Chicago Restaurants

Within the many hotels in the downtown Chicago area, travelers have their choice when picking the right property for them. What some people may not know, though, is that Chicago hotels are home to many fine dining restaurants. Many of these Chicago restaurants are considered the hottest spots to see and be seen and should not be missed!

The hotel properties listed below house some of the best restaurants in Chicago. These properties are great for welcome receptions, cocktail hours following a long day in meeting rooms or just for elegant private dinners. Although most planners overlook the restaurants in hotel properties, for shorter trips to Chicago, these can be great Chicago banquet facilities to entertain clients or co-workers.

The Palmer House Hilton - Lockwood Restaurant
Located in the Palmer House Hilton, this Chicago private dining facility was rated in the top 10 best restaurants by Chicago Tribune in 2008. Lockwood's chef has created a wide variety of upscale menus for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, pre-fixed, tastings, dinner and more! Menu includes items include Hawaiian bass and lobster and lamb loin in a fig mint marinade.

Park Hyatt Chicago - NoMi
NoMi is French cuisine with a "global flair." Its menu includes small bites or a full course meal, with options to please any guest. NoMi's wine cellar is a popular Chicago party venue to host small receptions or networking events for larger meetings.

The Fairmont Chicago - Aria
Aria's culinary team creates a very ethnic menu. The team is from Thailand, Korea, China and Japan, as well as a few Chicago locals and a member from the South. This cultivation of cooking styles creates a flavorful menu with items like BBQ duck chow mein.

The Swissotel - The Palm
The Palm is a well-known, traditional steakhouse in Chicago. It's unique in a sense that they offer a "Business Lunch" menu that includes tenderloin medallions and fresh fish. These menu options make it simple to coordinate business lunches following daily meetings.

To learn more about hotel properties in Chicago, or their in-house restaurants, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Suppliers and vendors all around the city of Chicago have been releasing promotions for event planners as an incentive to book their services for this year's holiday gatherings. Take a look at some of the best meeting promotions in the Chicago area for the holiday season:

Fulton Lounge

Fulton lounge is located in the West Loop. This relaxed but intimate Chicago party venue is a perfect place to host a holiday event. With space for up to 300 guests, the lounge serves as an ideal Chicago banquet hall and offers several packaged options to make the event planning process proceed with ease. This year, Fulton Lounge has a new menu crafted by OTOM Restaurant. If you book your event by November 30, you will receive 20 percent off the beverage minimum for parties of 25 or more guests!

theWit

theWit Hotel is located in the Downtown Loop. This relatively new Chicago boutique hotel has many event spaces available for private events. From their three amazing restaurants to their high definition theater, theWit is sure to please any guest. If you book a holiday party in one of this Chicago hotel's unique spaces, you will receive a $150 gift certificate to one of its three in-house Chicago restaurants.

Ditka's Steaks, Seafood & Chops

Located in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, this traditional steakhouse is one of Chicago's prime restaurants. Named after Mike Ditka, former coach of the NFL Chicago Bears, this Chicago banquet facility is filled with Chicago sports memorabilia to give it a local touch. When booking with Ditka's, you will receive 10 percent off your food or beverage package of your choice, an autographed Mike Ditka football, as well as entry into their holiday raffle, which includes a chance to win prizes ranging a winery trip for two to a dinner for six prepared by the restaurant's executive chef in your home!

Spiaggia

Spiaggia is located at the end of the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. This highly-rated Italian restaurant offers space overlooking Lake Michigan. The fact that it will be celebrating its 25th anniversary over this holiday season makes it an even more special option for your Chicago events. If you book an event in one of their private dining rooms, Spiaggia will over 25 percent off selected menus.

With the current state of the economy, groups traveling out of town for conferences or meetings usually have a very limited budget as well as limited time. This can be a challenge for event planners who want their guests to both network with each other and experience the city. Chicago Dine Arounds is a great solution!

Chicago Dine Arounds is ideal for taking your corporate events out of the boardroom. A full service event management company, Chicago Dine Arounds offers a progressive dining tour that covers three of Chicago's finest culinary experiences. 

