New restaurant guide features the best of Chicago dining

Airbnb and the Illinois Restaurant Association, with the support of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, announced the launch of Airbnb’s Chicago Restaurant Guide, an online hub for locals and visitors that highlights stays nearby some of the best food that Chicago has to offer. The guide features restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bars, and more, all recommended by local Chicago Hosts who open up their homes in some of the city’s most unique and vibrant neighborhoods. 

The restaurant industry has been impacted by the pandemic, and Airbnb is proud to support recovery by spotlighting local favorites in Pilson, Hyde Park, Andersonville, Logan Square, Bronzeville, and Chinatown. The guide will target potential travelers and local Hosts across Illinois and will include a curated list of restaurants nearby other attractions and small businesses, including shops, museums, cultural landmarks, parks, art installations, and more. 

This partnership is part of a collaborative effort to support Chicago’s visitor economy and local small businesses. In 2021, tourism in the Windy City generated an estimated $9.83 billion in total economic impact and supported more than 95,400 jobs in 2021 according to the Choose Chicago 2021 Annual Report. Airbnb helps keep more of the economics of travel in the communities where it happens because Hosts keep the vast majority of what they charge and guests spend locally at restaurants, coffee shops, and other small businesses. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Airbnb in support of our local Chicago restaurants and small businesses,” said Sam Toia, Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO. “This guide will help remind locals and visitors of what makes Chicago’s food scene so unique during a critical time of recovery.” 

“Chicago’s restaurant scene is second to none, and as the independent voice of the Chicago business community, the Chicagoland Chamber is proud to partner with Airbnb to highlight our world-class restaurants,” said Jack Lavin, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “Our members in the restaurant and hospitality industry are a critical part of what makes our city so unique and are helping to put Chicago front-and-center as a top global culinary destination.”

In 2021, Hosts in Chicago welcomed nearly 435,000 guests, including to neighborhoods not traditionally served by hotels. Many Hosts often serve as local tour guides for guests. In a recent survey,¹ 58 percent of US guests reported their Hosts recommended restaurants and cafes, with 52 percent of guests saying those recommendations were within the local neighborhood of the stay. 

“By opening up their homes to travelers from around the world, Airbnb Hosts support the local economy and small businesses,” said Viviana Jordan, Airbnb’s Midwest Public Policy Lead. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Illinois Restaurant Association and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to help travelers discover and explore Chicago’s incredible and diverse food scene.” 

Airbnb is proud to help keep more of the returns of tourism in the communities and neighborhoods where it takes place, creating economic opportunity for families and bringing new customers to small businesses. Hosts keep the vast majority of what they charge for their listing and more than half of what guests spend during their US trips – 51 percent in 2021* – occurs in neighborhoods where they stay, supporting local small businesses like the ones featured in this recent Chicago guide.²