My friend, a woman of color said that she has not experienced this kind of disrespect/service since being in the South. I walked in with a couple of my girlfriends. Karman suggested we go there, it looked nice from the outside. We were greeted at the front with a cold hello and looked at with much judgement. Is it because I'm not white and am a woman of transgender experience? That's usually the case in some restaurants downtown. We sat at a nice booth by the window. The waiter said hello with little effort to make us feel welcomed. Yet he greeted the white woman at the booth next to us with a warm handshake and said hello, welcome. He came back and asked how my drink was. I said that it did not taste right. He asked if I would like something else, I said no thank you. We were ready to leave now. My friend asked that the check be split. He said one check and kept walking. He then sent another worker to pick up the check as he leaned by the bar. I asked the waitress why she came over when it's his table and he had been attending to us until that point. She knew that he was wrong for that and asked if we would like for him to do it. I said that it would be the professional thing to do. He came over, now he's made this even more awkward and just uncomfortable. The staff made all of us uncomfortable and I can't help to think it's because we are women of color and I am a woman of transgender experience. I work for an organization that strives to support the LGTBQ + community and speak on the matter to educate and enlighten others. This business can use some of this education. I will go there one more time and see if they can get it right. Worst experience downtown to this date. read more

Pops for Champagne - Just three ladies who want to enjoy what downtown has to offer. Always chasing good food and service. - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Want to be treated badly with the laziest doorman, rude servers, rude manager and lack of understanding of customer service? Come here! We had absolutely the best experience in EVERY SINGLE OTHER RESTAURANT/BAR IN CHICAGO. We kept saying to ourselves how friendly the city was and then we tried Pops... We never even stayed because of how rude they were before we even tried to order, so we left. Nobody once asked if they could help us. They just all looked sour and annoyed. Save your money and literally GO ANYWHERE ELSE. Chicago is full of amazing food and restaurant choices. read more

We usually stay st The Dana and this place is right down the street so we often stop in. Their selection of Champagne is really impressive and the prices are fair. I can't say that I would really recommend this place though. I've been here multiple times and I've never had really bad service but I've never had really good service either. It's like not one single person that works there actually enjoys working there which is sad because it's actually a super cool concept. The ambiance is very nice I Even if you might have to bust out your cell phone flashlight to read the menu. read more

Pops for Champagne - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

With 40 years in service, I would call this a Chicago classic. You can make recommendations through Tock at the time of this review. Ambiance: this is a classy place to celebrate or gather. The decor is cute and fun plays on being a champagne bar. Drinks: if you're a fan of champagne or curious to know more and try different ones- this is your place. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable on the different champagnes and gave recommendations and points to consider - which for my group - was appreciated. I love that they had a champagne flight option and we all ended up going in that direction to try 3 different champagnes. However, if champagne is not your drink of choice, they offer wine, beer, other spirits, and a few spirit free options. Food: they have a small food menu. We had a person who is celiac in our group and for that person, the menu was pretty limiting. We all shared the popcorn which was good. I also tried the pork belly (not gf) and it was good. Service: the service was great. Knowledgeable and attentive without hovering. We often took the recommendations given to us, and happy we did. One suggestion I would make for Pops for Champagne, is to consider adding more items that are Celiac friendly or could easily become that way. We would have stayed longer if we had more options for the group on food. Instead, we moved venues for dinner. Overall, I really like Pops for Champagne. Cheers to another 40 years! ;) read more

Pops is legendary and has been open for more than 30 years. It is located in the River North neighborhood, and was a quick walk from our hotel at the St. Jane. One thing I love about Pops is that they focus on smaller production champagnes, which is really nice because you feel like you are getting something super special from this place. You are not able to pick up these champagnes in your local grocery store, which is what makes this place shine so much! Everything is super unique and new, so our experience was one of a kind. The service was fantastic, and our waitress recommended a wonderful selection for me to try. Also, they have wonderfully crafted cocktails, which G indulged in. This place is quaint, warm, and was the perfect way to wrap up our evening. If we ever visit Chicago again, we will definitely be making our way back to this spot, it was that wonderful. What makes this place special?: Unique champagnes that you cannot find anywhere else. read more

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My first experience was not good, but I'm glad I gave it a second chance the second time I went all of the staff were great and of course the selections were amazing. Eager to go back read more

Looking for a place for drinks after you had drinks or dinner? If you're near Ohio and State - Pops is such a great place. The girls (a group of 4) and I stopped in after dinner and had a great time! We were seated immediately, it looks like we lucked out and did get the last table available before there was a wait. We got rosé, bubbles, and some Mexicali cocktails. The vibe is really good, it's not super loud (it's so nice to be able to hear the people at your table), and the service was great! We even got some of their delicious popcorn brought to our table - and it hit the spot. While you can run up quite the tab here depending on which bubbles you go with - they have a fantastic selection, by the glass or bottle or galls, which is great for any bubbles lover. We did a did good job of keeping it around $40/pp for 2 drinks each + tip. Such a good location to people watch the street from! If you love bubbles - this place can't be skipped read more