The tour begins by picking up your attendees at their respective hotels or the meeting facility. Then, the group enjoys hor d'oeuvres at the first location, a main course at the second location, and dessert and drinks at the third and final location. In between each Chicago restaurant, a professional driver/docent will be guide your guests past some of the most unique attractions in Chicago.

This memorable evening event is perfect for a group on a tight budget. Listed packages are $85.00 per person, though they can be customized to meet the needs of any type of Chicago event.

With tight budgets and picky eaters, finding great food for a good bargain in the Windy City is a difficult task for event planners. Chicago is well-known for its fine dining restaurants, but at a eye-popping price! Here is a list of some of hidden Chicago restaurant gems found in the many ethnic neighborhoods that surround the city.

Nacional 27
Sizzling Latino Treat
Located in the River North Neighborhood

Petterino's
Traditional Delicious Italian
Located Downtown

May Street Market
Rich, Contemporary Cuisine
Located in the West Loop

Vong's Thai Kitchen
Tasty Thai
Located on the North Side of Chicago

Marche
Fabulous French Food
Located in the West Loop

These Chicago dining facilities guarantee a great dining experience. When bringing small groups to these hot spots, be sure to ask for their pre-fixed menus to cut down on costs. Also, be sure to request a drink package. Dining with alcohol on consumption can be a risky move when entertaining clients.

To learn more about Chicago restaurants for your client dinners and private events, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Featuring "Latino flavors with the spice of life," Carnivale is the reflection of Chicago's Latin culture and community. This venue, located in Chicago's West Randolph Street District, has an explosive and passionate atmosphere that brings in a crowd unlike any other!

Carnivale serves an authentic and soulful cuisine that allows guests to explore dishes from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Argentina, El Salvador and Mexico—all of which are prepared and served by professional staff who drives on creating a great experience for the guest. The menu includes dishes such as the seared rare ahi tuna with heirloom tomato and cucumber pico de gallo and the Nicaraguan-style, wood-grilled beef tenderloin with goat cheese puree, arugula chimichurri and spicy beet salsa.

Carnivale also serves as a Chicago private dining facility for 15 to 1,000 people, with a total of 10,000 square feet of private dining space. Its seven separate private areas—The Tango Room, Flamenco Room, Samba Room, The Salons and lastly, The Lambada Lounge—are decorated with playful, bright colors and Latin decor, which provides a one-of-a-kind backdrop for event guests. This unique Chicago venue is great for groups who have been occupied in meeting rooms all day. The atmosphere is a combination of fine dining with lots of fun and energy.

Carnivale also hosts many private Chicago events arranged by its staff. The Chicago restaurant's November calendar includes a holiday cocktail class as well as a course on how to throw a Latin dinner party.  The versatile venue is capable of hosting any type of event with style and precision!

View more information about Carnivale on the Cvent Supplier Network

The Hearty Restaurant in Chicago is a small storefront space located in the neighborhood of Lakeview, just north of bustling downtown. Partners Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh are no strangers to the food service industry. You may recognize them from their Food Network television series "The Party Line with The Hearty Boys," from the front of their cookbook Talk with Your Mouth Full, or from seeing them in person at one of their restaurants or at their catering facility in Chicago.

These food experts have mastered the design of mid-century American comfort food in their new 60-seat venue. The space is decorated with sea glass subway tiles, a hand-crafted mahogany bar, walls of exposed brick as well as modern stainless steal kitchen tables and stools. The walls are a burnt orange color with accents of a toned down lime green, which sets off a wall mounted fireplace as well as bespoke stained glass art.

Their upscale menu includes a house dish of macaroni and cheese, a rabbit corn dog, foil-wrapped fish grilled over hot coals, and Southern fried chicken. Beverages at this Chicago restaurant staple include American vintage classics such as The Brown Derby and The Aviation, as well as a few different brilliant twists on the standard Bloody Mary. Also available is a wine list comprised of selections from domestic vineyards in Georgia and Texas.

Not only have The Hearty Boys conquered television, books and restaurants, but they have also been a top Chicago catering company for the last 10 years. Their ample and delicious sample menus are just a start when planning a wedding or corporate event in Chicago.

