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 Big bites with a view |
151 E Wacker Dr Chicago, IL 60601 United States +1 312 565 1234 http://chicagoregency.hyatt.co... |
Bigger is better here. Located in the Hyatt Regency in the heart of the Magnificent Mile, BIG Bar and Brassiere lives up to its name, boasting the longest free-standing bar in North America. In addition top-notch city views through windows lined with over 1,400 liquor bottles, BIG bar draws a fun, after work crowd with its oversized appetizers and drinks. Guests can choose from three sizes when making their cocktail or beer selections, big, bigger and biggest, or for groups try the 108 ounce "Long Neck Beer Tower" which holds enough beer to fill about 9 mugs! A fun and satisfying stop while downtown in the Windy City. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Alisa Cooper |
 Photo: mbaylor  |
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Wine: The Guided Tour |
275 North Parkway Drive, Suite 511 Lincolnshire Chicago, IL 60069 United States +1 312 755 9463 http://www.bin36.com/ |
Learning about and selecting fine wine has never been so easy and enjoyable. The menu at this place provides captions next to the entrees suggesting wines that go well with them. And more than 50 varieties of wine are available. While the wine may be the focus of the restaurant, the food and décor are hardly after thoughts. The bistro style restaurant serves up a wide selection, including sea scallop appetizers and striped bass fillets. The well-lit diner highlights the rust colored curtains, the cherry-wood trim and circular bar. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Solomon Weiler |
 Photo: tiffany dantzler |
 Photo: Tim Ruddell |
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Wine: The Guided Tour |
339 North Dearborn Street At Marina city Chicago, IL 60610 United States +1 312 755 9463 http://www.bin36.com/ |
Learning about and selecting a fine wine have never been so easy and enjoyable. Simply order the meal at the in-store restaurant and sample the wines as you eat. The menu provides captions next to the entrees suggesting wines that would go well with the meal. More than 50 varieties are available. While the wine may be the focus of the restaurant, the food and décor are hardly after thoughts. The well-lit diner highlights the rust colored curtains, the cherry-wood trim and circular bar. The bistro style restaurant serves up a wide selection, including sea scallop appetizers and striped bass fillets. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Dine in style |
505 North Lake Shore Drive Gold Coast Chicago, IL United States +1 312 644 4050 http://www.citechicago.com/ |
This stylish French/American resto-bar offers a breathtaking view of the Chicago skyline. With a private dining area that can accommodate upto 75 guests, Cite is a favorite with corporates and socialites alike. Comfortable chairs in earth tones, and elegant furnishings in a sprawling dining area create an astounding effect. The menu is innovative and extravagant. The cigar list is carefully selected. Dress up a little, as jackets are the preferred attire. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Red All Over |
333, N Dearborn Street Chicago, IL United States +1 312 923 2473 |
Upscale drinking and ambiance. If you're driving, you might want to consider taking a taxi. This place gets pretty packed on the weekends so it can be hard to find a parking space. Valet is also on hand if you get too frustrated. Don't worry about drinking too much, the bar is located in the Hotel Sax if you need a place to crash. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Classic Loop pub and pizzeria |
226 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, IL 60604 United States +1 312 939 5633 http://www.exchequerpub.com |
For over 30 years, this has been a classic Loop watering hole for business people, students and the occasional tourist. Stop at the bar for a drink and salty popcorn, or stay for a satisfying lunch, which includes the usual selection of burgers, salads and steaks. Or skip all those, order a pitcher of beer, and split a pizza between you and your buddies. According to Exchequer, Roger Ebert, film critic extraordinaire, ranks Exchequer's pizza as his favorite in Chicago, and he should know. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jason Amor |
 Photo: Kate Lebowsky |
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Wonderful dining experience |
321 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60610 United States +1 312 644 0283 http://www.flatwater.us/ |
Flatwater is the ideal hotspot for both pleasure and business meals. A much-needed haven amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, it offers picturesque views of Chicago River and the Loop. The restaurant serves lunch, dinner, breakfast and brunch, specializing in both American and international fare. It also offers private rooms, a banquet-hall, a fireplace, a non-smoking dining area, outdoor dining, and a full bar. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Bucky Skeel |
