chicago columbia yacht club

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Columbia Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ Alright, I am a member here and have been eating here since I was old enough to consume solids. ” in 10 reviews

“ The view of the Chicago skyline as the icing on the cake along with fireworks off of Navy Pier . ” in 5 reviews

“ (unless your more of the McDonalds crowd) Laid back bar, and a great chef in one of the cities most beautiful settings. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

111 N Lake Shore Dr

Chicago, IL 60601

You Might Also Consider

The Gardner School of Naperville North

in Preschools, Child Care & Day Care

Wee Care Preschool

Kids Future Day Care Center

in Child Care & Day Care, Preschools

Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Whether you own a vessel or just love being on the water, you will find that Columbia's diversity offers something for everyone. Unparalled skyline views combined with our gourmet food and year-round social activities make Columbia Yacht Club one of Chicago's most fun and unique clubs. The Sailing School offers classes for students of all ages through its Junior and Adult Sailing Programs. The Sailing School 's Classes are open to both non-members and members of the Club. Our Clubship has several great locations available to use for hosting parties, meetings, and weddings. Offering stellar views of both Chicago and Lake Michigan, our unique Clubship venue combined with our Chef's phenomenal food makes Columbia a perfect event location. The Membership is comprised of boat owners as well as non-boat owners, and we have Junior Members, Honorary Life Members, and everyone in between! Please email [email protected] for any inquiries about Columbia Yacht Club. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Columbia Yacht Club .

People also searched for

Cheap Wedding Venues

Restaurants With Banquet Rooms

Swim School

Old School Movie Theater

Brunch Buffet

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

BEST WEDDING VENUE EVER! We recently had the pleasure and priviledge to have our wedding at the Columbia Yacht Club in downtown Chicago and words cannot describe how amazing this venue was. IF you are thinking of getting married in downtown Chicago, I would MOST DEFINITELY look into this place. AMAZING. The Club manager is pretty much part of the family now, he was that incredible. His event staff was on it, all night. Nothing passed them without the professionalism that comes with hosting a large event such as a wedding. As the bride, hearing yes, is the best thing anyone can say to you and they did just that, for over a year of planning I never heard the word no. Nick, you are the best Thank you for everything you have done throughout our engagement, truly a magical place.

Columbia Yacht Club Wedding

Ok, there are a few caveats here to begin with.....we were here on a Tuesday when only the bar, not the restaurant was open, and we had to sit inside because it was not warm enough to enjoy outdoor dining. I've been here plenty of times before, with my parents, as they are members here. Ah, they're into sailing, you surmise. No, they were looking for a monthly parking spot and found that with a $50/month membership you also gain access to a $25/month parking space. Sure beats $200 - $250/month, which is what most spaces go for in Streeterville. Their food here has been ok to good before, and the food was certainly acceptable on this night, but nothing special. I had the blackened salmon with avocado sandwich along with mom and dad had the steak sandwich (which he said was very good), The salad was decent, but not great. The service was just ok as there were at least 10 minutes that went by before my empty glass of water and beer were addressed. But the guys working there are all very friendly. That doesn't refill my beer though. It got really loud and annoying toward the end of the meal, as some boisterous clearly-single-pretending-not-to-be-in-their-mid-forties-but-are ladies sat down at the bar next to some dudes and proceeded to carry on and cackle in a way that screamed "look at me." This bothered my mom the most, so I reminded her, "mom....we're in a bar." Hey, I'm all about having a good time, but come on ladies, don't be so obnoxiously loud. The boat itself is pretty cool, it was brought to Chicago as a retired icebreaker/passenger ferry from Quebec. I guess at one point in the 1940's it was Canada's best eastern-based icebreaker. But as one reviewer mentioned, watch your step! There are seemingly unnatural steps, drops, things you need to lift your feet over throughout the entire boat. After it few drinks, this could get hairy! The views here are fantastic. This is clearly the main attraction to the venue, as it's parallel to the north end of Grant Park, and thus, has unobstructed views of the skyline toward the north and south. I'll have to come back on a day other than a Tuesday when its nice outside and perhaps the review will get better.

