10 New Chicago Venues for Spring 2019 Meetings and Events

The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center, located about 20 miles west of downtown Chicago, completed renovation work on its lobby, rotunda, and other areas—including more than 40,000 square feet of event space—in November and now features a mid-century modern-influenced design. The suburban hotel’s meeting and event spaces can accommodate groups as large as 2,000 guests, which is the reception capacity in the 13,000-square-foot ballroom. The ballroom, which now sports textured gold wall coverings and custom millwork, can also hold 1,000 seated event guests. Thirty-six meeting rooms were redesigned with elements such as golf murals and new breakout station/pre-function areas; and the carpet, tabletops, and other elements were replaced in the hotel’s 145-seat amphitheater. Hosts can also make use of a 5,917-square-foot tent with a private patio that’s available year-round for groups of 500 standing or 300 seated guests.

The Wrigleyville location of the bowling alley and entertainment venue Lucky Strike Social, which debuted in mid-February, is the fifth to open in the U.S. The venue contains more than 100 electronic gaming systems, eight bowling lanes, and a prize room where patrons can cash in their game winnings for various novelties. Two second-floor semiprivate party suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Wrigley Field; one can provide space for 30 seated guests or 60 in a reception setup. The other suite can accommodate 60 seated or 80 standing attendees—or 160 seated and 225 standing guests if the room is paired with the adjacent bowling lanes. Hosts can choose from a number of party packages that include game access, drinks, and pub- and chef-driven cuisine items like Caribbean jerk chicken sliders and smoked gouda mac and cheese bites. For larger reception-style events of as many as 750 people, the entire venue can be bought out.

Prompted by a rent increase, the classic Gold Coast eatery Le Colonial moved approximately 150 steps from the Rush Street location it had occupied for more than 20 years to new digs on Oak Street. Designed to invoke the spirit and flavors of 1920s French Colonial Southeast Asia, the new space includes four distinct spaces that collectively comprise 6,000 square feet—a sprawling bar and lounge; a dining room; an all-season porch, and a private event room with seating for 10 dubbed the Monkey Parlour after its wall mural from Swedish artist Jonas Wickman featuring a monkey in a tropical scene. Event hosts can opt for a tasting experience customized by chef Quoc Luong or fare drawn from Vietnamese cuisine-centric menu, which encompasses fresh takes on signature items such as Cha Gio shrimp and pork rolls, alongside new dishes like a spicy beef carpaccio salad.

The Rose Hotel Chicago O'Hare—part of Hilton’s Tapestry brand of stylish properties—has been in operation since November in Rosemont’s mixed-use Pearl District complex. Featuring eight meeting and event spaces that total 6,000 square feet, the hotel features the 1,654-square-foot Alba ballroom, which seats 150 guests or holds 210 for receptions. The 1,204-square-foot Bourbon ballroom offers space for 130 seated or 146 standing guests. Hosts can opt for breakfast, breaks, and other catering options that include reception stations for mac and cheese, salmon poke bowl, and other options. Events can also be held in the hotel’s lobby restaurant area, which seats 50 or can accommodate a reception-style event for as many as 120 guests.

VU Skyward, a 22-story-high rooftop bar located next to the massive McCormick Place convention facility in the South Loop, boasts skyline views and six unique spaces that can be used for private events. A private Club Bar area that connects to the venue’s west terrace has room for 50 standing or 30 seated guests. The glass-enclosed Solarium will hold 75 for a standing event and 45 for a seated dinner, and the East and West Lounge can each accommodate 40 standing or seated attendees. A soundproof karaoke room is available for 16 seated guests; hosts looking for a more work-oriented atmosphere book the private Board Room, which includes a flat-screen television and holds for 25 standing or 16 seated guests. The entire venue, which has been open since October, is also available for reception-style events for 450 guests.

Servers wearing tweed bow ties and vests are on hand to help pass out pork belly bites, mini braised short rib on toast appetizers, and other eats during private events at the Randolph Street restaurant the Darling. Hosts can offer individual craft cocktails or opt for one of three larger-format drinks—such as the Johnny Appleseed, a wintery punch made with whiskey and pressed apple cider—in large crystal beverage dispensers that serve six to eight guests. An upstairs ballroom holds 150 standing guests or about 75 guests for a lounge-style seated gathering; a semiprivate section can also be arranged for groups of as many as 60 guests. The Victorian decor in the cozy upstairs library, which guests enter through a secret door, includes two fireplaces, vintage books, and two stages; the space seats about 40 guests or holds 50 for receptions. The West Loop venue can help book a magician, DJ, burlesque dancer, or other talent to perform. It opened in November.

Twisted Hippo, an expansive Albany Park taproom and brewery, opened in January. The colorful venue’s 4,500 square feet of event space includes the main dining room, which holds 100 standing or seated guests. Adding the dance floor decreases event space capacity to 75 seated guests. There's also a mezzanine level overlooking the dining room with space for 30 standing or seated guests. Acoustic panels on one side of the dining room help keep conversation-related noise manageable; and hosts can make use of two projectors that integrate with the venue's sound system to display high-definition presentations, movies, or other visual elements on two of the venue’s walls. The menu serves hearty fare such as burgers and cheese curds with a spicy sriracha mayo dip, along with more than a dozen of its own brews and several varieties from other beer makers.

The contemporary West Loop eatery Yūgen has been serving Japanese- and French-inspired cuisine since November and offers a serene, earth-toned dining room for private events. Located next to the kitchen, the event space features a dark teak table where as many as 12 guests can enjoy Yūgen’s tasting menu, crafted by executive chef Mari Katsumura, whose family helmed the renowned Boystown restaurant Yoshi’s Café. The entire venue can also be booked for private parties of 70 seated or 100 standing individuals; Yūgen’s Kaisho lounge, which is available for receptions of 20 guests, offers an a la carte menu with options that include an Alaskan King Crab rice dish and a seaweed salad made with fried oysters.

This bright, white-brick-walled Lincoln Park eatery Avli Taverna, which opened in November, was designed to reflect three Greek philosophies—Philoxenia, or hospitality; Meraki, soul; and Kefi, or joy. Private event guests can nosh on contemporary Greek cuisine that ranges from Kataifi prawns wrapped in shredded phyllo to the house lamb chops; which can be served alongside Greek wines, craft cocktails, and traditional spirits. The restaurant’s back room offers space for group dining for 32 guests; the area can also accommodate buffet-style events for 40 standing guests. For larger gatherings, the entire venue can be bought out. It seats 70 or holds 100 for receptions.

Since opening on February 28, JoJo's Milk Bar has been serving shakes like its Cherry Poppins, made with a cherry-and-chocolate cookie, meringue, and chocolate bark in its modern take on a classic diner. Planners can host 50 seated or 75 standing attendees in the River North sweet shop’s bright and modern Playroom private event space, which features brick walls, three floor-to-ceiling windows facing Hubbard Street, and a small stage that can be used for silent auctions, performances, food displays, or other functions. Guests can partake in board games or use a 10-pin bowling machine, while the eatery’s regular menu, including boozy milkshakes, is available for private events along with additional items that can be passed or served buffet-style, including sliders and waffle fry bites.