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Fri / Jan 15
ATM / Bar Food / Brunch / Burgers / DJ
Reviewed by Sarah N.
"The Chicago edition of New York McFadden’s, it offers all the comforts of an Irish bar within the convenience of a Gold Coast location. Perfect for s ..." more
1206 North State Parkway
Chicago, IL 60610
20s / 30s / After Work / Bar / Brunch
Party Earth Review Despite a preponderance of creative galleries and contemporary boutiques in River North, Moe’s Cantina manages to stand apart from the hipster contingent with a cavernous, upscale space that attracts a preppier crowd than many of its neighbors. Exposed brick, beamed ceilings, and intricate ironwork chandeliers and banisters ... more
155 West Kinzie Street
Chicago, IL 60654
20s / 30s / After Work / Bar Food
Reviewed by Michael D.
"Fatpour is a classy joint my friends. They have a great menu with a lot of varying options for lunch and dinner, plus they suggest a type of beer that ..." more
2005 West Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
30s / 40s / Bar Food / Bar Food / TVs
Party Earth Review Daily specials, European sports, live bands, and even a drunken karaoke session are all part of The Temple Bar package, making it a solid neighborhood go-to for all manner of liquor seekers. It’s obvious the pub’s Irish owner Patrick (of course) sought to give the place a European feel – the fire ... more
3001 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Ambient / Average Joes / Beer / TVs
Party Earth Review Leader Bar is a sleek sports den that would be perfectly at home in the yuppie paradise of Lincoln Park, but instead resides on an unassuming stretch of Irving Park Road surrounded by taquerias, auto shops, and funky markets. Despite a blindingly bright sign over its door, the interior is quite classy, with lots of exposed ... more
3000 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60618
30s / 40s / Actors / Bar / Bar Food / TVs
Party Earth Review Looking much like the quaint single-family homes that surround it, Four Moon Tavern is a much-loved neighborhood den of beer and belly-warming fare. Wood-paneled walls and the lengthy front bar make up most of the earth-toned front room, where stained glass mermaids mix with vintage neon signs, scattered children’s books ... more
1847 West Roscoe Street
Chicago, IL 60657
All Ages / Bar / Bluegrass / Blues
Party Earth Review A maze of function rooms, dining areas, and two stages support the House of Blues’ reputation for great music, good grub, and a packed house practically every night. Swaggering locals may decry the chain aspect – there are thirteen locations and counting – but seeing as the venue pulls in big names covering a range of ... more
329 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60654
20s / 30s / Bottle Service / Brunch
Party Earth Review Situated in the epicenter of Lakeview’s gay scene, minibar Ultra Lounge & Café caters to a higher-end clientele with swanky décor, intricate drinks, and bartenders who could double as Abercrombie & Fitch models. A narrow, sexily-lit bar takes up part of the U-shaped front lounge, whose intimate low banquettes and VIP sections ... more
3341 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60657
20s / Bar / Bar Food / Bar Food / Beer
Party Earth Review Part upscale bar, part restaurant, part club, and part bountiful beer garden, Zella is either the greatest thing since sliced bread or is suffering from multiple-personality disorder – either way, patrons come in droves to drink, flirt, and drink some more. A deceivingly small entrance in the simple brick façade leads ... more
1983 North Clybourn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
20s / 30s / Bar Food / Basketball
Party Earth Review Popular watering hole The Lion Head Pub manages to draw a clientele as diverse as its Lincoln Park surroundings, from broke students and rowdy sports fans to clubbers pre-gaming before adjourning to the sister nightclub upstairs. Starving college kids and budget-conscious button-downs gather early in the evening to devour ... more
2251 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
20s / 30s / After Work / Blouses / DJ
Party Earth Review Housed in a restored Schlitz Brewery tap house, Schubas Tavern is a mellow bar and intimate music venue that hosts diverse live performances every night, often featuring artists from around the world. Distinguished by its early 20th-century building, intricate brickwork, and large terracotta Schlitz emblems out front ... more
3159 North Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
18 and over / Acoustic / Bar / Punk
Party Earth Review If the name doesn’t give it away, the muffled sounds of live music mixed with the smell of pizza should clue first-time visitors in to Beat Kitchen’s double identity as a restaurant and live music venue. Serving up fresh pies and lots of sandwiches and large salads, the place is a magnet for folks who aren’t even there ... more
2100 West Belmont Avenue
Chicago IL 60618
Brunch is one of those things that certainly deserves a spot on the list of ‘Things Chicago Does Really Well’, alongside deep dish pizza, blues music, and bitter cold weather. With more and more restaurants every year starting to serve brunch menus on weekends, it is not a stretch to call Chicago a brunch city.
Many of Chicago’s upscale dinner spots offer luxurious brunch menus on the weekends. Longman & Eagle and Lula Café in Logan Square feature lengthy waits for both brunch and dinner on a regular basis, with creative dishes like Tiramisu Bread Pudding French Toast and classy oyster-garnished Bloody Marys.
And then there is the overwhelming number of restaurants in Chicago that are open solely for breakfast and brunch. There are the slightly snooty single-syllable haunts, such as Yolk, Toast, and Flo, which offer a variety of creative omelets, benedicts, and scrambles. The Bongo Room, with locations in the South Loop, Wicker Park, and Andersonville, is certainly one of Chicago’s most famous brunch locations, but with up to two-hour waits on weekends, it is plenty easy to find another spot nearby in any of those neighborhoods.
And for those looking for a more casual Chicago brunch experience, Twisted Spoke is not to be missed. The biker-bar themed restaurant features the best Bloody Marys in town and seriously generous portions.
Brunch in Chicago is certainly a popular activity and it is not hard to find a delicious brunch spot in nearly every neighborhood in the city. Just be prepared to wait a while for a table on weekends.