The Reservation Problem at Next
Next, under Grant Achatz's direction, is one of the fifty hardest restaurant reservations in the world. The reservation difficulty: Tock platform tickets-system. Each season has a unique theme; tickets release at season open..
The booking system: Seasonal ticket release; the 4 to 6 week seasons sell out within minutes of release.
The lead time: Tickets-system; prepaid in full. The capacity constraint: About 64 covers per seating.
The drop calendar: Seasonal releases announced via the Next newsletter.
The Reservation Strategy for Next
The success strategy: Subscribe to the Next newsletter. Be online at the moment the seasonal tickets release.
The capacity constraint that defines the difficulty: About 64 covers per seating.
The kitchen at Next is rated 10/10 for food and 10/10 for ambience in our editorial scoring. The reservation problem is real because the room delivers; the booking effort is rewarded by a kitchen at the top tier.
Alternatives if You Cannot Book Next
Alinea (sister concept), Smyth, Schwa.
The alternative strategy is the most underused tool in the hardest-reservation game. Many of the rooms above have sister concepts, alumni restaurants, or similar-tier peers that book more easily. Use the alternatives list as the fallback while the primary booking is being chased.
Why Next Is Worth the Effort
"Grant Achatz's rotating concept restaurant. Each season is a different cuisine. Tickets-system on Tock; sells out in seconds."
Our editorial scoring places the food at 10/10, ambience at 10/10, and value at 8/10. The reservation difficulty is structural, not artificial; the kitchen quality, the room, and the service tier together produce a dinner that rewards the booking effort.
View Next on Restaurants for Kings →
Related Reading
- Top 50 Hardest Restaurant Reservations in the World. The full editorial ranking, of which Next is #27.
- Top 50 Most Romantic · Top 50 Best View · Top 50 Historic Buildings
- Chicago restaurant guide. The full city directory with all occasions.
- Alinea. Our deep dive on the closest reservation peer in the city.
- Smyth. Our deep dive on the closest reservation peer in the city.