This family-owned bakery is a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of chain eateries in a downtown area. Breakfast selections include donuts, danishes, and other pastries while lunch options include their own signature sandwiches as well as home-made salads. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.
This popular Spanish tapas bar is great for large groups. Specialties include the "queso de cabra" (baked goat cheese) and "pulpo a la plancha" (grilled octopus); make sure to check out their complete Spanish deli.
737 N. LaSalle Dr. | 312.573.1510
Choice Dining at North State & East Ohio Streets
Various
The area around North State Street & West Ohio Street offers a number of strong dining options. Illinois-based company Weber Grills offers flame-grilled specialties at their local Weber Grill Restaurant (539 N. State St.); sushi and other Japanese favorites can be found at Ginza (19 E. Ohio St.); and for creative Italian dining, enjoy Osteria Via Stato (620 N. State St.) or Quartino's lively bar and dining room (626 N. State St.).
Offering a magnificent view of the Chicago skyline from the 15th Floor of the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, the Skyline Bar serves excellent drinks and has lots of great specials. Their Zen-tini has been voted one of the top ten martinis in the city.
Coco Pazzo is Chicago’s authority on Tuscan Italian dining. Encompassing both traditional and contemporary ingredients and techniques, you will find their seasonal dishes a pleasure to experience. Coco Pazzo is also known for their extensive wine list.
This two-level restaurant serves modern French cuisine at Cyrano's Bistrot upstairs and on the weekend features live cabaret performers at Cafe Simone downstairs.
This well-reviewed steakhouse is run by award-winning chef, Iron Chef America contestant and Top Chef Masters contestant David Burke. The restaurant continues to redefine modern American cuisine by pushing the envelope of culinary creativity, marked by notable dishes, such as Surf and Turf Dumplings Filled with Short Rib Barbeque and Lobster Mousse and Kobe Beef Sashimi on Himalayan Rock Salt with Mushroom Chips and Truffle Sauce.
616 N. Rush St | 312.660.6000
Dining with Rick Bayless on North Clark Street
Mexican
Try three different takes on Mexican cuisine by renowned local chef Rick Bayless at Frontera Grill (445 N. Clark St.), Topolobampo (445 N. Clark St.), or Xoco (449 N. Clark St.)
This bar and grill transcends the standards of a sports bar with playful and ambitious food and cocktail menus, while still making it possible to watch the game on one of their 40 flat screen televisions.
170 W. Ontario St. | 312.337.3477
Eclectic Dining in River North
Various
For several delicious dining options near North State Street & East Superior Street, try the Hawaiian cuisine at Roy's (720 N. State St.), the Spanish-style tapas at 1492 (42 E. Superior St.), or the excellent BBQ at Jake Melnick's (4 E. Superior St.). Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.
Styled as a classic Chicago steakhouse and situated right along the Chicago River by Erie Park, Erie Café has received rave reviews for their steaks and other cuisine since they opened in 1994.
536 W. Erie St. | 312.266.2300
Fine Dining on North Franklin Street
Various
Tucked away in a corner of River North, Kiki's Bistro (900 N. Franklin St.) is known for its traditional preparations of classic French dishes in a romantic setting. Just down the street, mk (868 N. Franklin St.) is Michael Kornick's renowned haven for delicious food with a contemporary flair in a sleek dining room.
Gene & Georgetti, arguably Chicago's oldest steakhouse, has been around since 1941. You may see a celebrity dining at this neighborhood restaurant, as people like Lou Pinella, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell are regulars who come for award-winning steaks and a casual yet elegant ambiance. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.
Open since 1974, Giordano's is a classic Chicago pizzeria, well known for their deep dish and stuffed pizza. Giordano's Pizza was chosen "Best Pizza in America" by NBC. Chicago Tribune writes, "Giordano's pizza is a must when in Chicago."
Graham Elliot describes itself as Chicago's first "bistronomic" restaurant, focusing on new and ambitious contemporary American cuisine served in a hip and casual atmosphere.
Named after the famous Chicago baseball announcer, Harry Caray's is one of the most memorable steakhouses in Chicago, festooned with sports memorabilia. The bar located on the first floor is the length of the space between home plate and first base on a baseball field.
The River North outpost of this authentic Louisiana-style Cajun restaurant offers classic Cajun and Creole dishes. Heaven on Seven, whose original location sits on the 7th floor of a Loop office building, is well known for its wide variety of hot sauces, ranked by spice intensity.
Right next door to the Merchandise Mart and underneath the EL tracks sit two well known restaurants, The Mambo Grill (410 N. Wells St.) and the Kinzie Chop House (400 N. Wells St.). Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.
With a much raved about lunch buffet, Klay Oven serves the bustling office crowd during the day with all sorts of authentic Indian food and becomes an upscale restaurant by night.
