Calling all hungry Chicagoans! Chicago’s bustling restaurant scene welcomes a few newcomers, while long-time local favorites bring their classics to new locations.
Plus, gorgeous new home-goods stores, a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy spa, and all of your tailgating dreams come true.
Eat/Drink
Hubbard Inn (re-opening)
110 W. Hubbard St., Chicago
Hubbard Inn is getting a major facelift. A fixture on Hubbard Street for almost a decade, Hubbard Inn reopens on Oct. 25 with some fancy new additions to their beloved staples. The first floor remains reminiscent of the original design, while the second floor transforms into the whimsical bar and lounge “Blue Violet at Hubbard Inn.” Guests can expect on-trend offerings like CBD-infused cocktails, floral ice cubes, and more. A third floor offers a new event space, with a theater-inspired throwback feel. This space can be rented out, and will offer live performances and rotating acts curated by the Hubbard Inn team.
The Wine Bar at Pastoral
Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton St., Chicago
Chicago’s spot for artisanal cheese, wine, and bread, Pastoral Artisanal is expanding to include a wine bar at their location within the Chicago French Market. Their new bar will consist of 10 seats, all equipped with phone/laptop chargers, and eight additional seats at wine barrel tables. The Wine Bar will offer wines by the glass, a build-your-own-flight, a new wine club, and a small selection of artisan beers and cocktails.
Molly’s Cupcakes South Loop
1150 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago
Molly’s Cupcakes is making Chicago even more sweet. Opening in their newest location, South Loop, Molly’s is hoping to give the neighborhood a gathering place for families and students alike. They’ll be offering up classic favorites like their Center-Filled Cupcakes, which come in flavors like Cake Batter and Cookie Monster. For the month of October, Molly’s will also have a special “Apple Pie” Cupcake. And in spring of 2020, guests will also be able to enjoy their treats on a dog-friendly patio.
Stockton
1009 N. Rush St., Chicago
Stockton is a chic destination tucked away on Chicago’s bustling Rush Street. Their inventive seafood-influenced menu boasts an impressive seafood tower in two different sizes. But, with plenty of meatless options, vegans are welcome too. The Bar at Stockton offers creative drinks like the “Sweet N’ Spicy” stirred with Casamigos Mezcal and grapefruit bitters over a Thai chili ice cube. And the Lounge, opening in November, is a venue for the luxury-minded craving a deluxe cocktail and live music.
City Works Eatery and Pour House
Mellody Farm Shopping Center, 929 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills
With a soft opening that donated 100 percent of their proceeds to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, City Works is off to a great start. They have a craft beer list of over 90 local, original, and global craft brews paired with a chef-driven menu of classic American eats. Forty percent of the draft selection is actually sourced from breweries around the Chicago area! There’s HDTV’s, a fire pit, and a gaming area with bag toss. The fun continues on weekends with a rock n’ roll-themed brunch menu offering dishes like “Mother’s Little Helper,” a bowl with smoked cheddar grits, braised pork belly, breakfast sausage, and a fried egg topped with smoked tomato and charred scallion relish.
City Barbeque Park Ridge
123 N. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge
Also donating profits from grand opening sales, City Barbeque is giving 10 percent back to the Park Ridge Community Fund. This is City Barbeque’s fifth location in Chicago, promising the same competition-quality barbecue and genuine backyard hospitality, like their famous “Judge’s Sampler,” a quarter-chicken and half slab of ribs, plus pulled pork, beef brisket, two sides, two pieces of cornbread, and Texas toast.
Utopian Tailgate
1608 N. Wells, Chicago
Utopian Tailgate, a concept from Nate Henssler, executive chef/partner from Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, is an ode to the best parts of tailgating. Perched atop Chicago’s famous Second City, it’s a year-round tailgate featuring games like mini golf, foosball, bocce, bags, and giant board games. If that’s not reminiscent enough of your best tailgating memories, they also offer table-side keg service. Stay tuned for exciting winter offerings.
Lou Malnati’s Magnificent Mile
Wrigley Building, 410 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Hungry after a long day of shopping on the Mag Mile? You’re in luck — some of Chicago’s best deep dish pizza will now be available on Michigan Avenue. The 10,000-square-foot space in the historic Wrigley Building will offer more than 200 seats for dine-in, and will offer carry out, delivery, and catering services. The location will also have its own retail space for loyal pizza fans. During renovations, the building’s original terrazzo flooring was uncovered and found still intact, so it was included in the restaurant’s new design as an homage to Chicago’s history.
Relax
Kohler Waters Spa Lincoln Park
2358 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
The first of its Chicago locations, Kohler Waters Spa is opening a 20,000-square-foot restorative destination in Lincoln Park. The spa will offer state-of-the-art water-led amenities and a full-service salon. What are water amenities, you ask? Kohler’s Thermal Suite offers a hydrotherapy circuit that includes a steam room, sauna, eight-foot deep cool plunge pool, and hydromassage pool. Their services offer the perfect urban escape, with treatments like the “city life massage” and “digital detox wrap.” The second-floor also offers a terrace overlooking DePaul’s campus for relaxing and unwinding.
Shop
harper + ash
668 Central Ave., Highland Park
A trip to the suburbs is well worth it for the fabulous finds at Highland Park’s newest home-goods shop, harper + ash. With a mix of high-end and accessible furnishings, gifts, and décor, make sure to stop by for the perfect holiday or hostess gifts. Harper + ash will also host an ongoing series of workshops, trunk shows, and informative demos from local artisans and world-renowned brands. This October, you can catch pop-ups from Inspired Generations and Highland Park resident Lindsay Meltzer of Bright Bowls.
HAY Lincoln Park
755 W. North Ave., Chicago
HAY hails from Copenhagen, and its newest Lincoln Park location is the first in the Midwest! HAY’s collection of home furnishings and décor is carefully curated to appeal to an international audience. Their Chicago location will be a 3,500-square-foot retail space with furniture, kitchenware, tabletop accessories, and more.
Madison Muller is a senior at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, learning to navigate the contemporary media environment with compassion and candor. She enjoys writing about health, travel, and humanity. You can always find her with a coffee in hand. Madison is a proud supporter of the National Eating Disorders Association.