I'm only here to review their restaurant and food since my friends and I got a chance to dine here at this members only club (long story short: we bid on a friend during a date auction and got a gift certificate with him here). Everything here is overpriced, which is surprising because you'd think they would have special prices since members already have to pay fees! Most of our dishes were pretty salty so you'll see a trend as I describe some our dishes below: Bread basket: Great variety but totally not fresh. It was warmed up but you could tell when you bite into something that's sort of soft on the outside but then gets harder and stale inside. How does one describe that? French Onion Soup: very very salty King scallop appetizer: Wow, probably the better dishes of the night. Great texture, generous with the sprouts and mushrooms but the sauce overlaid was way. too. salty. Fajitas: average. Bass: Big chunk of fish but again, salty. Seared fish sandwich: On a brioche bun that was slightly stale (see above comment for bread basket). Fish was tasteless and overcooked. BLEEEH. Filet mignon: Could've been better. Atop a big mound of salty risotto. Sangria: Both peach and regular were pretty yummy. LAY OFF THE SALT yacht folks!

Columbia Yacht Club doesn't have a club building, they have a Club Ship. It's seriously an old ice cutter they bought from Canada. I see that several people have complained about the price...but, it's a yacht club..... Anyhoo, view alone this place gets five stars. During the summer you eat on the bow of the boat with Lake Shore Drive and the whole city skyline before you. Durring the winter or bad weather (except January when it's closed) you can eat inside. Their bar is always a fun venue too. And then the food...Chef Bre does a great job of keep the menu fresh and interesting while leaving some nice comfort food options on the menu. The menu changes with the season and features local and sustainable ingredients. It's closed during January and I've gone through withdrawal. So glad that it's back open again. The staff is always super friendly and has great advice on what wine to order with your meal.

Great sailing club with a very cool location and membership. Lots of characters and friendly competition. Club includes a very nice restaurant with great city views and a nicely decked out bar. They also have a good sailing school for kids and a skipjacks program for adults. They have a great tradition of relaxed Wednesday night racing called the "Beer Can Races". Beer Cans are a great way to learn about racing without all the stress of someone freaking out on you.

Sunset views to end an afternoon of gazing to the east, north and south on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I loves me some of that. 5 stars for location go to CYC. Food wise, though? Oh, CYC you do me wrong. I knew to keep my expectations low given that we were attending a buffet-style graduation dinner for 60. However, ahem, however, despite my low expectations, I was underwhelmed. The pasta was overcooked, the roasted potatoes dried out, the beef also dried and cold despite soaking in Au jus. The final travesty of this meal? The kitchen managed to ruin brussel sprouts. Tough, bitter, and grayish looking are the first three adjectives that come to mind in describing the dish that we were presented with. Honestly, I was shocked. I am a brussel sprouts fiend, and I know that it takes a lot to ruin this humble vegetable. Strong coffee and tasty cookies ended our evening on a slightly higher note. I would love to say that I would give CYC another shot, and maybe I will for drinks or to admire the view. I'll know better next time and come prepared. KIND bars in the purse and the number for The Gage on speed dial.

The Columbia Yacht Club is members only, but as members of a yacht club in Canada, we were welcomed at Columbia Yacht Club as reciprocal members. We stopped in for breakfast and couldn't have been more pleased. First off, the place is a retired passenger ferry that you can explore which is really cool by itself, but our breakfast was outstanding. If there is one must-try item it is the French Toast. It's crispy on the outside and tastes of nutmeg and cinnamon, but soft, almost marshmallow soft inside. It's topped with maple syrup that has been aged in bourbon barrels and is simply too good. The service was prompt, friendly and attentive. I would love to visit again on a summer Sunday morning.

