So let's say you've just had dinner at Sushi Dokku (823 W. Randolph St., West Loop, 312-455-8238) and now you want a drink. Where to go? Consider stepping out the front door and walking around to the restaurant's back alley, where you can find your way into Booze Box, Sushi Dokku's underground bar, for Japanese-inspired snacks and cocktails in what was formerly a storage basement.

There's a DJ spinning loungey music and lots of red, dim lighting, but the scene stays pretty low-key. The spot is ideal for after-dinner conversation over sake-fied versions of classic drinks–for instance, the Sakerita (sake, cucumber, and house sour mix). 

Here's what else we saw when we stopped in.