Where to dine and drink in Chicago this Labor Day Weekend

Heading to North coast festival or ARC Festival in Chicago this weekend? Check out these Chicago staples for food and drink!

1. Alla vita

Alla Vita, literally translating “to life,” is a family-style Italian cuisine restaurant that offers comfortable Italian food with delicious handcrafted cocktails or a lovely glass of wine. They provide an easy $25 prix fixe lunch menu, where you can pick and choose your palate cleanser, entrée, and dessert. With the eloquent interior design and more of a refreshing summer “vibe“, this spot is to die for. This spot is situated in Chicago’s West Loop area, so depending on where you’re staying while you’re there for ARC or North Coast Fest, you might have to trek a little for this location, but it is WORTH IT.

Book your reservations here.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/allavitachicago/

2. Au Cheval

Wanting a burger staple? Au Cheval, with another location in New York, is a classic American diner-style bar and restaurant that offers tasty old fashions and beers of all varieties to go with your burger, with a bit of egg protein on it. Uniquely known for their passion for eggs, you can refuel here before re-entering the festival space! Also located on the West Side, Au Cheval is a quick 15-minute green-line train ride from Union Park, and again, depending on where you’re staying for North Coast Festival, it might be a bit away, but if you’re staying or venturing into the city, this is definitely worth checking out!

Fun note, this restaurant does not take reservations and is walk-in only, so expect potential wait times!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/auchevaldiner/?hl=en

3. Giordano’s

Craving pizza in Chicago? Not surprised. Chicago is known for its variety of pizza styles, one of which includes the infamous deep-dish pizza. If you’re not a fan of the deep dish, totally okay, as we have thin crust styles with Chicago staple Italian sausage and peppers that will make your mouth water. Head over to Giordano’s for the best pizza in Chicago, next to Vito & Nick’s for my natives. If you’re gluten-free, this location also has some of the best gluten-free pizza in Chicago. Stop in here for a pie on your way out to bars like Three Dots and a Dash or Lazy Bird, or go here before heading on the train to visit Seatgeek Stadium for North Coast Festival.

`Order for delivery/pickup or dine in` here.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/giordanospizza/

4. SUshi san

Chicago has all kinds of cuisine, from Italian food to Chicago American food to steak to Greek. Japanese sushi at Sushi San is one of the highest-rated sushi restaurants in all of Chicago. There are a few locations for this restaurant, one in River North and one in the Willis Tower area, where you can check out their infamous skydeck as well. Try a glass of classic Japanese whiskey with some of the best-tasting sushi you’ve ever had here. We highly recommend booking your reservations, as waiting time can be lengthy, and they can book up.

Book your reservations here.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/therealsushisan/?hl=en

5. Girl & the goat

At Girl & The Goat Chicago location, you can get a variety of globally-inspired cuisine. From fresh fish to roasted pig and goat empanadas, take a bold approach to dining at this hot spot, located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. You are surrounded by nightlife and bars from all over. We highly recommend coming here for the ambiance and unique food, but also to sip on a yummy goat fashioned old-fashioned or Chicago cider.

Book your reservation here.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/girl.and.the.goat/?hl=en

6. Portillo’s and Gus’ Sip & Dip

Portillo’s is another staple in Chicago is the hot dog and Italian beef. Both are great for a pre-festival fuel up and for post-festival fuel in case you come back early! Grab a quick bite here and then walk 7 minutes to Gus’ Sip & Dip, one of the best/highest rated bars in Chicago. Known for their White Russian, we highly recommend popping in for a sip and then dipping into your festival (ARC or North Coast) or any nightlife festivities that may be calling your name.

Order for delivery/pickup or dine in here.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/portilloshotdogs/?hl=en & https://www.instagram.com/gus_sipanddip/?hl=en

Featured Image Courtesy of ARC Festival

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