ChurchKey

The upstairs bar above sister restaurant Birch & Barley has one thing on its mind: beer. More than 500 varieties, to be precise. But this isn’t your average brewhouse—the shiny wood floors, sculptural light fixtures and bustling crowd should tell you that. ChurchKey opened in late 2009 and has barely had time to breathe since, drawing crowds nightly for its gourmet lagers and ales (housed in state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled vaults), upscale comfort food (tater tots and grilled cheese), and energetic scene. Wednesday through Saturday, expect long waits and don’t bank on a table.