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Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Near North SideChicago (Red)
Mon-Thu. 3:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 3:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
We did have our event here Friday night and couldn't have asked for a more perfect night! The food, service, drinks, atmosphere, music, everything!! Jacob and his team did a great job and every single person of the 32 there totally loved it! Thanks!!
And for the record, their creme brulee is amazing!!!
The perfect place for a GNO, date or small party! The staff is super helpful, the place is classy… Read more »
"Where are you going?"
"Le Bar!"
"Ok ... which one?"
"No, it's called Le Bar!"
I went here with a group of friends the other night. We had no problem finding a seat for our huge party - although it did start to get a bit crowded later in the evening. This is a place to go to for to sit down, drink and catch up with friends. The crowd is a bit older though - I imagine it's patrons of the hotel who felt like coming down to the lobby for a few drinks (but I could be wrong).
The drinks were delicious, but quite expensive. I think my specialty drink was somewhere around $13, but man was it tasty!
Although I liked the place, it was really just another hotel bar to me. I also felt it was way too bright in there and could've used some dimmed lighting. I'd probably go back if some friends wanted to meet there, but not on my own accord.
Pros:
+ Fabulous lemondrops
+ Super chic atmosphere, come here if you want to feel like you're a rich professional who drives a sleek car.
+ Nice bartender
+ Good crabcakes
+ It's fun to say Le Bar.
Cons:
- Older clientele. While it was a super chic atmosphere, it also had a vibe that made me wonder how many of the 50 year old execs there were there with their 30 year old mistresses. Not really a place for a college student to make friends.
Le Bar: not very original but self-explanatory.
Straight to the point.
Much like a lot of the clientele that was in the room with me.......you couldn't have any doubt on the who-why-what for.
(that's what an overnight stay at the Sofitel does to me. It reactivates the meany Frenchie in me)
So - except for the fact that I was feeling a little bit, umm, out of place I really liked the space. Warm and inviting, a working fireplace (even though it was May 24th it was not totally superfluous), a nice collection of art books, luxurious color palette and an impressive drink menu.
I sat my covered butt (out of place as well) on a comfortable couch and indulged in - drum roll s'il vous plait - a Backyard Blackberry Margarita.
Oui messieurs-dames.
Apparently pretty fancy-schmancy itself for a cocktail because the menu announced that it was "featured in Bon Appetit; magazine". Damn.
The magic:
hand pressed blackberries, fresh thyme, El Tesoro Platinum Tequila, and fresh citrus lengthened with champagne.
Yes, that was.
Good - that is.
Will definitely be back but not a weekend night.....too many 'predators'.
: )
We were looking for a place to have a drink and dessert after our heavy steak dinner. The concierge suggested the hotel bar, Le Bar. We went and were very happy with the recommendation. We both had some port and the chocolate pistachio bomb. The bomb was very good. The chocolate and the pistachio went together really well and the contrasting textures appeased the palette.
If you are looking for a mellow place to have a drink and dessert, do go here. They also have a few varieties of "the green fairy" which we meant to try, but never got around to it.
Would I go back? Yes.
Lively hotel spot to stop in for a few drinks.
Cost to worth it ratio: 2.5 ($12 for specialty drinks)
Highlights:
- Atmosphere: trendy, loungey with low lighting, but not too crowded
- Drink menu: some fun options like a blackberry margarita that was featured in Glamour magazine as well as that champagne with the painted flower on the bottle by the glass.
- Comfy seating: big chairs
Lowlights:
- Small: might at times be hard to get a seat
- Run of the mill hotel bar: nothing super special
Standard spot. We went cause it was late and close to our hotel. With all the other great options in the city, not sure if we'll be back.
Le Bar is a very chill-easy lounge. Amish S and I ordered the martini flight paired with amuse-gueule. [Added pix] The martini flight included Lady Sage (my fave out of bunch), Anejo Manhattan, and Mango Bella cocktails. The amuse-gueules were bruschetta, wonton taco, and smoked salmon on toast, which were all tasty. These delightful pairings came out to $18, which I thought was not bad considering most cocktails run at $12.
To be honest though, I still think the cocktails at Violet Hour are better crafted and balanced. However, Le Bar is my bar of choice when around the magnificent mile.