Whether on-site at the restaurant or at a catered Chicago meeting, The Hearty Boys are sure to please your palate!

Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants combine authentic Italian food, fine steak and seafood dining, casual beer gardens, lak shore cafes and great service to create a true Chicago dining experience. Located in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, Phil Stefani's ventures include 10 restaurant facilities, numerous Chicago banquet rooms, five seasonal venues, a complete catering department, food and beverage services at a premier golf facility, and lastly, a pasta shop.

Phil Stefani Restaurant Group has been in the hospitality and restaurant business since 1980. The atmosphere of its venues mimic a comfortable, traditional place for their guests to feel at home while being treated by impeccable customer service.

The famous Riva Restaurant in Chicago's Navy Pier is part of the Phil Stefani family. Specializing in steak and seafood and offering an extensive wine collection, its private dining rooms overlook the luminous Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. The 40-foot exhibition kitchen allows guests to watch the preparation of their meals while sampling some unusual treats from their in-house raw bar. Private dining space is available for groups of 40 to 100 guests, all of whom are guaranteed a fabulous experience with stunning views of the city.

For both private dining and catering requests, Phil Stefani's experienced staff goes a little bit further to make your experience one to remember. After customizing menu selections and printing personalized menus for your group with the culinary team, your assigned catering director will handle all rentals, linens, staffing, music, floral arrangements and room arrangements. This full-service company is sure to bring a little style and flair to your Chicago events.

For more information on more Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Cuvée is a swanky special event space that just opened in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. Brought to you by the owners of another Chicago hot spot, Enclave, which is just a few blocks away, this distinctive 5,000-square-foot lounge opened its exclusive back alley entrance at the end of September.

Cuvée's decor truly sets it apart from any other lounge in the area, as its design is inspired by the inside of a champagne bottle. The interior includes a curving illuminated wall at the entrance, mirrored disks hanging from the ceiling, and light boxes filled with golden brown marbles. 

This stunning setting is a great backdrop for Chicago events of up to 400 guests. The lounge's semi-private areas, including an elevated room above the main area, can accommodate smaller groups of eight to 20 people. Throughout the Chicago special event facility, planners find  smaller semi-private areas that include banquette-lined seating areas with dim lighting.

For receptions and banquets, the Chicago restaurant's bar menu is focused around champagne and champagne cocktails.  Bellini's, the "Chandon Bubble-Tini" and the "Passion Rouge" are just a few of the many different options for cocktails. Meeting and event planners can arrange for catering in Cuvée through the preferred vendor, Jordan's Food of Distinction, but are also welcome to use their own event suppliers.

Fnd more unique Chicago event venues at the Cvent Supplier Network.

River North Business Association gathered their association guests for a new type of event last week that highlighted over 25 of Chicago's restaurants. This "October Feast" began at the Merchandise Mart where guests arrived to pick up their itinerary, maps and wristbands for the remainder of the evening.

This unique idea for an association networking event was well organized and began a new tradition as the associations first restaurant crawl. Each member set out on a specific route that stopped at different River North restaurants such as Buca Di Peppo, Bull & Bear, Hard Rock Cafe, Harry Caray's, Mercadito Chicago, Prosecco, Rock Bottom, Salute Wine Bar, Sunda, Bluprint Restaurant & Lounge, Theory, Sullivan's Steakhouse, and lastly Steve's Deli. Each restaurant had a samples of their signature menu items for guests as well as reserved seating to accommodate the groups.

After spending about 45 minutes in each assigned location, the groups continued on their route before arriving at the final destination, Martini Park. This up-beat venue is great for group events, offering a laid back environment with upscale ambiance. The after-party had live music, cocktails and dance classes.

This type of an event is great for association networking, especially in Chicago. Each neighborhood in Chicago has great restaurants that are happy to accommodate smaller groups throughout an evening. This type of event will also save planners some room in their budget, as it cuts the cost of transportation, private party room rentals, and food and beverage minimums. Not to mention it's a great way to give your group a taste of Chicago!

View more restaurants in Chicago on the Cvent Supplier Network

Zed451 takes the Chicago group dining to a new level. This fix-priced dining experience allows you to enter the world of artful design and relax while discovering new flavors within their upscale menu.

