The biggest date night of the year is coming up, and the city’s restaurants are pulling out all the stops so you and your date can celebrate in style this Valentine’s Day in Chicago. Enjoy special tasting menus, champagne toasts, wine pairings, and chocolate-filled baking classes. Take a look at our favorites below, and be sure to secure your reservation for Valentine’s Day 2024 in Chicago.
Parachute: This 50-seat Korean restaurant in Avondale is the perfect intimate atmosphere for Valentine’s Day. Choose from modern takes on traditional dishes like spicy beef brisket, seafood pancake, and grilled mackerel.
Bar Esmé: The casual sister restaurant of Esmé, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Lincoln Park, Bar Esme will offer guests a special four-course menu for Valentine’s Day.
Jaleo: Delve into bold flavors inspired by modern-day Spain at chef José Andrés’s Jaleo in River North, where the five-course tasting menu spotlights a variety of tapas.
Bronzeville Winery: You’ll find a dynamic wine list featuring Black-owned wineries, a creative food menu, and a community-focused mindset at this cool spot in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
Virtue: Love is a virtue at this acclaimed Hyde Park spot, where Valentine’s Day means splitting a plate of blackened catfish, buttered grits, and other elevated Southern classics.
Testaccio: In Logan Square, take your date to Rome for the evening with this four-course menu of Italian favorites. After dinner, head downstairs to Soif for a nightcap.
Venteux Cafe, Brasserie & Oyster Bar: Head to this downtown brasserie for contemporary French fare and special Valentine’s Day menu items, such as oysters Rockefeller and wagyu filet.
Demera Ethiopian: Experience the classic flavors of Ethiopia with Demera’s super-shareable messobs (combinations plates of favorite dishes).
Indienne: One of Chicago’s newest Michelin star recipients, Indienne’s special five-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu is sure to impress.
Nia: In the West Loop, this intimate Mediterranean restaurant will be serving an eight-course tasting menu and a curated selection of fine wines and signature cocktails for Valentine’s Day.
Roister: Enjoy a romantic dinner at Roister, where the kitchen counter seating gives you a full view of their open hearth. The special menu includes plenty of fire-roasted dishes.
Le Sud Mediterranean Kitchen: Indulge in a lavish Valentine’s Day feast at Le Sud in Roscoe Village. Amid themed decor, savor a gourmet four-course prix fixe menu, boasting strawberry “heart” salad with prosciutto roses, surf and turf, and a decadent chocolate lava cake.
Lírica: Boasting panoramic views of Lake Michigan, this Navy Pier restaurant pays homage to Latin, Iberian, and Caribbean culinary traditions. Valentine’s Day specials include braised short rib, langoustine ravioli with shaved black truffles, and strawberry and pistachio layer cake.
Galit: Chic yet approachable, this Middle Eastern spot in Lincoln Park warmly invites guests to explore its diverse multi-course menu and optional curated wine list for an unforgettable evening.
The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant: A historic South Loop landmark, this firehouse-turned-steakhouse offers an elegant three-course dinner menu, with dishes like signature lobster bisque and tender filet mignon.
City Cruises Chicago: Set sail on a breathtaking Lake Michigan dinner cruise, featuring your choice of a three-course dinner and cocktails, complemented by a DJ and spectacular city views.
Kindling: This luxurious dining experience will take diners skyward in the iconic Willis Tower. Begin with a champagne toast at Kindling, then head to the 99th floor for a three-course dinner, before ending with a sweet finale on the 103rd floor.
Raised, an Urban Rooftop Bar: Overlooking the Chicago Riverwalk, this breathtaking rooftop spot offers a trio of Valentine’s Day specials, such as prosecco shrimp and double-cut bone-in pork chops, in addition to creatively themed cocktails.
Cabra: With acclaimed chef Stephanie Izard at the helm of this West Loop rooftop eatery, you’ll fall in love at first bite with their Valentine’s Day menu of shareable plates influenced by Peruvian cuisine.
TAO: At this trendy Asian-fusion bistro and nightclub in River North, savor chef-curated Valentine’s Day specials a la carte with your sweetheart, then dance the night away.
Michael Jordan’s Steak House: Tucked away in The Magnificent Mile’s InterContinental Hotel, this classy steakhouse is serving up a magnificent prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day, featuring creamy lobster bisque, petit filets with lobster butter, and a trio of chocolate dessert bites.
Miss Ricky’s: This Italian American eatery in the Loop is serving a noteworthy five-course dinner, including items like truffle-crusted scallops and king crab ravioli.
Sepia: At this Michelin-starred West Loop restaurant, enjoy a multi-course menu of caviar, a foie gras doughnut, duck breast, short rib, and plenty of dessert options.
Brasserie by C&C: At this relaxed brasserie in Edgewater, bond with your date over a seasonal tasting menu that showcases locally inspired French fare.
Mercat a La Planxa: Sample a wide selection of Barcelona- and Catalan-influenced tapas and grilled fare at this stylish South Loop restaurant near Grant Park and Michigan Avenue.
Bistronomic: Experience this Gold Coast bistro’s three-course “Cupidon in Paris” menu, showcasing a range of French-style dishes, such as ahi tuna tartare, beef tenderloin au poivre, and tropical fruit cheesecake.
14 Parish Rhum Bar: This Valentine’s Day, get a taste of the Caribbean in Chicago at 14 Parish. Treat your date to island-inspired dishes and a creative menu of rum cocktails.
Galit: Cozy up at the Michelin-starred Middle Eastern favorite for a four-course choose-your-own-adventure meal, with additional wine pairings available.
Chez Joel Bistro: Impress your date with this classic French bistro, hidden away in Little Italy. Indulge in classic dishes like French onion soup, duck liver pate, mussels in white wine sauce, and more.
Avec: Grab a reservation to this celebrated West Loop classic. Menu highlights feature burrata and caviar with gnocchi frito, squid ink campanelle, grilled foie gras, chestnut tiramisu, and more.
©Adam Alexander Photography 2019
Geja’s Cafe: Geja’s Cafe has been a mainstay in Lincoln Park for more than 50 years, featuring a romantic interior and a variety of fondue offerings to share.
Swift & Sons: The West Loop steak house is a hot spot for Valentine’s Day, as its beloved dessert trolley will be filled with festive treats to share.
Mon Ami Gabi: Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a classic French bistro, and this Lincoln Park mainstay is the perfect spot for celebrations.
Kitchen + Kocktails: This elevated spot in River North has earned rave reviews for its food, with a menu of creative comfort food and Southern classics.
Alpana: Enjoy a three-course menu for Valentine’s Day featuring truffled potato leek soup, scallop crudo, harissa roasted cauliflower, red wine braised short ribs, and an optional wine pairing.
Rosebud: This time-honored Italian eatery boasts multiple locations throughout the city. Look forward to a multi-course dinner of heart-shaped cheese ravioli, surf and turf, and a Valentine’s Day tronchetto for dessert.
The Walnut Room: An iconic Chicago fixture since 1907, this classic establishment located in Macy’s on State Street is offering an irresistible three-course prix fixe menu with a sparkling wine toast.
Yardbird: Fill up on hearty American comfort food at this snazzy River North outpost, with a special Valentine’s Day menu that includes cacio e pepe ricotta gnocchi, stuffed pork tenderloin, and frozen strawberry s’mores soufflé.
Looking for more? Explore Chicago restaurants for a romantic Valentine’s Day meal.
