LUXBAR

•$$$

The absolute best loaded fries I've ever had in my life. The layers of flavor were so incredible…read morethat I still can't stop talking about them. I have no idea what they did, but it was next-level delicious. The steak skewers were pure perfection--tender, buttery, and practically melted in your mouth. Paired with a chimichurri sauce that complemented every bite, they were unforgettable. The cocktails were equally impressive. I had a passionfruit and rum creation that was dangerously good and far too easy to drink. Despite not having reservations, the hostess found us a cozy booth after only about a 10-minute wait. Entering through the alley added a fun sense of mystery and charm. House music drifted through the space, creating an energetic atmosphere. It's definitely lively--sometimes loud enough that conversations require a raised voice--but the vibrant vibe, incredible food, and outstanding drinks make it more than worth it.

We came here as a part of 4 on a Friday night. It was PACKED. We thankfully had reservations which…read moreto me is a must, but they will accommodate you at the bar without them. The drinks were so good! They were good size and simply delicious. Well balanced. Not too sweet and not artificially sweet. It's clear those making them knew how to make real cocktails. The ambiance is true tiki. It is large but there were people surrounding our table because it was close to the bar. If you make a reservation and pay a deposit, make sure to make your server aware. The quickly made adjustments for us, but this was an issue in ensuring we got our credit. I would recommend getting a reservation in their smaller internal bar for a more intimate experience and more commonly crafted drinks. I would definitely come back but likely on a weeknight or earlier in the day.

Interior Entrance

These Loaded Luau Cheese Fries

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Tiki gift shop.

Ghost Donkey

4.0(66 reviews)

good spot but i used my card to pay , they ended up charging me again the next day for no reason…read morehuge hassle use cash , happend twice btw got my money back obviously but huge waste of time and playing with my money

My friend and I decided to grab quick drinks and a snack at ghost donkey. After multiple failed…read moreattempts in the past, we finally reached at the time and day when there was no wait. Overall, the ambience was dive bar ish but very Mexican. They even have a big donkey structure at the entrance. The server was quick to come and take our order. We got some cups and guac, mushroom margarita cocktail and the highland picnic cocktail. The cocktails were great and chips were under slayed but the guac made up for it. Overall, the place wasn't expensive. I will def be back when there is no wait :p

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Rossi's Liquors

4.2(432 reviews)

•$

Friendly and lively dive bar (4/5 Green Stars) Waiting for…read moretake-out from nearby Lou Malnati's, we wandered into Rossi's for a quick drink. It's a reasonably-priced busy dive bar in the heart of Chicago. I asked the bartender if she had a beer + shot deal and she said "no, but you can order a beer and shot." And so we did! Noise level is fairly high, thanks to a lively crowd plus a jukebox. They don't normally serve food but I think are fine with customers bringing in your own food, and you can also place an order from a nearby restaurant (I don't recall which one). And yes, it's cash only so bring some money if you don't want to pay ATM fees! 4 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. I like bars that allow customers to bring (or order) their own food - it allows for all diets! The one thing I'd like to see is more beer on tap - even just one good rotating local beer (e.g., Goose Island). Draft beer has smaller environmental footprints compared to bottled or canned.

Recently stopped by Rossi's Liquors and this place is the definition of a dive bar, in the most…read moreauthentic way possible. After a quick ID check at the door, the bouncer let us know it's cash only (thankfully we came prepared). From the moment we walked in, dim lighting, loud music, and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds gave the vibe of a full-on frat party, but not in a bad way. It's chaotic, energetic, and unapologetically no-frills. There's even a self-serve cooler with drink prices clearly listed underneath. I grabbed a Sapporo Premium, brought it to the counter, and our friendly bartender broke our change and offered a chilled glass to pour it into. Simple and efficient. That said, it was loud, so loud that even whispering-distance conversations were a struggle. The space is small, seating is limited, and since we couldn't snag a spot, we ended up leaving shortly after finishing our drinks. This feels like a better weekday hang than a packed weekend night. Still, if you're looking for a classic, gritty, no-frills dive experience, Rossi's delivers exactly that.

