Mariscos San Pedro is a casual Mexican spot with outstanding seafood and a beach party atmosphere. Almost every dish at this Pilsen restaurant is shareable, from the ceviches to the tostadas to the DIY taco situation highlighting a perfectly cooked whole fish and chewy housemade tortillas. Get a shellfish platter that will feed everyone in your party, and drink fruity cocktails while the cartoon sea creatures grinning up at you from the menu progressively feel like they’re part of the hang.

Brasero seems to specialize in throwing a party every night. This Latin American spot in West Town is great for upbeat get-togethers of all sizes, with a mix of shareable dishes like fried quail and grilled half lobster, and catchy Bossa nova music that practically begs you to show up with the best gossip to match the secluded space and good-times vibe. But Brasero’s food is equally fun, with nearly everything nailing a balance between sweet and spicy.

If the pounding bass-heavy music bleeding onto the Fulton Market sidewalk indicates anything, it’s that Costera likes to party. The liberal use of straw, palm trees, and basket lights leans into its Tulum theme, while the dim lighting and loud DJ sets prove that it’s taken Clubstaurant 101. You’re not really here for the food—it ranges from just fine tacos to tableside flamebéed al pastor that fizzles out into a jammy disappointment. Stick to the drinks and those tacos or a quesadilla.

Borscht is warm. Borscht is comforting. Borscht is also fun when you’re at Anelya. This Avondale Ukrainian spot is exciting before you even take a seat. Servers zip around with sparkling zakusky carts full of appetizers. Upbeat electronic music hums in the background while flower-like lamps give the dining room a trippy colorful glow. Once you’re ready to order, servers hype up the menu like they’re narrating a sizzle reel full of haluski and kovbasa. And you will, too.

Provaré is a blast. This bright Italian and Creole spot has an R&B playlist that will remind you of the greatness that is '90s Usher, complimentary shots as soon as you sit down, and food that makes you put your hand up to silence the table so you can have a private moment with the housemade pasta. There are standout dishes like fried lobster tails, creamy chicken parmesan that’s the antidote to your scary Apple news feed, and juicy lamb chops that go perfectly with a side of spicy charred corn.

Limited hours. No reservations. An unpredictable menu. We normally consider all of these red flags—but we’re here to tell you that the line out the door is worth the wait. And since they're open until 2am, that wait can be a pretty long one. The menu changes every day, which is both exciting—"This ramp pasta is incredible!"—and bittersweet—"Will I ever see these miso butter scallops again?" Warlord is playing hard to get, but that only makes us want this spot even more.

A quick online search of Adalina will show you a sea of white tablecloths and a menu full of pasta and veal chop Parmigiana. You won’t realize how fun Adalina is until you’ve spent a few minutes at this upscale Italian restaurant, sitting on crushed velvet chairs and surrounded by flower paintings that would make Georgia O’Keeffe suspicious. The bar is filled with people hanging out two hours before (and after) their reservation time, and the posh dining room gets louder through the night.

There’s nothing understated about Maple and Ash. It has chandeliers, candelabras, and an optional $200 tasting menu called “I don’t give a f*ck,” where the kitchen decides what you eat. It’s a great restaurant that’s surprisingly versatile—it can support a large group or a quiet dinner for two. This is where you should eat when an occasion calls for going all out, and you want to do so in a space that feels kind of like the mansion from Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

This guide exists specifically for places like Miru—and let us count the ways. This Japanese restaurant is on the rooftop of the $700-a-night St. Regis Hotel in Lakeshore East. The view of the skyline is incredible, and the service is even better. The food isn't amazing (the long menu ranges from just-OK sushi to not-very-good entrees like miso cod), but great food isn't why you're here. It's to admire the view, have drinks and dessert, and feel like you can afford to throw money off said roof.

This Greek Restaurant in the West Loop is the size of a football stadium, crowded, plays loud music, and has dishes that pop up regularly on TikTok. 10pm reservations are coveted because at midnight they pass out white napkins for everyone to twirl around, servers come out singing and waving sparklers, and the entire restaurant turns into a club. While some of Lyra’s menu can be hit or miss, the flaky spanakopita and tender lamb ribs are delicious.

Eating at Ummo feels like hanging out in a friend’s loft apartment—if your loft-owning (or potentially squatting?) friend also made fresh pasta. Colorful, framed posters cover every inch of the walls, while energetic funk and soul music fuels the open space. And that excitement carries over to the food. Couples are enthusiastically breaking open a playful tomato-shaped dessert full of raspberry compote, or splitting tasty bowls of lobster ravioli.

This Italian steakhouse on the edge of Fulton Market is working hard on channeling mid-century-era glamour, complete with servers in jackets and a humidor. But Fioretta delivers on style and substance. There are excellent steaks on the menu—like an olive-fed wagyu New York strip that will have you wondering whether that cow got to fly on a private jet with a weekend stopover in Portofino on its way to Chicago. Strong drinks and live music on the weekend contribute to the buzzy vibe.

Any Chicago restaurant associated with the words “West Loop,” “Italian,” and “Boka Restaurant Group” is probably going to be a good time. This is the case with Alla Vita, an Italian spot on Randolph. It’s designed to be a crowd-pleaser, buzzing with everyone from couples to large groups in town for some conference. It’s also pretty, decorated with hanging plants and an intriguing overhead installation that looks a little like fish gills.

Though Obelix didn’t have much fanfare when it originally opened, this River North spot is now one of the most sought-after dinner reservations in town. On the surface, Obelix looks like a typical, white-tablecloth French restaurant. It’s not. It walks the tightrope of feeling formal without being stuffy. And that same balance is present in the food, which is filled with a mixture of classics like escargot and playful, fusion-y things like a foie gras taco.

After a short closure, this excellent vegetable-centric "Midwestern pasta" spot reopened in a new, larger space. The menu isn’t that different, aside from a new section for things like lamb shank and salmon collars. But the bigger dining room (and the new chef’s table, and large bar) means that Daisies is packed by 6pm even on a random Wednesday. Make a reservation in advance, and eat pierogies while listening to an upbeat R&B soundtrack and the dull roar of other diners’ conversations.

The fantastic funk and soul soundtrack, delicious food, and long wine list are just a few reasons to hang out at Bronzeville Winery for as long as possible. This American restaurant also has the perfect combination of loud music and conversational buzz that prevents the entire dining room from overhearing why your friend thinks health insurance is technically a form of gambling.

La Serre is a fun French-Mediterranean spot in Fulton Market with just the right amount of flowers and subwoofers. It’s buzzy but never too loud, and the shareable courses are thoughtful despite the presence of big mirrors that say corny things like “Merci Beaucoup.” The creamy angel hair pasta warrants the suggested 15g caviar on top, and other less-pricey classics like the tuna crudo and filet mignon are more than satisfying.

This Middle Eastern-themed clubstaurant in the West Loop may belong in a grown-up version of Epcot, but it works well for big (and small) groups looking for dinner, entertainment, and a little dancing all in one. Show up after 8pm on weekends for huge kabob platters piled high with rice and mezze accompanied by belly dances and variety shows. An hour or two later, things really ramp up once the multi-level main dining room turns into a dance party complete with strobe lights and a DJ.