Decked Out Restaurants for the Holidays
[Last updated in November 2024]
Your guide to the most festive restaurants in Chicago and the suburbs.
Looking for a place to eat delicious food and drinks, all while being surrounded by twinkling lights and beautiful decorations? Check out the list of restaurant options below!
BONUS: Restaurants underlined in gold have historically been open on Christmas Day [please still confirm business hours with the restaurant, before going!].
City Restaurants
Photo of Santa Baby Bar via Facebook
Butch McGuire’s
20 W Division St, Chicago
Delighting customers since 1961, Butch McGuire’s is dubbed Chicago’s 1st Christmas bar. They go all out with their decorations, including a model train that rides around the bar. There’s a kids menu available and brunch on the weekends!
Draft Bar Chicago
8221 W Irving Park Rd
Bring your kids over to Draft Bar during the day, to check out the bar’s transformation into a pop-up Winter Wonderland. Please note, this place is not kid-friendly in the later evenings.
Frosty’s Christmas Bar
809 W Evergreen, Chicago
More of an immersive experience, bring your kids prior 7p, at this ultimate Christmas Holiday adventure. There is no full service menu available, but there are small snacks and drinks for purchase.
Happy’s Holiday Pop-Up Bar
12 Michigan Ave, Chicago
Located at the Chicago Athletic Association, Happy's is an all-out explosion of all things holiday: over-the-top decor, seasonal tunes and twinkling lights.
Lumberjack Lodge at Smoke Daddy’s
3636 N Clark St, Chicago
The Lumberjack Lodge is back in Wrigleyville. Come for the festive holiday decor and stay for world-class BBQ.
Le Sud
2301 W Roscoe St, Chicago
This Mediterranean restaurant in Roscoe Village hosts a kid-friendly Let it Snow Pop-up. With festive food and drinks, guests can enjoy the holiday decorations in its main dining room or enclosed sidewalk cafe.
Lady Gregory’s
5260 N Clark St
A beautifully decorated Irish Gastro Pub. They also have an annual Children’s Book Drive- donate a book and get a complimentary photo with Santa!
Moe’s Cantina
3518 N Clark St, Chicago
It’s Whoville at Moe’s Cantina (Wrigleyville location only)! The legendary Grinch will welcome you into the bar with twinkling lights on display, Christmas trees and other holiday decor. Kids are welcome before 9p.
Santa Baby Bar
3505 N Clark Street
A local favorite for an over the top holiday experience. Immerse yourself in the multi-room and multi-level festive photo ops, guaranteed to put anyone in the holiday spirit.
JoJo’s Shake Bar
23 W Hubbard St, Chicago
The over-the-top holiday decor matches their over-the-top Biggie Shakes. Also serving classic diner fair and cocktails, during the season, their holiday activities include ornament painting, gingerbread house decorating and so much more!
Cook County
Photo of Pit & Tap via Tock
Choo Choo Restaurant
600 Lee St, Des Plaines
Dubbed as “Hamburgers on Wheels”, sit with your kids up at the counter and have your food delivered via a model train.
Easy Street Pizza
711 Devon, Park Ridge
For the entire month of December, Easy Street Pizza in Park Ridge, turns its restaurant into a Little Nero’s Pizza and Home Alone theme. Enjoy their festive food & cocktail menu, amongst the floor to ceiling decor.
Pit & Tap
1168 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette
This Texas style BBQ joint goes all out for the holidays with their “Deck the Halls” calendar of events, throughout the season.
Hackney’s
1241 Harms Rd, Glenview
1514 E Lake Ave, Glenview
Try a World Famous Hackney Burger and follow them on Facebook to learn more about the different holiday events they do, such as Lunch with Santa, holiday Carolers, and dining in their cozy festive domes.
Crust Brewing
5500 Park Place, Rosemont
Brick oven pizza, craft beer and signature cocktails, located in Parkway Bank Park.
Hey Nonny
10 South Vail Avenue, Arlington Heights
Bring the kids in to listen to festive music at this intimate live music venue and separate gastropub. There will be holiday shows and carolers alike; all shows are intended for all ages, unless otherwise noted.
