There are a myriad of places to go in Chicago—rustic blues clubs, seductive cabaret speakeasies, and nightclubs filled with clandestine debauchery. While our city is not nearly as expansive as NYC, there are always plenty of places in Chicago to cluster with friends. However, there’s nothing quite as exquisite as the prettiest restaurants in Chicago.
As charismatic as hidden underground hideaways are in Chicago, restaurants illuminated with suspended lights and greenery herbage overflowing the space are enchanting to anyone who steps through the door. We’ve rounded up some of the palatial, beautiful restaurants in Chicago that merge ambiance and gorgeous scenery, leading to a dazzling afternoon or evening.
1. 3 Arts Club Café, Gold Coast
The atrium of Restoration Hardware is not only an upscale modern furnishing retailer but also one of the most magnetic restaurants in Chicago. The Arts Club Café blurs indoors and outdoors with a grand central garden courtyard restaurant and a cast-stone fountain trickling with water. Whether you’re in the mood for brunch or dinner, the timeless menu carries a selection of wine, cocktails, and splendid food, such as truffled grilled cheese and elevated scrambled eggs.
📍Location: 1300 N Dearborn St, Chicago
Le Colonial
This upscale French-Vietnamese fusion restaurant surpasses culinary achievement with one of the prettiest restaurants in Chicago. When you take the elevator up to Le Colonial, you’re transported to an escapist’s paradise, reminiscing Saigon in the 1920s. With various spaces in the restaurant, the decor meshes the vivid flavors of Vietnam and French romanticism that feel separated yet cozy.
📍Location: 57 E Oak St, Chicago
Costera Cocina
When the sun diminishes from your view and the sky turns into a rich orange, you should head straight to Costera Cocina. The wonderous spot is a vibrant bohemian restaurant that will transport you to the jungle and bring you savory Mexican dishes. Even better, this restaurant has some of the best mocktails in Chicago, as Tulum’s coastal and Mayan cuisine inspires them; Costera Cocina offers three alcohol-free alternatives, including Puerto Vallarta and the Michoacan. Diners will feel like they’re on vacation while enjoying refreshing Jarritos in mandarin or grapefruit flavors.
📍Location: 850 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Lyrà
The closest destination to Satorni, Lyrà serves the most exclusive gastronomic Greek delights. From the wraparound patio to the floor-to-ceiling windows, Lyra’s sand-toned Mediterranean palette brings a refreshing and scenic aura that seamlessly blends the indoor and outdoor spaces. Along with its imaginative list of drinks, sharable plates such as slow-roasted lamb gyros and Spanakopitakia complement the menu.
📍Location: 905 W Fulton Market, Chicago
Alla Vita
Reminiscent of an eatery on the side street of Cinque Terre, this romantic restaurant, hidden in the corner of a quiet part of Randolph Street, is regarded as one of the most beautifully aesthetic restaurants in Chicago. As soon as the air is warm, head to the back of Alla Vita’s patio, enclosed by ornate wooden details and draped with luminary lights above. The menu features homestyle Italian dishes such as Campanelle and Bucatini—paired with a bottle of wine, and you’ll never want to go home.
📍Location: 1154 N Dearborn St, Chicago
6. Cabra
Cabra reverberates a bright, airy Peruvian atmosphere—its colorful, lively scene makes it one of the most beautiful restaurants in Chicago. Breathe in the luscious foliage, consume one of their expressive cocktails, or nibble on one of their various ceviche riffs. With panoramic views of Chicago from almost every angle, it’s stunning daytime and nighttime.
📍Location: 200 N Green St, Chicago
Avli on the Park, Lakeshore East
This stylish restaurant, tucked in a quiet neighborhood, stuns with a terrace overlooking Maggie Daley Park next door. The glossy ambiance of the Mediterranean is exuberated by the high-end Greek dishes and curated Greek wine list. Our favorites include one of their notable spreads, such as the Taramosalata with fresh pita bread or the chicken souvlaki.
📍Location: 180 N Field Blvd, Chicago
Bronzeville Winery, Bronzeville
A celebration of Bronzeville, the winery boasts an inviting and beautiful space that is cozy yet convivial. The vibrant restaurant is decorated with a revolving art collection, animated music, and an architectural design, making it a beautiful space and resonating as an artistic incubator.
With a changing seasonal menu, our favorites are the Spanish cod fritters, the seared watermelon steak, and an extensive wine list highlighting women, minority, and African-American-owned labels—this is the quintessential place to gather with friends on weekday evenings or late weekends.
📍Location: 4420 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago
Trivoli Tavern
This restaurant probably shows up on your social media feed every other week; hidden down an old cobblestone courtyard alley, Trivoli Tavern is a lush American tavern with a beautiful patio, making it one of the more instagrammable restaurants Chicago; you’ll find anything from steak frites and their famous prime rib to a whole seafood selection and fresh sushi rolls.
However, if you don’t want to make a reservation in advance, head straight to the back. Rubbing shoulders with Trivoli Tavern, The Lobster Bar welcomes guests on a first-come, first-serve basis.
📍Location: 114 N Green St, Chicago
Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink
When you step into this Wicker Park bar, you’ll feel as if you’re frolicking through the Botanic Gardens. Out of all of the prettiest restaurants in Chicago, there is only one with a flower shop inside; it is undeniably one of the most beautiful restaurants in Chicago.
This beautifully stylish and hip restaurant has a globally inspired American dining and cocktail menu, so grab a bite of machine mussels or the crispy chicken tacos while breathing in the aroma of sweet lilies or mossy roses at this secret garden restaurant.
📍Location: 1846 W Division St, Chicago
Cindy’s
Perched atop the 13th floor of the Chicago Athletic Association hotel under a glass atrium, it offers glowing natural lighting. The elegant space doesn’t need ostentatious decor to make it one of the most beautiful restaurants in Chicago. The rooftop spot is stunning by its simplicity and sumptuous menu.
📍Location: 12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
Bambola
Bonhomme Hospitality’s Bambola has to be one of the prettiest restaurants on Fulton Market in the West Loop, taking you on a romantic journey along the Silk Road. Grand hand-blown chandeliers by Sogni Di Cristallo adorn the space, while museum-quality antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries, worldly art, and lush greenery set the tone for the iconic dishes crafted by Executive Chef Marcos Campos.
The menu features flavorful dishes inspired by Italy, Turkey, and beyond for a truly unique culinary experience in the city. Don’t miss the goat cheese manti, mushroom arancini, octopus, 12oz butcher steak, lamb shank, and parmesan fries from their wood-fired kitchen. We loved the creative cocktails like the Tomato & Pepper (vodka, clarified Sicilian tomato and strawberry, Tellicherry black pepper, white balsamic, basil) and the Cherry Blossom Gimlet (gin, shochu, cocoa, plum, lemon). —Melissa Maynard
📍Location: 1402 W. Randolph St., Chicago
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