Chicago: Downtown Pizza Tour & Deep Dish vs. Italian Styles

Four Pizza Styles, Two Hours, One Hungry Afternoon in Chicago

You'll taste four distinct pizza styles (deep dish, Roman, Neapolitan, and artisanal), while walking through River North, Gold Coast, and the Loop with a guide who explains how each one evolved and what makes the ovens and techniques different. Lunch is included, and the whole thing takes about two hours. Come hungry.

Step-by-step itinerary

Walking tour of Chicago pizza spots

• Walk through River North pizzerias
• Explore pizzerias in downtown Chicago Loop
• Visit pizza spots on Magnificent Mile
• Walk past Holy Name Cathedral

The experience

The guide was supposed to meet us near Navy Pier, but the coffee shop he'd texted about had closed last month. So we stood there for five minutes checking our phones until he called and redirected us half a block over: the kind of small thing that happens in real life, and honestly, it set the tone for the whole walk. Once we got moving through River North, though, it became clear he knew exactly where he was going. We stopped at four different pizzerias over the next couple of hours, and each one made a completely different thing. The first was deep dish: that thick, almost bread-like crust you have to eat with a fork. Then we crossed the river into the Loop and tried a Roman pizza, which was thinner and airier, cut into rectangles. The guide explained how Italian immigrants brought their own styles to Chicago, and how the deep dish was basically an invention born from what they had access to here.

What stuck with me was how much the ovens matter. One place had a wood-fired oven that'd been running since the 1980s, and the guide pointed out how the temperature and the way the heat moves changes everything about how the dough rises and browns. We tasted a Neapolitan pizza next (the one with the leopard-spotted crust and the softer center), and then an artisanal style that was somewhere in between. By the third stop, I was full, but the guide had warned us to come hungry, and he wasn't wrong. We walked past Holy Name Cathedral after one of the tastings, and the whole thing felt less like a tour and more like being shown around by someone who actually cares about the neighborhood and the food.

The walk itself covers River North, Gold Coast, and the downtown Loop, so you're moving through different parts of Chicago and seeing how the neighborhoods change. It's a couple of hours total, and the pace is steady but not rushed. You're walking between spots, but there's time to actually taste and ask questions. The guide handles all the talking about technique and history, so you just show up ready to eat and listen.

What’s included

Your tour includes a professional guide, tastings of four different pizza styles, lunch at the pizzerias you visit, and walking access to River North, Gold Coast, the Magnificent Mile, and the Loop. The guide covers the history of pizza as an immigrant food in Chicago and explains the differences in how each style is made.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 13:30Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Chicago Pizza Tour

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to understand Chicago's pizza culture and eat a real lunch without planning which restaurants to hit: the guide's route and the fixed stops take that off your hands. Expect to walk steadily for two hours and eat at four places, which is what makes tasting four different styles possible in one afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the pizza tour?

About two hours, including walking between pizzerias and time to eat at each stop.

What pizza styles do you taste?

Deep dish, Roman, Neapolitan, and artisanal. The guide explains the differences in crust, ingredients, baking techniques, and ovens.

Which neighborhoods do you walk through?

River North, Gold Coast, the Magnificent Mile, and the downtown Loop.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You eat pizza at each of the four stops, so bring an appetite.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. Dress appropriately for the conditions.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. The tour requires advance booking, and you should notify the operator of any children under 6 or accessibility needs when you reserve.