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    Drawing Room

    4.2 (130 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Drawing Room Photos

    DRAWING ROOM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

    Recommended Reviews - Drawing Room

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cheese and cracker board
    Megh L.

    I don't normally post an updated review so quick after leaving a review a bit more recently. However, the experience I had 2 weeks ago at the Drawing Room on the 2nd floor of the Chicago Athletic Association was soooooo rough. I'm actually surprised at how badly it went. I'm giving 2 stars because my friend and I were seated right away and near the windows (good view). Other than that, I'm not even sure where to start. We went late morning before an event upstairs was to take place, wanting to grab a coffee and a little food. The staff was extremely unpleasant - I felt like I was a nuisance by just wanting to be there. Our server was terse and annoyed. The big issue I had was that I ordered a croissant. This was after I asked about 2 other items that she said they were out of (which is totally fine). I ordered the croissant. When she brought it out there was no butter or jam with it (which it says on the menu that it comes with that). I asked and she proceeded to tell me they were all out and couldn't meet my request (whaaa??)....my friend was like, they don't even have butter? Um, ok. And that was that. The croissant was cold. The tea I ordered - the water wasn't hot, mostly warm. Between the croissant and tea, it was like $15. Not including tip or tax after only staying for 30-40 min. It was such an unpleasant experience. This is so disappointing to me since I really have loved this place over the years. This is a real deterrent for returning in the future.

    Corn Fritters
    Morgan H.

    This is a hidden gem located inside the lobby of the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. I loved the dark and cozy ambiance and the rich, East-coast library feel to it. There were lots of people working on their laptops nearby the dining tables. We were recommended this as a great place to come for a chill drink, but ended up coming in to try their lunch menu before heading to the Art Institute nearby. The menu is on the smaller side, featuring some snacks and then some larger plates. I had the Crab Fritters and the Grilled Chicken Caesar. The fritters had plenty of crab and something about the chicken in the salad was so simple yet so perfectly cooked. Overall a nice spot for a quiet meal or beverage, or to get some work done.

    Olivia D.

    Frankly, I was expecting a lot more from the Drawing Room than was given. I hoped for a much higher-quality experience than the one that was had. Our server was almost awkward and aloof, which makes no sense as there were about 4 other parties in the restaurant, and we spent probably 45+ minutes waiting for our food to be brought out in total (we didn't even get to order entrees until about an hour in). The environment itself is undeniably beautiful, but I found the food not to be worth the price and the service was subpar at best. The crab and artichoke dip was decent, and the firecracker shrimp was 80% breading. Definitely not worth the price. I will say they do have absolutely beautiful martini glasses! The stem is to die for! I think with better ambience and service this place could be great.

    Mushroom omelette with spinach and goat cheese
    Martha W.

    Love the space due to its ornate wood old school design. They now open at 7 am instead of what's listed here which is 11 am. If you use points like we did you get 30.00 credit for each day here. It's easy to blow through it, as the spinach mushroom omelette I had was 22.00. If I wasn't staying here I don't know if I would want to pay that much for an omelette. It was a bit undercooked for my taste, but the greens that come with it were nicely dressed with a lemon vinaigrette. The coffee is very good and strong. Rocket fuel!

    Cuda M.

    A perfect quiet, cozy corner of the city to hide away in with a good book on a cold night. I relaxed next to the fire with the full-bodied, Oxford Landing Cabernet and thoroughly enjoyed myself (and every sip). The staff was kind and attentive, I will happily be returning. Reservations are not required. I was able to walk-in and have a few seats to choose from, but it doesn't hurt to make one if you're eating. There is a cozy game room across the hall for billiards and grabbing a casual drink with friends as well

    Emma S.

    10/10. The flatbread was amazing?!! Elizabeth was so sweet and attentive. The architecture, the fire places the detailing. Everything was chefs kiss. Can't want to come back!

    Logan B.

