Here are 20 of Chicago's Most Iconic Dining Rooms

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• 20 of Chicago's Most Iconic Dining Room
• Call it the house that Oprah built, but RL truly is one of the city's hottest spots and has been since it opened in 1999. On any given day, the wood-paneled dining room is filled with some of the city's most powerful movers and shakers—from politicians an
• The store may have changed to Macy's, but the Walnut Room—a stately holdover from the long-ago days of Marshall Field's—remains. Opened around the turn of the century (the last one), the room still features the iconic marble fountain as its centerpiece an
• Whether you love their ribs and chicken or not almost doesn't matter once you step inside this Chicago landmark. Twin Anchors opened in 1932 and has been welcoming local families and visiting celebrities (Sinatra was a regular) ever since. It's laid-back
• With a history of great chefs led by Tony Mantuano and a gorgeous striking view looking out over Michigan Avenue and the lake, Spiaggia, with its tiered room, marble columns and dramatic wine cave towering above it all, is one of Chicago's most beloved la
• Sure the main dining room is great, but it's the actual oyster bar at Shaw's that deserves the shout out. No matter when you come, you'll fight for a spot at the central bar or one of the intimate booths along the wall. Why? The lively space has been serv
• There aren't many spots in Chicago as romantic as North Pond. Set inside a carefully restored Arts and Crafts building dating back to 1912, Bruce Sherman's historic spot set amidst the flora and fauna of Lincoln Park serves rustic farm-to-table food as go
• While you can't deny the beauty or influence Blackbird has had on the city's culinary scene, avec, its younger sib next door, steals the show when it comes to design. With its minimalist Danish design with cedar and light hickory, the long stainless steel
• The 20-plus-year-old Topolobampo has a rich design that complements Rick Bayless' stunning and groundbreaking Mexican fare. Awash in gorgeous tile, modern lighting and Mexican art, the room competes for attention with the cuisine.
• Walking in to Le Colonial, guests are transported far from Chicago to a bygone era in Colonial Saigon. The room creates an idyllic flow with potted palms and banana trees, rattan chairs, louvered shutters, tile flooring and slow-moving ceiling fans that h
• Many say the West Loop dining scene wouldn't be what it is today without Vivo, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011. The exposed brick, metal-work back bar, draped curtains, dramatic wine wall and the romantic (if not sometimes hedonistic) elevat
• Alinea's modern, minimalist elegance allows diners to enjoy the entire experience from the level of comfort in chairs and banquettes to seeing Grant Achatz's beautiful and dramatic food presented on gorgeous mahogany tables. Even though the design is cons
• Open now for more than a decade, Shanghai Terrace continually whisks people back to an ancient time with its mysterious art, red lacquer and black wood and a view of the stunning patio. The food isn't the only thing people leave talking about.
• Tucked away in the lower level of the Drake, the dark-wooded Cape Cod Room has been inviting people in with its New England nautical theme for nearly 80 years. The walls are dotted with copper pots, taxidermied sea life, ship figureheads and more. The ori
• Set inside an 1890s print shop, Sepia, with its Art Nouveau tiling, 1920s memorabilia, stunning oversized drum light fixtures and a timeless elegance, feels like it's been around for decades. And yet it's only a few years old.
• NoMI may have closed for a spell to renovate, and it came back even stronger. The view overlooking the Gold Coast and Lake Michigan is only now enhanced by the modern lighting, leather seating and rustic American food coming out of chef Ryan LaRoche's kit
• Anytime you go to Mon Ami Gabi, set inside the historic Belden-Stratford Hotel overlooking Lincoln Park Zoo, the energy in the classic French bistro is palpable. It is one of Chicago's most beloved dining rooms and for good reason. The room itself is stun
• Say what you will, but the renovated Pump Room, which is about to mark it's first anniversary, is a modern take on the timeless classic and one of the most gorgeous spots in Chicago. Ian Schrager realized the celebrated rooms potential and gave it a secon
• A classic steakhouse if Chicago ever had one, just more than 20 years old, Gibsons sits in a prime location in the heart of the Gold Coast. The joint is hopping ever night and it isn't showing signs of slowing anytime soon.
• More than 20 years old, Everest still commands respect. It's one of the most celebrated restaurant's in Chicago with sweeping views across the city from atop the Chicago Stock Exchange. With white beamed ceilings and bronze statues on each table, the room
• The Berghoff may not have the same place in Chicago today as it has in decades past, but this being one of the city's oldest restaurants (it opened in 1898!) it needs to be recognized. The room has many of the same touches it did 114 years ago, like the s

In the last couple of months, you've read about iconic dishes and iconic drinks in Chicago. So why not talk about the restaurants where they're served? Chicago has some pretty incredible spots, some that have been open for more than 100 years and others just a few. Here we offer a gallery of 20 Iconic Dining Rooms. Some are included for their longevity, others for their impact on a neighborhood and others simply because they're gorgeous. Don't agree? Think we missed something? Leave it in the comments.

Here are 20 of Chicago's most iconic dining rooms, presented in no particular order:

· RL
· avec
· Gibsons
· Le Colonial
· Alinea
· Vivo
· Shaw's Crab House
· Twin Anchors
· The Cape Cod Room
· Everest
· Spiaggia
· The Walnut Room
· North Pond
· NoMI
· Shanghai Terrace
· Topolobampo
· The Pump Room
· The Berghoff
· Sepia
· Mon Ami Gabi