5 to Try: Martini Bars

4352 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60618 (map)

Sure, Tiny Lounge has a slew of fancy specialty cocktails as well as mod decor and a menu of clever small plates, but it's the half-dozen martinis that make us very grateful for this stylish North Center neighborhood bar. Satisfy a sweet tooth with their Cocotini (a chocolate martini with vanilla vodka, cream and chocolate sauce) or try one of the seasonal spins, like the Pumpkin Pie. Added bonus: The stemless glassware helps ensure that you don't spill a drop.

163 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

It doesn't get much better than drinking a classic martini in a classic hotel, the 1927-era Knickerbocker. The circular Martini Bar, located in the plush, high-ceilinged lobby, takes its moniker very seriously, from the 50 different options available--try the French Martini, with its beautiful cranberry color--to the well-seasoned bartenders who pour them strong. Take advantage of the gratis nut mix; you'll thank us in the morning.

151 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60610 (map)

When you name your lounge after a classic cocktail, you'd better have plenty of terrific ones on the menu. Thankfully, River North's Martini Park obliges with some 20-plus to choose from at three separate bars. To cocktail purists who might be put off by the creative license this place takes, we think the Martini Park #10--a refreshing mix of Tanqueray No. 10, elderflower syrup and orange blossom water--will rectify the issue.

1028 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

Everything about this Gold Coast hot spot is big: the steaks, the lobster tails, the baked potatoes and the martinis. After 20 years, this Rush Street landmark still packs in plenty of celebs, high rollers, tourists and locals, proving that size does matter. Whether in the restaurant or hanging in the bar, we opt for the Blue Cheese martini with its generous pour of Belvedere vodka and a touch of olive juice. We like to think of the four huge blue cheese-stuffed olives as our first course.

3700 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60613 (map)

Nothing is quite what it seems at this Boystown cabaret/restaurant, and it's not just the lovely, lip-syncing female impersonators who wander among the customers. Case in point: the root beer float. It may sound innocent enough, but rather than a kid's dessert it's a martini made with vodka, root beer schnapps, vanilla cream and Pepsi. If that doesn't bring a smile to your face, perhaps one of the 60 other martinis will.