    Stopped in at The Drawing Room for coffee, breakfast, and evening drinks/dessert. An absolutely beautiful gothic setting with a warm ambiance. Orest was such a wonderful server who made the evening memorable!

    Hashbrown

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    10 years ago

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    5 years ago

    it took around an hour for our food to come out but I love the athmosphere of the place and the staff are super nice

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Great ambiance. I was a little worried ... some people had kids, toddlers and babies... HOW!!! Pretty sure is not legal...

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Exceptionally poor service. Nice ambiance and music. Drinks are stiff, but don't expect it to arrive in a proper glass.

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    10 years ago

    Great service, beautiful space. The lobster roll was good, not great. I'll definitely be back however.

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    10 years ago

    Slings are super, mosaics, and the view. What a beautiful bar, and a beautiful time you can have.

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    Page 3 of 4

    Ask the Community - Drawing Room

    Do they have the NFL football games on Sunday?

    We do in the Game Room!

    Did they move this bar from N Rush Street?

    Hi Tom, I know exactly the subterranean bar to which you're referring and I loved that "Drawing Room!" (do you remember that drink concoction called "Off With Her Head!?") Anyway, all the drinks were expertly crafted there as was the food. As John… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Drawing Room

    “Right across the street from Millenium Park, on the second floor of the Chicago Athletic Association.”

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

    Read more highlights

    101 Sky Terrace - French 75 and Gin

    101 Sky Terrace

    4.1(18 reviews)
    0.8 mi•Near North Side

    Let me start by saying that the views were 5 star and the place has a cool vibe - although the…read morehouse music they were playing was a bit loud for the small number of people eating when I was up there. That said, this place just completely disappointed. The food was just not good. I had the burger sliders and for $9 a piece you expect them to be something special. They were not. Overcooked with a little sauce and two pickles slapped on the bun with a tiny little dab of fake cheese - it was like a bad and way more expensive version of McDonald's. The onion rings were the frozen crumbly kind not the fresh beer battered kind and so that's a big "no!" for me. The dipping sauce was okay. Service was friendly and I think the guy was new but it wasn't good enough for a place like that at the top of the building. There were two servers so I'm guessing one was training maybe. They didn't make it to my table to check to see if everything was okay while I was eating and it even took them a while to notice that I was done eating. It's was slow so I don't think they were stressing with too many tables. That kind of place should knock your socks off - but it was on the low end of mediocre. I wouldn't go there again for food. Maybe it's a decent place to go to the bar but since I don't drink I can't help much on that end.

    Great food, drinks, and view. We came on a Sunday and ordered some drinks to start, as well as…read moreBrussels sprouts. There were a small portion but delicious. Not too crispy but still tasty. We also shared the half chicken and Ceasar salad with shrimp. There were only 3 pieces of shrimp for the extra money we spent; but otherwise the food was delicious. Definitely on the pricier side because of the rooftop and area.

    Photos
    101 Sky Terrace
    101 Sky Terrace
    101 Sky Terrace

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    The Berkshire Room - Treat yourself to the best cocktail in River North for your nightcap. Strong drinks, top-shelf spirits, amazing vibes.

    The Berkshire Room

    4.1(476 reviews)
    0.7 mi•Near North Side
    •$$

    The Berkshire Room is one of my favorite speakeasies in Chicago. While they offer a fantastic…read morecocktail menu and a full bar, I almost always order The Dealer's Choice. You simply choose your preferred spirit, flavor profile, and glassware, then let the mixologist create something just for you. It's one of my favorite cocktail experiences in the city, and they've never steered me wrong. What I especially appreciate is how knowledgeable the bartenders are. They're always happy to offer recommendations if you're unsure what to order, but they're equally excited to create something completely unique if you're feeling adventurous. Watching them craft each drink is part of the experience. I've even hosted a birthday gathering here in their private side room, where we enjoyed charcuterie boards alongside our cocktails. If you're just stopping in for drinks, though, I'd recommend grabbing dinner beforehand, as the food offerings are fairly limited. More often than not though, you'll find me sitting right at the bar. I love watching the bartenders showcase their craft and chatting with them about the incredible selection of spirits they have on hand. It's a great spot for anyone who genuinely appreciates well-made cocktails and the artistry behind them. I'm also a member of their loyalty program, which is well worth joining. It can be used at The Berkshire Room as well as several other excellent restaurants, making it an easy way to earn rewards while exploring some great dining spots around the city. Whether you're a cocktail enthusiast or simply looking for a sophisticated place to unwind, The Berkshire Room consistently delivers. I'll definitely be back for another Dealer's Choice soon! #YelpEliteSquad

