Pizza Near Navy Pier: Deep Dish Off the Magnificent Mile
If you are after pizza near Navy Pier and you want the real Chicago deep dish experience, walk about 15 to 20 minutes west to the original Gino’s East Magnificent Mile at 162 E Superior St. It is the restaurant where Gino’s East started in 1966, it takes reservations, and it has three floors of graffiti-covered walls to sign while your pie bakes. Here is how to get there from the pier, what to order, and how to time it around the city’s busiest fall weekends.
Why Navy Pier visitors end up on Superior Street
Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot pier on the Lake Michigan shoreline at 600 E Grand Ave. It opened on July 15, 1916 as Municipal Pier and was renamed in 1927 to honor World War I naval veterans. Today it draws more than nine million visitors a year, with the Chicago Children’s Museum, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the 196-foot Centennial Wheel all on the pier.
That is a lot of walking, a lot of wind off the lake and, for most families, a lot of “when are we eating?” The pier has plenty of places to grab a bite. But if your group wants to sit down somewhere that feels like old Chicago, with a story behind the pizza, it is worth the short trip inland.
Our flagship sits one block east of Michigan Avenue, in the Streeterville neighborhood between the pier and the shops of the Magnificent Mile. That puts it right on the way back toward the hotels, the train and the rest of your trip.
Getting from Navy Pier to Gino’s East Magnificent Mile
You have three easy options, depending on the weather and how tired everyone’s legs are.
On foot: about 15 to 20 minutes
From the pier’s entrance at Grand Avenue, head west toward Michigan Avenue, then north to Superior Street. We are on Superior, a block east of Michigan Avenue, under the black awning with the big “162” over the door. It is about a 15 to 20 minute walk. On a crisp fall evening that is just long enough to build an appetite.
By CTA bus
Navy Pier’s public transportation guide lists five CTA bus routes that serve the pier: the #2 Hyde Park Express (weekday rush hours only), #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago and #124 Navy Pier. The handiest for us is the #66 Chicago bus, which runs between Navy Pier and Chicago/Austin on the West Side. Ride it west and get off near Michigan Avenue, then walk south to Superior Street. Check the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) page before you ride, because it lists a temporary reroute farther west.
By taxi or rideshare
If the wind is winning, a short taxi or rideshare will drop you at the door. Put “Gino’s East, 162 E Superior St” into the app. Street parking downtown is tight, so if you drove in, a nearby public garage is usually simpler than circling the block.
Pizza near Navy Pier, with a 1966 backstory
Here is the part our servers love telling first-timers. Gino’s East was opened in 1966 by two taxi drivers, Sam Levine and Fred Bartoli, with their friend George Loverde. After years of driving up and down the Magnificent Mile, Levine and Bartoli figured a pizza place just off that busy stretch would be a hit. They were right, and the flagship still sits steps from where the idea was born.
The recipe came from Alice Mae Redmond, who spent 29 years in the Gino’s East kitchen. She stretched the dough gently into the pan instead of slapping it around and coaxed the sauce on instead of splattering it. Her secret dough conditioner still gives our crust its texture and taste. You can read Alice Mae Redmond’s story on the blog.
Then there are the walls. Every dining room is covered in signatures, doodles and messages left by guests over the decades, and you are welcome to add yours. Kids who just spent the afternoon at the Children’s Museum tend to treat it as the second-best exhibit of the day. Bring a marker, or ask your server.
What to order after a day at the pier
Deep dish is baked to order, one pie at a time, so it takes longer than a thin crust. Order the pizza as soon as you sit down and start with an appetizer while it bakes. Our dough is made from scratch every day, the cheese comes from Wisconsin, the tomatoes are family-grown in California and the sausage is made in Chicago. The deep dish pizza page explains how it all comes together.
A few orders that work for a hungry pier crowd:
- Cheesy Legend for the cheese loyalists: mozzarella, cheddar, romano and fresh mozzarella.
