UChicago Family Weekend 2026 · October 16 to 18, 2026
UChicago Family Weekend 2026, the schedule and where to eat
An unofficial guide. Pool is not affiliated with the University.
Family Weekend, also called parents weekend, runs October 16 to 18, 2026. Below is the schedule day by day, then 90 restaurants and cafés in Hyde Park, all within about a mile and a half of the quad, sorted by meal. You can save the list to your phone.
The Family Weekend 2026 schedule
The College's overview and the home games that weekend, as published on September 24, 2026. The full schedule comes out about two weeks before, in the UChicago Guides app.
Friday, October 16
Check-in and sessions
- 10 am to 4 pmCheck-inIda Noyes Hall, 1212 E 59th St
- 10:30 am to 3 pmInformation sessions
- 3 to 5 pmModel classes
- 6 pmWomen's volleyball vs. DePauwRatner Athletics Center
- 7 pmWelcome Family Reception
Saturday, October 17
Family Fest and Homecoming
- 8 to 11 amCheck-inIda Noyes Hall
- 9 amSwimming and diving, Maroon vs. Black intrasquadMyers-McLoraine Pool, Ratner
- 9:30 to 11:45 amModel classes
- 11:30 am to 4 pmFamily Fest
- NoonArchitecture tours
- 1 pmHomecoming football vs. Illinois CollegeStagg Field
- 4 pmGrilling competition
- 4 pmWomen's volleyball vs. UW-Eau ClaireRatner Athletics Center
- Time not postedJazz NightLogan Center
Sunday, October 18
Dean's Brunch and bus tours
- 10 am to 1 pmDean's Brunch
- Various timesBus tours
- 1 pmWomen's volleyball vs. UC Santa Cruz, Senior DayRatner Athletics Center
See the registration page for the current price. Registration is free under 12, and students with a paid registrant need a free ticket. Refunds close October 2 and online registration closes Sunday, October 11. Sources are the College's Family Weekend page, its registration page and the athletics calendar.
Book Saturday dinner by Wednesday
Saturday, October 17 is Homecoming and Family Fest on the same day. We would book dinner by Wednesday, October 14. These sit-down places take reservations, per their own websites on September 24, 2026. Chant, on 53rd, does not.
- Virtue1462 E 53rd StNo reservations over 6.Book on OpenTable ↗
- Mesler1401 E 53rd St, in the SophyDinner 4 to 10 pm.Book on Resy ↗
- Nella Pizza e Pasta1125 E 55th StBook on Resy ↗
- Ascione Bistro1500 E 55th StBook on Resy ↗
- Truth Be Told1227 E 60th St, in The StudyOnline for parties of 1 to 5.Book on Tock ↗
- The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar1312 E 53rd StBook on OpenTable ↗
- The Nile1162 E 55th StCall for more than 8.Request a table ↗
- Chemistry5121 S Harper AveSaturday 7 pm to midnight. 20% gratuity on every bill.Book on OpenTable ↗
- Dawn A.M. Eatery1642 E 56th StCloses at 8 pm, so an early dinner.Book on OpenTable ↗
Breakfast and brunch
13- Map ↗Ascione Bistro
- Map ↗Cafe 53
- Map ↗Chemistry ChicagoOn Pool
- Map ↗Dawn A.M. Eatery
- Map ↗Ja' GrillOn Pool
- Map ↗La Boulangerie & Co
- Map ↗Medici On 57th
- Map ↗Mesler Kitchen | Bar | Lounge
- Map ↗Plein Air Cafe
- Map ↗Roux
- Map ↗Salonica Restaurant
- Map ↗Truth Be Told
All day dining at The Study at University of Chicago.
- Map ↗Valois Cafeteria
A Hyde Park cafeteria since the 1920s.
Coffee, sweets and light bites
23- Map ↗Almendro Cafe☕
- Map ↗Café Logan☕
On UChicago campus.
