The 11 Essential Places to Drink in River North

Much like its dining scene, River North’s drinking culture comes with a lot of over-hyped, under-delivering bars and clubs. However, if you’re willing to dig just beyond that glossy façade of bottle service and ubiquitous “handcrafted” cocktails, you’ll find a handful of spots that are truly worth their salt. Here are the 11 best places to booze in River North.

Courtesy of Bub City

Best whiskey bar: Bub City

435 N Clark St
Armed with 150 whiskeys, Lettuce Entertain You’s Southern-inspired concept is an obvious choice for connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike. Come down for live country karaoke every Tuesday at 10pm, and a killer weekend brunch, flush with gut-busting comfort fare.
 

213 W Institute Pl
Where else in the neighborhood can you grasp a can of Half Acre Daisy Cutter in one hand and a gaming controller in the other? Nowhere, that’s where.

flickr/minolta

Best piano bar: Howl at the Moon

26 W Hubbard St
Dueling pianos playing danceable beats? Check. Energetic vibe? Yup. Plastic buckets overflowing with neon-hued sharable cocktails? You betcha.
 

Best beer bar: Howells and Hood

435 N Michigan Ave
With 114 unique varieties of domestic and international beers, this colossal hall hosts Chicago’s largest draft selection. Overwhelmed? Get your feet wet with a flight -- curated or build-your-own -- and then dive into the 2013 Hamburger Hop-winning Kimchi Burger.

Facebook/Kerryman

Best Irish pub: The Kerryman

66 N Clark St
Effortlessly bridging the gap between raucous sports bar and casually elegant eatery, The Kerryman delivers whether you’ve come for a Notre Dame game or just a fish & chips and cold beer fix out on the lush, jungle-like patio.
 

Best bar food: Bottlefork

441 N Clark St
Chef Kevin Hickey and the Rockit Ranch Productions gang’s fancy bar snacks -- like braised beef cheek poutine and a bag of sea salt and malt vinegar powder chips tossed with an egg -- complement head barkeep Brandon Phillips’ inventive cocktails beautifully, so if you’ve never thought to yourself, “The only thing that would make this cocktail even better is a side of popcorn sweetbreads,” you should now.

Courtesy of Neil Burger

401 N Wabash Ave
Wrapping around the 16th floor of Trump Hotel Chicago, this seasonal sky-high lounge offers unparalleled views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Drinks are exquisitely balanced, and some include flavor-infused ice cubes to make ‘em good to the last drop. Catch fireworks on Wednesdays and Saturdays all summer long.
 

Best cocktail bar: Sable Kitchen & Bar

505 N State St
When a bar’s beverage menu is equipped with a table of contents, you know it means business. Balanced and blended with top-shelf booze and predominantly local juices and herbs, each cocktail offered is a veritable work of art. Overwhelmed by all the options? The refreshing, gin-based War of the Roses and warming East of Omaha are perennial standouts.
 

412 N State St
With its weathered awning, unassuming Rossi’s is a breath of fresh air from the neighborhood’s swankier spots -- provided your idea of “fresh air” includes inexpensive drinks, a jukebox, and remarkably diverse clientele.

Courtesy of Three Dots and a Dash

Best Tiki drinks: Three Dots and a Dash

435 N Clark St
This subterranean retro Tiki lounge from Lettuce Entertain You is easy to find -- just look for the line that wraps around from the back-alley entry. There are over 200+ rums, which means you'll never have to ask, "Why is all the rum gone?!" like Johnny Depp did in that delightful fantasy swashbuckler film based on a theme park ride.

Best Champagne bar: Pops for Champagne

601 N State St
Light and airy in daylight and demure in the evening with $1 oysters on Tuesdays and Thursdays, this Champagne bar has remained River North’s go-to for après-work bottle popping and toast-worthy celebrations since 1982.

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Kailley Lindman is a contributing writer for Thrillist Chicago, as well as a food blogger, bacon enthusiast, and devout user of the Oxford comma. Follow her at @KailleysKitchen.