Nightcap

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Gus' Sip & Dip

4.5(164 reviews)

Awesome drinks and great vibe. Very busy but in the good way. Food was classic and fun.read more

Sometimes you just have to show up and say yes…read more A college friend was in town, and whenever he visits Chicago, he's always looking for great bars, unique drinks, and interesting places to explore. He's deeply involved in the beverage scene, and with a partner who is starting a mezcal company, they're always on the hunt for standout cocktail programs. This time, we ended up at Gus' Sip & Dip, located at 51 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60654. While we were there, a friend mentioned that Gus' Sip & Dip has been recognized among the top food and drink destinations in the country, and after my visit, I can absolutely see why. The atmosphere is fantastic, think modern speakeasy with a touch of 1940s charm. The space features rich green tones, cozy booths, and an intimate layout that works especially well for small groups. Larger parties can take advantage of some of the bigger tables throughout the space. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. Just be aware that this place is popular, so depending on when you visit, there may be a wait. As for the food and drinks, everything we tried was excellent. I didn't manage to get photos of everything, but a few highlights included the burger, the Italian beef dip, and the chicken pot pie. Every dish was flavorful and well executed. The cocktails were equally impressive, every drink I sampled was thoughtfully crafted and delicious. I would absolutely come back. The only thing worth noting is that it's a bit on the pricey side, but if you're looking for great food, exceptional drinks, and a memorable atmosphere, it's money well spent. If you have the budget and good company, Gus' Sip & Dip is a true gem in downtown Chicago. 5 out of 5 stars.

Gus' Proper Burger

Gus' The Original Wagyu Beef Dip

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Irish Coffee -- kilbeggan irish whiskey, metric coffee, cane sugar, hand shaken cream

Barstool

3.3(72 reviews)

It was so cold at the Bears game that we decided to find somewhere inside to watch it and Barstool…read morewas a great choice for that. I like it when bars play the game sound instead of music when the game is on. The mozzarella sticks were awesome too.

This place, without a doubt, has the GOAT Buffalo Chicken Dip--it is the best I have ever tasted…read moreand is a mandatory order. The bar delivers on every front: they offer great drinks and generous pours, the atmosphere is fantastic with engaging live music, and the entire staff is incredibly friendly and attentive. If you're looking for the perfect place for a game day or just a great night out, this is it!

Ryan - w/ Stan & Bowery, the Operator.

One of the lovely employees Elisa D. & Ariana C.

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Ila's

4.9(61 reviews)

Loved this place. Came in for dinner and the staff was very friendly. Music wasn't too loud and…read moreeverything we tried was great. I had very strict dietary restrictions and the waiter helped me navigate the menu and provided options within my diet. AMAZING EXPERIENCE. We will 10000000% be back to try the full menu as soon as I am able to! Definitely recommend for a date night or any time. 10/10

Our family ate dinner here in April and were very impressed with the quality of the food and the…read moreservice. We had the empanadas to start and then the short ribs, a burger, halibut, and lamb birria pierogies. Everything was delicious, beautifully spiced and elegantly presented. Honestly, the ambiance was a bit loud for us, but our server was extremely helpful and moved us away from a table with one incredibly boisterous fellow. They did so discreetly and quickly and our experience was much improved as a result. The restaurant itself is lovely, with beautiful decor and lighting.

Nico collin's & hugo spritz

Assorted Savory Kabobs: Paneer, Chicken & Leek, Pork Belly

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Happy hour $10 sparking rose. fantastic!

The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash

4.7(49 reviews)

Theres no lack of words, but, for what can manifest, it's incredible! Take a friend, take a date,…read moreenjoy the journey. I will say that drinks are heavily dependent on the person and their mood, but Matt is A+. I said "Take me on a journey" and he walked me through clarified toasted coconut, spirit-forward rum quality, to a crunchy shaved melon masterpiece. I'm terrified to come back and not experience the same thing. Great work!