    A small group of us came in on a weeknight for after dinner cocktails... The venue is interesting,…read moresomewhat dim and vibrant at the same time. Definitely has a cool, fun vibe. Cocktails are ok... I say that because we ordered something that wasn't too off the wall which involved ginger simple syrup and they couldn't make it - odd for a truly craft cocktail joint. So, they're more mainstream with their cocktails. Service was just ok as well, not the best, but somewhat friendly. Overall - it's worth checking out, even if only for the venue.

    Photos
    The Berkshire Room - Trust the mixologist - your Dealer's Choice cocktail is in good hands

    Trust the mixologist - your Dealer's Choice cocktail is in good hands

    The Berkshire Room - Host your next event at this speakeasy cocktail and whiskey bar in River North!

    Host your next event at this speakeasy cocktail and whiskey bar in River North!

    The Berkshire Room - Bar

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    Bar

    Z Bar - Gin(Cadenhead's Old Raj Dry Gin) & tonic

    Z Bar

    3.9(242 reviews)
    1.0 mi•Near North Side
    •$$

    A large group of us met up here one weeknight for after dinner cocktails... We sat outside and they…read moregave us a nice, corner spot which was private and tucked away. Our server was great! She kept an eye on us and even brought a blanket, as it was a little chilly out and I was wearing shorts that evening. The drinks were great too.. but the vibe is really what we enjoyed. Definitely worth stopping in for a visit!

    A coworker and I came here. This has a bit of a corporate environment. They have mocktails here…read moretoo. The check came. Once I put my card down I used the restroom, then my friend used the restroom. The check came and that was space to add tip and calculate your total. I filled the tax and tip, then we left. As we were leaving, we were on the ground floor. A serious man in a suit came and stopped us. He was holding a bill in his hand and said we didn't swipe our card. I immediately offered my card to him a few times. He was stoic, so serious. He was absolutely not apologetic or friendly. We took an awkward elevator ride up together and then he took me to the counter to get my card swiped. Not a single person was friendly here. I regret adding any tip! This deserved 0. My card was sitting at that table for 10-15 mins and the waiter never came to get it. My friend and I felt really bad and felt like criminals. If you look at our bill we had even added tip and calculated the total. Does it look like we weren't trying to pay? Usually your card is swiped and then you get the receipt where you fill out your tip and add on the total. The fact that we had to stand at the bar to pay was weird too. They were not kind. If I could go back in time I'd discuss this with them and pay 0 tip. My friend was here a night before and will not be going again. I deeply regret coming here. Drinks are watery and for this price...the world is your oyster. Go elsewhere!

    Photos
    Z Bar - Indoor seating

    Indoor seating

    Z Bar - B. E. A. Utiful

    B. E. A. Utiful

    Z Bar - Burrata

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    Burrata

    CloudBar - 360 CHICAGO - Very popular!