I've wanted to go out for some interesting cocktails for quite some time, so a few weeks back, my boyfriend and I decided to check out Le Bar at The Sofitel. I always forget that hotel bars are great for whipping up unique cocktails, so I'm glad we stopped in.
Le Bar is a lovely space, sleek and modern with dark woods throughout. The atmosphere is pretty chill, so it's a perfect setting for some conversation over some well crafted drinks.
I was thrilled to find that one of the bartenders created a fantastic cocktail using my favorite spirit, St Germain (a French liqueur made from handpicked elder flowers - amazing). Although this cocktail contained gin and I'm not much of a gin drinker, it was perfection.
1 oz St Germain, 1/2 oz Plymouth Gin (or an ounce and 1/2, need to double check!), 1/2 oz simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and a sprig of rosemary.
When I'm feeling like a quick trip to Paris without the jet lag I head over to this sexy little boite in the Sofitel on Chestnut and Rush. Very modern and contemporary design, chic appointments and very little if any resemblence to your standard hotel bar.
Very knowledgeable and professional staff and relatively decent menu that isn't crazy expensive (for a hotel bar that is). Awesome place to meet for a girls night out or a romantic cocktail-a-deux. Or even to go with your dentist and the guy who makes the veneers for him during a dental convention.
I went here with a group of friends on the 4th of July, and we were seated promptly. It's in Sofitel Hotel, which is a pretty nice hotel, and sort of fun to wander about (while I was searching for the bathroom). I don't have a crystal clear memory of the night, but the drinks weren't that delicious... which I sort of feel defeats the point of going to a place called 'Le Bar'. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but it's not a terrible place to end up.
When you're in the mood for fancy cocktails and excellent people watching, head to Le Bar at the Sofitel. The space is sleek and modern, and the atmosphere is relaxed, making for easy conversation (and between the interesting drink list and the interesting clientele, we had plenty to discuss).
I ordered a pisco sour without knowing much about it. And it was delicious, made with egg white and bitters so a little bit more old-fashioned. After my date and I were discussing our limited knowledge of the drink, the bartender, DJ, must have overheard and came over to tell us a little more about pisco, the liquor and give us a little whif of the bitters (kind of smell like vanilla on their own).
A very knowledgeable and welcoming staff plus well-crafted drinks - yep, I was impressed.
Le Bar served as our night-cap provider three nights in a row while staying at the Sofitel. And I am a little surprised to see no mention here on Yelp that this is actually a "cigar bar" where smoking is encouraged. They seem to have an excellent ventilation system as it never becomes "smoky" and my wife being a non-smoker was not uncomfortable when sipping some alcohol with me. I feel this is value added, as people have discovered quite long ago that when imbibing, the additional use of tobacco products does most certainly provide an enhanced soothing effect on ones state. And it's getting too rare to find a proper place to do so.
One thing I might suggest is for them to sell cigars. As I had not brought any with me, and didn't want to make a trip out into town just for a cigar, I would have been a prime candidate to buy one over the counter.
Now, my only complaint is that they stop serving food too early, at 11pm. Considering that they are open until 1am, I don't think serving food at least one more hour is asking too much. And I'll be darned if we didn't miss being able to order food by just minutes once. People were still eating when we arrived at about 11:10 and we were denied the ability to order what appeared to be something interesting.
Someone mentioned that there is no coat check, yet actually there is at the Sofitel counter in the lobby.
I like drinking beer in dive bars while watching ballgames quite a bit. But when I'm in the mood to put on a nice shirt and overpay for alcohol, hotel bars are always my destination of choice.
Le Bar at Sofitel is one of my favorite. Sure, you do get some of that "tourist from St. Louis" type that you see at any hotel bar, but if you're looking to spot some foreign, euro-trashy dude entertaining his statuesque, blonde, female friend, while sporting clothing and personal effects that may cost as much as your car, Sofitel and NoMi are probably your two best options. And it's one of the only bars I know that has a guy greeting you as you come in, and taking your seating needs seriously. Normally, he'll tell you how long he thinks you might wait for a table, and he'll tell you which one to hover over. The last time I was there, he had a couple of people actually carry another table in for us to sit at.
As with any hotel bar, the drinks are pricey. But, whereas you used to be dropping fat cash on crappy drinks, they're good now. They must have hired a "mixologist" or something, because now you can get tasty, in vogue cocktails. So that's a bonus... go for the people-watching, stay for the drinks (and because you're out of money and can't afford a cab ride).
I don't know what it is about hotel bars, but I love them.
I love the lobby of the Sofitel. Their floral arrangements are absolutely fantastic, and you are immersed in fragrant bouquets as soon as you walk in. Enter LeBar, a small lounge that is always packed. Modern and chic decor, low lights, and plush seating make it comfortable, fashionable and a good hangout for friends or a date.
LeBar is always full by 10pm on weekends... good drinks (strong), great music and good vibe... that's all I need :)
Not my favorite hotel bar, but a good one!
This is a great place to sit with your other half and enjoy each other. The bar is right on the street, so you can see what's going on, but it's a world away from the rest of the hotel. The DJ keeps the music low enough that you don't have to scream, and the staff is accommodating by moving tables and chairs around if you ask.
Skip the specialty drinks, such as the blackberry-rosemary martini. Bleccch. Seriously, I love savory things, but this was like chewing on a branch of rosemary, but with a sour, oh-my-god-my-mouth aftertaste. We tried three other "specialty" drinks with the same result.
However, what you must try is the martini and bite flights--three amuses-bouches, three mini-cocktails, meant to be paired. This was fun, and everything was very good and made from quality ingredients. The waitress seemed confused when we ordered the flights, like "Are you sure you understand what this is?" like it's so exotic, so I'm not sure how popular it is at Le bar... but if I went back, I'd have that again in a sec.
Others in our party had a steak sandwich and fries (very good), cheesecake ("awesome"), a pizza (very good and a bit spicy). Martinis, gin-and-tonics, and other straight cocktails were good and strong, and the server was keen on returning to our table at the right time without being intrusive. The scotch selection was good.
Get a little dressed up and go here. (Just ignore the tourist couple in matching Cubs jerseys, and you'll feel schwanky.)
Le Bar: can we all agree that this is one of the worst names ever? It calls to mind a vainglorious little French bistro that I used to frequent that offered a "le hamburger" on the menu. The pretension! I had drinks here at around 3 pm, so the yawnsville crowd wasn't trendy so much as it was elderly or enmeshed in a snoozy business meeting. The room is gorgeous and polished, the service is prompt, and the drink list is imaginative. Drinks are served with crackers and olives, which help take away the sting of the price, which ain't cheap (bring the corporate card).
Sat inside the architecturally stunning Sofitel, Le Bar is a great place to grab a few cocktails, post work, should the urge hit you.
Very comfy and laid back atmosphere, great martini's, extensive wine list. Complimentary and quite tasty sharp cheddar & parm biscuits as well as fresh assorted Calamata and Greek Olives to munch on while kicking back w. friends or co-workers. Love it.
**From 6/6/06 review under Sofitel**
Le Bar is fantastic as long as you can get a seat! I appreciate the munchies that are brought out with your drinks. This is a great place to meet for drinks. The decor is gorgeous.
Had a blast last night at this upscale hotel bar. Hadn't been there in years but it hasn't changed a bit.....still sheek, trendy, very excellent service, and expensive.
The clientele is a nice mix of locals, tourists, and hookers..... Just the way I like to party. Valet was something like $22 and I somehow ended up paying the tab for everyone so the cc bill is a bit much to contend with on a hung over Sunday morning (stupid shots). I love this place and would recommend it to anyone who can dress up and spend cash. Also, good date place because the hotel is an architects wet dream and your date will think you actually have style.
P.s. the shot glasses suck, meaning the shape of the jigger is not designed in a way that the hooch can free flow into your degenerate alcoholic mouth. I almost lost it shooting some bourbon because it flows slow and you choke a bit.
fantastic hotel bar! we came here around 10 on a friday night and were immediately greeted by someone who told us we'd have a table in 5-7 minutes. when it seemed like people might be taking longer to leave than he had expected, he had a table and 4 chairs brought in for us.
i really liked their specialty cocktail menu. all the drinks that we tried were excellent. my personal favorite was the french 75. very refreshing and not too sugary.
service was great, and the atmosphere was a perfect balance of 'happening' and 'i don't have to shout to have a conversation,' along with a splash of "there aren't a lot of douches in this joint.' very cool - i shall be back.
This is my favorite hotel bar in the city. Peninsula comes second but only because the barstaff and servers are always so extremely friendly and accomodating at Le Bar . The Sofitel is my favorite hotel chain as I've stayed there in several major cities and am always impressed by the level of service and professionalism.
The Le Bar decor is dark, rich, cozy and inviting. I love going here in the winter for a few drinks and sitting in the club chairs chatting the night away with good friends. The wine flights come in very generous pours too!
Been coming here for years and have always enjoyed it as it's a nice reprieve from all the other more upscale (and sometimes stuffy) hotel bars in the area. Not sure, however, if I'm a fan of the designated ladies/men's sides of the drink menus - I mean, I actually found myself wondering whether it was appropriate for me to order a drink located on the gent's side! Needless to say, I finally got over the hang up and ordered what I wanted - and with no penalty at that :)
Staff is always courteous; decent mix of people on weeknights and weekends... But, as far as food goes, it needs work - nice selection; average execution.
I'm no longer dating that girl...
Pretty cool spot. I stayed at the Hotel Sofitel and decided to come downstairs and check it out.… Read more »
This fit our need for a quiet place for a drink and appetizers. A limited menu, but it was perfect for this occasion. I had a great tuna (slider) appetizer, each nestled next to a small and tasty vegetable roll. My wife's dish was also very tasty.The decor is colorful, beautiful, and real quiet. No big screen TV here. We went late on a Saturday evening and were very happy with our choice. Will definitely go back again.
Swanky little hotel bar with your usual suspects of expensive martinis and teeny tiny food. The atmosphere is actually quite nice, music just loud enough so there are no awkward silences but low enough so that conversation can be had. I was there two friday's ago with my girlfriends grabbing some post-work drinks and it really hit the spot. Not too crowded, most of the patrons were either the after-work crowd or mildly tacky out-of-towners.
Three stars because the wine list is beyond overpriced and the waitstaff and seriously confused.
We were there last thursday for their Pearl Vodka Infusion night. Basically they took the different Pearl vodkas and put them in decanters with fresh fruit and made them into martinis. Can I saw WOW....the flavors were awesome and they had set it up at this cute bar on the side so you didnt have to go to the main bar. The place is adorable, has great music and a fun vibe. I was pleasantly surprised by this hotel bar. I was not expecing to have such a great time! I will definitly go back on Thursdays for the infusions!!!
I never really thought about hanging out at hotel bars in a city where I live, but after going to Le Bar I may need to rethink this! My fiance and I met out a few friends who were in from out of town at Le Bar in the Sofitel Lobby and I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed it! It's very cozy and is perfect for actually carrying on a conversation. There aren't too many places that you can go and grab a drink and not have to worry about it being too crowded or too loud, so this one is now added on my list of places to go. I may need to start going to other hotel bars around the city now!
Great place - good martinis! The hotel is stunning - and so are the people who hang out here!!
i like. they have st. germaine which is so yummy. our waitress was super nice and though it is a nice bar it is not snobby. being 24, we were by far the youngest ppl in the lounge, but that's fine by me. Def a good place to people watch. cocktails are on the expensive side, but nothing like those 2 particular hotels on michigan ave. cheers.
Any place where you can get Veuve Cliquot by the glass can't be too bad in my opinion...though I had a margarita, which was still good considering it is a French bar. Our waitress went AWOL halfway through, but it wasn't a big deal. I'd come back...perfect place for afternoon drinks.
This is a very relaxing place to hang out with friends if you just want to chat. The music is soft enough that you don't have to shout. The service is excellent, Great grown-up decor, comfy leather armchairs. True, it's an older crowd...average age is around 50 or so. Lot of out of town business types, and a lot of them look European. The drinks are not cheap, but here is a tip. Get the Martini Flight--you get 3 mini martinis and 3 bite-size morsels of appetizers, all for $18. And if you are hungry, get the Cheese Flight--you get tons of exotic cheeses, grapes, and a whole basket of various kick-ass bread. it's a meal in itself. i think that's around $16. Not a bad way to waste an afternoon with your friends
If your in the mood for some amazing and unique cocktails Le Bar is the place to go. The staff is very friendly and courteous. They are located inside the trendy Sofitel Hotel, chic and modern is what they portray. The ambiance is great for a romantic night out or an all girl event!
$1.50 domestic bottles…
Neighborhood: New City
$4 Great Lakes Christmas Ale…
Neighborhood: Wrigleyville
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Music Venues
Chicago, IL
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Dive Bars
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