On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Chicago (Red)
Mon-Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
"Divine!! Absolute sushi bliss in a modern swanky setting!! I had the lunch special which was part Sushi, part Sashimi and a green envy roll.…" read more »
My friends and I decided to come here for my 24th birthday after party. I must say, the fireplace is THE sought after destination. While it was a standard busy Saturday night, I could still hear my comrads and our server was helpful with drink suggestions. Having after dinner beverages at the Peninsula definately made me feel like I had left trashy college bars behind- YAY.
OH, and there was a DOG in the bar. Good to know the Peninsual allows pets.
Definitely a 3-star now after my second visit here with the bf - their service is definitely subject to ageism (only, I hope). I would really like going here more, but they need better staffing! Not only was the bar manager really rude again, the server was too!
They do have a fabulous dessert menu, pity that the service made it such a poor taste!
I'm torn and can't decide how many stars, but hopefully the following review can clarify this… Read more »
I love this place.
After reading the californian review of this place I HAD to comment.
She's lucky she only paid $15 for the martini. When I first started coming here 7-8 years ago, the clienetele was actually classier...couldn't tell the tourists from the locals. And the Martini's were $20.. Maybe she ordered a cheap well martini. Who know's anyway. I am sure her experience with the bad service was one in a million. Everytime I have been here the service timing has been perfect. Just enough time to settle in but so long that you are too thirsty. Perhaps the server knew you were from Cali, for some reason Chicagoans dislike californian's especially the demanding overly self righteous types. Or worse yet you had cheap tourist written all over you and he knew you weren't going to tip well. PLease bear in mind Illinois does not force the restautrants to pay the tipped staff minimum wage, they are paid a servers wage. I was paid 3.25 when i served in Chicago not 4 years ago. So we live on tips and spot cheap tourists from a mile away. . And complaining about the free snacks? REALLY!?!? Be happy you are getting any free snacks here, and for the record I believe that it is the costco mix.
This being said. PLease mind yourself when you come here. I come in minimum button down shirt, and dress shoes. NO FLIP FLOPS, SANDALS, NO HAWAIIAN T SHIRTS, NO SHORTS, NO RATTY GYM SHOES, basically do your best to not look like you don't belong there. I mean you can wear what ever you want. Go ahead wear typical middle aged cali vacation wear (shorts, teva's, mono color t shirt, or tacky print shirt) and the staff will be nice enough not to ask you to leave.
What the bartenders do behind that bar is absolute MAGIC! I have never had a mojito taste so good. and I had a perfectly balanced dirty martini. You will pay out the nose for the drinks but what you are putting in your mouth is somewhere near a miracle in its perfection. The bartenders are very classy and know how much distance to keep. I was treated like an old friend and the dark atmosphare is unrivaled here in SF. As a matter of fact i argue that there is not a single bar in SF that comes close to how nice this place is.
The perfect place to come post dinner for a date, catch a spot by the fire on the comfy couch or lounge chair and let the atmosphere consume you. I was there not too long ago in a full house and it was just me and my friend inour conversation.
I fear giving this place 5 stars as I really don't want this place getting trashed up. But the fact is that this bar is already well known by those who know in the city and I can only hope beyond hope that it doesn't turn into something like XYZ Bar here in SF.
I love this place. Yes the drinks are highway robbery expensive, but the crowd is very chill and… Read more »
Perfect lounge bar with good service and sizable martinis. Relaxing.
Come here with a date! The Bar is a dark, quiet and romantic place. The fireplace gives it one more star. Sure, every now and then some loud douche bag or cougar pack will come in and make fools of themselves and ruin the vibe.
The service has a quiet politeness to it. The drinks are just OK but they are pricey (you're paying for the fireplace). I will say that the turkey club sandwich is one of the best I've had - but then again I rarely eat turkey clubs.
In general, I'm a dive bar kind of guy. But every once in awhile my inner Cybil Sheppard comes out and whispers "you're worth it" in my ear and I need a watering hole with a little discretion and panache. So I find myself here, a welcome retreat from the hoi polloi and tourists strangling Michigan Avenue. The conversation-friendly room is a hushed, Art Nouveau womb complete with a fireplace... the scene is appropriately reverential given the surroundings, but ultimately a mixed bag with no common denominator other than high-priced footwear. There is generally at least one elderly gentleman canoodling a working girl (NOT the Melanie Griffith varietal...). Lovely drinks, even if they are well into the double digits price-wise. Service is exactly what you expect from one of the world's highest rated hotel properties. Ditto the flawless bathrooms.
Gorgeous bar, great mood and fantastic drinks. Too bad the service is horrendous. And the free snacky food? Better luck with a Costco mix.
