Does anyone else appreciate experiencing all four seasons throughout the year? In my totally biased opinion, it’s one of the best parts about living in the Midwest. It allows us Chicagoans to enjoy various dining experiences throughout the year, from airy and bright patio dinners in the summer to cozy and relaxing evenings at dimly lit restaurants in the winter. While I could do without the -20°F (-28°C) days we get from time to time, there’s something magical about Chicago when there’s a chill in the air. That’s why I created this guide to the 16 must-try cozy restaurants in Chicago. The eateries below would be the perfect spot to pull up a chair and enjoy a great meal and cocktail while enjoying the comfortable vibes.
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Trivoli Tavern
Neighborhood: West Loop
Price Range: $$$
When I began creating my list of top cozy restaurants in Chicago, I reached out to my network of friends and family members who resided in the city at one point in time. I asked them for their recommendations, and almost every single one mentioned Trivoli Tavern. And for good reason. After a quick Google search, you’ll get a feel for the dimly lit vibes of this West Loop American tavern. The dark wood interior welcomes you in, and you immediately feel transported to a different time period. The menu has a variety of delicious American classics like steak frites, chicken pot pie, prime rib, and a wagyu cheeseburger. If you fancy a beverage, they’re known for their martinis and Manhattans. The ambiance mixed with the menu makes it the ideal cozy restaurant in Chicago.
Armitage Ale House
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Price Range: $$
One of the newer restaurants to emerge from the well-known Hogsalt Hospitality group is Armitage Ale House. This upscale old-world pub-style eatery has quickly built up a stellar reputation as one of the top cozy restaurants in Chicago. As you walk in, you’re greeted by wood paneling, leather seating, vintage artwork, and ornate lighting. They even have a fireplace that adds to the homey atmosphere. The upscale American menu has robust pot pie offerings, tikka masala, steaks, chops, burgers, and a long list of cocktails and other libations. If this sounds right up your alley, I recommend booking a reservation as soon as possible since they book up about a month out. Don’t worry; it’s worth the wait.
Sapori Trattoria
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Price Range: $$
There’s nothing better than a cozy atmosphere paired with a fantastic Italian meal. If that sounds like a winning combination, book a reservation at Sapori Trattoria. This homey Lincoln Park eatery features exposed brick walls, crystal chandeliers, and an abundance of candles. The real star of the show is the menu. As you flip through the pages, you’ll find they serve classic Italian fan favorites, including rigatoni, bolognese, lasagna, and spaghetti. What pairs better with a plate of pasta? A delicious bottle of wine! Sapori has an extensive wine list (I’m talking eight pages long), so there is an option for everyone you’re dining with.
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Gilt Bar
Neighborhood: River North
Price Range: $$
Another dimly lit River North classic is Gilt Bar. This upscale American restaurant is inspired by a vintage library, which is reflected in the decor. Similar to other Hogsalt eateries featured in this cozy restaurants in Chicago post, the relaxed vibes and tasty entrees are top-notch. As soon as you sink into one of the luxurious leather booths and sip one of their exquisite signature cocktails, you will feel instantly relaxed. It’s hard to pick a favorite dish from the pasta and seafood menus, but a side order of Brussels sprouts cannot be missed.
Elina’s
Neighborhood: West Town
Price Range: $$
Elina’s is a cozy Italian restaurant located in the West Town neighborhood, offering a variety of flavorful dishes that will satisfy any appetite. As you enter the building, you’ll find exposed brick walls, elaborate candle sticks, and classic wooden tables and chairs, all adding to the space’s atmosphere. The two top dishes that customers rave about include the Caesar salad and rigatoni alla vodka. Given that the space is smaller in size, the reservations are more limited and get snatched up quickly. I recommend planning ahead so you can snag a table and experience a delicious meal at Elina’s.
Cira
Neighborhood: West Loop
Price Range: $$
The Hoxton Hotel in West Loop is home to three outstanding restaurants and bars for the guests and the general public to enjoy. If you’re looking for cozy vibes, the Mediterranean eatery, Cira, is the place to be. After sipping on a refreshing cocktail at the hotel lobby bar, you’ll make your way into the dining area on the main floor. The space has an industrial edge with granite beams, expansive windows, and high ceilings, but the warm, dim lighting and wooden tables give the room a softer feel at night. Don’t forget to order the brown butter hummus and the pistachio ravioli before the night is over!
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Scofflaw
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Price Range: $$
Are you a fan of gin cocktails and mouthwatering cheeseburgers? I know I am! If you’re like me, you should swing by Scofflaw in Logan Square. This laid-back, urban rustic cocktail bar is the definition of cozy. There are velvet sofas and upholstered chairs mixed in with the wooden tables and seats that seamlessly create a cohesive space without the pieces actually matching. The Scofflaw burger is the star of the menu and shouldn’t be missed when dining here. In addition to the burgers, a gin cocktail is a staple item on the menu, given that they have a crazy long gin list. The cocktail menu rotates every three months, and while they favor gin as their spirit of choice, they also have other spirits included in their signature drinks.
Ciccio Mio
Neighborhood: River North
Price Range: $$$$
As you might have figured out by now, I absolutely love an incredible Italian meal. It’s essentially another love language for me. If Italian food is your love language, too, then you will enjoy dining at another Hogsalt classic, Ciccio Mio. This elegant restaurant has a well-known reputation as one of the best Italian eateries in Chicago. Like other Hogsalt establishments, the interior is low-lit, thoughtfully designed, romantic, and cozy as hell. The menu contains every delectable Italian dish that you could ever want to order. Some highlights include the spicy vodka rigatoni, black truffle bucatini, and ricotta gnocchi. Picking one dish to order is the most challenging part of dining at Ciccio Mio!
