Best Fine Dining in Chicago

"The highest-ranking North American restaurant and the six-time winner of Elite Traveler’sTop 100 Restaurants, Alinea’s reputation speaks for itself. The annual poll – decided by Elite Traveler’s jet-set readership – has consistently seen Grant Achatz’s three-Michelin-star restaurant in either first or second place. This remarkable popularity is down to Achatz’s hypermodern and emotional approach to dining, which is respected the world over."

"With three Michelin stars and six James Beard nods for its chef, Alinea in Lincoln Park is one of the most recognized restaurants in the world. It’s also one of the best, earning an annual spot on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Alinea’s avant-garde dishes showcase the most cutting-edge molecular gastronomy techniques, while never failing to taste amazing."

"Since opening in 2005, the Lincoln Park restaurant has distinguished itself as a premier dining destination. Winning the coveted three stars from Michelin, Alinea is only one of 14 U.S. restaurants to earn this ranking. But the awards don’t stop there."

"With an emphasis on Cantonese dishes, the dim sum menu features delicate plates with high-end ingredients such as dumplings with lobster and black truffle, bean curd rolls with scallop and fresh rice crepes. The Terrace also offers Peking duck prepared three ways – roasted and sliced according to tradition, cooked in a Chinese green mustard soup and finally, mixed with braised noodles. The interior is sophisticated, with Chinese silkscreens and elegant furniture, but the cozy outside terrace is the jewel in the crown."

"Shanghai Terrace is a top-voted principal Chinese Restaurant in Chicago according to Zagat Survey. The restaurant in the premises of hotel ensures to provide and serve freshly made Cantonese sandwiches aboard the 1930s supper club décor, or out on The Terrace with spectacular skyline views and beverages. Diners can measure into the enchanting surroundings of this restaurant and savor identifying cookery, always honored together with the AAA Four Diamond Award."

"American , Japanese ,  Experimental"

"Oriole remains closed while the restaurant undergoes renovations, but it retains its two stars in 2021. When the doors reopen, get here for its renowned tasting menus."

"Next restaurant offers family-style meals that change weekly. You can also choose to add a cocktail kit from The Aviary."

"Restaurants Contemporary American Little Italy, UIC. We can appreciate the mission that fuels this Douglas Park restaurant: "Make fine dining cuisine and service approachable and fun instead of pretentious and stuffy." Inside the unmarked building, guests are treated to a multi-course experience that's part dinner party, part performance, which makes for a deliciously entertaining night out. Though menu components shift with the seasons, diners can expect to taste the restaurant's playful spin on French fries and ice cream, which is inspired by none other than McDonald's."

"There are two stories here, and if you come at weekends you’ll be able to dance and drink on both of them. Weeknights are when just the main floor is in action. It’s in the Fulton Market area of town and can get very busy, so we recommend arriving early to grab your place in the line."

"By law, no building in Chicago can be built on the lake side of Lake Shore Drive. However, one developer found a loophole and built Lake Point Tower, one of the tallest residential buildings in the world. Up at the top, on the 70th floor, Cite’ serves up excellent French-inspired American haute cuisine."

"Dine among the Stars at Cité | Join us in our Sky Lounge |HAPPY HOUR 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM MONDAY - SUNDAY!"

"Known for its limestone gatehouse and highly decorated columbarium niches, which are composed of photographs, artwork, flags, and other mementos of individuals whose ashes are stored there, this cemetery, established by Chicago's Czech community in 1877, also features storied mausoleums, stained glass images and a special dedication to Chicago Cubs fans. It's a quieter, welcome alternative to public parks that often draw rambunctious young children."

"Officially known as a “pedestrian pathway system,” the Pedway is actually more of a sprawling underground network of halls, tunnels and corridors that connect different streets in Chicago. You can enter and exit at various points to get back to the world above, but since lots of businesses have set up shop in the Pedway, it’s become a destination in its own right. Stores are available for shopping."

"Under the city streets and spanning more than 40 blocks north to south, Chicago has a vast network of pedestrian tunnels, as an answer the vicious winter weather and to provide easy links between “L” stations. The oldest sections, between State and Dearborn streets date back to before the Second World War. The rest of the network was begun in the 1950s and expanded in the 60s and 70s."

"Hunkered down across from Grant Park, this 110,000-ton granite-and-limestone behemoth was an instant star when it debuted in 1899, and…"

"A partnership of L.A.’s Stan’s Donuts with our homegrown Labriola Baking Company, the Chicago version may not be quite as star-struck, but wow, do they know how to donut. Now open in nine Chicagoland locations (with a 10th coming soon to Oak Brook Terrace), you can load up on their Standard (Glazed, Powdered Sugar, Plain Old Fashioned), Dough Boy’s Best (Peanut Butter Banana Pocket, Glazed Pretzel), and Specialty (Raspberry Bismark, Glazed Orange Old Fashioned, Dreamsicle Bar) donuts, as well as a small selection of “glutenless” donuts, and wash it down with Stan’s Dark Roast coffee (another happy partnership, this one with local Passion House Coffee Roasters)."

"If you’re still trying to diet in this pandemic, well you should definitely avoid following Stan’s Donuts & Coffee’s Instagram, because one look at their photos will completely override any self discipline you thought you had. More importantly, Stan’s has the flavor to back it up. Featured flavors include: Biscoff Banana Pockets, Glazed Pretzels, Lemon-Pistachio Old Fashioneds, and their new Caramel Marshmallow Pockets."

"In addition to a wide array of donuts (everything from Glazed to Nutella Banana Pockets), Stan’s Donuts also serves up gelato, shakes and Intelligentsia coffee. Stop by to take in the fun, retro vibe and order one of their most popular creations – Lemon Pistachio Old Fashioned."

"D & D’s Place is a beloved family-owned donut establishment beloved by customers and critics alike. Six years ago, husband-and-wife, Devell and Lolita Brittmon, opened the shop at 8324 S."

"So come here for the pancakes, but stay for the Gallagher flashbacks. Plus the friendly staff is awesome, and will instantly make you feel like a regular. View this post on Instagram"

"A post shared by elly’s (@ellysbrunchcafe) on Nov 18, 2019 at 5:02pm PST. Do not come here if you don’t plan on ordering the oven-baked pancakes. That’s not to say there’s no other reason to visit—it’s to say you’d have regrets for daaays."