Best & Cool Bars in Oakbrook Terrace

"Neither Open Table nor Beatrix warned us about Clark street closure for River North outdoor dining. Our party included 2 people wi..."

"UptownGather up your pandemic pod and prepare to sink your collective teeth into this Uptown fixture’s not-so-secret signature dish: a gut busting, multicourse bonanza showcasing an entire duck, freshly roasted and sporting a layer of ultra succulent, crispy skin, carved tableside for your mouthwatering pleasure by the family-run spot’s expert staff. If you don’t know, now you know.How to book: Call 773-769-1254 for reservations and take-out orders."

"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."

"Peking duck served three ways and carved tableside, $30 for a meal for four is virtually unheard of in this day and age. Just remember you must preorder at least 24 hours in advance. Also Try: Duck Duck Goat, literally anywhere in Chinatown"

"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."

"Like your mom and Wrigley Field, just because they've been around for a while, it doesn't mean they've lost a bit of luster. The Mediterranean-meets-the-Midwest avec has been a Chicago favorite for 16 years despite the hundreds of upstarts that come and go in the West Loop. And with good reason."

"Out in Winnetka, Michael Lachowicz has been quietly impressing North Shore residents for more than a decade. The chef and owner, who worked under Jean Banchet at the legendary Le Francais, prepares traditional French comforts with modern twists. Expect delights to include butter fried veal sweetbreads, sautéed wagyu beef, filet of loup de mer, and roasted venison with sauce grand veneur."

"Sometimes, whether to enhance celebration or assuage gloom, you just need a ginormous honking dessert. The 23 Layer Chocolate Cake at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse outdoes the colossal creations of other steakhouses with 23 layers of chocolate ganache topped with whipped cream. It's not just big - it's delicious and a wonderful way to share a chocolate confection."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Tammy Green used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo is only for illustrative purposes. Located next door to historic Wrigley Field, Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern is a multi-level space that features two outdoor terraces, affording stunning views of the ballpark and the Chicago skyline."

"UptownMake like modern day Scarface at this landmark cash-only jazz bar, known for incredible live music, stiff cocktails, and a deeply seedy history as Al Capone’s Prohibition-era headquarters. Rumor has it a network of tunnels still lies beneath the floorboards, connecting the watering hole to different former gangster hangouts all over the Northside. It’s touristy, sure, but the spooky-swanky atmosphere—not to mention the world-class nightly performances—is well worth waiting out the crowds.How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating."

"Famous for being Al Capone's former stomping grounds — complete with legendary subterranean pathways where the infamous mob boss used to run booze — the Green Mill in Uptown is a classic tavern for music and a stiff drink. They don’t make bars like this anymore with a rich interior that echoes the venue’s past. The bar has opened up its window, allowing patrons to sit on the sidewalk for outdoor seating."

"For something a little more old-school and relaxed, the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge has been a part of Chicago’s nightlife for over 100 years. Crowds of all ages still flock to this legendary Uptown club for nightly jazz performances and some of the best cocktails in the city. They also visit to experience a glamorous time when gangsters rubbed shoulders with movie stars at the long Art Deco bar."

"A warm and comforting bowl of pho can make for the perfect lunch. At restaurant-shop hybrid Phodega, owners Nathan Hoops and Anthony Ngo simmer up two exceptional versions — a beefy pho bo teeming with brisket, meatballs, and rib eye, and a lighter pho ga consisting of chicken broth and poached chicken thighs. They’re joined by other remarkable bites like Hainanese chicken rice, fried chicken skins, fiery crab rangoons, and a Viet dip sandwich."

"What It Is: This sleek Chinatown restaurant features a full modern bar (not common for the area) as well as on-site parking. What Our Inspectors Say: “While there's delicious dim sum to be had, diners would do well to try their hand at the impressive specialty menu. Jellyfish is cut into tiny slivers and laced with a heavenly blend of chili oil and Sichuan peppercorns."

"A throwback family-owned Chinese spot of the highest order, Shanghai Inn is the type of place that is so simple, and yet so good, it makes you angry there aren’t places like this all over Chicago. Family-owned for multiple generations, it has a homey feel, and everything you could ever want from your local Chinese restaurant. Sweet and sour chicken?"

"Among the 26 different gardens here are the three-island Malott Japanese Garden, the 5-acre Evening Island, and the Grunsfeld Children's…"

"A Metra train ride out to the suburb of Brookfield, this zoo is in 216 acres of green parkland and boasts more than 450 species. The Brookfield Zoo made waves when it opened in 1934 as it pioneered the use of moats and ditches instead of cages, and was also the first in America to have giant pandas. One of the most recent additions is the Great Bear Wilderness, letting you get within inches of North Americas mightiest carnivores."

"However, for the admission, they should include some sort of souvenir or discount gift for next visit. On another note, the Zoo is pretty big and the parking lot is conveniently close by. Admissions process on a weekend was pretty quick."

"The second in the list of the popular zoos around Chicago is the Brookfield Zoo. It is also alternatively known as the Chicago Zoological Park. The zoo is located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield from where it derives its name."

"The Helen Brach Primate House is yet another extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo and is home to primates of varying shapes, sizes and colour. The area is made in a way to imitate the natural habitat for the primates to make them feel safe and familiar at the place that they are residing in. It was opened back in 1927 which finally underwent an extensive renovation in the year 1992."

"The Regenstein Center for African Apes is also part or rather an extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo, where the visitors can come close to the apes, chimpanzees and the gorillas that have found their home there. It is home to some of the endangered species of western lowland gorillas as well as chimpanzees and exists to provide with the most realistic looking environment for them to live in comfortably. Location: 2058-2156 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, USATimings: 10 AM to 5 PMEntry Fees : –"