While I still mourn the loss of some of my favorite Chicago bars of my past (1056 freestyle-Saturday nights anyone?) I have recently rediscovered some of my other more high-end favorites around town, like The Peninsula Bar, a perfect stop when I am dressed up for some reason or am already downtown (hence not having to schlep there from Wicker Park). It’s got a fireplace which is an instant bonus, lots of overstuffed chairs and couches, wasabi peas in the nut mix, a nice Riesling by the glass, a chill vibe and surprisingly good music. But..it’s when we walked out of the bar and into the hotel’s gold-adorned Lobby that I rediscovered what truly may be my new favorite bar in Chicago. The Chocolate Bar. Not new but still decadent, it’s the ultimate dessert spread for those in the mood for everything from lollipops to crème brûlée (in spoons!). Along with live jazz quartet, it’s spread out in all of its Wonkaland glory every Friday and Saturday night, and is $33 worth of yum (the price of 10 beers at 1056, but these days I could handle the sugar, the beer notsomuch). If we weren’t so dang full from dinner we would’ve for sure gotten all Augustus Gloop on that buffet.
Chocolate Dessert Bar set up on Friday and Saturday nights.
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