Best Trendy Restaurants in Magnificent Mile & Streeterville (60611)
7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
The Purple Pig
High-volume Mediterranean small plates spotlighting pork and Spanish-leaning tapas.
Notable Picks
8.8
Opened in 2009 by chef Jimmy Bannos Jr., The Purple Pig is a high-volume Mediterranean small-plates restaurant on the Magnificent Mile where pork, offal, and vegetable dishes pull from Italian, Greek, and Spanish flavors. A Bib Gourmand pedigree, tens of thousands of reviews across platforms, and an always-busy dining room make it one of downtown Chicago’s most proven small-plates destinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Milk Braised Berkshire Pork Shoulder, Charred Cauliflower, Pork Belly
What makes it special: High-volume Mediterranean small plates spotlighting pork and Spanish-leaning tapas.
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
The Hampton Social - Streeterville is a coastal-inspired New American spot where frosé, seafood plates, and shareable snacks anchor lively brunches and dinners just off the Mag Mile. Guests use it for pre-show meetups, group celebrations, and upbeat nights built around cocktails and comfort food. The bright, beachy room and consistent crowds make it one of Streeterville’s most dependable social restaurants for American fare.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster Roll, Truffle Fries, Fish & Chips
What makes it special: Coastal-inspired American plates and cocktails in a bright, party-ready room.
8.6
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Quick Bites Champions
Business Lunch Power Players
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Beatrix - Streeterville is an all-day neighborhood restaurant and coffeehouse where bakery cases, vegetable-leaning plates, and comfort classics draw hospital staff, hotel guests, and locals from early breakfast through late dinner. The menu leans on recognizable American dishes with health-conscious twists, plus standout desserts and a serious coffee program. It has become a default choice in Streeterville for reliable, slightly polished everyday dining.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich, Prime Cheeseburger, Mushroom & Quinoa Burger
What makes it special: An all-day cafe fusing comfort food, lighter plates, and serious coffee.
#4
the Albert
8.4
Located inside Hotel EMC2, the Albert is a design-forward restaurant where globally inflected New American plates, a strong cocktail list, and an open kitchen bring a more ambitious option to Streeterville hotel dining. Menus lean into seasonal vegetables, precise seafood dishes, and richly sauced mains rather than oversized portions. It’s used for dates, low-key celebrations, and pre-theater dinners that still feel creative.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charred Octopus, Tempura Maitake Mushrooms, Olive Oil Cake
What makes it special: An art-and-science themed dining room serving inventive, seasonal American plates.
8.4
Opened in 2024, Nora Restaurant & Bar brings a modern coastal Mediterranean menu with Sardinian influences to a polished Streeterville dining room. Cocktails, seafood, and pastas draw both hotel guests and locals looking for a newer, design-forward spot a short walk off Michigan Avenue.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tuna Tartare, Pulpo a la Gallega, Prime Hanger Steak
What makes it special: A newer Streeterville dining room pairing coastal Mediterranean cooking with a cocktail-first bar program.
#6
Z Bar
8.0
Perched above Michigan Avenue atop the Peninsula, Z Bar is a cocktail-driven lounge with skyline views, plush seating, and a menu of globally inspired bites. It’s more about inventive drinks and people-watching than full dinners, but the food is dialed in enough to make a night of it.
Must-Try Dishes:
Daikon fries, Warm vanilla bean beignets, Chef-driven bar snacks to share
What makes it special: A hotel rooftop lounge pairing skyline-facing terraces with some of the city’s most polished cocktails and snacks.
Worthy Picks
Chapel Street Cafe & Restaurant is an Australian-influenced all-day spot off Delaware Place, serving coffee drinks, brunch plates, and bistro-style dinners under high ceilings and big windows. It skews more relaxed than the hotel fine dining nearby, pulling in locals for thoughtful breakfast and burger plates after shopping or museum visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chapel Street Breakfast, Glenmore Burger, Melbourne Hot Jam Doughnuts
What makes it special: An Aussie-inspired all-day cafe where thoughtful brunch plates and coffee meet a stylish, high-ceilinged room.