I like this bar. It gets a mixed crowd of tourists (what do you expect for a hotel bar) and regulars. Their drinks are priced the same as most bars in the loop. Expect to pay $12.00-14.00 for a premium mixed drink or martini anywhere in the loop. That said, their martinis are awesome. The overhead spaciousness, view of city and view of hotel lobby are nice. There is a good amount of seating but the seating could use a little updating. Most people that go here order the giant margarita/martini - made to share. They also offer a wide variety of appetizers and they are pretty tasty - try the Big Bar Nachos - everything comes separate so you can layer/dip as you please. read more

Ok, this is best bar ever! We stayed at the Hyatt Regency and 5 nights in a row, we visited BIG BAR! It's given, drinks are BIG! The view is nice. I really like the atmosphere since most of the people hanging out are businessman or travelers so the vibe is more like touristy - which is great. We didn't try much of their appetizers but so far, it's all good but just tiny servings. The only drawback I think is the price, which is 12 bucks per drink. But we are on vacation so it's already given to spend more than we expected. Other than that, it's all fun fun fun. Servers are very cool actually. read more

BIG Bar - Big Bar - 5 days in a row... - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Being that we stay at the Hyatt Regency hotel for our annual conference, the big bar is frequent stop. Their drinks are a little on the pricey side but it's conveniently located when staying in the hotel. We usually get lots of appetizers for the table to share. The nachos are ok at best. They come with nacho cheese sauce, pickled jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and ground beef with a cumin forward taco seasoning. The chicken wings are good and big. They serve the fried crispy with sauces on the side. The pretzel sticks are slightly crunchy on the outside and super soft and chewy inside. They serve them with a cheese sauce and a honey mustard sauce. They are an awesome accompaniment beer and a must have for me when here. read more

Went here last night for an after work drink - we looked like we were the toursits. We got two 48 ounce martinis. Delish and for $22 the value can't be beat. On another note - the decor could liven up a bit - It felt like I was in a hotel in 1984. read more

This is a hotel bar. The setting is interesting and the decor is a bit wild, but it is fun. The menu is very limited with a lot of typical bar fare, nachos and fried selections. The bar fare was a good late night snack, but it is not going to win any quality awards. The servers were generally friendly, which was in stark contrast to "American Craft" the bar down below in the Hyatt (see my other review). One of the biggest disappointments about this bar is that it doesn't open until later in the day. So no lunch opportunities, which given the amount of rooms at the Hyatt you would think they would get the business. Overall check it out if you don't want to leave the hotel, but there's a lot of better options within walking distance. read more

I enjoyed myself here. Kinda wandered in to grab a drink before heading to some other bars and it ended being rather pleasant. There were a lot of nice people hanging out, probably staying at the hotel and staying in as opposed to bearing the rainy weather. The waitress was pretty nice and when she learned it was my birthday the day before, offered to bring out a large piece of chocolate cake which was delicious! Free of charge. Nice gesture but she kind of had an attitude about it.... "The kitchen's closing, so it's now or never". Whatevs. Free cake is free cake. We had 3 of the VERY BIG martinis and I thought they were all pretty tasty and fun to share with friends. The waitress overcharged us for one drink, but only four dollars so we let it slide. Maybe her way of charging us for the cake....? Just kind of annoying. It's a hotel bar so unless you're either staying at the hotel or it's the closest thing to you, it's probably not your best option. read more

This place really has a big bar in terms of the mountain of liquor bottles that you can see from outside of the Hyatt when passing by in front on Wacker Dr. Always a good time here as me and friends usually meet up here for events or various get togethers. This place is good for groups as they have nice couches in the back, booths and hi-tops...not to mention the bar is long enough to fit a nice amount of people. Its in the lobby of the 2nd floor and you cant miss it once you get on the escalator going up the floor 2. They have a nice amount of whiskeys and bourbons so I usually go with that. Chicken wings are decent if you need something to fill your belly. Good spot on a saturday night as the view is pretty sweet! read more

I'm not so sure about this place. Yes, the bar is BIG, they have BIG drinks, the view is quite BIG, but the waitress with the BIG hair made several BIG mistakes, forgot part of our order, blamed it on others, and just made a BIG ol' mess of things. There are a million bars inside ritzy downtown hotels... they don't have to be BIG to be cool and certainly aren't cool just because they're BIG. read more

Visited here with my girlfriend at the Hyatt. Decent bar with plenty of drink options. The service was definitely one I'd hope to forget soon since it IS a nice bar. Our server was an african-american gentleman who wouldn't smile even if it were to save his life. He walked around with a frown and also irritated at serving us. We ordered our cab, a beer, 2 cocktails. The cocktails were pretty strong, in which my girlfriend had to wait for the ice to melt to actually drink. The side tables are all equipped with led tv's, which were nice. The led lighting is also beautifully lit, which really set a nice, vibrant, mood. At 1, they kicked everyone out and all the customers had to drink in the hotel lobby or wherever we could find seats. Overall, a decent bar. Really enjoyed the atmosphere, just not so much the service or the cocktails. Will try again soon read more

Definitely the BIGGEST bar Ive ever been to! I was lucky enough to visit Chicago during the St. Patrick's day festival. Everything was green and decorated beautifully and they serve giant towers of green beer. The staff was amazing and we even met a bartender who was from the same small town as my boyfriend. I would definitely recommend everyone traveling to Chicago to visit this bar - the view is spectacular - it is a must see! read more

Haven't been here for a second, however, every time that we used to go here it was a guaranteed good time. The name of the bar speaks for itself and this are big over here, but by big I mean, HUGE! Probably the biggest cocktails I've ever seen, bigger than my face, yeah and we like that :) The fact that it's in the Hyatt hotel, however, it's the second floor lobby and it has it's own section with floor to ceiling windows overlooking our beautiful city makes this place a MUST go at night time when everything is lit up. I also go here both summer and winter since it's indoor and what better way than to get warm and cozy than with a BIG drink, that's right. The prices are decent, the food is pretty good and the drinks are worth the costs. We never have a problem getting a table and it seems like this place is always jam packed on a Saturday night. Hope this place stays around for a while since we are definitely fans. If you're a tourist or a local, this place will offer a unique and fun experience. And be sure to take a picture next to the hugeee martini at the front entrance, because I sure did. read more

BIG bar, BIG drinks, BIG prices, SMALL amounts of booze. lots of fillers, not a lot of alcohol. Too sweet and juicy for me. We sucked down 2 large ones and still had to go and drink pitchers of beers at some weird bar downtown to get our buzz on. OH and the bartender (an older hispanic man) was probably the rudest bartender i've dealt with. He actually put his hand up as in "talk to the hand" when we were ordering (we were sober ps, so its not like we were being drunk idiots). I am shocked that the hyatt, a huge chain hotel, would allow someone to represent their company in that manner. He needs to be fired, ASAP. I will NEVER come here again, to drink, or to stay. read more

I wanted a quick spot for a stressful Friday cocktail and an appetizer. I stumbled on this place while just walking around. The lobby is impressive and gives you plenty options for dining and drinks. I was drawn to the liquor display centerpiece, so I decided to hang on the 2nd floor. I had a drink called Frank Lloyd Wright, which was a mixture of Hendricks (a Scottish gin), a ginger-flavored liqueur made in France called Domaine de Canton, lemon and soda. It was tasty and a great one-drink choice to obtain a slight buzz. I got chicken wings that were accompanied by the standard blue cheese dressing, buffalo sauce and chopped celery sticks. The wings were dry and overcooked; no good at all. I liked the server so I just kept my mouth shut. She was very attentive and sweet. I'll probably go back and try another drink I saw on the menu called Shedd Aquarium. It includes my favorite liqueur called St. Germain. read more

Drinks are either BIG or VERY BIG. Our VERY BIG mango daiquiri came in a giant fishbowl sized martini glass and was enough for 4 people. It was tasty but it was extremely weak. Our other friends seemed to like the chocolate martinis and the mojitos just fine. Food was average and not as BIG as I thought it would be. The nachos come with the ingredients separated instead of melted into an oozy mess which some of my friends liked, but I just thought it looked like the restaurant was too lazy to put everything together. The quesadillas were bite sized tortilla pockets filled with gooey cheese. Pretty great when you're tipsy. The buffalo wings were by far the best though - hot, spicy, and flavorful! The atmosphere is ok. Most of the people that go there seem to be dowdily-dressed tourists in their 40s. I heard that it's a bit different on the weekends when the downstairs turns into a dance floor, but it was very tame on a weeknight. The reason that I'm giving this place 2 stars is because of the service. Our waitress was horrible! She pounced on us 13 seconds after we sat down and asked what we wanted to order. I hadn't even opened the menu yet. After our orders came, she disappeared for 30 minutes before coming back to check on us. When a friend came late and tried to order, she frowned and pretended not to understand what he was ordering until we took out the menu and pointed to the drink. He has a slight accent, but she could have made more effort. When we tried to get her attention later, we had to resort to flagging down other waitresses so we could get our waitress. So, if you come here, stay away from the older waitress who looks like an unattractive Tina Fey/Sarah Palin. It was no wonder that we were the only table that was seated in her section - everyone else had the sense to steer clear. read more

