Best & Cool Bars in Carol Stream

"Yasmin Gutierrez, executive pastry chef and partner at the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, created the cookies, with dough now available in six packs ($10.95) to take home and bake. Choose from chocolate chunk, butterscotch oatmeal, Nutella,, gluten-free raspberry filled coconut macaron and a house flavor called Magic (chocolate, toffee, marshmallow and cornflakes)."

"You’ll struggle to find a more reliable brunch spot than Beatrix. With multiple locations around the city, the friendly chain of cozy cafés offers fresh-squeezed juices, brunch cocktails, and an outstanding breakfast menu. The all-day eatery focuses on healthy and affordable options with anything from light & fluffy lemon pancakes to steak chimichurri & eggs."

"Sun Wah doesn’t hide what it does best with an enticing (unless you’re a vegetarian) line of ducks hanging in the window just waiting to be roasted. Sun Wah is Chinese barbecue, and the duck is the star; order it ahead of time when you make your reservation and be treated to a multicourse dinner of soup, carved bird, and fried rice, with plenty to go around for a group, and at smile-inducing prices. Once you’ve gotten the duck out of the way, carry yourself back to the sparsely decorated but charmingly simple dining room and order the juicy roast pork or any number of the Chinese favorites; repeat as necessary."

"You deserve Hong Kong-style Chinese barbecue and Sun Wah BBQ has just what you need. Although this restaurant was originally a New York treasure, founder Eric Cheng decided Chicago was a better home. With the intricate array of options, Sun Wah continues to be an Uptown food staple."

"Restaurants Contemporary American West Loop. After more than 20 years in the West Loop, this iconic kitchen is still one of the city's best. In 2019, chef-partner Paul Kahan handed over the keys to the kitchen to executive chef Ryan Pfeiffer, who aims to revive the restaurant's rock 'n' roll soul."

"End your evening with dinner at Avec, an adorable, modern and warm spot where you can dine tapas-style. You absolutely must order the chorizo-stuffed dates. Holy moly, they are incredible!!!. You can thank me later."

"Go to this Euro-style wine bar when you're feeling gregarious; the rather stark space has seating for only 48 people, and it's a tight fit....Read More"

"If German-style lagers are your thing, then head straight for Metropolitan Brewing—they’ve been making this sort of beer since 2009 and they’re quite good at it. Krankshaft, the flagship brew, is made year-round and offered at Soldier Field, O’Hare and Midway International Airports, and at the home of the White Sox. Once a bit under the radar, the popularity of Metropolitan Brewing has increased since the addition of the Rockwell Taproom (listed on their website as dog, kid and freak-friendly) in Avondale, overlooking the Chicago River."

"Another north-side brewery that knows their specialty and sticks to it, Metropolitan has a huge industrial-style space on the Chicago river a few minutes from Bucktown. Their outdoor patio is the perfect place to enjoy their German-style lagers while taking in a view of the Windy City skyline. The staff here are incredibly welcoming, and the taproom manages to retain a friendly neighborhood feeling to it while serving up some world-class beers."

"Bars Breweries Avondale. You won't find food on the menu at this Avondale brewery's riverside patio and dining room space, but guests are welcome to order from nearby restaurants—Kuma's Corner and Dmen Tap are just a couple options—to accompany Metropolitan's German-style lagers."

"Spybar opened its doors to the dancing crowd in 1995|© Matthew Reeves Photography. Another basement club in River North, Spybar has been around since 1995 and can match any nightclub for the big-name house, techno and electro DJs it attracts every week. Spybar describes itself as a “perfect cross-section between high-octane clubbing and intimate lounge atmosphere,” a claim backed up by Rolling Stone magazine, which included it in its list of the top 10 dance clubs in the US in 2013."

"Spybar is one of the most uber-cool clubs in the River North neighborhood. Thanks to its “global vibe,” Spybar attracts several electro and underground techno artistes from around the world. It has served as one of the favorite party spots around since 1995."

"This late-night den was a favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain who filmed several TV segments here as it’s the antithesis of many of the yuppie Old Town bars around the corner on Wells. The dive sports inappropriate paintings of Chicago history, including depictions of incarcerated ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and is a destination for many, drawing a diverse group of patrons from all walks of life."

"BridgeportWhen you think of Bridgeport, the first thing that comes to mind usually isn’t nature. And this park (nicknamed “Mount Bridgeport” and formerly known as Stone Quarry) fits right in with a 27-acre site that has transformed itself from quarry to landfill to park. Cruise the crushed stone running path and peep the fishing pond and wetlands as you stroll the grass amidst preserved quarry walls at this neighborhood hidden gem."

"Opened on the site of an old limestone quarry, Palmisano Park unfurls an urban prairie landscape with great views of the Chicago skyline. Locals come here to fish for bluegill in the lagoon in summer and sled the hills in winter. The winding walkways, made of recycled construction debris, are great for a stroll anytime."

"27 acres of wetlands and urban fishing make Palmisano Park a fun place to visit. The park also offers a phenomenal view of Chicago. In winter, it’s a great place to go sledding."

"The Riverwalk is exactly what it sounds like: a pedestrian trail that stretches alongside the Chicago River. It’s 1.25 miles, so it doesn’t require a punishing amount of exercise, but it’s long enough to offer a wide range of events and activities for visitors of all types. Are you feeling peckish?"

"West Loop’s Union Park, located on 13.46 acres in the Near West community area, is the site for two of the city’s biggest music festivals: Pitchfork and North Coast Music Festival. The park has several large fields, often used for various outdoor sports. The history of Union Park is also quite remarkable—it’s the site of several political protests and demonstrations since the early 1900s, most notably the Great American Boycott and the 2006 Immigration Reform protests."

"Union Park is a 13.46-acres park created in 1853 and became well known between the 1920s and 50s for cultural and social events. Today, the park features a field house with a theater room with stage, and a building with a gym, fitness center, and locker rooms. Outside facilities include tennis courts, swimming pool, playgrounds, an athletic field, and more."

"What’s not to love about this unpretentious Roscoe Village eatery that’s a long-time favorite for date night?. Volo is a casually cool destination specializing in boutique wines, artisan cheeses, and many delicious options for sharing. That ranges from chilled oysters to charcuterie with knowledgeable staffers always available to help you with unconventional wine pairings."

"Located in the heart of Wicker Park, Damen Avenue, The Violet Hour also lists in some of the best bars of Illinois. This cocktail lounge is exactly what you’d expect from a bar named after a line of T.S."

"Just off the Wellington Brown Line stop, BarCocina bring a fun, outdoor vibe to West Lakeview. Grab a table or couch on the large patio in front of a fire pit, order some chips and guac and enjoy one of Chicago’s balmy summer days."