Ed Marszewski—editor-publisher of Lumpen, festival host, gallerist and general Chicago indie-art-world guy-around-town—and his brother, Mike, remodeled and renamed Kaplan’s Liquors, the Bridgeport bar that was owned and operated since 1986 by their mother, Maria. The chandeliers built out of bottles and the 300-plus microbrews are notable, but the real standout feature is the welcoming scene: People like each other here.
Chinatown proper has a couple karaoke bars, so if you love belting out tunes with your friends, you're in luck. But that's about it for drinking options, so if you want to follow up your Cantonese feast with a craft cocktail, head to Bridgeport to check out Maria's, or take in a punk show at Reggie's or jazz gig at Velvet Lounge. Here are our picks for the best bars in and around Chinatown.
RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Chinatown