- Map ↗Capital One Café☕
- Map ↗Cobb Coffee Shop☕
On UChicago campus.
- Map ↗Deep Purpl Acai Bowls2-for-1 on Pool
- Map ↗Dunkin' Donuts Baskin-Robbins🍩 🍦
- Map ↗Ex Libris Cafe☕
On UChicago campus.
- Map ↗Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea☕
On UChicago campus.
- Map ↗Garrett Popcorn Shops🍿
- Map ↗Grounds of Being☕
On UChicago campus.
- Map ↗Harper Café☕
On UChicago campus.
- Map ↗Insomnia Cookies🍪
- Map ↗Kilwins Hyde Park🍫 🍦
- Map ↗La Boulangerie & Co☕ 🥐
- Map ↗Philz Coffee☕
- Map ↗Plein Air Cafe☕
On UChicago campus near the FLW Robie House.
- Map ↗Robust Coffee Lounge☕
- Map ↗Sip of Hope☕
On UChicago Medicine campus.
- Map ↗Sip & Savor☕
- Map ↗Stan's Donuts & Coffee☕ 🍩
- Map ↗Strugglebeard Bakery🍪
- Map ↗Sweet Drip Dessert Cafe🍰
- Map ↗TE 'AMO Boba Bar🧋
Lunch and dinner
67- Map ↗3LP Seoul Taco
- Map ↗5 Rabanitos Hyde Park🌮
- Map ↗Ascione Bistro🍝
- Map ↗B'Gabs Comfort CafeOn Pool
- Map ↗BARDAVID
- Map ↗Burrito Beach🌮
On UChicago Medicine campus.
- Map ↗Cafe 53
- Map ↗Can't Believe It's Not Meat
- Map ↗Chemistry ChicagoOn Pool
- Map ↗Chick-fil-A🍗
- Map ↗Chant Restaurant
Pan-Asian dining.
- Map ↗Chipotle Mexican Grill🌮
- Map ↗Cholies Pizza🍕
- Map ↗Daisy's Po-Boy and Tavern
- Map ↗Dawn A.M. Eatery
- Map ↗Domino's Pizza🍕
- Map ↗Eto'o Modern Asian Cuisine
- Map ↗Five Guys🍔
- Map ↗Giordano's
- Map ↗Harold's Chicken🍗
- Map ↗Huaraches Chicago
- Map ↗Italian Fiesta Pizzeria🍕
- Map ↗Ja' Grill Hyde ParkOn Pool
- Map ↗Jet's Pizza🍕
- Map ↗Jerk Yard
- Map ↗Jimmy John's🥪
- Map ↗Jordyn's Soul Cafe
- Map ↗Kikuya Japanese Restaurant
Carry out only.
- Map ↗Love & Light Cafe
- Map ↗Maravillas Restaurant🌮
- Map ↗McDonald's🍔
- Map ↗Medici On 57th
- Map ↗Mesler Kitchen | Bar | Lounge
- Map ↗Morry's Deli🥪
- Map ↗Nando's PERi-PERi🍗
- Map ↗Nathan's Chicago Style
- Map ↗Nella Pizza e Pasta🍕 🍝
- Map ↗Nicky's Chinese Food
- Map ↗The Nile of Hyde Park
- Map ↗Noodles Etc
- Map ↗Papa Johns Pizza🍕
- Map ↗Pizza Capri Hyde Park🍕
- Map ↗Pret A Manger
- Map ↗Potbelly🥪
- Map ↗Rajun Cajun
- Map ↗Root & Sprig
- Map ↗Roti Mediterranean Bowls. Salads. Wraps
- Map ↗Roux
- Map ↗Salonica Restaurant
- Map ↗Saucy Porka Hyde Park
- Map ↗Seven Ten Social🍔 🎳
- Map ↗Siam Thai
- Map ↗Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar
- Map ↗Small Cheval🍔 🍦
- Map ↗Snail Thai Cuisine
- Map ↗Strings Ramen Shop🍜
- Map ↗Subway🥪
- Map ↗Subway🥪
- Map ↗Sweetgreen🥗
- Map ↗Tacos El Pastor 53🌮
- Map ↗Taco Bell🌮
- Map ↗Truth Be Told
All day dining at The Study at University of Chicago.