We come here every year for the restaurant show and each time the cocktail are new and exciting…read more The bartender even remembered us from last year. !! We had a great time sitting at the bar. Tried 3 cocktails and the bartender was gracious enough to let me sample a new rum he loved. The clarified cocktails are delish and a def labor of love. The Saturn frappe was so good and their selection is unmatched. It's a great place to have a tropical cocktail and enjoy.

Beautiful View

Coco-Nana

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Bartender Selection - Rum flight - September 2025

Holloways Bar

4.3(26 reviews)

This bar is perfectly located on the lobby floor of the Springhill Suites…read more It doesn't have a lot of food options but what it does offer, is pretty good. We started with a regular and a Strawberry Mint Mule. We also ordered the Chicken Quesadillas. Nice portion, shared by 2. Perfect last stop of the day before heading to our room. The bartenders are Avery polite and attentive. It's a cozy setting with enough sitting space.

I visited Holloway's Bar for happy hour while staying at the Springhill Suites Downtown Chicago. I…read moreopted to sit at the bar. It wasn't packed, which was great, since I was decompressing from work. The happy hour menu a variety of drinks and small bites. I opted for the Love potion for drinks. It was very whimsical, yet good. I was craving something sweet, so I decided to go with the salted caramel brownie. It sounded wayyy better than it actually tasted. The brownie was hard and difficult to bite into. It was really warm, so the ice cream didn't really melt. It was pretty underwhelming. Thankfully the drinks made up for that. The service was decent and the ambiance was nice. I'd recommend this for a drink for sure!

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Holloway's Rotating Meat & Cheese Board

Bunny Slope

3.5(12 reviews)

0.7 mi•Near North Side

Overall: The novelty of Bunny Slope is amazing, but after it wears off the realizations kick in…read more The good: Really fun and neat concept, especially in the heart of downtown. Sometimes, nothing beats a few (or many) drinks in a hottub. They even provide a nifty shower for cleaning up afterwards. The decor is pretty neat as well. The not-so-good: The space isn't huge, wouldn't comfortably fit more than 10-12 people. They don't have normal drinks here, the beers I tried were disgusting, so I just stuck to good ol' scotch. That said, the other cocktails sounded interesting (they were all mostly fruity). The hottub was way too hot, none of us could stay in it very long. You have to go outside of the room to change, possibly running into other hotel guests or whatever is above grounds.

Really nice places for a group outing. The room was perfect size to move around, drink and dance…read more It was 12 of us in the room. I like that we had our own personal bartender. Drinks were very reasonable price. Tequila and cranberry was 8, 12 for a double. The jacuzzi was perfect temperature. Everything seemed sanitary and clean. I really like that they provide FREE lockers to hold our things in. They also provided a speaker so we could play our own music. Free towels but I'd bring your own sandals. I don't think they serve food. It was in the basement of a hotel but I'd definitely recommend to go.

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O'Callaghan's

3.5(314 reviews)

I came in with three friends and we grabbed a high-top table. We ordered a few rounds and…read moreeverything was going fine. Toward the end of the night, two of my friends left, and the remaining two of us paid our bill and were finishing our drinks while waiting for our Uber. At that point, the bartender came over and told us she needed our table for a large group. The table wasn't reserved, and we were clearly just finishing up. We told her we were about to leave anyway, but the way it was handled felt really abrupt and rude. What made it worse was that she immediately brought a group over to take our table, and even they were apologizing to us because they seemed uncomfortable with how it was handled. I've worked in bars and restaurants myself, so I completely understand needing to manage space, but there's a way to do it respectfully, and this wasn't it. Unfortunately, this experience left a bad impression, and despite having been here multiple times before, I won't be returning.

We visited on a Saturday afternoon for pre-dinner drinks and loved the convenient, walkable…read morelocation from our hotel. We enjoyed a couple of cocktails and were particularly impressed by the tasty pretzel sticks we ordered.