10 New Venues in Chicago for Spring 2024 Meetings and Events

Originally opened in 1929, the historic Ramova Theatre reopened in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood in January. Now under ownership of Chicago music legends Quincy Jones, Jennifer Hudson, and Chance the Rapper—along with dozens of other investors—the venue houses a live music venue, a craft brewery, and the 20-seat Ramova Grill. The full auditorium holds more than 1,500 guests, and a private event space holds receptions for 250.

Guinness Gate Brewery Chicago came to the West Loop in September 2023. The 15,000-square-foot venue, which can be bought out for weddings or corporate receptions, occupies a former rail depot. The sprawling space houses a brewery, taproom, restaurant, and bakery. Its private event space, called the Barrel Room, has an eye-catching art installation made of bottles, and garage doors that open to a patio. The Barrel Room can accommodate 113 guests for a seated function or it can be divided into smaller spaces for more intimate groups. The Barrel Room has a dedicated sound system with full audiovisual access and two 83-inch TVs with full connectivity. The venue can provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets, as well as passed or displayed appetizers and reception or dessert stations. Menu items include brown bread, beer-brined chicken, and seared salmon.

Tre Dita, a Tuscan steakhouse, is scheduled to open at The St. Regis Chicago this winter, most likely in March. (The bar area opened in February.) As the first certified Tuscan restaurant in the United States, the venue serves shareable, multicourse Tuscan meals that may include antipasti, handmade pasta, and wood-fired bisteca Fiorentina (or Italian steak.) The restaurant has five private dining rooms. Three rooms offer south-facing views of the Millennium Monument. They can be rented separately for more intimate events. Three of the dining rooms can also be combined to host seated functions for 60 guests or standing events for 75. A second-floor mezzanine with 40-foot windows offers sweeping views of the Chicago River and city skyline; it can hold receptions for 40 guests. The restaurant also has a private boardroom, which seats 14 guests. All event spaces have flat-screen TVs.

The sleek cocktail bar Valedor opened in December 2023, featuring decor from Kehoe Design Group. The Wicker Park venue can be bought out to host receptions for 75 guests. There is also a semiprivate space known as The Perch, which can hold 15 guests standing. The Nook, a semiprivate booth, seats 10 guests. The cocktail and dining menus fuse flavors from Mexico and Japan; items include tuna poke tacos, shishito peppers, and an Old-Fashioned-inspired cocktail made with Japanese whisky.

Omakase sushi restaurant Sushi by Bou came to River North in January. The venue can be bought out to host standing receptions for 50 guests; it also accommodates intimate seated omakase dinners for 12 guests. Overseen by a master sushi chef, the dinners feature 12 to 17 personalized courses of edomae sushi with ultra-fresh fatty tuna, yellowtail, and other types of fish.

Pickle Haus opened in Algonquin, a northwest suburb of Chicago, in November 2023. The entertainment complex has 12 pickleball courts with adjoining lounge areas; each court can hold events for 20 guests. A room with two golf simulators holds standing receptions for 30 guests. There’s also a private event space with direct access to the pickleball courts, which can hold receptions for 120 guests. The chef-designed food and beverage program features shareable snacks and pizzas. Gift bags, pickleball instructors, and private cabanas are available as add-on perks.

Argot, a French brasserie, opened in Lincoln Park in September. The private dining room can host seated events for 12 guests, while the main dining room can accommodate groups of 9 to 20 for semiprivate gatherings with a three-course, prix fixe menu. The full restaurant is also available for buyout. It can hold 78 guests for a seated function or 90 for a standing event. Menu options include savory tarts, wagyu beef burgers with cheddar and sweet onion, and passed duck confit. Stationed oysters, shrimp, and cheese boards are also on offer. The restaurant’s adjoining wine shop, Verve, also hosts sommelier-guided tasting events for eight to 30 guests. The tastings feature six themed wines and a small cheese plate, and typically last for 90 minutes.

John's Food & Wine came to Lincoln Park in October 2023. The neighborhood bistro has a private dining room—outfitted with white brick walls and a skylight—that seats 24 guests or holds 32 for standing events. The American eatery has a robust wine program and serves dishes such as lobster salad, ricotta gnocchi, and duck breast.

Tucked in the sprawling event space The Matrix Club in the western suburb of Naperville, The Matrix Room opened in October 2023. Designed to house meetings, banquets, and performances, the space serves globally inspired fare including tuna-and-avocado napoleons, sweet corn ravioli, and lemon-lavender cheesecake. The space can seat 225 guests in a mix of lounge-style seating and dining chairs. Elsewhere in the venue, there’s a grand ballroom that can hold 2,000 theater style, 1,200 for a banquet, or 800 in a classroom-style setup.

Speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar The Gatsby Speakeasy came to Lincoln Park in September. The intimate space can hold private receptions for up to 60 guests. It has cozy, antique decor including a fireplace surrounded by overflowing bookcases, crystal chandeliers, vintage photographs, and Oriental rugs. Along with cocktails, the venue can provide charcuterie boards, small bites, and sandwiches; private mixology classes are also available.