Here's a closer look at Chicago's newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms and other spaces available for events this fall. The new and renovated Chicago venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings and more.
A note regarding COVID-19: Some of the venues listed here may not yet be available for hosting events due to COVID-19, or they may be operating at a lower capacity. As venues begin to slowly reopen across North America, we encourage event organizers to contact the venues to verify current capacity restrictions.
The Exchange
Across the street from Millennium Park, The Exchange is one of Chicago’s architectural crown jewels. There are several new event spaces within the Daniel Burnham-built structure, which spans approximately 8,100 square feet in all. Inspired by Japanese listening cafes, the clubby Listening Room opened in June. With a grand marble staircase and a three-story glass ceiling, the Atrium opened in September. Theo’s, a plush bar with viewing screens and leather furniture, opened in September. From smallest to largest, Theo’s can seat 25 people or hold 60 standing. The Listening Room is equipped to seat 50 people or hold receptions for 60. The Atrium can seat 300 guests or hold receptions for 500. James Beard-nominated chef Brian Huston helms the seasonal menu, which incorporates produce from local farms. Options might include carrots with chili and coconut or chicken thighs with squash and coriander. The beverage list features biodynamic wines, local Chicago beers and stirred cocktails.
Photo: Courtesy of The Exchange
Tree House
Tree House opened in River North in April. The two-story restaurant has indoor swings, branches and birdhouses woven into its woodsy decor. In its first-floor dining room, the venue can hold receptions for 390 people or seated dinners for 200. Alternatively, the first floor can be divided to hold receptions for 286 in its front room; its back room can hold receptions for 100. Upstairs, a clubby space with an atrium, a mezzanine and neon light installations hosts receptions for 600 guests. The Atrium alone can hold seated functions for approximately 150 guests. Tree House serves wood-fired pizzas, pastas, and small plates including mozzarella balls and beet ricotta hummus with flatbread.
Photo: Courtesy of Tree House
Lure Fishbar Chicago
Based in New York, Lure Fishbar Chicago opened a Chicago location in the 21C Museum Hotel in June. Filled with nautical decor, the restaurant serves seafood, steaks and selections from a raw bar and sushi bar. It also has an extensive sake list, and serves craft cocktails. The entire restaurant can hold a reception for 250 guests, while the main dining room can seat 100. There are also two designated private event spaces. The South private dining room, which is approximately 1,000 square feet, seats 24 guests. It has a marble fireplace. The North private dining room, which is about 1,200 square feet, can hold seated dinners for 30. Its features include a wet bar, lounge tables and a bronze-screen siding door for extra privacy.
Photo: Courtesy of Wade Hall
Blanco Cocina + Cantina
Blanco Cocina + Cantina opened its Oak Brook location in August. Serving Sonoran-style Mexican fare including cheese crisps and chimichangas, the 8,500-square-foot restaurant hosts events in two private dining rooms and on its patio. The large private dining room seats 25 while the small private dining room seats 15. Combined, the two rooms can host seated events for 45. The patio can also hold receptions for 70 guests. The casual venue is decorated with vibrant murals, and the airy dining room has a central bar.
Photo: Courtesy of Blanco Cocina + Cantina
Diver at the Park
With bohemian-style decor that includes macramé and leafy hanging plants, Diver at the Park opened near Wrigley Field in July. The Tulum-inspired restaurant has multiple levels. The 2,500-square-foot upper level holds receptions for 154. The lower level, which has a speakeasy feel, can hold receptions for 125. There’s also a 4,000-square-foot beer garden that hosts receptions for 225. The beer garden has a jungle-themed mural and a bar in a refurbished vintage camper. Menu items include guacamole, street-corn elote quesadillas, and “almost vegan” tacos made with veggies and cojita cheese.
Photo: Katherine Rosecrans, Define Societes
Underground Cocktail Club
Accessed through an alley lined with street lamps, Underground Cocktail Club takes its cues from the Jazz Age. Filled with feather plumes, crushed velvet upholstery and a parasol ceiling treatment, the venue can hold cocktail receptions for 145 guests or buffet receptions for 80 guests. It offers specialty cocktails and customized event menus, which can include sushi platters from sister restaurant Sunda.
Photo: Courtesy of Underground Cocktail Club
Delta Hotels by Marriott Chicago Willowbrook
Illinois’ only Delta Hotels by Marriott opened in Willowbrook, a southwest suburb of Chicago, in June after an extensive renovation that kicked off in August 2020. Marked with neutral tones and natural light, the full-service hotel has 11 separate event spaces. The largest is the 4,032-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which can hold receptions for 500 guests or banquets for 350. The ballroom also has more than 2,000 square feet of private prefunction space with access to an additional private glass atrium, which has a private entrance and 1,100 square feet of space. The smallest space—a 468-square-foot boardroom—holds conferences for 15. The on-site restaurant, Willby’s, also got a full renovation and reopened this June. It holds receptions or seated events for 150 guests. Signature dishes include NY strip with garlic mash and broccolini.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Hotels by Marriott Chicago Willowbrook
The Tonari Room
Roka Akor’s private dining space, The Tonari Room, opened in River North in April. Translating to “the room next door” in Japanese, the event space took over a wine bar that was formerly next door to Roka Akor. The 1,200-square-foot space, which features a stone bar and woven lanterns, seats 45 guests at rounds of six. It can also hold banquet-style events for 20 guests. The venue has a full bar and floor-to-ceiling windows that can open for added ventilation. It serves Japanese fare including sushi, beef-and-kimchi dumplings and salmon teriyaki.
Photo: Courtesy of Tonari Room
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Lion House
Slated to open this month, Lincoln Park Zoo’s Lion House has a 7,139-square-foot Great Hall that can host seated events for 400 guests or receptions for 500. It also has a 1,139-square-foot conference room, which can seat 80 guests or hold receptions for 100. Both the Great Hall and the Conference Room have windows overlooking the inside of the lion exhibit. The zoo’s in-house caterer, Tigerlily Events, offers customized menus for events. Options range from Southern-style picnic fare to carving stations and novelty ice cream carts.
Photo: Courtesy of Goettsch Partners
SpringHill Suites Chicago Chinatown
Open since June, SpringHill Suites Chicago Chinatown was designed for corporate and leisure travelers. The new property has 148 guest rooms equipped with workstations. The property also houses a fitness studio and a complimentary daily breakfast buffet. The hotel has a 343-square-foot boardroom, which can hold conferences for 12 guests. With glass doors leading to the breakfast area, the conference room is decorated in neutral hues of taupe and grey; it has a flat-screen TV for presentations.
Photo: Courtesy of SpringHill Suites Chicago Chinatown
