Drawing Room

★★★★☆ 4.3 (107) • $$

"Coming back down from Cindy's Rooftop, I stumbled upon this jaw-dropping floor. I asked one of the employees if it was okay to take pictures and look around. He then gave me a quick tour and showed me into the Game Room. Truly one unforgettable experience!"

Seven Bar and Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (60) • $$

"My husband and I went to Seven Bar and Restaurant with a group of about 60 people for our wedding after party on Saturday night, and everyone had a fabulous experience. Our wedding planner had reached out ahead of time since we'd have a large group coming in, and the owner was super accommodating and helpful. The place isn't very big but the atmosphere was so fun with disco lighting and people LOVED the karaoke. We also ordered several trays of fried food that I assume were good because everyone gobbled them up. We've had so many guests compliment us on how much fun it was and a perfect after party setting. Several people including my husband and I shut the bar down at 3am we were having so much fun. It's a hidden gem being on the 7th floor you do have to show ID and check in with security. But any brides getting married in the north loop should definitely consider Seven, or anyone looking to go somewhere for a party or after an event, we had such a great time!Thank you Seven Bar and Restaurant!"

Watershed

★★★★☆ 4.1 (424) • $$

"I'm always looking for a good speakeasy and I found another one! Watershed is a perfectly dark, swanky, comfortable night spot located in the basement below Pops For Champagne, on the corner of State and Ohio. We were greeted and escorted downstairs by cheerful staff and met with the question, "chess or scrabble"? Well...scrabble of course! We were led to a lush leather seating area surrounding a large swivel scrabble board! How fun and unexpected! The cocktail menu was fun and features seasonal drinks, classics, beer and wine that our group thoroughly enjoyed! What a great little find! Oh....and I won Scrabble"

ROOF

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (1081) • $$$

"Great space. It's all about the vibe here. Menu looks good. Just stopped in for a drink. The restaurant side was pretty loud and busy. Bar side was quieter and more intimate. Staff is friendly but not on par with what I would expect. One drink was $20 out the door. Um, that's not happening again."

ESCO

★★★☆☆ 3 (23) • $$$

La Villa Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (797) • $$

"Food was delicious! They give you some bread to start and then we shared an entree (comes with soup and salad) and pizza. We had a lot of leftovers too! The pizza was delicious - will be back for more!"

Lone Owl Pub

★★★★★ 4.6 (33)

"This is a fun bar with a really unique layout and many quiet nooks to hang in. It made a few expats feel like we were at our local. Great beers on tap. It was only drinks for us. So, Mosh Pit for me and a glass of Oregon Pinot for my wife. Wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it with my own eyes. In walks this Svengali looking dude on a random Sunday afternoon and he's leading around a girl on a leash. Bring out the gimp"

Z Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (211) • $$

"I met my daughter and her friend here for drinks recently. They had both gotten off work late, so it was around 9pm when we arrived. Service was excellent, and there were a wide variety of cocktails to try. My daughter and her friend chose the espresso martinis, and I chose a glass of albarino. Everyone was very happy!"

Mercadito

★★★★☆ 3.7 (2446) • $$$

"If you're looking for a Spanish vibe this is the place. Fancy ambiance. The restaurant itself is pretty loud. If you are there for date night or to converse, good luck hearing the other person. The food is pretty decent portion to share, if you like to share. The margaritas were delish, I wasn't a fan of the watermelon margarita. But overall this place was a great outing."

Underground Cocktail Club

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (33)

"Never knew about this spot until I heard about a secret show being played here. Lots of fun."

The Allis

★★★★☆ 3.9 (858) • $$

"Spent the afternoon having tea with some lovely ladies at Soho House's Allis restaurant. The venue was lovely, and we were seated promptly. Our table was located on the second floor which is a little bit more quaint than the downstairs which is kind of crowded. The menu is set in advance with little option to modify. So just be aware of that if you have allergies. There was a set of 8 different teas, and I was excited to see they had a black based black Berry hibiscus tea. We ought to do the sparkling afternoon tea, which included a glass of bubbles. I got the brut champagne and was very satisfied on how it complimented the scones and some of the sweeter desserts. The finger sandwiches were tasty but I did want more I feel like they can double up on the finger sandwiches it's really not gonna cost them that much more. I saw a couple other people had ordered real food and I wish I would ordered some French fries because they looked delicious. All in all I had a really nice time and I'll come back. I do have to remember when coming for afternoon tea it literally is more about the tea and the cute little finger foods but I also wish that I was able to get more than one cup of tea. We were each given 1 kettle, and for the price point, I feel like you should be able to get at least 2 teas. We paid $73 each for the afternoon tea, and you know it was a really good time."

