We scoured the city to curate the ultimate guide to luxury living in Chicago. Whether you're seeking exclusive dining experiences, upscale shopping destinations, or home design inspiration, our curated list ensures you experience the finest Chicago has to offer.
From incredible art to stunning immersive experiences, these are some of the city’s top attractions.
Best New Attraction
Flyover
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. / Website
The striking interior staircase of the MCA perfectly fits the institution’s forward-thinking collection of works.
Best Cultural Experience
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Ave. / Website
The Goodman Theatre’s smash summer 2023 production of Tommy is just the latest in the institution’s long line of shows to move to Broadway.
Buzziest Theater Company
The Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn St. / Website
Night On The Town
Teatro Zinzanni
32 W. Randolph St. / Website
Performance Venue
The Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
1650 N. Halsted St. / Website
Glenn Davis, co-artistic director, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
”The MCA (220 E. Chicago Ave., mcachicago.org) is one of my favorite spots in the city. I love seeing whatever new installation is on display. I also enjoy going to Virtue (1462 E. 53rd St., virtuerestaurant. com) in Hyde Park for a meal. I can always count on [owner and chef] Erick Williams to take care of me when I’m there.” —Glenn Davis co-artistic director, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, steppenwolf.org
Best Date Night
Second City
230 W. North Ave. / Website
Best Family Attraction
Wndr Museum
1130 W. Monroe St. / Website
At 122 feet long, Máximo the titanosaur is the largest dinosaur yet discovered and takes pride of place in the Field Museum’s Stanley Field Hall.
Best Educational Experience
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St. / Website
Award-winning designers and chic interiors resources make Chicago an extraordinary design destination—and these are the cream of the crop.
Best Architecture/Design Studio
En Masse Architecture And Design
Interior designer Gemma Parker-McKeon
“When I think of Best of the City in the home division, a few sources come to mind: Simes Studios (1809 W. Webster St., Suite 200, simesstudios.com) for their specialty wall finishes, Tai Ping Carpets (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1487, taipingcarpets.com) for their custom rug capabilities, and Zirlin Interiors (5540 N. Broadway, zirlininteriorsinc.com), who is our go-to source for custom window treatments. I have been working with Paul Zirlin for over 16 years, and he works on our projects all over the country, whether it be Chicago, Michigan, Boston or even Florida. Zirlin Interiors always knocks it out of the park. Paul is extremely knowledgeable, reliable and demands the same level of precision as our team. I can always trust that their team will be fastidious in their attention to detail.” —Gemma Parker- McKeon, founder and principal, Gemma Parker Design.
Inspiring Designer
Gemma Parker Design
Best New Design Destination
Modern Drama
1701 N. Elston Ave. / Website
Best Mid-Century Modern Destination
Dial M For Modern
1818 W. Grand Ave. / Website
Best European Furnishings
Moderne Living
222 W. Superior St. / Website
Best Custom Furniture
Barron Custom Furniture
2444 W. 16th St. / Website
Best Place For Luxury Goods
The Design Center at The Mart
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, floors 6, 14, 15, 16 / Website
This handsome Gold Coast pied-a-terre by Jessica Lagrange Interiors spotlights a work by Zhou Brothers.
Best Classic/Modern Mix
Jessica Lagrange Interiors
Best Showroom
210 Design House
210 W. Illinois St. / Website
Best Designer Rugs
Oscar Isberian
120 W. Kinzie St., 2nd floor / Website
The minimalist-chic dining room at Esmé.
Best Lighting
Lightology
215 W. Chicago Ave. / Website
Best Luxury Closets
Poliform Chicago
445 N. Franklin St. / Website
Best New Design Hot Spot
Park & Oak
499 Pennsylvania Ave., Glen Ellyn / Website
Best Place For Modern Furniture
Luminaire Chicago
301 W. Superior St. / Website
When it comes to dining and drinking, no city compares to Chicago. Here’s proof.
Best New Steakhouse
Asador Bastian
214 W. Erie St. / Website
Best Steakhouse
Gene & Georgetti
500 N. Franklin St. / Website
Best French Restaurant
Obélix
700 N. Sedgwick St. / Website
Best Tasting Menu
Esmé
2200 N. Clark St. / Website
Le Colonial is a Gold Coast classic.
Best Gold Coast Restaurant
Le Colonial
57 E. Oak St. / Website
Best Fine Dining
Ever
1340 W. Fulton St. / Website
Bluefin tuna and crispy shiso at Miru.
