2023-12-09 10:46:27
Get the scoop on Chicago’s latest hotel, dining, and venue openings. HOTELS The St. Regis Chicago opened in May 2023 inside a 101-story skyscraper, now the city’s third-tallest building. The glamorous hotel, with 192 rooms and suites, was designed by Chicago architect Jeanne Gang. Plan a special event with over 13,400 square feet of event space, ranging from the exquisite Astor Ballroom that accommodates 500 for a reception to the Rockefeller room that fits 15 for a meeting. The four-star RIU Plaza Chicago hotel, scheduled to open in mid-2024 in the Streeterville neighborhood, is convenient to both The Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier. The 28-floor building offers 390 rooms, plus the 26thfloor Sky Bar featuring a glass balcony with stunning views. The Illinois Medical District gains another new hotel with the opening of the Hampton Inn & Suites IMD. The six-story hotel features 135 rooms in an area busy with medical, academic, and business travelers. DINING Two restaurants have debuted at The St. Regis Chicago. At Miru, sip sake and enjoy views of the Chicago River while eating Japanese specialties such as wagyu, black cod, and sushi. The elegant Tuscan steakhouse Tre Dita features an open-hearth, wood-fired grill concept by acclaimed chef Evan Funke. Specialties include bistecca alla fiorentina and handmade pasta. Discover options for parties of eight to 300 for private dinners, meetings, and social events at Kindling Downtown Cookout & Cocktails in the Willis Tower. The second-floor terrace offers incredible city views. The 17,000-square-foot restaurant is helmed by James Beard Award winner Jonathon Sawyer. Specialty dishes from the live-fire kitchen include steaks, salmon, rotisserie chicken, and lamb chops. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s restaurant and bar, Forte at Symphony Center, offers convenient pre-concert dining. Contemporary Mediterranean specialties include lamb meatballs with feta and pan-roasted tuna. Private events for 50 to 575 guests can include banquets, receptions, and theatre seating. Sample charcuterie board items and entrees such as rainbow trout and center-cut filet at The Oakville Grill & Cellar. The Fulton Market restaurant brings Napa Valley flavors to Chicago. Event areas include the 200-seat ground-floor restaurant, an 80-seat second-floor space with a terrace, a 40-seat patio, and a six-seat tasting room. Be sure to add Yardbird’s fried chicken and waffles to your menu. The River North restaurant specializes in Southern comfort food, including she crab soup, deviled eggs, shrimp and grits, and buttermilk biscuits. Book an event for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Menus by chef Andrew Grave impress diners at LIVA at Chicago Winery in River North. Savory seasonal standouts might include a charcuterie board of “chef’s whim” ingredients, house-made leek ravioli, cast-iron mussels, and braised lamb shank. Reserve the private dining room for up to 45 people. Valhalla brings high-end destination dining to Time Out Market in the West Loop. Chef Stephen Gillanders’ second-floor restaurant offers views of the food hall below. The menu reflects his interest in world flavors, with seasonal dishes that may include Kusshi oysters, Rohan duck confit, and grilled Mediterranean sea bass. Try the 11-course tasting menu. Celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay pays homage to one of his most popular TV shows with Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen. The 18,000-square-foot, two-story restaurant in River North is one of a handful of U.S. locations and includes Chicago-inspired menu items. Step into Gold Coast luxury at The Bellevue Chicago, which serves contemporary American cuisine for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Timeless dishes include shrimp cocktail, filet mignon, and crab cakes. Event space options include the restaurant, lounge, and 100-seat patio. Expanding upon a successful formula, Daisies in Logan Square moved a few blocks down Milwaukee Avenue to gain space, growing to 5,500 square feet with room for 110 diners. Chef Joe Frillman continues to use local, seasonal ingredients for made-from-scratch items at the bakery, cafe, and private event space. A dinner might be asparagus bruschetta for starters, pork tenderloin or black truffle ravioli for the entree, and a lemon ricotta tart for dessert. After nearly 35 years, Goose Island Beer Co. will be moving its brewpub from Lincoln Park to The Salt Shed. The indoor-outdoor entertainment venue is on the site of the historic Morton Salt complex along the Chicago River, near Goose Island. The new location gives the brewery the ability to host larger events. Reserve the patio so guests can hear outdoor concerts presented by The Salt Shed. The Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago opened its 15,000-square-foot taproom, restaurant, and bakery in the West Loop. The Diageo Beer Company’s second U.S. location includes a roster of brews made only in Chicago. Plan your event to include a tour of the brewery followed by a meal, possibly featuring Guinness Stew and fresh brown bread, in the renovated railroad depot or on its patio. VENUES Events designed for 20 to 400 people will find an exciting space hosted by 167 Events at 167 Green in the Fulton Market District. On the 17th floor, take in spectacular skyline views from the 8,000-square-foot Town Hall space. Three boardrooms, the Sitting Room, Game Room, and a terrace are among other venue options. Lettuce Entertain You meal selections include breakfast, lunch, break snacks, appetizers, serving stations, and seated service. Host an event with amazing views at the V. Collective Rooftop in the West Loop. The spacious venue includes the 2,400-square-foot Penthouse with floor-to-ceiling retractable windows and access to the rooftop deck. Reserve both spaces to accommodate 250 people standing or 115 seated. A seated dinner in the Penthouse can accommodate 35. A catering prep area is included. At Sloomoo Institute, everyone is encouraged to join in the hands-on, sensory activities. Reserve the entire space for a team building event. Your attendees can bond while making slime from a selection of colors, textures, and scents that include various fruits, flowers, and sweet desserts. Attendees can enjoy team building activities at the Museum of Ice Cream in the historic Tribune Tower. The dessert-themed museum features whimsical immersive installations, including a ride on the pink Sprink-L line and a dip in a pool filled with colorful sprinkles. Sessions include unlimited ice cream treats. Located on the 30th floor of 303 E. Wacker Dr. is The Lighthouse at 303. This mid-century modern space features floor-to-ceiling operable windows that frame sweeping views of both Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. The inviting atmosphere includes cozy banquettes and a marble bar. The Lighthouse can accommodate 275 guests for a cocktail reception. The historic Chicago Firehouse Restaurant is home to The Blue Room basement speakeasy. The moody vibe, chunky leather furniture, and classic drinks enhance the throwback experience. Listen to live music or hear a vinyl record spun on an old-school turntable. Groups can reserve the space for a 40-person event or an intimate dinner for 16. Reserve the all-seasons, 100-seat patio at BLVD Steakhouse in the Fulton Market District. The sophisticated menu by chef Joe Flamm features steaks, seafood, and classic dishes such as escargot and crab cakes. Other spaces include The Champagne Room for 60 to 85 guests. Add The Gallery for a second-floor buyout to accommodate 150 people. Reserve the entire restaurant for 180 to 300 people. At The Canvas by Ever in the West Loop, customize one of six spaces for your event, or reserve the entire Michelin-starred restaurant and dine on fare from acclaimed Ever chef Curtis Duffy. Book the large room for a seated event for 80 or 100. Opt for an outdoor event for 65 on the rooftop terrace. Or choose smaller rooms that hold from 12 to 56 guests.
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