How to Ring in New Year’s Eve 2025 in Chicago

By Dave Lifton (@daveeatschicago)

Per tradition, thousands will congregate at Navy Pier, where the New Year will be greeted with 10 minutes of fireworks. Prior to midnight, you can check out the Winter Wonderfest, and several of the pier’s restaurants—Bar Sol, Lirica, Margaritaville, and Harry Caray’s Tavern—all have special events planned for the occasion.

For the first time, Chicago will take part in ABC’s broadcast of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. Gather along the Riverwalk for a night’s worth of activities starting at 7 p.m. with a special Art on the Mart, followed by nearly three hours of music, including Grammy-winning blues singer Shemekia Copeland. At 11:50, local hero Chance the Rapper takes the stage until it’s time for fireworks on the river on the stroke of 2026.

In the Loop, Petterino’s isn’t waiting until midnight to celebrate. The Italian restaurant is having hourly toasts from 5 p.m. to recognize the New Year as it happens in Paris, London, the Azores, Greenland, Rio de Janeiro, Puerto Rico, New York, and finally, Chicago. Rather than champagne, each toast will be with a different cocktail based on the location. We can only hope that Chicago’s doesn’t involve Malort.

A short walk from the festivities on the river, Tanta in River North has a Peruvian seven-course prix-fixe dinner ($95). Among the dishes are miso short rib, grilled octopus with a pesto puree, lamb chop with Andean herbs and quinoa risotto, and a hamachi ceviche.

After, Michelin-starred Curtis Duffy’s lounge in Fulton Market, is having a ‘70s-themed New Year’s Eve party. For $150, you’ll get unlimited cocktails, bites, and music from a live band, with a Champagne toast at midnight.

Welcome the new year on the water through City Experiences, which has a trio of three-hour cruises starting at $273. Choose from Lake Michigan (buffet or plated meal) or the Chicago River (plated only), with Silver, Gold, and Platinum Packages available. A two-hour brunch cruise on the lake (from $95) is also available. All ships depart from Navy Pier.

Paint the town and all that jazz at Untitled Supper Club, a River North lounge inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies. Fatale: New Year’s Eve 2026 ($100) features three stages of cabaret, aerial, circus, and burlesque performances based on the classic musical Chicago.

The glamorous side of the Roaring Twenties is on display at the newly relocated and expanded Kit Kat Club in Northalsted, where the theme is The Great Gatsby. A $90 ticket (seatings at 6 and 8 p.m.) gets you a four-course prix-fixe dinner, two of its signature martinis, Champagne, and the Kit Kat’s famous drag show. Dinner guests can stay through to the dance party ($30) that begins at 10 p.m.

Similarly, Bronzeville Winery on the South Side is becoming the Emerald City, with a four-course meal by Chef Brandon Rogers at 5:30 and 8 p.m.) that includes a welcome cocktail and Champagne at midnight. Blues guitarist Michael Damani will perform from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.

Lincoln Park’s cozy, intimate Geja’s Café has a special version of its famous fondue dinner, with seatings at 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. The three-course meal ($125) includes vegetables, bread, and fruit dipped in Swiss Gruyère cheese; salad; Australian lobster tail, beef tenderloin, and gulf shrimp with eight dipping sauces; Belgian chocolate fondue for dessert; and a glass of Canard-Duchene Parcelle 181 Extra Brut Champagne.

A more casual experience can be had at Bub City. The doors to the popular River North BBQ spot open at 9 p.m., with live country music and dancing starting an hour later. Tickets are $20, and does not include food or drinks.

South Loop’s Moody Tongue, the only brewery to receive a Michelin star, has a 10-course meal ($195) created especially for New Year’s Eve, starting with a welcoming glass of Champagne. Three types of beer pairings are available for an additional fee. Seatings take place at 5 and 7:30 p.m.

Also laid-back, but all-inclusive, the New Year’s Eve parties at Wicker Park’s Easy Bar and Bucktown’s Remedy (both $100) have an open bar (except shots) and a buffet. Enjoy a DJ throughout the evening and midnight Champagne.

Across the street from Wrigley Field, Mordecai’s Vintage Countdown to Midnight ($125) features three classic cocktails (Daisy, Vieux Carre, and Grasshopper) plus canapés and Champagne at midnight.

Lastly, why spend New Year’s Eve at one place when you can hit five? Crawl ‘Til the Ball Falls starts at Headquarters Beercade and stops at four other River North bars, all of which have drink specials for participants, from 5 p.m.-2 a.m.

If you’re going out on New Year’s Eve, public transportation is recommended. The region’s three transit systems—CTA, Metra, and Pace—will be offering free rides throughout the evening.