Kaylee Jo's Guide to Celebrating Special Occasions in Chicago

Perched atop the Hoxton Hotel in Chicago’s Fulton Market, Cabra serves up bold Peruvian flavors and city views. Led by James Beard Award winner Stephanie Izard along with veteran restaurateurs Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm, the restaurant is a great place for locals and visitors alike.

Le Colonial is a romantic escape to 1920s Saigon, offering refined Vietnamese cuisine in a lush, vintage setting. Located on Oak Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast, this beloved restaurant by Rick Wahlstedt and Joe King blends timeless elegance with bold, vivid flavors. With warm hospitality and a luxurious atmosphere, it’s a favorite for date nights, dinners, and special celebrations.

Mott Street in Chicago draws inspiration from Asia’s vibrant night markets and Chef Edward Kim’s Korean-American roots, blending eastern techniques with local ingredients for bold, umami-packed dishes. The lively, feast-style dining invites guests to roll up their sleeves, pass plates, and dig in.

This Logan Square pasta spot got a fresh start in a spacious home in 2023, after which it nabbed raves from the Chicago Tribune and a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainability. Much of the produce at this Italian-by-way-of-the-Midwest restaurant comes from chef Joe Frillman’s brother’s farm outside Chicago. Find it in playful dishes like onion dip with housemade Ruffles, fritto misto with cheese curds, and pierogi with mussels and beer.

Bar La Rue in Fulton Market celebrates French-American cuisine with inventive cocktails in a stylish space featuring a year-round, street-side pergola bar. The menu offers French twists on American comfort food, creating a warm, inviting setting for lunch, brunch, or dinner. Whether enjoying drinks at the bar, celebrating a birthday, or on a romantic date, Bar La Rue’s Mediterranean-inspired vibe suits any occasion.

Pilsen Yards is a lively, bar-focused restaurant in the heart of Pilsen with one of the city’s best patios. Chef Juan Gutierrez offers inspired Latin street food paired with a mezcal, tequila, and whiskey-driven bar. With over 300 seats indoors and outdoors, it’s perfect for casual nights, brunches, large parties, and private events.

Winner of the 2022 Jean Banchet Award for Best Bar, The Alderman is an intimate 16-seat cocktail bar tucked behind closed doors inside Pilsen Yards. The rotating cocktail list features original creations alongside twists on American classics. With a plush velvet banquette and a 4-seat counter, it’s ideal for a nightcap, a date, or a casual evening of outstanding cocktails.

Gene and Georgetti has been Chicago’s original steakhouse since 1941. This family-owned gem, housed in the city’s third oldest building, serves prime-aged steaks, chops, pastas, and signature dishes like The Garbage Salad and Chicken alla Joe. Their curated wine list, inspired by roots in Lucca, Tuscany, focuses on Italian varietals that perfectly complement the classic Italian steakhouse menu.

Andy’s Jazz Club is one of Chicago’s best-known and most respected full-dining jazz venues, creating truly unique cultural experiences for you and your guests.