Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina is doubly delighted to have brought two distinctly French dining experiences to the heart of the Windy City

It was with great anticipation that Michael Mina brought not one but two classic French dining experiences to the Waldorf Astoria Chicago.

For Mina, a partnership with the hotel was serendipitous.

“I have always admired the hospitality and dining sensibilities of Chicago,” explains Mina. “When the Waldorf Astoria Chicago presented me with this opportunity, I was thrilled to collaborate with a venerable hotel partner.”

Following the invitation, Mina opened Petit Margeaux and Margeaux Brasserie in the Chicago landmark. While both restaurants benefit from the Michelin-starred chef’s expert stewardship, each takes inspiration from two distinct propositions – one a Parisian-inspired patisserie and the other a classic French brasserie.

Located in the hotel lobby, Petit Margeaux serves a quintessential selection of pastries, sandwiches and other items for patrons on the go, from breakfast through dinner.

If the café’s pistachio-green paneled walls, white and taupe linen shades, and brass fixtures implore you to stay, take a seat by the white marble-topped L-shaped bar – the anchor of Petit Margeaux – which houses a display of classic French treats.

Or better still, sun yourself on the European-styled courtyard patio, which features distressed white planters, as well as teak and iron furniture.

Time-honored French staples take the spotlight at the more formal Margeaux Brasserie. The menu, inspired by 1920s Paris, serves a robust collection of ‘fruits de mer’, with daily oyster and crudo selections, as well as classic brasserie dishes such as Escargot Bordelaise and Heritage Chicken Roti.

And it’s not just the food that takes its cue from the Roaring Twenties. Flanked by black-lacquer-paneled walls lined in gold, embossed bronze lettering on the floor and rich-burgundy leather chairs, the dark and sultry interiors transport diners back in time.

To make a reservation, visit waldorfastoriachicagohotel.com/dining