    CloudBar - 360 CHICAGO

    3.7(80 reviews)
    1.2 mi•Streeterville, Near North Side
    •$$

    After we experienced the Tilt, we went directly to the Observation Deck, which is where the…read moreCloudBar is located. Once you enter the Deck, go to your right. We bought the tickets that included the Tilt, the Observation Deck, and the CloudBar. That was the way to have the complete experience on the 94th Floor of the John Hancock Building. The views are spectacular!! Look up and there are mirrors on the ceiling! Lots of cool photo ops! We enjoyed it here. There needs to be more organized seating all around the 360 because the place is packed. There are some tables closest to the Bar but not around the entire deck. You have to hold your drink the whole time and get bumped into. There is no obvious line at the bar and you accidentally go in front of other people who thought they were in line and they get upset. There are also mini bleachers where people were spilling their drinks because there was no place to put their drinks. The floor was sticky and wet. We got alcohol spilled on us from those climbing down the bleachers. Not a pleasant experience. The drinks were ok. My Magnificent Margarita was too sweet for my taste and it was a generous pour. My daughter had the Crossbeam and was able to select what she preferred. I should have done that one. The bartender was friendly and nice despite how busy he was. There are restrooms for men and women but the women's is not very big or wide. The line is mostly outside the restroom. It was tight in there. Would we go again? Yes.

    This was a cool experience if you've never been in a skyscraper before. I don't think I've ever…read morebeen in a building with 90+ floors. We bought the cheapest ticket which was $30 just to go up. I feel like this is a bit pricey since nothing is included, but it was still a very cool view. Went to the Cloud Bar and got the Feeling Tiltsy. I enjoyed it and it was quite refreshing. There weren't too many people there so we got our drinks served fast! Drinks are $23 which is also a little pricey but you're paying for a great view.

    Photos
    CloudBar - 360 CHICAGO - Drinks

    Drinks

    CloudBar - 360 CHICAGO - Feeling Tiltsy & Hombres Del Jardin

    Feeling Tiltsy & Hombres Del Jardin

    CloudBar - 360 CHICAGO - CloudBar

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    CloudBar

    the Albert - Mussels

    the Albert

    4.1(365 reviews)
    0.8 mi•Near North Side, River East
    •$$$

    A Mother's Day Feast! A spectacular display of food that was fresh and platter pleasing. A LIVE…read moreJazz band was playing (not pictured) only during this special day. The wait staff was helpful, the decor was unique and fun. Inside the EMC hotel, this gem was a nice getaway from the usual. Reservations were required and main courses of either Lamb Chops, Salmon, or Prime Rib was the perfect dishes to any meal.

    So I took myself to a place that was on my "must go to" list. Called The Albert. Menu online is…read morewell designed and great looking food. Advertises as $100+ pricing so I'm like ok this is gonna be a nice dinner. What you don't see unless you're looking closely - It's in a medium end Marriott - not mad at that but it's not a stand alone restaurant. The menu looked absolutely nothing like they show on the restaurant website. It was cheap looking. Same food options as website. The ambiance was well designed but - hotel restaurant vibes. Ordered the tuna crudo. Nothing to write home about. The mussels - I'm maybe gonna wake up with food poisoning tomorrow. The bucatini pesto pasta looked like regurgitated peas baby food and overcooked pasta. I sent it back kindly. And the chicken thighs were cooked. Like, that's all I can say. So I paid, still hungry. Cause the chicken thighs had basically no meat. Crudo is naturally so small and the mussels equally. Left and am now at Hampton Social eating a delicious lobster roll and tomato bisque. The highlight! The people sitting next to me asked me if o was a good critic! Haha - best compliment ever! But disappointment of a restaurant.

    Photos
    the Albert - Breakfast time at Albert

    Breakfast time at Albert

    the Albert - Smoked Duck

    Smoked Duck

    the Albert - Beautiful decoration and artwork

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    Beautiful decoration and artwork

