We originally came to Ghost Donkey as paranormal investigators, after being hired to locate the…read moremissing ghost donkey belonging to a local agave farmer. The case had gone cold--or perhaps mezcal-hot--until we received a clue pointing us toward River North. Ghost Donkey is spacious, colorful, and full of energy, with plenty of bar seating and tables. The music can get loud, but it fits the atmosphere perfectly. The bartenders were constantly interacting with guests, swinging the lights, encouraging the crowd, and turning the entire room into a neon-lit fiesta. They do have a food menu featuring items such as tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and guacamole, but we mostly came for the drinks. Many of the cocktails are tequila- or mezcal-based, which is exactly what we enjoy. The menu is creative, the drinks are strong, and the bar does an excellent job making agave spirits approachable--even for guests who may not consider themselves mezcal experts. After two drinks and an argument with a decorative donkey, we finally found the missing spirit hiding behind the bar. He was translucent, smelled faintly of roasted agave, and appeared to be carrying a tiny map. We followed him through a glowing hallway, down a staircase, and into a secret chamber where he revealed the legendary piñata of Quetzalcoatl, the ancient feathered serpent god. Naturally, we attempted to break it open. Instead of candy, it released a cloud of mystical dust, three lime wedges, and a receipt for nachos. The ghost donkey brayed with laughter, the lights began swinging, and the entire bar erupted in applause. The bartender handed us another drink and told us this happened all the time. Ghost Donkey is a fantastic place to hang out, pregame, and enjoy inventive tequila and mezcal cocktails in a lively setting. Just be warned: you may arrive looking for a ghost donkey and leave having helped recover an ancient Mexican god's piñata. That's simply the sort of evening this place encourages.

What a cute little "find" we were totally NOT going here until a simple "A" frame sidewalk sign…read morepiqued our curiosity.. and boy I'm glad it did. What a great vibe & ambiance . Great cocktails (I love mezcal) and great food! And to top everything off..WONDERFUL HAPPY HOUR Specials. Definitely a must visit spot.

Friendly and lively dive bar (4/5 Green Stars) Waiting for…read moretake-out from nearby Lou Malnati's, we wandered into Rossi's for a quick drink. It's a reasonably-priced busy dive bar in the heart of Chicago. I asked the bartender if she had a beer + shot deal and she said "no, but you can order a beer and shot." And so we did! Noise level is fairly high, thanks to a lively crowd plus a jukebox. They don't normally serve food but I think are fine with customers bringing in your own food, and you can also place an order from a nearby restaurant (I don't recall which one). And yes, it's cash only so bring some money if you don't want to pay ATM fees! 4 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. I like bars that allow customers to bring (or order) their own food - it allows for all diets! The one thing I'd like to see is more beer on tap - even just one good rotating local beer (e.g., Goose Island). Draft beer has smaller environmental footprints compared to bottled or canned.

Recently stopped by Rossi's Liquors and this place is the definition of a dive bar, in the most…read moreauthentic way possible. After a quick ID check at the door, the bouncer let us know it's cash only (thankfully we came prepared). From the moment we walked in, dim lighting, loud music, and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds gave the vibe of a full-on frat party, but not in a bad way. It's chaotic, energetic, and unapologetically no-frills. There's even a self-serve cooler with drink prices clearly listed underneath. I grabbed a Sapporo Premium, brought it to the counter, and our friendly bartender broke our change and offered a chilled glass to pour it into. Simple and efficient. That said, it was loud, so loud that even whispering-distance conversations were a struggle. The space is small, seating is limited, and since we couldn't snag a spot, we ended up leaving shortly after finishing our drinks. This feels like a better weekday hang than a packed weekend night. Still, if you're looking for a classic, gritty, no-frills dive experience, Rossi's delivers exactly that.

