The Bar at Nico Osteria Thompson Hotel, 1015 N. Rush St. Gold Coast Restaurant bar 312-994-7100 Website Don’t even think about wearing jeans and a T-shirt at the newest venture from Paul Kahan (Avec, Big Star, Publican). But Big Star meets Gold Coast this ain’t. The posh bar and lounge, with its dark walls, … Read more
Rhine Hall 2010 W. Fulton St. West Town Distillery 312-243-4313 Website Getting to this family-run brandy distillery’s tasting room requires an effort. First, make sure it’s open. (The proprietors currently pour drinks for only a few hours on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons.) Then locate the spare 10-seat bar, which is attached to the … Read more
The Radler 2375 N. Milwaukee Ave. Logan Square Beer hall 773-276-0270 Website Thanks to an old beer ad uncovered on a brick wall during construction and the three oversize grandfather clocks backing the bar, this 3,000-square-foot, two- month-old German beer hall manages to feel like a friendly standby. Put away a meaty Thuringer sausage … Read more
Chop Shop 2033 W. North Ave. Wicker Park Restaurant bar 773-537-4440 Website Tucked behind the eponymous butcher shop lies this sedate bar and event space, quickly gaining foodie cred for its delectable Butcher’s Burger (prime beef cuts freshly ground in-house, topped with aged cheddar, red onions, smoked bacon, and a homemade sauce). The bar … Read more
Birreria 43 E. Ohio St. River North Craft beer bar 312-521-8700 Website At Eataly—Mario Batali’s Italian foodie fantasy- land—the second-floor craft beer bar holds its own among the wine-dominated aisles. Sunlight bathes the sectioned-off corner space; the high-top tables hold Alpine-inspired bar snacks and pints, including 14 drafts and dozens of bottled varieties. Although … Read more
Sportsman’s Club 948 N. Western Ave. Humboldt Park Neighborhood bar 872-206-8054 Website Let a nightlife dream team (hailing from Bar DeVille, Barrelhouse Flat, Lone Wolf, and Aviary) loose to rehab an old Polish dive and the result is this gem. The downscale vibe remains intact—as evidenced by the dozens of taxidermied animals and cheap … Read more
Bub City 435 N. Clark St. River North Country bar 312-610-4200 Website This barbecue joint morphs into a Nashville- style honky-tonk at night, complete with live tunes. Don’t fret if you can’t find seats near the stage: The view is fine from either of the two bars, where 100-plus whiskeys flow. A late-night menu … Read more
CH Distillery 564 W. Randolph St. West Loop Distillery 312-707-8780 Website Come for the cocktails—vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey, all showcasing spirits made onsite—and linger for the small plates: flavorful shiitake pâté, corned duck, and potato pancakes. You’ll either love or hate the decor, best described as factory chic. But with an attentive staff … Read more
Analogue 2523 N. Milwaukee Ave. Logan Square Cocktail bar Website Combine Violet Hour drinks with dive bar minimalism and you’ve got Analogue, the latest venture from Violet vets Robert Haynes and Henry Prendergast. Well-conceived cocktails share menu space with $3 drafts of Bud and everything in between, including surprises such as purls (beers infused … Read more
Lone Wolf 806 W. Randolph St. West Loop Cocktail bar 312-600-9391 Leave it to the minds behind Trenchermen and the Barrelhouse Flat to dream up one of the boldest launches of the year. This spacious neighborhood bar offers sgroppinos (sorbet- like vodka and prosecco concoctions), amaro cocktails, and savory Pleasant House Bakery pies, plus … Read more
