Chicago's Best Romantic Bar

The sister of Meritage Cafe and Wine Bar highlights global small plate dishes for the late-night crowd in Lincoln Park.

Reviews:

• “Easy fixes could make this a great spot.”
• “Delicious!”
• “We love it!”
• “Not impressed”

Tips: A private dining room can seat parties for up to 25 guests.

Fixture

An inspired update of the classic martini bar within an upscale hotel.

Reviews:

• “First class!”

Tips: Any evening after work, the bar is active but still comfortable.

The Bar at The Peninsula

Comfortable place to sip and schmooze over a bottle or two.

Reviews:

• “Ripping off their customers”
• “Do not go and do not have a party there!”
• “Perfect for your 1st or 100th date”
• “Great service, wine and filet mignon”
• “Go someplace else. "

Tips: Toward the back, where it’s less noisy. Choose either table seating or one of the sofas and easy chairs surrounding the fireplace.

404 Wine Bar

The former Iggy’s space gets overhauled, the resulting space more hip-wine-and-cheese-bar than gritty-late-night-haunt.

Reviews:

• “Consistently great experience, knowledgeable & friendly service, excellent selections”
• “Fun wine bar”
• “a place to relax and catch up with a friend "
• “Worth to stop by”
• “Juicy Wine Bar too big for it’s britches”

Tips: The wine program is interesting; all bottles are priced at retail, but a $15 corkage fee allows patrons to sit and drink. Both prices are displayed on the menu to avoid confusion.

Juicy Wine Co. or email Juicy Wine Co.

This spot’s luxurious lines seduce fashionistas, travelers and singles.

Reviews:

• “Good vibe”
• “Could be a Chiacgo Classic”

Tips: An intimate, even mature, conversation can be carried out here on a slower night. The weekend nights scene is becoming legendary, so expect standing room only.

WHISKEY BLUE or email WHISKEY BLUE

Beneath its sassy sign, River North’s tunester paradise is old-school (in good way).

Reviews:

• “A spot not to miss.”
• “Classy Chicago Piano Bar”
• “Don’t waste your time!”
• “Not the best place if you are of a different race.”
• “HORRIBLE SERVICE”

Tips: Not a fan of coat check? Then skip the outerwear, or leave it in the car, since checking is required Thursday through Saturday.

The Redhead Piano Bar

Top-floor, top-shelf lounge at W Hotel Lakeshore.

Reviews:

• “Not worth the trip”
• “DEFINITELY not worth the trip to the 33rd floor”
• “Small but cozy”
• “One of the Best Bars in Chicago”
• “whiskey sky fly by”

Whiskey Sky

Casual Lincoln Park alcove that doesn’t allow wine snobbery.

Reviews:

• “Mindblowing wine list and the best servers in town”
• “Great low key wine bar”
• “Casual Euro-style bar, poor service and incorrectly stored products.”
• “Great Spot”
• “wine and staff”

Tips: One or more Wednesday evenings a month, you can indulge in a tasting of 12-16 wines from different regions along with appetizers for $30-$50.

Webster’s Wine Bar

Hotel Sax’s lobby lounge nails a neo-Victorian look.

Reviews:

• “great customer service”
• “always a DJ”
• “beautiful place but gave it 3 chances - blew everytime”
• “AWESOME design and music”

Tips: Nooks, both large and small, line the perimeter. Semi-private rooms are great for bigger groups, but if it’s intimacy you need, they have that, too.

Crimson Lounge