The Best Restaurants In Chicago

A platter of meats and a platter of seafood on a table.Photograph: Courtesy of El Che Steakhouse & BarThe 30 best restaurants in Chicago you have to try in 2024

There’s no shortage of fantastic food in this city, but these Chicago restaurants make our list of top eats.

The best restaurants in Chicago come in all shapes and sizes, from pizza joints and Michelin-starred heavyweights to some of the best cheap eats Chicago has to offer. The cuisines are just as varied, with every corner of the globe represented through Korean, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean and Japanese fare. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or simply visiting for the weekend, stuffing your face at one of these restaurants is easily among the best things to do in Chicago. This belt-busting food scene shows no signs of slowing down, so we cut to the chase and ranked our essentials—the absolute best restaurants in town.

Our editors scour the city for great dishes, excellent value and insider info. We hope to provide an authentic snapshot of Chicago’s ever-evolving dining experiences by updating this list constantly with the best new restaurants in the city as well as decades-old stalwarts that keep us coming back for more. It could be a mega-hyped destination restaurant or a remarkable hole in the wall: If it’s on the list, we think it’s terrific, and we bet you will, too. Many of the city’s best chefs and restaurants are in Time Out Market Chicago as well, and you can scroll through the full vendor lineup at the bottom of this page.

Time Out Market Chicago

Time Out Market Chicago

We’ve rounded up the best chefs in the city to join us at Time Out Market Chicago, a culinary and cultural destination in the heart of Fulton Market.

1. Oriole

What is it? A two-Michelin-starred fine dining experience from chef-owner Noah Sandoval.

Why we love it: Chicago is home to a number of upscale tasting menus but few are able to match Oriole’s deft execution. Upon arrival, guests are escorted into a freight elevator and given a drink before the door opens to reveal the dining room. Though there’s no telling what Sandoval has in store each evening, you can look forward to a minimalist style of cooking that puts the spotlight squarely on the premium ingredients.

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Chicago Events Calendar For 2024

chicago, skyline, chicago skyline, city, downtown, park, drone, shutterstockPhotograph: Shutterstock

Find the best things to do all year long with our Chicago events calendar of 2024’s biggest festivals, concerts, parades and exhibits.

Jeffy Mai

Looking for something to do in Chicago today, this weekend or in the coming months? You’ve come to the right place! Spring is here, so go hiking, plan an exciting weekend getaway or stroll through the city’s most beautiful parks. Alfreso dining season has also arrived and you can live your best life on a gorgeous rooftop bar or intimate outdoor patio. Experience the best of the city with our year-round guide to top-tier events and things to do in Chicago.

Full Chicago events calendar

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Things to do in Chicago

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The Best Outdoor Bars In Chicago

Kaiser TigerPhotograph: Courtesy Kaiser Tiger

Get in gear for alfresco season with our guide to the best outdoor bars and patios in Chicago.

Sure, going to one of the best bars in Chicago is always fun, but there’s something exhilarating about having a drink outdoors. And after making it through another winter in the city, we rightly deserve to order a few cold ones while basking in the sun. If you’re looking for a Saturday rager or calm post-work happy hour, these excellent wine programs or beer gardens have everything you might be looking for. We’ve tracked down waterfront patios, hidden gardens and rooftop bars where you can mix a little bit of alcohol with a lot of fresh air. Make a reservation (if necessary), pack some sunscreen, hit up the group chat and prepare to spend an afternoon at one of the best outdoor bars in Chicago.

RECOMMENDED: The best outdoor restaurants in Chicago

Outdoor bars and patios in Chicago

1. Park & Field

Though its kitchen and bar are housed in a former auto repair garage, Park & Field’s main draw is its gigantic 6,000-square-feet patio, which features a bocce court, hammocks, fire pits and a camper that has been retrofitted to serve as an outdoor bar. Even if you visit during the coldest months, you can stay warm by cozying up next to a fire. Summer, though, is when Park & Field turns into a lively adult playground packed with fun and games.

2. Big Star

People come to the Big Star patio to eat tacos al pastor while munching on chips and salsa, but they stay because someone at the table orders a second pitcher of margaritas or another round of beers. The moment temperatures in Chicago begin creeping up, the outdoor seating at the Wicker Park location seems to fill up instantly—and the newer locations in Wrigleyville and West Town. Be prepared to wait for your turn, but know that chips, guac and margs are in your future.

