Best restaurants near Chicago Athletic Association
The best restaurants for guests at Chicago Athletic Association are the hotel's on-site options: The Ives (American grill), Midōsuji (8-seat Japanese handroll and omakase bar), Cindy’s (rooftop with park and lake views). For casual bites, the Game Room, Drawing Room, Shake Shack and Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea cover lounges, quick service and coffee.
In this guide
On-site fine dining: The Ives
The Ives is the hotel's modern American grill room, a good choice for evening dinners that favor steaks, prime rib carved tableside, beef tartare and larger plated entrées. The menu includes signature items such as the '1909' Salad and a chocolate trolley dessert service.
Dress is Smart Casual. The Ives serves dinner with hours that generally start at 5:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday service runs later than weekdays.
- Cuisine: Modern American / grill
- Typical service: Dinner
- Dress code: Smart Casual
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Menu highlights | Prime rib (carved tableside), steaks, beef tartare, Jonah crab dip |
| Hours (general) | Evening service beginning at 5:00 p.m.; later on Fri–Sat |
| Reservation notes | Reservations available via OpenTable; daily window releases apply |
Intimate specialty: Midōsuji (handroll & omakase)
Midōsuji is an eight-seat handroll and omakase bar on the hotel’s second floor, designed for a chef-led, multi-course tasting experience as well as à la carte handrolls.
Dinner is offered across two nightly seatings; the venue charges a set price for the full omakase and an optional drink-pairing add-on for those who want wine or cocktails alongside the tasting.
- Format: 8-seat counter / chef-led omakase
- Offerings: À la carte handrolls and an 11-course Japanese–French omakase
- Seatings: Two nightly seatings (evening service Tue–Sat)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Omakase price (published) | $195 per person |
| Optional drink pairing | $105 per person (published) |
| Hours (general) | Dinner Tue–Sat evenings |
Rooftop with views: Cindy’s
Cindy’s occupies the rooftop under a glass-and-steel atrium and is noted for views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan. The menu emphasizes local, seasonal produce and fresh seafood alongside cocktails and biodynamic wines.
Cindy’s operates for extended daytime and evening hours, making it a flexible option for lunch, early dinner, or late-night drinks when available.
- Location: 13th-floor rooftop terrace
- Cuisine: Seasonal American with seafood and produce-forward dishes
- Service: Lunch & Dinner with cocktail program
| Hours (general) | Notes |
|---|---|
| Mon–Thu | Midday to evening |
| Fri–Sat | Extended evening hours |
| Sun | Daytime into evening |
Casual and social: Game Room and Drawing Room
The Game Room is set in the hotel’s former billiards room and combines craft cocktails and bar bites with games such as bocce, shuffleboard, skeeball and billiards—walk-in seating is common there.
The Drawing Room is the hotel lobby bar offering all-day service for coffee, cocktails and lighter meals; it’s suitable for breakfast, afternoon breaks, or a relaxed evening drink near the lobby fireplace.
- Game Room: casual bar bites, games, open to the public (walk-in focused)
- Drawing Room: all-day lobby dining and bar service, early morning to late night
- Both venues: accessible for hotel guests and outside visitors
| Venue | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Game Room | Casual meals, cocktails, games (bocce, skeeball, billiards) |
| Drawing Room | Breakfast, coffee, cocktails, evening drinks |
| Access | Game Room is largely walk-in; Drawing Room operates daily early–late |
Quick bites and coffee: Shake Shack & Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea
For fast-casual burgers and shakes, the hotel houses a Shake Shack location that also supports in-room dining. It’s useful for quick, familiar meals.
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea provides coffee and tea service in a bright cafe space for mornings and casual daytime stops.
- Shake Shack: fast-casual burgers, fries, shakes; convenient for a quick meal or in-room order
- Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea: coffee, tea and light café fare; suited to grab-and-go or a relaxed sit-down
| Outlet | Best for |
|---|---|
| Shake Shack | Quick burgers and shakes; in-room dining available |
| Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea | Morning coffee and casual café service |
| Availability | Hours vary—ask concierge for current times |
Booking, access and practical tips
Reservations are recommended for The Ives and required planning for Midōsuji’s limited seating; mid-sized peak-night demand can make spur bookings less likely without advance planning.
Concierge can assist with restaurant reservations, special requests and validation for hotel parking when dining on property. Check with the front desk for the latest hours and reservation policies.
- Midōsuji: limited to eight seats—reserve early
- The Ives: reservations available via OpenTable; daily release windows apply
- Ask concierge about parking validation and the hotel’s current dining hours
| What to ask concierge | Why |
|---|---|
| Make reservations (Midōsuji, The Ives, Cindy’s) | Limited seating and variable hours |
| Confirm current hours | Hours can vary by day and season |
| Request in-room dining options | Shake Shack and select menu items may be deliverable to rooms |
