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Best Chicago Restaurants for New Year’s Day Brunch

After a thrilling evening ringing in New Year’s Eve in Chicago, you’ll need a filling brunch or hearty lunch to help you celebrate the new year. Luckily, Chicago restaurants don’t disappoint, especially on the first holiday of the year. Whether you’re looking for a quaint brunch for two or a lunch for the entire family, check out these Chicago restaurants serving New Year’s Day meals.

Beatrix

Located at 519 North Clark Street in the River North neighborhood, Beatrix is a quaint and casual restaurant you’ll cherish after an eventful New Year’s Eve in Chicago. Coined as a casual eatery with modern amenities, this Chicago restaurant offers everything from café-style sandwiches and baked goods to a wine and cocktail bar to indulge in New Year’s Day mimosas in Chicago. Brunch specials include Bloody Mary drinks or Caffe Moka hot beverages as well as Belgian-style waffles or a mushroom quinoa burger. Set your sights on this casual Chicago restaurant when mingling with friends and family on New Year’s Day.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba

Prepare yourself for a riveting Bloody Mary on New Year’s Day at this Chicago restaurant. Café Ba-Ba-Reeba, located at 2024 North Halsted in the Sheffield Neighbors area, defines casual. Whether you’re just rolling out of bed after a New Year’s Eve party in Chicago or shopping on the Magnificent Mile and want to fill up for the day, this Chicago restaurant is the obvious choice. Serving authentic Spanish dishes and New Year’s Day cocktails in Chicago, this Windy City restaurant is the place for brunch.

Stella Barra

Ready to fill up on Chicago-style pizza to celebrate New Year’s Day in Chicago? Then, head to Stella Barra for a Chicago New Year’s Day brunch. The endless brunch menu includes pastas, pizzas, egg enchiladas and more. You can even indulge in bottomless mimosas in Chicago or a fresh Bloody Mary to help you recover from a Chicago New Year’s Eve party. Stella Barra is located at 1954 North Halstead near Oz Park and open for brunch on New Year’s Day until 2 p.m.

Hub 51

Indulge your cravings for pancakes, eggs, bacon and more when eating New Year’s Day brunch in Chicago at Hub 51. Located at 51 West Hubbard in River North, this Chicago restaurant serving American favorites includes a diverse brunch menu that includes everything from hotcakes with syrup to sushi, chilaquiles, tacos and burgers. Enhance your New Year’s Day brunch in Chicago with the Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar available at Hub 51.

It’s not every day that you get to celebrate the start of a year, so why not do it right with a New Year’s Day brunch in Chicago at some of the most popular Chicago restaurants? Serving selections that range from American cuisine to European favorites, Chicago brunch options are endless. Check back often for even more suggestions for New Year’s Day attractions in Chicago.

5 Romantic Date Ideas for New Year’s Eve in Chicago

Ringing in the new year with that special someone makes for a memorable start to the year. And, location matters. If you plan to make Chicago your destination for a New Year’s Eve celebration, you’re in luck. Chicago New Year’s Eve events offer plenty of romantic date ideas to help you showcase your love and steal a kiss at midnight at just the right spot. This guide will help you make the best decision when planning a memorable New Year’s Eve celebration in Chicago.

Enjoy a Vegas-Style Party in Chicago

See the bright lights and decked out décor that feels as if you’re in Vegas when attending the Chicago New Year’s Eve party at the Drake Hotel, located on East Walton Place. Known as the longest running Chicago NYE party, this holiday event includes drinks, appetizers, top shelf beverages, a midnight champagne toast, a balloon drop and live entertainment. Dance the night away, enjoy delectable snacks and indulge in premium liquor brands while celebrating New Year’s Eve with your loved one.

See the Sky Light Up at Navy Pier

If you’re a fan of fireworks then a Navy Pier New Year’s Eve celebration is the perfect choice. Take a riverboat cruise on Lake Michigan with dining and dancing or walk along the pier hand in hand, anxiously awaiting for the midnight fireworks. Navy Pier is also home to the Winter Wonderfest, which is a perfect option for families wanting to ice skate, ride the Centennial Wheel to see the Chicago skyline or participate in one of the long-standing Chicago attractions.

