Editorial
The best networking happens at bars designed for conversation. Not loud clubs where you're shouting at someone's shoulder. Not corporate event spaces that feel like office annexes. Real bars with good acoustics, the right crowd, and enough professionalism that people show up ready to talk. Here are the 10 venues that nail it in New York and Chicago.
Our editors' picks for bars that work for after-work drinks across 72 cities. The full guide.
Every after-work bar in New York, categorised by neighbourhood and occasion. Our complete New York guide.
Chicago's best bars for professional occasions. River North, West Loop, and Lincoln Park covered.
The best networking venues share three things: they're designed for conversation, they attract people ready to be professional, and they don't feel like work. The Campbell and Violet Hour nail the acoustics. The Skylark and GreenRiver let the space do social work for you. Broken Shaker and Sportsman's Club strip away pretence.
Choose based on what you want to communicate. Power play? Pool Lounge or Bar at the Top of the Standard. Serious conversation? Violet Hour or The Campbell. Fun and productive? Three Dots and a Dash. Inclusive and accessible? Sportsman's Club or The Skylark.
The location matters less than the decision to go somewhere designed for real conversation. Book ahead if numbers warrant it. Arrive early enough that you're not just filling a full room. And remember: the best networking happens when nobody's thinking about networking.
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