Have eaten at the restaurant here twice now as executives at my company have memberships here. The food here is really great, and you can tell the manager, Nick, loves what he does. He did a nice job of throwing our company party and even figured out how to create bourbon-flavored and Jasmine-flavored cotton candy using natural sugars for our Fair/Carnival-themed-party this summer. It's an old boat with lots of history and the view is really great. Would recommend trying if you can swing it.

The staff is incredible! They go out of their way to welcome you and provide the best service. Food and bar selections are outstanding. Even if you are not a boater you will love the activities. If you are a boater you will appreciate the location of the dock in the heart of the city and the many boating friends you will meet. Club is casual and not at all stuffy or pretentious.

This is a review for the restaurant only. I am not a member of the club, but recently had a chance to dine here on a business lunch. When I arrived, I boarded the boat that serves as the clubhouse and restaurant. I had no idea where I was going, so I asked the first passing staff member that I saw. To be honest, I was kind of expecting my non-member status to earn me help only begrudgingly, but to my pleasant surprise, the. staff member was exceedingly nice. and even took the time to actually. take me to the restaurant location. Shame on me for assuming the. staff would be snooty. The restaurant itself is very classy and tasteful, with some great harbor views if you are seated near the windows. My party and I sat down to take a look at the menu. I was impressed with how reasonable the prices were. Aside for big steaks and a couple other entrées that you'd expect to be expensive, nothing was over $13-14. Most sandwiches were $8-9. The server started by telling us the drink specials, which I found amusing for lunchtime. But I suppose if I were a member of a yacht club, I would partake in lunchtime drinks more often myself. The sommelier stopped by and recommended the sangria, which he described as being "Gringo" style; I later found out that this means "really, really strong." The sangria was in fact absolutely delicious, but if you want to get anything else done later in the day, I would recommend sticking to one glass. To start, we ordered a plate of fries with black truffle oil and parmasean cheese. They were served with a goat cheese ranch that was out of this world. The fries were cooked perfectly (don't laugh; I find over- and under-cooked fries to be a pervasive problem). We were licking at the plate while the server was clearing the table. I was feeling rather simple, so I just ordered the burger. It was a good size, and cooked exactly as I ordered it. It didn't blow me away, but it was very good for $9. The yam chips that came with it were awesome. Just the right amount of crispness, and sweet in just the right way. For dessert, the four of us split two dishes: a peppermint cupcake thing, and a creamy peanut butter cake. Both were delicious, but so rich that we could each only manage a few bites. The service was friendly and attentive, so definitely no complaints there. The bill? Less than $80. That's for an appetizer, four entrées, two desserts, four sangrias, and miscellaneous coffee and soft drinks. It's not *extremely* cheap, but for the quality and the amount of food we got, it was a and hard to beat. The rub is that you have to be a member, which is pricey in itself, but if you know a member, I'd definitely suggest having them take you here for a lunch (I have no experience with the dinner service here). It may not be world-class cuisine, but for the price and quality, you'll probably be quite happy.

3 other reviews that are not currently recommended

JRW Behavioral Health Services

in Behavior Analysts, Educational Services

John Amico School Of Hair Design

in Cosmetology Schools

Collections Including Columbia Yacht Club

Chicago Summer Patio/Rooftop

By Sandeep C.

Chi-town stand up

By Chizzle L.

By Jason G.

People Also Viewed

The Cliff Dwellers

Theater on the Lake

Union League Club of Chicago

The iO Theater

The Metropolitan

Burnham Park Yacht Club

The Den Theatre

The Chicago Club

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Things to Do

Restaurants With Private Rooms

Table Tennis

Luggage Storage

Other Places Nearby

Find more Social Clubs near Columbia Yacht Club

Find more Specialty Schools near Columbia Yacht Club

People found Columbia Yacht Club by searching for…

Day Club Chicago

Graduation Dinner Chicago

Live Supper Clubs Chicago

Private Club Chicago

Social Clubs Chicago

Social Groups Chicago

The Abbey Pub Chicago

Columbia Yacht Club

Columbia Yacht Club is a private club in a 1946 Canadian-built icebreaker in Chicago's harbor. It has a cozy bar, a formal restaurant, and a small shop selling club goods. The club offers excellent service and spectacular views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Visitors can walk through parts of the ship and enjoy events such as weddings, receptions, or celebrations.

