If you don't dig skiing, give winter cold shoulder at beach-themed bars
Winter got you down? Just because you don't have a trip planned to a warmer climate doesn't mean you can't visit the tropics for a night. Local beach-themed bars offer Caribbean and Hawaiian food, fruity drinks and live music so you can forget about frigid temperatures and relax like you're on a tropical vacation.
Cabana Charley's, 6315 Main St., Woodridge, (630) 964-8454; cabanacharleys.com
Whether you're into sports, music or just rum, you can find something to enjoy at Cabana Charley's. The décor shows off island style, with bright yellow walls covered in starfish, surfboards and images of the bar's pelican mascot. A central tiki bar, decorated with toy parrots and a hammerhead shark, features nine large screen TVs tuned to sports or beach scenes. Admission is always free and the stage in the bar area hosts acoustic acts Fridays, bands Saturday, karaoke Thursdays and trivia Tuesdays.
The menu sticks close to the tropical theme, with dishes including Jamaican jerk chicken, grouper and stuffed pineapple. The cocktail selection includes four 32-ounce $9 signature rum buckets. Margaritas, pina coladas, mojitos and martinis are all $5 during January.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday
Dawn's Beach Hut, 8 N. Third St., St. Charles, (630) 513-0204
The tiny spot features a small bar shaped like a tiki hut topped with a large fish. All the music is tropical themed, mixing Jimmy Buffett, Beach Boys and reggae. Pizza is the most popular dish, best enjoyed with one of their tropical cocktails like the lava flow, a pina colada poured over strawberry purée. The beer menu also favors the beach theme, featuring Red Stripe, Corona and Jimmy Buffett's Landshark Lager.
Hours: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday; closed Monday
Flip Flops Tiki Bar & Grill, 1022 Fountain View Drive, Carol Stream, (630) 668-3567; flipflopstikibar.com
The family-owned Flip Flops features a tiki hut with bamboo and grass topping an oval-shaped bar. Two large murals show beach and ocean scenes, and all the tables are handmade and decorated with different themes like sailboats and sharks. The spot hosts karaoke every Wednesday, DJs Friday and alternates between DJs and live music Saturdays. The drink menu is dominated by pina coladas and margaritas and also features 32-ounce rum buckets that two to four people can share for $10.50 to $13. The food menu sticks to fairly standard bar food such as burgers, wings and chili cheese fries.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday
Hala Kahiki, 2834 River Road, River Grove, (708) 456-3222; hala-kahiki.com
For 45 years, Hala Kahiki has been giving guests a place to relax and try some of the more than 100 tropical drinks on their cocktail menu. The bar features thatching over the entrance, opening into a space decorated with all bamboo furniture and dark wood wall carvings of Tahitian flowers and fish. The Hawaiian music is kept low so groups can chat. If you feel like bringing some of the tropical style home, a gift shop in back sells bamboo wall mats, tiki canopy thatching and other decorations.
Hours: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday and Tuesday; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Friday and Sunday; 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday
North Beach, 1211 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, (630) 434-1290; northbeachclub.com
Along with beach scenes painted on the walls, North Beach actually lets you hit the sand. The massive space includes two sand volleyball courts that you can rent for $50 to $60 an hour. You can also just watch the action from one of spot's three bars while sipping a tropical-themed cocktail. The food menu features tastes from warmer climes like chili lime wings and pulled pork sandwiches. Decorations include tiki thatching and fake palms.
Hours: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday
Tiki Terrace, 1571 Lee St., Des Plaines, (847) 795-8454; thetikiterrace.com
When Tiki Terrace moved from Prospect Heights to Des Plaines in 2008, owners covered the new location in tropical decorations. All the booths and tables are hand carved and the walls are lined with palms and stone heads that look like they could have come from Easter Island. Other trappings include tiki-thatching, bamboo walls, hula dancer-shaped lamps and scattered conch shells. The biggest draw is their Hawaiian dancing dinner performances Friday and Saturday nights. For $19.50, you get dinner and an interactive show, which is often popular with parties since guests tend to get pulled up on stage.
The food selection highlights Hawaiian cuisine. Dishes include Spam - yes, Spam. If you can't stomach that, you can order Korean short ribs or coconut chicken with plum sauce, along with more standard bar food like burgers and salads. Quench your thirst with something from their menu of 88 tropical drinks, served in tiki mugs with umbrellas and fruit garnishes. For a fun treat for the table, try one of their three flaming bowl drinks, served with straws for two to four people to share.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; noon to 2 a.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday; the bar closes from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday