Le Mistral — Restaurant in Chicago

Walking through the kitchen of S.K.Y. Chicago and into Le Mistral feels like stepping into another world—a hidden adventure that’s equal parts speakeasy and culinary escape. From the moment I arrived, the experience was nothing short of magical.

I kicked off the evening with the Bergamot Margarita, crafted exactly to the staff’s recommendation, and it was absolutely phenomenal. For food, I started with the madeleines, which quite literally melted in my mouth, followed by the indulgent French Onion Burger—rich, savory, and unforgettable. Watching the table next to me enjoy their croquettes was too tempting to resist, so I ordered those as well, and they lived up to every expectation.

The cocktail program here is a dream in itself. Even as someone who doesn’t usually gravitate toward gin, I was blown away by the Albariño Lavender Martini—so delicate, floral, and beautifully balanced that I’ll be coming back just for that. I closed out the night with the Frozen Espresso Martini, which can only be described as pure heaven in a glass.

Every detail—the food, cocktails, wine list—feels carefully considered, executed with passion, and delivered with style. Le Mistral isn’t just another bar; it’s an experience. This place has easily become my new number one go-to, and I can’t...

As a longtime wine drinker, I'm a relatively new convert to the world of cocktails. I was immediately drawn to this place because of its connection to the popular restaurant S.K.Y., which recently moved to its spiffy new location in Lincoln Park, and because Le Mistral's creator is Jelena Prodan, one of the city's absolutely top sommeliers. It turns out she knows what she's doing with cocktails, too. I loved both by martini with lavender and a dash of albarino wine and my classic Negroni, plus my friend's Honeybee tasted great and I was sorely tempted by a Campari shakerato. Next time. My other friend stuck to wine, including a glass of a Slovenian white (apparently a bow to Prodan's Balkan background) and one of my favorite red Rhones. Bites from the S.K.Y. kitchen were on par with its reputation: juicy oysters, a big cheesy burger, well-seasoned fries and so on. Le Mistral is a bit of a secret in that it's tucked behind the restaurant's kitchen, through one must pass to reach the bar, but once there, it's a warm-toned room with a lively vibe. Apparently Le Mistral is named for a strong wind that blows across Europe, clearing skies and cooling temperatures. And now that it's namesake has blown into the Windy City,...

I began the night with the duck fat old fashioned, At S.K.Y. need I say more? I heard so much about the croquettes and the Madeleine’s! I walked through the kitchen to the cave speakeasy in the back of the space! Now let’s clear the suspense; I would cross state lines for a dozen of the croquettes and madeleines. They are like that feeling of mom’s holiday cookies on Christmas morning! So special! Back to the show stoppers for me; the wine and cocktail list! So I start with the dry white from Croatia, so inviting and crisp. I then chose the rose’ with a beautifully tinted red hue like the prettiest drop of red dropped in. The staff are so knowledgeable and professional, we had the pleasure of curating our experience at the bar with Kelsey, and Pjelena. Please save room for dessert, and the frozen Espresso martini. I give it 6 stars. What a gem!! I can’t wait to share this place with foodies and friends! Make your reso, try a lot, come back try the rest! Tell your friends this is the must go to spot for...