Best & Cool Bars in Chicago

"Yasmin Gutierrez, executive pastry chef and partner at the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, created the cookies, with dough now available in six packs ($10.95) to take home and bake. Choose from chocolate chunk, butterscotch oatmeal, Nutella,, gluten-free raspberry filled coconut macaron and a house flavor called Magic (chocolate, toffee, marshmallow and cornflakes)."

"The coffeehouse-meets-restaurant concept is known for healthy meets delicious menu specials, fresh-squeezed juices and an appealing coffee and pastry counter. Launch tropically with mango, orange and pineapple nectar; seriously healthy with Power Greens; or happily via an orange or blue Mimosa or a spicy Bloody. Coffee, including "bulletproof," is exceptional."

"This no-frills joint tempts passersby with lacquer-skinned roast ducks hanging by their necks in the steamed-up window. The menu is expansive but inexpensive: The Pei Par BBQ duck and the Hong-Kong–style barbecued pig are sublime in their simplicity, savory and slick with fat. Chinese broccoli arrives jade-green and crisp, and the beef chow fun comes out charred and tasting of the properly smoking wok."

"Check out this Chinese restaurant in downtown Chicago with an open, barrel-vaulted ceiling and a lively atmosphere. Sun Wah’s continuously growing numbers prove Chicago has an insatiable appetite for the finest Hong Kong fare with their most famous off-menu feature, the Beijing Duck Dinner."

"Peking duck served three ways and carved tableside, $30 for a meal for four is virtually unheard of in this day and age. Just remember you must preorder at least 24 hours in advance. Also Try: Duck Duck Goat, literally anywhere in Chinatown"

"For those of you who prefer fine dining, this is more of an upscale restaurant experience. Blackbird is a restaurant where you’ll find fantastic mid-western food showcasing farm-to-table ingredients. They offer great choices for meat eaters and vegetarians alike."

"Grill & Bars are notoriously known for being a great place for cheap meals, and Flamingo’s Bar & Grill does not disappoint on that sentiment. This family-owned haven has all the wings, hot dogs, burgers, breakfast foods, and drinks with great potions at that."

"Making fetch happen: This friendly neighborhood sports bar in the West Loop welcomes your pooch to their patio, and that’s reason enough to visit in my opinion. Your pup will watch jealously as you scarf up your crispy Chicken Tenders, Mini Cheeseburgers, Blackened Mahi Fish Tacos, or Big Pepperoni Pizza. There’s also a Kale Salad for those so inclined."

"Kids love the lively atmosphere and sports focus at WestEnd. Even young Chicago sports fans enjoy supporting their team together with a group of people. Kids can grab a soda and some wings, while watching as their parents and siblings cheer on a hometown team."

"Thalia Hall is a historic music venue, a massive building along 18th Street in Pilsen, that’s owned by 16” on Center, a company that runs venues like Promontory Hall in Hyde Park and Empty Bottle in Ukrainian Village. The building also houses Punch House, a lower-level ‘70s chic bar where patrons by drinks by the punch bowl. Then there’s Tack Room, a piano bar that dabbles in things like punk rock karaoke."

"The iconic Pilsen hall has punch-filled cocktails in the basement, a beer hall on the main floor, and a music venue upstairs for all your Instagramming glory."

"A chic, brick-accented spot inspired by red-sauce joints of the 1950s The B. Hospitality guys (The Bristol, Balena, and Nonna's) opened the doors to their sprawling Randolph Street restaurant back in 2015 and have been serving up well-executed takes on mid-century, southern Italian cuisine ever since -- even with a menu overhaul leaning toward lighter, seafood- and veggie-focused fare a year later. The dining room's old-school vibe -- complete with crimson banquette seating, white tablecloths, and black-and-white photos -- invites diners to try pasta dishes inspired by the classics like rigatoni, in which the ricotta-topped pasta covered in a pork neck gravy is accompanied by spicy fennel sausage and fluffy meatballs."

"Restaurants Italian West Loop. When summer rolls around, the plant-lined sidewalk patio in front of this West Loop restaurant is populated by neighborhood folk sipping prosecco and piling prosciutto atop country bread. The interior of Formento's offers a different vibe entirely, with dim lighting, leather banquettes and tons of exposed brick."

"Located in Fulton Market District within Chicago’s bustling West Loop, Formento’s is an Italian restaurant steeped with the bright and fresh flavors of Italy. Created as a nod to the owner’s grandmother, guests will experience an array of dishes from house-made pastas, seasonal antipasti and...See More"

"Nestled in a dingy underground food court, Hello Jasmine is a modest boba place, but don’t let that fool you. The small shop stays true to the taste of Taiwanese boba, using the largest, most chewy balls that can be found in Chicago. Their grapefruit tea features pieces of real grapefruit (with peel), giving the drink a subtle bitter edge to accompany the sweet citrus taste."

"If you are looking for something more in the downtown core, then this would be one of the best places to eat in Chicago. They have two branches around town and offer an amazing breakfast. What I really enjoyed most about this place was the effort they made for Pride Week in Chicago."

"Lasalle Street, the shop offers a comfy atmosphere and impressive selection of coffee, tea and sweet treats. If cold-brew is your coffee of choice, we recommend the Nitro Cold Brew on tap. Don’t be surprised when the drink comes out looking like a Guinness in a tall frosted glass."

"Goddess and the Baker is casual Chicago café chain with iconic and colorful baked goods. The bistro features breakfast and lunch, as well as delicious baked goods."

"Spa@theWit is just as cooly casual as its home, theWit Hotel at the corner of State and Lake. Get yourself to the fifth floor and slip into a robe and slippers before your de-stressing or healthy glow treatment. Spa@theWit offers organic, seasonal skincare products to assuage the effects of Midwestern weather."

"If you’ve ever read the ingredients label on your lotion and felt slightly freaked out, head to this green boutique spa. For hair removal, they do sugaring. Their nail services use only 5- to 10-free polishes (meaning they’re free of harsh chemicals)."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user One Homo Sapiens used under CC BY 3.0. Heading to the Southwest Side of Chicago?. Ford City Mall has stood there since 1945."

"Many of Chicago’s most historic buildings are located in the loop. The Willis Tower was the world’s tallest building until 1998. Including the antenna, it is 1,730 feet tall."