50 Best Bars in Chicago

“.great experience always.“

“Fun place, good food, good service! We had dinner at the bar a couple nights ago. Everything we got was delicious, including the burger, duck, and some appetizers. Excellent service from Zack, and what a fun place that is. Light only by candlelight, and I love their soundtrack, if a little loud.“

“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😊“

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

“Hands down the best hotel experience I’ve had thus far in life. I cannot imagine staying anywhere else in Chicago now! I will be sure to book here next time I’m downtown. Special shoutout to Nina (unfortunately that’s the only name I remember, but everyone deserves their own shout out). She was so so kind and thoughtful. I was deeply touched that she carried my luggage out because the bellman was away briefly. That’s what makes hotels like this stand out! 🙂 I actually got a little teary eyed writing this just upon reflecting on the kindness of the staff. All the best! - James Schauff 🫶🏼“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“We went on a Saturday night around 930pm. Not many people in there yet but the crowd that was there was diverse. Different ages and walks of life. Bar tender was friendly enough and took care of business. Poured a stiff drink for a fair price. It is a legit authentic "dive bar" for starters. The real deal. No frills. Not some wanna be staged pretend dive bar with over priced drinks and pretention. It is old, dark and dirty. We wanted to love this place. We loved everything about it except for one thing...And it is a deal breaker for us. Um. The smell. It smells horrible!!! Like an old stale ashtray with a half put out cigarette still going in it and up in your face. It was really really bad. I don't know if someone was actually smoking in there while we were there, but there is definitely still smoking happening inside that place. It burned my eyes and my nostrils. Gave me a headache. Unfortunately, we were one and done (and had a pretty good buzz from our one drink I must say). But sorry, we can't do the cigarette smoke.“

“Awesome Chicago Dogs and atmosphere! Great waitress and warm, cozy and fun atmosphere!“

“Precioso lugar,con variedad de opciones para comer“

“YASSSSSSS! Perfect cocktails, delicious! 🍸amazing service!“

“2nd time in. I love everything about this place and I really don't like many things. If I got specific, it would be philosophic and embarrassing. Just come get energized, refreshed, and regain your trust in humanity. Love you guys down 💖“

“"Outstanding food and presentation. The service was fantastic, especially from the hostess“

“Very nice staff and the food was amazing 🤩“

“70s vibe, tasty drink, great service, and plenty of water refills. I’m a fan. 🍹💫✨👍🏻“

“Enjoyed my first Hot Toddy here!!“

“Emporium Arcade Bar is primarily known for its games and drinks but I visited for a quick meeting with a friend after a long day. Feeling exhausted and hungry, I was surprised to find a food cart inside. The brisket sliders were delicious. The place is vibrant with a full bar and arcade games like Crazy Taxi, Mortal Kombat, Smash TV, Pacman, Frogger, Donkey Kong, and more.“

“Free hot dogs at midnight. Cool vibe“

“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.“

“We wandered over to Ositos from Hyde Park, to try something new, and loved it. Ositos has delicious food, and really good cocktails in a cozy, unpretentious atmosphere. The service is warm, attentive, and they make you feel welcome like you’re part of the family. Very gezellig! The coquito was a delicious indulgence (I’ll be dreaming about it tonight); the pumpkin burnt basque cheesecake a delicious indulgence; the mole rosa, guacamole, wings, and the quesaditzin were all excellent.“

“A couple blocks from Wrigley Field, Guthries is always a fun time! Gather a group, grab a table and a few games from the wall, and order a pizza to be delivered! Great for pre and post Cubs games or just for a typical Chicago neighborhoody night out. Typical dive bar drinks and beer on tap. It can get crowded, especially game or concert nights.“

“Upscale, elegant atmosphere. Outstanding cocktails.“

“Old school awesome ?? this place is just like that last bar everyone loves in their city. People very polite and kind.

Be warned, i used to smoke so i liked it but it's smoky AF. Can't ding it for that, but know before you go!“

“Girl & the Goat completely exceeded my expectations! very good food“

“I won't rate the food because it's only snacks. They do have menus from nearby restaurants though, which is really cool.

