Raise a Glass

While it may not look like winter (yeah, we’re bummed we didn’t have a white Christmas, too), it’s still the holidays and what better reason to celebrate. Wherever your plans may take you for New Year’s Eve, you don’t need to use that night as an excuse to enjoy one of life’s greatest indulgences: Champagne. There are loads of spots around Chicago to raise a glass, but here are a few of our favorites that offer a robust selection of the bubbly stuff.

601 N. State Street 312.266.7677 popsforchampagne.com	Pops for Champagne With a name like Pops for Champagne, you’d better have a kicka ss selection of bottles. And the joint doesn’t disappoint. Head down for a glass or a bottle, grab a table in the window and enjoy. Pops has a pages-long list that includes everything from large-format bottles (magnums and more), sparkling rosé, bubbles from Spain, Italy and beyond. But they specialize in true Champagne (from the region in France of the same name). Whether you want to drop $650 on a bottle of Dom Perignon Œnothèque or $48 for Charles Baur Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé from Alsace, France, Pops has you covered.
800 North Michigan Avenue, 7th Floor 312.239.4030 hyatt.com/gallery/nomi	NoMI Arguably one of the most romantic settings in Chicago, NoMI’s lounge overlooks Michigan Avenue and is a fantastic spot to get cozy and sip some bubbly. NoMI’s sparkling wine list offers numerous options, from having a couple of glasses of Nino Franco Prosecco at the bar to splurging on a bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvee at a table. Find a spot, settle in and relax. It doesn’t matter if you’re going for an afternoon getaway, a drink before dinner or heading in for a nightcap, this lounge beckons you to celebrate.
401 N. Wabash Avenue 312.588.8000 trumpchicagohotel.com	Rebar Tucked away on the mezzanine level of the Trump International Hotel, Rebar has a dark and sexy setting with a view that can’t be beat. And it has a Champagne list that nearly rivals the view (but costs a bit more). This being the Trump, expect to go in with deep pockets because you’ll need them. Don’t believe it? The Krug Grande Cuvee will run you $380 (and that’s on the lower end of the list) while the 1996 Ruinart Brut Rosé will cost a cool $580. But these are the holidays and you–and your guests—are worth it, right?
339 N. Dearborn 312.755.9463 bin36.com	Bin 36 And if you aren’t that familiar with sparkling wine and want to dip your feet in the proverbial water, hop over to Bin 36. With one of the most approachable wine lists in Chicago, Bin offers the ability to dig into any number of flights. But for this column, let’s focus on the Bubbles Flight. For $15, you can get taste of four different sparkling wines from around the globe and get a feel for the effervescence. Bin has a lively atmosphere in the heart of River North and serves as a great jumping off point for your night. Or you can stick around and order up a bunch of small plates and another flight. Why not?