amarena cherry, and a Zaya Rum float. For dessert, there’s the Sam Smith-inspired I’m Nut the Only One, a Copetta vanilla gelato dish with pistachio cream, orange olive oil cake, whipped cream, and Amarena cherry. The Florentine also will be serving the “Lollapalooza” Pinot Noir from Fiddlehead Cellars.
Adamus
10 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago
(312) 372-7696
Website
The Gage
24 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
(312) 372-4243
Website
Magnolia Bakery
108 N. State Street, Chicago
(312) 346-7777
Website
The Florentine
151 W. Adams Street, Chicago
(312) 660-8866
Website