Play Kitchen and Cocktails Opens in Chicago’s Gold Coast

Play Kitchen & Cocktails, the dynamic bar and lounge serving a creative menu of American classics and craft cocktails, has opened its doors in the Gold Coast neighborhood. Located on the lively stretch of Division Street between State and Dearborn, Play seeks to be a lively and dynamic bar and lounge with a focus on sports viewing, happy hour, novelty menu items, guest DJs and more.

Guests can expect an eclectic menu of Instagram-worthy offerings such as 24-Karat Gold Wings featuring house smoked jumbo wings tossed in 24K gold bourbon BBQ sauce with 24K gold flakes and served with ranch or blue cheese sauce and a Surf and Turf Burger with grilled double steak patties, aged cheddar, mustard, grilled onions, lettuce and tomatoes, topped with a lemon-grilled half shelled lobster tail on a toasted butter bun with brown butter aioli. Shareable plates include a selection of pan-served pastas--Cajun Mac and Louisiana Shrimp Linguini--and a variety of scratch-made flatbreads varieties.

For dessert, guests can indulge shareable sweets like the Honey Delight made with sweet mascarpone cream, grilled nectarines, and a graham cracker crust with a drizzle of local harvest honey. Play also offers a limited Late Night Menu until 3 a.m. Sunday through Friday and until 4 a.m. on Saturdays featuring items perfect for sharing like a Bucket 'O Tenders, Surf & Turf Sliders and more.

The bar program showcases an approachable craft cocktail menu with seasonal ingredients and playful garnishes like edible flowers, glitter, rock candy and even a scorpion for the daring, thrill-seeking cocktail enthusiast. Highlights include the Stardust with Absolut Elyx vodka, coconut puree, peach puree, fresh lime, Combier Pamplemousse Rose Liqueur, topped with edible glitter; and a Sweet But Psycho with Altos Plata Tequila, cold-pressed watermelon juice, fresh lime, agave nectar, dash orange bitters, and grapefruit soda. For more adventurous guests, Play offers The Scorpion shot featuring chile and apricot infused Banhez Mezcal garnished with an edible, pickled scorpion.

Available daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Play offers a "Half-y Hour" happy hour featuring half-off select menu items, signature cocktails, wine, champagne and draft beer. Play also offers a bottomless mimosa brunch special and menu every Saturday and Sunday and a limited late-night menu available from 10 p.m. to close daily.

Play is open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and 12 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday.