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The Hand & The Eye, a 36,000-square-foot sanctuary for the all things magic, officially opens its doors on Saturday, April 18. Anchored inside the legendary McCormick Mansion at Ontario and Rush (100 E Ontario St), the venue sits just steps from the Magnificent Mile, transforming a Gilded Age icon into what is being hailed as the world’s most ambitious home for modern magic.
The estate is no stranger to reinvention—having famously housed Lawry’s The Prime Rib for decades—but its latest act is its most daring. Within its 37 rooms, the mansion hides a labyrinth of secret passageways and hidden chambers where world-class magicians perform intimate, close-up tricks. The experience pairs high-concept sleight of hand with an elevated culinary program, operating on the belief that nothing complements a vanishing act quite like an extravagant entrée.
“We’re creating a singular experience of wonder, where memories are made and magic is shared. You become a part of the magic,” says founder Glen Tullman. “We’re investing in Chicago to bring the most unique magic experience in the world to life, and to play a role in reinvigorating the Magnificent Mile.”
The five-story experience unfolds through a sequence of lounges, theaters and dining rooms that shift from stylishly cozy to wildly opulent. With more than five ways to enter the mansion, every visit is a curated pivot; the magicians you meet, the illusions you witness and even the menu you taste will vary. Guests will follow a choreographed journey designed so that no two visits are alike—a comforting thought for anyone worried about spotting a secret on the second viewing. Performance spaces are tucked into every corner, ranging from intimate parlors to sweeping, grand salons.
The magic extends to the menu, where Chicago-based hospitality leader Levy Restaurants has crafted a culinary program that honors the McCormick Mansion’s legacy of refined entertaining. The offerings are a nod to Chicago’s gastronomic roots, featuring elevated classics like Chicken Vesuvio and prime beef carpaccio alongside nostalgic relish plates and grasshopper baked Alaska—all reimagined with contemporary elegance. To take a piece of the mystery home, guests can browse a curated collection of merchandise, including Svengali Decks and “Miracle Lights,” allowing the illusions of the evening to linger long after the final act.
The Hand & The Eye's “hours of enchantment” (i.e., operating hours) are Sunday through Wednesday from 4 to 10pm, and Thursday through Saturday until 11pm. Reservations are required, and public ticket sales begin April 18, 2026. Tickets start at $225, including a $75 dining credit, which softens the blow in the way a magician distracts you with one hand while the other reaches for your wallet. Tickets will be on sale at handandeye.com.