Where To Go On A Date Right Now In Chicago

We’ll be up front, this Japanese handroll restaurant hiding in Perilla Fare’s basement is already booked out for months. But if you give this West Loop spot a call, they might be able to squeeze you in—usually at 5pm and for only an hour. So while it’s not ideal for lingering or early-dinner haters, there are upsides. Noriko’s 20-seat space works well for something intimate without being too romantic, largely helped by an electronic playlist that doesn’t scream “marriage proposal.” And the handrolls like fatty tuna, spicy scallop, or buttery wagyu are all excellent. The hour-long time limit is also great if you’re catching a movie or concert after, or need to wrap things up when the person you’re with ends up having less personality than Siri.

What do you want out of a date? Love? Happiness? Delicious Korean food in a chic minimalist space that manages to be both buzzy and intimate? Well, Mister Tiger in West Town can at least help with the last bit. You can join the other couples and friends digging into galbijjim with juicy short rib and crispy chive pancakes—all of which are recipes inspired by the owners’ childhood. Who knows, a bowl of bubbling, umami-packed kimchi jjigae might just successfully wingman you to finding love and happiness, too.

If you want some great Italian food from a buzzy new restaurant, head to this Fulton Market spot from the Rose Mary team. The warmly lit space is filled with couples who have the same idea as you, but the service is very relaxed, and it’s not too loud to chat. Inevitable conversation topics: the namesake fried artichoke with a dusting of salty pecorino and the must-order pastas. But if you briefly stop listening to zone out into your creamy rigatoni alla carbonara, that's perfectly normal.

The stylish space, upbeat soundtrack, and delicious Southern food at Etc. can help loosen up a daunting first date. The gravy-covered grits with buttery oxtail are so rich and comforting that you’ll be unphased by even the most awkward of silences. And if good cocktails can make you feel more at ease, get one of their classic and seasonal ones, like a cozy pine-infused Old Fashioned. After trading bites of savory rice cooked with turkey hocks and taking turns Shazaming some R&B deep cuts, you’ll be ready to plan date number two—assuming you kept your cool.

Expand your couple to a throuple by introducing cow into the mix. And this Korean BBQ spot-steakhouse hybrid from the Perilla team is the perfect place for a date night with a bovine. The staff cooks filet mignon and ribeye to juicy perfection on tabletop grills, and you can get saucy by dipping the meat into sesame oil and ssamjang before eating it as is or making a little perilla leaf wrap. Twists on sides and pasta courses are also excellent, like monkey bread with gochujang honey butter or kalguksu bolognese. And though Perilla’s location in the L7 hotel guarantees many out-of-towners inside the simple yet elegant wooden space, one bite of buttery wagyu will charm even the most tourist-allergic romantics into having a good time.

This Mexican seafood spot from the Taqueria Chingon team had us saying “Is this our new favorite restaurant?” after the spicy hibiscus-and-beet-cured scallop aguachile made us cry tears of pineapple broth-y joy. And by introducing your date to that aguachile, maybe they’ll think “Is this my new favorite person?” But really, any dish might inspire that thought—whether you get a tostada, a smoky bacon-wrapped octopus Sonoran dog, or tacos with striking squid ink-dyed soft shell crab served on housemade tortillas. The busy space always has a fun energy and is perfect for a casual dinner, especially if you’re seeing a show at Thalia Hall next door.

When the routine of Jeopardy! reruns date night loses its spark, head to this Old Town restaurant for tasty Peruvian food and a jolt of energy. The small space is especially buzzy at peak dinner times, thanks to celebratory groups drinking pisco sours while shazamming the clubby music. It’s not ideal for first-date chit-chat, but it’s great when you’ve been seeing each other long enough to communicate only with eyebrow raises. Use those bushy brows to decide what to order from Kayao’s line-up of zippy ceviches and tiraditos, perfectly cooked seafood, and fantastic takes on Nikkei small plates. Once the smoked duck breast rice arrives, you’ll be too fixated on its creamy richness to talk anyway.

