Lisa Arnett

Don’t dismiss Naperville’s food scene as a load of chain restaurants, pickup bars and spots frequented mainly by North Central College students. Its food scene has been booming over the last few years, and if you don’t know, it’s time to get to know.  From the Water Street District to further afield, this city is awash with great foodie spots; whether you’re looking for Peruvian sandwiches, fluffy falafel or plates of curry and paratha, you’ll find it all here. Oh, and there’s more tasty options (plus easier parking) in strip malls along 75th Street or tucked among big-name chains on Freedom Drive off I-88. For bargains and splurge meals alike, read on for the best restaurants in Naperville.  RECOMMENDED:🍴 The best restaurants in Chicago📍 The best things to do in Chicago🌸 The most beautiful cities in the US This guide is by Illinois-based writer Lisa Arnett and Brock Wilbur, who was previously Time Out’s Midwest editor. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

After you take an obligatory selfie in front of the twinkling Chicago Theatre marquee, shift your gaze just to the east and you’ll see theWit Chicago with its neon-yellow zig-zag of glass running up the facade. This 27-floor tower was built in 2009 in the northeast corner of the Loop, a neighborhood named for the shape the elevated train (called ‘the L’ for short) makes as it coils around Chicago’s downtown business district. Newly renovated in 2023, theWit is all freshened up and ready for business travelers, wedding guests and bachelor/ette party revelers.  Why stay at theWit Chicago? With the Chicago River on one side and the lights of storied State Street on the other, theWit is well-situated among the city’s top attractions for travelers. One of the Chicago Transit Authority’s busiest L stations—State/Lake, originally built in 1985—is right outside theWit’s front door, making travel to even the furthest corners of the city pretty convenient. True to its name, the hotel is full of witty and whimsical touches, from the angels-wing chandeliers in the lobby to a custom art installation on the second floor featuring famous figures known for their wit, from author Emily Dickinson to actor Jackie Chan to comedian Steve Martin. Though the entire city is at your doorstep, theWit offers plenty of entertainment within its own walls, like live music Friday and Saturday nights in the first-floor restaurant, bumping DJ sets in the rooftop lounge and personal training sessions in the f