In Out Innovative bar food from pedigreed chefs The “gastropub with a twist.” What does that even mean? The unmarked speakeasy with an entrance you can’t find Signage so ostentatious that the bar is impossible not to find Classic cocktails: Nice to see you again, Rob Roy. Drinks with 20 ingredients—and only 2 you can … Read more
Some of our favorite bars made their last calls this year. Here’s where to go instead.
Sable Kitchen & Bar Don’t be fooled by the two sports-tuned TVs flanking the bar. In this hot spot, you’ll find chic execs who enjoy Mike Ryan’s impeccably devised drink menu (full of original craft cocktails), the inventive small plates (airy tuna tostadas are a favorite), and an attentive, all-business waitstaff. Because it’s near major … Read more
NEW Slippery Slope Don’t let the lengthy line outside dissuade you from visiting Scofflaw’s (see “Best Bars to Go on a Third Date”) cool kid sister. If you do, you’ll miss out on one of the city’s most inviting nightly parties, a hip homage to the now-defunct dancehall Bonny’s. The house beer comes with a … Read more
Table, Donkey and Stick If you’re game to try the Brooklyn booze trend dubbed the pickleback—a shot of whiskey chased with pickle brine—order one at this Alpine-inspired bar/restaurant with an inviting back patio (enclosed and hearth-heated during winter). Bartenders pair bourbon with rotating brines (cauliflower, onion, leek) for kicky 20-and 30-somethings, whose faces often contort … Read more
Beverly’s beloved South Side Irish Parade (March 15) runs down Western Avenue, and though the street is lined with Irish pubs, the two best are next-door neighbors. Both pour Guinness, of course. But they’re also the most iconic and most likely to be frequented by in-the-know neighborhood revelers. Keegan’s Pub (10618 S. Western Ave.) is … Read more
At the Red Lion Pub (Lincoln Park, 2446 N. Lincoln Ave., redlionchicago.com), bookshelves line the walls, and rooms are themed (English history, World War II, African studies). Named for Oscar, the Wilde Bar & Restaurant (Lake View, 3130 N. Broadway, wildechicago.com) has its own “grand library,” complete with fireplace. Both bars have a mature ambiance … Read more
JAZZ Jazz Showcase College kids hang with jazz lifers at this 68-year–old joint, the only spot in town that books an all-star lineup and takes reservations. Cover isn’t cheap—tickets run up to $40 on weekends—but that extra dough gets you access to such vets as Pat Martino (playing a six-show residency this month) sans those … Read more
The warming housemade cinnamon whiskey at Frontier (West Town, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., thefrontierchicago.com) is best enjoyed beside the beer garden’s roaring fireplace: the ideal way to thaw frozen biker fingers. Farther along your commute north lies Revolution Brewing (Logan Square, 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave., revbrew.com), where the bar—and bike racks outside—is always nearly full. … Read more
The J. Parker The panorama of the park, lake, and skyline delivers the best bang for your buck in terms of city views year-round, thanks to the Hotel Lincoln’s brand-new retractable glass dome. For visitors trying to cram lots of Chicago into a single night, this rooftop spot is a no-brainer. What to order: Midwest … Read more