- Meaty Legend for anyone who skipped lunch: pepperoni, Italian sausage, Canadian bacon and bacon.
- The Italian Special for a two-in-one Chicago classic: Italian beef, sweet peppers and giardiniera.
- O.M.G. for the vegetarians: onions, mushrooms and green peppers.
- Famous hand-rolled mozzarella sticks or garlic breadsticks to keep the table calm while you wait.
- Deep dish brownie to finish: baked in a mini deep dish pan and topped with vanilla ice cream.
Vegan cheese is available, and in 2019 Gino’s East became the first major Chicago deep dish restaurant to offer it. We also have a gluten-free thin crust. Want to try both sides of the Chicago pizza debate? Add a tavern-style thin crust, cut into squares, next to your deep dish. Not sure how to tackle a slice? Our guide to how to eat deep dish pizza has you covered.
Timing your visit this fall
Late October and November are busy downtown, so plan dinner before the crowds plan it for you.
Navy Pier’s Slightly Spooky October runs free Halloween movies in Crystal Gardens on Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, October 31, 2026. On Halloween itself, the pier lists indoor trick-or-treating from 1 to 5 p.m., while candy lasts. That makes an easy Halloween plan: costumes and candy at the pier in the afternoon, deep dish on Superior Street for an early dinner.
A month later, the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival takes over Michigan Avenue on Saturday, November 21, 2026. The organizers say the parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. from Oak Street and Michigan Avenue and heads south along the Magnificent Mile, ending with fireworks over the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue. We are one block off the parade route, so this is a night to book ahead.
The rooftop terrace on our third floor is open in spring, summer and fall, weather permitting. If you catch one of those surprise warm fall afternoons, ask about it.
Bringing a group or a school trip
Navy Pier is a magnet for school groups, family reunions and company outings, and the Magnificent Mile restaurant is built for them. The private third floor seats 148 with its own stage and bar, the second floor has five semi-private rooms, and the whole building can host receptions of up to 500 guests. Group food packages start at 15 guests, and school groups and student trips are among the events we host.
See private events on the Mag Mile and our group events packages, or call group sales at (312) 266-5421. The Comedy Bar, which opened on our third floor in 2011, can also turn dinner into a full night out for the grown-ups.
Staying in instead? You can order online for pickup from the Magnificent Mile restaurant. See delivery and pickup for every way to order. Heading to the South Loop or a show at McCormick Place later in your trip? Our South Loop restaurant is in Printers Row, and our guide to pizza near McCormick Place covers that side of town.
Frequently asked questions
Is there deep dish pizza near Navy Pier?
Yes. Gino’s East Magnificent Mile, at 162 E Superior St in Streeterville, is about a 15 to 20 minute walk west of Navy Pier. It is the original Gino’s East, open since 1966.
How far is Navy Pier from the Magnificent Mile?
Navy Pier sits at 600 E Grand Ave, east of Michigan Avenue. From the pier, Gino’s East Magnificent Mile is about a 15 to 20 minute walk, or a short ride on the CTA #66 Chicago bus or a taxi.
Does Gino’s East Magnificent Mile take reservations?
Yes. Book online through Toast Tables or the Reservations link on the Magnificent Mile location page, or call (312) 266-3337.
Can I bring a large group after visiting Navy Pier?
Yes. The private third floor seats 148, there are five semi-private rooms on the second floor, and group packages start at 15 guests. Call group sales at (312) 266-5421 to plan it.
How long does a deep dish pizza take?
Deep dish is baked to order, so it takes longer than a thin crust. Order the pizza with your drinks and start with an appetizer while it bakes.
Plan your visit
Gino’s East Magnificent Mile is at 162 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611. Phone (312) 266-3337. For current hours, the full menu and reservations, visit the Magnificent Mile location page, or see all Gino’s East locations. Come hungry, bring a marker and leave your name on the wall.