Memorial Day is one of the best days to be in Chicago. The city comes alive with rooftop bars, outdoor patios, summer kickoff events, and no shortage of great food. If you’re planning to spend the long weekend here with family or friends, brunch should absolutely be on the agenda.
The catch? Popular brunch spots fill up fast on Memorial Day, and plenty of the best ones don’t take advance reservations. A quick scroll through Yelp will show a lot of restaurants tagged as “takes reservations” that actually don’t, which makes planning ahead feel a little futile. Nobody wants to show up hungry and find out there’s an hour-long wait.
That’s where NextMe comes in.
Skip the wait, keep your plans
NextMe is a digital waitlist app that lets you hold your place in line with just your phone number. No app download required. When you arrive at a participating restaurant, give the host your number and NextMe takes it from there, sending a text confirmation and a link to your virtual waiting room so you can track your position in line in real time.
Instead of hovering near the host stand, you’re free to grab a drink, take a walk, or explore the neighborhood while you wait. When your table is getting close, NextMe sends a text to let you know. Reply to confirm your spot and you’ll be notified when it’s time to sit down.
Top Memorial Day brunch spots in Chicago using NextMe
All of the restaurants below are NextMe partners and do not take advance reservations, so just walk in and let the host know you’d like to be added to the waitlist.
Corridor Brewery & Provisions, Dryhop Brewers, Kanela Breakfast Club, Le Pain Quotidien, The Bongo Room, Son of a Butcher, Southport Grocery & Cafe, and Whisk Chicago.
Don’t see your favorite spot?
If your go-to brunch spot isn’t on the list, let them know about NextMe. Our referral program rewards you once they sign up.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
