50 Best Bars in Chicago

“Highly recommended for first dates, or just going with a group of friends. Been here twice, and everyone there is super friendly, definitely a place to have a lot of laughs and make great memories. 10/10 🙌🏼“

“Went with my daughter and her bestie for brunch.. cute place, my food was really good(avocado toast) and they enjoyed their food and the endless mimosas.. friendly staff,relaxed atmosphere , overall pleasant experience for us😊“

“Adoro l'arredamento vintage. I tarocchi sono divertenti.“

“Enjoyed my first Hot Toddy here!!“

“We hosted a post wedding event at Delilah’s in their upstairs room. Not only was it affordable, the staff was so incredible. They ensured our guests had a great time and even helped us set food up. We were allowed to play our own music and even had a pool game going. I would 100% recommend anyone looking for a private event space to book with Delilah’s, they’re the best!“

“By far the best 🍔 I’ve ever had! The fusion of flavors 🤯“

“Everything about this gem is amazing. The food was delicious. They had a great selection of drinks and cocktails to choose from. If you catch Santana who is a bartender there, he’s super friendly and knowledgeable- as is the whole staff. Modelo on Tap is also just an awesome homage to have for the community.“

“Great food, amazing ambiance and incredible staff. One of the nicest Chicago steakhouses I’ve been to. Highly recommend.“

“Delicious food and great customer service . Staff super friendly.“

“We rolled in as some sleeveless thirsty travelers late night on a Thursday. We were bathed in nonchalant hospitality. The quality of a bar can stand on the legs of a Strong menu but it’s only excellent when you have exceptional staff. The Scofflaw has the sauce“

“The interactive coin op playground of the Chciago arcade / bar scene. Priced for a cash night out- cc welcome and there is an atm. Street parking is easy but ya know how that is- taking CTA or Rideshare to Logan Square is simple. Order bites and shareable from Fry Like An Eagle next door and they deliver! Say hey to Dr. Z and be kind to the staff they are great humans there to make sure you have fun!“

“A great place to have a party, the ambience is great and I will be back here again next time, the drinks and food are delicious too!“

“The food is absolutely delicious. The bartender, the blonde short hair girl is super nice and takes care of everything. The menu is small but the most delicious food Ive had. The chicken skewers are mouthwatering and i avoid ordering chicken in restaurants usually. The beans and the garlic rice are amazing. Our tacos were very good too. Just the kitchen was sooooo slow but it was worth it at the end. The music was beautiful too“

“.great experience always.“

“Highly recommended for first dates, or just going with a group of friends. Been here twice, and everyone there is super friendly, definitely a place to have a lot of laughs and make great memories. 10/10 🙌🏼“

“chill, cozy neighborhood bar with high vibes, always. the djs set the mood and keep the atmosphere bumping and easygoing. love the round booths, mood lighting, and cool people that bring the place to life. in the summer, the garage windows open and the smell of fresh rain wafts through. my gf and i have come here in sweats and in heels—it really just feels like home 🥃❤️‍🔥✨“

“THE cocktail bar to go to in the neighborhood, especially if you're going to a show at Aragon or The Riv. Doesn't have a kitchen but you can BYO or have something delivered, and they also have a partnership with the deli down the street so you can order some truly delicious sammies at the bar and they'll deliver. Really great cocktail program from Luke who runs the bar, and really great staff that'll help you figure out what'll really wet your whistle. Also has a huge patio open in the summer, and lots of cozy couches and seating in the lobby.“

“Go for the lowkey vibe and experience. Love the art and the back story.“

“Totally love Guthries Tavern! 🏠 Grabbed a Half Acre Daisy Cutter and a Vander Mill cider, plus shared pretzels and mozzarella sticks with friends. Cozy, laid‑back spot with a wall of board games (classic and quirky), friendly bartenders, and zero pretense. Perfect after a Wrigley game or just to chill on a Tuesday night. Neighborhood gem!“

