The Coolest Chicago Spots You Haven't Heard of Yet
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After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed nearly four miles of the Windy City, Chicago was essentially left with a “blank canvas to rebuild,” says local interior designer Marshall Erb. Since then, countless aesthetes have helped shape the city into what is today: a bucket list destination for design lovers and architecture aficionados alike.
“Chicago should be on the radar of any discerning design connoisseur,” says Second City-based designer Christopher Kent. “In what other city in the world can you sit on a freshwater beach and take in a cityscape comprised of buildings by some of the greats?”
Think work by past architecture giants like modernist Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, classicist Benjamin Marshall, and Prairie style pioneer Frank Lloyd Wright along with new designs from today’s architectural artists, including MacArthur fellow Jeanne Gang, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and more.
“My heart still skips a beat every time I fly over the city,” says Chicago designer Kara Mann. “I adore the way the cluster of buildings are a beacon to the flat city grid around it.”
With amazing architecture, world-class art, internationally renowned museums, award-winning restaurants and bars, and an abundance of beautifully curated specialty shops, “the Chicago design scene is robust,” says Kent.
Here, we tap a few of the city’s top designers to share the best design-forward spots to eat, drink, shop, play and rest.
Where to Stay
The Langham
This Mies van der Rohe-designed Art Deco building is the youngest in Chicago to ever receive landmark status and features the original 1960s travertine interiors by London-based design firm Richmond International and a fine art collection curated by designer and art consultant Lauren Rottet, including architectural photography prints by Hedrich Blessing and works by Anish Kapoor, sculptor behind Chicago's now-iconic "Bean" (aka Cloud Gate).
Chicago Athletic Association
Design firm Roman and Williams completed a two-year renovation of the Chicago Athletic Association in 2015, revamping the 1893 Venetian Gothic building by Henry Ives Cobb for a new generation. Think nostalgic details like freestanding tubs and campy game rooms along with revived 19th century fireplaces and a chic rooftop restaurant, Cindy’s, that overlooks Michigan Avenue, Lake Michigan, and Millennium Park.
Nobu Hotel
Newly open as of July 2020, this West Loop hotel boasts interiors by local firm Studio K and a design by Modif Architecture. “Nobu Hotel was designed to impart a modern yet warm, Zen-like environment,” says Erb. “Karen Herold of Studio K is known for creating some of the sexiest, memorable interiors, and the hotel showcases her immense talent.”
Talbott Hotel
This historic 1927 Gold Coast hotel features interiors by Mann, who married her signature contemporary style with the property’s old-world elegance. “Surrounded by some of the best shopping Chicago has to offer, this boutique hotel pays homage to the Art Deco period mixed with the modern conveniences necessary for today’s traveler,” says Kent. “The neutral palette with punches of burnt orange, sumptuous velvet, and rich marble evoke a sexy, updated lounge vibe fit for the consummate urban traveler.” Adds Chicago designer Caroline Turner, “It is not only elegant but also exceedingly interesting.”
Soho House
Although Mann is partial to the Talbott, she also loves the interiors at West Loop members club and hotel Soho House. In 2014, Soho House’s then in-house designer Vicky Charles and founder Nick Jones transformed the 107-year-old industrial building into what is now a luxe and layered oasis in the city. “Soho House design is always rich, considered and consistent,” says Mann. “From the restaurants and bars to the rooms, there’s thoughtful design and beautiful moments throughout.”
St. Regis
Slated to open in early 2022, the St. Regis Chicago is a highly anticipated 101-story hotel designed by Chicago’s own Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang in what is now the city’s third-tallest building. “I’m most excited to see the St. Regis hotel and residences, which are soon to be completed and surely won’t disappoint,” says Chicago designer Donna Mondi.
Where to Eat and Drink
Beatnik West Town
Created by in-house design team Maison Bonhomme, headed up by founder Daniel Alonso, Beatnik features globetrotting food and cocktails set against a backdrop of Old-World interior design. Alonso and his team spent two years sourcing antiques from across the globe for the 8,000-square-foot space with standouts including 15 crystal chandeliers salvaged from the Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles; 20 restored cast iron Chicago streetlights circa 1970; a custom wallcovering and floor mural by local visual artist Erik DeBat inspired by fashion designer Emilio Pucci; and more than 400 living plants. “It has amazing jungle vibes, afro-beat music with live DJs and a fresh Mediterranean menu,” says Chicago designer Aimee Wertepny.