Guests begin the dining experience at Zed451 at the Harvest Tables, where an array of seasonal soups, salads, vegetables, cheese and breads await. Then, master chefs prepare dishes of steak, seafood and poultry tableside, served with a side of dishes such as roasted wild mushrooms and gruyere bread pudding. Save room to sample the S'mores pie—layered with graham crackers and topped with roasted homemade marshmallows.

Zed451's engaging staff caters to your every need in their highly stylized and contemporary facility. The seating areas consist of wood floors, stone accents, white leather seating, and artistic lighting that highlights the Chicago restaurant's clean lines.

Unlike most restaurants, Zed451 is split up into different dining rooms, and diners, or meeting planners, are given the chance to choose what type of seating they would like. Its four separate private dining rooms range in capacity from 35 to 70 people. Each of these rooms is fitted with customized tables, drapery, contemporary furnishings and, in some rooms, a beautiful stone fireplace.

If your group needs to cut on cost while visiting Chicago, Zed451 is able to supply their very own mini-coach to bring guests to and from their hotel with no additional charge. This personalized gourmet experience is one that is sure to please any client!

Find more Chicago restaurants for your events on the Cvent's Chicago venue directory

Located on Michigan Avenue in the historic landmark Carbide & Carbon building, the four diamond Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is part of the distinguished Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Located steps away from the Chicago theater district, museum campus, Millennium Park and the endless array of Chicago restaurants and entertainment hot spots, the Hard Rock Hotel offers unique and upscale accommodations sure to please any guest.

At 40 floors high, the building is a product of Daniel and Hubert Burnham, the sons of famed Chicago architect and city planner Daniel H. Burnham. Popular legend connects the design of the building to a champagne bottle, with its terra cotta exterior corresponding to the green glass bottle and the gold tower alluding to the shiny foil top. It's no surprise that this Chicago hotel is frequently visited by musicians, celebrities and fans wanting to stay in the stylish, contemporary surroundings.

Service at the Hard Rock is top notch. The team of hospitality professionals at this Chicago boutique hotel bled four-star quality and practicality to show guests they appreciate their business. This hotel is great for groups who are interested in architecture as well as music. In fact, the hotel happily offers private hotel tours that highlight the unique architecture of the building. Staff event allows the renting of Gibson guitars to keep their guests inspired.

This month, meeting planners looking for a Chicago hotel promotion can enjoy the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago's Pinktober Package. For the entire month of October, the hotel will be donating 25 percent of room revenue from the package to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

This Chicago hotel deal includes a tower guest room with pink sheets, a collectible 2009 Hard Rock Breast Cancer Awareness pin, two splits of pink POP champagne, pink ribbon temporary tattoo, and a package of pink M&M's.  This Pinktober Package Chicago promotion saves the guest about $35 and goes to a great cause!

View more information about the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago on the Cvent Supplier Network

Much to the excitement of Chicago meeting planners and visitors, the brand new Elysian Chicago hotel is approaching opening day! This new luxury hotel is the first in a new series of properties under the management of Elysian Hotels & Resorts. Set in the glamorous Chicago Gold Coast, the Elysian will be located near the posh Chicago restaurant Spiaggia as well as many high-end stores and boutiques such as Barney's, Gucci and Prada.

This 60-story, 188 guest suite hotel (part of a mixed-use development) has combined a sophisticated and timeless setting for its guests to experience. The suites average 890 square feet with only 10 suites per floor. Each guest room is equipped with elegant modern furnishings, both indoors and on the private terraces; white marble soaking tubs; dual vanities; fireplaces; and exclusive Italian linens. As if those amenities weren't enough, the hotel has two on-site restaurants as well as 24-hour room service run by the famous Charlie Trotter.

Additional perks include luxury automobiles for local transportation around the city and airport transfers. Guests are also treated to access to the Elysian Spa & Health Club, home to a mosaic-tiled pool, saunas, steam rooms and, of course, whirlpools.

The Elysian has over 4,500 square feet of function space for Chicago meetings and private events. Its world-class cuisine and intricate decor provides a versatile setting for any type of event, from a business meeting in the Fitzgerald Boardroom, which seats 12 people, to a black-tie affair in the Sinclair Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 270 people. Each event is sure to run smoothly thanks to the Elysian's special attention to top-of-the-line service.

