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Where To Eat And Drink During A Snowstorm

Natalie Schaefer

The Yard

$$$$ Liberty Hotel

Every four years you watch curling at the Olympics and tell everyone that you would be a terrific curler if you really tried. Well, now it’s time to prove it, because the Yard At The Liberty Hotel puts in a curling rink every winter. It’s not actually made of ice, but you’ll still get an idea of whether it’s time to get outfitted in some Roots gear for the opening ceremonies. The Yard only has drinks and some small bites, but if you somehow manage to work up an appetite while playing the least athletic sport in human history, you can head instead to Scampo.

Natalie Schaefer

Warren Tavern

$$$$ 2 Pleasant St

When George Washington and Paul Revere got stuck in snowstorms, they didn’t have the internet to tell them where to get a decent snifter of mead. But they were probably smart enough to head to the Warren Tavern in Charlestown anyway. This place is exactly as cozy as a 238-year-old tavern with a fireplace sounds like it would be.

Where To Go When you Can't remember what sun feels like

Natalie Schaefer

Shore Leave

$$$$ 11 William E Mullins Way

With fruity drinks, Asian fusion bar snacks like Filipino BBQ ribs and Rohan duck, and tropical decor, this South End tiki bar is a great place to help you pretend you don’t live in Boston. Beyond the bamboo and palms, Shore Leave also has the advantage of being underground without a single window, so you can completely forget about the fact that the weather outside is literally trying to kill you.

$$$$

Japanese , Latin , Fusion in Back Bay

$$$$ 100 Arlington St

Not
Rated
Yet

An actual jungle palace in the middle of the Amazon might be pretty dangerous, what with all the piranhas, jaguars, and poisonous dart frogs (which may or may not be the type of toad that you can lick to get high). Nahita - the Japanese-Peruvian restaurant in Park Square that’s filled with palm trees and hanging vines - is basically the next best thing. Split some tacos and imagine you’re on the other side of the equator where it’s currently summer.

Eventide

Hidden in the shadow of Fenway Park, Eventide is a fast-casual place that gets busy during lunch. Don’t let the fact that this place looks like a Chipotle for seafood deter you - the food here is seriously good. The brown butter lobster roll served in a bao bun will convert picky people to seafood.

The Chicago Winter Survival Guide

Get the rest of The Chicago Winter Survival Guide here.

Piece Brewery and Pizzeria

$$$$

American , Pizza in Wicker Park

$$$$ 1927 W. North Ave.

7.9 /10

Piece is a very good pizza place in Wicker Park that specializes in New Haven-style pies. It’s ideal for watching sports, and occasionally it has karaoke. So depending on the talent level of your fellow diners, you might want to leave before that starts.

Dorian’s

$$$$ 445 N Clark St

Not
Rated
Yet

Dinner at Frontera is great on its own, but even more enjoyable if you follow it up with a trip to Bar Sotano, the speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden in the alley right around the corner. There’s a long drink menu with lots of mezcal, including a cocktail called the “tacos al pastor,” which has pineapple and is poured over chorizo fat. It should impress anyone who’s not a vegetarian.

Saint Lou's Assembly/Moneygun

Christina Slaton

Saint Lou's Assembly

$$$$

American in Fulton Market , West Loop

$$$$ 664 West lake Street

7.7 /10

St. Lou’s Assembly always has a lot going on, and it appreciates winter enough to turn its patio into a tree lot during the month of December. This place is vaguely cafeteria-themed (with patty melts and upscale takes on “meat and threes”), but unlike most cafeterias, it also has dishes like biscuits with foie gras ganache. Also unlike most cafeterias, it has the entrance to a bar (Moneygun) right inside it.

Moneygun

$$$$

Bar Food in West Loop

$$$$ 660 W Lake

Not
Rated
Yet

As mentioned, to get here after dinner, you don’t even have to set foot outside at all. Moneygun is a bar with big leather booths and old-school drinks like White Russians, negronis, and daiquiris, and you can also play arcade games like Pac-Man and Tetris. We’re just waiting for them to open up a hotel so that we can actually stay here all night.

