Four Things In Chicago Not to Miss This Month
- So Long Summer Fridays: We hate to say it, but the Summer Friday countdown is officially on. Before your early work-departure privileges fade away into the fall, dive into our Summer Friday guide of where to go after you slam the laptop shut for the weekend. From spritzes to housemade rosemary tigelle for lunch at the West Loop’s white-hot Monteverde to happy hour in the Loop over bistro sliders and sazeracs at Bistro Monadnock and wine with a side of stunning riverwalk views at City Winery over golden hour, we’ve got your day (and evening) covered. If you’d rather hit the road, check our road trip guide, for easy trips less than four hours away for tasting menus, tried-and-true standbys, and restaurants right on the water. And for more inspiration, check out our full list of guides here.
- You Say Tomato, We Say Yes, Please: Since mid-July, we’ve seen restaurants blowing up their socials with colorful photos of fresh tomatoes, and captions bursting with excitement over the arrival of the juiciest gems of summer. Longman & Eagle is featuring a tomato trifecta with an heirloom tomato salad dressed in tomato water koji and tomato ponzu; while Cafe Yaya is also adding a new tomato salad, and slathering their heirloom tomato jam on everything from the lamb bacon BLT to the breakfast boreka. At City Winery’s Fruits of Summer Chef and Winemaker Dinner on August 28 you’ll find chilled tomato gazpacho and salmon with tomato jam as part of their seasonal four-course meal (there’s also plenty of corn, peaches, melon and wines to match). If you’d rather have tomatoes in sauce form, and preferably as a hearty layer in a storied slice of deep dish, find out how the famous pizza comes together at the legendary Pequod’s, and dig into one yourself.
- New on Resy: There are a slew of new restaurants for you to check out this month, and the most colorful might be Ezankaya Bann Suan’s new location in Lincoln Park, where cherry blossoms hang from the ceiling and Thai street food like fresh papaya salads and grilled beef skewers abound. At the homey and rustic Oak & Honey in Lakeview East, it’s all about the breads, pastries, pies, and full lunch and dinner menus. Not far is the cozy and community-focused Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar with charcuterie, cheese, and seasonal dishes like scallops and BBQ jollof lamb chops, and an impressive wine list. Want a different vibe, scene, and perspective? Perched 29 floors atop the Chicago Hotel Collection is the Midnight Noir Lounge and Skydeck, the tallest outdoor sky deck in the city, with DJ sets on weekends, espresso martini flights, and fashion shows playing on outdoor screens. Check out all the new openings here.
- Make the Most of August: Even though the warm temps usually stretch into fall, we still recommend making the most of August. Keep the kids busy before school ramps up at DixiePura Kitchen on August 4th for a hands-on cooking class and lunch in Bronzeville. For more adult-focused fun, City Winery Chicago’s patio in the West Loop is celebrating the wind down of summer with a free (but reservations are recommended) Rosé All Day party on August 15. It’s also the perfect month to switch up your sundae game at Longman & Eagle, where every Monday at 5 p.m. features a weekly guest chef-created sundae as part of the Osbeach menu (start with dessert and end with dinner in the dining room). The vibe reaches all-out tropics level on August 27th at The Duck Inn for their monthly BBQ pig roast on the Tiki-torch lit patio, with live music and surprisingly good Spam-inspired cocktails. Check out more events here.
New to the Hit List (August 2026)
Cariño, Txa Txa Club, Cerdito Muerto, Smyth
