Here's a look at the best new Chicago restaurants, hotels, party rooms, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open this winter. These new and renovated Chicago venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, meetings, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
The buzzed-about Dusek's Board & Beer opened in Pilsen in September. From the owners of Longman & Eagle, the venue is housed in a 19th-century building and has a menu that focuses on food paired with beer. Downstairs, the Punch House specializes in (you guessed it) punch, and it has a private dining room that seats 28 or hosts cocktail receptions for 40. The drink list includes eight house-made punches that rotate daily, as well as old-fashioned cocktails. A food menu offers oysters, bar bites such as wood-roasted olives, and malted English pudding.
Nico Osteria opened in the Thompson Hotel in December. Overlooking the Gold Coast, the second-floor private dining space is decked with mid-century furniture and velvet accents, and it comprises three private dining rooms—the Chelsea, Factory, and Fellini—separated by floating walls. When combined, the rooms seat 70 or hold 150 receptions. The Chelsea room has its own bar and seats 24. The Factory seats 24 or holds 50 when combined with the Chelsea. Fellini holds 20 for a seated event. The Reserve Bar is also on the second level and holds 50 for cocktails.
The Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport completed a $3 million renovation of its second-floor conference center in late October. Connected to the airport by underground walkways, the hotel has 860 rooms and its conference center has 41 rooms. Within the board rooms, new perks include updated LED lighting and 60-inch LG Smart TV monitors that connect to conference tables. The tables themselves have power and computer connections for as many as 14 meeting guests. There are also new blackout screens, electronic signage at the rooms' entrances, and dedicated areas for food-and-beverage buffets. The updated look includes a color palette of grey, navy, and creamy neutrals, as well as carpeting with a geometric pattern. In addition to the meeting rooms on the second floor, the hotel has a 3,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom and nine mezzanine-level banquet and meeting rooms that are suited to catered functions.
The Dawson came to West Town in late October. Inspired by Chicago in the 19th century, the venue serves chicken-fried steak, bananas foster, and old-fashioned drinks such as a cherry phosphate. The industrial-style interior has denim wall coverings and military canvas as upholstery, and the entire venue seats 200. There are two floors—each with its own U-shaped bar—and the first floor also houses an open kitchen. On the second floor, a private dining room has a fireplace and custom chandeliers. There's also a garden with a 150-seat patio, a stone fireplace, communal tables, and a lounge.
Drybar, an offshoot of the popular Los Angeles-based salon, opened in Chicago in December. The airy space offers blow-outs and champagne and plays upbeat movies on loop; it also hosts private events. Packages are flexible, and staffers can host events (with services) for as many as 50 guests. There are oversize screens available for multimedia presentations, and catering is typically handled by the host.
At the Langham Hotel, Chuan Spa offers treatments based on traditional Chinese medicine. Housed within the 22,000-square-foot fitness center, the 9,000-square-foot spa offers seven treatment rooms. Signature services include the Chuan Yu facial, which uses jade stones to stimulate meridian points; the Jing Luo foot treatment incorporates acupressure techniques, traditional Chinese herbs, and hot stones. The spa does not fully close for private events, but small corporate groups can be accommodated and 10 services can be performed at a time.
Open since November, Summer House Santa Monica is in Lincoln Park. The venue, which has beach-house-inspired decor, is available for buyouts for company events and seats 200 or holds 250 for receptions. The semiprivate Vitamin D Room, which is curtained off from the bar area, seats 120 or holds 150 for receptions. For smaller groups, a semiprivate lounge area seats 20 or holds 30 for receptions; the main dining room holds groups of 20 with special menus; and a patio seats 20. The restaurant serves seasonal fare including roasted cauliflower with jalapeño pesto and candied lemon, fresh burrata with roasted celery root, and "surfer-style" fish tacos.
Adjoining Summer House Santa Monica, Stella Barra Pizzeria seats 120. A semiprivate bar area holds 25 guests for receptions, and the entire space can be rented out to seat 120 or hold 175 for receptions. A patio, which is tented and heated during the wintertime, seats 50 guests or holds 60 for receptions (the space can also host private functions for Summer House). The restaurant, which also has locations in California, serves artisanal pizzas with toppings such as shaved fennel, fresh burrata, and organic pork sausage.
Production company Revel Events will open Revel Downtown in March. Housed in a building designed by Daniel Burnham, the venue was formerly an industrial building. It has a 1920s façade, Tuscan arcading, and high ceilings. Event spaces include a 13,000-square-foot main floor and a 5,000-square-foot loft, which can be used together or separately. The main floor seats 400 or holds 850 for cocktails, and the loft seats 100 or holds 200 for receptions.
Vanille Patisserie opened a third location in Lincoln Park in December. The venue prepares artisanal desserts and pastries and lays claim to Chicago's largest selection of classic French macarons. A private consulting and tasting room at the new location can be rented out to host events for eight guests; the main area seats 24. The space, which has an espresso bar, pastry displays, and a cake decorating room, can host larger groups for cocktail receptions.
