MONEYGUN
This is your spot for great cocktails and a perfectly laid-back atmosphere. In addition to revered classics like a negroni or French 75, this spot slings up revered versions of pina coladas, strawberry margs, and even Long Island iced teas. Couple that with the small, but inspired list of bar snacks and you’ll soon see why this no-frills drinking establishment is a favorite.
VIOLET HOUR
A sumptuously appointed speakeasy lounge. This craft cocktail mecca specializes in pre-prohibition style libations with a seasonally rotating cocktail list that is masterfully executed, right down to the type of ice in your glass (which is offered in eight different forms).
THE BASSMENT
Even though Prohibition is over, this speakeasy inspired bar is serving up drinks in clever and fresh ways. Cocktails lean toward the clas- sics, such as a riff on an Old Fashioned made with tequila, Benedictine, Alessio Chinato and celery bitters or an absinthe-accented Funky Daiquiri. The Bathtub Gin is served in a mini clawfoot tub with a rubber duck inside.
THREE DOTS & A DASH
A subterranean, post-WWII themed tiki bar in River North, this rum-focused, palate-cleans- ing paradise serves up innovative tiki-style drinks in signature, souvenir glassware. Enter through the alley and prepare to board the ship as you navigate their “treasure map” of a menu in search of rum-soaked, buried treasure.
CINDY’S
Looking to treat yourself to an imaginative cocktail while taking in some Instagram-worthy views of Chicago? This rooftop lounge at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, offers just that and more. Designed to give off that “Michigan beach house” vibe, this indoor-outdoor stunner boasts stunning views and seasonal winter drinks that are sure to warm you up.
CONCIERGE TIP
3 Dots and a Dash is a great way to start (or finish) a night in River North. This place is very photogenic with its glassware and festively clad servers and bartenders. It takes me straight to my happy place! Feels like a beach, even though it’s below ground and indoors.
– Colin Bertling, Concierge, Hotel Palomar