    NoMI Lounge - View from our table

    NoMI Lounge

    3.9(83 reviews)
    1.1 mi•Near North Side
    •$$$

    My husband and I came here for our 26 year anniversary. It was my first time in Chicago. A local…read morefriend of ours recommended NoMi. It was a great recommendation. We were so happy with everything! Our server was wonderful! The entire staff was so friendly and on top of their game! We never waited for anything. They were immediately refilling our waters, offering more bread, removing dirty plates, replacing silverware, and offering the next course. It was perfect! The views!!! I think there's not a table in NoMi that doesn't have an amazing view. The main, large window faces the lake (East). Arriving just at 7, you get the full affect of the city, and lake, and then the sunset and lights of the buildings. It was absolutely magical. I couldn't get enough of it. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and clean, but honestly it could have been a pit and I wouldn't have noticed. You'll be focused on the views for the entire evening. The food!!! Everything is very fresh. It's all well-prepared. Everything was delicious. There's a good variety of dishes to choose from. Plenty of healthy, low-carb options. We each ordered our own appetizers. I had the crispy Maitake mushrooms and my husband had the mussels. We both loved our food and left nothing on our plates. Excellent choices, that we highly recommend. As our main course we shared the sushi platter. The seafood was fresh and the sushi didn't have too much rice. It was the perfect amount of food with our appetizers. They have an extensive wine and drink menu. For drinks I had a glass of the Sauvignon blanc and my husband had a red blend. For dessert we weren't really hungry enough to eat anything else but my husband wanted a pallet cleanser. They have a few sorbets. My husband settled on the cherry cola sorbet. They brought it out with a little chocolate that said "Happy Anniversary" in French. They did not add it to our bill. Very sweet of them. It was probably one of the best anniversaries we've ever had. The bill was about $230 before tip. We highly recommend coming here for any special occasion.

    My husband and I popped in here to escape the cold and found that NoMI was doing a hot coco…read moreexperience! It was SO awesome! We were able to choose between an alcoholic or non hot coco and load it up so many different toppings. It warmed us up and was decorated so beautiful! My husband then snagged a lobster roll which was so good. We are so excited we found this lounge and will be back!

    Photos
    NoMI Lounge - View from our table

    View from our table

    NoMI Lounge - Crispy Maitake mushrooms

    Crispy Maitake mushrooms

    NoMI Lounge - Sushi Menu

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    Sushi Menu

    Sparrow - Bar area Hotel Nacional

    Sparrow

    4.3(349 reviews)
    1.5 mi•Near North Side
    •$$

    Right before starting writing this one, I wrote a review for Kibbitznest, another phenomenal…read moreChicago bar with a totally different theme and vibe. That is to say: I am not throwing words of praise like "one of a kind" and "phenomenal" around lightly. Both are different and still amazing. Sparrow has a vibe straight out of the 1920s. The decor, signage, use of color, and absence of screens or TV's all contribute to the theme. The music is also appropriate and plays at the perfect volume to be pleasant without forcing one to raise their voice. I tried the Green Daisy and a House Old Fashioned. The Green Daisy was boozy and had some herbaceous notes. A little tartness and a little sweetness helped balance the drink out and make for a phenomenal sipper. I loved the creativity with this one! The House Old Fashioned was also well done, assembled with quality ingredients in balance with one another. Nothing wrong with a well-executed classic. The prices are more or less reasonable considering the location and overall market, with bevies costing around $16. The bar staff is excellent! Very friendly and welcoming! Final verdict: A spot where I can say come for the drinks and stay for the vibe. It's the kind of place where walking in you are transported a century into the past. Everything about the experience, including the atmosphere, drinks, service, and prices, is calling me to return and bring some people with me.

    This might be my favorite rum bar in the country. If you want intimate spaces, moody lighting,…read moreextensive rum selections, and drink specials come here. Monday nights are my favorite because they offer a different specialty rum in special. It's a great way to try different kinds. They also serve beer, wine, and every other spirit you can imagine. Cocktails are on point. Seating options are varied: bar seats, small tables in back, bench seating with tiny tables up front. Quiet and comfortable.

    Photos
    Sparrow - Entry

    Entry

    Sparrow - Menu

    Menu

    Sparrow - Perfect Perfect

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    Perfect Perfect

    Drawing Room - lounges - Updated October 2026

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