- Map ↗TrueNorth Cafe☕ 🥪
- Map ↗Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken🍗
- Map ↗Valois Cafeteria
A Hyde Park cafeteria since the 1920s.
- Map ↗Virtue Restaurant🏆
Owned by James Beard award-winning chef Erick Williams.
- Map ↗Wingstop🍗
Questions families ask
- When is UChicago Family Weekend 2026?
- October 16 to 18, 2026, in Hyde Park on the University of Chicago campus. Check-in is at Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E 59th St, Friday 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 8 to 11 am.
- Is UChicago Family Weekend the same as parents weekend?
- Yes. It is the same weekend. UChicago's name for it is Family Weekend, and the College's page does not use the phrase parents weekend. The College welcomes families, friends and alumni.
- What is on the Family Weekend 2026 schedule?
- Friday is check-in, information sessions from 10:30 am to 3 pm, model classes from 3 to 5 pm and a welcome reception at 7 pm. Saturday is Family Fest from 11:30 am to 4 pm and the Homecoming football game against Illinois College at 1 pm at Stagg Field. Sunday is the Dean's Brunch from 10 am to 1 pm and bus tours. The full schedule comes out about two weeks before, in the UChicago Guides app.
- How much does UChicago Family Weekend cost?
- See the College's registration page for the current price. Under 12 is free, and students are free with a paid registrant but need a ticket. Refunds close October 2, and online registration closes the Sunday before, October 11.
- Where can families eat near the University of Chicago?
- 90 of them are on this list, all within about a mile and a half of the quad, grouped as 13 for breakfast and brunch, 23 for coffee, sweets and light bites, 67 for lunch and dinner. 13 places show up in two sections, so the map has 103 pins. Most are on or just off 53rd, 55th and 57th Street.
- Do the Pool 2-for-1 deals work for visiting parents?
- No. Pool checks for a uchicago.edu email, so the student has to sign up and book. A visiting parent can't use the app on their own.
On Pool this quarter. The app is free right now.
- 2-for-1 12 oz açaí bowls at Deep Purpl
- 2-for-1 subs at Subway 53rd Street
- 2-for-1 half chicken plates at Nando's PERi-PERi
- 2-for-1 Philly sandwiches at B'Gabs Comfort Cafe
- 2-for-1 jerk or honey wings at Ja' Grill
- 2-for-1 Wagyu Steak Frites at Chemistry
- 2-for-1 wraps, salads and bowls at Litehouse Whole Food Grill
- 2-for-1 chicken shawarma wraps at Cedars
- a free refresher with any treat at StruggleBeard Bakery
- a free third taco or a free drink with a Taco Dinner at 5 Rabanitos
- 2-for-1 Indian combo meals at Rajun Cajun
- 2-for-1 chicken and waffle bites at Dawn A.M. Eatery
- 2-for-1 lattes at Sweet Drip
- 2-for-1 sushi, pizza and more at The Sit Down Café & Sushi Bar
Live Monday, September 28. StruggleBeard Bakery starts Tuesday, September 29. B'Gabs Comfort Cafe starts Wednesday, September 30. Rajun Cajun, Dawn A.M. Eatery, Sweet Drip and The Sit Down Café & Sushi Bar start Thursday, October 1. Deep Purpl and Nando's PERi-PERi start Thursday, October 8.
More about the neighborhood at Welcome to Hyde Park. Something closed or moved? Tell us on the contact page.
Also useful this weekend: how to eat cheap in Hyde Park, what is open late, and the dining halls, ranked.