Not a bad bar, and certainly fairly BIG. I was staying at the Hyatt and figured it'd be worth checking out, especially after reading the copy on their website proudly proclaiming that "cocktails are served in two sizes: 'Big' and 'very Big'." "Very big" is the only way to go, of course, and it needn't be said that there's something inherently magical and wacky about a 48oz cocktail served in a giant martini glass that comes with multiple straws for sharing. Of course, they are mostly ice, and mostly sweet and not too strong - I split one at the end of an evening out and left less tipsy that I'd expect afterward. Would I pay $26 for one every night? No. But it is novel, and elevates Big Bar from a blah-hotel-bar to something at least a bit distinctive. read more

Cool looking bar with a huge drink selection. Very calm and quiet so it's easy to get a drink and chat. Nicely located if you're in the hotel! Drinks are pricey, but that's to be expected. read more

BIG Bar - Cool multistory bar! - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Well, the fact that this place was playing modern, fun country music on an early Saturday night yet was pulling the lounge vibe sold me! Our waitress was fun and friendly, attentive but not overbearing. We had an amazing view of the fireworks over the Chicago River as well (which was a pleasant surprise, who knew about the fireworks!). We also had 1 tapas, the curry sausages, and they were delicious (and cheap!). Totally fun, definitely a good place to take tourists who want a view. read more

Went to Big Bar friday for a few drinks with friends, I will never return to this establishment! First we ordered buffalo wings and they tasted awful. Nonetheless we really came to drink so the wings wasn't a big deal. We ordered a few more drinks, then the waitress asked if she should run the card that I started the tab with and I told her no. We didn't even ask for the bill yet so i'm unsure why she was even trying to run the card at that moment. About 20mins later me and my friend stand up and was about to go to the bathroom until the waitress rushes over to our table and just stands there. I'm trying to figure out why she's just standing at our table but isn't saying anything. Then she proceeds to tab the bill. I then tell her that i'm not leaving just going to the bathroom so what is her deal. At this point I felt offended and asked for the manager. The manager then tells me he has to review the camera to see if the waitress was wrong or not. Like what? I felt as if he didn't believe me or I had to prove myself. Then security comes and tells me i'm acting irate which was totally untrue. I never raised my voice one bit or cursed. I constantly asked for a number for corporate or the operations manager and I was denied all of that. I simply left after paying my bill but found corporate's contact info myself. I will never return and I don't think no one of color should. We have to stop spending our money at establishments that treat us unfairly! read more

Was a amazing decor and I enjoyed the scenery outside the bar. I love that they serve big EVERYTHING and the service is fairly prompt. I would definitely come back here only if they made their martinis a bit stronger....don't like juiced vodka lol read more

Some out-of-town friends were staying at the Hyatt and asked me to meet them at Big Bar because they needed to get to sleep soon and the weather outside was shitty. Driving straight over after work, I paid $23 for parking and God knows how much for beer. The crowd was loaded with Chads and Trixies, alcoholic-looking businessmen and overdressed women. Also, here's the thing about GIANT margaritas and martinis: They spill a lot. I got really tired for the occasional splash by a passing patron. The floating video screens showed outdated music videos that were (thankfully) bearly audible. On the up side, the bar is spacious and connected to a two-floor atrium of sorts. So smoke, sound and crowding become non-issues. For a hotel bar, it's spectacular, but Big Bar doesn't have much of a Chicago feel. read more

I used to frequent this place when I worked at 111 East Wacker. It's a nice, low-key place to have drinks. The views are cool and I like the open air feel that you get being over the hotel atrium. They really do take the BIG thing seriously. The drinks sizes are outrageous, so be careful (or not) when you come here! The margaritas are awesome. That's all I go for. If you work in the loop, this is a great place to take a load off. read more

We arrived late to the hotel and wanted to have a bite to eat. By the time we checked in and dropped off our bags in our room, the only thing open was the BIG Bar. It was cool, the place was full, but we were able to find space at the bar. We ordered some drinks and the 3 tapas for $15 or something like that. The drinks were ok.. I had a local brew and my girlfriend had a drink that was like a pineapple mojito. The tapas were tasty. We has the camarones diablos, a seared tuna tar tar and the steak skewers. The only gripe is the extremely small portions. I understand its tapas style, but you could have given me a little more. Oh well. Would I go back? Maybe. read more

