More than 55 million people visit Chicago each year, and most follow the same loop: Riverwalk strolls, selfies at the Bean and deep-dish detours on every corner. The city performs beautifully for visitors, but there’s another Chicago beyond the crowds. Locals know the real city is in neighborhoods that keep their charm without chasing attention.
Photo credit: Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
Chicago’s Gold Coast: History, charm and quiet wealth
Just north of the Magnificent Mile, the Gold Coast emerged during Chicago’s Gilded Age. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, wealthy families rebuilt along the lakefront, creating a neighborhood of marble townhomes and limestone mansions that still stand today.
Despite its proximity to the city’s busiest shopping corridor, the Gold Coast feels a world apart. Boutiques, galleries and discreet cocktail lounges line Oak and State streets, where regulars outnumber tourists. In warmer months, the area spills toward Oak Street Beach, where joggers, cyclists and locals gather by the water. Luxury hotels tuck themselves quietly between residential blocks, offering the kind of refined calm that defines the area’s appeal. This is where Chicago sheds its hustle and shows its polish.
I visited in October, when the trees along State Street were starting to turn and the air carried a hint of lake chill. Shoppers moved in and out of storefronts, and cafes filled with locals ending the workday. It’s an easy part of the city to walk, and an easier one to linger in.
Inside the Waldorf Astoria
The Waldorf Astoria Chicago fits the Gold Coast’s understated tone. Set behind a gated courtyard on Walton Street, it blends seamlessly with the local architecture. Inside, marble, brass and low lighting replace the noise of downtown.
I stopped in for dinner and drinks, curious how the hotel balances luxury with neighborhood warmth. Even walking through the lobby, it was clear why locals choose it for special occasions: it is elegant but relaxed and polished without pretension.
Dinner at Brass Tack
On the third floor, Brass Tack feels both classic and contemporary. Black-and-white checkered floors pull your eye through the space, while brass-trimmed Art Deco fixtures cast a soft glow that warms the room without overdoing it. Leather banquettes line the walls, and the bar commands the center. The restaurant is lively but never loud; it’s a space that invites conversation instead of competition for volume.
I chose a seat near the bar, where regulars greeted each other by name and the staff moved with an easy precision that comes from familiarity. The menu reads like a love letter to Midwestern ingredients, filtered through a brasserie lens.
Dishes include deviled eggs elevated with Baeri caviar, pickled mustard seeds and crispy capers, a small bite that captures the restaurant’s entire philosophy: familiar foundations with refined execution. The trumpet mushrooms, seared until golden and plated like scallops, blur the line between vegetable and entree. And the Wagyu cocktail smokies rethink bar food entirely, coming out juicy, smoky and the kind of dish you order twice.
For something indulgent, the six-spice-butter lobster risotto delivers pure comfort, rich without being heavy. The kitchen also features seasonal produce from Babe Farms and local cheesemakers; even the simplest side salad, labeled as local greens, was well constructed and delicious.
Pastry Chef Jose Antonio summed up the approach perfectly: “We love creating dishes that everyone would love.” His dessert list balances nostalgia with finesse, with creations like lemon meringue, blueberry layer cake with mascarpone and bruleed cheesecake that lands somewhere between airy and decadent. I went with the blueberry cake, layered, soft and not too sweet. It was a smart finish after a terrific meal that was impressive without being showy.
A nightcap below the noise
Down one level, Bernard’s offered low light, dark wood and a steady soundtrack of quiet conversation. I ordered the signature smoked cocktail, served under a glass dome. The bartender worked through the ritual with the torch, the smoke and the slow reveal that turns a drink into theater. When the lid lifted, a swirl of oak-scented smoke drifted across the bar, and the glass glowed softly in the light.
The bar had locals winding down and couples sharing a drink before heading upstairs. It was calm, confident and exactly what I’d hoped to find.
A city worth slowing down for
Chicago is known for its skyline and its crowds, but its best moments often happen out of sight. The Waldorf Astoria, Brass Tack and Bernard’s reveal a more relaxed side of the city; a side built on ease, not excess.
I came for dinner and left reminded that the Chicago locals love is still here. It’s the kind of place they treasure quietly, and it’s one most of those 55 million visitors will never find.
Mandy is a luxury travel, fine dining and bucket list adventure journalist with expert insight from 46 countries. She uncovers unforgettable experiences around the world and brings them to life through immersive storytelling that blends indulgence, culture and discovery, and shares it all with a global audience as co-founder of Food Drink Life. Her articles appear on MSN and through the Associated Press Wire in major U.S. outlets, including NBC, the Daily News, Boston Herald, Chicago Sun-Times and many more.
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