If you ever wondered where the men that inspired the slang term "Viagra Triangle" hang out when they're not on Division and Rush Streets, visit Lobby Bar. Situated just off the Magnificent Mile, Lobby Bar (located on the street level of the Marriott Hotel) is ripe with, well...ripe men.
Surveying the crowd, you might notice a group of foreigners or a pair of businesswomen talking numbers over dirty martinis; however, middle-aged businessmen reign here. If that weren't the case, it could very well serve as a pre-party drink spot considering many of downtown's stylish clubs are within a five-minute cab ride.
With several potted plants, couches, roundtables, bar stools and two flat-screen televisions, it's a typical lobby atmosphere minus the lounge music. Lobby Bar might be the sole Chicago experience for out-of-towners unconcerned with venturing beyond hotel walls. For others, it's an after-work hangout. For the bored businessman fiddling with his Blackberry, it's a place to kill time. And finally, it's a rest stop for passersby interested in the latest sports updates.
The rowdy business crowd may deter you from bringing a date, but you'll learn to impress one later thanks to a menu that offers lessons in Wine 101. Below each menu item, you'll find a recommended wine-by-the-glass to go with your appetizer of choice. For example, try the lobster-rolled quesadillas ($13.95) with a glass of the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ($13.23 tax included). The menu also features an arrangement of magnificent cocktails, all $12.25 plus tax. Go for the Purple Crush, a concoction of Tanqueray 10, Blue Curacao and cranberry juice in a sugar-rimmed martini glass.
Centerstage Reviewer: David-Anthony Gonzalez
