Deep-Dish Pizza Walks from RSNA 2020 Hotels

Australian radiology professionals landing at O'Hare for the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting in late November usually arrive with a single question after clearing customs: where can I find a proper feed within walking distance of my hotel? Chicago's deep-dish pizza scene answers that question more decisively than almost any other food pilgrimage in North America. With conference sessions running from 29 November to 4 December 2020 and delegates staying across the South Loop, River North and Streeterville, the city's signature pies sit within easy reach of every booked room block. Learn more about Rsna2020.com.

The cold Chicago winter encourages short walks between venues, and most RSNA hotels place delegates within a fifteen-minute stroll of at least one celebrated pizzeria. Whether you fly out of Sydney or Melbourne, the experience of stepping off a polished hotel lobby onto a snowy Michigan Avenue footpath and ducking into a warm, cheese-filled dining room captures something essential about American conference travel.

McCormick Place and the surrounding hotel cluster

McCormick Place sits on the lakefront in the South Loop, the largest convention centre in North America and the anchor point for the scientific assembly. Delegates booked through the dedicated RSNA 2020 booking site tend to be placed in high-rise hotels along Wabash, State and Michigan Avenue, many within a single block of the pedway system or the main conference entrances.

From this hotel corridor, the walk south toward Roosevelt Road opens up several pizza options that do not require a taxi or rideshare. The pedway network, a series of enclosed skybridges and underground tunnels, keeps delegates warm between November snowfalls and connects directly to a handful of restaurants that stay open late during conference week. Concierge staff at the major three- and four-star properties field dozens of pizza enquiries every evening from exhausted registrants looking for a quick, hot meal.

What makes a Chicago deep-dish pizza

A genuine deep-dish pie is built upside down compared to a standard pizza. The dough is pressed into a deep, oiled pan, layered first with cheese, then toppings, then a chunky tomato sauce on top. The result is a casserole-like wedge that requires a knife and fork and a sturdy appetite. Australians used to the thin, wood-fired bases common in Melbourne's Lygon Street pizzerias or Sydney's inner-west slice joints will find the texture closer to a savoury pie than anything back home.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand classifies pizza as a cereal-based dish for labelling purposes, but nothing in Australian kitchens really prepares the palate for a slice that weighs close to half a kilogram. The crust is buttery, almost biscuit-like at the edges, and the cheese layer is thick enough to stretch across the plate when pulled. Locals argue endlessly over whether stuffed pizza, where the dough wraps around the cheese, qualifies as a separate category or simply an extension of the same tradition.

River North institutions worth the detour

A short cab or twenty-minute walk north from the South Loop places delegates in River North, home to several of the most photographed deep-dish destinations. Lou Malnati's carries a devoted following among locals for its exclusive use of vine-ripened California tomatoes and a butter crust that has not changed in decades. Giordano's, famous for its stuffed variant, draws queues down the street during peak dinner hours and rewards patient delegates with a dense, layered slice that demands a long lunch break.

Pequod's in nearby Morton Grove is slightly farther afield but famous for its caramelised cheese crust, a feature that pairs well with the kind of late-night dinner radiology teams often prefer after poster sessions. Most River North pizzerias accept walk-ins, though booking ahead is wise during the RSNA week when hotel concierges redirect hundreds of inquiries per evening.

South Loop spots within a ten-minute walk

For delegates who prefer to stay close to their hotel, the South Loop offers a handful of dependable options. Connie's Pizza, a family-run operation since 1963, serves a slightly thinner deep-dish that suits visitors who want the flavour without the hour-long commitment. Flo and Santo in the South Loop neighbourhood keeps a quieter dining room and a wood-fired oven, useful for delegates who want a quicker meal between sessions.

The stretch along Wabash Avenue near 9th Street holds a few smaller pizzerias that do not appear on the standard tourist lists. Prices sit around eighteen to twenty-five US dollars for an individual deep-dish, which converts to roughly twenty-six to thirty-six Australian dollars at current exchange rates, comparable to a sit-down dinner in Brisbane or Perth.

Practical tips for Australian visitors

Australian tipping customs differ markedly from American practice, and gratuity is expected at Chicago restaurants. A standard tip of eighteen to twenty per cent of the pre-tax bill is appropriate, even for counter service, and failing to tip will draw noticeable froideur from servers. Most credit cards are accepted, though delegates should notify their bank before travelling to avoid holds on large transactions during the conference.

Weather in late November and early December can drop below freezing, with lake-effect snow sweeping in off Lake Michigan. Comfortable waterproof boots and a warm coat make the walks between hotel and pizzeria far more pleasant. For delegates who observe halal or vegetarian diets, most major deep-dish chains offer vegetable-only options, and the density of international dining in Streeterville means alternatives sit within a block of nearly every RSNA hotel. Group bookings are common for radiology departments travelling from Australian teaching hospitals, and arranging them through the official hotel partner keeps the team together and within walking distance of the conference venues.

Reserve your Chicago base through the dedicated RSNA 2020 booking site, which holds negotiated rates across three-, four- and five-star properties close to McCormick Place. Group registrations for radiology teams and delegations from Australian hospitals are handled through the same platform, and room blocks can be arranged to keep entire departments in the same building. After a long day of scientific sessions, a short walk to a Chicago deep-dish institution offers the kind of communal meal that builds team memory far more effectively than any conference banquet, making the pre-conference booking decision the most appetising logistical choice of the week.