The Betty
Though The Betty was established in 2015, its décor— brass cash registers, cozy lounge chairs, a wooden piano—is as old school as its name. Coined an "upscale tavern," this bar strikes…
- story: Sophie Wirt
Sepia
From the craft cocktails to the choice of stemware to the table spacing, this gorgeous, Michelin-starred restaurant—which was built from a late-19th-century printing shop—hits all the right notes. While it…
- story: Talia Baiocchi
Vera
Located in the white-hot Randolph Street area of the West Loop, this Spanish tapas restaurant run by husband-and-wife duo Mark and Liz Mendez has the feel of a family-run neighborhood…
- story: Talia Baiocchi
Avec
Paul Kahan’s first casual spot, Avec, has been an industry favorite since it opened in 2003. Here Midwestern interpretations of Mediterranean classics are beautifully presented in a sparse, rail-road style…
- story: Talia Baiocchi
RM Champagne Bar
This charming, hard-to-find little champagne bar in the West Loop is one of the best places to drink grower champagne in Chicago. Walk down Green Street from Randolph and make a right…
- story: Talia Baiocchi
Aviary
The liquid counterpart to chef Grant Achatz’s Next, Aviary exhibits a similar dedication to innovation and theater. The not-quite bar (there is no "bar" to speak of, just a kitchen…
- story: punch_intern2
The Office
Located in the basement below molecular mixology den The Aviary, The Office is its upstairs neighbor’s opposite in every way, from the décor (think: wealthy Wisconsin man cave) to the…
- story: Chloe Frechette