Recently, Condé Nast Traveler named Chicago America’s best restaurant city, and I have to agree. The restaurant scene in Chicago is flourishing with all types of cuisines and eateries. From hidden gems to the stars that require reservations months in advance, these are seven restaurants not to miss in Chicago.
If you’re planning a trip to Chicago, don’t miss my first timer’s guide to Chicago!
The 7 Best Restaurants in Chicago
1. Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf
A sophisticated steakhouse with a speakeasy ambience: Bavette’s is a great place for an intimate dinner with your significant other or a small group of friends. It is cozy, romantic, and fun, all at the same time. And make sure you call ahead — reservations fill up months in advance!
2. Au Cheval
This upscale diner that gives its own spin to comfort food and has a serious appetite for eggs: Au Cheval serves one of the best cheeseburgers in the country and its menu is riddled with creative dishes. They don’t take reservations so arrive early to snag a table and avoid long wait times!
3. Girl & The Goat
A Chicago institution: Girl & The Goat is one of the hottest restaurants that’s dominated the city’s culinary scene since its inception in 2010. Prepare for a long, family-style meal full of bold and inventive flavors. The restaurant is crowded, vibrant, and plays some great tunes.
4. 3 Arts Club
The perfect place for brunch: The moment you step inside the dining room, you’ll never want to leave! 3 Arts Club serves delicious dishes inside a magnificent atrium. Located inside a Restoration Hardware, you can even shop around before feasting beneath dazzling chandeliers.
5. Smyth + The Loyalist
The new restaurant on the block: A dual-concept space, Smyth offers a fine-dining experience with a set menu upstairs, while The Loyalist provides a casual meal with great cocktails and a flavorful menu. The restaurant has a strong focus on hospitality, delivering impeccable service to every party.
6. The Allis at Soho House
The café hideout: A perfect spot for a tasty breakfast or even just a quick coffee. The Allis serves classics like soft boiled eggs with soldiers, as well as an afternoon tea, inside a swoon-worthy hotel.
7. Avec
The minimalist: Modernism paired with Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Avec has been marked as a “don’t miss” while in Chicago. It’s one of those favorites amongst locals and visitors. Communal seating in a contemporary, wood-paneled room keep the every dining experience fun and eventful.
Save This Post for Later on Pinterest
PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
2. Book Your Rental Car
Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Private Transfers
For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
5. Get Cell Data for Your Trip
I use Holafly for international cell data. Their unlimited data eSIMs are easy to install, activate instantly on arrival, and let you skip local SIM cards and expensive roaming fees.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
3 Comments
Next time you’re there, try Arbor – it’s the restaurant that Alyosha (Sarah’s husband) farms for. He and Sarah also do seasonal foraging in Michigan and supply Arbor, Girl and the Goat and some others with ramps each spring…
Hey! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Ah sweet, thank you!