If you’re looking for somewhere incredible to eat in Chicago, it’s highly likely that you’ve heard people say, “the best restaurants are in the West Loop!” They’re not wrong. While River North, Streeterville, and Gold Coast have some incredible options, West Loop has quite the reputation for everything being good. In fact, every time I visit here, I am tormented by the sheer number of options.
I lived in Chicago for a bit, and it’s no secret that the West Loop was one of my favorite parts of the city. Between the old warehouses and the modern day buildings, it draws people in with its rustic chic, old-meets-new vibe. In this post, I’ll take you inside some of my favorite foodie spots from the West Loop that I visited. Oh – and I also included a coffee shop, because who doesn’t need to caffeinate? From Michelin Star restaurants to sexy, dim-lit date nights to brunch with your friends, get ready to explore the best restaurants in Chicago’s West Loop.
- Coming to Chicago for the first time? Check out The Best Things To Do in Chicago For Your First Visit.
Lucky for us, the best restaurants in West Loop can almost all be found on one of two streets: Randolph Street and Fulton Market. Essentially, this means if you forget to make reservations or happen to stumble upon this area by mistake, you have So. Many. Options. to choose from that are in walking distance of each other!
For some of my other favorite restaurant cities around the world, check out my Travel Foodies page!
Let me just go on record and say that as far as “foodie neighborhoods” are concerned, West Loop hits. Honestly, West Loop may hit harder than anywhere else I’ve been in regards to overall food options AND aesthetics.
If you’re coming here for the first time, especially at night, prepare to be overstimulated (in the best way). There are string lights, moody interiors, fancily-written script letters on brick buildings beckoning you inside everywhere you look. The first time I visited the West Loop, my FOMO was running wild. How were all these stunning places in one, walkable section of town, and how do all of them have phenomenal ratings on Google?!
Michelin Star Restaurants in Chicago’s West Loop
If you’re a solo traveler, you may get lucky and be able to grab a seat at the bar…but for everyone else, make a reservation if you want a chance at dining in Chicago’s West Loop!
7 Must-Try Restaurants in Chicago’s West Loop Neighborhood
Like I said earlier, you cannot go wrong with anywhere in Chicago’s West Loop. Some of these places I loved so much, I visited multiple times.
1. Costera Cocina Tulum
Cuisine: Mexican
View the Costera Cocina Tulum website here
The first time I walked in here and smelled the smoky mezcal, I was immediately a fan. Costera Cocina Tulum is, in their own words, a modern Mexican restaurant and lounge and one of my personal faves in the West Loop. It has a dark, moody vibe, and sets the stage for a very romantic date night (but FYI, the music can be pretty loud, so I hope you enjoy looking at your date more than talking to them. I’m kidding…but for real, the music IS loud!).
Speaking of music, they have a Jungle Ceremony with dinner, bottle service, and a lively DJ every Friday and Saturday night after 11pm.
Their menu boasts a variety of shareables for the table, plus traditional Mexican favorites like tacos along with seafood, steaks, and pasta. As far as drinks, the Playa de Piña hits if you’re a mezcal girlie like me. We also loved the guacamole, octopus, and short rib quesadillas.
- Pro Tip: The short rib quesidillas are fried and more empanada-esque than a traditional quesadilla
2. Aba
Cuisine: Mediterranean with California influence
Visit the Aba website here
I have to obsess over the aesthetics in here for a second. Aba’s interior is gorgeous. The neutral colors mixed with the greenery of the plants and trees (yes, trees) will set the perfect vibe for your next date night or girls’ brunch.
Some of their most popular dishes include the smoky garlic hummus, whipped feta spread, hamachi, and shawarma-spiced skirt steak. When I went there last time, I tried their pumpkin hummus and the truffled salmon. Both were phenomenal (I will dream about the pumpkin hummus!), but I was anticipating the truffled salmon to be a larger/thicker portion. If you order it, know that it isn’t much food.
For dessert, they say their creme brûlée pie is a best-seller, but I’m more of a chocolate girlie so I can’t speak to this one. If you try it and love it, LMK in the comments! Instead, I ended up trying the frozen Greek yogurt with olive oil and sea salt, which is also apparently a best seller, and I loved it. (FYI – It’s more tart than sweet!)
- Pro Tip: Aba’s sister restaurant, Ema, is located in River North and is just as amazing. “Aba” means “father” in Hebrew, and “Ema” means “mother.”
3. Rose Mary
Cuisine: Croatian/Italian
View the Rose Mary website here
Are figs the new avocados? I don’t know about you, but I have seen figs popping up in restaurants everywhere lately…and my favorite fig dish so far is here at Rose Mary. If you’re a “toast” person, try their figs on toast if it’s on the menu. (It’s not specifically called that, and it’s currently not showing up on their online menu…but ask your server if it’s available!)
Their menu is seasonal and encompasses Italian and Mediterranean flavors. The food is shareable, so you really can have it all if you want to. According to the bartender who waited on me, they are known for their pasta…so definitely try at least one (and of course…the fig toast).
