Restaurants, Bars and Cafés in Chicago

Chicago's restaurants capture flavors from around the world in a city where food is a true passion! The West Loop neighborhood is packed with renowned restaurants, while the Wicker Park and Logan Square neighborhoods are full of trendy bars and restaurants.

The Berghoff

Since 1898, The Berghoff has been serving German specialties like schnitzel, sausage and sauerkraut. It's probably the oldest restaurant in the city.

Pizzeria Uno Chicago

Since 1943, Pizzeria Uno has been serving the deep dish pizza it invented. The wait can be long, as it's impossible to make reservations. A second pizzeria, Pizzeria Due, is just a block away.

Portillo's Hot Dog

This food court serves several local specialties, including the Chicago dog, in a spectacular setting with an old car in the middle of the room, vintage gas pumps, and walls covered with old posters, photos, and press articles. Inexpensive.

Lou Mitchell's

Just a stone's throw from the start of Route 66, Lou's has seen the coronation and subsequent demise of America's most legendary route. An unchanging landmark since 1923, the restaurant now welcomes nostalgic tourists for a hearty breakfast.

Miller's Pub

Beneath the elevated train platforms, Miller's Pub is another venerable Chicago institution. At the bar, you can simply sip one of the many beers on tap or indulge in ribs that locals say are the best in town.

Gene and Georgetti

One of Chicago's favorite places to eat and Chicago's oldest steakhouse. Praised by leading culinary magazines, it specializes in grilled meats and fish along with some Italian specialties.

O'Briens Riverwalk Café

The patio tables at O'Briens Café are set on the Riverwalk, with your feet in the Chicago River and your head in the skyscrapers. Simple fare, including local corn dog specialties.

Italian Fiesta Pizzeria

Barack Obama's favorite pizza pie. The pizzeria has been owned by the same family since it opened over 70 years ago.

Terrace 16

Terrace 16 is located on the sixteenth floor of one of Chicago's most legendary skyscrapers, Trump Tower. The menu features sophisticated New American cuisine with roots in the Mediterranean and Asia.

Buddy Guy's Legends

This blues venue is as legendary as the artists it hosts. The greats have performed here, as have the up-and-comers to whom Buddy provides a first stage. Cajun specialties.

Cloud Bar

You'll have to take the fastest elevator on the continent (!) to enjoy the spectacular views from the city's highest bar while sipping a specialty cocktail.

The Signature Room at the 95th

This restaurant and bar, one floor up, is the tallest of its kind in Chicago. Sophisticated cuisine is served with views of the Chicago skyline through large bay windows. Every Sunday, a buffet-style brunch is the chic of chic.

Chicago-Style Pizza

Like all major U.S. cities, Chicago boasts a number of local specialties. Deep-dish pizza is undoubtedly the most famous, and is now available "ready-made" in the frozen section of major American supermarkets. This pizza, baked in a pie dish, is topped with a very, very generous topping: mozzarella, parmesan, tomatoes, oregano, garlic, onions, mushrooms, peppers, and Italian-American charcuterie specialties: pepperoni and Italian sausage. You can still enjoy this historic pizza at the restaurant that invented it in the mid-1940s, Pizzeria Uno.

Chicago-Style Hot-dog

Chicago has over 2,000 hot dog stands! The sandwich holds a special place in the hearts of Chicagoans, who claim to have invented the world's healthiest hot dog. The bun doesn't just sandwich a poor sausage between two layers of ketchup and mayonnaise, it wraps it in a heap of greens, bans the usual sauces and replaces them with yellow mustard and relish. And the sausage, 100% pure beef, is less fatty than traditional pork sausages.

Taste of Chicago

The largest food festival in the world, Taste of Chicago features all of Chicago's local specialties: chicago-dogs, char-dogs, corn-dogs, deep-dish pizzas, pizza pies, charcuterie, and more. Admission is free. Every summer.