Chicago's Best Restaurants Restaurants near The Closet restaurant

Wake n' Bacon

One of the newest restaurants in Chicago’s growing CBD-forward dining community, Wake n’ Bacon serves a breakfast, lunch and dinner (provided you eat early) of novel sweet and savory dishes.

Replay Beer & Bourbon

Owned by the team behind Halsted's, Hydrate and Elixir, this bourbon-focused nightspot offers old-school and contemporary arcade games. The original location is in Lake View, with outposts in Andersonville and Lincoln Park.

Lark

Lakeview newcomer Lark is in the heart of Boystown, and owned by the same people behind Elixir and Replay Beer & Bourbon. They're all on the same block, in fact, but Lark is the only venue boasting a fireplace.

Rollapalooza

COZY AND WARM RESTAURANT. FRESH AND DELICIOUS RESTAURANT. WE ARE NOT NO.1 RESTAURANT. HOWEVER WE DO OUR BEST TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.

Roebuck

Jacqueline's Corner Tap

This place feels more than a friend's home than a divey hangout as bartenders whip up food for the crowd and pour some of the most potent drinks in town. They're also known best for their jukebox.

Roscoe's Tavern

Neighborhood gay & lesbian bar dating back to 1987 with a dance floor, pool table & outdoor spaces.

Fancy Plants Cafe

Fancy Plants Café is living proof that vegetarian restaurants have come a long way in the past few years; from drab restaurants serving brown rice with everything, they’ve become worthy destinations, offering finessed, finely tuned veg-forward offerings, many times with a fine-dining attention to detail.

Pingpong

Asian fusion food & cocktails in a stylishly minimal space with clubby music & an outdoor patio.

Wilde Bar & Restaurant

Literary-themed upscale Irish pub with leather banquettes, extensive beer list & American bar fare.

DryHop Brewers

DryHop Brewers is a brewery and eatery in Lakeview East with a special knack for hop-centric brews and beer-friendly American cuisine.

Maison Marcel

Maison Marcel is a French bakery located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, offering a healthy menu with the freshest ingredients, in addition to the signature artisanal pastries by our Maître Boulanger from France.

Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea - Broadway

Doug Zell and his wife, Emily Mange, started Intelligentsia Coffee at this site in 1995, originally roasting and serving coffee on the premises. Today, the carefully selected Direct Trade coffee, widely regarded as the best of the local brews, is roasted in the company's vintage German roasters at their works in the Fulton Market district and delivered fresh daily.

Scarlet Bar

Scarlet is where the young and stylish meet up for late-night fun in Boystown. The bar features weekly specials, but one of the biggest daytime events is Sunday's "Liquid Brunch," starting at 2pm, and featuring $12 bottles of champagne, $4 bloody marys, $4 screwdrivers, with complimentary juice bar and cereal.

Wood

Wang's

Intimate, gay-friendly cocktail lounge with vintage China-inspired decor, low lighting & DJs.

D.S. Tequila Co.

Sip on fishbowls and frozen margaritas at this Boystown bar, which opened in Summer 2010, and is sourcing its own brand of tequila from Guadalajara, Mexico. Food options range from burgers to tacos.

The Chicago Diner

"Meat Free Since '83," The Chicago Diner features an extensive all-vegetarian, mostly vegan menu and offers local craft beers, organic wine, juice bar, margaritas, bloody marys and vegan shakes as well as vegan baked goods and gluten-free options.

Yoshi's Cafe

Opened in 1982, Yoshi's remains a local favorite for its creative, globally influenced fare and friendly atmosphere.

Ceres' Table

Giuseppe Scurato moves his authentic Italian-focused eatery to Lakeview from Uptown.

The Closet

Opened in 1978, this tiny, unpretentious lesbian & gay bar features dancing, games & karaoke.

Sidetrack

Sidetrack has welcomed Chicago's LGBTQ+ community, and the world, for 38 years with a unique mix of your favorite music videos. Join us for our famous Frozen Cocktails, Show Tunes 3 times a week, Boystown's only rooftop deck and our fun nightly parties.

Wakamono

A casual neighborhood sushi and Japanese restaurant by Kai Togami-san.

Milt's Barbecue for the Perplexed

The only kosher restaurant in Lakeview, Milt’s, opened in January 2013, nourishes the body and the mind with house-smoked beef and chicken and regular speakers on politics, history, spirituality, humor and more. There's a full bar, too. Kosher supervision by cRc.

Rocks Lakeview

Local bar with basic pub food & dozens of beers & whiskeys plus TV sports & outdoor seating.

Ann Sather Cafe - Broadway

Casual, colorful BYOB mainstay for hearty Swedish-American meals & housemade cinnamon buns.