“Its an uassuming, shady dark bar that is cool with smoking. Did I say that SMOKING is allowed here? A solid rotational collection of Chicago folks, rotating.
Staff are PROFESSIONAL. Opens early and closes late. This joint is SOLID. You might smoke at the bar and feel like Bukowski, without all that Poems and Shortstories stuff. Some may remeber smoking and drinking in a Bar. MANY have never seen it.“

“We enjoyed everything whatever we ordered“

“I am so glad this spot has opened up in the South Loop! I was there once for charcuterie and drinks, and once for a tasty coffee and scone to go - both experiences were excellent!“

“Gilt Bar "gets it". A foodies playground. Top notch flavor and beautiful decor throughout. The Ron Zacapa 23 Rum is 🤌🏾 Oh, and don't forget to take a few pics in the photo booth downstairs 📸“

“Queen Mary Tavern is an absolute standout, offering a perfect blend of lively atmosphere, exceptional service, and top-notch food and drinks. From the moment you walk in, the welcoming and vibrant vibe makes it clear that this is a place designed for fun, relaxation, and great memories. The staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic, making every guest feel valued and well taken care of.

The menu impresses with flavorful, carefully prepared dishes that pair beautifully with a wide selection of drinks. Whether you’re enjoying hearty pub favorites, shareable appetizers, or craft cocktails, every item delivers on taste and quality. The presentation is appealing, portions are generous, and the flavors consistently hit the mark. Queen Mary Tavern excels in creating a complete experience—warm, energetic, and satisfying—earning every bit of its five-star reputation. It’s a must-visit spot for anyone seeking great food, drinks, and an unforgettable atmosphere.“

“Upscale, elegant atmosphere. Outstanding cocktails.“

“Free hot dogs at midnight. Cool vibe“

“Thank you for hosting Open Mic night. Wonderful experience. We’ll be back.“

“Great place to get some admin work done for work on your laptop and stuff they have wall outlets you can plug your charger into

Also shout out to the bartender for the screenplay idea and thanks to everyone that was there to help work on the first few pages of a thing I’m writing large credit to them for most of the ideas on paper so to say. Nice lighting for reading things next to the laptop in case you have to take notes for schoolwork or something. They don’t really offer any food but there’s like pizza up the street so whatever and the bartender seems to know his drinks and mixology from the way he handled the in and out busy but quiet service in a fast paced unmannered world of having to do work and your power going out so you have to find a place that can take a laptop charger and a laptop to get work done for work and also help you with side projects about things you’re working or writing about on a friday evening

Also if you leave your card they will hold it for you and let you pick it up later or ID so idk what that says about their security but that’s all I have to really say about this place from my first visit“

“This is a perfect neighborhood cocktail bar. It's definitely nicer and more polished than your average bar, yet still approachable and my favorite spot to meet up with friends. A huge shout out to the staff- consistently kind, and happy to make recommendations. To top it off, the food here is amazing, not just your regular bar-fare. I legit come here for a full dinner as well as a drink. If I had to eat only one food for the rest of my life I would choose their cheesy potatoes in a heartbeat. Highly recommend!“

“Friendly staff, great place to be and the chips and salsa are so good!!!!“

“if there was ever a better Watering Hole In chicago. This Is It, hands down. Chris and his staff are superior at every aspect of being a classy drinking establishment. I recommend it highly, and Shop local all you lovely Neighbors.“

“Top notch service, drinks were phenomenal, and the food simply EXCEPTIONAL. Thank you for the VIP treatment on my Anniversary! You peeps are amazing!“

“Great music by Ivan Singh!“

“Cynthia is such a vibe!! This is definitely a fun place to come if you enjoy dive bars. Even the patrons are awesome! 10/10 reccommend!“

“We had a great time at Tin Lizzie’s Turtle Racing over the weekend. The bar was super festive, all decked out for Christmas! We tried some of their Christmas cocktails. I highly recommend the Yule Mule, so good! We ordered the mozzarella sticks and onion rings for apps, both were amazing. They have a wristband deal for 3 hours of unlimited drinks which included a pizza with chips and salsa. Highly recommend the wristband deal, totally worth it for only $40! Turtle races started at 7:45 pm but we got there early at 6 pm to enjoy the full package deal. The turtle races are such a fun time, cheering on for your favorite turtle which are named after the Ninja Turtles! Winners get a free shot! After the turtle races were done, the party did not stop! Shots were being poured out all night and the vibes kept going strong. We had a great time and the staff was very welcoming and kind. Highly recommend for a fun night out with your friends!“

