With its stunning skyscrapers, celebrated food and drink scene, and vibrant arts and culture offerings, Chicago is jam-packed with all the trappings of a memorable mini vacation. Not a city to stay stagnant on any front, Chicago is constantly evolving, something reflected in everything from an eclectic assortment of new hotels to buzz-worthy restaurants and events.
So, if you haven’t hit the “Windy City” in a few years, it’s definitely worth another visit to check out its new additions. Here are all of the new and noteworthy hotels and restaurants in Chicago.
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Hotels
Canopy by Hilton Central Loop
Located in the heart of Chicago’s financial district, the upcoming Canopy by Hilton Central Loop shines in the location department, with famed attractions like The Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and Chicago Riverwalk sitting less than 10 minutes away. The shiny new hotel will feature 215 guest rooms and the retro-feeling Depot 226, a bistro, market, and coffee shop. The hotel is slated to open September 2021. Find more info here.
The LaSalle Hotel
The LaSalle Hotel will soon offer another accommodation choice in Chicago’s financial district. Located on South LaSalle Street and set to open fall 2021, the 234-room luxury hotel will soon occupy the top five floors of a historic landmark building, sitting atop of the current JW Marriott Hotel. Find more info here.
The Chicago Hotel Collection
The Chicago Hotel Collection will welcome a new location in Millennium Park featuring 4-Star all suite accommodations with full kitchens, perfect for business, leisure, extended stays, corporate relocations or families. An amenity package offers three drinks per night, free Wi-Fi, use of Peloton Bikes on site with reservation, early check-in/late check-out, booking credits to use for their next stay. Find more info here.
Pendry Chicago
Pendry Hotels & Resorts announced its further U.S. expansion with the renovation of the Art Deco Chicago landmark, the Carbide & Carbon Building (and former St. Jane Hotel), as Pendry Chicago. The hotel will feature 364 redesigned guest rooms, a stunning rooftop bar, and a signature restaurant and bar concept called Venteux that’s helmed by Executive Chef-Partner Donald Young, Chicago’s youngest Michelin-starred chef. Find more info here.
The brand new Sable Hotel at Navy Pier is perched astride one of Chicago’s most beloved and iconic destinations – Navy Pier – and sits steps from attractions like Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Crystal Gardens. The hotel opened March 2021, and features 223 guest rooms, and two restaurants, including the firepit-filled Offshore Rooftop and Bar, the nation’s largest rooftop(!). Find more info here.
St. Regis Chicago
Chicago’s newest skyscraper – the third-tallest building in the city – is being rebranded as The St. Regis Chicago, after the owners signed an agreement with St. Regis Hotels & Resorts to manage a 191-room luxury hotel. The St. Regis Chicago will also include 393 luxury condominiums and is complete with a sky terrace and outdoor pool on the 47th floor, as well as a private lounge and dining room, a demo kitchen, and golf lounge. Find more info here.
Restaurants
Adalina
A recent addition to Chicago’s Gold Coast neighbourhood, Adalina serves a modern Italian menu by Michelin-starred chef Soo Ahn that balances Northern and Southern cuisines. Crowd-pleasing dishes include house made extruded and stuffed pastas, imported meats and cheeses, and a hand-selected beef and seafood selection. Find more info here.
Andros Taverna
In February, Andros Taverna opened up shop in the city’s vibrant Logan Square neighbourhood. Helmed by celebrated local chef Doug Psaltis, the contemporary Greek restaurant that serves up sophisticated Mediterranean fare that’s inspired by the modern taverns in Greece.
Apolonia
Apolonia shook things up in the South Loop when it opened up shop in April 2021 to offer a selection of quality seasonal, seafood-centric coastal European and Mediterranean fare. Dishes include things like grilled swordfish with piperade and rapini; pork presse with sauce amatriciana and swiss chard; seared mussel toast with tomato and espelette; savory black truffle puff bread, and a selection of house made pastas.
Dear Margaret
Executive Chef Ryan Brosseau brings a passion for preservation and pickling, whole-animal butchery, and bread baking to Dear Margaret, the restaurant he opened in January 2021. The bustling spot focuses on French-Canadian cuisine inspired by his mémé (grandmother) Margaret, with a nod to the Midwestern farmers and purveyors from whom he sources high-quality local ingredients.
Matchacita
Chicago got its first matcha-focused café this year with the opening of Matchacita in the city’s Lincoln Park neighbourhood. An exclusive concept to Chicago, Matchacita offers a full menu of lattes, specialty drinks, and pastries that boast superfoods such as antioxidants and all the benefits of matcha to balance out all of the city’s inviting and indulgent wining and dining.
Pilsen Yards
Kicking the year off with a new spot to let loose, Pilsen Yards opened its doors in January 2021. The bar-centric and music-driven hangout sits in the heart of Pilsen and offers an open air vibe and a menu of well-curated Latin street food; and whiskey charged bar program. Here, you’ll find a covered, heated outdoor patio with a radiant-heated cement floor, radiant overhead heaters, a clear roof, and exposed wooden beams.
Radio Room
This summer, the popular, decade-old concept Public House was reinvented as Radio Room, an American restaurant sports bar and music lounge that’s a go-to for everything from game day to late night jam sessions. Here, guests can expect a 15-foot stage, a private dining and event space inspired by a recording studio, and the Pop-A-Shot Shot Bar, where guests can shoot baskets and sip throwback shooters.
Rose Mary
Joe Flamm, the Season 15 winner of Top Chef debuted Rose Mary in April 2021 in Chicago’s Fulton Market District. Inspired by his Italian heritage and the bright and bold flavours of Croatian cuisine, the space is named after Flamm’s grandmothers and offers a
seasonal menu of rustic yet refined dishes that encapsulate what Flamm has coined “Adriatic drinking food.”
Tree House
Tree House opened this past April 2021 in the city’s River North neighborhood to offer a
nature-inspired, chef-driven bar and menu. Here, you’ll find elevated renditions of comforting Italian food and bar classics, including three distinct styles of pizza made from the kitchens two top-of-the-line ovens. Tree House features no shortage of greenery throughout, along with tree-inspired installations by local artists.
Feature Image: Lance Anderson, Unsplash