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I love Pops! After my first time going here I was hooked. Although they are pretty pricey and have a limited food menu, the atmosphere is outstanding. Don't even bother with the full glass prices either because a 3oz taste is technically a 5oz pour and if you've never been here, you should definitely try to experience as many different champagnes as you can. They do have a happy hour menu that I'll be trying on my birthday, which is a good bang for your buck. read more

Pops for Champagne - From the left: Piollot "Chevry" Millésime Brut, Henriot Brut Souverain, Laurent-Perrier Brut Rosé, Laurent-Perrier Brut La Cuvee - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was walking trying to pass time before my big dinner and I saw this place. I immediately went on yelp to check reviews and I made a quick left turn here. I was greeted so graciously and I love that. Makes a big difference. I wore heels earlier in the day but during that moment I slipped into sandals and it still was an ok environment as far as dress code. I went to the bar and was greeted by the bartender who was very helpful and informative. I got a cocktail that taste similar to a French 75 but more with vodka. Wasn't a fan of the vodka choice but it was a good drink overall. I got one more drink and I thought to myself why go there and have nothing but champagne cocktails choices, try a drink. So I asked and the bartender mentioned a lighter champagne to try and it was delicious and very light. Whenever I come back to Chicago I will definitely come For a stop by drink. read more

Cool place for after dinner night drinks! Loved the bar atmosphere and cocktail list. Didn't get to check out the lounge downstairs cause it was under renovation but heard it was chill atmosphere with a speakeasy vibe. read more

Pops for Champagne - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place to stop in for a drink! A good selection of wine and champagne by the glass. The cocktail list was also good. Recommend the Layover! Friend had a glasses of champagne and thought they were good too. Really friendly staff! Def pop into Pops read more

A really great place for a cocktail with a friend after a hard working day. A nice bar area and lovely windows. read more

Pops for Champagne - a man taking a selfie in a bathroom mirror - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

On my way home from a night with my girlfriend and passed so I had to stop in and check it out. I've been meaning to come here for a while. I enjoyed the ambiance, the server that chose the sparkling for me was friendly and attentive and the menu and wine/sparkling list looked very worth coming back for with Tresa and spending some time enjoying both. It was somewhat busy but not overly noisy. Glad I stopped in! read more

Pops for Champagne - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Order the Bellini Coupette, it is the best cocktail on the menu. Pops for Champagne is the place to go if you are looking for champagne, obviously, but I would not recommend this place for cocktails. I think that it is overpriced and not as good compared to other options around the area. Boyfriend and I split several cocktails and the only one that I can say I would order again is the Bellini, the others were just okay or not even good at all. The other cocktails that were okay: The Layover, Paris Mullet and No, Let's Have Another. It is a trendy spot but I prefer spending this type of money for more quality drinks elsewhere. read more

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From the moment I saw Pops, I knew it was right up my alley!! What girl doesn't love some Champs?! We were greeted as soon as we walked in and had a seat at the bar (bartender was super sweet and attentive). The decor was fantastic.. Simple, Parisian and Romantic! A Sparking Rose for me and a High Sage for my Fiancé.. Both were simply wonderful! The best way to start a romantic evening out (and our last night in Chicago). If Pops was nearby, this would totally be my "Hot Spot"! This would be the place I went for each and every "fancy" Girl's Night! A must visit while in Chicago for pre or post dinner cocktails! PS.. The Cheese Curds are fab! A lighter version of the mozzarella stick. Melts in your mouth! read more

Pops for Champagne - Sparking Rose for me & a High Sage for my Fiancé! - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I couldn't wait to fulfill my inner white girl needs at this bubbly River North Bar. We arrived late afternoon on a Saturday, and the place was already "popping". The huge crystal clear windows let you see into the clean, lively, starchy, a bit corporate feeling atmosphere, but well lit and decorated. I came here with three other friends. The guys were told to take off their baseball hats. The high table seating is a bit tight, but not uncomfortably unbearable. The drink menu caters towards high end. The champagne is listed from $100-$400, bottle. I didn't see an option for by the glass. Sparkling wines, $50-$150. They also had whiskey, scotch, red wine, white wine, and rosé for around $11-$15. Bottled beer was $6-$14. The cocktails are $14. I ordered one that had honey in it. I was expecting a sweeter taste, but instead it tasted musky and heavy. We left after one drink. I tried a different one and was expecting a more complex taste for the price. Pops for Champagne is a great place to bring your client or socialize with a friend. I enjoyed the clean atmosphere, but didn't enjoy the cocktails. Wine, next time! read more

