Ad Categories: Dining & Drinking

Yep, more Paul McGee (see No. 1), this time showing off a collection of rare spirits in a tiny nook of the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. In exchange for some inconvenience—you have to put down $50 in advance to reserve one of the eight stools for a two-hour seating—you’ll sip some of the smoothest cocktails … Read more

This bare-bones space loses points for a scarcity of creature comforts (such as seating), though it’s all in the service of the standout base menu of complex, malty beers, which are approachable yet still interesting enough for seasoned drinkers. But the “experimental brews” are a beer geek’s dream come true: Hop-obsessed staffers ask for your … Read more

If you’re still remembering the summertime queues snaking past the elevator here, cheer up: Cold weather means no waiting for a perch at this rooftop spot. Like Milk Room (No. 3), it’s part of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. Reminiscent of a Great Lakes vacation house, complete with wood and picnic tables, Cindy’s delivers insane … Read more

GreenRiver’s perch on the 18th floor of a medical building may put you off. But with one of Julia Momose’s intricate yet effortless cocktails in hand, you’ll forget all about the odd location. Leaning on the bar alongside a tie-loosened after-work crowd, you’ll realize that high-end cocktailing doesn’t have to be fussy to draw a … Read more

It’s a beer hall for people who wouldn’t otherwise be caught dead in one. This well-appointed space blurs the line between bar and restaurant, offering seasonal small plates matched to five carefully considered brews. Thanks to the deft touch of brewmaster Michael Carroll (who in a past life was Alinea’s baker), these beers drink like … Read more

The city’s best new bar is . . . a tiki bar? Didn’t Chicago name a tiki bar the best new drinking spot in 2014, too? Why is this magazine so obsessed with tiki bars? Yes, yes, and truly, we’re not. But when the legendary bartender Paul McGee (Whistler, Three Dots and a Dash) concocts … Read more

A British-Indian bar on increasingly bland Division Street could have been a mess of subcontinental kitsch and curry. Instead, in the able hands of Heisler Hospitality (Sportsman’s Club), it’s more Darjeeling Limited than colonialist throwback. Despite “pub” in the name, the focus is on refreshing cocktails, with a whole section devoted to Royale Cups (fruity … Read more

Logan Square may have lost the beloved neighborhood bar Marble, but a cozy corner tavern stepped into its place, perfect if you love the Pixies and dream of drinking angostura bitters on draft (shots are available for $4 a pop). A cushioned bar ledge cradles your elbows while you down sorta fancy cocktails, chat with … Read more