Best Dining With a View
Miru
The St. Regis Chicago Hotel, 401 E. Wacker Drive / Website
Best New Chef
Margaret Pak, Thattu
2601 W. Fletcher St. / Website
Best Service
RL
115 E. Chicago Ave. / Website
Best Restaurant Revival
The Dawson
730 W. Grand Ave. / Website
Hottest New Restaurant
La Serre
307 N. Green St. / Website
Boka chef Lee Wolen has guided the restaurant to a Michelin star for 11 straight years.
“One of my favorite restaurants is TenGoku Aburiya (651 W. Washington Blvd., tengokuaburiya.com). It has authentic, beautiful Japanese food, with numerous varieties of udons, sobas, and sushi. Lunch and dinner are amazing. They also bring in soba masters that do really cool dinners.” —Lee Wolen, chef/ partner, Boka.
Best Chicago Icon
Boka
1729 N. Halsted St. / Website
Best Hotel Restaurant
Adorn Bar & Restaurant
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 E. Delaware Place / Website
Best Steakhouse Scene
Maple & Ash
8 W. Maple St. / Website
The stylish interior of Sunda Fulton Market.
Best Restaurant Design
Sunda New Asian Fulton Market
333 N. Green St. / Website
Most Anticipated Restaurant
Parachute Hi-Fi
3500 N. Elston Ave. / Website
Best Gold Coast Cocktails
Sparrow
12 W. Elm St. / Website
Tre Dita stylishly elevates the city’s Italian steakhouse game.
Best New Italian
Tre Dita
The St. Regis Chicago, 401 E. Wacker Drive / Website
Best Bar Vibe
Nine Bar
216 W. Cermak Road / Website
Enjoy a buzzing scene and stellar views at Z Bar.
Best Rooftop
Z bar
The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior St. / Website
Best Bistro
Mon Ami Gabi
2300 N. Lincoln Park West / Website
Best People Watching
Gibson's Bar & Steakhouse
1028 N. Rush St. / Website
Best Dining District
Fulton Market District
Best Cocktails With a View
Terrace 16
401 N. Wabash Ave., 16th floor / Website
Best Taste of Chicago
Eli's Cheesecake
From streetwear to haute couture and dazzling jewelry, these Chicago style destinations bring looks for days.
When it comes to streetwear in Chicago, Supreme’s Wicker Park storefront leads the pack.
Best Streetwear Boutique
Supreme
1438 N. Milwaukee Ave. / Website
Best Couture
Mira Coutre
70 E. Walton St., 2nd Floor / Website
Best Custom Clothier
Nicholas Joseph
300 W. Grand Ave. / Website
Burdeen’s recently opened Oak Street boutique is one of tony strip’s most stylish new retail destinations.
Best New Gold Coast Boutique
Burdeen's
120 E. Oak St. / Website
Best Luxury Shopping Experience
Razny Jewelers
109 E. Oak St., Suite A / Website
The undulating facade of The CD Peacock Mansion at Oakbrook Center leads to one of the largest jewelry and watch stores in the U.S.
Best New Jewelry Store
The CD Peacock Mansion
298 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook / Website
Best Lincoln Park Boutique
Steve Quick
2471 N. Clark St. / Website
Best Jewelry Service & Repair
Marshall Pierce & Co.
960 N. Michigan Ave. / Website
Best Alterations
Davis Imperial Cleaners
3325 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. / Website
Most iconic boutique
Ikram
15 E. Huron St. / Website
From the hottest residential buildings to the biggest power brokers, these are the names to know when it comes to Chicago real estate.
Broker Icon
Baird & Warne
Front entrance to 850 N Lake Shore Drive Condominium Residences
Best Residential Revival
850 Lake Shore Drive
Best Workplace Culture
Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Chicago
Real Estate Rock Star
Suzanna Gignilliat
The social room at luxe new rental building The Row Fulton Market.
Best Luxury Rental Building
The Row Fulton Market
164 N. Peoria St. / Website
Billion Dollar Woman
Jennifer Brown, BMO Mortage
Real Estate Luminary
@Properties Christie's International Real Estate
Hottest New Luxury Rental Building
The Row Fulton Market
164 N. Peoria St. / Website
Photography by: Chicago skyline photo by Comezora/Getty; Goodman Theatre's photo by Liz Lauren; The Field Museum photo by Lucy Hewett; Gemma Parker-McKeon photo by Rebekah Albaugh; The Row Fulton Market photo by Scott Frances; Pied-a-terre by Jessica Lagrange Interiors photo by Douglas Friedman/Styling by Anita Sarsidi; Esmé photo by Daniel Kelleghan Photography; Lee Wolen photo by Keni Rosales; Sunda Fulton Market photo by John Stoffer; Z Bar photo by Eric Wolfinger; Burdeen's boutique photo by Cristian Chavez; All other photos courtesy of brands
