“Too much of anything is bad. Too much Champagne is just right.” - Mark Twain
Our trip to Chicago during the last week of October was so much fun. The food was spectacular, but the cute wine bars and shops were just simply fantastic. Each person we met at each stop was just so helpful. They went above and beyond to make our experience really enjoyable.
I’m sharing my top three spots for wine and champagne in Chicago!
Pops for Champagne
Neighborhood: River North
Pops is legendary and has been open for more than 30 years. It is located in the River North neighborhood, and was a quick walk from our hotel at the St. Jane. One thing I love about Pops is that they focus on smaller production champagnes, which is really nice because you feel like you are getting something super special from this place. You are not able to pick up these champagnes in your local grocery store, which is what makes this place shine so much! Everything is super unique and new, so our experience was one of a kind. The service was fantastic, and our waitress recommended a wonderful selection for me to try. Also, they have wonderfully crafted cocktails, which G indulged in. This place is quaint, warm, and was the perfect way to wrap up our evening. If we ever visit Chicago again, we will definitely be making our way back to this spot, it was that wonderful.
What makes this place special?: Unique champagnes that you cannot find anywhere else.
Pops for Champagne in the River North neighborhood.
Enjoying a glass of champagne.
A peek into Pops.
The Wine Bar at the Walnut Room
Neighborhood: The Loop
The legendary Walnut Room was the first restaurant ever opened in a department store. This place holds a special place in my heart, as the Walnut Room was a spot I’ve visited with my family in the past. I was so happy to share this experience with G and take him to a place I love. The restaurant and wine bar are located in Macy’s, which was formally known as Marshall Fields. This spot is tucked away in the theatre district, and the interior of this place is gorgeous with wood paneling all around. During our visit, the staff and interior decorators were actually transforming the restaurant to their breathtaking holiday theme. It was so cool to watch them flip the space and prepare for the upcoming Christmas season. The staff was so kind, attentive, and immediately sat us at their wine bar. They have a great variety of cocktails, champagnes, and even their own curated reserve wines.
What makes this place special?: It’s the first restaurant ever opened in a department store.
Sipping at The Walnut Room
The Walnut Room’s reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Eataly
Neighborhood: The Magnificent Mile
Eataly came highly recommended by a coworker, and I was super happy to visit this market. What’s so cool about this spot is that you can enjoy Italian cuisine in the store. There are a few restaurants, various stands that sell coffee, pastries, chocolate, and so much more. Also, there is a lovely little wine bar on the second floor as well. Their wine selection is expansive, and there was so much to choose from! The wine options totally brought me back to my trip to Rome earlier this year, and I was so excited to pick a bottle to enjoy. Instead of enjoying the wine and food at the market, we opted to select a bottle of red to take back to the hotel. Also, I was super impressed with the price points for their wine at Eataly. The wine prices ranged from $15 all the way upwards of $75. The food that was being served looked so delicious, and if G and I weren’t so full from lunch earlier in the day we would have definitely stayed for a bite to eat. We will definitely return back to this spot in a future visit to Chicago.
What makes this place special?: There are 23 unique eateries, 6 private event spaces, a cooking school, and a market.
Walking up to Eataly.
The amazing wine selection at Eataly.
An amazing selection of fabulous Italian wine.
XO, Analise