Ping Tom Park pagoda to Saint Anna egg tarts: a free Chicago Chinatown route
A free riverside pagoda pavilion, the downtown skyline across the water, then a Chinatown bakery counter twelve minutes inland. Custard tarts, pineapple buns, milk tea.
Ping Tom Memorial Park to Saint Anna Bakery & Cafe
🏮 Red columns at the water
Ping Tom Memorial Park gave Chinatown the open space it had gone without for decades, and its landmark is the pagoda pavilion at 239 W 18th Street. Red columns hold a curved tiled roof, the South Branch runs below the terrace, and the downtown skyline stands across the water. The usual way in is 19th Street and Wells. Entry is free and the park stays open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. From the pavilion the river path runs north toward 16th Street.
🥟 Tarts on Archer Avenue
Saint Anna Bakery & Cafe holds a Chinatown Square storefront at 2158 S Archer Ave, about 0.6 mile and twelve minutes on foot from the pavilion. The case runs the plain Hong Kong bakery spread: custard tarts, pineapple buns, milk tea. The counter is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Tarts come out in batches through the afternoon, and a late tray is never assured. An earlier stop is the safer bet.
🌇 Pavilion, skyline, then tarts
The route runs one way: pavilion first, the river path for the skyline, then inland to the bakery. The park half is free and needs no booking. Only the counter at Saint Anna takes money. Twelve minutes of walking separate the two stops, mostly along Wentworth and Archer, and the bakery sits in the Chinatown Square plaza. Late afternoon still works, with daylight on the water well before the shop closes at 8 p.m.
