Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

photo: Stacy Warden

The many drinking options at Bourbon.

I was nine when my dad handed me my first sip of beer. I cringed, spit immediately and vowed to never touch the stuff again. And then I went off to college, where I discovered the wonders of fine spirits and carefully-crafted brews. During dad's monthly visits to school, he’d bring along new cases of ales and lagers for us to try, and before I knew it, I was a full-blown beer snob. Whether you've inherited your old man's palate for pale ales, his discerning taste in wine or his affinity for classic cocktails, you can say thanks by buying him a round at one of these bars.

Bond Over Beer and BBQ at Risque Cafe
If the connection between you and dad is as strong as the one between beer and BBQ, bring him over to this spot that seamlessly blends the best of both. Specializing in American craft brews, Risque Cafe stocks everything from California's Anchor Steam to Wisconsin's Berghoff. But walk anywhere near the place, and the smokey smell of brisket will make you realize it's about more than just slinging back a couple cold ones. The kitchen's BBQ-saturated menu highlights smokehouse classics like pulled pork sandwiches, brisket platters and baby back ribs. Dad will also appreciate Risque's Betty Page-esque pin-ups and flat-screens streaming old Bond movies.

Mind Your Microbrews at Map Room
This is one bar that knows its beer. With more than 200 brands – including Unibroue, North Coast and Great Lakes – and 36 different brewing styles from all over the globe, dad is sure to find all his favorites here. And if your pops is as staunch about his beer as mine, he'll appreciate the staff's knowledge and artful pours of each brew into its appropriate glassware. Thanks to the Map Room's ever-changing beer menu (to ensure freshness and variety), dad may even find something he's never tried before.

Reminisce With a Glass of Rouge at Webster's Wine Bar
Chicago's oldest wine bar is the perfect spot to have a quiet conversation with dads who wouldn't dream of tearing into a steak without a glass of red. He won't be getting any of the fleshy stuff here, but Webster's specializes in homemade pizzas, tailored to enhance its trailing wine selection. If dad is looking to branch out, he can try a regional wine flight or a tasting at a fraction of the bottle price. One thing's for certain, with over 35 wines by the glass and more than 500 varieties by the bottle, the two of you will have plenty of time to reminisce.

Sip Scotch With Pops at Bourbon
Take dad to Bourbon to show him how far you've come from frat parties and beer pong. The bar's extensive selection of bourbon, whiskey and scotch will prove to pops that you've grown to recognize the finer things in life. The knowledgeable staff is happy to give recommendations based on your previous bourbon experiences, but impress the old man and brush-up on your Glens beforehand. In addition to the bar's signature stuff, Bourbon offers a full menu of fried fare, salads and sandwiches. Most food items here are, predictably, bourbon-infused.

Spend a Little QT Over Cocktails at Motel Bar
If dad shuns vodka in his martinis, scoffs at muddled mint and holds the recipe to a perfect Manhattan (equal parts sweet and dry vermouth), he'll love sipping spirits at The Motel Bar. Dad can rest assured that Motel's mixologists are shakin' it up right. Just take a look at the culinary cocktail list, touting classics like the gimlet, Sazerac and old fashioned – you'd better bring mom along for this one, or plan on giving dad the gift of your driving services.