Sportsman's Club

★★★★☆ 4.1 (131)

"Here is another bar to hit up on Western Avenue. It's close to a few other favorites. Sportsman's Club is a neighborhood place with kind of a sports theme. For sure it's different than a typical sports bar. This isn't quite a dive bar because the drinks aren't that cheap and are too good, but you can find plenty of hip vibes. As far as the sports theme, it's not like a sports bar. It has a few TVs, so you can watch a game. The decor is pretty old school, with lots of taxidermy. About the only bad thing to say about it. The chandeliers are made of antlers, and there's a few dead deer heads on the walls. Good choice among cheap and more expensive. Lots of people prefer beer it seems. It's about $10 for a cocktail. There's no food but you can bring some or have it delivered from one of the nearby places. Classic old hipsterness. It's kind of dated for sure, especially with the taxidermy and the dead stuff. The bar is nice but will get complaints from PETA and whoever."

Whispers At Oak Street Beach

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (114) • $$

"I came in today with my daughter. We had to wait like 6 mins and were seated. It was busy it took about 15-20mins for our waitress to come. It was really busy and they seem to be short on wait staff so it was understandable. I don't remember who our waitress was but she an older women who had a great attitude. They carry wines, champagne and beers. Food wise they have salads, burgers, hot wings, tacos etc! We ordered Buffalo wing with ranch and blue cheese, guacamole and chips, I had a regular pina colada and my daughter had a virgin one. Our food came out fast about 15 mins. Everything was very tasty! My only complaint was that they could have cooked my wings for a couple mins longer. They weren't raw they were just a little under what I personally prefer. So next time I will tell them to cook them "hard". The ranch and the blue cheese sauce both had good flavor. The guacamole was good. Not overly limey just perfect. My pina colada was blended to perfection. It was really good! Now it was kind pricey. My total was $81! The views were immaculate and the vibes were chill! An automatic 18% gratuity was added. I really enjoyed everything so I will be back."

Simone's Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (751) • $$

"Came for some World Cup games recently and can't say enough good things about Simone's. It's a very expansive bar that i feel like you could live a lot of lives at. There's ample booths by the entrance and more tucked away in the back to accommodate varying party sizes. There's usually a daily special and I love the drinks they've come up with to celebrate the tournament. I wasn't fortunate enough to attend a college that regularly served beer out of a boot like my friends did so I appreciated the learning experience. Pizzas never fail to disappoint and they always have so many great options on tap. I'm sure I'll be going back for karaoke night soon IYKYK"

The Duplex

★★★★☆ 3.8 (343) • $$

"Came her last minute on a Sunday for a birthday brunch. Without a reservation, we were able to score a couple of seats at the bar! The music was good - they played late 90s/ early 2000s. The DJ knew what to play based upon the crowd so that was cool. I chose to order the fried chicken and donuts for $24.00. Pretty steep if you ask me. Especially as a breakfast/ brunch dish. The taste wasn't anything special. The syrup used was minimal and overly sticky. The donuts were more so wanna be beignets and were incredibly dry. I mean a Popeyes biscuits and this donut could go flake for flake based upon how dry it was. No joke. They used boneless thighs, which are fine for holding flavor but I would've appreciated a larger cut of meat for the price. As I've been to the Duplex before for dinner, this is the one time I'd say go for dinner versus brunch."

Cerise Rooftop

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (304) • $$

"Nice views. It was easy to reserve a table for brunch. This rooftop is located at the top of the Virgin Hotel. We first sat in the big blue chairs but opted for a regular table and chairs. On the day we went it was very sunny, 80's and beautiful. On the rooftop there was plenty of flowers. While the flowers were beautiful, plenty of wasp or bees buzzing around. No one got stung but they were aggressive. (bring you epi-pen if allergic). For food, we got the double smash burgers with fries. My bestie got the pork shoulder skillet with sourdough toast. Overall the food was good and priced fairly. I will say that the menu was limited. For drinks, there was a full bar. We opted for bloody mary and white wine. The drinks were pricey. Downside was that the drinks served in hard plastic cups. White wines just doesn't taste the same in plastic cup. I would give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars."

AO Hawaiian Hideout

★★★★☆ 4.2 (680) • $$

"This place has every kind of Asian food you could want, which is nice as a crowd pleaser. The ambiance is a fun brightly lit environment, and the service was decently quick. I got a margarita and eventually a glass ofCabernet, and I wouldn't recommend either.We started with the poutine, which was decent in flavor (I'm not usually a fan of poutine though) and a big portion. We also got some sushi - the sloopin on the big island platter. This was my personal favorite dish and was another large portion. The pad see ewe with beef was standard, and the spicy Kung pao chicken was also standard. Nothing special but all satisfying huge portions. The Korean short ribs was decent actually as well. I would describe this restaurant as a bit Americanized since there's no real Asian specialty (they just have every cuisine), but still has a bit of authenticity to all the dishes."

