The RatePubs experience is exactly what it says on the tin...the experience RatePubs had in a particular bar. These are not a replacement for our members reviews. Indeed, they're not even reviews as such and we don't even rate the bars. Instead, think of them as a pen picture that tries to give you a little more detail on the bar than might come across in a typical review.

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Downtown Chicago has one of the worlds great skylines and one of the main attractions for any visitor is to see the city from the 94th floor Observation Deck of the Hancock Building. It's a great view and deservedly one of the most popular attractions - but there's a more enjoyable way to get the same view from the same building. The Signature Lounge is a cocktail bar on the 96th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows which offer you the opportunity to view the city while enjoying a drink.

We paid it a visit about 4pm on Christmas Eve. A quick express elevator through the 96 floors, a right turn down the corridor and it was time for that drink. While the room was pretty full we were lucky and could pick a table immediately but even when there's a wait it is generally less than 10 minutes.

The lounge occupies a third of the floor, the remainder being taken by the Signature Room restaurant. Despite this it's not actually that large since the Hancock building narrows towards the top. The room is rectangular with seating for about 150-200 people . There are three rows of tables with those beside the window being the most sought after . But all tables have a good view thanks to the large windows. We were surprised to find that the padding on the seats were torn and that the overall feel of the décor was of a place that has seen better days. But despite this the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that the average customer is a tourist and so is out to have a good time. It's unlikely you'll see too many Chicagoans here unless they are acting as tour guides for friends. As a result you won't have any trouble finding someone to take your picture and will quite possibly find yourself being asked to take some of other groups.

When we arrived it was still daylight and the view across the city was amazing. The main window faces away from the lake towards the body of the city while the left hand side gives a birds eye view of the downtown skyscrapers along the Magnificent Mile. We selected a cocktail and after took some pictures as the sun set. As it did so the lights across the city came on making a fantastic seen even more amazing. We felt we had to wait for the complete picture so we ordered another cocktail each. We were rewarded by a helicopter flying past the window.

The drinks menu consists primarily of martinis with some other cocktails wine and beer also available. There are also some snack options. But it's not cheap at an average of 13 dollars per cocktail. On the other hand entry is free compared to the 14 dollar entry to the Observation Lounge two floors below. Personally I would rather spend the money on the cocktail and the ability to take it easy. This mix of atmosphere, view and cocktail makes The Signature Lounge a place to visit whether it's your first or 20th time in Chicago. We'll definitely be back.




Do you think our experience reflects yours? Leave a review or discuss it in the The Signature Lounge Conversation Corner

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