3. Recess

Set among a pile of shipping containers next to West Loop event space City Hall, Recess bills itself as one of the city’s largest patios, complete with a multi-level set-up and multiple bars.

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Top Things To Do In Chicago This Month | Events & Activities | Choose Chicago

May is a jam-packed month in Chicago — summer is on the horizon, tulips are blooming all over the city, and weekends fill up with endless food, drink, cultural, and musical events. From the start of festival season to spring flower shows to major art fairs and cultural celebrations, there’s no shortage of fun to be had in the city this month.

Check out these top picks for things to do in Chicago throughout the month of May, including theatre and film festivals, Memorial Day weekend events, Cinco de Mayo festivities, AAPI Heritage Month events, and more.

Top events in Chicago this MaySuenos Music FestivalSuenos Music Festival

Celebrate Mexican culture at Navy Pier (May 3 – 5): Head to Navy Pier for a free celebration of Mexican culture, bringing together music and dance performances, workshops, and over 30 vendors.

Take a tour of the historic Pullman neighborhood (May 5): Walk through history on this guided tour of the Pullman National Historical Park and surrounding area.

Attend the Asian American Film Showcase (May 17 – 23): This 27th annual film showcase provides a platform for new works by established and emerging Asian American filmmakers at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Try a variety of cuisines during AAPI Restaurant Week (May 17 – 26): Discover a multitude of AAPI-owned restaurants across the city and suburbs, all offering special deals and discounts throughout the week.

Feast on Mexican cuisine at Mole de Mayo (May 24 – 26): Pilsen will be home to its annual outdoor mole cook-off, featuring an open-air mercado with local shops, music, dancing, and more.

Navy Pier fireworks

See fringe theatre at Rhino Festival (Starting May 25): This year is the 35th annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival, Chicago’s longest-running fringe theater festival, when 50 artists showcase their plays, music, and art throughout six venues across the city.

Feel the beat at Suenos Music Festival (May 25 – 26): Head to Grant Park for a two-day Latin music festival that features a variety of Reggaeton and Latin performers, as well as art, activities, a Ferris wheel, and more.

Be dazzled by the Navy Pier fireworks (starts May 25): Kick off the summer with the first fireworks display of the season at Navy Pier over Memorial Day weekend.

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Top Things To Do In Bronzeville | Choose Chicago

History lines the streets in Chicago’s landmark Bronzeville neighborhood.

Dubbed the city’s “Black Metropolis,” this south side community served as the headquarters for African American cultural and entrepreneurial innovation for most of the early 20th century.

That legacy is still alive today in Bronzeville, where you’ll find a vibrant array of art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and restored mansions dotting the streets. This is the neighborhood for history and culture fans interested in spending a day steeped in an artsy vibe. Here’s how to spend 24 hours in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood.

Bronzeville history and landmarksMonument to the Great Migration

Start with a stroll to the Monument to the Great Northern Migration, which greets visitors near the entrance to Bronzeville at 26th and King Drive. Towering 15 feet high, this bronze statue commemorates the thousands of African Americans who fled the Jim Crow South to Chicago in search of freedom and opportunities.

The Bronzeville Walk of Fame stretches for 10 blocks along King Drive between 26th Place and 35th. The bronze plaques honor over 100 famous Bronzeville residents, including legends like dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham, Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet and author Gwendolyn Brooks, blues icon Muddy Waters, and Daniel Hale Williams, the doctor who performed the world’s first open heart surgery.

Victory Monument in Bronzeville

Historic map of Bronzeville

Photo by Eric Allix Rogers

For a lively, interactive account of Bronzeville’s history, check outChicago Mahogany Tours. Chicago’s acclaimed urban historian and TikTok sensation Sherman “Dilla” Thomas, guides visitors through historic sites like the birthplace of Black History Month, the headquarters for the first Black-owned insurance company, and the church where gospel music was born.

While you’re in the neighborhood, keep an eye out for The Forum, a historic 1897 building that hosted music greats from Nat King Cole to Muddy Waters to the Jackson 5. Today, it’s being restored and transformed into a hub for cultural programming.

Make an appointment at the Bronzeville Historical Society to explore photography, documents, and exhibitions related to the city’s African American history.

Arts and culture in BronzevilleThe sculpture garden at Gallery GuichardGallery Guichard; photo by
Abel Arciniega @tequilagraphics

To dive into Bronzeville’s standout art scene, stop by Gallery Guichard and the Bronzeville Artist Lofts for immersive art that reflects the African Diaspora.