“Great vibe! Happened upon it while in Chicago - highly recommend!“

“My first time here (new to Chicago) saw High on Fire and Negative Approach. Sounded great! Great staff, great room for music, hope to return many many more times!“

“This place is a real gem not to be missed. It’s unpretentious, with approachable knowledgeable staff. The prices are unbeatable and they always have some fun or funky wines to try. I love the monthly deep read nights, the atmosphere and music is always well curated. I just hope to get into one of their classes, but they sell out quick!“

“Liar’s Club has some of my favorite bands on the regular, so I find myself there a lot. My band has played there too, and it’s a great experience - the room sounds good, with a solid PA system. Gary and the rest of the staff are awesome - the polar opposite of the snooty, hipper-than-thou attitude you get at some rock & roll joints. Drink prices are cheap, and parking is always pretty easy. The clientele is consistently asshole-free. Can’t think of anything bad to say about Liar’s.“

“It’s the orbit room with “hipster”. Still a great jaunt. Anyone who makes a whiskey sour with egg white is good in my book.“

“Gaslight Bar in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood isn't to be confused with the Gaslight Club at O'Hare Airport's Hilton Hotel or the old-style Gaslight Club in downtown Chicago. This Gaslight, located at 2450 North Clark Street, at West Arlington Place, is a neighborhood sports bar with three full bars, a year-round patio and a full and delicious menu. Open from 4 to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 10 to 3 a.m. on Saturday and 10 to 2 a.m. on Sunday, this is a space formerly occupied by Mickey's Bar & Patio. Since Gaslight Bar opened in 2014, it has become a popular go-to destination for folks who love to mix their sports with their palates. I showed up early for Game Day and started with chicken tenders with honey mustard, a bow of tomato basil soup with croutons and parmesan and Kale Caesar Salad with Kale, Romaine lettuce, parmesan, focaccia breadcrumbs and Caesar dressing. For a main event, I couldn't resist the house's best seller, a 4C Smash Burger, a double beef patty with American cheese, iceberg lettuce, pickles, red onion, dijon and ketchup. With house-seasoned French fries. Surely one of the best burgers in town.“

“Great outdoor spot, great drinks...fun!“

“A fun, energetic, atmosphere, and wonderful staff! Always a party!“

“I left with the biggest smile that a Chicagoan can produce! The drinks… Amazing! The service… Amazing! The bartender who went by the name “ taco ” can make an amazing shot using only simple ingredients that were available at the bar! I will definitely come again; for the service, for the bartender, for the atmosphere… but especially for the football! Go birds! 🦅🦅🦅“

“Great food, drinks, and staff.“

“Beyond dope. UNPLUGGED LIVE 🎙🔴 #dripPremium“

“Good atmosphere, good food , unique experience“

“The perfect bar, I fear. I can’t believe I have ANY pictures in this place because I’m always just talking to someone or playing pool or queueing up songs on the jukebox. There’s something about this place that you can’t really take a picture of: the people are always friendly and chill, you can tell it has a low staff turnover rate, the food is ALWAYS good. This is the kind of bar which would be the ultimate muse for a poet from the 1800s. My one drink photo is an espresso martini that was made with love, but know that they put just as much love into every beer they pour. It just isn’t as instagrammable.“

“Great bar with cool atmosphere and drinks. Dark Shadows was playing on the tv. The Electric Funeral cocktail is very tropical but I can’t wait to have the drink in the viper snake glass. Not sure but I think you can buy the glass. Bridgeport favorite Old Style and Malort has its own electric sign. It’s small and gets very crowded on the weekends but Thursday night was very chill so this will be my go to after eating at the Ramova during the week.“