Soule/Cleo's

Sandy Noto

Soule Chicago

$$$$

Southern in West Town

$$$$ 1931 W Chicago Ave

8.5 /10

You can try to get through a Chicago winter without a trip to Soule in West Town, but we wouldn’t recommend it. This restaurant has The Feel Good Factor™, meaning the friendly service and delicious soul food will put you in a good mood even if your apartment radiator sounds like Jacob Marley on amphetamines. Just know that since you’re not the only person in the city trying desperately to find a sliver of joy, there’s likely to be a pretty long wait.

Sandy Noto

Cleo's Bar & Grill

$$$$

West Town

$$$$ 1935 W Chicago Ave

Spend that wait at Cleo’s, the dive bar right next door. Head over there for drinks, eat shrimp and grits and banana pudding at Soule, and then go back to Cleo’s to finish the night brimming with your new serotonin.

Monteverde/The Press Room

Monteverde

$$$$

Italian in West Loop

$$$$ 1020 W Madison St

8.9 /10

Monteverde and The Press room are actually about a four-minute walk from each other, but both are so enjoyable that they’re worth the frostbite risk. Monteverde has some of the best pasta in the city (the cacio e pepe in particular is great) - and the ragu alla Napoletana (fusilli with sausage, meatball, and pork shank), while fantastic, will probably make you grateful for the chance to take a walk afterwards anyway.

The Press Room

$$$$

Wine Bar in West Loop

$$$$ 1134 W Washington Blvd

Not
Rated
Yet

The Press Room is a low-key wine bar you could happily hang out in all night. And to celebrate the fact that you got a reservation at Monteverde, you should do just that. The bartenders here are friendly, and won’t make you listen to any long-winded lectures on varietals while trying to convince you to spend $500 on a bottle. So bundle up after dinner and make a run for it.

14 Places That Will Actually Make You Glad It’s Winter

Not
Rated
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Moody’s has been around since 1959, and the atmosphere doesn’t seem like it’s changed much since then. In the summer, we recommend coming here primarily because of the large beer garden where you can sit and eat a burger. But the indoors is a fantastic place to hang out when it’s cold, too. It feels like a hunting lodge, with two very old-looking stone fireplaces that seem like they could plausibly have been built in the Middle Ages. Sit next to one of them and try to remember something about medieval history.

The Moonlighter

$$$$

American , Bar Food , Burgers in Logan Square

$$$$ 3204 W Armitage Ave

Not
Rated
Yet

Summer weather makes us feel bad for doing indoor things we really enjoy (and also happen to be good at), like drinking, eating, and watching sports on very nice television sets. But when it’s cold out, The Moonlighter in Logan Square lets you take full advantage of the fact that no one expects you to to be outside. You’ll find plenty of TVs, great bar food, and a wood-burning fireplace that will even make you secretly glad it’s snowing. Again.

The Darling

$$$$

American , Bar Food in West Loop

$$$$ 905 W Randolph St

Not
Rated
Yet

If you’ve watched Downton Abbey, you might suspect that winter would be a lot more charming if you lived with the Crawleys. And you’re probably right, which is why you should head to The Darling in the West Loop. This two-floor cocktail bar is designed to look like an old English manor, so you can have drinks and small plates by the fireplace while surrounded by old-timey bookshelves and elegant leather couches and chairs. Don’t think too hard about the fact that in real life, you’d probably be one of the servants.

Christina Slaton

Chicago Pizza And Oven Grinder Co.

$$$$

Pizza , Sandwiches in Lincoln Park

$$$$ 2121 N Clark St

8.2 /10

Just because we know we can get our food at Trader Joe’s instead of chasing it across the plains for three days doesn’t mean that our DNA does. And that must be why the moment the temperature drops, the biological imperative to start preparing our bodies for winter beings. You can do this very effectively at Chicago Pizza And Oven Grinder, home of the pizza pot pie. This thing is essentially a pound of bread and cheese, and one serving is guaranteed to last you through all of the cold months. Plus, the basement space is warm and cozy, and pretty ideal for holing up until you can hear birds again.

$$$$

American , Southern in Humboldt Park , Logan Square

$$$$ 2952 W Armitage Ave

8.2 /10

The outdoor patio at Parson’s is fantastic. It’s huge, and it has its own bar and ping pong table. So you might not even be aware that there is actually an inside to this restaurant. But there is, and it’s a fun place to spend time in the winter, when the ping pong table is brought inside for tournaments, and they play movies on a projector. In fact, coming here is a little like having a self-imposed snow day, just with fried chicken and hushpuppies that you didn’t have to make at home.

