As the Best Big City in the U.S., Chicago is the ultimate place to host meetings and events. Check out these exciting new hotels, venues, and restaurants that give you even more great reasons to bring your group here.
New hotels in Chicago
Book your next event in Chicago’s third-tallest building, which clocks in at 101 stories tall and overlooks the Chicago Riverwalk. Scheduled to open in March 2023, The St. Regis Chicago occupies the first 11 floors of the stunning tower designed by architect Jeanne Gang. In addition to sleek rooms and suites, the luxury hotel features a full-service spa, a 5,000-square-foot ballroom, and 3,000 square feet of executive space.
The techie citizenM opened its first Chicago hotel on Michigan Avenue, convenient to both the Chicago Riverwalk and Millennium Park. At the 280-room citizenM Chicago Downtown, amenities include three societyM meeting rooms, fast and free Wi-Fi, and stylish living areas. Your group will want to check out citizenM’s fascinating art and book collections during their visit.
IHG Hotels & Resorts opened its first dual-branded hotel next to theMART in River North. Expect luxurious comfort in the 521 guest rooms at Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown – Wolf Point and voco Chicago Downtown. The properties offer nearly 25,000 square feet of high-tech event space, including three ballrooms and 15 meeting rooms, with direct access to theMART via a skybridge. Sweeping Chicago River views are a beautiful backdrop for a group dinner at the Waterview Kitchen + Bar.
Multimillion-dollar renovations to the Waldorf Astoria Chicago hotel include the new Brass Tack restaurant, which serves American brasserie fare. Options for dinners, meetings, and receptions include third-floor private dining rooms, the Walton Room, and the Gallery Salon. A dedicated meeting concierge helps ensure smooth operations for event planners.
Latest venue openings
Plan an unforgettable gathering at The Salt Shed, a new venue on the site of the former Morton Salt complex on the North Branch of the Chicago River. This performance venue is ideal for indoor and outdoor concerts, corporate events, trade shows, and receptions.
Organize a sweet event at the Museum of Ice Cream, where guests can sample unlimited ice cream treats. Guides lead visitors through 14 fun areas to learn how ice cream is made and play ice cream-themed games, including mini golf. Private and group bookings are available.
Inside the Catalog complex on the lower level of Willis Tower, groups will delight in the rainbow hues at Color Factory Chicago. Creative collaborators at the interactive art museum designed installations and immersive experiences with the aim to inspire joy in life. Ask about group discounts when booking an event.
Group dining options
A welcoming, wine-themed ambience sets the scene at the Chicago Winery and its LIVA restaurant in River North. Tour the working winery and taste wine samples at one of downtown Chicago’s newest private event spaces, which includes LIVA’s all-seasons outdoor patio. The Chicago Winery can accommodate meetings, team building events, or corporate parties for up to 215 people.
CloudBar entices guests to linger at 360 CHICAGO’s 94th-floor Observation Deck. The sleek bar offers creative cocktails and drinks, snacks, and sweeping views of the city. Ask about special group admission prices.
Chef Stephen Gillanders’ Valhalla brings high-end destination dining to the Time Out Market food hall. Time Out Market’s first stand-alone restaurant offers a globally inspired menu, along with views of the market below. Valhalla can accommodate 66 diners. Smaller groups can opt for an 11-course tasting experience at the chef’s counter.
Mix a famous building in downtown Chicago with James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer, a gorgeous two-level space, and food cooked on a live fire in Willis Tower. The result is Kindling Downtown Cookout & Cocktails, where there’s room for 500 in the 17,000-square-foot venue that includes three bars and a terrace.
Plan a group dinner at Soul & Smoke, which offers expertly prepared barbecue, Chef D’Andre Carter’s signature sauce, and a patio overlooking the Chicago River. The comfort food restaurant is a welcome addition to Rockwell on the River, where there’s also a marina, brewery, distillery, and coffee shop in 20,000 square feet of space.
Coastal Mexican seafood, tacos, and cocktails are the hallmarks of Big Star Mariscos, which recently opened in the West Town neighborhood. Local, family-owned El Popocatepetl Tortillería provides a variety of masas for the handmade tortillas that are paired with the seafood offerings. Call ahead for parties of 10 or more.
Side-by-side West Loop sister restaurants Bambola and Coquette offer their gorgeous spaces for private dining and events. Enjoy the East-meets-West vibe at Bambola, which features multiple rooms in 10,000 square feet. Or embrace the French-inspired bistro ambience of the intimate, 40-seat Coquette.
