The best bars and cafés Chicago

A long table welcomes the colourful crowd of Wicker Park, in a debonair atmosphere. "Bangers" means sausage and "Lace" is the layer of foam that must be obtained on a pint. You have understood the motto: beer and hot dogs. The atmosphere is good-natured. A purely chicagoan evening in perspective under the golden ceiling and between the brick walls of this superb hangar, tastefully and eclectically renovated (just look at the deer heads hanging on the wall).

At Whistler, the people are handsome, the waiters are pleasant, the DJs are talented and the cocktails are evil! Certainly one of the best bars in Chicago, located in a rather quiet area and frequented mainly by locals. Free and good quality live music concerts are organised on a regular basis, and we enjoy attending them in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with a cheap but tasty beer in our hands. There is an inner courtyard, which can be enjoyed during the summer months. Whistler is definitely our little favorite.

Located in the chic Peninsula Hotel, this bar is one of Chicago's trendiest. It overlooks the famous Michigan Avenue, and its superb rooftop is perfect for sunny days. Inside, the lights are subdued, the decor is uncluttered, and you can enjoy excellent cocktails prepared by real pros, along with stylish tapas and delicious sushi. The clientele is made up of young forty-somethings from Chicago, as well as posh people who stay at the Peninsula, where rooms are priced to the eye... A great place for a drink and a snack!

Federales, also present in Dallas and Denver, showcases Mexican cocktails and cuisine. Don't be fooled by its subdued street art ambience, this place will turn up the heat as soon as the DJ takes over the decks. There are plenty of tables to sit around, and a central bar, making for an open, unpretentious space - as evidenced by the humorous phrases about our relationship with alcohol. Self-service fresh water, draught beers... And excellent mango margaritas. The terrace closes around midnight.

Hopleaf is known throughout Chicago for its wide selection of beers: nearly seventy varieties of local or international, blond or brown, strong or light beers. Belgian beers are the best represented on the international map, and in particular the famous Chimay in small blue bottles. And for a beer bar, their dishes, especially sandwiches, are excellent, such as the one with duck, or the plate of mussels for two or the steak and chips. On sunny days, the terrace is particularly pleasant.

Cubby Bear is the fan bar for the Chicago Cubs baseball team, which plays at Wrigley Field across the street. A large tableless room on the ground floor has rows of flat screens where all matches are broadcast live. As soon as the crowd screams or roars in the stadium, the sound comes in stereo, from the TV and directly from the stands through the windows. A first and second floor welcome thirsty people before, during and after the match, who share their impressions of the day's possible home runs.

Despite what its name suggests, Cafe Brauer is more of a reception hall, which hosts all kinds of events, than a café. Its Prairie-style architecture is something to behold. It was built in 1911 by Dwight Perkins, who was influenced by the work of the master of the genre, Frank Lloyd Wright. Situated on a small lake, it lends itself to walking and photography, facing the Chicago skyline and the dark mass of the Hancock Center in the distance. The outdoor "biergarten" is surrounded by flowers, shaded by tall trees.

We won't lie to you, Butch is the last place where party people meet after all the other bars close. An atmosphere that is frankly degraded, where everyone can breathe the alcohol vapours that emanate from their neighbour. An atmosphere a little late in the century, but a typical address. At least you can say you tested the real American dive bar! The establishment also offers a fairly complete menu, which allows you to settle down before having another small beer. A real local address.

As its name indicates, House of Beers specialises in beer. There are dozens of kinds of beer in there; The right bar, with its beer pump arms, serves only beer. If you want other alcohols, a whisky "on the rocks" for example, you have to go to the left bar. When you sit in the room, you're surrounded by two bars, and it's as hard to choose between Guinness and scotch than to stay sober.

Like any good Irish pub, the Finn McCool's is dark and attractive. It is used to drink (beer and spirits) and to eat (large salads and sandwiches) every day of the week, in the bar or on one of the top round tables. When you enter Finn McCool's, you quickly realize that something is too much. But what? Oh yeah, maybe it's the eleven TV screens and the two giant screens set around the corner. It's sure that if you want to relax your eyes, it's better to avoid. On the other hand, football days are festival!

Rock Bottom Brewery proves that there is not only Budweiser in the United States. Here, we sit down at the bar to taste the multitude of brewed beers offered by the establishment. In summer, you can sip your pint in the "biergarten" on the roof with a view of the skyscrapers. This is where managers and employees meet after the offices close. You can also eat on the spot, but the food is quite ordinary. We'll mainly order food so that we have something in our stomachs other than beer!

Most of their addresses have a wireless connection system. Two addresses: at the crossing of Lake Street and LaSalle Street and at the Clark and Madison crossing in the Loop. Go to www.starbucks.com to find other places of connection. Starbucks is not the place to advise as local coffee because there are all over the planet! The connection is free for one hour if you eat.

An ideal stop-off at the end of a stroll, or before heading back to the heart of the buildings, Café Michelle beckons in the Lakefront marina. A sign gives you the lowdown: 2 hours maximum! Apart from that, you can't say you're not welcome. On this busy corner, it's a nice place to stop for an ice cream, a beer or a cocktail, facing the boats. Ice creams can also be taken away. This is a very pleasant place to stop at sunset, when the sky offers a pastel gradation of blue, yellow and red hues.

9 Muses is a bar, which also serves as a restaurant, concert room, and much more. It is one of the favorite places of the Greek community, but also of all neighbors, hellens or not. We drink ouzo more than reason, try to rebalance with a few delicious pitas, and the evening gets fast. Friday and Saturday, DJ's heat the atmosphere.

This store and bar was opened by beer enthusiasts, who can taste the beer on the spot or take it away. Two large screens are installed behind the bar and allow you to watch the sports matches in a friendly atmosphere (or overexcited when the city's teams are playing). You will also be informed about the origin of the 16 draft beers offered, their taste (bitter, fruity...) and their size. The atmosphere is very relaxed, a lot of students and young executives come to relax around board games. Quizzes also take place.

Delilah's is a friendly bar in the Lakeview district, with a student atmosphere that's not to be sniffed at. The place doesn't look like much, but there's always a great atmosphere and, for those in the know, the establishment offers a huge selection of whiskies. Beer tastings are regularly organized. On a more cultural and festive note, well-known DJs are a regular feature of the program, and the venue also hosts numerous vernissages and film screenings.

Located just across from the comedy club The Second City, old sketches of local characters adorn the walls of Chicago's best dive bar, as well as numerous paintings. It must be said that the bar owner, Bruce Elliott, is also a painter in his own time. He had his 15 minutes of fame in 2008 with his nude of Sarah Palin standing on a polar bear skin, gun in hand. This was followed by a series of "political porn paintings" still visible on the walls of the harbour. An institution in the north of the city opened in 1958. Not to be missed.