 Photo: Bucky Skeel |
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No ghost here |
440 West Randolph Street Nine Restaurant Chicago, IL 60606 United States +1 312 575 9900 http://www.n9ne.com/ghostbar.asp |
If you need a stiff drink, what better place to get it than at Ghost Bar? It is a fabulous addition to the trendy and popular upscale restaurant Nine. Get over here and mingle with the mostly uber-chic crowd and Hollywood celebs who drop in sometimes. The DJ mainly plays dance music but get a heady dose of hip-hop, R&B and soul too. The bar reeks of sophistication and strong perfume. Private parties take precedence, but otherwise Ghost Bar is a fun place to unwind with the tabloid crowd. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Dance without the brakes on |
151 East Wacker Drive Hyatt Regency Hotel Chicago, IL 60601 United States +1 312 239 4544 / +1 312 565 1234 http://www.harddrivechicago.com/ |
If you're looking for a bit of LA in Chicago, then this trendy club is the place to get down and get dirty. Located at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, it's as downtown as you can get. As you enter, you will be plunged into a technological fantasy with eight plasma screens that show over 7,000 music videos in a night. Leap onto the dance floor, which is illuminated by a huge glass globe, spurting out rays of light. Each weekend, the club opens its doors to fashion shows and local celebrities - and they don't close till 5a, so you can get down to it into the wee hours! Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: http://pbinder.com/ |
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Dine with the blues |
329 North Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60610 United States +1 312 923 2000 http://www.hob.com/ |
House of Blues, famous at its many locations around the globe, loses none of the glamour and glitz of its "faux dive" specialty here! Outsider art hangs all over the place from floor to ceiling, and you get the feel of being in a perverted opera house. With seating more than 1,500 people, HOB lets visitors catch a concert while snacking on such menu selections as "The Elwood" (blackened chicken sandwich with chili garlic mayonnaise, green chilies and sour cream served with seasoned french fries). Average menu prices are about $9, topping out at $21 for a New York strip steak. There is live music seven nights a week, with cover charges ranging from $10 to $25. Music styles are not limited to the blues— jazz, rock and such favorite bands as Duran Duran and Styx are also featured. You must make a reservation ahead of time. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Andy Scudder |
 Photo: Dasha Anokhina |
 Photo: Tony |
 Photo: Allison Turrell |
 Photo: Matthew Watts |
 Photo: Cat Conway |
 Photo: lee.eel |
 Photo: Corey Sechrist |
 Photo: Lisa-Marie Jordan |
 Photo: Xara Gobhai |
 Photo: Jeff Houck/SideSalad |
 Photo: Max Kleinman |
 Photo: Ted Tronson |
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Hye Life |
3707 North Southport Chicago, IL United States +1 773 244 4057 / +1 773 244 4102 |
Hye's has a great selection of beer and the place is always bustling, especially after work or on the weekends. With a dark wood interior, huge salt-water aquarium, live music and some attractive Irish (or are they Scottish) wait staff, Hye Bar has just the right pub-like feel. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Slick nightspot |
200 North Columbus Dr Fairmont Hotel Chicago, IL 60601 United States +1 312 565 7444 |
This classy, art deco lounge at the ultra-posh Fairmont Hotel is decorated with nightclub scenes created by Chicago-area artist Ed Hinkley. The room is dimly lit with candles flickering gently on all of the tables. This a relaxed place to hear jazz and blues every night of the week except Mondays and Sundays. The martini and other mixed drinks are the staples here, though if you are looking for a bite to eat, a deli menu of sandwiches usually runs about $5-6, with a short appetizer list later in the evening. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Booze, snacks and big crowds |
Evert Van De Beekstraat 202 Chicago, IL 1118 CP United States +1 773 435 0007 |
This is a great place for summer dining in a fun atmosphere made to please even the roughest-hewn dayworker. The crowd can be a bit much at times, but you will feel better once you make it to the outdoor patio, where you can eavesdrop on conversations about relationships while munching on Quesadillas, fish and chips, spaghetti and other comfort foods at great prices. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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A visit worth it |
