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
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