Stevens'

★★★★☆ 4 (354) • $$$

"We stopped here for an excellent dinner after our sailor graduated to celebrate. Easy to make a reservation for a sizable party and the food came out together and was excellent. Our party enjoyed the lobster Mac and cheese, whisky ribs, pork chops, lamb chops, salmon and sirloin steak. Everything was seasoned well and everything but the steak was cooked to perfection. Steak had a hard sear which my son didn't enjoy. Excellent service keeping drinks filled and even gave our sailor a complimentary dessert! Highly recommend this restaurant!"

Vintage Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (204) • $$

"Vintage Bar is a very special place for me for many reasons! A lot of my school division parties are held here, as it can flexibly accommodate many people at once.Before the pandemic, even free dance classes were provided! In the most recent visit, I saw how the entire space sparkle thanks to the beautiful Christmas decorations! They also have about three non-alcoholic drink options available. I had the non-alcoholic Guinness and it was really good. If you are in Little Italy and want to grab a quick bite, have a second or third date, or hang out with friends, do try the Vintage Bar!"

The Rabbit Hole

★★★★☆ 3.6 (107) • $$

"Definitely one of my favorite spots in the Old Town area. The atmosphere, food and service are all great! There's a bartender named Esmeralda I believe was her name and she was so sweet and attentive. I would recommend this spot to anyone in the area."

The Walk In Chicago

★★★★☆ 4.4 (85) • $$

"I feel like "dive bar" is misleading... it's small-ish, but has a great intimate vibe and well-made drinks that are mixed with care and quality ingredients. Cozy in the winter with great big garage windows to open in the summer. Great drinks and totally recommend hitting their weekday happy hour~ a decent selection of their yummy cocktails for just $6! :)"

Weegee's Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.1 (193) • $$

"Every time I go here, I love this place more. Well crafted cocktails carefully made by well dressed, friendly, cute bartenders. Music that's unobtrusive, allowing for conversation. A great outdoor patio in the back to avoid loud SkeeBall revelers.This is a REAL bar. Not a lot of backwards baseball hats in attendance.I only wish it was closer to my abode, however, this is not the fault of WeeGee's. I should just move closer."

aliveOne

★★★★☆ 4.1 (246) • $$

"Huge aliveOne fangirl right here! This is one of my favorite bars. I like that it's divey but sometimes high energy- you can play pool and groove on a lit danceflo' all in one night.They have all kinds of goings-on that I honestly didn't know about until my last visit. Half price happy hour (every day 4p-6p), $4 beers on Tuesdays, free shows on Thursdays... plenty to do.The front space is a funky dive vibe w. cushioned barstools, hanging glass lamps, ornate decor above the bar and a jukebox complete with all kinds of oldies. Throughout the bar you can sit on vintage couches and armchairs and admire the gallery-style wall art. They host shows and private parties in their back room, which has its own bar and some dancin space! The dance floor gets pretty lit on weekends around midnight/1am.Get over to aliveOne stat for a Chicago Handshake and a vibey hang! And don't forget, Kingston Mines is just a short walk down Halsted... have fun!"

IlO Godfrey

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (674) • $$$

"I have been to this rooftop twice. One time at the end of summer and the second time in the middle of winter. The view from this hotel is really beautiful. The roof is actually retractable, so depending on the day it may be open or closed. At one point it started to rain and they closed it while we were there. My first experience was for a sponsored event for corporation and it was really nice. I like the way they had the different rooms section off so that you could have more areas for talking more for presenting your product other areas to lounge in. On the first occasion I was drinking at French 75 and my husband was drinking old-fashioned. We really enjoy both of those cocktails. The first experience we were able to try a lot of different food items from Godfrey. We enjoyed the prime rib, flatbread pizza, cheese curds and the sliders. Everything that we tried in regards to appetizers was really fresh and seasoned well.On my second occasion my friend was staying in the hotel so we decided to go get a drink after dinner. The space is lovely. located on the fourth floor you need either key or entrance via special elevator. The elevator staff were really nice the hostesses were fine. I will say on this occasion the barteners were kind of Snotty. Our drinks were good so that was nice. I asked bartender for a flower or something to make my Frose look pretty and he made a pretend flower with his hands. Okay...all you had to do was give me lemon twist or something. Anyway I love a Good Frose but I just thought the presentation of this one was lacking especially when you give me a big slushy straw to drink it out of. Even with poor presentation, I would order this again."