4. LÝRA
Cuisine: Greek/Mediterranean
View the LÝRA website here
Confession: The last time I went to LÝRA was two years ago, and I didn’t take any food pics. I’m sorry. I’ll redeem myself with the other restaurants I post about. You get a hall pass to cheat on me with Yelp.
ANYWAY – LÝRA is basically Greece meets Chicago. Their chef is Greek, and the entire concept for the restaurant is inspired by the owners’ travels throughout the Greek islands. The dishes at LÝRA are all served tapas-style, so everyone at the table is able to sample a little bit of everything. They use charcoal and wood-burning grills to give everything a smoky flavor.
Similar to Costera Cocina Tulum, LÝRA turns into dance party every Friday and Saturday night with a live DJ. When I tried to go last, there was a line outside, and we didn’t feel like waiting in the cold! But this is something I’d love to experience, because I’ve been told it’s a blast. If you’ve gone, LMK in the comments!
5. Beatrix Fulton Market
Cuisine: American
View the Beatrix website here
Beatrix has locations all over the city, and their Fulton Market location in the West Loop is gorgeous. I mean, all their locations are gorgeous, but I digress.
Beatrix is one of my favorite restaurants in the city because of their versatility. You can sit down and eat, you can sit at the bar with your laptop and work, you can get a coffee, a cocktail, or you can grab a pastry and/or food to go from the bakery section. It’s finding your dream man that can do it all. Magical.
My favorite items from their menu are the ham & cheese croissant and the pumpkin pancakes, which they only have during the month of October. (Will someone start a petition with me to have them year-round? Or at least from September through November? Pleeeease??)
But I think one of my favorite things about Beatrix overall is how they find a way to make their comfort food still taste and feel healthy. The pancakes are light, and you get a salad served with your ham & cheese croissant. They also have other healthy options like an egg white omelette, which I plan on trying as soon as I can tear myself away from the carbs…
6. Alla Vita
Cuisine: Italian
Visit the Alla Vita website here
Can we just take a minute and raise a glass to the 4.8 stars and over 2,000 reviews on Google in one of the best foodie cities in America? Damn…
We all need a good Italian restaurant in our lives, and Alla Vita is one of the most popular, most loved restaurants in the West Loop. A lot of people come here and try multiple pasta dishes to share. One of their best sellers is the Ricotta Dumplings, which are basically pillowy pasta dumplings stuffed with ricotta cheese. My waiter suggested this to me, and I fell in love. No, not with the waiter, with the PASTA. All of their pasta is homemade though, so you really can’t go wrong!
However, there is nothing I love more than truffle sauce, so I came back and also ended up trying the mushroom truffle pizza. I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars, so if you’re a truffle and/or mushroom fan, I’d recommend it. I have to be honest with you though: my absolute favorite truffle mushroom pizza is from Siena Tavern in River North. But I feel like no matter what, you can’t go wrong with anything at Alla Vita (4.8 stars, rememberrrr?)
Well…I guess I should say, you can’t go wrong with just about anything. My friend and I were not fans of the vanilla gelato with olive oil. The amaretto stracciatella gelato, on the other hand, was everything I’ve ever wanted. If it’s still on the menu and you like amaretto flavor, I 10/10 recommend.
7. The Allis Bar at Soho House Chicago
Cuisine: European
View the Soho House Hotel and Bar dining options menu here
Before you get too excited, Soho House is member’s only…except for the Allis Bar on the first floor, which is open to the public. Their menu serves European-style dishes, but I personally love coming here for pre-dinner drinks. Actually, I’m just going to be honest with you: i’ve never eaten here. Drinks only. But the drinks…and the aesthetics…are a vibe.
It’s currently Fall as I’m typing this, and they have a Fall-inspired mezcal drink called Gimmie Gimmie More on their menu that is my go-to. You’ll see multiple people hanging out here with their cocktail in one hand and laptop in the other, and personally, I can think of nothing better. We already work at coffee shops, but can we normalize working at the bar?!
Bonus! Where to Get Coffee in the West Loop
I couldn’t end this post without virtually calling out one of the best coffee shops in the West Loop. After all, what good would I be if I told you about restaurants but didn’t include where to get coffee?!
If you’re looking for somewhere to drink coffee and work/socialize, you can stop in Alla Vita that I mentioned above. The lattes are served European-style in glass cups instead of mugs, and they also have pastries in addition to brunch.
Another incredible coffee shop is Sawada Coffee. It’s important to note, it has minimal – if any – seating, so expect to get your coffee to go. But the lattes are really good. The first time I came here was on a Sunday morning and the line was halfway down the street, if that tells you anything.
Sawada Coffee is attached to Green Street Smoked Meats (a BBQ restaurant), and has a tiny Ramen noodle bar underneath. In the fall, they have seasonal pumpkin spice lattes (a Houjicha Spiced Pumpkin latte and a Salted Caramel Pumpkin Spice latte), so if you’re a pumpkin girlie, make sure to swing by!
- Pro Tip: Sawada Coffee also has an NYC location! Check them out next time you’re in the Big Apple.