This is a wonderful cocktail bar. The bartenders are really good at what they do. I think Luke is usually working when I go there? He is really good at what he does and super fun to watch. Very precise and intentional with the way he makes drinks.

I always feel very welcome and relaxed here. It is sort of strange that it is in the base of an apartment complex. I think if I lived here I would be a bit weirded out by all of these strangers in the lobby of my building.

It's nice to get drinks and then go wherever in the lobby, at the bar, or out in the back patio area of the building.

Trivia on Wednesdays is always fun as well.“

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

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

“Cozy atmosphere and great food.“

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

“Amazing establishment. Love the decor and it feels so cozy. Nice neighborhood spot to enjoy a glass of wine. Owner is super knowledgeable and friendly. He helped me pick out a perfect bottle to share with my friend who isn’t always easy to please.“

“We stopped in Alma in the evening for a few rounds of drinks after dinner. We've been here a few times before and always seem to like it. The drinks and wine options are pretty good. There's a ton of space which we like too. The service was lackluster though. We sat for awhile before our server came by; he eventually came over and took our drink order but wasn't that friendly. We had to flag him down for our other rounds. The ambience of the space itself is pretty good, but the music was just a little too loud for a hotel bar. We'll go back again, but there is room for improvements.“

“We enjoyed everything whatever we ordered“

“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.“

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

“Beyond dope. UNPLUGGED LIVE 🎙🔴 #dripPremium“

“Indoors only - dog friendly tavern that encourages patrons to try the infamous Malort.
Jeopardy was on at 4 pm and everyone participated! Bordering Ukrainian village this gemstone is to be sought after! It is a neighborhood tavern not a fancy place and the bartender is versatile !“

“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 📸“

“other reviews were spot on. wonderful bar in basement with european neighborhood vibe going on. great looking patio at street level and great food service from associated restraurant at street level. my new go to bar for pre-party for united center events“

“WYA??? You get back home 🏠 ok?“

“Enjoyed the Christmas pop-up, very festive and the food is fantastic!“

“Dope. Needed 25 characters for Facebook to post the review. Also the bartender was a super nice guy.“

“i like this place extra because i am polish. bartender laughed at my excitement over my home beer being in the fridge (lone star) and said you can find it anywhere! now listen here willy i love ya but im here to tell you that just ain't true! i been to and from, across this damn nation, and outside of texas i seen it once somewhere in missouri, on the northeast coast at a single live music venue, and here at stella's tap! maybe a couple more but still this is a rare treat for a simple texan like me. thanks for the good times“

“One of our favorite places to eat when we’re in Chicago. Love the atmosphere, food and cocktails. Will be back soon.“

“Hands down the best hotel experience I’ve had thus far in life. I cannot imagine staying anywhere else in Chicago now! I will be sure to book here next time I’m downtown. Special shoutout to Nina (unfortunately that’s the only name I remember, but everyone deserves their own shout out). She was so so kind and thoughtful. I was deeply touched that she carried my luggage out because the bellman was away briefly. That’s what makes hotels like this stand out! 🙂 I actually got a little teary eyed writing this just upon reflecting on the kindness of the staff. All the best! - James Schauff 🫶🏼“

“The pierogi holiday meal is simply amazing! Soooo good!“

“Great Bar! Fun Owner is Friendly... Reminds me of Temple Bar in Dublin.. College Town“

“Stumbled upon The Matchbox the other night, and man, this place is tiny but oozing with that classic Chicago charm. It's like squeezing into a CTA train during rush hour, but way more fun. The bartender, Zack, whipped up a killer margarita for around $12—totally worth it. The vibe's cozy, making it easy to chat with folks around you. If you're looking for a spot with character and solid drinks, The Matchbox is a must-hit.​“

“A great experience. Strong commitment to a thematic vision with a very thoughtful approach that acknowledged the character of the venue. I look forward to all of my future visits.“