Moody Tongue Brewery

$$$$

Raw Bar in Pilsen

$$$$ 2136 S Peoria St

Not
Rated
Yet

There’s a reason this list almost exclusively has spots with fireplaces. They’re basically flaming pacifiers that make winter somewhat bearable, and help keep us from going crazy when we haven’t felt our fingertips since before Christmas. Moody Tongue is a brew pub in Pilsen that also has a nice big fireplace, along with some really great beer. The food menu is incredibly short - just oysters and a 12-layer chocolate cake - but that cake is delicious, not to mention the only thing with more layers than you when you tried to zip up your coat today.

Sandy Noto

Funkenhausen

$$$$

German in West Town

$$$$ 1709 W Chicago Ave

Not
Rated
Yet

Before we go on a five-mile run or 20-mile bike ride along the Lakefront trail during the summer, we’re probably not fueling up on sausages and spaetzle. But when our weekend plans involve a lot of Netflix and falling asleep on the couch, those things are perfect. Funkenhausen, a German-inspired restaurant in West Town, has exactly the kind of delicious (and heavy) food we’re talking about. Get dishes like the French onion spaetzle or a huge platter of cider-glazed pork shoulder with roasted apples, and then go take a nap.

Park + Field

$$$$

Bar Food in Logan Square

$$$$ 3509 W Fullerton Ave

Not
Rated
Yet

Park And Field is another spot that has a fantastic outdoor patio and refuses to let winter ruin it. You’ll find multiple fire pits here all winter long - plus blankets, warm drinks, and snacks. So you can sit outside, make s’mores, and show everyone how much you actually love winter in this city.

Where To Day Drink In Winter

Like every effective scourge against humanity, Chicago winter leaves destruction in its wake. In this case, by decimating our city’s usable patios and rooftops - i.e. our favorite spots to day drink. So until we can sit outside for more than five minutes without looking like Jack Nicholson’s character at the end of The Shining, here are 13 non-depressing places to drink during the day.

Get the rest of The Chicago Winter Survival Guide here.

The Spots

Eris Brewery & Cider House

$$$$

American in Irving Park

$$$$ 4240 W Irving Park Rd

Not
Rated
Yet

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to hang out in an old Masonic temple without actually having to be a freemason, go to Eris in Old Irving Park. It’s kept some of the old building details, like the exposed brick and an ominous-looking safe in the entryway that at some point probably held Mayor Daley’s secrets, and the space feels generally castle-like. Drink-wise, there’s a wide variety of ciders available, plus a few beers. And the food menu includes a lot of vegan and gluten-free dishes, in addition to the “Hodag” (a Polish sausage wrapped in bacon), which is a contender for the title of Official Day Drinking Food of Chicago.

Sandy Noto

The Map Room

$$$$

Bucktown , Wicker Park

$$$$ 1949 N. Hoyne Ave.

One of our favorite winter activities is Googling flights to much warmer places. So drinking in the Map Room in Bucktown just makes sense, since this place is map-themed. (It feels like your typical old-school Chicago bar, just with lots of geographical wall decorations.) As a bonus, the bartenders are really friendly, which means they won’t judge you when you get up, slowly walk towards a map of the world, put your finger on the equator, and say, “I want to go… here.”

The Delta

$$$$

Southern in Wicker Park

$$$$ 1745 W North Ave

8.4 /10

You don’t realize how much a 63-day stretch of sun deprivation has affected you until you find yourself in your apartment, yelling at the only house plant that’s still alive. If you’re starting to hate the person that winter has turned you into, go sit at the bar at The Delta. This place has a relaxed atmosphere, and the easygoing staff must have a back room full of SAD lamps, because they all seem to be doing just fine. Order a cocktail and a tamale or burger to go with it, and let the (right kind of) chill wash over you.