Events and activities in Columbia Yacht Club

Discover plenty of similar experiences nearby

But you can take a look at all the events we have in Chicago

Events and activities near Columbia Yacht Club

Big bus chicago sunset tour.

19 Sep - 19 Oct

Chicago Millennium Park Self-Guided Walking Tour

19 Sep - 01 Dec

Architecture of the Magnificent Mile

20 Sep - 15 Nov

Chicago River Floating Tiki Bar Cruise

20 Sep - 01 Nov

Chicago Bike Rental

19 Sep - 02 Dec

Private Sunset Sail on Lake Michigan with Breathtaking Views of Chicago

29 Sep - 03 Nov

Directions to Columbia Yacht Club

111 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

Venues near Columbia Yacht Club

Salvage one.

1840 West Hubbard Street, Chicago

5045 meters

Thalia Hall

1807 South Allport Street, Chicago

4710 meters

Aire Rooftop

100 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603, United States

1543 meters

Chopin Theatre

1543 West Division Street, Chicago

4912 meters

Water Tower Place

835 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

1744 meters

Cafe Brauer

2021 N Stockton Dr.

4298 meters

The Fairgrounds at the Salt Shed

1357 North Elston Avenue, Chicago

4557 meters

Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA)

820 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago

1753 meters

Teatro ZinZanni Chicago

32 West Randolph Street, Chicago

1304 meters

Sushi By Bou - Lincoln Park

1816 North Clark Street, Chicago

3870 meters

Sorry, JavaScript must be enabled to use this web app

Advertisement

WHAT IS BEER CAN?

Columbia yacht club is proud to host chicago beer can racing wednesday nights from may through september..

Our mission:

Introduce sailboat racing to those who are new to the sport in a positive, casual atmosphere

Encourage established and entry-level racing teams to rotate crew positions for skill development

Build team confidence for more competitive weekend races and regattas

Create an opportunity for sailors from area clubs to meet and mingle

Eligibility The regatta is open to all keelboats 20 feet or longer which are equipped with a GPS and VHF radio capable of broadcasting and receiving on VHF channel 69 and meet US Coast Guard safety requirements for nearshore sailing at night. See Notice of Race for more complete information.  

The Races Races start on Wednesdays between 6:40 and 7:10 PM depending on your section and most races are completed by 8:30pm.The race course consists of a 2.5 miles diameter racing circle with the start and finish line in the center.

The length of the courses are between 3.5 and 5.5 miles. Boats are divided into sections and classes depending on which sails are being used and the handicap rating. The sections are Green (novice racers), JAM (jib and main) and spinnaker boats divided into sections according to their handicap.

After the Race After each race, crew and friends safely meet on Columbia's Aft Deck to mingle, compare race notes, have a few drinks, and enjoy the fireworks. At the end of the season, series awards are given to the boats pla cing in each class.

Race Committee

If racing is not for you but you would like to be involved with the series, consider joining the Beer Can Race Committee.Working on the Race Committee is an excellent opportunity to meet new people. Each week a different boat from the racing volunteers to be the Race Committee boat. As a member of the Race Committee, you will learn all about sailboat racing and all the in's and out's of running a race. SIGN UP FOR RACE COMMITTEE

No Boat? No Experience? No Problem!

Columbia Yacht Club and other clubs are always looking for new people to join the Race Committee!  This is a FREE way to get on the water; learn a new skill, marine education, make friends, enjoy the community, etc.  If you volunteer for Race Committee, what you put into it you will get out of it, and we will do our best to make sure you have every opportunity along the way.  

