Supermarket Discount Hours: Not common for dry groceries. Mariano’s marks down prepared foods and bakery items by 30-50% around 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM.
Best Cheap Eats: Target Good & Gather bulk rice and beans. For hot meals, Oasis Cafe (hidden in the back of the Mallers Building Jewelers Row at 21 N Wabash) offers large, budget Mediterranean plates.
Free public Wi-Fi and comfortable indoor seating areas with accessible outlets.
Note: Public Wi-Fi here is unencrypted. If accessing bank or work portals, keep NordVPN on. Grab the student rate (via Student Beans verification), or lock in the 2-year plan to save the most.
Best Way to Move Around: Walking or CTA L Train / Buses
Standard Fare: 2.5USD
Transit Scams to Avoid: Unregistered rideshare solicitations near transit hubs like Union Station or Millennium Station; stick to official CTA Ventra taps or uber/lyft apps.
How to Keep Data Costs Low: Purchase an eSIM online (Mint Mobile starts at $15/month prepaid for 5GB or Visible at $25/month unlimited) instead of buying expensive airport SIMs.
Near Millennium Park and Michigan Ave, individuals may thrust a CD into your hand or demand donations for local youth. Do not take items handed to you and keep walking.
Fake Petition Solicitations
People carrying clipboards asking for signatures or donations. Politely say ‘No thank you’ and do not stop.
The Loop is safe during business hours. Avoid dark, empty CTA train platforms late at night and avoid sleeping under transit viaducts or alleyways off Van Buren St after midnight.