A friend and I stopped in on Saturday night and were immediately taken with the low lighting and chill* vibe. But when our server finally came over to dump off the cheap trail mix and take our order, he was rude and dismissive. My friend asked about the beer selection and encountered our charming server's scowl (clearly more a spot for double digit wine glasses and martinis) and condescension.
My martini was, however, perfect-- ideal temperature, perfect olive juice-vermouth-vodka (yes, the faux pas vodka martini) ratio. Great drink. Meanwhile my friend's beer had been sloppily poured into a glass by the waiter and was all foam. After we polished off our drinks, we had to wait 20 minutes before we could find any server to bring our check.
When I pay $15 for a martini, I expect the service to be spot on. Fawning is always appreciated, but hey I'll take simple friendliness and attentiveness. Peninsula's bar failed at living up to this basic standard.
Bottom line: if you want a great vibe and overpriced drink and don't mind attitude, the Peninsula bar is your spot.
*Yes, I've been living in California too long.
Very cool and chill bar. The sidecar I ordered was done very nicely. Just don't order the calamari...it was awful and soaking in oil. That said, our excellent waitress offered to take it off our bill. Considering most of it was eaten (we were REALLY hungry) I said that it wasn't necessary. Instead she bought a round of drinks on her. Excellent service! Also saw LeBron
James in our elevator and Ben Stein waiting for our elevator...
After being rebuffed at the Signature Lounge (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), The Bar is just what the doctor ordered.
The end to a birthday celebration should always be champagne. We arrived at the hotel a tad past 11 on a school night and everyone from the door man to the front deck and so on was pleasant and welcoming.
I love a dark, cozy hotel bar. This one fits the bill. We hunkered down on a nice, comfy couch and ordered our first round. Drinks, water and snacks arrived and we were set. The music was good and at a nice volume, too. The service was attentive without being in your face. The bar was less that half full, so it was nice to have plenty of space to ourselves. The crowd was a mix of business people, dates and singles. It's not cheap, but it's worth it.
Their beer menu isn't much and the wines are pretty good. I didn't personally care for the cocktail and martini menu, but that's not my thing. Bring me a glass of champagne and I'm a happy girl.
Definitely a great spot for some late night canoodling after a nice night on the town.
Cheers!
This is a great quiet place to go when you're not really in the mood for socializing with other people but just want to hang out with your group of friends and actually hear yourself having a conversation. It's a small space so there might be a wait for a table but service is courteous and drinks are well-made. It is a hotel bar, so I was expecting an older crowd, but there was a good mix of people. It's got an upscale but yet casual and cozy feel.
White Truffled popcorn with pecorino cheese shavings.
Green Tea martini
Wow - these were both the most impressive bar offerings I have seen in a long time...and worth the price.
The bar is warm and inviting. Packed after work - go later to chill at the bar. Always the best service here.
I love hotel bars... a lot. This one's alright.
The service here is pretty shitty, and the worst cocktail I've ever had in my life was served to me here, but what the fuck - those are the concessions you make when you want to sit in front of a fireplace swilling chilled grey goose in a posh hotel.
Also, I saw J. Peterman from Seinfeld here once.
At the end of an eventful Tuesday (that included a trip to see Britney Spears), a drink was in order, and my companions found ourselves at Chicago and Michigan. It was 11:30pm. It was Tuesday. Uh oh!
We discovered The Bar was the only upscale bar open, within walking distance. What the heck, right? The streets are quiet, the lobby was quiet. We headed up the elevator, through the luxurious 2nd floor and followed the chatter. The Bar was near capacity, but we did a little furniture arranging and our group of 6 was able to sit together.
Prompt, friendly service from our waitress and we all enjoyed our drinks. It was very elegant, and most of our group was wearing jeans, but that did not seem to be a problem for anyone.
If you're out and about in this neighborhood late during the week, head to The Bar for a nightcap.
Anyone who knows me knows that, well, I'm pretty much a functioning alcoholic. Self-medication is my thing. While some people are discussing their "feelings" with their 300-dollar-an-hour shrink, I'm pouring myself my third glass of wine before dinner.
So, when I recounted a blow-out with my boss ...and thirty minutes of quiet sobbing in the ladies room thus after... to my BF at lunch, he calmly suggested that I meet him at the Pen Bar after work for a much needed drink, or three, or was it four... things got a little blurry about two dirty martinis in.
On weeknights, this place is calm, cool, and collected, oh-so soothing, dark, and secluded. The people watching is amazing from any corner of the room. Just curl up in a plush burgundy armchair, and the sexy waitstaff will come to you. And while the prices are steep, I'd much rather be paying a tab here than a therapist.
Just to warn everyone, their drinks are SO strong. I swear, I was slightly tipsy drinking half of my first drink. I think Yelp is giving me a drinking problem!
I love this place because the people who work here are genuinely nice and the seating is comfortable. Try to snag one of the sofa's by the fireplace for an uber romantic spot.
