Last updated: 2025-05-06
Best Upscale Restaurants in Chicago
Chicago’s culinary landscape pulses with Michelin-starred energy, where world-class chefs transform local ingredients into extraordinary dining experiences. From the West Loop’s innovative kitchens to River North’s elegant dining rooms, the city’s restaurant scene offers unparalleled gastronomic adventures.
Discover Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants, where chefs like Grant Achatz and David Chang craft menus that push culinary boundaries. These dining destinations aren’t just meals—they’re immersive experiences that capture the city’s bold, creative spirit.
Explore Chicago’s most extraordinary dining destinations now!
Featured Fine Dining Spots in Chicago
Alinea
What to Expect
Molecular gastronomy tasting menus with theatrical presentation
Description
Chef Grant Achatz's three-Michelin-starred restaurant offers an immersive modernist dining experience across three distinct spaces: the Kitchen Table, The Gallery, and The Salon. Each meticulously crafted multi-course tasting menu transforms dining into avant-garde performance art, featuring innovative techniques and dramatically presented dishes that challenge traditional culinary boundaries.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Alinea ↗
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
What to Expect
Vintage Art Deco-inspired steakhouse atmosphere
Description
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf reimagines the classic Chicago steakhouse with French-inspired elegance and vintage-chic ambiance. Dark wood paneling, moody lighting, and Art Deco touches create an intimate dining experience. Offering prime steaks, classic cocktails, and an extensive wine selection, this sophisticated restaurant balances traditional steakhouse fare with playful, refined culinary artistry.
Restaurant Details
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Ciccio Mio
What to Expect
Intimate Italian dining with limited reservation policy
Description
Nestled in Chicago's intimate West Loop, Ciccio Mio delivers an elevated Italian dining experience in a cozy, dimly lit space. The restaurant offers classic Italian flavors with carefully curated small plates and an atmosphere that feels both sophisticated and warmly inviting. Reservations are limited to groups of six, ensuring personalized service and an exclusive dining environment.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Ciccio Mio ↗
Ever
What to Expect
Michelin-starred chef's precision-driven multi-course tasting menu
Description
Ever offers an intimate, meticulously crafted fine dining experience in Chicago's West Loop. Chef Curtis Duffy's minimalist, art-like tasting menu transforms seasonal ingredients into stunning culinary compositions served in an elegant, understated dining room with an immersive chef's counter experience.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Ever ↗
Galit
What to Expect
James Beard Award-winning chef's seasonal Middle Eastern cuisine
Description
Located in Chicago's Lincoln Park, Galit offers an innovative Middle Eastern dining experience crafted by James Beard Award-winning chef Zachary Engel. The restaurant features seasonally inspired dishes with a localized approach, complemented by a forward-thinking beverage program. Intimate dining spaces showcase a commitment to community-driven hospitality and culinary excellence.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Galit ↗
Gilt Bar
What to Expect
Hidden underground speakeasy-style dining room
Description
Gilt Bar offers an intimate Chicago speakeasy-inspired dining experience with a hidden underground Library space. Candlelit tables and a moody atmosphere create a sophisticated setting for cocktails and refined cuisine. The restaurant blends vintage Chicago charm with modern culinary craftsmanship, featuring a discreet entrance that pays homage to the city's prohibition-era drinking culture.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Gilt Bar ↗
Oriole
What to Expect
Two-Michelin-starred tasting menu with open kitchen viewing
Description
Nestled in Chicago's West Loop, Oriole offers an intimate, two-Michelin-starred dining experience featuring a meticulously crafted multi-course tasting menu. The restaurant's minimalist, industrial-chic space provides an immersive culinary journey with an open kitchen where diners can watch chefs prepare intricate, globally-inspired dishes using precision and artistry.
Restaurant Details
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RPM Steak
What to Expect
Rare imported Japanese Wagyu beef selections
Description
RPM Steak transforms the classic steakhouse concept with nearly two dozen globally sourced beef cuts, featuring an elegant River North dining room. Tableside beef tartare, Japanese Wagyu selections, and premium steaks like the exclusive Namiki strip loin highlight the restaurant's commitment to exceptional meat curation and refined presentation.
Restaurant Details
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Smyth
What to Expect
Farm-driven tasting menu with innovative ingredient transformations
Description
An intimate fine dining sanctuary featuring a meticulously crafted tasting menu that transforms locally sourced ingredients into artful culinary compositions. The restaurant's minimalist dining room creates an immersive experience where each course tells a narrative of seasonal flavors, prepared with precision by James Beard Award-nominated chefs John Shields and Karen Urie Shields.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Smyth ↗
The Gage
What to Expect
Historically landmarked dining space with European-American culinary fusion
Description
Situated in a historic Gage Group building on Michigan Avenue, this refined restaurant blends European culinary influences with American style. The dining room offers a convivial atmosphere featuring rustic, sophisticated cuisine complemented by an innovative beverage program. Guests enjoy tableside service and seasonally-inspired dishes that showcase local ingredients and creative preparation techniques.
Restaurant Details
More Info: The Gage ↗
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