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Business, theater, and shopping converge in the Loop, the downtown district south of the Chicago River distinguished by the elevated train that circles it. Long the city's financial center, the Loop is commuter central for inbound office workers. It’s also Chicago's historic home of retail, where the flagship Marshall Field's (now Macy's) once made State Street a great shopping destination. As a theater district, the Loop hosts the Tony-awarded Goodman Theatre, which mounts its own productions, as well as the Oriental, Cadillac Palace, and Bank of America theaters, which generally run Broadway tours. In feeding these diverse audiences, Loop restaurants run the gamut from quick-service to high-volume and special-occasion. Beware noontime and precurtain surges (you'll need a reservation for the latter). It tends to clear out on weekends, and many restaurants close up shop.
A short trip to the West Loop—particularly Randolph Street—is where you'll find Chicago's restaurant row. Nearly every celebrity chef in town has set up post here, including Grant Achatz, Paul Kahan, and Stephanie Izard. Whether you’re craving pizza and pasta or tapas and tacos, the flavors here are sure to satisfy any discerning foodie.
Top Chef Season 4 champion Stephanie Izard's always-packed restaurant lives up to the hype, serving her personal brand of sharable, eclectic plates with seasonal flair amid rustic decor with communal butcher tables and an open kitchen. Dishes are grouped into straightforward categories, like vegetable, fish, and meat—with an array of offerings made with goat, naturally.
Grant Achatz's buzzworthy sophomore effort is big on concept: the restaurant completely transforms its menu, tableware, decor, and beverage program every three months to focus on a unique theme, whether that’s an homage to famed chef Auguste Escoffier's tenure at the Ritz Paris or to Ancient Rome. Tickets for the one-of-a-kind meal from executive chef Alan Mileykovsky are paid for in advance, nonrefundable, and only available online.