The mini-burgers are adorable. They are so cute you don't want to eat them ;) But when you do, they are scrumptious. The scallops are good too... I think there was bacon on them. And anything with bacon is delicious.
Once again, this is a great date spot. The tables are well separated, so you have some privacy and the lighting is just right - your skin will look flawless and glossed lips will give just the right amount of shine.
This is easily one of my favorite lounges in Chicago. The decor is dark, comfortable and intimate… Read more »
Lovely, intimate bar at the wonderful Peninsula hotel. Not usually a huge fan of hotel bars, but this is one you can spend time in comfortably in front of the huge fireplace, luxuriating in those deep comfortable couches. Prices are a bit high here, as to be expected (I mean, it is the Peninsula, for gods sakes!). But it is worth a drink or two next time you are in this neck of the woods, looking for a low key, clubby atmosphere. Have a scotch on me!
Minus 1 star for the off-the-wall prices. $19 champagne cocktails and $16 for a glass of cava. I had the Jet Li (a bargain at $11.50), which was a very interesting concoction. White tequila, pear, and something. Quite tasty and the way they sneak the booze in is reminiscent of a well mixed cocktail at the violet hour.
It doesn't have quite the hip ambiance you might find at some other hotel bars. Based on the pre-2008 reviews and the dark leathery interior, it seems like it might have been more of a cigar lounge back in the day. Since smoking is for losers all of a sudden they could brighten this place up a little or at least draw the curtains, but it's got a charm I suppose. I could see myself getting totally bombed on scotch here before a wedding. Cuz that's how I am, pure class. Did I mention I'm writing this review on the toilet?
My martini was spanktastic. (strong, super tasty, blended perfectly)
The atmosphere was spanktastic. (elegant vibe yet very chill; great place to have a conversation)
The decor was spanktastic. (tres comfy while retaining all chic properties)
This entire experience and establishment was, no no no -- IS, spanktastic. (word)
Our service was beyond spanktastic. The server took very good care of us. There was a bit of a situation and he handled it so well. My friend and I were sitting in a spot that could technically seat 6 people. This group of 4 comes up to where we're sitting and proceeds to rudely point out that there are two of us and it's supposed to seat 6 (obviously, the woman who was speaking was implying that she felt her group was more entitled to that spot). There was an empty table to the right of where we were sitting. What's your deal? Is it really necessary for you and your ugly friends to just bust up into our space like you ARE someone? THIS bitch. I don't have time for that. And neither did our server. He swooped in and saved the day by escorting them to the empty table. Moments later, after babbling about steaks and steaks and steaks, those whores left. Thank goodness.
I very much liked this bar and the experience that I had here (minus the whores, but even that aspect wasn't too bad thanks to our server). I am SO coming back!
I would love to come back to The Bar more often, but prices for drinks are crazy expensive. Other than that, this place can be fun for a small group pre- or post- party event and/ or for date night. I had been here once before but that was years ago.
I came here with my date late Saturday afternoon/early evening and was sort of surprised by how crowded it was (for the time). I was also worried about just walking in in just flip flops and jeans since we had decided to try it out at the last minute (being in the neighborhood and all). Surprisingly - no one here was dressed to kill.
We grabbed the only remaining seats at the bar with a nice view of the entire place. The "fancy schmancy" bar was stocked with the good stuff. Ssshhh...I don't really know that much about the "good" stuff. The pretty bottles lined up on display were just cool to look at (imo). ;-) Bartenders were really helpful and quite attentive. I like sitting right at the bars and watching bartenders mix colorful/not-so-colorful concoctions.
I had a pretty delightful amaretto stone sour (Yes, I couldn't come up with anything creative to try) and my date had some really strong dirty martinis. While he didn't think his drinks were strong, dirty martinis are not my cup of tea...er, martini? We were munching on the mixed nuts plate which had wasabi peas mixed in. Yuck - I am not a fan of wasabi or wasabi peas or peanuts that were lying next to them. I am just way too sensitive for that. Anyway - this is definitely a place I'd come back to, but only on special occasions or if I knew I could only handle (and afford) one drink hanging out with good friends.
Hotel bars are totally underrrated! The bar at Peninsula made for a perfect evening. While the place was pretty packed, the server took down our names and got us a table within 15 minutes or so. The drinks are phenomenol. I had the blueberry pie martini which was strong AND delicious! I could tell that the bartender took a lot of care in making the drinks and I appreciated it very much because one drink was ENOUGH for me. Attention to detail was a huuuuge positive. The service, atmosphere and setting are all impeccable. Overall, i found it to be cozy, intimate and SEXY. I will definitely be back . Glad i live right around the corner...
minus 1 star for outrageous prices. shiiiiiiii.
