Hotel Bars That Tourists & Locals Alike Will Enjoy

Hotel bars get a bad rap. But these days, they’re not just a last resort for travelers who find their minibar isn’t up to snuff—even locals are hitting them up with enthusiastic frequency. Here are eight hotel bars across the city that rise to the top.

Baptiste & Bottle at the Conrad Hotel

The tan leather booths and wood accents will put you in a bourbon-drinking mood. Or if the rich décor doesn’t have that effect on you, a quick skim through the list of cocktails and tasting flights should do the trick. Grab a seat near the floor-to-ceiling windows and treat yourself to views of the Mag Mile and River North from 20 floors up, because the sights don’t get old, no matter how long you’ve lived here. 101 E. Erie St., Fl. 20, 312-667-6793

The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago

The inviting space, marked by oversized couches and a cozy fireplace, dutifully carries the hotel’s five-star sophistication, making it the perfect place for a nightcap—whether you’re retiring to a room in the hotel or Ubering your way home. 108 E. Superior St., 312-337-2888

Vol. 39 at The Kimpton Gray Hotel

The second-floor lobby bar gives off Mad Men vibes, complete with plaid chairs, rows of books, and a beverage menu that clearly claims midcentury inspiration (there are seven interpretations of an Old Fashioned and a martini flight). Should you tire of the retro space (you won’t) or decide to line your stomach with more than the bar’s small plates and caviar, the hotel is also home to a South American-inspired restaurant, Boleo. 39 S. LaSalle St., 312-634-7966

The Broken Shaker at Freehand Chicago

The Miami transplant—located on the first floor of the hotel/hostel hybrid—is a hit with the Chicago crowd, too. Expect to be greeted with a laid-back vibe and drink concoctions that are a huge step up from what’s usually offered at stogy hotel bars—think cocktail ingredients like fresh-squeezed juices and garden-plucked herbs served in inventive glassware. 19 E. Ohio St., 312-940-3699

Milk Room at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel

This one requires a bit of planning (as in: reservations are a must), but it’s worth it. The dimly lit, eight-seat bar is stocked with rare spirits and obscure ingredients that beverage director Paul McGee turns into cocktails you won’t find anywhere else in the city (and probably a lot further than that). 12 S. Michigan Ave., Floor 2, 844-312-2221

The J. Parker at Hotel Lincoln

With 140 seats under the retractable rooftop and 55 inside, there’s plenty of room for Chicagoans to rub elbows with visitors. Everyone’s here for one thing: the unobstructed views of the skyline looking south and the lake and Lincoln Park looking east. But the craft cocktails make the scene much, much sweeter. 1816 N. Clark St., Fl. 13, 312-254-4747

Up & Up at The Robey Hotel

When the Robey Hotel opened its doors late last year, tourists finally had a hotel option in Wicker Park and locals finally had a rooftop bar to rival those dotting River North and the Loop. The 13th-floor bar offers a cocktail-focused menu and an open-air terrace so you can see the skyline from an angle you’ve likely never had the chance to take in before. 2018 W. North Ave., 872-315-3082

NoMI Lounge at the Park Hyatt

This see-and-be-seen spot—named one of Food and Wine’s “best hotel bars”—attracts a crowd mixed with locals and tourists and is easily one of the best places in the city for a business meeting or a before-dinner drink. Take in the bar’s sophisticated lounge ambiance with one of their creative cocktails or a glass of wine from the impeccable wine list. 800 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 7, 312-239-4030