Duck Duck Goat
Hospitality design firm AvroKO created a dreamlike iteration of Chinatowns across the U.S. for “Top Chef” winner Stephanie Izard’s Chinese-American West Loop restaurant Duck Duck Goat. “The outdoor/indoor style of these neighborhoods is brought to life via each dining room entryway that’s envisioned as a storefront," explains the AvroKO team. "1960s saturated cinema played a significant role in the use of color leading to a vibrant and over-saturated palette evoking the eclectic irreverence and curious chaos found in most American Chinatown communities. The use of humble materials was also vast in these neighborhoods after WWII, which led to the installation of Western-style wallpapers, sheet-form wall paneling, and simple metals.”
Le Colonial
This Vietnamese-inspired Gold Coast restaurant moved to new digs in 2019 and refreshed its interiors with design firm Knauer with distinctive, artisan-crafted decorative tiles reminiscent of the original Rush Street location, antique mirrors and light fixtures, and handmade wicker dining chairs. “It’s an all-time favorite,” says Chicago designer Alexandra Kaehler. “The food is always perfection, and it doesn't hurt that the newly redesigned interiors are drop dead gorgeous as well.” Echoes Chicago designer Andrea Goldman, “I love a neighborhood classic, and Le Colonial is an institution.”
Rose Mary
If you can snag a reservation at this Fulton Market hot spot by “Top Chef” winner Joe Flamm, both the food and décor are worth the wait. The design of Rose Mary is inspired by the natural elements of Croatia’s Mediterranean coast. Whitewashed brick walls reference the pebbled beaches along the Adriatic Sea and are accented by moments of red clay and tile work of a deep azure blue. Rustic, honey-colored oak millwork and pale stone used on the exposed surfaces draws inspiration from Croatia’s abundant limestone quarries, lending a softness and warmth to the space’s airy, indoor-outdoor feel.
Ciccio Mio
Meant to simply be “a nice Italian restaurant,” Hogsalt Hospitality’s Ciccio Mio is small and intimate with just 50 seats in a singular space that helps create a cozy, sepia-toned atmosphere amplified by dim lighting, plush booths, throwback framed photographs, intricate chandeliers and no shortage of wood paneling.
RL Chicago
Steps from Michigan Avenue, Ralph Lauren’s Chicago restaurant has become a mainstay for well-heeled residents. “The navy walls, the collection of art, cognac leather booths, the dark wood accents and low lighting provide an ambience unlike any other,” says Kaehler. “The tables are piled on top of each other, but you don't even mind because it feels like you're surrounded by friends in your dad's library.”
Somerset
Located within the Viceroy Chicago—also the historic site of the 1920s Cedar Hotel—Somerset is a seasonal American restaurant helmed by Chef Stephen Gillanders. Another project by hospitality design firm AvroKO, the interiors are inspired by American country club culture, and the AvroKO team “derived inspiration from the 1960s and 1970s when the Kennedy-esque leisure set was in its heyday. Somerset itself is designed as a fantastical version of this beloved social institution, replete with references to satirical club activities such as an area dedicated to a mythical hidden-bulls eye-dart tournament or another room that celebrates champion vessels of fishing-boat-speed racing.”
Where to Shop
Jayson Home
Featured on the cover of our December 2019 Best Home Stores issue, the 20,000-square-foot Jayson Home offers a highly curated selection of both vintage and new home furnishings and accessories that are the result of creative director Caroline Scheeler and VP of merchandising Devin Kirks’s global buying trips to destinations like France, Morocco, the UK, and India. “With a colorful selection of pillows and textiles, an assortment of vintage flea market finds, and a vast array of candles and accessories, Jayson Home has been a go-to design destination for years,” says Kent. “It's like being welcomed into your eccentric aunt Ruth’s country estate—but better.”
Ikram
A high-end women’s boutique named for its stylish owner Ikram Goldman, Ikram offers designers ranging from Alexander McQueen and Rodarte to Delpozo and Oscar de la Renta. Ikram even dressed Michelle Obama during the 2008 campaign and during her early days in the White House. The space features a can’t-miss glossy and geometric red façade along with a modern farm-to-table café. “It’s a feast for the eyes with that stunning red exterior and museum-like interior,” says Erb. Adds Kaehler, “It stands out among its neighbors.”
Anecdote
A collaboration between Chicago interior designer Amelia Canham Eaton and The Everygirl cofounder Danielle Moss, this suburban Chicago interiors showroom sells an assortment of modern art, objects, furniture and accessories that pair well in any environment. Currently, they’re hosting famed Chicago fine artist Francine Turk for a limited artist-in-residence, offering an exclusive run of her iconic nude charcoal prints.
Old Plank Antiques
Chicago-based House Beautiful 2019 Next Wave designer Lauren Buxbaum Gordon’s parents own this 31,000-square-foot workroom and antiques shop, which specializes in European furniture sourced from regions like the Italian countryside, English Midlands, and South of France.
Asrai Garden
“This is one of my favorite gems in the city,” says Mann of Asrai Garden. “Their florals are so beautiful—like sculptural works of art—and their curated selection of home accessories will have you walking out the door with a handful of bags saying, ‘Wait, this isn’t what I came in for.’”
P.O.S.H.
This small River North shop, located in the historic Tree Studio building commissioned in 1894 by philanthropist and arts patron Judge Lambert Tree and his wife Anna Field Tree (daughter of Marshall Field), stocks everything from vintage hotel and estate silver to restaurant China and dinnerware and an ever–changing mix of one-of-a-kind European flea market finds.
Where to Explore
Chicago Botanic Garden
With over 27 gardens and four natural areas situated across 385 acres and six miles of lake shoreline, the Chicago Botanic Garden is not to be missed. “All of the gardens are worth seeing, but I love the Walled English Garden best,” says Turner. “If I am in a creative funk, then I take design books and magazines and spend a few hours there getting inspired.” Adds Chicago designer LJ Savarie, “Exploring gardens in the city is a luxury, and I’m always trying to convince (or bribe) my daughter to join me.”
Driehaus Museum
Lifelong Chicagoan Richard H. Driehaus—a renowned investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist—has restored three significant Chicago-area properties thus far in his lifetime: the 1883 Gilded Age Samuel Mayo Nickerson Mansion, which now serves as The Richard H. Driehaus Museum in Chicago; the 1886 Richardsonian Romanesque Ransom Cable Mansion, headquarters for his business in Chicago; and the 1906 Georgian-style estate built by Norman W. Harris in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. All feature pieces from Driehaus’ collection of decorative arts from artists like Tiffany and the Herter Brothers along with French Art Nouveau objects from Alfonse Mucha and Toulouse-Lautrec. He sponsored the Museum’s restoration from 2003—2008. Close to the Magnificent Mile, the Museum explores design from the late 19thcentury to today.
Art Institute of Chicago
“There is nothing like the Art Institute,” says Kaehler. “The collections both in the original and in the Modern Wing are unparalleled. There are classics by Monet and Degas, modern works by Cy Twombly, and exciting emerging artists. Since I was a little girl, I’ve loved to visit the Thorne Rooms. The miniature recreations are absolutely mind blowing. The amount of detail and historical accuracy that goes into these spaces has always blown me away.” On display now as part of a five-city tour are the Obama Portraits by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald.
Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture Tour
Chicago suburb Oak Park is home to more Frank Lloyd Wright buildings than anywhere in the world. The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust offers a variety of tours featuring Wright's own home and studio, his Unity Temple, and the Prairie School Historic District. “The Frank Lloyd Wright walking tour in Oak Park is a really cool experience in a lovely neighborhood,” says Wertepny. “Oak Park has such a cool history and is one of the most progressive neighborhoods in the city. On the way back to the city, you can stop at Garfield Park Conservatory for some more nature or Humboldt Park's stunning boathouse to rent a swan paddle boat while enjoying the sunset.”
Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
Ask any Chicagoan, and they’ll gladly tell you that the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s cruise along the Chicago River is a favorite summertime activity. “I avoid all things touristy but this one is so worth it,” confirms Mondi. You’ll sail by more than 50 architectural landmarks, like the Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, and Marina City with insight into the history of the city. “I still try to do it every summer,” says Goldman. “The river just gets better and better and, when you are on the boat, you really see what an incredible city Chicago is.”
Millennium Park
No visit to Chicago is complete without a selfie at "the Bean," every local's nickname for Anish Kapoor's sculpture, Cloud Gate, in Millennium Park. Designated a “public ground forever to remain vacant of buildings,” the Park features art installations like the Pritzker Pavilion by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry; Cloud Gate, created by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor and nicknamed ‘the Bean;’ and the Crown Fountain by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. “There’s art everywhere in Chicago—from the Bean in Millennium Park and Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza to the vibrant murals and street art that balances highbrow culture with everyday grit of the city,” says Wertepny.
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