Laugh the Night Away at Second City

As one of Chicago’s premier comedy clubs, Second City is a popular date night idea in the Windy City. A New Year’s Eve package gives you and the special someone a chance to cozy up together while laughing until it hurts, a wide variety of drink and food specials and live entertainment. For nearly 60 years, Second City has entertained guests and helped couples ring in the new year with an entertaining spark.

Jazz Up Your NYE Celebration

If you and your significant other are looking for a romantic and jazzy way to ring in the New Year, make a reservation for dinner and entertainment at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge on North Broadway. This Chicago New Year’s Eve party features a battle of the saxes with soulful sounds from local and nationally-recognized musicians. Enjoy a drink or two, scrumptious food items and sounds that will bring music to your ears at this Chicago attraction.

While there are plenty of opportunities to have a romantic Chicago date, celebrating New Year’s Eve with the one you love in the Windy City is the obvious choice. Treat yourselves to a Chicago New Year’s celebration that will leave a lasting impression and give you the best view of Chicago attractions and sights. Check back often for even more date ideas in Chicago.

Favorite Chicago Christmas Attractions

The Windy City is the best place to celebrate the Christmas holiday. In fact, with chances for snow, cold breezes and a city full of lights and decorations, it’s hard not to get into the Christmas spirit. Find fun things to do in Chicago around the holidays with indoor and outdoor celebrations. Start with these Chicago holiday attractions to get into the Christmas spirit.

ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo

Put a smile on everyone’s face when stopping in at the ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo for some Chicago holiday cheer. This Chicago holiday attraction features vivid and colorful decorations, lights and a petting zoo for the little ones. For more than 25 years, this Chicago holiday tradition has featured more than 2.5 million lights, music, seasonal activities and family fun.

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

Combine holiday shopping in Chicago with some Christmas cheer when making your way to the Magnificent Mile. This famous lights festival begins in mid November with fireworks and a tree-lighting parade, but you can continue to enjoy this Chicago Holiday Attraction well past the Christmas holiday. Stop in at the hundreds of shops along the Magnificent Mile and simply look up to see the lights strung along the Chicago city streets.

Family Christmas Cruise

While gearing up for the holidays, Anita Dee Yacht Charters offers a magical experience for all ages with holiday cruises on Lake Michigan. This Chicago holiday attraction includes a whirl on Lake Michigan in a luxury yacht. Santa will be on board to hand out candy canes and as if that is not enough of a fun thing to do in Chicago, you can also enjoy cocktails, fine dining and dancing on board.

Christmas Plays and Musicals

What better way to get into the Christmas spirit in Chicago then to see a musical or play with holiday tunes? Chicago holiday attractions include Christmas shows at the Goodman Theatre, the Cadillac Palace Theatre and the Music Box Theatre. See holiday classic plays in Chicago such as “A Christmas Carol” and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” to rev up that Christmas cheer.

Chicago Botanic Garden’s Wonderland Express

As a fan favorite Christmas activity in Chicago, it’s no wonder that the Chicago Botanic Garden is a popular Chicago hotspot. Imagine the scene with approximately 700,000 lights strewn throughout the gardens. This Chicago Christmas attraction is for all ages and includes a model train exhibition, a gift shop, vendor fair and decorations. Get into the holiday spirit and enjoy a Chicago Christmas when making this Chicago holiday attraction part of your celebration.

There are plenty of fun things to do in Chicago when the holidays roll around. From Chicago Christmas plays and musicals to dance parties on luxury yachts that offer a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan, it’s no wonder so many residents and tourists make Chicago their home during the Christmas holiday. Are you read to add some Christmas cheer to your Chicago itinerary? Start with this list and check back often for even more Chicago holiday events and festivals.

The Best Chicago Holiday Attractions

Celebrating the holidays in Chicago surrounds you with snowflakes, a brisk breeze and winter wonderlands throughout the Windy City. If your plan is to spend the holidays with the family or with a loved one, Chicago holiday attractions will not disappoint. When planning your itinerary, consider these Chicago holiday events for fun, food and festive celebrations.

Christkindlmarket Chicago

Expand your holiday activities in Chicago with an outing to the Christkindlmarket, located in Daley Plaza. This Chicago attraction features German-inspired food, such as fresh pretzels and bratwurst, as well as beverages such as hot spiced wine. Surrounded by sparkling holiday ornaments and lights, this Chicago event is home to live music and authentic German-style shopping with vendors lining the market during the holidays.

