‹ Holidays · The Chicago food guide
Thanksgiving to New Year's · 2026-27
The holidays in Chicago
The tree goes up in Millennium Park on November 20 and the German market opens the same night. Here's the lights weekend, the Walnut Room under its tree, stollen from the old German bakeries, who's open Christmas Eve, and where to eat on New Year's Eve.
Photo: Daniel X. O'Neil from USA, CC BY 2.0The dates to know
- Fri, Nov 20 · in 13 daysCity tree lighting in Millennium Park, 6pmFrom Choose Chicago
- Nov 20 to Dec 24 · in 13 daysChristkindlmarket at Daley Plaza (Wrigleyville runs to Dec 31)From NBC Chicago
- Nov 20 to Jan 3 · in 13 daysZooLights at Lincoln Park ZooFrom Choose Chicago
- Sat, Nov 21 · in 14 daysMagnificent Mile Lights Festival: parade at 5:30pm, fireworks over the river at 7pmFrom Choose Chicago
- Thu, Nov 26Thanksgiving ›
- Thu, Dec 24Christmas Eve ›
- Thu, Dec 31New Year's Eve
The Christmas markets
Where to drink something hot and buy something you can eat on the walk.
1
Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza
Get: Glühwein in the year's collectible mug, and a bratwurst.
America's best-known German Christmas market, in the middle of the Loop.
Weekday lunch is easiest; Friday and Saturday nights are packed.
From Radical Storage, Ultimate Christmas Markets · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo: Daniel X. O'Neil from USA, CC BY 2.0
2A photo like it
Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville
Get: The same market, next to the ballpark, and open a week longer.
The one to go to between Christmas and New Year's.
Red Line to Addison.
From The Better Vacation · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Daniel X. O'Neil from USA, CC BY 2.0
The lights
The lights worth leaving dinner for, in walking order.
3A photo like it
Chicago's Christmas tree
Look for: The tree with the skyline behind it, then skating at the McCormick Tribune rink.
A century-old city tradition, and free.
Two blocks from the Christkindlmarket: do both.
From Choose Chicago · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Daniel X. O'Neil from USA, CC BY 2.0
4A photo like it
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Look for: The parade lighting up the avenue, then fireworks over the river.
The night the Mag Mile's million lights come on.
Stand near the river end for the fireworks.
From Choose Chicago · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Daniel X. O'Neil from USA, CC BY 2.0
5A photo like it
ZooLights
Look for: Three million lights around the old zoo.
The city's favorite lights for families.
Check the zoo's site for free nights.
From Choose Chicago · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Daniel X. O'Neil from USA, CC BY 2.0
The holiday sweets
Where to buy the stollen and the bûche. Order ahead: the good ones sell out in the last week.
6A photo like it
Dinkel's Bakery
Get: The stollen. The only change to the recipe since 1922: butter instead of lard.
A family German bakery for over a century.
They ship it, too.
From Enjoy Illinois · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Gürgi, Public domain
7A photo like it
Weber's Bakery
Get: Old-world stollen, kolaczki and pfeffernüsse.
A South Side holiday cookie tray done the old way.
Get a mixed tray for the hotel.
From Unearth the Voyage · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Gürgi, Public domain
8A photo like it
Toni Patisserie
Get: Holiday stollen packed with fruit and nuts, and bûches.
The French holiday table, a block from Millennium Park.
Order bûches ahead.
From Chicago Food Magazine · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Jebulon, CC0
Christmas dinner
The Christmas dinners Chicagoans go back to.
9A photo like it
The Walnut Room
Get: Lunch under the Great Tree.
A Chicago Christmas tradition since the Marshall Field's days; renamed to honor Marshall Field's in 2025.
It books up fast. Reserve as soon as holiday reservations open.
From Axios Chicago, NBC Chicago · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Ruth Hartnup, CC BY 2.0
10A photo like it
The Berghoff
Get: Schnitzel and a house beer in the festive dining room.
Open since 1898, one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in the country.
A walk from the Christkindlmarket.
