Decades of Dining
Historical restaurants and eateries in Chicago
With dozens of new restaurants popping up across the city and beyond, consider returning to the basics and visiting some of Chicago’s oldest restaurants, eateries, and bakeries. These Windy City staples have been serving generations of Chicagoans, providing top-notch food, quality service, and a classic Chi-town experience for guests. Learn more about the history of these special places that have all thrived for over a century.
Daley’s Restaurant, Est. 1892
Daley’s Restaurant is considered to be the oldest restaurant currently operational in the city of Chicago. John Daley, a young Irish ironworker (unrelated to Mayor Daley), founded Daley’s Restaurant in 1892 to serve local construction workers. He opened a “temporary” diner at 809 East 63rd Street—which soon became the enduring Daley’s Restaurant. In 1918, he sold the restaurant to two young Greek immigrants, Tom Kyros and Paul Emmanuel, who came to America in search of the American Dream. Since then, Daley’s Restaurant has been a family-owned restaurant serving fresh, homestyle meals. In 2018, the iconic restaurant moved across the street from its original location, allowing for continued success during its next century of service.
Photo courtesy of The Berghoff Restaurant
The Berghoff, Est. 1898
In 1870, Herman Berghoff emigrated from Germany to America, eventually opening his own brewery in Indiana. When the World’s Fair came to Chicago in 1893, Berghoff set up a stand, selling his beers for only a nickel to people entering and exiting the fair. His success at the fair inspired him to open a more permanent shop, and The Berghoff was born. When Prohibition hit, Berghoff used this setback as an opportunity to expand his offerings into classic German fare and sodas. Thirteen years later, Herman obtained Chicago’s first post-Prohibition liquor license, reopening the bar and the restaurant. This momentous occasion became a yearly tradition, and The Berghoff now always receives the city’s first liquor license. The restaurant has been 100% family-owned and operated for over a century, and many staff members have worked at the restaurant for generations.
The Walnut Room, Est. 1907
MacysRestaurants.com/Walnut-Room
The world-famous Walnut Room was the first ever restaurant inside a department store, also making it the longest running restaurant inside a department store. It opened in 1907 as the South Tea Room inside Marshall Field’s (now Macy’s), but it became known among the ladies of Chicago as the Walnut Room due to its Circassian walnut paneling imported from Russia and Austrian crystal chandeliers. By 1937, it was officially named The Walnut Room. The 17,000-square-foot dining room was one of the first places deemed socially acceptable for women to socialize in the early 20th century, leading to the popularization of department store restaurants. Since then, the restaurant’s elegance and historical significance have cemented it as a Chicago staple, especially during Christmastime. Generations have traveled to see the marvelous 45-foot tree that hangs from the ceiling and experience popular menu items like Mrs. Hering’s 1890 Original Chicken Pot Pie.
Photo courtesy of Ferrara Bakery
Ferrara Bakery, Est. 1908
Salvatore Ferrara was just 16 years old when he emigrated to the United States from Nola, Italy, in 1900. Armed with the skills of Italian pastry making, he was inspired to open the first Italian pastry and candy shop on Taylor Street in Chicago’s Little Italy. He soon became known across the city for his pastries and wedding cakes. He later met and married Serafina Pagano, known as a dynamic business personality and philanthropist, and the two worked together to grow Ferrara Bakery. While Pagano worked at the bakery, Ferrara pursued an additional venture focused on candy. Ferrara Pan Candy Company would become one of the most prominent candy manufacturers in the world thanks to their iconic creations like Lemonheads and Red Hots. Today, it’s one of the world’s leading confectionery companies. Back on Taylor Street, the third generation of Ferraras continues Salvatore’s legacy, creating delicious desserts with fresh ingredients.
Photo courtesy of Lou Mitchell’s
Lou Mitchell’s, Est. 1923
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and William Mitchell took that message to heart. In 1923, he opened a restaurant named after his son, Lou, that was the first diner in Chicago to serve breakfast food all day. Lou Mitchell’s specialized in classic breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu items, many of which have become trademarks of the American breakfast. In 1949, the restaurant moved across the street, where it remains today. Guests in 2025 can experience a wonderfully similar experience to diners in the mid-20th century; much of the restaurant is unchanged. Outside, Lou’s famous neon sign from 1949 advertises “the world’s finest coffee.” Inside, original wood booths, seats, and stools enhance the classic Lou’s experience. The restaurant was passed down to Lou himself, who ran the restaurant into his 70s and later sold it to his niece, Katherine Thanas, in 1992. The restaurant remains in the Thanas family today.
