Holiday Dining in Chicago

Welcome to Chicago, the salad-dodging gourmand paradise and home to all things meat, marinated and molecular. If you’re looking for top spots to celebrate Christmas or kick start your New Year, don your stretch pants, tuck in that napkin, and eat this way...

Spiaggia

If it was good enough for the Obamas… this revered culinary institution with staggering lake-side views is an ideal choice for festive feasting. Multi James Beard Award-winning chef and Chicago legend Tony Mantuano’s refined, prix-fixe Med menus are classic and refined.

Alinea

Few chefs outside New York City can boast the mantle of three Michelin stars in the US, but Chicago’s treasured Grant Achatz is one of them. Molecular marvel Alinea is his playground, and you’re in for a world-renowned progressive 18- to 22-course degustation treat. Make it a meal to remember with the generous wine pairing.

Giant

Forget the name, there’s nothing oversized about this diminutive dining room in Logan Square that’s earning a stellar rep, and a nod from Michelin, for its fine-dine yet unpretentious comfort eats. Dive on into Jason Vincent’s interpretations of traditional Chicago fare – baby back ribs, crab salad, waffle-potatoes, onion rings – and enjoy a newly-minted but classic Chicago experience.

Elske

Taking its name from the Danish word for love, you’ll certainly fall head-over-heels for this cool Scandi-American eatery in Chicago’s West Loop. Indulge your hygge fantasies in the serenely inviting two-floor space, which features sleek wood, tactile ceramic tableware, flickering candles, and outdoor dining with a welcoming fireplace — perfect for festive feasting à deux.

GT Prime

This log cabin-luxe meatery from acclaimed Chef Giuseppe Tentori and the consistently excellent Boka group is one of Chicago’s newest steak joints. Local and seasonal sourcing rule, from bison tenderloin to American wagyu, cooked with Euro influence. Plus a decent non-steak menu for the less carnivorously inclined.

Back home at The Peninsula, The Lobby, Shanghai Terrace and Pierrot Gourmet are home to some of Chicago’s most sought-after festive tables, so make a beeline for your lovely concierge and flout your booking clout. Happy Holidays!

Spiaggia / 980 N Michigan Ave Suite 1 / +1 312 280 2750 / 5:30pm-10pm Sun-Thu, 5:30pm-11pm Fri-Sat / spiaggiarestaurant.com

Alinea / 1723 N Halsted St / +1 312 867 0110 / 5pm-10pm daily / alinearestaurant.com

Giant / 3209  W Armitage Ave / +1 773 252 0997 / dinner Tue-Sun / giantrestaurant.com

Elske / 1350 W Randolph St / +1 312 733 1314 / dinner Wed-Sun / elskerestaurant.com

GT Prime  / 707 N Wells St / +1 312 600 6305 / dinner daily / gtprimerestaurant.com