Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago

Name: Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago
Address: 638 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States, 60605
Telephone: (312) 765-0524
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.4

4.4 (4936)

$50 and over

Tapas / Small Plates

638 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 3, 2025

10:00 PM

Booked 13 times today

About this restaurant

Charming
Good for special occasions
Good for groups

Mercat offers an authentic dining experience that combines fresh meats and produces with the energetic spirit of a Barcelona market.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, Spanish, Dining Bar
Hours of operation
Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 7:30 am–1:30 pm
Phone number
(312) 765-0524
Website
https://www.mercatchicago.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Anthony Bernal
Catering
Whether it's our our gorgeous La Veranda Room, our spacious Barcelona Room or our intimate Lower Lounge, Mercat A La Planxa has the perfect space to host your private event!<br /><br />Please contact our Sales & Marketing Manager at (312) 765-0524 or sierra.little@sagehospitalitygroup.com or (312) 765-0524 for more information
Private party facilities
La Veranda, our private dining space overlooking the main dining room of Mercat, can seat 30 guests. We also offer Private Dining in the Barcelona Room, which seats 66 guests. Our spaces allow for receptions of up to 130 guests.
Private party contact
Sierra Little: (816) 805-6895

Location
638 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
Neighborhood
South Loop
Cross street
Balbo - Entrance to the hotel is through The Blackstone Hotel lobby
Parking details
Valet available in the front of the Blackstone Hotel located on Balbo
Public transit
Nearest Red-line Stop is Harrison, head east on Balbo, restaurant is on the corner of Balbo & Michigan.Bus lines are the #3, #127, #129 all three stop at the entrance of Mercat a la Planxa.
Additional
Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Private dining

Offers

Picar (Happy Hour)
Multiple dates available
Sun - Sat - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Join us for our Happy Hour from 4:00-5:30pm every day. Check out our Picar menu for great food and beverage options!

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Popular dishes

PATATAS BRAVAS$12.00
salsa brava, chili oil, garlic aioli
CROQUETAS DE SERRANO$12.00
serrano ham, romesco
DATILES$12.00
dates, smoked bacon, marcona almond, bleu cheese fondue
CALAMARI$18.00
fried, preserved lemon aioli
PULPO$22.00
octopus, peruvian potato, escabeche
ALBONDIGAS$18.00
pork, beef, salsa madrilena
GAMBAS AL AJILLO$20.00
gulf shrimp, garlic, chili
MEJILLONES$22.00
bangs island mussels, cider, nora chili butter
ENSALADA RUSSA$16.00
tuna conserva, yukon gold potato, garlic aioli
GARBANZO A LA MADRILENA$9.00
stewed chickpeas, rutabaga, rose harissa
PAN CON TOMATE$12.00
pan de crystal, fresh tomato, garlic, evoo
PIQUILLO RELLENOS$14.00
red pepper, goat cheese, saffron foam
GIGANDAS EN VINAIGRE$12.00
white beans, sea fennel, lemon supremes
ZANAHORIAS CON SIDRA$14.00
heirloom carrots, cider, carrot top chimichurri
CHEF'S TAPAS TASTING$65.00
(MINIMUM TWO GUESTS). let our chef select an array of tapas for your table. NO SUBSTITUTIONS, PLEASE.

RACIONES

*CONSUMING RAW OR UNDERCOOKED MEATS, POULTRY, SEAFOOD, SHELLFISH OR EGGS MAY INCREASE YOUR RISK OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS. GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED.

LA ARRACHERA*$38.00
hanger steak, parsnip puree
CORDERO*$36.00
aussie lamb, mint salsa verde
GALLINA EN PEPITORIA$29.00
roasted freebird chicken
VIEIRAS AZAFRAN$36.00
maine scallops, bomba rice risotto, saffron
LIBRITOS DE LOMO RELLENOS*$32.00
bone-in pork chop stuffed with serrano ham, manchego, and piquillo pepper, mojo negra sauce
VERLASSO SALMON$32.00
herb salad, fermented onion labneh, peas
FABADA ASTURIANA$26.00
asturian pork and bean stew

PAELLA

PLEASE ALLOW 30 MINUTES OR MORE FOR PAELLA

DE MARISCOS
maine scallop, gulf shrimp, calamari, mussels
- sm$34.00
- lg$64.00
DE CARNE
chicken, pork, butifara
- sm$34.00
- lg$64.00
VERDURAS
bell peppers, shallot, peas, french green beans
- sm$34.00
- lg$64.00
PAELLA NEGRA
calamari, gulf shrimp, squid ink
- sm$34.00
- lg$64.00

What 4,936 people are saying

Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.5Service
4.3Ambience
4.0Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago / Illinois
Tapas / Small Plates

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Mercat a la Planxa in Chicago's Blackstone Hotel offers a vibrant dining experience with "fantastic service" and "great food." Diners rave about the grilled octopus, lamb chops, and inventive tapas. With a chic ambiance and attentive staff, it's a top choice for Spanish cuisine lovers. Perfect for a special occasion!