We came to Big bar just for a few drinks on Sunday funday just after drinking on the river walk. Big bar is and has always been a great attraction. The look and feel of the bar alone is enough to make you come back. I believe this bar has any drink you could think of(that's just the way it feels). Big bar has a very upscale look and is inside of one of the best hotels downtown Chicago Hyatt Regency. The bar is in a very open space with windows and far as the eye can see. There are lots of flat screens for you to check out games and other events. If you are into beer try the 22oz bombers. read more

Terrible hotel bar. Used to come here all the time back in the day and had a fine time, with good service and great drinks. Now, all you'll get is watered-down cocktails and horrible service from the bartender. Sitting at the bar, I ordered a Dark & Stormy, while my date ordered something slightly sweeter. Both drinks came out (in approximately 30 seconds) tasting like they had zero alcohol in them. I took one sip and thought I had been served a ginger ale by mistake. We suffered through the drinks, intending to order wine or beer for our second round (to avoid getting watered-down drinks again). I tried to get the bartender's attention and received a curt "in a minute" as a reply. 10-15 minutes later, he still had not stopped by to see what my date and I needed. I finally gave up and called out to him across the bar for the check. (Printing the check was the first thing I saw him do quickly all night.) I do not intend to ever waste my time at this bar again. Don't be fooled by the classy atmosphere or expansive drink menu. Unless you're looking for overpriced, watered-down cocktails and inattentive servers, stay away. There are infinitely better choices within walking distance. read more

We had major MAJOR hopes for this place--we even left a GREAT place to come have some BIG drinks here. But when we got here (after climbing 4 flights of stairs--in the fire stairwell, mind you) we were sorely disappointed, for three reasons: First, the bar, despite being named BIG bar, is REALLY small!!! There were not nearly enough seats for people and the bar was jammed packed with hotel guests there for a conference. Totally fine, but don't advertise as being more than a hotel bar, when that is all you are. Second, I don't know what people were talking about, but the view was less than spectacular. Third, although the bar touts having LARGE drinks, there was not one single large drink to be seen. So for the above three reasons, my other half and I decided it was time to leave. Why would we pay $12 to stand in a small hotel bar when there are other places to be in such a wonderful city? Just saying... read more

Really -- do the mixed drinks have to range between $10-$14 at a not very hip bar in CHICAGO -- where people drink from giant martinis with a straw? Really? Really? Yes. But, if you're here for a convention (as I was) nothing beats meeting people downstairs in the bar. Hard to motivate and leave. And perhaps it keeps you from going out of control, cuz it's so pricey. Unless you charge it all to your room.... read more

Close to early on the weekdays!! 11:50pm come on,really!!!! Chicago come on!!! Not impress at all.

A wave of nostalgia swept over me as I waited in the Big Bar for a friend staying at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The service, price and quality of drinks are comparable to what we should expect from the area hotels, bars and restaurants. It just looks so damn cool! The windows, the bottles, the ladder, the hanging TVs over the atrium. As late as it was, as busy as it was, we still managed to find a table. read more

Not as busy as it sounds. Nice place to hang out and people watch. The length of the bar is pretty amazing. Not the best beer selections on tap but they do come in frosty mugs. Not sure I would ever come here if I wasn't already staying in the hotel. read more

Nice lighting on the second floor of the Hyatt Regency downtown in Chicago, this place seems most suited to not much more than a nightcap in the evening or a pregame drink before going out on the town after a convention. Drinks are overpriced, and if you're looking for ladies of ill or moral repute alike, this is probably the wrong spot. Staff is polite, and the place is clean, but at almost $13 for a beer, there are many other options around that have better options and possibilities. Meh. It's a good hotel bar, but the best sentiment a hotel bar can ever get is "meh" in my book. read more

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. I don't mind paying for drinks if they are quality made. Talk about a ripoff though. This must be where people come to learn how to bartend. Of all my experiences of this place, I've had horrible service each and every time. At first, it was a good place to come with co-workers since I work in the neighborhood, but it's still a great place for a crappy drink. Not to mention, the actual area where the lounge is sub-par. If someone pays me to go here, pays for my drinks, and pays me to slap my server, i'll go. But if anyone mentions this place to me, i will cringe at the though. An example of my experience would be the denial of the signature big martinis. Whoever came up with the idioc idea of serving drinks in plastic miller light cups because of St. Patrick's day weekend was a bonehead. Talk about on some missed revenue opportunities. Our waitress forced us to cash out our check right after we ordered because her shift ended, which in my book is an ultimate "no-no." She didn't even offer us the opportunity to stay while someone else handled our table. Stay away from this place and head south to Miller's Pub. read more