BEER CAN SERIES

Event schedule, 2024 calendar, wednesday, may 8 at 6:30 pm, orientation and starting gun party, wednesday, may 15 - wednesday, july 3, weekly races & post race parties at columbi a yacht club, first warning at 6:40 pm, race to mackinac break, wednesday, july 10  & wednesday, july 17, no races. keep an eye out for other fun activities. , second half, wednesda y,  july 24 - wednesday, september 11, weekly races & post race parties at columbia yacht club, wednesday, october 2 at 6:30 pm, details coming soon.

Success! Message received.

Phone: 312 - 938 - 3625

Email:   [email protected]

COLUMBIA YACHT CLUB

111 N. Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, IL 60601

DIRECTIONS /PARKING

Parking at DuSable

Public Transit

© 2024 by Columbia Yacht Club- Chicago Beer Can Series

COLUMBIA YACHT CLUB

Race committee, to learn more about race committee at columbia yacht club, please complete this form. .

Columbia Sailing School

41°53'02.07"N | 87°36'43.25"

Learn to sail at Chicago's premier sailing school!

Located on the water in the heart of downtown Chicago, Columbia Sailing School is the perfect location to start your sailing adventure! From breaking the ice in the spring to the first snow at the end of the fall, each season, we welcome hundreds of students of all ages and ability levels to learn and advance their sailing skills while enrolled in one of our many courses. Our dedicated US Sailing certified staff promotes the US Sailing Instructor’s responsibility for safety, fun, and learning.

Our Mission

Columbia Sailing School, shaping stewards for our waters.

Columbia Sailing School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Adult Sailing

Youth sailing, non-discriminatory policy.

The Columbia Sailing School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in its education policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Sign up for our mailing list!

111 N Lake Shore Dr Chicago, IL 60601

Phone:  (312) 606-7245

www.columbiasailingschool.org

[email protected]

© 2024 by Columbia Sailing School. All rights reserved.

Venetian Night 2024 is July 20th at 9:00 p.m. in Monroe Harbor! Read more »

Chicago Harbors

• 31st Street
• 59th Street
• Jackson Park Inner
• Jackson Park Outer

DuSable Harbor is located in the heart of downtown Chicago at the foot of Randolph Street.  Surrounded by a towering skyline and being the only harbor with slips close to the loop, it is a very popular mooring location.  Hemmed in by the Columbia Yacht Club to the south, the harbor was completed in 2000 by closing in part of Monroe Harbor, thus the entrance is thru Monroe Harbor headed north along the eastern breakwater.  There are 420 slips at DuSable with accommodations for boats 30’-60’+ in length.

Transient docking is available; you can submit reservation requests through the Dockwa app or website beginning May 1st.  Waste pump-out equipment is provided on a no-charge basis. The harbor monitors channels 9 and 16 and the switch to/working channel is 67.

Hours of Operation

May 1 to may 21st.

Monday – Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Closed

Wednesday- Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

May 22nd to September 3rd

Monday – Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Wednesday & Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

Friday & Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sunday  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8:00 am to 6:00 pm

September 4th to September 30th

Office Hours

Monday –Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Saturday — Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8:00 am to 6:00 pm

October 1st to October 31st

Monday & Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Closed

Wednesday — Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . .  9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Amenities at DuSable

• 420 slips with space for boats 30′-60’+
• Slips have power and water
• Boater bathrooms
• Harbor store
• Complimentary pump-out stations
• Transient dockage

DuSable Parking Info

DuSable Harbor Parking Rates (new)

DuSable Contact Info

111 N. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60601

Get Directions

[email protected]

Harbor Managers:

Assistant Manager Alex Collar

Assistant Manager Keith Kleist

Harbor Entrance:

Lat 41° 53.054 N Lon 87° 36.630 W

Yacht Club:

Columbia Yacht Club