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j
jpl Feb 11, 2007 06:43 PM

Wine Bar

My wife and I will be visiting Chicago next weekend - staying at the Hotel Monaco. Any recommendations for interesting wine bars?

  1. nsxtasy Mar 9, 2007 06:48 AM

    Sam's is perhaps the best-known wine store in the Chicago area. It has locations in the city (Lincoln Park neighborhood), west suburban Downers Grove, and north suburban Highland Park. The Highland Park location of Sam's has a wine bar. They sell about a dozen wines by the glass for consumption on the premises in their "bar" area. They change their wine bar offerings on a monthly basis. www.samswine.com

    1. a
      amoncada Feb 28, 2007 08:30 AM

      Swirl on Hubbard downtown is an interesting non-smoking micro wine bar and live music venue. Unique place with international vibe, cool crowd in a casual atmosphere. Went the other day to check out a Brazilian Jazz band. Not sure how the food is.

      1. leek Feb 28, 2007 04:56 AM

        Bin Cafe is just a bit more casual than Bin 36. I don't think they have a bar, per se. Bin 36 has a bar, a sit down casual area and a high end restaurant (plus an event space) all in one huge place. Bin Cafe fits the Bucktown/Wicker Park vibe, Bin 36 is more loop-ish. (sorry this reply is down here, Christina, I couldn't get it to post under your question)

        1 Reply
        1. re: leek
          christina_hunnicutt Feb 28, 2007 08:06 PM

          Thanks, leek!

        2. Chicago Michele Feb 26, 2007 01:50 PM

          If you're willing to take a little cab ride over to the West Side of town, try out Vintage Wine Bar @ 1942 W Division St. Great service and wonderful selection!

          http://www.vintage-chicago.com/

          1. c
            ChiFoodTrekker Feb 17, 2007 02:36 PM

            All good recs, and will add one: Juicy Wine Co. in River West. Cool vibe, folks and food/wine. On Milwaukee near Avenue M.

            1. p
              pucca Feb 16, 2007 08:46 AM

              Avec is fantastic; I'd also recommend Volo on Roscoe, just west of Damen (a 20 minute cab ride from downtown, but worth it).

              1. m
                marilyn9 Feb 16, 2007 07:47 AM

                The Intercontinental on Michigan Avenue has a new wine bar and tasting room that looks out onto the Mag mile. Very extensive list. They have a great flights menu. Diverse selection of cheese. Chocolate is not so good. Fun place to go, great people watching as well.

                1. p
                  profjmm Feb 12, 2007 01:34 PM

                  Cru on Delaware between Wabash and State has good food and a nice atmosphere and provides a convenient break from Mag Mile shopping.

                  1. w
                    wak Feb 12, 2007 09:03 AM

                    There is also Pops for Champagne which just moved to 601 N. State. Strictly a Champagne bar, but its within a walk from the hotel - over the river and up a few blocks. 125 Champagne and sparkling wines. They also have a selection of regular wines by the glass, although clearly not what they are known for.

                    http://www.popsforchampagne.com/

                    1. PamelaD Feb 12, 2007 08:31 AM

                      Bin 36 next to the House of Blues. They have lots of wines by the glass and you can buy a taste, a glass, or flights. They have a cheese bar, too.

                      8 Replies
                      1. re: PamelaD
                        m
                        mike_d Feb 12, 2007 09:11 AM

                        I'll second Bin 36. Good variety of wines, good range of price, with nothing on the lower end of price even tasting like it. Good cheeses. Can't vouch for dinner. And, if you sit at the bar, the bartenders are very pleasant/fun. We usually stop everytime we're in Chicago at least for one glass of wine.

                        1. re: PamelaD
                          j
                          JoLi Feb 13, 2007 09:16 AM

                          I think the food at Bin 36 is mediocre, but the wine selection is not shabby.

                          1. re: JoLi
                            m
                            mike_d Feb 16, 2007 04:43 AM

                            Absolutely. Didn't mean to suggest otherwise. As I say, I'd rather sit at the bar, nibble and drink.

                          2. re: PamelaD
                            Chicago Michele Feb 26, 2007 01:51 PM

                            Bin 36 is okay... but Bin Cafe is much better! Owned/Run/Managed by the same group, but Bin Cafe is less 'stuffy' and more warm/inviting!

                            http://www.binwinecafe.com/

                            1. re: Chicago Michele
                              christina_hunnicutt Feb 26, 2007 01:59 PM

                              Does Bin Cafe have little snacks to eat with your wine, or do you have to order a meal during the week? I just noticed their "Weekend Nosh," not anything about during the week.

                              1. re: christina_hunnicutt
                                leek Feb 27, 2007 04:34 AM

                                Yes, they have smaller dishes, cheeses, etc. I definitely like Bin Cafe better than Bin 36, though the oysters at Bin 36 are quite nice.

                                1. re: leek
                                  christina_hunnicutt Feb 27, 2007 08:58 PM

                                  So is Bin Cafe a sit-at-the-bar type place vs. a restaurant setting?

                                  1. re: christina_hunnicutt
                                    r
                                    rubinow Feb 28, 2007 09:53 AM

                                    Bin Cafe has seating...like a cafe. It was VERY good.

                          3. f
                            foodbeast Feb 12, 2007 08:24 AM

                            second the recommendations for the tasting room and Avec
                            I very much enjoy them both. Avec has in my opinion better food if you are looking to have a meal but it can become very crowded
                            The tasting room runs some wonderful by the glass options and does half price on Monday or Tuesday (Check with them) and that is a great deal

                            I went to Eno in the intercontinental hotel on Michigan Ave on Friday
                            They serve wine cheese and chocolate only
                            Very good cheese (I love the stuff) kind of expensive
                            Wines by the glass around $17.00 but some very good options and a great staff full of information

                            1. nsxtasy Feb 12, 2007 08:06 AM

                              If you're interested in considering restaurants with great wine lists, rather than places that are strictly wine bars, a good place to start is Wine Spectator Magazine. They have given their Award of Excellence to 94 restaurants in Illinois, and you can see the complete list here:
                              http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Din...
                              Click on the column headings to sort by restaurant name, city, or award.

                              You can use a web search engine to find the websites for most of the award-winning restaurants, and then check to see which of them show their wine lists on the website (quite a few do).

                              1. s
                                SuzMiCo Feb 12, 2007 07:28 AM

                                I second the rec for Webster's.

                                My other favorite wine bar is The Tasting Room (1415 W. Randolph).

                                Between Webster's and The Tasting Room, The Tasting Room is closer to your hotel (still a cab ride away), but Webster's has a cozier atmosphere, and a wider menu of food. The Tasting Room is along a whole row a great restaurants on West Randolph (including Avec) if you want to eat first and then go there for a drink.

                                1. j
                                  jesteinf Feb 11, 2007 07:21 PM

                                  Avec is always a nice choice and is a short cab ride from your hotel. I don't know if it's a wine bar in the technical sense of the word, but the food is great and they have a really interesting wine list.

                                  Also, a bit of a further cab ride, but I enjoy Websters Wine Bar.

                                  Avec
                                  615 W Randolph St
                                  (312) 377-2002

                                  Webster's Wine Bar
                                  1480 W Webster
                                  773-868-0608

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