The Elysian Chicago makes it a mission to mimic the "Golden Age of travel" in the early 20th century when a hotel stay was synonymous with luxury. It seems to be right on track!

View more information about the Elysian Chicago on the Cvent Supplier Network

Last week in the nation's capital, non-profit group Fresh Farm Markets received approval to open a farmers' market in downtown DC. On Thursdays from September 17 through October 29, Vermont Avenue Northwest between H and I Streets will close to traffic to make room for vendors to sell fresh food from area farmers, an idea that's been backed by President Obama and the First Lady themselves.

Farmers' markets like the new one in DC are making it easier for people to eat close to home. This so-called "locavore" dining is growing in popularity. After all, it means that the food is fresher, having basically been purchased right after picking, and it's more eco-friendly—food doesn't need to be transported long distances nor heavily packaged.

Not only home cooks can take advantage of the locavore dining movement. Restaurants are getting on the bandwagon as well, which means that even when your business guests are on the road, you can treat them to fresh, healthy fare at your events.

Restaurant Nora
 
Committed to sustainable agriculture, Washington, DC restaurant Nora became America's first certified organic restaurant in 1999. From grass-fed beef to handmade goat cheeses to freshly-picked wild mushrooms, Nora uses fresh, seasonal ingredients to craft cuisine that is anything but bland. Menu options have included crispy Amish duck breast with maple sherry vinegar jus and grass-fed grilled rib eye steak with macaroni and cheese gratin.

Restaurant Nora offers four DC private event facilities. From dinner for 10 people in its cozy Parlor Room to receptions of up to 50 people in its Gallery Room, Nora's versatile spaces welcome events of all sizes. The restaurant is also a great DC banquet room for lunch events, for which the entire venue can be rented exclusively.

North Pond

Located in Lincoln Park, this Arts and Crafts-style Chicago restaurant features great views of the Chicago skyline and expertly-crafted cuisine. Chef Sherman supports local farmers with his purchases, selecting ingredients at the height of their seasons. Menu examples include smoked pork tenderloin with roasted black figs and charred pimentos and grass-fed grilled New York strip steak with warm purple and gold cauliflower.

With its floor-to-ceiling glass doors and attentive staff, North Pond is a great spot for Chicago wedding receptions, corporate dinners, association luncheons and more. This spacious Chicago event banquet facility can accommodate up to 110 guests.

Greens

This San Francisco restaurant has proved that vegetarian cuisine is more than deserving of a place among fine dining establishments. The restaurant sources much of its organic produce from the Green Gulch Farm, located 14 miles away, in order to craft menu selections such as wild mushroom ravioli with chanterelle mushrooms, roasted potato pesto pizza with smoked mozzarella and fontina cheeses, and ricotta corn cakes served with fresh salsa and pumpkin seed cilantro pesto.

An elegant San Francisco banquet facility, Greens has 20 years of experience hosting weddings, ceremonies, non-profit events, business gatherings, etc. The main dining room, whose windows face the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marina, can seat up to 135 guests and accommodate up to 200 guests for standing receptions. The private dining room is a more intimate San Francisco special event facility, offering seating for up to 50 guests.

Chicago is well-known for their various summer festivals: Blue's Fest, Taste of Chicago, just to name a few. Although summer is unofficially over following Labor Day, Chicagoans are still heading outside this weekend to enjoy some of the city-wide events.

Windy City Wine Festival

The 5th Annual Windy City Wine Festival is taking over Daley Bicentennial Plaza on September 11-12. This festival allows attendees to sample 250 different types of wine from all over the world! Professionals are on hand to help you select the wine that suits your palate as well as sample some classic Chicago food.

Seven top-rated Chicago restaurants and caterers will be at the festival to tease your taste buds with some new recipes complimenting a selection of wines. Festival sponsors will be hosting wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, while local music featuring jazz, blues and light rock will create a lively ambiance for this Chicago event.

