Chicago’s Essential Cozy Locales

In this cavernous temple to meat—with its exposed brick walls, plush booths, and worn wooden features to boot—the smell of sizzling steak permeates the air. A steakhouse that mirrors a speakeasy, Bavette’s sports a certain retro luster, and doles out towering seafood platters, roasted bone marrow, and expertly seared USDA Prime cuts that’ll beckon you to linger.

Stepping into avec is like stepping into a treasure box– the West Loop favorite is enclosed in handsome wood slats from floor to ceiling, resembling some sort of sleek Zen cocoon. Here, the rustic sweet-and-spicy Mediterranean fare is fit to warm any heart—simply get the slow-roasted pork shoulder, whole roasted fish, and popular chorizo-stuffed medjool dates.

British Royal Navy rum from the 1940s, Pernod absinthe from the 1930s, liquor that was bottled when Eisenhower was still president… These are some of the rare finds you’ll be able to sample at this twinkly speakeasy for eight. The Milk Room deals in long-gone spirits from another era, giving patrons a pricey yet exquisite taste of the libations of lore, within a spellbinding atmosphere.

Behind a heavy curtain, Tokyo awaits. Well, not exactly Tokyo, but Radio Anago—a sushi tavern, enveloped in dark woods with wine-colored velvet booths, that pulses to deep bass beats. Let your eyes adjust to the setting, and get ready for an evening of small Japanese plates and sake, guaranteed to make you feel worlds away.

Sophisticated and intimate, Income Tax makes for a perfect city escape. The Edgewater favorite deals in neo-bistro fare, pulling belly-warming flavors from across the Atlantic—think broiled skate wing, house-made spaghetti alla chitarra, and braised rabbit—with excellent wines to melt the snow flurries away.

This establishment might be the epitome of a cozy locale—and won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Design at that. The revival of an iconic dining room, Cherry Circle Room breathes cherry wood and leather patina, and proffers a refined menu that calls to the exclusive supper clubs of times gone by—tableside cocktail cart included.

Hidden in the underbelly of Sushi Dokku, Booze Box is a moody bar that’s bathed in a hazy red glow—perfect for late-night dates and hushed conspiracies. Access is through the back alley door (look for the neon red arrow), and down the steps you go for stunning craft cocktails, sake, Japanese beers, and izakaya plates, all to the tune of hip-hop beats.

There’s something outdated-ly extravagant about Gilt Bar, with its curved cherry-red booths, low-hanging light bulbs, and majestic golden bar. And it works: the River North establishment drips with charm, with food that feeds the soul (think perfectly seasoned steak tartare, handmade bucatini topped with truffle and pecorino, and one scrumptious cheeseburger).

Refined yet relaxed, Kumiko is a haven over which cocktail maven Julia Momose presides. Outfitted in mid-century furnishings and subtle woods, this West Loop den offers a candlelit drinking experience unlike any other. Spring for the impeccable cocktail omakase with small plates, or any of the bespoke cocktails.