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The 22 Best Breweries In Chicago – Chicago – The Infatuation

Don’t tell Boston, Milwaukee, or whichever city the big silver train in those beer commercials comes from, but Chicago is filled with breweries, ranging from huge warehouse taprooms to coffee-shop-sized brew pubs. There’s approximately one for every Chicagoan, and not all are created equal—so we put together a list of the 22 best.

For the sake of defining what exactly constitutes a Chicago brewery, we’re talking about places that (1) brew and serve their own beer on-site, (2) may or may not have food, and (3) are within the city limits, meaning some of our favorite suburban, or Indianian breweries (sorry Three Floyd’s) didn’t make the cut.

THE SPOTS

photo credit: Michelle Horn

The taproom of Half Acre Beer Company in Lincoln Square isn’t trying to be a full-blown restaurant with 689 things on the menu. The short food menu here consists of tasty things like currywurst and a fried chicken sandwich with gochujang mayo that go really well with the house beers. Plus, they have a spacious beer garden, and host fun events like movie screenings, holiday markets, and even Magic: The Gathering game night if you’ve been wanting to show off that deck you’ve been building.

photo credit: John Ringor

The Marz taproom in Bridgeport feels like an art gallery from the future, has its own arcade, and serves excellent fried cheese tacos and smashburgers from their current resident pop-up, Taco Sublime. They also have karaoke, pub trivia, drink-and-draws, comedy shows, Super Smash Bros. tournaments, and more. Basically, this place is an event space as much as a taproom, but one where you can order a wine-cask-fermented wild ale.

photo credit: John Ringor

Whiner is inside a massive Back Of The Yards warehouse-research facility called The Plant. And while we’re not exactly sure what type of research goes on here, we support it because Whiner’s beers are fantastic. They focus on barrel-aged brews with a variety of funky beers ranging from mango coconut stout to lime and cucumber ale. And make sure to check out their resident pop-up Heffer BBQ, which happens to have one of our favorite burgers. Their industrial taproom makes you ask “Is that really a crack in the ceiling or is that an artistic choice?” But there’s plenty of room here,

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The Best Cheap Things To Do In Chicago

Chicago Botanic GardenPhotograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Sandeep Pawar

Enjoy the city without spending a ton of cash by searching out cheap things to do in Chicago.

Erin Yarnall

Isaiah Reynolds

Between the best restaurants to try, swankiest bars to visit and events to attend, having a good time in Chicago can be expensive. However, there are still plenty of options for fun on a budget. Chicagoans have access to affordable museums around the city, creative activities that don’t break the bank and even a cat cafe. Here are some of the best cheap things to do in Chicago for under $25. And for even more cost-effective options, check out the best free things to do in Chicago.

RECOMMENDED: The best cheap eats in Chicago

Cheap things to do in Chicago

1. Catch a show at the Empty Bottle

As one of the largest cities in the country, it’s almost guaranteed that most musicians will make a stop in Chicago while they’re on tour. Since 1992, the Empty Bottle has been one of the preferred places to catch rising acts, including early shows by bands like The Strokes and The Mountain Goats, as well as rare opportunities to see artists like Jack White in an intimate setting. The small dive bar’s stage offers a great opportunity to see live music up close and personal. All shows are 21 and up, and tickets to most shows are usually affordable. Plus, shows on Monday nights are usually free!

Price: Varies, usually less than $20

2. Explore architectural history on a Frank Lloyd Wright tour

Chicago is well-known as one of the great architecture cities in the world, but the architecture tours only go so far (specifically, the Loop). Beyond the gleaming skyscrapers, there are other structures that prove that Chicago is rightly-acclaimed for its architecture, including homes designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, especially the Robie House in Hyde Park. Glances of the exterior are free, of course, but tours of the historic house are only $20-$30, making it a budget-friendly way to explore one of the city’s most creatively-designed homes—an early example of Prairie School architecture.

Price: $20-$30

3. Catch a student show at the Second City

For comedy fans,

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How To Celebrate Women’s History Month In Chicago | Choose Chicago

Women have long played a major role in impacting and shaping the city of Chicago. As Women’s History Month kicks off in March, it’s a great time to recognize the important achievements and contributions made by these trailblazers. All month long, you can find events — ranging from theatre to music to the arts and beyond — honoring women across fields.

Here’s a roundup of ways to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day in Chicago this year.

