Sobbing over the end of Sex and the City's Cosmopolitan-infused lifestyle? Frenzied about Frasier's demise? There's no need to envy the tube hangouts on your favorite shows when Chicago has its very own versions of Hollywood's most familiar watering holes. From bars to coffeehouses to local historical landmarks, Chicago has plenty of spots to sit, sip and invoke all you love (or loved) about your favorite show. Glug, glug your way into the following almost-ready-for-prime-time bars:
Margie's Pub aka Moe's Tavern (The Simpsons)
Like Moe's Tavern, Homer's fave hangout on The Simpsons, Margie's Pub is a dark, no-frills bar where most of the patrons live in nearby buildings are have ducked in to kick back and knock back a few beers. Like Moe's, the drinkers at Margie's Pub sit and stay for a while; barhoppers need not apply. They talk to the bartender. They chat with each other. Some may wander into the back room to play pool, but plenty of Margie's patrons are more than happy to just sit at the bar and chat with whoever is serving. So Simpsons fans in search of a Springfield-worthy tavern, take note: Sure, there's no Duff on tap, but there are empty barstools.
Simon's aka Central Perk (Friends)
Simon's may not be as squeaky-scrubbed-clean as the Central Perk coffeeshop on the Friends set, and it serves mixed drinks, not mochas, but it has the same "neighborhood hangout for young 'uns" feel to it. Jennifer Aniston isn’t tending bar here, but the layout is similar to Central Perk's. Tables are scattered just beyond the entryway as people mingle and meet near the door. There's even a cluster of comfy, eclectic couches in back for a small party, say, six?, to recline and recall the day's events in. Simon's may be the winner in this watering hole standoff: Central Perk has yet to offer the $2.50 PBR pint deals Simon's is known for. However, Simon's is short one Chandler.
Lottie's Pub aka Cheers (Cheers)
Finding a Cheers-esque bar in any city is hard (even the real Cheers in Boston bears the sign but looks totally different inside). But looking for a working man's neighborhood bar is a little bit easier. After all, Norm and Cliffy had no problem finding one, right? Enter Lottie's, a lovely little slice of after-work bliss in Wicker Park. The decor is brighter and more eclectic than you may remember the Cheers bar being, but the bartenders are as friendly and the atmosphere as chill. Reputed to have been a former gambling hall and strip bar, Lottie's has almost as much history as the loveable Cheers characters had with each other. (At the very least, the list of Lottie's rumored past incantations is about as long as Norm's infamous bar tab.)
The Green Mill aka The Ally McBeal Bar (Ally McBeal)
With Ally McBeal existing only in reruns and other legal TV offerings like The Practice dwindling down with diminished casts and heavily repeated episodes, those hungry for some legal chatter and hearty libations might find a slice of comfort at the swanky Green Mill. There might not be a Vonda Shepard performance every few nights, but The Green Mill does feature quality live music, just like on Ally.
Though the Green Mill has a touch of class that Ally's didn’t (as its faithful regulars know, the Green Mill comes dipped in 1940s magic), a crowd of young, upwardly-mobile lawyers could easily fit in here (and frequently do). Known to have some of the best live jazz in the city, the Green Mill's location in a stretch of Uptown not known for its nightlife is its only drawback.
The Lincoln Tap Room aka The Regal Beagle (Three's Company)
While there will truthfully never be another Regal Beagle, the Lincoln Tap Room has always made it clear that patrons in Chicago can come knock on its door any old night they'd like. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more chill and casually cool hang-out bar in Chicago. While the '70s California swing look may have gone out of fashion quicker than Chrissy's big, blonde hairdo, the Lincoln Tap Room is it's 2004 counterpart: You can almost see Larry hitting on a chick at the end of the bar, heady on a post used-car sale high.
Intelligentsia Coffee aka Cafe Nervosa (Frasier)
The highbrow Frasier crew will be bidding adieu this season, but you can still reminisce about your favorite comedic moments while indulging in a cup of java from Chicago's top-notch Intelligentsia coffeehouse. Roasted daily in vintage German roasters, the Intelligentsia brew is rich, full and utterly unforgettable.
With coffee this addictive (many fans who have left Chicago pay to have it shipped to other states and USA Today once named Intelligentsia one of the top 10 coffeehouses in the country) and a sit-and-sip atmosphere not unlike Frasier's Cafe Nervosa, Intelligentsia offers the perfect low-key coffee environment. Who knows, you might even run into a friend or two a la Frasier while enjoying a latte, as the coffeehouse is frequently by neighborhood locals.
Bada Bing aka Bada Bing (The Sopranos)
So Chicago's Bada Bing is an Italian restaurant and not a strip club like the one portrayed on The Sopranos. Who's to say it's any less fun? With excellent food including giant mozzarella sticks, hearty portions and good desserts, after a meal at Bada Bing, you'll never miss the dancing dames. The Sopranos is stocked with scenes involving family members digging into luscious-looking plates of pasta; the Chicago version offers you the real thing. In summer, the Bada Bing rooftop area also offers excellent outdoor family dining space. And after all, isn't family what it's all about?
Joy Blue and Bungalow aka Places for Cosmopolitans (Sex and the City)
The Sex and the City girls didn't limit themselves to just one bar when they wanted a tasty Cosmo, so why should you? Some of the city's finest pink drinks are served up nightly at Joy Blue, a dark, spacious spot on the corner of Southport and Irving Park road, and at Bungalow, a swank orange-infused lounge on Belmont. Tart and sweet at the same time, these bars' Cosmos are martini perfection. Carrie & Co. may be off the airwaves, but they'll be in syndication soon. Starting in June, TBS will air episodes in syndication.
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