The Eater Chicago Cocktail Heatmap: Where to Drink Right Now, April 2017 Behold the 16 hottest bars in Chicago Beyond where to eat right now, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater often have another burning question: Where should I drink right now? While the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering the best standbys and neighborhood essential restaurants across the city and the Eater Heatmap highlights where the restaurant crowds are flocking to at the moment, the Eater Chicago Cocktail Heatmap shows the hottest bars and restaurants where cocktail, beer and wine aficionados are drinking right now. Spring is finally breaking through the cold Chicago winter and the drinking scene is warming up with the weather. Three intriguing spots — a long-awaited three-floor wine bar and restaurant (The Lunatic, The Lover & The Poet), an all-day cafe and bar with a massive whiskey menu (Slightly Toasted), and a new brewpub in Pilsen (Alulu) join the Cocktail Heatmap in its fourth update of 2017. 

Someone has to come off to make room, so longtime hotspots The Loyalist, Vol. 39, and Baptiste & Bottle take the hit. This buzzy new multi-faceted Mexican spot in Logan Square has a casual all-day cafe, a sit-down restaurant at dinner, and, most importantly for this map, a speakeasy-style mezcal bar downstairs. Look for the neon-green agave leaf and head downstairs for a Mexico-trained cocktail expert's versions of classics uniquely adapted with mezcal, plus margaritas, flights, and more. 2 Up & Up Although it's not exactly rooftop season anymore, one of Chicago's hottest drinking spots regardless is the brand-new best rooftop bar outside downtown at the game-changing Wicker Park hotel The Robey. Sip seasonal cocktails, beer and wine in the enclosed bar or outdoor terrace on the 13th floor and soak in unparalleled views high above the neighborhood nexus. Make sure to check with the hotel if there's room for you. Randolph Row not only has a buzzy new Latin American restaurant helmed by a pedigreed chef in Ronero, but now also has a swanky speakeasy-style cocktail bar upstairs.

Come to Esco Bar for large-format specialties, drink carts, live entertainment, and much more.red wine glass cake 4 Park & Fieldbeer and wine online uk Logan Square's new "vintage sports club" is packing patrons into a space that's an Instagram post come to life. best red wine uk 2013You can catch a game on Park & Field's many TV's, but you can also indulge in a decent beer and cocktail list, dig into upscale bar food and a weekend brunch buffet, and soak in heat from firepits on its massive front outdoor space.best wine selection nyc 5 Centennial Crafted Beer & Eaterybest wine bar midtown west

Downtown drinkers now have perhaps the most dedicated beer bar and eatery in high-traffic River North. can i buy wine online from franceThe personable two-floor space also serves cheffy tavern grub from chef formerly of Andersonville beer icon Hopleaf. The longtime home of a Logan Square dive is reborn as Deadbolt, a neo-neighborhood tavern with cocktails by one of Chicago's best, live music, and street food snacks including hot dogs. Chandeliers and other treats signal that's not a dive anymore, but it's still a comfortable spot for Loganites and cocktail aficionados alike. 7 The Lunatic, The Lover & The Poet The long-awaited tri-level wine bar and eatery on Randolph Restaurant Row instantly jumps into the conversation about Chicago's best wine spot after only opening in late March. The spot owned by acclaimed longtime local sommelier Tom Powers offers wine drinkers an outstanding wine list and cocktail menu with an approachable food menu inside an elegant multi-faceted space.

Chicago's first pour-all-your-own-beer bar is drawing hordes of interested beer-drinkers to Wicker Park. Get a tapcard, choose your beverages from more than 60 taps, and fill up your glasses with whatever you want. It also has snacks such as fondue, craft popcorn, and sandwiches. One of 2016's biggest openings was this tavern-focused spinoff in Wicker Park of one of Chicago's most beloved restaurants, The Publican. The food is a major draw, yet the space is jammed on a nightly basis with people gathering to sip on outstanding and affordable wine, beer, and cocktail selections and people-watch through the windows on Wicker. This new-ish all-day bar and restaurant in the West Loop has one of Chicago's largest whiskey selections, a good list of both craft and cheap beer, as well as cocktails, outstanding coffees, and approachable food inside a relaxed space that's a hit during happy hour as well as the daytime and evenings. A decorated industry cast has given Edgewater one of the best new wine bars in recent memory.

Indulge in an outstanding wine selection and small plates at this cozy neighborhood spot. The culinary brewery from acclaimed former Goose Island brewmaster Jared Rouben now has a space to sip his creative delicious beer straight from the source in a former Pilsen glass factory. Look for year-round offerings such as the lemon saison and chocolate churro porter, while specialty, seasonal, and barrel-aged beers make appearances. Food is limited to two items — chocolate cake and fresh oysters. Uptown drinkers have a much-needed new spot with standout drinks from two former Eater Award winners. Located in the lobby of the historic Lawrence House, Larry's is a cozy neighborhood spot with vintage decor items, well-made drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere. The Flamingo Rum Club River North is home to one of the most unique and fun concepts in recent times, as an extensive rum selection, Cuban-inspired cocktails and food, and throwback cabaret dancers converge at Flamingo Rum Club.