NoMI Kitchen

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

North Michigan, Seventh Floor

NoMI Kitchen occupies the seventh floor of Park Hyatt Chicago, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame Chicago's iconic Water Tower and a wide sweep of Lake Michigan. The name says it plainly: North Michigan, Kitchen, Lounge, Garden. Three distinct spaces share one address on 800 N Michigan Avenue, each with its own rhythm but a common sensibility — sophisticated without being stiff.

The Team Behind the Plates

Executive Chef Terence Zubieta joined Park Hyatt Chicago in 2019 and has since shaped a kitchen identity that reflects both the Midwest and his own Filipino heritage. His menus rotate with the seasons, and he quietly threads in ingredients and techniques that, as the restaurant puts it, "you don't often find in Chicago." Working alongside him is Chef de Cuisine Shane Cawley, whose path to the kitchen ran through the U.S. Marine Corps, Hawaii Pacific University, the Culinary Institute of America, and a stint at Sydney's two-hat restaurant Aria — a biography that explains a certain precision and range on the plate. Completing the leadership trio is Executive Pastry Chef Solange Austin, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate who earned her stripes at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek before moving to Chicago. Her desserts lean into unexpected combinations: a Passionfruit Crème Brulee that folds in Brazilian cassava cake, a nod to her mother's kitchen.

Modern American with Global Threads

The cuisine at NoMI Kitchen is firmly Modern American, but the menu draws freely from Filipino, Japanese, and French pantries. Starters include Longanisa Deviled Eggs — duck egg filled with sinigang-seasoned longanisa — and Karaage Octopus with salted duck egg aioli and togarashi. Entrées range from pan-seared Barramundi in coconut lobster sauce to Allen Brothers prime Steak Frites with béarnaise. The sushi menu runs alongside the main kitchen, and weekend brunch extends the range further still. Wine Spectator recognized the cellar with its Award of Excellence, and the cocktail list — developed in consultation with mixologists across the country — leans toward brown spirits, house bitters, and house syrups.

NoMI Garden and the Lounge

When the weather holds, generally May through October, NoMI Garden opens on the rooftop terrace. Forbes Travel Guide singled it out as an absolute must-visit, noting the "easy, sophisticated vibe" and seasonal cocktails alongside lighter bites. Wednesday Golden Hour (5–7 pm) draws a regular crowd for drinks and small plates against the city skyline. The NoMI Lounge runs all day into the late evening, making the address as viable for a casual afternoon drink as for a full dinner service.

Private Events and the Broader Space

The private event rooms share the same sweeping Lake Michigan views and offer full-service personalization — a practical asset for anyone planning a dinner in Chicago's Gold Coast that needs more than a restaurant table. The kitchen serves breakfast daily, dinner Wednesday through Saturday, and weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, giving the space a versatility that few fine dining rooms in the city can match.