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read moreLuna’s Pub & Grill Opens at Northwestern University
An all-day waterfront pub anchors the ongoing Cohen Lawn development, establishing a new social hub for campus life, local flavor, and year-round programming
Northwestern University welcomes a new, waterfront gathering place with the opening of Luna’s Pub & Grill, a modern gastropub designed to serve students, faculty, and the broader North Shore community alike. Anchoring the University’s ongoing Cohen Lawn development and equipped with a full bar, Luna’s offers a warm, approachable dining experience that brings the energy of a true neighborhood pub to the heart of campus.
Located within Norris University Center along the lakefront, Luna’s Pub & Grill introduces Evanston’s only waterfront dining experience, featuring a welcoming indoor pub, a dedicated stage for live performances, seamless access to Cohen Lawn’s open green space, and an expansive patio designed to activate during the warmer months. Together, these elements position Luna’s as a year-round hub for dining, gathering, and community-driven programming.
Following a quiet launch over winter break, Luna’s marked its grand opening on Monday, January 5, with student-facing celebrations continuing throughout the Winter Quarter.
Globally-Inspired Pub Fare with Midwestern Sourcing
At the helm of the culinary program is Chef Demetrios Kyprianos, Northwestern’s District Executive Chef, who oversees university-wide dining. Originally from Greece, Kyprianos brings a balanced, ingredient-driven sensibility to campus cuisine, while drawing on years of experience across hotels, restaurants, and large-scale dining environments.
At Luna’s, Kyprianos approaches pub fare through a refined, chef-driven lens, layering subtle Mediterranean influence and an emphasis on Midwestern sourcing onto familiar formats. Mezze-inspired shareables—such as nachos with local beer cheese, bacon jam poutine, hummus with marinated olives, and house-flavored wings—set the tone, followed by heartier offerings including a signature burger made with Slagel Farms beef and handhelds like the hot honey fried chicken sandwich and a beer-braised brat on a pretzel roll. Fresh salad bowls, plant-forward options, and desserts round out the menu.
“With Luna’s, we built the menu around classic pub dishes that feel familiar yet considered, grounded in high-quality ingredients sourced close to home,” said Chef Demetrios Kyprianos. “It’s approachable enough for everyday dining, but thoughtful enough for the kinds of milestone moments—move-in day, family weekend, graduation—that bring people together.”
The beverage program further distinguishes Luna’s within the campus landscape. As the only restaurant at Northwestern University licensed to serve alcohol, Luna’s offers a carefully curated lineup of local and regional draft beers, canned seltzers, wine by the glass, and seasonal cocktails, alongside a thoughtful menu of zero-proof drinks. Designed to be social and approachable rather than bar-centric, the program supports Luna’s role as a place to gather, while the venue’s hybrid counter-service model reinforces a flexible, streamlined experience throughout the day.
A Community Hub for Campus and Beyond
Beyond food and drink, Luna’s Pub & Grill is designed as a hub for connection and creativity. Indoors, the venue offers 126 seats, an integrated stage, and ample TVs to support live music, student performances, trivia and karaoke nights, and sports watch parties. Outside, a covered performance pavilion on Cohen Lawn extends Luna’s programming footprint, with 148 patio seats for seasonal performances and large-scale events, all set against sweeping views of Lake Michigan.
While rooted in campus culture, Luna’s is designed to welcome Evanston residents, North Shore neighbors, and visitors from Chicago and beyond. With its prime location and place-centered vision, Luna’s Pub & Grill marks a new chapter for dining and social life at Northwestern and its surrounding community.
Luna’s Pub & Grill is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.northwestern.edu/lunas-pub/ and follow along on Instagram @lunaspub.nu.