If your date loves live music and has “huge cocktail nerd” in their Instagram bio, this West Town bar with a stage in the back has you covered. Their menu has a wide range of tasty cocktails—classics, exclusive concoctions, and a few that have been resurrected from obscurity. Lemon also features a rotation of jazz combos, DJ sets, and maybe the next big local rock band. The large room decked out in purple curtains has plenty of tables and some booths by the stage, but their good sound system guarantees that you can enjoy the jams wherever.

Not every romantic outing needs to be a “whole thing”—but when you are trying to make it a “whole thing,” check out Tre Dita in Lakeshore East. First off, this Italian restaurant from the chef behind hyped-up spots like LA’s Funke is in the St. Regis Hotel, so dining in a five-star hotel where a room costs $800 already makes a statement. But even if you don’t plan on booking a room, eating incredible housemade duck ragu pappardelle and drinking excellent Italian wine next to a gorgeous view of the river feels nothing short of luxurious.

Anelya’s playful space with flower-shaped neon lamps and sparkly zakusky carts is perfect for a unique and exciting date night, whether it’s your first or you stopped counting years ago. And the food at this intimate Avondale spot is just as exciting. Don’t be surprised if, mid-conversation, you start reflecting on how the incredible trout roe tarts cram the essence of a lox bagel into a tiny pastry. Throw in some pours of boozy housemade piana vishnya, plus a very Shazammable European synthpop soundtrack, and you’ve got everything you need for a fun night.

Provaré in West Town is a guaranteed great time regardless of why you’re here, date night is no different. Their Creole-Italian dishes—cheesy chicken parm, crispy fried lobster tails with spicy aioli, and spinach artichoke dip—are so rich and comforting you’d probably still leave in a good mood even if the date ends up being a bust. The Chicago-themed cocktails are also delicious, like the refreshing Hyde Park with tequila, pineapple juice, and midori. And since there’s always an excellent R&B and hip-hop throwback playlist, instead of asking your date for their MBTI, you can figure out what their favorite Ashanti-Ja Rule collab says about them.

When your ideal date night involves a few excellent pours of fermented grapes, head to Easy Does It in Logan Square. It’s unpretentious and casual, so even if you have no clue what "terroir" is, it’s still a fun place to drink and hang. They have a fantastic wine selection, with approachable descriptions like “It’s Clementime” or “Earth Jam.” Easy Does It has plenty of seating whether you’re a table and booth person, or would rather sip on orange wine while sinking into a comfy chair. Weekdays are a bit more relaxed with occasional live jazz, but if dancing is also part of your ideal date, come for a late-night weekend DJ set.

The Meadowlark’s dark wooden interior and comfy leather couches are handy when your local dive’s sticky floors and “aged” keg of PBR don't exactly register as date-night material. All of the cocktails at this Logan Square bar are well-made and part of a themed menu (past themes have been birds and the Chicago World's Fair). Plus, they also have a short menu of rotating tasty small plates that match the theme. And it’s no surprise that the food is delicious since The Meadowlark comes from the same team behind Union, also on this list.

Between its catchy funk and soul soundtrack, delicious food, and long wine list, Bronzeville Winery is an ideal date night spot. This American restaurant also has a great sidewalk patio, and we can't think of a better way to spend an evening than listening to Earth Wind & Fire with some caramelized watermelon with a glass of pinot grigio.

Obelix is located in a quieter part of River North where you can have an upscale date night in relative serenity. It's a French spot from the same team as Le Bouchon, and they have a fusion-y menu with good, creative dishes like the steak tartare with shio kombu and a surprisingly delicious foie gras taco. And while the dining room is filled with white tablecloths and looks like a Swiss chalet, it's not stuffy—the space is busy and upbeat thanks to friendly servers and an energetic hip-hop soundtrack.

If you've ever wanted to have a date in the parlor of the Clue mansion, head to Armitage Alehouse in Lincoln Park. It’s from the Bavette’s team, and has a 1920s jazz playlist, a dim dining room filled with old-timey artwork, great service, and fantastic food. The menu has dishes like steak tartare, lamb chops, plus a selection of incredible pot pies (like pheasant and foie gras). Between the prohibition-era soundtrack and windowless space, Armitage Alehouse has the ability to suck you in and magically make you forget that the world is spinning outside.