We came to this place late at night and it was very boring after coming from another one with music . If you are looking for a place to talk this perfect guess . The bartender was very nice and came quick and offers a drink the he left . There is more fun places to go in Chicago for a fun night , read more

Super great place! Sat right by the window and this place was perfect for pre dinner appetizers and champagne/wine! We picked 3 glasses of champagne to make a flight experience. They split the champagne between both of us so we could both try the glasses! Such a great idea. Oysters were super fresh and delicious. Come during happy hour! read more

Pops for Champagne - Champagne and Oysters Rockefeller - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Admittedly I can be a bit cheap when it comes to booze. Not that I don't love a good drink, but I've not been known to drop a wad of cash on a bottle of wine or champagne. I'll do just fine with a three buck chuck, thanks! BUT. I had a groupon for Pops for Champagne and I decided, "when in Rome!" SO we went and splurged on fancy glasses of champagne that we would normally not spend that kind of money on. So glad we did! Unfortunately I didn't write down the glasses I had and as the night went on I have to say that my memory grew less sharp than when I started so sorry for the lack of specificity but MAN. Good champagne? IS GOOD. Who knew!? Two glasses of the classic french stuff. Both smooth and sweet. After those we switched to cocktails. The Bellini Coupette (a sparkling rosé topped with white peach foam and a raspberry) was ridiculous. So delicious, sweet, and fresh. The Framboise (Pasquet Marie-Framboise, orange bitters and cava, served with a sugar cube and an orange twist) was also obscene. And the Black 75 (Grand Traverse cherry vodka with lemon juice, cava, and the most intense griottine cherry) blew my mind. I'd come back just for those cocktails, for serious. As for food--of course we had a few snacks to temper the bubbly so we went with a wonderfully creamy ash packed goat cheese and the speck (a peppery, thinly sliced, smoked, and dry cured ham). Then for some sweets? The bread pudding--with fruit and almonds in a bourbon cream sauce. Heaven. The space was relatively chill and the service was on point. I would love to save my pennies and come back here for another decadent night out. read more

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Check out this new Pops! Hadn't been here before... just the other location in the North City neighborhood. This is just eclectic and fun! The glitzy decor and sparkly glasses of every shape and size add to the electric atmosphere. You can have a cozy conversation for two, which is what we did for our anniversary night cap... or you can meet your pack of girlfriends and people watch inside and outside in the hustle and bustle of this vibrant City Chicago! Go check it out and ask for Greg... the most friendly, super cool bartender ever.... wait til you taste his FAB drinks! Cheers!! read more

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I've been here twice, once for a friends wedding after-party and another just because. The service is good and the space/ambiance is nice, albeit a little loud. I was a little disappointed at the limited food menu, but the drinks menu is of course expansive. At my most recent visit I asked the waitress for a recommendation and she delivered a good one, even letting me sample some ahead of time. The prices are definitely steep. I don't think this is the kind of place you'd frequent often, unless you're some kinda baller but it's worth checking out! read more

A cute spot for a bunch of girlfriends to grab bachelorette-night-out drinks. The spot is classy, spacious, and there are lots of drink options. Slight oversight on our part - we brought cake for our bachelorette and it was a $20 cutting fee. They had told us $2 per person on the phone which sounds like a lot less damage, but maybe that was because the reservation was for 10 people. We got a bottle of bubbly and each tried a cocktail. They were all decent, but by far everyone LOVED the one I ended up choosing! Props to our server - I told her I like something light, refreshing, tart, possibly with a ginger flavor, and she immediately recommended: * Hum Sling - 5 stars! (hum botanical spirit, vermouth blank, lemon, cava, lemon twist) The spirit is supposedly made in chicago, with ginger and cardamom infused flavors. DELICIOUS, and everyone who tried it loved it! Full cocktail menu: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pops-for-champagne-chicago?select=aolJ0IjlhhQO_GNyLnCHzA#aolJ0IjlhhQO_GNyLnCHzA read more

Pops for Champagne - Cocktail menu, Thursday 10/11/12 - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great champagne service. Great views and ambiance. Simple but sophisticated food. Be prepared to splurge.

Has a clean sleek sort of look that is nice for a champagne bar. Large bar in center is the place to sit. Decent selection by the glass with opportunity to try a taste of any you care to. Liked every one we tried; it's sparkling wine, hard to go wrong. But really loved the high end selection - Drappier Grande Sendree 2088, so much going on, so good. Though in the end Watershed downstairs called our name. More comfy den than the luxurious upstairs, it's a pretty relaxing place for craft cocktails. I suppose hitting both in the same visit may actually not be a bad idea. read more

Rude staff. Would not recommend. Always hovering. Not welcoming. Felt like we were rushed to leave.

