Top 5 Brunch Drink Deals in Chicago

If you're Jim Gaffigan, the word brunch only means one thing: "Whenever I’m at a brunch buffet and they have that big metal tray filled with the four thousand pieces of bacon, I always think, if I was here by myself… I would eat only bacon. I would steal this tray, go lay down, and eat bacon all day." 

We love this famous breakfast staple as much as the next comedian, but let's not forget about all of the other important components of brunch (i.e. bottomless mimosas and bloody marys). Chicago is filled with endless options for #sundayfunday brunch but let's start with our top 5:

Brunch:

One of my favorite places for brunch in Chicago is Brunch. There’s no need to come up with a clever name when the food and décor speaks for itself. Just take the Tower of Power for example: Fresh scrambled eggs with vanilla bean, maple glazed bacon, fried butternut squash, cheddar and tarragon pesto aioli all piled high on a fresh pretzel bun. Oh, and served with golden Brunch potatoes. 

Are you salivating yet? Not to mention the skinny pomegranate blueberry mimosa...it’s skinny which means you can order 3 and still feel good about yourself (or so we'll pretend) - Kaitlyn

Acre:

Acre is located in Andersonville (5308 N Clark St) and not only do they have great brunch and drink deals, but they also support local! All produce and meats are from small family farms in the Midwest, most of their beer, wines, and spirits are from North American producers, & their menu is seasonally focused. They have everything from small plates, to a raw bar, to all of your classic brunch favorites. The Deal: $18 for all-you-can-drink mimosas, Sat-Sun 11am-3pm. - Lisa 

Zella:

Zella's brunch deal is amazing: $28 gets you all-you-can-drink Miller Lite and Coors Light, mimosas, OR Bloody Marys, AND a choice of a brunch entrée. This runs every Sat-Sun from 10:30am-3pm so it’s a great opportunity for those of us that spent too much time with Fireball the night before ;)

As for the ambiance, well, I love any place you can enjoy a mimosa on the patio and theirs is huge, not to mention complete with a full bar. The brunch is typically pretty backed but the service is usually excellent with all staff being on top of their game - Kaitlyn

Jane's:

Jane's is located in Bucktown (1655 W Cortland St). Once a bakery frequented by Chicago’s elite and area steelworkers alike, the dusky blue, brick building, now home to Jane’s, has housed neighborhood businesses for over a hundred years. The brunch features classics like eggs, pancakes, and french toast as well as unique items (like breakfast burritos, roasted pork belly, and even raspberry or apricot scones.

I love the decor as it has a very antique feel to it, but the food is the real star! The Deal: $10 comes with bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas and a $10 specialty burger menu, Fri 11am-3pm. - Lisa 

Flo:

This menu has great variety including everything from a Pulled Pork Frittata to my personal favorite, fruity pebbles French toast. (pictured here). As for drinks, how about a breakfast shot made of housemade Bacon and infused Bourbon, Butterscotch Schnapps, with an O.J. chaser? I think that just sealed the deal - Kaitlyn

What are your favorite brunch spots in the city? 

Any amazing deals we should know about?

5 Chicago Hidden Gems

Over the past few years, we have attended some great blogging events and celebrated some personal milestones at some memorable places throughout the city. Chicago is the BEST city to eat and drink in (not that we're biased) but sometimes it's hard to decide on a place because our options are endless. With that said, we wanted to share with you (and Groupon readers) a few of our favorite "hidden gems," perfect for your next date night:

(source)

1. Adamus Lounge - Located in the Silversmith Hotel in Chicago, I attended a blogger brunch there and the décor is beautiful, elegant, and feels regal (and there is this one chandelier over the main bar that is beyond stunning!) The food was outstanding and not to mention their amazing mimosa bar that was set up for the event which was set up with various different juices and bubbly to choose from. This is perfect for brunch with the girls or a cocktail on date night - Lisa 

2. RM Champagne Salon - I first went here for the CBN's 500 Membership Mark Event back in 2013. The place is unlike anything I'd ever been too. You need to walk down a cobblestone alley tucked away off the street and as soon as you turn the corner you are whisked away to a French garden. The outside is truly beautiful. Then you go inside and it just gets better. The decor is beautiful (think candles everywhere), the drinks are delicious, and the light bites were great too. I've been back a few times and I plan to go again! A great hidden gem for a date night, event, or girls night out! - Lisa



3. Suite Lounge - We attended a bon voyage party for Jessica here a few years back and have talked about going back since. It was slightly hard to locate from the street because the entrance is pretty narrow but once we descended down the winding stairs, our eyes were wide with adoration of the stone walls that resemble an underground cave, lit up with candles and soft white lights. This is just how I imagine date night - a night spent "somewhere only we know" with my husband - Kaitlyn

4. Three Dots and a Dash - This cocktail focused tiki lounge features a craft approach to both classic and modern tiki cocktails with fresh juices made in house daily. The name of the place is Morse Code for “V” standing for Victory. This code was used at the end of World War II when the soldiers were heading home. How cool is that!? Also, this is a LITERAL hidden gem because the entrance is in an alleyway and you'd miss if if you blinked, but that's part of the fun. I think this would be great for a blind date because there would be a lot to talk about and fun drinks to try - Kaitlyn

5. The Vault at The Bedford - My husband took me for my birthday last year and I fell in love with the concept. This place is rich with architectural history, an elegant ambiance and classic Chicago touches. Many original elements from the 1920’s remain intact throughout the space. The unparalleled Vault, with its magnificent copper safety deposit boxes and steel doors, offers a remarkable step back in time. Lastly, if they still serve the salted caramel marshmallow...do NOT think twice! - Kaitlyn

What are some of your favorite hidden gems in the city?

We love trying new places! 

Cut a Rug

In a house with all wood flooring, the right area rug is the cherry on top of an interior decorating sundae. I love that we don’t have to worry about spilling red wine on the carpet or scrubbing where the dog tracked mud in.

Wood floors are functional, aesthetically pleasing and much easier to clean. That said, I still like the feeling of a cushion beneath my toes every now and then so I am a big fan of area rugs. Not to mention, one statement piece like that has the power to tie an entire room together, no matter how many different colors, textures and patterns you have incorporated.

Here is a shot of our dining room right after we moved in:

Here’s how it currently looks:

RugsUSA was having an amazing sale that I could not pass up (like, 80% off amazing). I debated for a while because I prefer to see and touch rugs in person but the sale was too good to ignore. This style (still on sale!) turned out to be perfect and it changed the whole dynamic of the room.

Another place to find great home décor deals is Groupon – I don’t always remember to consider it but I found some nice and affordable options during my rug quest. If you’re looking for an area rug or a decorative piece to brighten up the room, check out these Pier 1 sales and Bed Bath and Beyond coupons.

Here are some cute options from my search:

Pier 1

one - two - three

Bed Bath & Beyond

one - two - three 

Have you ever found a great deal for the home on Groupon?