David Collins Studio reveals its latest hospitality haunt in Chicago

Photography: Eric Wolfinger

The brainchild of award-winning chef Evan Funke and hospitality group Lettuce Entertain You, Tre Dita promises to be one of Chicago’s hottest new restaurants. The world-renowned design team at David Collins Studio (interviewed in our latest issue) were tapped to transform the interiors, and with a formidable portfolio of retail and hospitality projects under their belt – including flagship destinations for Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen, Selfridges, Nobu and the Ritz – it’s no surprise that the resulting restaurant oozes sultry elegance.

The 8,600 sq ft space spans across the second floor of the five-star St. Regis Chicago, completed by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang in 2020, and offers dinner guests stunning views of neighbouring Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Inside, the restaurant centres around Funke’s renowned temperature- and humidity-controlled pasta lab, a fixture which earned Tre Dita the title of America’s first certified Tuscan restaurant from culinary heritage project Vetrina Toscana. Accompanying this authentic cuisine is an organic, varied palette of terracotta, maroon, white and grey Tuscan marble that immediately greets guests in the lobby and adjoining entrance hall. This grand corridor, dubbed the ‘gastronomic tunnel’, also features a window into chef Funke’s kitchen, giving diners a coveted glimpse into the intricate cooking process.

Stepping into the double-height main dining room (occupying 3,200 sq ft), the studio achieves a dramatic, almost gothic atmosphere through the use of architectural columns, arched portals, dark chequerboard flooring, walnut panelling and wrought-iron light fixtures. Leather banquettes are upholstered in forest green and deep blue jewel tones, while 40ft-tall linen curtains frame the striking floor-to-ceiling windows. Those looking for a more intimate dining experience can also book a private dining room on the mezzanine above, which seats up to 40 guests and overlooks the main restaurant below.

Those seeking out an after-dinner digestif or some lighter refreshments can also head to the adjoining Bar Tre Dita, where visitors can find an array of international whiskies and Italian spirits. Just two of the bar’s nine signature cocktails include the eponymous ‘Tre’, which blends Italian gin and grappa with bianco vermouth, and the ‘Dita’, a Manhattan led by vermouth and Amari.

Here, cream and maroon chequerboard tiles meet honey tobacco carpet and velvet banquette seating, creating a layered, luxurious atmosphere that beckons you to stay a while and share a drink. A rich palette of navy blue, burgundy and ochre receives a dash of texture from basket-weave leather bar stools, while the bar itself is crafted from bronze, polished walnut, and Cipollino marble in white, pink and green. Draped above said bar is a 96-foot-long mural, hand-painted by American artist Dean Barger, which depicts an abstract interpretation of Chicago’s skyline, river, and architecture as an impressive nod to the bar’s local surroundings.