Best Date Night Magic Restaurants in Motor Row

Apolonia is chef Stephen Gillanders' contemporary Mediterranean dining room at the edge of McCormick Place, blending Northern Mediterranean flavors with a European-leaning small-plates menu and a focused wine list. Guests come for dishes like black truffle puff bread, branzino, and pastas, plus a Bib Gourmand–recognized experience that works for both conventions and date nights. The minimalist, high-ceilinged room can run loud, but it feels like one of the South Loop's most polished Mediterranean options.

VU Rooftop is a 22nd-floor lounge above McCormick Place, combining skyline views with a shareable menu of small plates, flatbreads, and cocktails. Guests lean on it for sunset drinks, hotel-adjacent dinners, and pre- or post-event hangs in the South Loop.