As winter’s chill lingers in Chicago, the city’s vibrant food and nightlife scene is preparing to heat up in a big way for Fat Tuesday. On February 17, 2026, Chicagoans will join people around the world in celebrating Mardi Gras—the exuberant day of feasting and revelry that marks the last hurrah before the solemn season of Lent begins. While Chicago may not rival New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro for sheer scale, its restaurants, bakeries, and bars are pulling out all the stops to offer locals and visitors a taste of Carnival magic, complete with decadent menus, lively entertainment, and, of course, plenty of king cake.
Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday, is steeped in tradition. According to USA Today, it’s a festive day of glutinous indulgence, reflecting the custom of enjoying rich, fatty foods before the fasting and repentance of Lent begins. This year, Fat Tuesday falls on February 17, with Ash Wednesday following on February 18, marking the official start of Lent—a 40-day period of fasting, penance, and, for many Christians, abstaining from meat on Fridays. Easter Sunday, the culmination of this season, will be celebrated on April 5, 2026.
Chicago’s take on Mardi Gras is as diverse as the city itself. From the Loop to the suburbs, an array of bars and restaurants are offering specials and events designed to capture the spirit of the season. The Chicago Tribune reports that festivities will feature everything from gumbo and jambalaya to hurricanes and sazeracs, with live music, brass bands, burlesque shows, and even gumbo cook-offs adding to the excitement. Whether you’re after a family-friendly brunch, a raucous night out, or simply a sweet treat, there’s something for everyone.
Downtown, Industry Ales is hosting a five-course Mardi Gras dinner on February 13, featuring crawfish boudin croquettes, blackened pork tenderloin, beignets, and expertly paired drinks. Over at Lirica on Navy Pier, the Brazilian Carnival is in full swing from February 13 to 21, with specials like baked goat cheese, muffaleta sliders, and crawfish dip. Don Julio will also be on hand for a special tasting event on February 16.
Shaw’s Crab House, a perennial favorite, is offering a full Mardi Gras menu from February 12 to 17, including chargrilled oysters, crawfish etouffee, fried shrimp po’boy, and classic cocktails like the sazerac and hurricane. On Fat Tuesday itself, guests can enjoy a festive shrimp boil and live music from the Mike Wheeler Band in the Oyster Bar from 5 to 8 p.m.
On the North Side, Big Jones is serving up a special menu through Mardi Gras, with options like crawfish boudin balls, seafood gumbo, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, and sizzling jambalaya. You can even add a mini king cake filled with espresso cream to your meal. Cody’s Public House is taking things up a notch with a gumbo cook-off on Sunday, February 15, and a Fat Tuesday buffet featuring gumbo, jambalaya, rice, and cornbread—plus drink specials like $10 sazeracs and hurricanes.
Junebug Cafe is the place to go for king cake (serving four for $35), beignets, and chicken and smoked sausage gumbo. Lottie’s Pub is channeling Bourbon Street with Crown Royal shots, Cajun chicken sandwiches, and shrimp tacos available February 12 to 17. Smack Dab in Rogers Park is offering gumbo and rice, jambalaya, mini-king cakes, and take-and-bake Mardi Gras cinnamon rolls for those who want to celebrate at home.
Bakeries across the city are also getting in on the action. Alliance Bakery in West Town and Scafuri Bakery in Little Italy are offering traditional king cakes in festive colors, with Scafuri’s version featuring French pastry dough and fillings like cinnamon, cannoli, or raspberry. The green, gold, and purple sugar atop the cake symbolize power, justice, and faith, respectively. Easy Bar is giving away free slices of king cake (with a hidden baby for a chance to win swag from New Belgium) and offering $4 beer, seltzer, and cider all night on February 17.
For those seeking a party atmosphere, Estelle’s in Wicker Park has beads, hurricane shots, and DJ Papa G spinning from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., while Ina Mae Tavern is hosting a series of events—including a Second Line brunch, a Lundi Gras bash, and a Fat Tuesday celebration with live music and a burlesque show.
On the South Side, the Chicago Firehouse is holding its ninth annual Fat Tuesday party from 6 to 10 p.m., complete with a buffet (featuring red beans and rice, a spicy crawfish boil, seafood gumbo, and a bananas foster station) and a performance by the High-Hat Second Line. Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern is offering a cinnamon and cream cheese king cake crafted by Virtue pastry chef Becky Pendola through February 18, alongside other Mardi Gras specials. Norman’s Bistro will host a bash with a best mask contest, raffles, live brass band, and DJs.
Suburban bakeries are also joining in. Bennison’s Bakery in Evanston is offering the traditional French Galette des Rois almond cake, as well as New Orleans-style king cakes in various flavors through February 20. Buck Russell’s Bakery & Sandwich Shop in Wilmette encourages preorders for their king cakes, and Deerfields Bakery is offering chocolate- and almond-filled king cakes, Mardi Gras-themed cookies, cupcakes, and a festive drip cake. Publican Quality Bread, with locations in West Town and Oak Park, is baking king cakes that feed 10 to 12 people, topped with the iconic purple, green, and gold sugar.
For those seeking a full meal, The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles is serving up New Orleans-inspired dishes like hearth-seared Gulf shrimp with Calabrian chili butter, fire-roasted gumbo blanc, and bananas foster-style beignets. Prairie Moon in Evanston is offering specials from February 13 to 17, including shrimp and grits, crawfish and Gulf shrimp etouffee, jambalaya, and bananas foster bread pudding.
Of course, all this indulgence comes with the knowledge that Lent is right around the corner. As reported by USA Today, Ash Wednesday falls on February 18, marking the start of a season of reflection, penance, and, for many, giving up some of life’s pleasures—be it chocolate, alcohol, or meat on Fridays. Good Friday will be observed on April 3, with Easter Sunday, the holiest day in the Christian calendar, arriving on April 5.
Whether you’re seeking a last taste of decadence before Lent or simply looking for a reason to celebrate in the dead of winter, Chicago’s Mardi Gras festivities offer a delicious and spirited way to mark Fat Tuesday. With so many options for food, music, and fun, the city proves that you don’t need to be in New Orleans to let the good times roll.