This was an impromptu stop. We were passing by and couldn't pass up the allure of a champagne bar. We didn't eat so I can't comment on the food although what I saw others dining on looked good. We just stopped in for one drink. Prices are high. The cheapest glass of champagne was $12 which, even for Chicago, is pretty steep. We ended up ordering a cocktail, a take on an Aperol Spritz, and it was good. There wasn't a lot of ambiance to the place. White walls, white bar, white, white, white. One feature I did think was cool was that there were angled mirrors above the bar so, if you were sitting at the bar, you could see all the activity in the restaurant and outside the windows behind your. read more

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Stopped in for a drink before a wedding at the Ivy Room. It was the perfect venue, great spot!

So this place is a major joke. My wife was rejected as she was deemed to be too drunk to enter while the other five of us were! As she is Egyptian and dark skinned I have to wonder what the front desk person intended Never will go at it this place again and recommend no one else does read more

If you are looking for a nice bar where you can actually hear the person across from you, this is your place. My family and I were looking for a place to just chill and have a drink. Pops was the perfect place because we could catch up and just talk about life without screaming at each other. Classy, elegant, yet casual. Even if you don't like champagne very much, they have a full bar available as well. I would skip the desserts if you want more bang for your buck because they desserts were very minimal and simplistic. You will never get full off of them. Go for the drinks. More worth your money. Service was wonderful and the waitress came to check on us often. I'm over the loud bars/nightclubs. I'm too old for the loud noise. This place is just right for me. I will be back. read more

Pops for Champagne - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely love this place! It's small and intimate, perfect for a date night or just wanting to have a few good cocktails before or after dinner. The employees take time to talk to you about the process of making their drinks, the events they are holding, and seem genuinely excited about their business which is really great. Drinks are a bit more on the expensive side, but it's definitely more of a causal sip and enjoy the process place. On our visit we had a few glasses of wine, with great recommendations by the staff, and the French kiss cocktails which are so refreshing and fantastic. We will be returning, and look forward to the relaxing, welcoming atmosphere! read more

While service wasn't exceptional, I didn't have any problems like some other Yelpers seem to had. Fortunate enough to come in on the last day of their happy hour promotion (30% off any bottle), I was told that the new ownership is making some changes; including removing HH. As expected, many of the bubble staples were on the menu, with some great vintages and some not so good. If champagne isn't in your budget, fear not! Pops offers several excellent choices of Cava and sparkling wines. If bubbles are on your drinking agenda, as they always should be, stop in for a bottle! read more

Such a fun place! Me and my friend were served by a bartender, Michael, and he was so great!! So considerate to each of the customers and he makes a mean cocktail! Highly recommend to anyone visiting Chicago! read more

Such a cute champagne bar! Located in the heart of Chicago, I met a girlfriend here for an afternoon drink and I loved the ambiance, the service and the drink choices! We also got a cheese board which was great with the drinks! read more

Pops for Champagne - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very 'River North' in terms of the aesthetic. Everytime I've gone the kitchen is either closed or not open yet, so I have not tried the food. I will say that each time the staff was accommodating and offered me some food, i.e., popcorn or macarons. I still want to come back to have champagne w/ caviar, even though there are so many other places to do so in Chicago. I'd recommend this place to someone who does not mind the River North aesthetic or lululemon core patrons, and wants to down different types of champagne in an unapologetically basic way. read more

Food was great! The service was horrible. We felt ignored by the waitstaff and manager. The overall ambiance was good.

What a fun place. Where else can u go for champagne cocktails with a super cool staff and hip music. From your modestly priced bottles to super pricey special bottles this place has it all. Fresh herbs and fruits for the innovative cocktails. This place rocks! read more

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Quite an amazing ambience for drinks. We went to the bar downstairs, which was not too loud and served drinks till 12am (this was on a Wednesday, weekdays might be later than 12). Personally wasn't a fan of the cocktails they had on their menu, but enjoyed the vibe. read more

Ana was our server. Hands down the best sever I've had. And I've been here many times. Super attentive, refilled all our drinks, and was so pleasant, sweet, and a breath of fresh air. read more

This is a must try place for all champagne lovers! Pops for Champagne has one of the nations most extensive champagne lists, and there's truly something for everyone to drink. I was impressed with the knowledge our server had, and the great suggestions she offered. There's not a whole lot of food, so definitely just a place to grab a drink! read more

Pops for Champagne - Sparkling Rosé - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in here after our massages at the Eurospa - felt a little underdressed but we had a great experience. Sat at the bar and got GREAT recommendations for the bar tenders on champagne and appetizers. Spent a LOT for a few glasses of Champagne ($27/each glass) and $30 for the Char platter but it was excellent. Great place. read more