Kumiko Wins Michter's Art of Hospitality Award as Part of North America's 50 Best Bars 2026

Kumiko has been announced as the winner of the Michter’s Art of  Hospitality Award, part of the fifth annual North America’s 50 Best Bars awards.  Established to celebrate the role hospitality plays in the bar experience, the Michter’s Art of  Hospitality Award is determined by the 300-plus members of the North America’s 50 Best Bars Academy. Voters are asked to identify the bar where they enjoyed the hospitality during the 18- month voting period. This award marks the first in a lineup of awards revealed in advance of the North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026 awards ceremony. 

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for North America’s 50 Best Bars, says: “It has been remarkable to witness Kumiko’s continued impact on the Midwest cocktail landscape. As a Japanese dining bar, Kumiko treats food and drink with the same level of care, each crafted with deep intentionality. From impeccably composed, seasonally driven cocktails that weave together Japanese and American influences on a cuisine that captures the soulful breadth of Japanese cooking, every detail reflects Momosé’s thoughtful vision. It is this harmony between technical excellence and heartfelt hospitality that makes Kumiko both transportive and warmly grounded in Chicago, continuing to set it apart year after year.” 

Julia Momosé, Chef, Partner and Creative Director of Kumiko, says: “It is a privilege to care for people, and an honor to be recognized with the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award 2026 for the way we practice that care each day. I am grateful to the team at Kumiko for the kindness they show one another and the care they extend to our guests. I am equally grateful to the community that continues to support us. It is a gift to have your trust. When we acknowledge the fragile parts of our own humanity, we are better able to help others feel seen, heard and know that they matter. Hospitality is built through small, consistent acts of attention and respect. At Kumiko, we will continue to center our work around that belief and to build space where people feel respected and safe. Arigato gozaimasu.”