Wonderland Express

Get in the holiday spirit when stopping in at one of the best Chicago holiday attractions. The Wonderland Express extravaganza at the Chicago Botanic Garden is not just a sacred holiday tradition in Chicago, it’s also quite a site for the entire family. More than 700,000 lights twinkle around the property and the kids can take part in crafts while viewing the model train exhibition. Shop for the perfect poinsettia, small fir tree or crafts from vendors after exploring the trellises and bridges decorated for the holiday at this Chicago attraction.

Museum of Science and Industry

If you want to see sparkling holiday light displays in Chicago and learn more about science and industry, take a day trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. During the holidays, this Chicago museum features hands-on exhibits and interactive activities for all ages, including the Holiday of Lights extravaganza and the annual Christmas Around the World celebration. Admire the decorated trees and even snowfall inside the museum while exploring outer space and robots.

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

Holiday shopping in Chicago doesn’t disappoint when you can find just what you need on Magnificent Mile. But, did you know that you can also get in the holiday spirit and take part in one of Chicago’s best holiday attractions at the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival? Beginning in mid November, this Chicago event begins with a tree-lighting parade and concludes with a grand Chicago fireworks display over the Chicago River.

Macy’s Holiday Window Display

Nothing will get you in the holiday spirit more than to witness the Macy’s Holiday Window Display. For more than 50 years, this Chicago holiday event has dazzled tourists and residents alike with animated characters, holiday stories and displays that include extravagant decorations, ornaments and lights for all to see. You can also get in some holiday shopping in Chicago when making your way to this Windy City landmark.

The Windy City is home to a variety of holiday Chicago events and festivals, but the one thing that remains the same each year is the festive look and feel of the downtown area. Whether you want to shop while surrounded by Christmas light displays in Chicago or take part in German-themed festivals, Chicago holiday events deliver. Check back often for even more Chicago attractions.

The 411 on Chicago’s Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier

Navy Pier is one of the most popular Chicago attractions year-round, but in the winter, the pier is transformed into a winter wonderland that attracts tourists near and far. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Chicago during the winter, put Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest at the top of your list.

Here’s why:

The Holiday Décor

While you can easily look outside for a few snowflakes, you’ll find even more inside Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest. The holiday décor spans the 17,000 square feet of the facility to help you envision what it’s like to be smack dab inside the North Pole. This Chicago attraction features decorated trees, lights strewn from one end of the facility to the next and bright red and green decorations at every turn.

Indoor Ice Skating

It’s no secret that the ice skating rink at Millennium Park is a hotspot in Chicago during the winter, but if you want to escape the wind and cold, you can have just as much fun skating at Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest. Lace up your skates, take in the holiday décor and show off your skating skills indoors at this Chicago winter festival that is perfect for all ages.

Interactive Games and Rides

Year-round, you can experience the beauty of Chicago’s skyline when riding on Navy Pier’s Centennial Wheel. But, at the Winter Wonderfest in Chicago, you can bundle up together and see the holiday décor throughout the Windy City. See soaring views of Lake Michigan, Chicago skyscrapers and much more while on board this popular Chicago attraction. Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest also hosts games and craft activities that surround a holiday theme. Let the kids make snowflakes and snowmen, opt for an interactive ride on the Virtual Rush virtual reality amusement area or play some laser tag on the pier.

Holiday Cruises

A brisk walk along the pier allows you to see Lake Michigan up close and personal, but did you know you could get even closer when opting for a Chicago Boat Tour Cruise? Opt for a holiday-themed boat cruise that features dinner, dancing, drinks and more. Notice the holiday décor on the interior and exterior of each cruise boat and snuggle up to that special someone while looking at the Chicago skyline while on board. Perfect for adults and families, the specialty cruises are bound to put you in the holiday spirit.

There are plenty of Chicago winter events to choose from such as ice skating at Millennium Park, shopping along Michigan Avenue or even stopping in at the Art Institute of Chicago. However, if you want to really dive into the holiday spirit and treat the kids with a Chicago winter delight, give Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest a try. Check back often for even more winter Chicago activities.