Dining at Chicago Athletic Association: where to eat in the hotel
Chicago Athletic Association offers multiple on-site options: rooftop dining at Cindy’s for views and seasonal American dishes, The Ives for a modern American grill dinner, Midōsuji for an intimate omakase/handroll experience, plus casual choices including the Drawing Room, Game Room, Shake Shack and Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea.
In this guide
Where to start: the hotel’s dining lineup
The hotel groups several distinct dining concepts under one roof: Cindy’s (rooftop), The Ives (grill room), Midōsuji (8-seat handroll/omakase), the Drawing Room (lobby bar and all-day café), Game Room (casual bar with games), Shake Shack (fast-casual) and Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea (café).
Hours, menus and reservation policies vary by venue — Cindy’s and The Ives take reservations, Midōsuji uses an 8-seat reservation model with two nightly seatings, while Game Room and Shake Shack operate on more casual/walk-in terms.
- Cindy’s — rooftop views, seasonal American seafood and cocktails
- The Ives — modern American grill with tableside prime rib and a Smart Casual dress code
- Midōsuji — eight-seat handroll and omakase bar (reservation-based)
- Drawing Room — lobby bar for breakfast, coffee and late-night drinks
- Game Room — games, craft cocktails and bar bites; walk-in friendly
- Shake Shack — quick burgers and shakes; available for in-room dining
- Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea — coffee and light café fare
| Venue | Style | Typical service |
|---|---|---|
| Cindy’s | Rooftop American seasonal | Lunch & Dinner; reservations recommended |
| The Ives | Modern American grill | Dinner; reservations recommended |
| Midōsuji | Japanese handroll/omakase | Reservation-only seatings (limited) |
Cindy’s — rooftop views and seasonal American dishes
Cindy’s sits on the 13th floor under a glass-and-steel atrium and overlooks Millennium Park and Lake Michigan. The menu focuses on local, wild and seasonal produce plus fresh seafood and cocktails.
Service covers lunch and dinner with hours that vary by day; Cindy’s maintains daytime and late-night service windows, and reservations are accepted.
- Location: 13th-floor rooftop terrace with park and lake views
- Cuisine: seasonal American, seafood-forward options, cocktails and biodynamic wines
- Hours: Monday–Thursday 11am–11pm; Friday 11am–12am; Saturday 10am–12am; Sunday 10am–11pm (hours may vary)
| Best for | Why choose it |
|---|---|
| Lunch with a view | Floor-to-ceiling glass and direct views of Millennium Park |
| Casual dinner or cocktails | Seasonal menu and cocktails with an outdoor-feel setting |
| Special-occasion meals | Panoramic setting over the park and lake |
The Ives — modern American grill room
The Ives is the hotel’s grill room, led by an established restaurant group and named for the building’s architect. Menu highlights include nightly prime rib carved tableside, steaks, beef tartare, baked Jonah crab dip and a chocolate trolley dessert service.
Dress code is Smart Casual. Dinner service is primarily in the evenings, and reservations are recommended — OpenTable holds daily availability for the coming 30 days.
- Cuisine: modern American grill (steaks, prime rib, classic grill plates)
- Hours: Monday–Thursday 5:00pm–10:00pm; Friday & Saturday 5:00pm–11:00pm
- Dress: Smart Casual (polished but relaxed)
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Tableside prime rib | Nightly carving service for dinner |
| Reservations | Available via OpenTable; slots release daily for the next 30 days |
| Ambience | Grill-room dining suited to polished-casual evenings |
Midōsuji — eight-seat handroll and omakase bar
Midōsuji occupies a small, intimate space within the hotel and offers à la carte handrolls as well as an 11-course Japanese–French tasting omakase. The omakase is an 8-seat chef-led experience with two nightly seatings.
Reservations are limited and open in rolling windows; Midōsuji posts seatings and availability, and the venue operates mainly in the evening on select days.
- Format: 8-seat handroll counter and an 11-course omakase
- Service days/hours: Tuesday–Saturday evenings (generally 5:00pm–10:00pm)
- Booking: two nightly seatings (commonly 6:00pm and 8:30pm); reservations are required for omakase
| Offer | Details |
|---|---|
| Omakase | 11-course Japanese–French tasting menu; reservation required |
| Handrolls | À la carte handrolls available without omakase |
| Seating | Very limited — eight seats per seating |
Casual options: Drawing Room, Game Room, Shake Shack and Fairgrounds
For more casual or flexible dining, try the Drawing Room for breakfast, coffee and late-night drinks; the Game Room for cocktails and bar bites alongside games in the former billiards room; Shake Shack for quick burgers and shakes; and Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea for coffee and light café fare.
Game Room and Shake Shack are more walk-in oriented, while the Drawing Room offers extended daily hours and Fairgrounds is a grab-and-go café for mornings or a quick break.
- Drawing Room — lobby bar with breakfast service and drinks (kitchen hours vary by day; lobby common areas open 5am–2am)
- Game Room — casual bar with bocce, shuffleboard, skeeball and craft cocktails (walk-in friendly)
- Shake Shack — fast-casual burgers, available for in-room dining as well
- Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea — bright café counter for coffee and tea
| Venue | Typical service style |
|---|---|
| Drawing Room | All-day lobby dining and bar (breakfast through late night) |
| Game Room | Casual bar bites and games; walk-in |
| Shake Shack / Fairgrounds | Quick-service counter options for coffee or fast-casual meals |
Booking, dress code and practical tips
Make reservations for Cindy’s, The Ives and Midōsuji in advance if your dates and times are fixed; The Ives and Midōsuji release limited slots on rolling schedules. Walk-in and flexible dining options include Game Room, Shake Shack and Fairgrounds.
Note the hotel enforces a 21+ minimum check-in age for the primary guest — this is a hotel-wide policy. If you need parking validation for dining, the hotel offers discounted parking at 71 E. Madison for patrons dining at the hotel.
- Reservations: book Cindy’s and The Ives early; Midōsuji has just eight seats per seating
- Dress: The Ives enforces Smart Casual; other venues are more casual
- Parking: discounted validated parking for diners at 71 E. Madison (ask concierge)
- In-room dining: Shake Shack items are available for in-room service
| Question | What to do |
|---|---|
| How to secure a Midōsuji seat? | Check availability and reserve as soon as listings open for the coming 30 days |
| Where to go for quick coffee? | Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea in the hotel |
| If you prefer walk-in fun and games | Head to the Game Room — no reservation required |