This might've been one of the best experiences my friends had on their trip to Chicago. We came…read morehere on a whim based off of convenience. My friend got really hangry at a certain moment while we were walking so we came here since it was open, had great reviews, and appeared to have a happy hour going on. We had to wait a little more than 5 minutes outside for a table, but the host was nice and got us accommodated. We were surprised by the inside and the amount of people dining in. From the outside it looks very basic and nothing too fancy. Our server was great and took care of us well the entire time. We ordered some Long Islands because they had a $6 happy hour up until 5pm and I have to say it's probably one of the best long islands I've ever had. All of my friends agreed as well. We were doing some appetizers so we got their style of cheese curds order, some crab rangoons, and pretzel with sauce/cheese to share. Those cheese curds were insanely good. Everyone at our table LOVED them. We wouldn't stop talking about them and had wished there were more. The ranch was excellent as well. We didn't like their marinara though - a bit too watered down. These curds were shaped more like cubes which isn't the traditional way they look, but unique and SO delicious. We also really liked the crab rangoon here. Pretzel was ok, but nothing crazy. They cheese that came with it was excellent though.

Good happy hour spot or place to go for a few drinks after dinner!…read more No reservations and it can be a long wait but if you're able to get there close to 4, it's usually not too bad. There are also a lot of great places to go right nearby to have a drink while you wait for a spot to open up. Service is pretty good, drinks are amazing. I am unfortunately addicted to the White Russian, it tastes just like a milkshake. The margarita and cosmo are also great. There is one drink discounted each day for happy hour, a great deal IF you're interested in the drink chosen that day. Ambiance is great, especially during the fall/winter. My only complaints: 1. The price of the wine - a glass of wine is $20! I get they're more focused on cocktails and want to push you in that direction, but I am the type of person to have one or maybe two fun cocktails, then switch to wine. The way the drinks are priced I'm more likely to have a drink or two at Gus' then continue the night elsewhere (thinking about it now, maybe that's what they want...). They do have beer for $8, but I just wish they had a more low-key drink at a reasonable price, there are only so many White Russians I can have in a night!! 2. The food options - they certainly have some fun and interesting items on their food menu, but I'd enjoy a few more classic appetizers. Stopping in for a few drinks after work, I'm not always in the mood for crab Rangoon dip or a dipped sandwich... I pretty much always end up getting the fries (not a fan of their pretzel bites or cheese curds), but I wish there was another staple to choose from - maybe sliders or flatbread/pizza? Overall, this is a great place to go and I will certainly be back many more times. But let me know if you get $10 wine or some different apps on the menu

Barstool is a classic sports bar done right -- great beer selection, TVs everywhere so you never…read moremiss the game, and a lively atmosphere that makes it a fun hangout spot. The nachos and onion rings were amazing, exactly the kind of comfort food you want with a cold beer. Service was also great -- quick, friendly, and attentive even with a busy crowd. I actually came here to attend a Lectures on Tap event, which was such a cool experience. Between the good vibes, solid service, and strong game-day energy, I'd definitely come back

It was so cold at the Bears game that we decided to find somewhere inside to watch it and Barstool…read morewas a great choice for that. I like it when bars play the game sound instead of music when the game is on. The mozzarella sticks were awesome too.

When I was planning my sister's bachelorette party, I wanted to find a restaurant near our hotel…read morethat could accommodate different dietary preferences (i.e. no pork, vegetarian/halal, etc.). I found Ila's on Google and liked the variety of menu items. The food appeared to elevate comfort food from multiple cuisines, such as American, Italian, South American, Asian, and Southeast Asian. I reached out to the restaurant and was assisted with a reservation for 14 people. Our table was set and ready to go as soon as we arrived at 8:30pm on a Saturday. Overall customer was excellent. Thank you to the hostess for making my sister, the bride, feel special. She complimented her and hyped her up for the night, which was really sweet. Our server was awesome too. He was friendly and highly attentive. Loved that our food and drinks also came out in a timely manner. I enjoyed everything I ate. I had a few bites of the appetizers including the scallops, fried paneer, and 2 kinds of empanadas (corn and chicken). We also got lumpia and a mixed bread platter for the table. Though I didn't have any of the latter, they were a hit at our table. I got the burger as my entree, and it was such a redemption from a crappy burger I got elsewhere earlier in my trip. The double smashed patties were juicy and flavorful. I devoured the burger and loved the thin cut fries. All-in-all, we had a lovely dinner at Ila's for my sister's bachelorette party.

