DineAmic Hospitality to Debut NAIA, Riverfront Destination Transforming the Chicago Riverwalk

This spring, DineAmic Hospitality will unveil NAIA, a sweeping pan-Mediterranean riverfront destination poised to redefine dining along the Chicago River and mark one of the most anticipated hospitality openings in the city’s recent history. Spanning nearly an entire river-level city block at 300 N. LaSalle Street, from LaSalle Street to Wells Street, NAIA introduces a 12,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor experience that brings global Mediterranean culture, cuisine, and design to the heart of downtown Chicago. At the culinary helm is world-renowned chef Athinagoras Kostakos, winner of Top Chef Greece and an internationally celebrated figure in Mediterranean cuisine. A partner in DineAmic’s acclaimed concepts Lyra, Violi, and La Serre, Kostakos also serves as culinary director of Scorpios in Mykonos and Bodrum (owned by Soho House) and is the owner of NOEMA, one of Mykonos Town’s most iconic contemporary restaurants. With NAIA, Chef Kostakos expands beyond a single culinary tradition to present a sweeping, unified Mediterranean identity. The menu draws from Southern France, Spain, Italy, and Greece, while embracing the vibrant Levantine cuisines of Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, and the Eastern Mediterranean. More than a restaurant, NAIA represents a transformative addition to the Chicago Riverwalk. The restaurant will feature an immersive waterfront environment designed to rival the great riverfront dining capitals of the world. With over 150 feet of direct river frontage, dramatic architectural elements, and three-season operability, NAIA establishes a new standard for scale, design, and culinary ambition along the city’s iconic waterway. Guests will descend a dramatic exterior staircase from LaSalle Street to an expansive riverfront scene where waterfront dining unfolds across a near full city block. Operable window walls and heated, louvered pergolas will allow the space to transform with Chicago’s seasons; open, sun-soaked, and breezy in summer; warm, intimate, and glowing against the skyline in cooler months. The east side of the property introduces a dedicated indoor-outdoor event venue capable of hosting gatherings from 30 to 500 guests, positioning NAIA as one of downtown Chicago’s most dynamic waterfront event destinations. A striking rectangular bar will anchor the space, seamlessly integrating interior dining rooms and riverfront terraces into one fluid, immersive environment. On the west side, the main restaurant features pergola-covered riverfront booths and a dramatic coliseum-style dining room that rises outward from the water, ensuring uninterrupted views of the Chicago River and skyline from every seat. NAIA will accommodate approximately 250 guests indoors and 150 on its patio. A full-service cocktail bar flows into a seafood-forward oyster bar and crudo/sushi counter overlooking the river, blending Mediterranean tradition with a contemporary waterfront sensibility. Guests can expect pristine seafood, grilled meats, vibrant salads, mezze, house-made pastas, flatbreads, and shareable plates designed for communal dining along the water. A robust raw bar and Mediterranean-inspired sushi program underscore the restaurant’s riverfront setting. Levantine flavors appear throughout, from falafel, baba ghanoush, and herb-forward dips to shawarma and skewers while the beverage program mirrors the menu’s expansive geography. The wine list spans Southern France, Italy, and Greece, including Santorini whites, alongside selections from Lebanon and Jordan. Cocktails incorporate Mediterranean herbs, citrus, botanicals, and spices, creating bright, aromatic expressions designed to complement the cuisine and reflect the riverfront atmosphere. Before the first dish arrives, NAIA’s design makes a statement. Warm, neutral earth tones create a timeless foundation, while a dramatic 50-foot hand-carved stone sculptural wall - an abstract interpretation of the restaurant’s namesake - anchors the space. Custom rope detailing, handmade lighting and chandeliers, and a two-toned marble floor transitioning from charcoal to light cream add depth and dimension. A semi-private chef’s table for 10 offers an intimate experience framed by operable drapery and river views. The name NAIA references ancient Greek river deities, a nod to mythology, movement, and the life-giving power of water. Fully embracing Chicago’s River culture, NAIA explores ways to connect directly with the water, envisioning a future where guests can dock for a meal or transition seamlessly from their boat to the vibrant riverfront into one of the Chicago’s most dynamic new destinations. Open daily for breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner, NAIA is poised to become an all-day, all-season anchor of the Chicago Riverwalk where architecture, global cuisine, and waterfront energy converge at an unprecedented scale. Opening soon at 300 N. LaSalle Street on the Chicago Riverwalk.

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