Map Room in Bucktown reminds me of all the cool English-style pubs you see in Chicago i.e. Monk's Pub in River North or Wilde in Lakeview East. The dim lighting creates a very cozy atmosphere which makes sense because all of the people around us were catching up with friends while playing scrabble or euchre. They have a huge beer list so my friend and I had plenty of Hefeweizens and Ciders to choose from. If you're looking for a chill place to go on a week night with a friend, I definitely recommend Map Room!
...But if you need food before or after your drink at Map Room, you have to visit Jack and Ginger's right across the street. This is the quintessential neighborhood spot as it seems that everyone sitting at the bar knew the bartender. He even started walking around and introducing everyone to his brother who was visiting for the week! I loved walking in and immediately feeling the sense of community. It was fogy and drizzling when I went and their grilled cheese was the perfect comfort meal for the gloomy weather. But I'm already eager for my girlfriends and I to visit when the weather is better because they have a huge outdoor patio too!
Funny story about this one. We had Restaurant Week reservations around the corner but their "system went down" and they didn't have a table for us. Rather than sulk about, my friends and I jumped into action since it was 9pm on a Thursday night. I'm so happy that Gino and Marty's was open because they've been on my list for a hot minute. The staff was incredibly accommodating and they had impeccable customer service. I highly recommend their break service because I've been dreaming about the dip spread that comes with it. The Espresso Martinis were delicious too (obviously). And I have to mention their breathtaking decor - light pink and subtle glitter everywhere. It was a dream!
I told myself that this list would be dedicated to places I visited for the first time but I've been to the Blue Line Lounge roughly 400 times. It is always a good idea! I tend to go here with a group of girlfriends after a show at Subterranean or drinks at Paradise Park. There's truly nothing better than settling into one of their big cozy booths, ordering a bunch of snacks to share and chit-chatting with friends into the late hours of the night. It's a one-of-a-kind place with retro decor, incredible cocktails and an impressive food menu (with a kitchen that's open until 2am on the weekends - Thank me later!).
My boyfriend and I celebrated our first anniversary at Gibson's Italia a few weeks ago and it was the most special evening! Corey noted that it was our anniversary in the reservation itself and, no joke, every single employee stopped by to congratulate us. So sweet! We were thrilled to celebrate the occasion and our server, Jason, made it even more remarkable. We started with a glass of wine and a few mouth-watering appetizers. There was a bit of a weight time before receiving our entrees courses but honestly, Corey and I didn't even notice (because we were reminiscing on the last year awww). However, you could tell that Jason felt bad so he apologized by offering us a complimentary second glass of wine. Very thoughtful of him! The dinner was well worth the wait! We actually ordered way too much but were thrilled to take home some delicious leftovers. But before we left, Jason decided to surprise us again with a rich chocolate cake and celebratory espresso martinis. Not sure how he knew my affinity for that specific cocktail but I'm not mad about it! I highly recommend coming here for your next special occasion! You can tell that their team truly values exceptional customer service and their menu was equally as impressive.
Another place I've been to a million times but will never get sick of? Nisei Lounge in Wrigley! Most people come here to watch sports, drink beer and play darts. But I'm awful at darts so I choose to substitute that last activity with playing pool. We all know how crazy Clark street can get which is why I love this gem just off of Clark and Sheffield. Fun fact: Nisei makes it's own favored Malort so definitely bring your out-of-town friends here to try! Let me know what you think of it because I, like most people, despise Malort even if it's favored.
You HAVE to have your next girls night at Good Night John Boy in Fulton! We were dancing to Abba, Fergie and the BeeGees for an hour straight before we realized that we didn't even have drinks in our hand. Their dance floor is centered around the biggest disco ball I've ever seen and the floor lit up with every florescent color of the rainbow. I didn't want to leave! I will worn you that the drinks were pretty pricy but I guess that's the flip side of going to a trendy, fun spot in Fulton.
Chicagoans know that Futon Market is full of some unique and extraordinary places and Cira in The Hoxton Hotel is definitely one of them! First things first - Drinks! Their incredible rotating cocktail menu is handcrafted by each one of their talented bartenders. You all know that I'm an iced chai kind of girl so I couldn't say no to the Chai-Chai slide thoughtfully curated by Jon. Afterward, we snacked goat cheese dates (my mouth is watering just thinking about them), falafel and pita. Dinner was yummy too but honestly the drinks and apps were the real stars of the evening.
And you can't go out in Fulton without stopping by Levain! These jumbo cookie are to die for! I'm convinced that there is not one bad thing on this menu so it's hard to pick a favorite. But Corey and I finished the dark chocolate peanut butter cookie before our Uber even pulled up soooo that should tell you how delicious it is.
Check out all of these places in my TikTok below! And let me know where I should go next!
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