"For Chicago, The Aviary in the West Loop is the special occasion cocktail bar. Which isn’t surprising since it’s from the Alinea group—so expect elaborate, Alinea-esque drinks on the menu here. Cocktails start around $27, and vary in the amount they look like science experiments. For example, The Jungle Bird has little clear tapioca-like balls filled with rum that pop in your mouth, and the In The Rocks goes even further—it comes in a ball of ice you need to snap with a rubber band. You can make reservations, but you can also walk in (there might be a wait, but that will give you some time to quickly reread your eighth-grade science textbook). Plus their basement speakeasy, The Office, is also great if you want to keep things going afterwards." - adrian kane, john ringor
