Gathering around the fireplace with friends or family is one of the best ways to spend a cold Chicago evening. Do so at some of our favorite cozy spots around the city. ‘Tis Fireplace Season after all!
Lobby @ The Hoxton Hotel – West Loop
Located in what many magazines describe as one of America’s ‘coolest neighborhoods,’ the Hoxton is the perfect place for some people-watching. Grab a seat by the fireplace, order a cocktail from the Lazy Bar, and enjoy the view. Our cocktail recommendation: the Boulevardier (Bourbon, Vermouth di Torino, House Red Bitters)
Drawing Room @ the Chicago Athletic Association – The Loop
The historic Chicago Athletic Association’s hotel lobby is as cozy as they come featuring not one, not two, but three grand fireplaces. Gather around the community café tables or pick a more intimate spot on one of the comfy couches while you sip on a cocktail or fine glass of wine. If you’re in the mood for some old-school games, make sure to visit the Game Room on the same level.
Drink suggestion: a classic Old Fashioned (Bonded Bourbon, Demerara, Angostura Bitters)
Violet Hour – Wicker Park
Arrive early if you want to secure a seat by the fireplace at Violet Hour, one of the city’s most outstanding cocktail bars. Make your way to the back room and enjoy an intimate evening with signature cocktails in good company. Our favorites include the Woolworth Manhattan (Buffalo Trace bourbon, Carpano Antica, Cynar, angostura bitters, house root beer bitters) and the Ding Dong Ditch (Gin, Apry, Blackberry Demerara, lemon, Angostura, fresh grated cinnamon). Cheers!
Tortoise Supper Club – River North
Take a few steps below street level and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you enter the warm, wooded, dimly-lit Tortoise Supper Club — live jazz included. Try their happy hour specials: oysters, shrimp, and cocktails of course. Hungry for more? There’s plenty of traditional American fare on the menu as well.
Scofflaw – Logan Square
This Logan Square bar specializes in gin-infused cocktails and mixes a baroque-style interior — including a fireplace — with hip and friendly staff. Our cocktail recommendation: the Red Room (Scofflaw Old Tom Gin, Mezcal, Dry Vermouth, Becherovka, Fino Sherry, Campari, Absinthe).
The Broken Shaker @ Freehand Hotel – River North
The Freehand is unlike most hotels, so it goes without saying that the Broken Shaker is not your typical hotel bar or restaurant. Set in the back of the hotel lobby, this Bohémien-style space offers exotic and innovative ingredients, including a fireplace draped with an Aztec rug. Cocktail recommendation: Honk If You’re Lonely (Smooth Ambler Contradiction Whiskey, Rhine Hall Cherry Brandy, Aperol, sesame, basil, lemon)
Z Bar @ the Peninsula Hotel – Magnificent Mile
Named after the Peninsula Hotels’ first female General Manager, Maria Zec, Z-bar is located right above Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. The year-round rooftop not only offers spectacular views, it also keeps you warm during the city’s coldest days. An impressive cocktail and dinner menu awaits. Special occasion cocktail recommendation: The Oak & Apple (The Macallan 12 year, pear, ginger, bergamot and ginger)
Moody’s Pub – Edgewater
Moody’s, established in 1959, is a Chicago staple, especially during winter. It has the feel of a ski lodge and features two amazing fireplaces, beamed ceilings, stained glass, candlelit tables, and romance galore. Feeling cold? Order one of their Fireside Fantasies, a selection of warm winter drinks, including the Hot Shot (Galliano and coffee topped with whipped cream), the Banana Mocha (Creme de Banana and hot chocolate with whipped cream), and the Big Apple (rum, hot cider, and sprinkled cinnamon).
’tis Fireplace Season: enjoy it to the fullest!