Top Near South Side Gala Venues

Chicago Empanada Mama is a vibrant and upscale, casual dining restaurant featuring Puerto Rican Cuisine. The warm ambiance with live plants and local art creates a welcoming space for special occasions. Their menu includes vegan and gluten-free options, alongside a full bar featuring rum and craft cocktails. Plan your next special occasion or event with Chicago Empanada Mama.

• Spaces for 200-250 Guests
• 1 Event Space

A corner building along a serene, off the beaten path stretch of Fulton in the far West Loop area of Chicago, Ovation Chicago has completely re-imagined and re-invented the old foundry building and created a highly versatile industrial loft space perfect for any event. Ovation Chicago is a creative and collaborative workspace during the week, but on weekends, the unbelievable space at Ovation Chicago becomes a blank canvas for event hosts interested in hosting a range of sophisticated and exciting celebrations. Weddings at Ovation Chicago are sure to have a unique and eclectic vibe. When you choose Ovation Chicago for your celebration, you will have your choice of tons of different amenities, including a private green room, in-house graphic designers, private VIP parking, a custom photo booth, and so much more. Our goal at Ovation Chicago is to wow you and give your guests a night to remember. Whether you're planning a corporate event, a fundraiser, an intimate birthday party, or an all-out bash, Ovation Chicago can customize your event and fill the celebration with your ideas. We want to ensure you remember your event for years to come.

• Spaces for 230-350 Guests
• 1 Event Space

Gallery 1500 brings the modern loft atmosphere to Chicago's Lincoln Park. inside our four walls, one of which are three retractable windows that can be open for your event, are polished concrete floors, towering ceilings, and all the natural light you could ask for. located in the NewCity Lifestyle and Entertainment District in Lincoln Park, gallery 1500 provides guests with entertainment options before and after event and easy access for every method of transportation.

• Spaces for 1 Guests
• 2 Restaurants

The first Earls Kitchen + Bar in Chicago, Earls Lincoln Park at Clybourn Corridor’s NEWCITY, offers a friendly, sophisticated setting to gather for lunch, dinner, after work or for a spirited night out. Enjoy globally inspired food, inventive drinks and excellent service. Earls Lincoln Park’s chefs prepare fresh, made-from-scratch dishes inspired by international cuisines and locally sourced ingredients with a nod to regional tastes including premium seafood, Marine Stewardship Council Certified Sustainable, and Creekstone Farms Certified Humane Black Angus beef. The beautifully designed, casually elegant environment offers a dining area with a relaxed culinary experience, side by side with a lively lounge and bar scene for the game. A 3-season patio with fire pits and custom seating welcomes you to enjoy a drink before a movie or dine out in finer weather. If you are walking down Clybourn have a peek into the world of a restaurant kitchen through windows open onto the street.

• Spaces for 80-150 Guests

The Fulton Table is a chef-driven private dining and event space located in Chicago’s Fulton Market. Designed for gatherings that center around food, the experience is built with the same intention and precision as a restaurant, while offering the privacy and flexibility of a dedicated event venue. Events are structured around a minimum investment and are fully inclusive of culinary, service, and foundational design. From there, clients have the option to elevate the environment through curated table settings, candle compositions, and room styling that reflect the tone of the evening. The result is a seamless experience where every element feels considered without becoming overdesigned. The space is used for corporate dinners, client entertaining, wedding weekend gatherings, and milestone celebrations. Daytime events include executive meetings, luncheons, and brand gatherings that benefit from a more refined culinary approach. As a chef-owned concept, the focus remains on the table itself. Guests are not moving through a program. They are seated, hosted, and engaged through the progression of the meal. The Fulton Table is designed for those who value a composed, food-forward experience in a private setting.

• Spaces for 18-350 Guests
• 5 Meeting Spaces

Just minutes from downtown Chicago, MxD offers multiple event spaces and advanced technology offerings. MxD is a perfect venue for small or large corporate events that fit upwards of 300 guests, including executive retreats, conferences, workshops, and product demonstrations. The experienced in house events team will help you design and deliver a seamless, high-impact experience from start to finish.

• Spaces for 100 Guests
• 1 Restaurant

“Love Piccolo, Love!” Gussie's is a project of passion inspired by co-owner David Thate's love of Italian cooking and serving friends and family. The inspiration of the restaurant comes from his grandmother Augusta “Gussie". For Thate, recounting the time being in the kitchen with grandma, helping her throw dinner parties for friends and family was always the best time. As Thate grew, he took what he learned not only from his own experiences with Grandma Gussie, but also his great aunts and his own travels to Italy. Gussie's Handmade Italian brings all those experiences together. The goal is to bring the joy of dining together to you by using the freshest ingredients and freshly made traditional Italian pastas. Looking for an old-school classic Chicago dining experience (bourbon cocktails, live jazz, and more)? Check out our sister restaurant, Tortoise Supper Club.