L'Appetito's authentic Italian café, deli and grocery store have a loyal local following, offering slices of pizza, espresso and other coffee drinks, as well as groceries, pastas and other Italian food specialties.
Three local classics can be found around North Orleans & West Huron Streets. Try Mr. Beef (666 N. Orleans St.) for legendary sandwiches, enjoy American fare at the historic Green Door Tavern (678 N. Orleans St.), or sample Italian favorites at family-owned Club Lago (331 W. Superior St.).
678 N. Orleans St.
North Wells Street Dining
American (New)
North Wells Street offers a range of dining options; from the health food at Karyn's Cooked (738 N. Wells St.), to great breakfast at Yolk (747 N. Wells St.) to barbeque ribs at Carson's (613 N. Wells St.), there is something for everyone. Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.
747 N. Wells St.
River North Asian Restaurants
Thai
For fine South and East Asian food in River North, head to either Star of Siam (11 E. Illinois St.), Singha Thai (340 N. Clark St.) or India House (59 W. Grand Ave.) . Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.
11 E. Illinois St.
River North Nightlife
Bar
There is no shortage of nightlife surrounding the North State Street & West Ontario Street corner! For an exclusive nightclub, try Visions (632 N. Dearborn St.), for a classy champagne and jazz bar head to Pops for Champagne (601 N. State St.), for drag shows check out The Baton Show Lounge (436 N. Clark St.), and for a lively but upscale lounge check out The Redhead Piano Bar (16 W. Ontario St.). Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.
601 N. State St.
River North Pubs
Bar
Clark Street is a great place to be if you're looking for an after work happy hour or some late night weekend fun. There are many bars along this stretch, including Clark Street Ale House (742 N. Clark St.), The Kerryman pub (661 N. Clark St.), Celtic Crossings (751 N. Clark St.), and Brehon Pub (731 N. Wells St.). Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.
742 N. Clark St.
River North Steakhouses
Steakhouses
A corner of River North that any red meat lover would love to call their second home contains top steakhouses such as Sullivan's (415 N. Dearborn St.), Ruth's Chris (431 N. Dearborn St.), Fleming's (25 E. Ohio St.), the well-known and wide-ranging Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (60 E. Grand Ave.), Zed 451 (739 N. Clark St.), and the Brazilian-style Brazzaz (539 N. Dearborn St.).
Open since May 2005, Rosebud Trattoria aims to find the best ingredients possible and deliver them fresh from the market to the customers' table. Rosebud Trattoria offers classic Italian dishes, such as Mama's Meatballs and Veal Saltimbocca, as well as a wide-ranging selection of wines.
Shaw's Crab House is known for serving fresh seafood, excellent crab and premium steaks. Shaw’s main dining room serves more than 40 seasonally fresh seafood entrees as well as Prime Steak. For a more low-key experience, sit in the oyster bar featuring fresh oysters and plenty of seafood dishes!
With several locations throughout the country, Smith & Wollensky is one of America's premier steakhouses. Their Chicago location is right on the Chicago River, offering unique views of the city.
Soak up Chicago history at the Chicago Chop House, housed in a restored Victorian brownstone. This popular steak restaurant serves up classic cuts including filets and New York Strip Steaks. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.
Hop Haus offers over 20 burger choices and an even larger beer selection. Try some truly unique burger options including the wild game burgers made from kangaroo, ostrich or wild boar.
Argued by many to be the first Chicago Style Pizzeria, Pizzeria Uno has been in operation since 1943 when retired football player Ike Sewell attempted to make a pizza to satisfy a large hunger. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.
Known around Chicago as an entertainment district, this little section of Weed Street is home to many bars and night clubs. Joe's Bar (940 W. Weed St.), a country music venue and sports bar, is the most famous of the bunch.
N. Fremont St. & W. Weed St.
West Hubbard Street Nightlife
Bar
For some late night fun along West Hubbard Street, try Theory (9 W. Hubbard St.) or the popular piano bar Howl at the Moon (26 W. Hubbard St.).
26 W. Hubbard St.
Women Chefs Cook it Up in River North
Various
River North is home to a bastion of creative restaurants owned and operated by talented local women, including Chef Carrie Nahabedian's Naha (500 N. Clark St.) Chef Suzy Crofton's Crofton on Wells (535 N. Wells St.) as well as the Indian-Latin fusion cooking created by Chef Maneet Chauhan at Rohini Dey's Vermillion (10 W. Hubbard St.). Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.
This fine dining restaurant offers contemporary American cuisine with international influences as well as a selection of 750 wines to choose from out of their 18 foot tall wine tower.
The Redhead is Chicago's Premier Piano Bar. Located on bustling Ontario Street, it is the perfect nightspot for fantastic upbeat music, lively conversation and meeting people. The ambiance creates an atmosphere of congeniality and warmth, reminiscent of Chicago true elegant nightlife.