500 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60610 United States +1 312 321 6242 http://www.naha-chicago.com/ |
Sweet Roasted Sea Scallops, Blossom Honey Lacquered Aged Moulard Duck and Plump, and Jerusalem Artichoke Soup…sounds tempting? These are just some of the mouthwatering dishes served at Naha - a Mediterranean-American fare serving venue. The décor is Zen-like and sophisticated. The seasonally changing menu displays a Lounge Menu and a Cheese Course Menu among the others. The wine list includes a careful selection to enhance the exquisite flavors of Chef Carrie's preparations. The restaurant can be booked for private events. Make sure you are well equipped as far as moolah goes! Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Gary Alan Fine |
 Photo: brandon emerson |
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Drinks with a free sombrero |
73 East Lake Street Chicago, IL 60601-5904 United States +1 312 346 8457 |
This Mexican restaurant is a popular after-work getaway for the city's downtown crowd. The quesadillas, burritos, fajitas and tacos are plentiful, as are the Coronas and margaritas. Order one of Salvador's 45-ounce margaritas, and you will receive a free sombrero (the hat, not the drink). Finish the cocktail, and you won't care how silly the sombrero looks on you. Just be aware that like most Mexican restaurants, the drinks are usually more expensive than the food. The Chicken Taco, Carne Asada and Mondo-Margarita are recommended. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Eat out! |
111 South Wacker Drive DeLoitte Building Chicago, IL 60606 United States +1 312 948 8240 http://www.restaurants-america... |
Whether you need to pick up breakfast on your way to work, or just want to have a leisurely lunch or a casual dinner, this eatery will not disappoint you. The Townhouse Restaurant and Wine Bar provides contemporary American cuisine in a comfy ambience. You can pick up something for the road from the Café to Go or sit by the floor-to-ceiling window and enjoy your entrée. Tourists would like to know that the Civic Opera House and Sears Tower are just a stone's throw away. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Biker burger bar |
501 North Odgen Avenue Chicago, IL 60622 United States +1 312 666 1500 http://www.twistedspoke.com/ |
While the Twisted Spoke's motif is that of a hard-driving biker diner, you are more than welcome if your Harley happens to be in the shop, or even if the only bike you own is a Schwinn. Order one of the Fat Boys, a grilled burger topped with onions, lettuce, tomato and cheese for less than $10. Daily specials include meatloaf, pasta and fish, and don't dare miss the biker brunch on Wednesday, to power up for the long ride. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Atelier Teee |
 Photo: Zachary Jean Paradis |
 Photo: Mike Zienowicz |
 Photo: Carl J. Shirley |
 Photo: Louise Fitch |
 Photo: Renee |
 Photo: Jacob Conklin |
 Photo: thatguynamedmark |
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Swanky nights out |
311 North Sangamon Street Across Fulton Market Chicago, IL 60607 United States +1 312 733 6900 http://www.victorhotelchicago.... |
Not a place for anyone under 21, or for sloppy dressers! This nightclub is quite strict when it comes to their rules, and you won't get in if you are tacky or underage. For those who are allowed in, the bar is the only place where you can sit without a reservation. The crowd is mature, so don't expect much wild partying. However, the loud decor and the Motown music won't let you plant yourself in your place for too long. The house special, called 13th Floor - a concoction of Belvedere Citrus Vodka and White Cranberry and Pomegranate Juices - is worth a sip or two. Typically a sushi bar, this place offers lip-smacking finger food such as, Ceviche and Sashimi. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: brian bobek |
 Photo: Fausto Fernos |
 Photo: Kristina T. of GFP |
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Not just a wine bar |
1942 West Division Street Chicago, IL 60622 United States +1 773 772 3400 http://www.vintage-chicago.com/ |
If you think you're going to drop by here just for a drink, think again! Vintage is a bar in every sense of the word, with subdued lighting, a busy bar counter, and people guzzling shots and having a good time - but ask for the menu, and your perception of the place may change! Items like Foie Gras au Torchon, Steamed Mussels, Pork Loin, and small plates of munchies will have your mouth watering. In fact, it's not surprising that some patrons are here solely for the food! Private events are permitted, and the bar can hold up to 100 people. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Kristina T. of GFP |
 Photo: Kristina T. of GFP |