Looking to hold a business meeting, dinner, or after-hours reception in one of Chicago’s many private dining rooms? We’ve rounded up some of the best, from spaces in a new Italian-Croatian restaurant run by a Top Chef winner to a Michelin-star brewery to a festive Mexican spot helmed by celebrity chef Rick Bayless.
Spiaggia alum and Top Chef winner Joe Flamm opened his debut restaurant, Rose Mary, in the West Loop’s hot Fulton Market. Named for Flamm’s grandmothers, Rose Mary blends rustic Italian cuisine with bold Croatian flavors (think handmade pasta and fresh-caught seafood). Time Out ranked Rose Mary second on its 2021 list of the 21 Best New Restaurants in the World. Rose Mary can accommodate 44 seated guests in its private dining room, accented with bright blonde wood and greenery. Audio/visual equipment is available upon request.
At the South Loop’s Moody Tongue, the partnership of brewmaster Jared Rouben and award-winning chef Jared Wentworth has resulted in the only Michelin-starred brewery in the world. Thoughtful, flavor-forward beers are paired with equally creative dishes at this brewery with a mid-century modern vibe that’s within walking distance of McCormick Place. Three venues are available for seated private events of up to 160 people. The upscale, 28-seat The Dining Room offers a seasonal tasting menu. The 2,500-square-foot Brewery Floor, located within Moody Tongue’s brewery facility, is flanked by racks of whiskey and wine barrels. And The Bar, a comfy tasting room with a fireplace and library of historic brewing books, offers sips of limited-release and perennial beers.
Husband-and-wife team Thai and Danielle Dang operate HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen in Pilsen, a vibrant neighborhood known for its colorful street art, hip galleries, and family-run restaurants. HaiSous celebrates different regions and cultural influences within Vietnamese cuisine, with authentic recipes based on Thai’s childhood memories of growing up in Vietnam. Buy out the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant for a seated banquet accommodating 100 or a reception for 125 people. Or host an intimate private dinner for 30 seated guests at the Dang’s next-door cafe, Dang Good Wings.
La Vista is a festive private party room located above Frontera Grill, the award-winning Mexican restaurant owned by celebrity chef Rick Bayless. Perfect for anything from a business meeting to an after-hours reception, the second-floor La Vista seats 32 (or 50 reception-style) in an airy space strung with lights and surrounded by windows overlooking River North. Food carts serve Mexican street fare like tacos and churros. Plus, La Vista offers a well-stocked tequila and mezcal bar. Or opt for The Morales Room, filled with the art of Mexican master Rodolfo Morales, which can accommodate 40 seated diners or 60 for a cocktail reception.
Plan a meeting or elegant dinner at The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, located in a landmark 1900s fire station in the South Loop. The old-school steakhouse offers four private spaces that ooze vintage Chicago glamour. The Palmer Parlor (64 seated/100 cocktail) features reclaimed hardwood floors and large windows overlooking Michigan Avenue. The Kimball Parlor (48 seated/75 cocktail) has a cozy fireplace and rich walnut walls. The Mayor’s Room (18 seated/25 cocktail) is a boardroom with exposed brick walls and a 46-inch TV for business presentations. The second-floor Veranda (40 seated/70 cocktail) is ideal for outdoor, warm-weather gatherings.
Prime & Provisions is a two-story downtown steakhouse that captures the essence of a 1920s supper club. Of course, steaks are the specialty here (notable is the dry-aged New York strip steak), but the Chicken Vesuvio Circa 1930 also gets rave reviews. Groups of 20 – 30 can get cozy in the semi-private Prime Nook, featuring bolstered leather banquette seating, chandeliers and full bar access. In warm-weather months, book the Outdoor Terrace overlooking the Chicago River for a sunset cocktail party or private dinner accommodating 50 – 75 guests. The second-floor Private Dining Room boasts skyline views, with flexible floor plans and seating for 75+.
Inspired by classic red sauce joints of the 1950s, Formento’s is a nod to the owner’s Italian grandmother, Nonna Formento. Located on Restaurant Row in the hot West Loop district, Formento’s dishes up traditional family recipes (like Nonna’s meatballs), in addition to modern takes on classics, such as the ravioli stuffed with ricotta, summer squash, and dried orange. The restaurant features two private dining rooms in its upstairs brick-walled loft space overlooking bustling Randolph Street below, accommodating groups as small as 20. Each room has its own private bar and sound system.
In the bustling South Loop, Mercat a la Planxa can accommodate intimate gatherings for as little as 10 guests. The Spanish spot on Michigan Avenue features three different private diningrooms and three semi-private event spaces that can accommodate group of all sizes.
