Coq d’Or

Stopped in here for a couple of drinks before dinner and it was okay….I had 3 margaritas and each one came out completely different from the last one. The first one was perfect, the second one was too strong (yes- too strong) and the third one was way sweet (the sugar residue left in the glass was a baffling mystery to me). It wasn’t salt because I don’t like heavy salt rims on my margaritas. I don’t think I’ll be back for drinks or to try dinner…the drinks weren’t consistent, the lighting was very dim, and there was really no atmosphere to the place, so I kinda felt I was on a cargo ship.

I’ve been here a couple times during visits to Chicago… very cool tucked-away clubby bar with a speakeasy feel. The Drake is gorgeous — do yourself a favor and take a minute to walk up the stairs and gawk at the beautiful flower arrangements. But back to the bar… I’ve enjoyed a few (very generously poured) classic cocktails here, and most recently, the pull-apart cheese bread. Delicious, and enough to make a meal of. Great spot for a happy hour drink or a nightcap if you’re staying in the hotel. I think I read that the place also hosts live jazz? Sorry I missed that window!

Gorgeous old decor, like walking back in time. Sadly closed during COVID-19. It is so spooky and dark now, I can’t believe it. Photos attached.

Great service and funny waiters. Lobster Roll was good and so was the Ruben sandwich. The drinks are really Good! Had a great bloody Mary w lots of horse radish. Rye whiskey neat And a couple Moscow Mules.

We stayed in the Drake hotel so we were pumped to see that there was a bar on site meaning we didn’t need to go into the rain in order to enjoy a drink. That said, we came here a handful of times, but didn’t have an amazing experience any of them. Our first trip into Coq d’or was about an hour before we needed to head out to a rehearsal dinner and thought we’d have time for a quick drink. Between the 4 of us, we ordered 2 beers, a glass of wine, and a vodka/soda. It took probably 15+ minutes to get us our drinks. We were left in a rush to chug our drinks and get out the door. Our second trip in was a bit more successful but the wait times for drinks was still pretty lengthy and we were a tad disappointed with the service. Our final time in here we stopped by for a drink and snack, but ultimately ended up not staying because we sat down and then had no interactions with the waiters whatsoever. Ultimately, we were bummed because it was convenient to have a bar in our hotel, but disappointed by the service here.

Came into this lounge for a drink while I waited to head out to dinner to meet my colleagues. The lounge is pretty dark but shares the same aesthetics and smell as the rest of the hotel… elegantly old. I sat at the bar and had to flag down the bartender that was too busy checking his phone to notice there was a new customer. He was not very friendly. I asked to see the wine list, he brought it over. I don’t think he spoke one word to me the whole time… not to provide a recommendation, not to see how I was doing, not to ask me if I liked the wine I chose without his input. Now I certainly wasn’t in a chatty mood after a long day of work but would at least expect some minor courtesy if I’m paying $15 for a glass of wine. I’ve never had this type of silent treatment from a bartender before… only my husband when he’s mad at me 😉

Well the wood is very nice all around the bar, low ceilings. Got thirsty after I finished a movie. Lot of old folks like late 50s and early 60s. It was quite amusing they had on the cocktail napkins “The Real Chicago”. It’s in the city but a part full of tourists guess that doesn’t make it any less “real”. The prices for the cocktail I got was steep!!! The whiskey they used was just Woodford reserve,which is a good whiskey but not something I’d happily drop that kinda coin on.

I sort of love this little underground piece of piano bar heaven. I stopped in late at night while rooming at The Drake and had the infamous bookbinders soup (how many ways can one say yum) and a glass of white wine. Service was brisk and my waiter was even funny–with his half tipped wine trick! I love this steaming hot soup and enjoyed the piano player very much! They have a nice little menu and it is almost a secret space.

Old school, gilded age, swanky velvet piano bar vibe. Good service, good piano player banging out the classics, and about what you’d expect from that type of environment – no more, no less. The cocktails were all a bit off somehow. They weren’t bad but all seemed imbalanced. Old Fashioned was too strong, Tequila Daisy lacked citrus balance, etc.

Coq D’Or is an interesting place for a drink. (I’ve not dined here.) It is a cozy place with old-school atmosphere. The place is the opposite of trendy–it feels like it has been exactly as it is for generations. At the bar, Pollo mixes great drinks and does his best to give attention to everyone. I enjoyed his dirty martini and others raved about the Manhattans. Pollo has been behind the bar for many years, which only adds to the sense of Coq D’Or as a place that is locked in time. At tables, the service could be better, however. My wife and I entered and sat down, and then waited as every server in the place walked past us without welcoming us, offering a menu or taking our order. After five minutes of being ignored, two stools opened up at the bar and we switched places. (Pollo saved the evening, since we were close to walking out.) At 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, Coq D’Or offers live piano and singing entertainment. We caught a little and enjoyed it, and we’ll plan to arrive later on our next visit. This is a hotel bar in an upscale Gold Coast hotel, so you can expect to pay upscale prices. The clientele skews older (as does the clientele of The Drake and most of the Gold Coast neighborhood.) If you want a fine drink in a quiet bar that feels like a place your grandparents might have enjoyed a fine drink in a quiet bar, then Coq D’Or will be your speed.