• Spaces for 500 Guests

Located on Chicago’s lakefront at North Avenue Beach, Castaways Beach Club offers a one-of-a-kind beachside experience in the heart of the city. Known for its iconic boat-shaped design, Castaways combines casual coastal energy with sweeping skyline and waterfront views, creating a vibrant destination for dining, drinks, private events, and summer celebrations. Guests can enjoy beach-inspired bites, frozen cocktails, and refreshing seasonal drinks just steps from the sand. Expansive open-air spaces create a lively atmosphere for everything from laid-back afternoons and sunset happy hours to corporate gatherings, brand activations, blowout birthday bashes, and large-scale private events. With its unbeatable location, energetic ambiance, and unmistakably Chicago backdrop, Castaways Beach Club delivers a summer experience unlike anywhere else in the city.

• Spaces for 50-7,000 Guests
• 4 Event Spaces

While the Salt Shed opened its gates for the first time in 2022, the Morton Salt complex it inhabits has been an iconic fixture in Chicago for nearly 100 years. The facility was once informally called the “Elston Dock” and was designed to house the local salt packaging and distribution operations. Now, the 4.2-acre Salt Shed complex offers an indoor and outdoor experience, multiple stages, riverfront views, built-in bars, and VIP experiences. The Salt Shed with the Fairgrounds is the ideal venue for large groups looking to host an exceptional event.

• Spaces for 50-75 Guests

Two stunning private event spaces totaling 2,500 square feet. Decorated with Murano crystal wall lamps, farmhouse dining tables, paintings from local artists and lush tropical greenery, Botánico offers the signature exotic vibe and atmosphere for which Bonhomme Group is known. High ceilings coupled with a wall-to wall skylight, rustic wood-paneled walls and a dramatic half-moon floor-to-ceiling window overlooking Division Street add to Botánico’s exceptional interior design. When your downstairs neighbors one of the city’s best Spanish restaurants and cocktail bars — Mama Delia & Bordel — private events and group dinners get a major upgrade. A restaurant and sherry bar, Michelin-bibbed Mama Delia offers a fresh take on what is happening in Spain right now, as a new generation of chefs and beverage professionals look beyond their region and country to discover new flavors and culinary traditions. Elevate your next event with craft cocktails and unconventional wines from Bordel and Mama Delia.

• Spaces for 130 Guests

Bordel // Parisian-inspired speakeasy with nightly music & entertainment. Through a hidden door and up the leopard-print stairs, you will find yourself inside Bordel, appointed with pink velvet sofas and drapes, tasseled chandeliers, vintage bronze “cherub” sconces, Persian Bokhara hand-knotted rugs and walls covered in custom, handcrafted wallpaper inspired by 20th century American pulp cover artistry. As the sun sets on Wicker Park, Bordel’s sumptuous candlelit interiors beckon with nightly entertainment on stage, offering a premier cast of jazz musicians and burlesque performers. The soul of Bordel lies in its spectacle. Be seduced by the sights, sounds and flavors of Bordel as you are transported to the licentious quarters of the City of Light with Chicago’s sexiest cabaret shows. Since its founding in 2014, Bordel has been Chicago’s leader in coupling high energy nightlife and creative craft cocktails. The originator of the “cocktail porrón”, a playful blend of our Spanish roots and indulgent love of great drinks, and our oft-imitated “World Famous Spanish Coffee”, the award-winning beverage team, continues to create unique “bordel-ed” twists on classic cocktails; matching the fun, irreverent spectacle of the venue with tipples that are as delicious in the glass as they are photogenic in your hand. When your downstairs neighbor is one of the city’s best Spanish restaurants — Mama Delia — event dining gets a major upgrade at Bordel. A delicious selection of dishes from Mama Delia's Event Menu is available at Bordel. Event Capacities: - Private Event // 130 Guests, Cocktail Style - Semi Private Event // 60 Guests, Cocktail Style

We are an authentic Spanish restaurant located in Chicago's vibrant Wicker Park neighborhood. At Black Bull, ingredients have always been the stars behind Spain’s culinary triumphs, and Chef Marcos Campos explores the exquisite products and flavors found throughout Spain to create a variety of dishes that represent the essential pleasures of his country’s traditions. Behind the bar, our team has created the most comprehensively "Spanish" beverage program in the City, featuring a Sherry List with over 30 selections, Spanish-style Gin & Tonics, House Cocktails infused with Spanish flavors, and a wide selection of Spanish beers and wines.

Little Black Pearl is a non-profit in the Brozeville Area in Chicago, IL. A beautifully designed modern event space used for corporate events, retreats, podcasts, artists, creatives, films, and more. 32 years serving the community and now currently provided event space for rent. 2747 sq ft Atrium with high ceilings and natural light. 1200 sq ft Black Wall event space 1200 sq ft C47 lounge. Rooftop decks, studio spaces, artistic services and more. LBP is great for various types of meetings, gatherings, parties, and retreats.

