Matthias Merges' French-Italian restaurant also has a bar, which Alex Bachman (Billy Sunday) curates. No surprise—the drinks are great. There's a housemade wine aperitif, cocktails like Safe Word, a rye, peach and absinthe concoction, and craft beer. Bar snacks, like parmesan-rosemary focaccia with pumpkin butter, round out the offerings.
College towns aren't exactly known for their craft beer or cocktail bars, which is why students and professors from the University of Chicago have it good. And so do the rest of us—Hyde Park bars range from music venues to dive bars, with a spot for everyone in between. Here's where to grab a drink in the South Side neighborhood.
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