Cafe Brauer is a stunning historic venue located within Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. The Great Hall features elegant architecture with soaring ceilings and expansive windows overlooking the park's South Pond and the city skyline. With indoor and outdoor spaces including the Great Hall, North and South Loggias, and a balcony, it offers a memorable setting for weddings surrounded by the beauty of Lincoln Park.
Pricing
Choose the details of your day and see each charge update as you go.
Time slot
Day of week
Season
Space
Duration
Your estimate · Venue + Bar Est.
$25,000
Evening · Saturday/Holiday · Peak · Great Hall
Some costs need a quote from the venue.
Based on the venue’s 2024 rates. Ask them for current pricing.
$12,000 drinks minimum
The venue quotes drinks directly but requires at least $12,000. That minimum is in the total above; anything beyond it needs a quote.
Not in this estimate
Taxes & fees: A Great Hall ceremony adds $1,000; a South Loggia ceremony is included at no extra charge. Staying past midnight is $1,000 per hour to a 2 a.m. close, arranged 30 days ahead, and does not include extending the bar package. One security guard is included; additional guards are $250 each. Coat check and restroom attendants are $200 per attendant, and one coat check attendant per 100 guests is advised. Propane heaters are $150 each from May 1 to October 31, while four heaters are included during tent season from November 1 to April 30. Hosted valet parking is available - ask your sales manager for the current rate.
Estimates use publicly available pricing and may not include every cost. Confirm final pricing with the venue.
Pricing your day
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The property
A historic event hall located within Lincoln Park Zoo, featuring the Great Hall as the primary indoor reception space with adjacent open-air loggias on the north and south sides.
The setting
The venue overlooks Lincoln Park's South Pond and surrounding parkland, with views of the Chicago skyline visible from the loggias and Great Hall windows.
Numbers are the capacity the venue states for that part of the day. Tap a space to read about it.
Planning details
Vendor policies, timing and house rules to plan around.
Rain plan
Backup plan in place
Ceremonies can be held in the Great Hall (indoor) for an additional $1,000 fee, or on the South Loggia at no additional charge. During tent season (November 1 through April 30), heated tents enclose the North and South Loggias providing weather-protected semi-outdoor spaces.
Drinks served
Beer, Wine & Spirits
If that's a dealbreaker
This venue requires its own catering. Alcohol has to come through the venue. Music has to come from the venue’s own list.
We know the policies on every venue we list, so we can find what you need. See what's available near Chicago, IL without the restriction.
On the property
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Sage the Date refers to the venue's website and pricing packets, and builds an estimate for your event details. Where a venue states nothing, we say so rather than guessing. The material used for this page may be outdated. Always confirm with the venue.
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