Acanto Chicago

Acanto sits at 18 S Michigan Ave, directly across from the greenery of Millennium Park. This classic and contemporary Italian restaurant holds a 2024 Wine Spectator Excellence Award.

The room runs smart, feeling dressier than the casual cafes tucked deeper into the Loop. While visitors often funnel toward the nearby Art Institute of Chicago, the main reason to stop here is the focus on the cellar over the spectacle. You get a far more serious wine list than at the crowded bistros lining the park edge, which is exactly why it acts as an antidote to the tourist crush outside. It feels like a destination for those who want their Italian cooking precise and their pace intentional, rather than just another stop on a sightseeing loop.