Celtic Fest

Chicago's 13th Annual Celtic Fest will be located on Columbus Drive and Jackson Boulevard in city landmark Grant Park on Saturday and Sunday. The free festival was originally planned in 1997 to educate the Chicago community on the culture of the seven Celtic nations: Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Wales, Galicia, Spain and Brittany, France.

This unique festival highlights Celtic music, instruments and dance on numerous stages and tents. Don't miss the Scottish Heavy Athletics Competition!

Chicago Half Marathon & 5K

The Celtic Fest is not the only festival running on its 13th year—the Chicago Half Marathon & 5K will be this Sunday with the start and finish line in Jackson Park. Last year, the Chicago Half Marathon sold out with a 17,500 participants running the scenic Lake Shore Drive stretch.

This year, the marathon will be allowing 20,000 participants, and registration is going fast! Come out and show your support for the participants or join the race and run along the backdrop of the beautiful Chicago skyline.

Looking ahead to the Chicago events schedule is a good idea when planning meetings or events. Although the Chicago has too many things to see as it is, city-sponsored festivals are they way to show your guests a true cultural Chicago experience!

Last week I blogged about how to host a top chef-quality event at Frontera Grill, the Chicago restaurant owned by Bravo TV's Top Chef Master Rick Bayless. But Bayless was not the only one heating things up in the kitchen on Top Chef. If you want your next catered event to get the Top Chef treatment, just consider one of the following booking space at one of the following restaurants, each owned by one of the series' finalists.

Art and Soul

Art Smith, personal chef to Oprah Winfrey, treats the nation's capital to "food for the soul" at his Washington, DC restaurant Art and Soul. Using fresh ingredients prepared in true Southern tradition, Smith celebrates his cooking heritage with dishes such as the Land and Sea Hoe Cake, a cornmeal pizza-like dish of shaved beef rib eye and blue crab, and the lamb chops served with charred poached pears and a mint julep sauce.

With its glass walls, shiny red chairs, square oak tables and and art works that feature iconic leaders such as Winston Churchill and Ghandi, Art and Soul is a beautiful venue for hosting your DC events. The restaurant is an ideal spot for everything form informal birthdays to corporate dinners.

Jar

Chef Suzanne Tracht delivers familiar retro dishes at her modern Los Angeles restaurant Jar. Designed with the style and sophistication of a 1940s supper club, Jar offers up hearty entrees such as chopped sirloin with fried egg and green peppercorn sauce, coq au vin with applewood smoked bacon and pearl onions, and the signature pot roast with carrots and caramelized onions.

Jar offers space for Los Angeles events of 20 or more people. Its lounge area is also a great LA venue for 17 guests, while the entire restaurant can accommodate up to 165 for lunch, dinner, brunch or receptions.

Bottega Restaurant

Bold Italian flavors with a refined twist are the order of the day at Bottega Restaurant, the craftsman's kitchen of Chef Michael Chiarello. Using artisanal and housemade ingredients and local produce, Chiarello and his team create signature dishes such as veal tortellini in brodo di carne with browned butter, butternut squash and sage and seared day-boat scallops with pink chick pea passatina.

The rustic yet refined Bottega creates a cozy ambiance for private events. Its indoor dining rooms, which boast five communal tables made of 40-year-old timbers, has space for 90 people. The outdoor covered Terrazzo has 26 seats. The Vintage Estates Properties, on which the restaurant is located, can accommodate large parties of up to 350 people.

Fleur de Lys

Known as one of the most romantic dining rooms in the city, San Francisco restaurant Fleur de Lys showcases Chef Hubert Keller's contemporary French cuisine. From the filet mignon topped with sauteed foie gras to the roasted sea scallops with a hazelnut crust, diners are treated to top-quality meats, cheese, and wines rivaled only by the top restaurants in France.

The private wine room at Fleur de Lys is a great San Francisco venue for private dining of 14 to 16 guests. Additionally, its Salon room and Alcove room can accommodate 12 or 25 guests, respectively, while the entire venue can seat 105 for larger San Francisco events.

Annisa

New York restaurant Annisa offers a seasonal menu that represents Chef Anita Lo's education in French technique. Past selections have included seared miso-marinated sable with crispy silken tofu and pan-roasted farm chicken with sherry, white truffle and pig feet. Complementing its critically-acclaimed cuisine, Annisa's 90-bottle wine list celebrates women in the wine industry.

