Sugar Factory, Chicago: Sugar Heaven!

Since as long as I can remember, I have had a sweet tooth. Make that a major sweet tooth. To me, dinner is not complete without some dessert. And there are some days, though I hate to admit it, where dessert is my dinner (chocolate waffles with ice cream, anyone…?). That being said, I celebrated my birthday last year at the Sugar Factory in Chicago. The name alone was enough to tempt me, but after hearing about the smoking candy cocktails on the menu, I knew there was only one place on earth I wanted to toast my 25th year on Earth.

The Shop

Who doesn't love a good candy shop? At the Chicago location, you are immediately greeted by a bright, colorful candy store. They have a whole stand of their famous lollipops, known as ‘Couture Pops' (made popular by celebrities like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and the Kardashians). Basically it is a lollipop with a bedazzled handle in different colors – super fun! They also have any candy you could possibly want and I spent a good amount of time wandering around wishing I could have one of everything. But, alas, my bank account is not set up like that, so I had to be happy with just browsing.

The Drinks

The real reason I visited the Sugar Factory was to try a candy-themed cocktail. I had seen pictures of these concoctions before, and was eager to try one for myself. My boyfriend and I grabbed some seats and each ordered a smoking candy goblet. I then sat in anticipation for the moment I had been waiting for – and I was not disappointed!

I tried the Lollipop Passion, Sugar Factory's signature goblet that promised a taste of the tropics. It came adorned with two long, colorful lollipops and a candy necklace as a garnish. Myron ordered an Ocean Blue, which came with shark gummies floating inside a blue drink. When the waitress brought our drinks, they were just filled with ice; she then poured in each of our goblets and we got to watch as they began to fill and then overflow with smoke – so cool! They tasted good too, although very sweet (not surprisingly).

I cannot speak on the food since I only visited Sugar Factory to experience the drinks. The goblets are not cheap, so to save money we skipped the food – but if you wanted to ball out, you certainly could! They do offer an extensive menu with appetizers, sandwiches, salads, entrees, and of course desserts. The Chicago location does have plenty of seating in their restaurant and are open for brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night dining. Parking is free with validation and they offer valet parking for $10. The Sugar Factory was a great place for drinks and would be fun for a special event as well!