4,936 Reviews

E
Elena
Chicago / Illinois1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was absolutely delicious with perfect portions!
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded 4 days ago
Thanks for the feedback, Elena! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your dining experience at Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago. It's wonderful to know that our food and portion sizes hit the mark! We appreciate your high ratings and we strive to provide the best to our customers. We look forward to serving you again soon!
Is this helpful?
J
Juanita
Baltimore / Maryland2 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a great experience at Mercat when we stay at the Blackstone. Great food, great drinks, fantastic service!
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded 4 days ago
Hi Juanita, We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience at Mercat a la Planxa during your visit to The Blackstone Hotel! It's fantastic to know that our food, drinks, and service met your expectations. Your kind words mean a lot to us and we look forward to welcoming you back the next time you're in town. Best regards, David
Is this helpful?
S
Stephen VIP
Washington, D.C. Area52 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had a special dinner at Merca a la Planxa as it was so highly rated for Spanish food and drink. Its location in the Blackstone Hotel (next to the Hilton Chicago) was convenient. Upon seating, we ordered a cocktail, and considered the itemized dinner options compared with their two tapas tasting experiences. We decided on the more expensive ($80/person) with wine pairings, as most of our previous tasting experiences had rather small portions. Carlos was our server and provided outstanding service, particularly with timing of the segments and descriptions of the plates. The food and wine were outstanding, only the size of the portions were much larger than we had anticipated (probably should have opted for the $65/person option). It was an incredibly enjoyable. evening and, fortunately for us, we could walk (or waddle) back to our hotel afterwards. The only difficulty is having to walk down some stairs (with dark carpet that makes it difficult to navigate at times) to the restrooms on the other side of the lobby. It was surprising that there was plenty of seating available on a Saturday night.
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded on June 26, 2025
Hello Stephen, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your dinner at Mercat a la Planxa. It's great to know that our service and food lived up to your expectations. We appreciate your feedback about the portion sizes and the difficulty of navigating the stairs to the restroom. We're continuously working on improving our guests' experiences and your feedback is very helpful. We hope to see you again soon for another enjoyable evening! Best regards, David
Is this helpful?
R
Renee
Chicago / Illinois12 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 11, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Restaurant was fantastic!!! $32 to valet for 1.5 hr???? You have GOT to be kidding?!?!? Blackstone hotel is robbing Mercat of customers by putting such outrageous price on parking. Won’t be back ONLY because of this.
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded on June 13, 2025
Hi Renee, Thank you for the great feedback about your experience at Mercat. We’re so glad you enjoyed the food and service. We understand your concern about valet pricing and appreciate you bringing it to our attention. Your feedback helps us explore ways to improve the overall guest experience. We hope to welcome you back in the future. Warmly, David General Manager, Mercat a la Planxa
Is this helpful?
K
Kyle
Chicago / Illinois2 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great food, and service! Our waiter went above and beyond, the best grilled octopus I’ve had.
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded on June 13, 2025
Hi Kyle, Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the grilled octopus and that our team made your experience memorable. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Best, David General Manager, Mercat a la Planxa
Is this helpful?
G
Gillian VIP
Greensboro / Winston Salem / Highpoint12 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Consistently excellent food & service. Also enjoyed the music.
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded on June 9, 2025
Thanks for the review, Gillian! We're thrilled to hear that you consistently enjoy our food and service at Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago. We're also glad you enjoyed the music. Your kind words mean a lot to us! We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another excellent dining experience. Thank you, David
Is this helpful?
k
karen VIP
Denver / Colorado5 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 29, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love this place! I come for an annual conference and eat here at least once every trip!!!!
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded on May 30, 2025
Hi Karen, Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that Mercat a la Planxa is your go-to spot for your annual conference. We're glad to know that we continue to be your preferred choice for your dining experiences. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit to Chicago. Best, David
Is this helpful?
K
Kaylee
Indiana1 review
4.0
Dined on May 27, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
loved it! large menu very yummy food. will definitely return
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded on May 29, 2025
Thanks for visiting us, Kaylee! We're thrilled to hear that you loved our large menu and found the food yummy. It's always a pleasure to serve a customer who enjoys their meal with us. We're glad our service met your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back to Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago.
Is this helpful?
J
Joshua VIP
Denver / Colorado2 reviews
2.0
Dined on May 24, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
So- hot dishes came out cool; scallops were a bit chewy, sauces were thin and should have been reduced, patatas bravas were not at all crispy and the plates were not programmed well. even for tapas the portions were far too small—you’ll need two plates of each for three people. i ate by myself and ended up paying $180 for a C minus meal. i never imagine that every dining experience needs to be perfect, but this was sloppy; whoever manages the kitchen needs to taste the plates that are coming out and put some quality control back in.
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded on May 27, 2025
Hey Joshua, We appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear that your meal did not meet your expectations. We take pride in our dishes and it's disheartening to hear that they did not hit the mark. Your comments are valuable and will help us improve. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Best, Mercat a la Planxa - The Management Team
Is this helpful?
S
Shelagh
Chicago / Illinois2 reviews
2.0
Dined on May 24, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Can’t recommend Mercat. Service was great and the room is nice, but the food was sub par. Calamari tasted like it was not fresh, actually close to being spoiled. Brussels sprouts were overly vinegary and not well balanced, although some might enjoy them. Ham croquettes were bland and lacking in flavor. Paella was ok but also just not tasty. We will stick with our favorite tapas place, Emilio’s. I hate leaving a bad review but that was our experience.
Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, ChicagoResponded on May 27, 2025
Thanks for the feedback, Shelagh. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed our service at Mercat a la Planxa. However, we're sorry to hear that our food didn't meet your expectations. We take pride in our fresh ingredients and it seems we missed the mark this time. We appreciate your honesty and will use your comments to improve. We hope you'll give us another chance to impress you in the future. Best, Mercat a la Planxa, The Management Team
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago is rated 4.4 stars by 4936 OpenTable diners.

Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.