Kumiko
Japanese drinks and small plates in the West Loop. Bar service and the weekend daytime café are separate visits; choose the room and menu when booking.
Hopleaf
Belgian beer and a meal in Andersonville. Everyone entering must be 21 or older, so this is an adults’ outing rather than a family stop.
Map Room
A Bucktown beer bar built around maps and a changing draft list. There is morning coffee service too; choose the time of day for the visit you want.
Three Dots and a Dash
A tropical cocktail bar entered from the alley in River North. The Bamboo Room is a separate booking within the venue. Both rooms open late at 7 PM on October 24, 2026.
BellyUp! to Chicago’s Best Bars
Bar specials & what’s not on the bar menu
9 spots
AJ Hudson’s Public House
Soccer, pub food and a neighborhood table on Ashland Avenue. The posted sports calendar is the useful starting point when an early match is the whole reason to go.
Green Street Smoked Meats
Central Texas-inspired smoked meats and a drink in a warehouse-style West Loop room. The entrance is down the brick alley; choose the tray from the current menu.
Handlebar
Vegan comfort food, a full bar and a beer garden on North Avenue. The whole menu is not vegan: choose the marked dishes. The published weekly menu includes Sunday tacos with a beer and tequila shot.
Hopleaf
Belgian beer and a meal in Andersonville. Everyone entering must be 21 or older, so this is an adults’ outing rather than a family stop.
Kumiko
Japanese drinks and small plates in the West Loop. Bar service and the weekend daytime café are separate visits; choose the room and menu when booking.
Smoke Daddy ... Wrigleyville
Smoked meats beside Wrigley Field, with published Bears and Cowboys watch parties. This is the Wrigleyville restaurant; the former Wicker Park branch is closed.
The Globe Pub
An international-sports pub in North Center with its own match schedule. Early opening depends on the fixture; use the current calendar rather than assuming every morning is the same.
The Tonk ... Honky Tonk BBQ
A Memphis-style barbecue meal with a band in Pilsen. The former Honky Tonk BBQ now uses The Tonk name; the current restaurant address is on Racine Avenue.
Timothy O’Toole’s ... Chicago
A Streeterville pub with published game viewing. This is the Fairbanks Court location; suburban branches have their own calendars and should not be mixed into a Chicago visit.
What these spots are known for
The same bars spots, sorted by the reasons people actually pick them.
Live Music
Where can I eat and hear a real band?
Sports on TV
Where can I watch the game with food and drinks?
BBQ and Smokehouses
Who is actually running a pit?
Rooftops and Patios
Can we sit outside?
Craft Cocktail Programs
Who is taking the bar seriously?
Dance Floors
Where is the floor actually full?
Sushi
Who is behind the counter?
Vegan and Plant-Based
Where can I eat with no asterisks?
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