Last minute after-work HH at Ila's and it didn't disappoint. The Gin Blossom was shaken to order…read more(love a fresh craft cocktail over a pre-batched one), and it showed. We also tried the chicken & corn empanadas and the cheese pesto flatbread--all solid. The only downside was that it is super quiet with only a 3 parties including us, so don't expect a buzzing happy hour scene. The space is absolutely gorgeous though, with beautiful interiors, comfy high-end furniture, and great service. Hoping this place gets the love it deserves.

Genuinely the best bar I've ever been to. Sitting at the bar is an absolute must. Bartender was…read moreextremely friendly and knowledgeable. The welcome cocktail was one they could easily add to the menu and it would hold its own. Would've tried the entire menu if I had the bankroll for it. Has become the topic of conversation regularly and I will return any time I am in Chicago.

We come here every year for the restaurant show and each time the cocktail are new and exciting…read more The bartender even remembered us from last year. !! We had a great time sitting at the bar. Tried 3 cocktails and the bartender was gracious enough to let me sample a new rum he loved. The clarified cocktails are delish and a def labor of love. The Saturn frappe was so good and their selection is unmatched. It's a great place to have a tropical cocktail and enjoy.

This bar is perfectly located on the lobby floor of the Springhill Suites…read more It doesn't have a lot of food options but what it does offer, is pretty good. We started with a regular and a Strawberry Mint Mule. We also ordered the Chicken Quesadillas. Nice portion, shared by 2. Perfect last stop of the day before heading to our room. The bartenders are Avery polite and attentive. It's a cozy setting with enough sitting space.

I visited Holloway's Bar for happy hour while staying at the Springhill Suites Downtown Chicago. I…read moreopted to sit at the bar. It wasn't packed, which was great, since I was decompressing from work. The happy hour menu a variety of drinks and small bites. I opted for the Love potion for drinks. It was very whimsical, yet good. I was craving something sweet, so I decided to go with the salted caramel brownie. It sounded wayyy better than it actually tasted. The brownie was hard and difficult to bite into. It was really warm, so the ice cream didn't really melt. It was pretty underwhelming. Thankfully the drinks made up for that. The service was decent and the ambiance was nice. I'd recommend this for a drink for sure!

Overall: The novelty of Bunny Slope is amazing, but after it wears off the realizations kick in…read more The good: Really fun and neat concept, especially in the heart of downtown. Sometimes, nothing beats a few (or many) drinks in a hottub. They even provide a nifty shower for cleaning up afterwards. The decor is pretty neat as well. The not-so-good: The space isn't huge, wouldn't comfortably fit more than 10-12 people. They don't have normal drinks here, the beers I tried were disgusting, so I just stuck to good ol' scotch. That said, the other cocktails sounded interesting (they were all mostly fruity). The hottub was way too hot, none of us could stay in it very long. You have to go outside of the room to change, possibly running into other hotel guests or whatever is above grounds.

Really nice places for a group outing. The room was perfect size to move around, drink and dance…read more It was 12 of us in the room. I like that we had our own personal bartender. Drinks were very reasonable price. Tequila and cranberry was 8, 12 for a double. The jacuzzi was perfect temperature. Everything seemed sanitary and clean. I really like that they provide FREE lockers to hold our things in. They also provided a speaker so we could play our own music. Free towels but I'd bring your own sandals. I don't think they serve food. It was in the basement of a hotel but I'd definitely recommend to go.