Epic, an elegant lounge on Hubbard St., offers amazing sips and dishes.

Weekend in Chicago

Night Spots

Game-watching is a must at the new two-story Benchmark (1510 N. Wells St.; 312/649-9640), with TV screens that pop up from the backs of banquettes and booths sporting Bond-like monitors. Menu slam-dunks include the Cuban sandwich and thin-crust pizzas. For more elegance, visit Epic (112 W. Hubbard St.; 312/222-4940)—a stunning lounge destined to be a classic, offering everything from seared sea scallops and Berkshire pork chops to creative sips.

New Hotels

The new Hotel Palomar (505 N. State St.; 877/731-0505) has the quirks you’d expect from a Kimpton property, but it makes its own mark in other ways, including Sable Kitchen & Bar (think whip-smart 1940s-style hangout) and its neighborhood (River North, a hotbed of culinary cool).

Dining

Unconventional name and even better restaurant Girl and the Goat (809 W. Randolph St.; 312/492-6262), headed by Stephanie Izard of “Top Chef,” sits in the West Loop and delivers house-blended wines, Three Floyds brew and a 30-item menu covering vegetarian options (chickpea fritters), meat (skirt steak a la plancha) and fish (pan-roasted barramundi). Henri (18 S. Michigan Ave.; 312/578-0763), a charming, 65-seat French gem, has a raw bar (oysters mignonette), a stone oven (Sullivan chicken) and applause-worthy entrees (honey-glazed duck breast).

Great Neighborhoods

In a town of ethnic neighborhoods, Pilsen—home to the city’s Mexican-American community—has given rise to the Chicago Arts District (chicagoartsdistrict.com), including lofts, studios and more than 30 galleries and its “Second Fridays” open house celebrations. We love Mambo Marylin’s Studio (731 W. 18th St.) for its gorgeous voodoo altars and the South Halsted Gallery (1825 S. Halsted St.) for its visionary works.

Getting There

Daily nonstop flights to Chicago on American and United Airlines from Reagan National, and on Southwest and United Airlines from Dull