02/13/08

Best Moscato in Chicago

by javend

I love white wines especially the dessert wines like Riesling but this one night and my first visit to Pops, the bartender recommend something sweeter, Moscato D'Asti. I fell in love in an instant! He was very helpful and the suggestion was great! Ever since my visit at Pops I only order Moscato every chance I get. I also love their jazz lounge, great space.

• Pros: Space and wine list
• Cons: Parking

12/27/07

No way near the old "Pops"

by denke510

I'm sorry, but the old location had much more ambiance, appeal, warmth, romance. The new location is sterile...and downstairs where live music is played is like walking into someone's badly remodeled basement. It's uncomfortable, expensive....a cover charge to go downstairs? and the champagne prices are so elevated. I was so disappointed when I took my boyfriend to Pops. I had told him how it was my favorite place in Chicago...little did I know how badly the new place was. I guess if I wanted to have my teeth pulled it is the perfect sterile environment. Don't waste your time and money if you are expecting character and charm and any romanctic mood whatsoever.

• Pros: Ummm, only one, champagne
• Cons: prices, atmosphere, lack of warmth, terrible feel to the place

09/14/07

Great Food, WIne and Service!

by mkay75

Everything about this place is fantastic. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed when the old location closed down, but I have now discoved a new, hip YUMMY alternative.

The executive chef, who I guess came from Japonois, is super friendly and has some creative fun dishes that match well with a glass of bubbly or a nice glass of wine. Don't hesitate to ask your bartender to help select the perfect wine either. They are so helpful. Overall it was a 5 star experience and I will be back for sure.

PS- try the : Flatbread with, Beefsteak Tomato, Grana and Prosciutto.. you will order 2 :-)

09/13/07

What a perfect night!

by marchicago

Of course my review is biased because I got engaged later on in the night after starting out at Pops for Champagne, but, there probably isn?t a cozier or more romantic/intimate setting in downtown Chicago. While I never visited the Sheffield location, the downtown location is almost surreal given its setting in the city so close to the Magnificent Mile. Add to that a tasty (yet simple) menu, a thorough champagne/sparking wine list, people watching on State Street, and a very chic jazz club and you have the best that Chicago can offer. I highly recommend Pops for Champagne!

09/10/07

Not like the old Pops on Sheffield

by zoe242

I use to love going the Pops on Sheffield so I thought this location would an updated version. I went with a bunch of friends to celebrate an engagement and was a little disappointed. Our server was "ok" the bartender was better and took care of us. As for the crowd, it would have been nice to see more people with some class. It is not ok to come to a place like this in a tee shirt, jeans and gym shoes. A dress code should definitely be imposed. Overall the apps were really good and the sparkling wine and champagne choices were excellent.

• Pros: Apps, great sparkling wine and champagne selection
• Cons: very young crowd, needs a dress code

06/08/07

Great atmosphere, slow but good service

by alyssa_nthecity

My boyfriend and I sat at the bar on a tuesday night a month ago. The hostess was very friendly. Bar service was slow at first, but Alanna got her groove back and was awesome; full of sassy one-liners. Bottle prices ranged from about $24 to $300, so there's something for everyone. We snacked on the potato-crab cakes that practically melted in our mouths. For dessert we had the sour cream cheesecake drizzled with white chocolate and strawberries. We left very satisfied and couldn't wait to get back.

**Alana, the bartender did warn us not to come back on the weekend b/c of the drunken silly "rookie" crowd if we wanted to relax and enjoy ourselves.

• Pros: Good value, great food
• Cons: weekend crowd

05/05/07

Pops is not your mothers champagne bar....

by cjones22

Pops is a great nighborhood spot. Jazz downstairs, champagne bar upstairs, small plates to snack on, champagne for every tatse and every budget... Although Pops is a great late-night spot, the highlight of my visits has been the fact that I fell in love over 2 bottles of champagne one late friday night...Love ya LD!

04/06/07

Worst venue in Chicago to go listen to Jazz!

by juiceny

Disappointing in every way. Problem is the website for this place is extremely misleading. Jazz downstairs is supposed to resemble 1920's France. Are you kidding? White walls, bare, acoustically messy and a nightclub atmosphere. The musicians will never play there again, they had no idea what they were walking into. Drunk 20 somethings mingling and laughing hysterically and making it a musical disaster. There were atleast 20 of us who complained when we left and none of us would ever go back. The tourists were blown away by the rudeness of others, they all departed first. Huge mistake and a night I will forget.

• Pros: packed with 20 somethings if you're lonely
• Cons: everything you can think of, absolutely everything

03/28/07

Live Jazz, Great Crowd & Champagne!

by chicago_eats

my friends and i had a blast the last couple of times we've been here ... the champagne bar is filled with attractive folks and a very laid-back, friendly crowd ... the downstairs jazz club offers a very different vibe as it's more of a nightspot with live jazz music ... great bites & atmosphere!

• Pros: great champagne selection - food is excellent

01/17/07

After two decades in Lincoln Park, the famous jazz and champagne bar brings its game downtown.

by Fred Schlatter

In Short
The stylish Tree Studios provides the covetable corner address. Upstairs is a large window-lined room with bronze walls, textured like bubbles in places, and a glossy central bar. Seating areas include high-tops and low loungers. The Pops Shop is a retail nook with an attached seating area. Downstairs shoots for Paris catacomb nightclub; the effect isn't quite as sexy with a drop ceiling and faux flagstone walls, but dim lighting and good sound make for a fine jazz venue.