I started out my Saturday evening with my two friends here. The martinis are pretty great, and although they have a $15 price tag, the lemon drop martini actually was perfect. There was a hint of tartness that was offset by the sugared rim.
It was strong and perfect and the bartenders are attentive and handsome. The atmosphere is pretty chill and the lighting is low. We stood at the bar and watched the room, great people watching.
The crowd was a mix of really cute guys and hot girls and some guests of the hotel.
Dress ranges from upscale to jeans and a cute shirt. Coat check is complimentary... Nice touch.
I'm glad The Bar got its own listing. This place is amazing. Quiet, comfortable, elegant. They have lots of different scotches, bourbons, etc. on their list. They even have a couple grappas! Finally, they offer cigar service with about 20 or so selections with several in the $10-15 range. Cigars come with ashtrays (one ashtray per cigar-smoker) and nice, long, wooden matches. A cutter is provided as well.
The prices for drinks really aren't all that bad. You won't find $2 PBR, but they don't gouge either when you consider the quality of their spirits selection.
Being part of the Peninsula, the service is naturally outstanding.
Dress is "smart casual" according to their website, but I personally think jeans are kind of inappropriate given the elegant setting. Still, plenty of people wear nice jeans there without any apparent problems.
Edit (Jan. 1, 2008): No more cigar service, sadly. Ah well.
sooooooooooooo smoky in here. you don't even need to smoke when you are here. The 2nd hand smoke is just R I D I C U L O U S.
I popped in twice in one night ironically, FOR A SMOKE myself, and by the end of the night, my dress smelled like I had been in a van full of chain smokers w/ the windows locked. how about a ventilation system?
besides cutting some time off my life, the Bar at the Peninsula was a hit! =)
It must have been something in the stars because twice in one week, I've entertained myself at the Peninsula. The Bar at the Peninsula is warm and enchanting. The sunken lounge chairs and fireplace made for a perfect night.
Not to mention the delicious martini menu. The ambient lighting brought the sultry out of me (no it wasn't the two martinis) and I was happy to have a deep conversation with my sweetheart.
Happy day for me.
xoxo For a night of simple pleasures
The perfect hotel bar. It is dark, warm and inviting. It is what you expect from the 5 star hotel. Strong drinks , unobtrusive service, clean room and a cost to go with all that.
Nice place to relax and meet for drinks, but especially if it's not nice outside. The couches, the fireplace, cool bartenders, and they do have food, which is very good. It's not too loud. The hotel itself is one of my favorites.
Used to be great when you could smoke, now there is no particular reason to come here versus comparable environments.
This bar is so beautiful I find myself going back again and again, even though I'm probably totally out of place there at my age (it's a bit of an older crowd). Regardless, it's a very nice place to have a drink and some cozy conversation.
What a great place to escape from the Michigan Avenue madness. My boyfriend and I came here the day after Thanksgiving to grab a 3pm drink (my favorite kind). The service was efficient, and the atmosphere was cozy yet elegant. I can't wait to come here again during one of my Christmas shopping expeditions.
Love the staff, atmosphere & drinks. Hate the creepy women who lounge around looking for celebrities or a rich date.
I love this place. THANK god they banned smoking in Chicago because the cigar smoke used to choke you. Very fancy and fun!
After Thanksgiving dinner drinks. Great spot. Love the atmosphere. Good service, professional and direct. I like the darkness - very intimate yet living-roomish and social, while a bit 'local' AND also clubby w/out the loud music. Very sophisticated sounds which were background when talking, yet sensual and foreground when desired. Great balance which is extremely difficult to acheive...or just not enough people care about achieving it. Seems like a place to go either before or after other events. I think this might be my alternative to NoMi when I want to touch someone in public. Cozy. It also has that 'men's club' feeling which I feel really comfortable in. Mature wait staff. I had a perfect fresh lime gimlet, although the glass stem was sticky and no one noticed my need for a wet napkin to wipe it down....They'd notice me at Founders in the Bellview in Philly, and I think that's what makes places like this THAT special, so I took my rating down a star...for what this place is presenting itself to be..... One in my crew stated he liked the wine list and enjoyed very much the Malbec he ordered. Lovely, can't wait to return. I don't know how crowded it can become....I might not like the atmosphere as much.
The Bar at the Peninsula deserves its very own listing. I keep coming back to this oasis and its obviously become my favorite hotel bar in the city! It's a modern lounge but very cozy (esp. love the fireplace during the winters!) Like every other bar, the vibe is always set by the staff. The servers and bartenders are attentive, personable, and so good at what they do! It's strictly top-shelf with and a good mix of stylish younger and older professionals, the occassional assemblyman, and the business traveler.
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: French
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Irish
I'm not a bar person. I'm not a club person. I do…
Here's where I live my life as a sexy girl in the…
I hate to admit it, but I am a hopeless romantic.…
Loading...
