Replay 3439 N. Halsted St. Boystown Gay bar 773-975-9244 Website To the delight of the too-old-for-twerking crowd, the arcade bar trend made its way to Boystown last summer. The beer-and-bourbon hot spot in the former Bucks Saloon space offers nearly two dozen free classic arcade games (The Simpsons, Mortal Kombat) and complimentary popcorn. The … Read more
DryHop Brewers 3155 N. Broadway Lake View Brewpub 773-857-3155 Website East Lake View was a craft beer flyover zone until this brewpub hit the scene last June with a juicy wheat ale flagship, Shark Meets Hipster, that is as tasty as it is clever. Word to the wise: Despite promising beer-geek attributes— growler-to-go service, … Read more
Fame 2015 W. Division St. Ukranian Village Cocktail bar 773-227-1110 Website If Intelligentsia ever got a liquor license, the result would look a lot like this: coffeehouse seating, original artwork, and a youngish, low-key crowd. The five-month-old lounge/gallery delights in specialty cocktails and infusions, from vanilla bean vodka to sage-grapefuit gin. Hungry? Order so-called … Read more
Horse Thief Hollow 10426 S. Western Ave. Beverly Brewpub 773-779- 2739 Website This homey and refreshingly unpretentious spot taps five housemade beers each night and serves hearty, locally sourced fare, including an extra-tasty grass-fed burger. With a smattering of TVs and laid-back bartenders clad in hoodies and jeans, it’s just what this South Side … Read more
The Revel Room 1566 N. Milwaukee Ave. Wicker Park Cocktail bar 773-278-1600 Website This sleek spot eased onto the scene in August, sporting red vinyl seating and featuring strong drinks designed by Ronnie Higgins (Bar DeVille) and well-curated beers. It seems fitting that it’s in the old Empire Liquors space— the bar is perfect … Read more
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