Sandy Noto

$$$$

Italian in River North

$$$$ 52 W Illinois St

8.0 /10

RPM Italian does everything RPM Steak does, including great delivery. And luckily, your Ikea furniture also goes really well with pasta. Order the cavatelli, plus the shaved brussels sprout salad to round it out. Then turn on E! and pretend that the Rancics (who own both RPM spots) are actually in your house.

Sandy Noto

$$$$

Pizza in Lincoln Square

$$$$ 5159 N Lincoln Ave

8.0 /10

Pizza is the quintessential delivery food, and that’s why there are multiple options on this list. Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe serves New York-style pies, which you should be eating in your apartment where no one else can see you. While the Lincoln Square restaurant itself is primarily a slice shop, you can get whole pies delivered. The classic cheese and the white pie (with dollops of ricotta) are the best ones - just be sure to ask for extra packets of parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. Trust us on that.

Restaurants That Are Extremely Close To The Train For When It’s Too Cold To Walk Outside

8.2 /10

Chicago Brown Line

Good Measure is a very useful spot to know about in River North. First of all, unlike a lot of other bars in the area, this is a low-key option for cocktails after work. Second, despite the bar-like atmosphere and great drinks, it’s actually a fantastic restaurant as well (with creative dishes like Nashville hot fried duck livers and rarebit with potato and sage donuts). In fact, the food here is better than what you’ll find at most of the nicer restaurants in the neighborhood. And it’s right down the street from the Chicago Brown Line stop. In other words, we’re seeing if the apartment above it is available for rent.

$$$$

Thai in Uptown

$$$$ 4949 N Broadway St

Not
Rated
Yet

Argyle Red Line

Immm Rice is a casual restaurant that serves great Thai street food, and let’s face it, right now you’d much rather be walking through Chiang Mai than the salt-stained streets of Chicago. This place has a long menu involving curries, noodle dishes, grilled meats, and six different papaya salads. It’s hard to choose what to order, so there’s even a section called “Thai Dinner Table” where you can get tasting portions of different dishes, along with rice (or noodles for curries). Get that, and try to hang out here till spring.

Sun Wah

$$$$

BBQ , Chinese in Uptown

$$$$ 5039 N Broadway St

8.1 /10

Argyle Red Line

There is really only one way to do Sun Wah BBQ in Uptown: Go with a group, and order the fantastic off-menu Peking duck (their specialty). It’s carved tableside and served with bao, then as a rice or noodle dish, and finally as a soup. The rest of the menu can be hit-or-miss, but the duck is reliable. And don’t be surprised if you get oddly jealous of the roasted ducks hanging in the window - they do look very warm.

Sandy Noto

Demera

$$$$

Ethiopian in Uptown

$$$$ 4801 N Broadway St

Not
Rated
Yet

Lawrence Red Line

This upscale Ethiopian restaurant in Uptown is very close to the Lawrence Red Line, and ideal for hitting up before you freeze your a** off waiting in line for a show at the Riviera or Aragon. If you’re with a group, order one of the messob platters, which serve three to eight people. It’s a communal dining situation that lets you try eight dishes picked out by the chef. Just plan on getting extra injera.

Longman & Eagle

$$$$

American in Logan Square

$$$$ 2657 N Kedzie Ave

6.8 /10

Logan Square Blue

Our relationship with Longman & Eagle has been up and down over the years - we used to really like it, but it’s been through a few chefs, and much of the food has changed. That being said, this restaurant still has a consistently great burger and good whiskey cocktails. Plus, it’s right near the Logan Blue Line stop in Logan Square. And since it’s also a boutique hotel, when the weather gets really bad, you don’t even need to worry about getting home.

Sandy Noto

5 Rabanitos

$$$$

Tacos , Mexican in Pilsen

$$$$ 1758 W 18th St

8.6 /10

18th Pink Line

5 Rabanitos is down the street from the Pink Line, and it’s one of our favorite Mexican spots in all of Chicago. You could put all the dishes here on a metaphorical wheel of food, spin it, and be happy eating whatever you landed on. Like the tacos, anything from the huge vegetarian menu, or the very, very spicy torta ahogada that might actually make you grateful it’s 8 degrees outside. Quick PSA: This place is BYOB, and there isn’t a liquor store nearby. So plan accordingly.