• Spaces for 12-225 Guests
• 1 Hotel
• 1 Ballroom
• 3 Total Spaces

Great ideas happen in Hotel Lincoln's great event spaces in downtown Chicago. Hotel Lincoln offers 1,300 square feet of meeting rooms and wedding venues with ample natural light and beautiful Lincoln Park views—all in a relaxed environment that encourages creativity and productivity. The team of professionals at Hotel Lincoln —from the front desk staff to the sales department—will work to make your event special and memorable. Hotel Lincoln offers flexible event space that is perfect for meetings, special celebrations, and weddings. The hotel offers customizable menus from J. Parker Rooftop Bar and assistance coordinating with local event professionals.

• Spaces for 30-200 Guests
• 2 Restaurants

Boka Chicago, the first of BRG’s restaurants, has a rich culinary tradition over its 10 years. With 4 consecutive Michelin Stars, a Food & Wine's Best New Chef and Pastry Chef already under its belt, Boka Chicago continues to evolve with new Chef/Partner Lee Wolen. Boka Chicago has gone through an extensive redesign with acclaimed design group Simeone Deary. The glass enclosed terrace may be reserved fully private with a three to five course tasting menu from Chef Wolen’s contemporary American cuisine. Full buyouts of Boka Chicago may also be accommodated throughout the terrace, main dining room and front room. Over the past 12 years Boka Restaurant has become one of Chicago's most beloved restaurants. Chef Lee Wolen's seasonal American food is framed by Simeone Deary's timeless design located in the heart of Lincoln Park.

Gorgeous 2500 sq. foot ultra modern & clean space. Full bar, clean his & her washrooms, walk in cooler and dishwasher. Corner location with floor to ceiling windows providing loads of natural light. Located at 1700 W. Division Street in the heart of Wicker Park night life and restaurant row. PRICING January - March, 2019 Friday - $250 per hour, 5 hour minimum Saturday - $250 per hour, 5 hour minimum Sunday - $250 per hour, 5 hour minimum Monday - $175 per hour, 3 hour minimum Tuesday - $175 per hour, 3 hour minimum Wednesday- $175 per hour, 3 hour minimum Thursday - $175 per hour, 5 hour minimum April - November 2019 Friday - $2,500 6:00 am - 4:00pm $3,500 5:00pm - 12:00am Saturday - $3.000 6:00 am - 4:00pm $4,000 5:00pm-12:00am Sunday - $2250 6:00am-4:00pm $3,000 5:00pm-12:00am Monday - $200 per hour, 3 hours minimum Tuesday - $200 per hour, 3 hour minimum Wednesday- $200 per hour, 3 hour minimum Thursday - $2,500, 12 hours December 2019 Friday - $3,500, 8 hours Saturday - $4000, 8 hours Sunday - $3,000, 8 hours Monday - $200 per hour, 3 hours minimum Tuesday - $200 per hour, 3 hour minimum Wednesday- $200 per hour, 3 hour minimum Thursday - $3,000, 8 hours New Years Eve - $7,000 Reservations are confirmed ONLY with signed agreement and payment. We reserve the right to adjust pricing based on demand. Garbage bags, cans, dumpster, toilet paper and cleaning supplies are provided. Guests are required to return the space as provided, broom swept and garbage placed in our alley dumpster. Large volumes of garbage may require additional charges. NO GLITTER of any kind allowed. No tape of any kind, only “teacher/poster putty” allowed.100 person maximum. Additional charges: $200 cleaning $150 garbage 10.25% tax $500 damage deposit $500 fine for smoking Last Minute Deals. Discount rates are available when The Paulina remains unrented 7 days prior to actual event date. Owners also operate a 9 room Inn & Spa across the street to accommodate all your guests needs. Rates are negotiable, stop by for a tour.

• Spaces for 225 Guests

The J. Parker has the most breathtaking panoramas of Lake Michigan and the cityscape of Chicago thanks to its enviable location atop the Hotel Lincoln. The atrium has a total of 140 seats outside and 55 chairs inside, all of which provide unimpeded views of the surrounding area. The J. Parker is an ideal location for hosting private events as well as enjoying a night out on the town. The J. Parker provides guests with a genuinely one-of-a-kind experience in the Windy City by providing unobstructed views of Lake Michigan, downtown Chicago, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. All through the year, huge party reservations, buyouts of the outside space, and buyouts of the entire J. Parker are all available (both daytime and evening). The outdoor patio at The J. Parker features a fully retractable glass roof that may be utilized in the event of severe weather as well as throughout the winter months to keep guests dry and toasty.

• Spaces for 50-350 Guests
• 8 Event Spaces

An experiential pop-up bound only by the limits of your imagination. Inspired by a child’s innate ability to transform their reality into a fantasy world powered by nothing more than their own creativity, Imagination Station is equal parts funtastical playground and imagination jump starter! Come discover a world every kid (and kid-at-heart) wished truly existed. Enter an uncharted playground where you can ride with a polka-dotted elephant and spot cheeky, technicolor monkeys. Ignite a brilliant light show with just the beat of a drum. Ride a mythical unicorn blazing across a disco rainbow sky. See human connectivity come to life like an electric spirograph. Share secrets with your bestie via flower blossoms. Explore outer space with a surfing, taco loving dinosaur, and take a selfie inside a ferociously, friendly shark!