Annisa is a top-notch New York venue for private parties and dinners. Following a July 4 fire, Annisa is under construction and set to re-open this fall.

The James is one of the newer additions to the downtown Chicago hotel scene. Located just a few steps off of Michigan Avenue, or as shop-a-holics know it, the Magnificent Mile, this stylish, luxury boutique hotel offers some of the best weekend packages around. The James has taken it one step further and decided to not only highlight its beautifully modern property with its promotions, but to also highlight its destination city, Chicago.

The Chicago hotel's weekend exclusive packages target guests who come to the city to experience what it is famous for: sightseeing, shopping, and a unique culinary experience. The Magnificent Weekend package shows guests how to shop Chicago-style with complimentary car service to and from your shopping destination, a gift bag of shop items and special offers, as well as a $50 gift card to the famous 900 Shops.

The James Hotel's Weekend Adventurer package includes Chicago city pass tickets to visit major Chicago attractions the John Hancock Observatory, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry. Also included is a hearty in-room breakfast to start off your day.

Other weekend packages available include dining at the exclusive David Burke's Prime Steakhouse. Guests will receive a private tour of the Chicago restaurant's Himalayan salt-tiled dry aging room or access to the Art Institute of Chicago's "A Case for Wine" Exhibit, with a carefully selected bottle of wine, of course.

Although The James Chicago is part of a new line of hotels set to hit the niche between the luxury brand hotel with the personalized comfort of a boutique hotel, it certainly seems to have a way of bringing in every type of guest with these reasonably priced new promotions. For your Chicago incentives or intimate events, a stay at the The James Hotel may be just what your attendees need.

Read more about The James Chicago and check out the Cvent Supplier Network for other Chicago hotel promotions.

theWit, a Doubletree Hotel, opened in the downtown Chicago Loop in May, and since then no one can stop buzzing about it! This new Chicago boutique hotel is located on State Street in the heart of the business and theater districts. A new modern style of hotel, the property features 238 rooms as well as 60 guest suites. It is the first of its kind when compared to other traditional downtown hotels and has set the tone to mirror this effervescent and exciting city.

Not only is the style of this Chicago hotel making headlines, but the unique in-house attractions are bringing in a crowd as well. theWit has three restaurants ranging from dressy to casual. One of the eateries, ROOF, is located on the 27th floor. This 7,000-square-foot Chicago restaurant is a striking indoor/outdoor lounge with large fire pits, live music, telescopes to capture the panoramic views of the city, and, of course, great food!

Other attractions at the hotel include the SCREEN, a high-definition, luxurious multimedia theater. This Chicago special event facility is geared toward corporate groups looking to host product launches and film screenings and Chicago event planners who are planning major broadcasts of athletic events and film premieres. theWit is a new breed of modern hotels in Chicago that has set the standard high!

View more information on theWit on the Cvent Supplier Network

Even if you're not a fan of Bravo TV's Top Chef series, you may be familiar with Rick Bayless, who recently scored the show's winning title of Top Chef Master. This award-winning chef and cookbook author has made it his mission to introduce Americans to Mexican cuisine and change the image of Mexican food in America.

Lucky for Chicago event planners, it's easy to treat your event attendees to this masterful cuisine. Bayless has several Chicago restaurant establishments, including critically-acclaimed Frontera Grill.

At Frontera Grill, the private Morales Room can accommodate Chicago events of up to 45 guests, complete with salsa music, flowers and an array of Mexican dishes. For cocktail receptions, planners can opt for the casual four-course, tapas-style menu, which offers a journey through Mexico thanks to dishes such as taquitos stuffed with smoked chicken and poblanos and pork and lamb chili. For more formal affairs, the five-course Chef's Tasting Menu delights diners with seasonal selections and impeccable wine pairings.

Frontera Grill also offers it's Library Room, an unparalleled Chicago meeting space for wedding rehearsals, corporate dinners and more of up to 10 guests. This unique Chicago special event facility places guests in the heart of the action, as it is the location where Bayless and his culinary team develop recipes and film. In addition to margaritas shaken tableside, event attendees are treated to the five-course Chef's Tasting Menu.