The Living Room Bar W Chicago City Center

★★★★☆ 3.6 (40)

"Came for their cocktails, and they are AMAZING. $15 each. MAI TEA (North Shore Gin, Grand Marnier Peach, Orgeat Syrup, Lime, Earl Grey Lavender Tea) - It's extraordinary. Perfectly balanced flavors, the peach gives it a nice tropic hint, almost lychee like. They even topped it with a cute sunflower. Oh did i mention SUPER STRONG? I had a hangover at the airport to say the least. METROPOLITAN (Michters Rye, Raspberries, Grapefruit, Fresh Lime Juice, Basil, Peychaud's Bitters) - Too sweet for my liking, not as strong as Mai Tea, perhaps good for the inexperienced. Tasty but almost syrupy sweet.LEMONGRASS DROP (Tito's Handmade Vodka, St-Germain, Lemongrass syrup, Fresh Lemon, Pineapple, Mint) - Another winner, outstanding, delicious, strong, so refreshing but also good for night. Possibly some of the best cocktails i have ever had in my life. You don't have to stay here to come. Just GIT!!!"

Elixir

★★★★☆ 4.1 (117) • $$

"Classy, hidden romantic gem of nice cocktails and martinis that is ALL affordably priced at $11. See $8 Specials on Tips.APPLE CRISP MARTINI was strong equalized with strong tarty Apple and flavorful cinnamon.5-star Service from Chad (say Hello, Friends!).SNACK of pretzels and nuts is available upon request.Automatic water back in a bottle.Plenty of comfortable SEATING. Spacious well ventilated RESTROOM."

The California Clipper

★★★★☆ 4.1 (391) • $$

"Super cool spot. Love the ambiance. Sat in a cozy booth. Came on a Monday night for some live music. Was incredible. Had an old fashioned was good."

VU

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (363) • $$

"Good service and great views! Located on the 22nd floor of the Hilton it has two outdoor terraces with city sweeping views and a main dining room with a bar and tons of tv's to catch a game. Service was good and attentive Jacques was my server and made recommendations I had the mix green salad with had a corn bread crouton with fresno peppers and cherry tomatoes. For my main I tried the bucatini pasta which had muscles, shrimp and white fish in a green sauce. I paired that with a glass of albarino white wine. Overall great service and food with city views from the south loop!"

Utopian Tailgate

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (438) • $$

"I haven't had food here, but this spot is great for day drinking and taking in the city views. Though the section where most of the tables are have blocked views because of the covered fencing. Also be warned that you will have to go through a line of metal detection and bag checks prior to entering the establishment. Once there, however, there's plenty of games (in exchange for your id), drinks, and music. If you're lucky, a shot girl will shoot a squirt of liquor into your mouth from a water gun!My particular drink on this day was the 'mi casa' off the menu- didn't realize that this was a) $20 and b) blue. $20 is pretty ridiculous for old town prices, and no where in the description does the drink hint at having blue curacao or anything that make the drink blue.Otherwise a fun time and really big mix of crowds!"

The J Parker

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (704) • $$

"Great views of the city, lake, and park here. Drinks were good. The staff was friendly. Nice place to sit and grab a drink on a rooftop!"

Club Lucky

★★★★☆ 3.9 (831) • $$$

"Club Lucky is a great spot! I love their martini with blue cheese olives. We split two different pastas and it was the perfect amount of food. Their table bread is also amazing. We didn't get any apps because the bread and pasta was enough for us.Highly recommend and has a great patio on the sides of the building and out back!"

Lincoln Tap Room

★★★★☆ 4 (97) • $

"Just had my birthday party in the back area. Would highly recommend. They do great drink deals and drink packages and the bartenders are great"

Green Eye Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.6 (265) • $

"Well hello again. Just feel the need to do a lil' shout out to this establishment. Well established, this establishment. Big , pretty, cozy and fun. Like my friend Steve. It's happy hour on a rainy spring Friday, and it's really great here. A fine 6:00 club, there be here. I may have been here a few other times as well, and you know what? It was great then too."

Sunset Pho Caffe

★★★★★ 4.7 (469) • $$

"Vietnamese and Yugoslavian fusion means spring rolls with cevapcici in them, an EXCELLENT combination. It doesn't mean that the classic pho isn't done right though, it's still hearty and meaty and loaded with everything you need. I will say the pho was heavy on black pepper and the noodles were a little fused BUT it's still a decent bowl of pho. I will say the real highlights are their non-pho dishes and their fusion and Yugoslavian dishes, I highly encourage you to branch out and explore the menu. I love cevapcici and it was so good in the spring roll!! The space is soo neat, it looks like the inside of a chapel, and the staff and service is EXCELLENT, owner offered us green plum brandy shots for St Patty's too hehe"

Sky-Ride Tap

★★★★☆ 4.1 (54)

"For those looking for a hidden gem in the Loop, check this place out.Sky-Ride Tap is a no-nonsense dive bar located under the L line in the Loop. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. Bartenders are delightful and friendly. Patrons are regulars and it shows. Lots of Blackhawks paraphernalia all around. Perfect place to watch local teams play. And the best part? The drinks are damn cheap. They don't pour lightly either.Only downside? Cash only. They do have an ATM in the back but be prepared for those wanting to avoid those pesky ATM fees."