Where To Go To Pretend It’s Not Winter

American , Pizza in Lincoln Park

$$$$ 1954 N Halsted St

7.8 /10

We really like the thin-crust pizzas at this Lincoln Park spot. We also like the all-season back patio, which has tall ceilings (creating the illusion of fresh air) and a real tree growing in the middle of it. It makes us think about the circle of life - as opposed to the circle of death that is Chicago in the wintertime.

No Bones Beach Club

$$$$

Vegetarian in Wicker Park

$$$$ 1943 W North Ave

Not
Rated
Yet

This is a vegan spot with a beach theme (hence the name), which means it’s decorated with lots of bamboo, palm trees, and surfboards. So there’s at least a small chance you’ll briefly think you’re eating near an actual ocean somewhere, instead of at a restaurant in Wicker Park. Even though the menu is 100% plants, it’s definitely comfort food, with dishes that will appeal to non-vegans too - like fried mac and cheese, or delicious nachos made with fresh tortilla chips and cashew queso. So while the atmosphere might make you want to put on a wetsuit and go surfing, the food will make you want to go home and hibernate.

Three Dots And A Dash

$$$$

Bar Food in River North

$$$$ 435 N. Clark St.

Tiki bars are an excellent line of defense against winter. And even though it’s somewhat hidden in an alley, Three Dots And A Dash in River North is Chicago’s most popular and well-known one. There are plenty of large booths, not to mention over-the-top drinks that are great for sharing (including one in a smoking treasure chest that’s meant for six people). Since the whole bar is in a basement, there are also no windows to shatter the illusion that you’re on a tropical island, and not surrounded by piles of old grey snow that refuses to melt away.

$$$$

American , Bar Food , Pizza in Old Town

$$$$ 1209 N Wells St

7.4 /10

Remember when you were a kid and you set up a tent in the backyard and acted like you were camping in the woods? Happy Camper is a pizza place and sports bar that lets you play pretend in the same way. This place is from the same owners as Homeslice, and while it doesn’t have a patio, it does have design touches like tire swing barstools and a full-size airstream camper. You won’t quite earn points for being a survivalist, but at least you can come here and actually enjoy yourself. Although depending on how bad it is outside (or how much you drink), you still might need someone to come get you.

Sandy Noto

Paradise Park

$$$$

Pizza in Wicker Park

$$$$ 1913 W North Ave

Not
Rated
Yet

This is the newest restaurant in the trifecta of themey pizza places that includes Happy Camper and Homeslice. Paradise Park has the same menu of tasty pizzas, salads, and bar snacks, and the theme here is literally “trailer park.” The outdoor patio is decorated with swings, lawn furniture and ornaments (like pink flamingos), and a Winnebago - plus, it’s heated and covered. So you can rest easy knowing that winter doesn’t have to interfere with your dreams of using a “pushin’ broom” to turn the lights off in your RV.

Sandy Noto

Lonesome Rose

$$$$

Tacos , Mexican , Tex-Mex in Logan Square

$$$$ 2101 N. California Ave

7.1 /10

You know that friend who moved to California a few years ago and never misses an opportunity to mention that he went to the beach in January? That person is really annoying. So when it’s the middle of winter and his sun-drenched pictures of tacos are making you jealous, head to Lonesome Rose. It’s a Tex-Mex restaurant in Logan Square that has a bright interior filled with plants, along with some very good fish tacos. Add in an order of queso and some excellent cocktails, and you can pretend you’ve taken a long weekend away. Then call your friend and tell him you hope he’s not too worried about all the earthquakes.

Sandy Noto

Summer House Santa Monica

$$$$

American , Cafe/Bakery in Lincoln Park

$$$$ 1954 N Halsted St

7.6 /10

We’re on the fence about how much this place actually allows us to pretend it’s not winter. Mainly because it has a literal countdown of days left until summer posted on the wall, which forces us to relive the disappointment of all the false springs. But it can’t be denied that the California theme, large skylight, and avocado-heavy menu do help a little bit. Plus, there’s also a case full of really tasty baked goods. And not even a terrible Chicago winter can ruin the joy of eating a brown butter Rice Krispy treat.