Exceeding professional unmatched productivity nice personal and exudes happiness about his job. We will come back again and again as long as Bradley is here!!!! He's super awesome!!!! Thank you for treating us very special. He is just so amazing!!! Thank you!!!! read more

BIG Bar - View from the bar - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Totally mediocre. The guacamole and chips were actually ok, but the flatbread pizza was bad. Did not have any cocktails, so can't comment on that. Will not revisit. read more

I agree with Tony K. for a hotel bar... it definitely has a great view. Service is definitely also touchy though. The first night I was there (wen't to the Hyatt for business) my bartender was great, friendly and helpful...the second night I went there...bartender was not so friendly, not so great, and really no fun at all. They have a HUGE drink list so be prepared... and a small food list (which I never tried)...but the view DEFINITELY makes it. read more

My wife and I spent the night at the Hyatt Regency for New Years eve. We had drinks, appetizers, & a meal. Everything was big and so good. We had Double Cheese Burgers and Hot Chicken wings. read more

BIG Bar - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have to say, we just each had a glass of wine so no food but we had a very nice bartender and dang, that bar is big. It's worth a trip just to see it! I also loved all the TV's. We were touring so could not spend too much time but if I go back to Chicago again, I'm going to spend an early evening in this bar to watch that bar, the people and all those TV's! read more

BIG Bar - Now that's a big bar! - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Me and a friend came in here for a few beers early on a saturday evening, not very crowded, mostly people that are there staying at the Hyatt. Very upscale ambience and prices to reflect it. We ordered a tower of beer which works very well. The bartenders Juan and Mario were very friendly and talked with us for a while. read more

The bar was neat and clean. The atmosphere was chic and bright as most of the bar is enclosed in glass. Great place to go with coworkers after work! read more

BIG Bar - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is nice. Wayyy too expensive though. Drinks were weak. read more

BIG Bar - Huge - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

As someone who has worked in a restaurant for many years, both as a server and a manager, I truly understand the frustration of the customers that walk in with 30 seconds to spare and demand the house. I assure you that we were not of that nature on our visit. We arrived at the restaurant at approximately 11:40, largely because I had scoped out the possible late night dining opportunities prior to our arrival and according to the Hyatt Regency website, the Big bar was open until 2 am. This apparent typo was unfortunate, but given the simplicity of the menu we decided that we could still be in and out before we were too far past the midnight hour. There were several guests in the bar as well, including a group of six young men that walked in maybe five minutes before us that were served with much less attitude than ourselves. If we sat at 11:40, we sat and waited to be even acknowledged by the serving staff until 11:50, by which point we had decided on both drinks and snacks. Our solitude during this time was not because there were no servers present, but because they were blatantly attempting to avoid both eye contact and our table. When they finally ran the drinks to the table next to us, I managed to get the attention of the server, who instead of identifying us as her table that she had been neglecting, responded with, "Okay, I'll be there in a minute." When she came back, we inquired about the availability of the kitchen, to which we heard, "I guess you can order, but you better hurry up, we close at 12." At this point, our server has made it quite clear that she has somewhere between little and absolutely no desire to take care of us. Fine, just take care of simple requests and we'll be on our way. No. We order, don't see her again for another 15 minutes or so, and our pretzel and nachos are back to eat. At this point, we both feel bad and are basically eating our food as quickly as possible. Eventually, we see her again when our drinks are gone. Desiring nothing more than a box, that is what I request. After indicating that such a request is easy to fulfill and she'll be right back, we sit there for another half hour, picking at food, with no boxes in sight. Then, after she has presented and processed our bill, she returns to grab our nacho plate and ask if we're done. I am VERY patient, but at this point I was done. I responded with something along the lines of, "Well, apparently I am..." to which she apologized and left the nachos. Too little, too late. I decided to go to Chicago for part of my wife's Christmas present. She loved every second of it...except for our experience here. I have no doubt that anyone would have been frustrated with the service provided to us on short notice. The food was good, the ambiance was great, but the service was atrocious. There are plenty of places around that are worth the overpriced drinks, don't waste your time here. read more