Finally, full restaurant buy-outs of Frontera are available Sunday or Monday for up to 150 people. Plus, Frontera and sister restaurant Topolobampo provide full-service Chicago catering. In addition to great food, the catering team provides bartenders, flowers, decor, music and more.

Today's stressful economic environment may be just the time you really want to treat your event attendees to a relaxing night of cocktails and conversation—yet it may also be just the time you can't afford to. After all, the cost of serving alcohol at your events can get pretty high.

A great way to cut drink costs at your receptions and parties is to serve one or two signature cocktails rather than stocking a full open bar. It's sophisticated, memorable and affordable!

Not sure what to make your event's signature cocktail? Check out some of Food & Wine magazine's top 20 summer cocktails, then, make sure to read my tips for how to pick the right drink to match your event!

Strawberry-Lemon Mojitos

Strawberries bring a sweet, refreshing twist to these mojitos, from Joaquin Simo of NYC's Death & Company.

Muddle 8 lemon wedges with 4 whole strawberries and 24 mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add ice cubes and 8 ounces gold or aged rum, 3 ounces fresh lemon juice, and 2 ounces prepared sugarcane syrup and shake well. Strain into crushed ice-filled glasses and garnish with strawberry halves and mint sprigs.

Portonic

From bartenders Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric at New York restaurant Macao Trading Co. comes this twist on Portuguese white port and tonic.

Combine 2 ounces white port and a dash of lime juice in a wineglass with ice. Add 2 ounces tonic water. Garnish with 1 slice of cucumber or bitter melon and 2 slices of seedless green grapes.

Rhuby Daiquiri

Bartender Katie Loeb at Philadelphia restaurant Chick's Cafe & Wine Bar was inspired to create this drink by a slice a rhubarb pie.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 2 ounces white rhum agricole, a West Indian rum, with 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur, 1 ounce fresh pink grapefruit juice, 3/4 ounce rhubarb syrup, and 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

California Caipirinha

From Duggan McDonnell, bartender at San Francisco restaurant Cantina, this classic caipirinha recipe takes a West Coast twist with the addition of Orange Muscat from Quady Winery in Madera, California.

Muddle 6 lime wedges with 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar. Add 16 ounces Cachaca, 4 ounces Orange Muscat and 4 ounces simple syrup and stir. Add ice, stir again and strain into ice-filled glasses.

Spice & Ice

Bartender Adam Seger heats up the summer at Chicago restaurant Nacional 27 by coating the rim of the drink's glass with a seven spice blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, fennel seeds, clove, star anise, cardamom pods, Sichuan peppercorns and sugar.

Combine 6 ounces blanco tequila, 5 ounces mango puree or nectar, 5 ounces fresh lime juice, finely grated zest of 1 lime, 4 ounces ginger-habanero syrup, and 4 cups of ice in a blender until smooth. Garnish rimmed glasses with lime wheels.

Read Food & Wine's complete list of the 20 best summer drinks.

This downtown Windy City hotel is situated in the ideal spot for your upcoming Chicago event, located between famed Magnificent Mile shopping and the excitement of the Navy Pier. After the $21 million rejuvenation of this Chicago Doubletree in 2008, each of its 500 renovated guest rooms features:

• Ultra-comfortable Sweet Dreams® Bed by Doubletree
• Contemporary decor in charcoal, white and fuchsia
• MP3-compatible stereo clock radio
• Wolfgang Puck® gourmet in-room coffee maker
• Spacious work desk with ergonomic chair and desk-level electrical and data port outlets
• for high-speed Internet access
• USA Today® delivery each weekday morning
• Iron and ironing board, hairdryer
  
   

The Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile is home to 11 meeting rooms and over 16,000 square feet of flexible meeting, banquet, and ballroom space. Planners can also host guests at the hotel's MARKETHOUSE restaurant, Chicago's newest culinary destination, or plan a relaxed cocktail party poolside at H20, which affords panoramic views of the Chicago cityscape.

View more information about the Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile on the Cvent Supplier Network