Women’s History Month culinary eventsWinePhoto by Matthieu Joannon

Let’s Talk Womxn “More Than March” Black & Bling Bash: Start Women’s History Month with a woman-powered celebration from Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago at Moe’s Cantina on Friday, March 1. Enjoy tasting stations and cocktails by 30+ leading Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago restaurants, plus a DJ, black and bling drag show, dancing, women soapboxes, and more.

Women Winemakers Tasting Event at Le Sud: Deep dive into the world of wines with Le Sud, a woman-owned restaurant in Roscoe Village. Attend a special Women Winemakers tasting event on Thursday, March 7, where you can explore selections from women vintners accompanied by hors d’oeuvres, and even bring a bottle home.

International Women’s Night Out at Volo: Get empowered at the fourth annual Women’s History Month celebration at Volo restaurant in Roscoe Village on Wednesday, March 6. Guests will work on gratitude journal prompts while enjoying an appetizer and drink with journaling materials to use during the event and to take home.

Charcuterie Workshop and Non-Alcoholic Open Wine Bar: In West Town, 2048 Non-Alcoholic Wine Shop will be hosting a class on Saturday, March 16 on the art of crafting a top-tier charcuterie board. Headed by All A’Board owner, Alicia Starks, you’ll be provided with premium ingredients for your masterpiece along with a complimentary open bar featuring a selection of the shop’s finest non-alcoholic wines.

Women’s History Month exhibits, shows, and moreRed Clay Dance Company, photo credit MReid Photography

Music, dance, comedy, and more
La Femme Dance Festival: This three-day dance festival honors women in dance and brings award-winning choreographers and breathtaking performances to the Harris Theater for Music and Dance,

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What’s New And Happening In Chicago – Winter/Spring 2024 | Choose Chicago

Choose Chicago Media Relations Contacts:
Michelle Gonzalez, mgonzalez@choosechicago.com
Stephanie D’Adamo, stephanie@letssipp.com

What’s New and Happening in Chicago – Winter/Spring 2024

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (January 25, 2024) – Choose Chicago is delighted to announce that Chicago has been selected to host the Democratic National Convention in August 2024. Following last year’s historic seventh consecutive win as Conde Nast Traveler’s “Best Big City,” we know the below tally of exciting new hotels, inventive restaurants, dynamic exhibitions, and eclectic festivals offers just a taste of what’s in store this winter/spring of 2024.

Come and discover big city culture, Midwestern hospitality, and urban adventure; visit ChooseChicago.com for more information.

Recent Accolades:

To read more about Chicago in the news,

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Memorial Day Weekend In Chicago | Fireworks, Things To Do, Events & Parades

Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of summer in Chicago, and the city knows how to celebrate. Each year, Chicago comes to life with spectacular fireworks displays, buzzing rooftop bars, sunset kayak tours, fun neighborhood festivals, waterfront restaurants with unforgettable views, and so much more. Here’s our roundup of some of the top things to do in Chicago for Memorial Day weekend.

In this article

See the Chicago Memorial Day fireworks

One of the city’s top attractions is Navy Pier, a waterfront stretch of rides, restaurants, entertainment, and more. The Pier is known for its spectacular summer fireworks displays, which kick off with the Memorial Day fireworks show.

While you’re there, take a spin on the iconic Centennial Wheel, grab a drink at Offshore (the largest rooftop bar in the world), and check out more things to do at Navy Pier.

Hit the beachPhoto by Miguel Ángel Sanz

Chicago has more than two dozen free public beaches, and they officially open for the summer season on Memorial Day weekend — so make sure to pack your swimsuit. Swim, tan, play volleyball, or head to a nearby beachfront bar to enjoy a cold drink with your toes in the sand.

Some of the city’s popular beaches include North Avenue Beach, Oak Street Beach, 31st Street Beach, Montrose Beach, Hollywood Beach, and South Shore Beach. Check out our guide to Chicago beaches for more of the best places to soak up the sun along the city’s 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.

Celebrate summer at a festivalSueños Music FestivalSueños Music Festival

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of festival season in Chicago. Check out some of these cool festivals, events, and markets happening over the holiday weekend.

  • Suenos Music Festival: Chicago’s reggaeton fest takes over downtown Grant Park with a lineup of Latin hitmakers.
  • Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest: The waterfront Lakeview neighborhood plays host to this Memorial Day festival, with tribute bands, artisans, and beer and wine vendors.

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