Aba
Neighborhood: West Loop
Price Range: $$$
This might be a bold statement, but Aba is one of my favorite cozy restaurants in all of Chicago. And that’s coming from someone who lived downtown for a better part of a decade. Aba is an elevated Mediterranean restaurant with a stunning interior dining space and outdoor patio. The inside is incredibly stylish, featuring ornate lighting fixtures, greenery throughout the space, and comfortable seating. The menu is the perfect collection of the Mediterranean dishes you know and love, including various hummus and spread offerings, crispy chicken thighs, shawarma spiced skirt steak, and kebabs. It’s the perfect cozy restaurant in Chicago for a date night or a group dinner since you can sample more of the menu.
Ella Elli
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Price Range: $$$
Located in our former stomping ground of the Southport Corridor in Lakeview is a lounge-inspired wine bar that serves tasty Italian and Mediterranean-style dishes. Ella Elli manages to pull off the difficult feat of being elegant and cozy simultaneously. Grab a seat on one of their velvet sofas, comfortable booths, or swanky bar stools, and get ready to enjoy a fantastic glass of vino. Start your meal by ordering a charcuterie board before diving in and ordering one of the main dishes. Ending the evening with an order of profiteroles and an espresso martini is an absolute must.
The Press Room
Neighborhood: West Loop
Price Range: $$
The Press Room is a vintage-style wine bar in a century-old building serving American cuisine in an intimate basement setting. As you walk down the stairs and enter the space, you’ll be greeted by low lighting, beautiful rugs, and cool blue tiles on the walls. Grab a comfortable seat and order the burrata, oysters, and charcuterie board. Press Room is the perfect spot to split various appetizers since the food menu is more limited than that of other cozy restaurants in Chicago featured in this post. You can complement your meal with a refreshing craft cocktail or a glass of wine.
Bavette’s
Neighborhood: River North
Price Range: $$$$
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a fantastic steak dinner on a cozy evening in Chicago. Bavette’s is an upscale steakhouse with a French twist. The menu has all the staple items you expect to see at an establishment like this, including shrimp cocktail, seafood tower, homemade sourdough, truffle mac and cheese, and a robust number of steak cuts. Like other Hogsalt eateries, Bavette’s also has an extensive drink menu that features various martinis, old fashions, and a killer wine selection. You’ll feel at home in the dining area with its warm, inviting interior, exposed brick walls, and comfortable seating that create a welcoming atmosphere perfect for a memorable dining experience.
Bar Sótano
Neighborhood: River North
Price Range: $$$
If your definition of a comfortable night out includes tacos and tequila, Bar Sótano is the cozy restaurant in Chicago for you. Tucked away in the alley off of Clark Street is this Rick Bayless hot spot. They’re well known for their tacos, oysters, mezcal and tequila flights, and happy hour specials. Bar Sótano is a little more lively than the other eateries included in this cozy restaurants in Chicago post, but the dim lighting paired with good food makes for a winning combination.
LUXBAR
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Price Range: $$
Have you ever felt like having a relaxed evening out without worrying about dressing up or making a dinner reservation but still craving a savory meal? Sometimes, all we need is a cozy spot with great food and good vibes to unwind. LUXBAR is an upscale pub located in Gold Coast that is easily one of the most dynamic neighborhood bars in the city. When you think of a pub, you usually don’t picture black and white checkerboard tiles, rich wooden panels, a fireplace, and brass finishes. LUXBAR offers a more refined interior with all the classic menu staples you expect at your local pub. It’s the perfect cozy restaurant in Chicago to grab a burger and a cocktail on a chilly evening in the city.
Tango Sur
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Price Range: $$
Are you looking for the ultimate candle-lit steak dinner? Well, look no further since Tango Sur is the ideal cozy restaurant in Chicago to suit your needs. This Argentinian steakhouse is one of Southport Corridor’s most established and beloved eateries in the area. As you enter the building under the iconic Tango Sur awning, you’ll find a warm and quaint interior with movie posters, paintings, and maps on the walls. Each table is adorned with a candle stick, which is the primary source of light once the sun goes down. To no surprise, the grill menu is robust with mouthwatering cuts, including short ribs, sirloin steak, grilled chicken, and two tabletop grill options that allow you to sample multiple styles of meat. They’re also known for their empanadas as a starter and flan for dessert. You will leave with a full belly and a smile on your face.
Little Bad Wolf
Neighborhood: Andersonville
Price Range: $$
Attention to all burger and cozy vibe enthusiasts, I have found the perfect place for you. Little Bad Wolf is a New American restaurant and bar that serves one of the best burgers in Chicago. This hidden gem is located on the north side of Chicago in Andersonville, so it’s easily accessible for those living downtown and the surrounding suburbs alike. They’re known for their burger (obviously), along with their exceptional beer, whiskey, and specialty cocktail menu. The dining space has dark walls, low lighting, velvet booths, and a gorgeous backlit bar. It’s the perfect upscale tavern for a casual evening in the city.
Final Thoughts
Chicago, during the colder months, can be a truly enchanting destination. The vibrant city becomes a bit calmer once the temperature drops and the snow flurries begin. Yes, we get hit with below-freezing temperatures and snow that make us question why we live in the Midwest. However, experiencing all four seasons allows us to appreciate each season and look forward to the upcoming one. As the temperature drops, take advantage of these cozy restaurants in Chicago for an enjoyable evening out with great food and even better vibes.
Which cozy spot are you pulling up a chair at first? Tell me in the comments!
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