Best Places To Get An Irish Coffee In Chicago
Coffee and alcohol all in one? Yes, please! An Irish coffee -- traditionally a drink made with hot coffee, sugar and whiskey -- is the perfect way to warm your hands, and your bellies, in the freezing cold weather of Chicago. Whether you're just looking to get out of the house or you're out shopping, these five restaurants and pubs will warm you right up with their very own Irish coffee conception.
RL Restaurant
115 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 475-1100
www.rlrestaurant.com
After shopping on the Mag Mile, as well as the Ralph Lauren store, head into the Ralph Lauren Restaurant to warm up. This elegant space is inviting and upscale. While reservations are encouraged for the main dining space, walk-ins are welcome, and if it's just a delicious Irish coffee you're after, you can grab one here for $10.50 and enjoy it in the club's lounge area. Other warm beverages, including a Bailey's and coffee, are available as well.
Fado Irish Pub
100 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 836-0066
www.fadoirishpub.com
While Fado Irish Pub in River North is known as a hopping Irish bar most nights, it's also a great place to sit back, catch a game, catch up with friends and sip an Irish Coffee. The pub features a variety of winter-inspired cocktails, and the Irish coffee is the perfect mix of Bushmills Irish Whiskey with coffee as well as brown sugar, fresh whipped cream and cinnamon swirls. Enjoy it in the downstairs bar, at any of the restaurant's many tables or the spacious top floor. Fado's Irish Coffee is a reasonable $10.
D4 Irish Pub & Cafe
345 E. Ohio St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 624-8385
www.d4pub.com
The roaring fires in the fireplaces are one way to warm up at this neighborhood Irish joint in River North. The Irish coffees are another. Made with Jameson and cream, this tasty Irish coffee is just $8. It's great all on its own, or with this restaurant's range of classic pub food. D4 also serves brunch and offers discounts to Northwestern and The University of Chicago card holders.
Related: 5 Picks for Irish Food in Chicago
Johnny O'Hagan's Irish Pub & Restaurant
3374 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 857-0944
www.ohaganspub.com
Recently renovated, Johnny O'Hagan's is mostly Irish in name only. After all, it serves typical bar food, like burgers and wings (but they're all delicious in their own right), in addition to a few choice Irish items, such as an Irish breakfast. But if it's an Irish coffee that you came for, you can enjoy the traditional drink at either dinner, brunch or lunch.
The Gage
24 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 372-4243
www.thegagechicago.com
It's all about comfort in this Loop restaurant, from the decor and space to the array of tasty eats. While the restaurant is spacious -- with 300 seats -- it still manages to exude a cozy charm, perfect for a brisk day in Chicago. While you'll find an Irish Coffee on the dessert drink menu, that's not the only spot you'll find it. The Gage also often offers an Irish coffee glazed doughnut. Made with a Jameson glaze and a Guiness caramel, and served with Bailey's ice cream and espresso peach compote, it's easy to get your Irish coffee fix here.
Related: Best Irish Pubs in the Western Suburbs
Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not writing about food, she's working part-time at a culinary vacation company, The International Kitchen, based in the Windy City. Some of her work can be found at Examiner.com.