From FOX 32 Chicago, Axios Chicago · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve dinners worth booking now.
Italian cooking with a view of the park.
Check the 2026 menu.
From Secret Chicago · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
12A photo like it
312 Chicago
Get: The four-course Italian prix fixe.
An easy New Year's dinner before the theater district.
Check the 2026 menu.
From Time Out Chicago · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Jürgen Howaldt, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
13A photo like it
Chicago Cut Steakhouse
Get: The regular steak menu, no prix fixe.
If you want a steak and not a set menu.
Book a river-view table.
From Time Out Chicago, Restaurants for Kings, 2026 · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Thomon, CC BY-SA 4.0
On the map
Plan your holiday trip
Tell Chef your dates and where you're staying. He puts the markets, the lights and the dinners you save into your Trips and fills the days around them. Free, no password.
More for your trip
The holidays somewhere else
JJonahJackalope17 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in New York
From the tree going up on November 7 to the ball dropping on New Year's Eve.
Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris17 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Paris
The Champs-Élysées lit from late November, the Christmas market by Notre-Dame, the bûches de Noël from the great pâtissiers, the réveillon dinners on the 24th, the Saint-Sylvestre on the 31st, and the galette des rois in January..
Les Hull15 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in London
The West End lit from early November, Winter Wonderland and the river markets, the mince pies worth crossing town for, who's serving Christmas Day (the Tube doesn't run), and the New Year's Eve dinners. With our own holiday Almanac..
Nicholas Gemini15 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Rome
Rome does Christmas around the table.
Kstipek13 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Vienna
The Christkindlmarkt in front of the Rathaus, Punsch at Spittelberg, the chandeliers over the Graben, Vanillekipferl from Demel, carp and a long dinner on the 24th, and the whole Innere Stadt out on the Silvesterpfad on the 31st..
Jordiferrer8 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Barcelona
The Santa Llúcia fair in front of the cathedral, the lights up Passeig de Gràcia, turrón from the old shops on Portal de l'Àngel, a long Christmas lunch on the 25th, canelons on Sant Esteve, and grapes at midnight on the 31st..
Luis García (Zaqarbal)10 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Madrid
The market in the Plaza Mayor, the lights down Gran Vía and Alcalá, turrón from Casa Mira, Lhardy's consommé on Christmas Eve, twelve grapes under the clock at Sol, churros at dawn, and the roscón for the Three Kings on January 6..
Alf van Beem6 picks · markets, lights, sweets
The holidays in Amsterdam
The Light Festival on the canals, skating on Museumplein, oliebollen from a stall in the cold, a long Christmas with two days off, and a New Year's Eve that, from this year, moves to Museumplein..
Good to know
What are the best Christmas markets in Chicago?
Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza (The Loop, November 20 to December 24 (free)); Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville (Wrigley Field, Through December 31).
Where are the best Christmas lights in Chicago?
The Loop walk: market, tree, Walnut Room: Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, then The Walnut Room, then Chicago's Christmas tree, then Toni Patisserie. About 1.5 km, all within the Loop.
Where can you buy the stollen and the bûche in Chicago?
Dinkel's Bakery: The stollen. The only change to the recipe since 1922: butter instead of lard. Weber's Bakery: Old-world stollen, kolaczki and pfeffernüsse. Toni Patisserie: Holiday stollen packed with fruit and nuts, and bûches.
Where to eat on New Year's Eve in Chicago?
Acanto (Michigan Avenue, across from the Art Institute): Chef Rodolfo Cuadros's six-course New Year's Eve dinner. 312 Chicago (The Loop, by Hotel Allegro): The four-course Italian prix fixe. Chicago Cut Steakhouse (River North, on the river): The regular steak menu, no prix fixe.
Every pick was checked on November 8, 2026 and says where Chef found it. Market dates, holiday hours and menus change, and some places haven't posted 2026 yet (each card says which year it's from): check before you go. Photos marked "a photo like it" aren't of that place. Chef Amazing isn't paid by any place here. Something wrong or missing? hello@chefamazing.com.
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