The Original Pancake House
106 S Northwest Hwy, Park Ridge
Your kids will love visiting this pancake house and seeing the large Christmas tree with trains running around it.
Cortland’s Garage
1 North Vail Ave, Arlington Heights
Check out the Home Alone pop up decorations and enjoy their holiday menu with festive food and cocktails.
Tony D’s
7725 W Belmont Ave, Elmwood Park
This sports bar is under new management but that doesn’t change the festive decorations and multiple holiday events they host, such as Christmas karaoke and holiday pop-up shopping.
DuPage County / Kane County
Photo of Reserve 22 via Facebook
Arrowhead Golf Club
26W151 Butterfield Rd, Wheaton
The halls are decked out at this country club with a beautiful tree and other holiday decor. The restaurant and bar will also be offering complimentary gift wrapping to dine-in guests!
Reserve 22
485 Winchell Way, Glen Ellyn
Serving New American & scratch kitchen food, Reserve 22 has a gorgeous display of holiday decor. Be sure to catch Santa when he’s scheduled to be there too!
Dukes Northwoods
7 E Main St, St Charles
Decorated like you’re in the North Pole, Dukes also has holiday activities such as cookie decorating and ornament decorating.
Prancer’s Pub at Hyatt Lodge
2815 Jorie Blvd, Oak Brook
The Hyatt Lodge’s first ever pop-up! Step into a Winter Wonderland with over-the-top holiday decor, specialty cocktails and an exclusive holiday menu.
JoJo’s Shake Bar
5 Jackson Ave, Naperville
The over-the-top holiday decor matches their over-the-top Biggie Shakes. Also serving classic diner fair and cocktails, during the season, their holiday activities include ornament painting, gingerbread house decorating and so much more!
Lake County / McHenry County
Photo of Kelsey Road House via Facebook
Chessie’s
200 Applebee Street, Barrington
This unique restaurant was built around an original train station and has the option to dine inside an old train car.
Kelsey Road House
352 Kelsey Rd, Lake Barrington
Make your reservations to dine in their decked-out basement. Holiday events throughout the season include Cocoa & Crafts, photos with Santa and a Holiday Food Drive.
Lindy’s Landing
115 Park Street, Wauconda
Dine at this delicious New American restaurant in their beautifully decorated dining room that overlooks the water or snag a drink in their outdoor heated holiday bar.
Sorelle
3976 IL-22, Long Grove
An authentic Italian Street Food & Wine Market cafe, with fresh items on the menu such as breads & pastries, gourmet sandwiches & paninis, Italian-style pizzas, pastas, desserts and organic coffee & tea.
The Lantern of Lake Forest
768 N Western Ave, Lake Forest
A family owned pub serving bar bites, such as burgers & buffalo wings.
The Silo Restaurant
625 Rockland Road, Lake Bluff
Enjoy some of the best pizza on the North Shore, while a G Scale train chugs around the restaurant overhead.
Sunset Grill
25276 W Grass Lake Rd, Antioch
A tropical-themed restaurant and bar located on the shores of Bluff Lake in Antioch, serving pub-style food and refreshing drinks.
Windhill Pancake Parlor
3307 W Elm St, McHenry
Snowflakes & syrup, tinsel & toast- bring your kids to this delicious pancake house and soak up the holiday charm, as a model train carries your food to you. There are also opportunities to see Santa!
Will County
Photo of White Fence Farm via Midwest Wanderer
White Fence Farm
1376 Joliet Road, Romeoville
Quite possibly serving “The World’s Greatest Chicken”, their festive holiday decorations this year, includes a new Winter Village.
Stagecoach Eatery & Saloon
1028 S State St, Lockport
Visit their Christmas pop-up, Santa’s Saloon- an over-the-top decorated holiday bar, set in an 1850s Western Style Saloon.
Where are your favorite restaurants to dine at during the holiday season? Let me know in the comments!
‘Tis the season for holiday markets and festive decor! But even better if you pair that with a local farm that sells fresh produce, baked goods or Christmas trees, or has a petting and feeding zoo.