50 Best Cocktail Bars in Chicago

“Foodie and gals it’s are addictive. Warning!! 💕💕💕💕“

“Esme is truly an experience to have. We did the menu and the wine pairing and it was amazing. From the presentation to the food was unbelievable and will definitely do it again as it changes quarterly“

“Great staff and every thing we ordered was absolutely fantastic.“

“We dined on Easter for brunch- it was delicious and lovely with excellent service - our server Dylan was so sweet and took great care of us! We really enjoyed all of our dishes but the shakshuka, mezze platter, oysters and the chicken & waffles were stand outs! Good coffee and nice cocktails too! We’ll be back for sure!“

“This place is the coolest bar I have been to in a long time, hip and fun but not pretentious. They paid attention to every detail when building and designing. The white marbel bar has clean lines and looks fresh. All of the hardware finishes look sharp and clean. The patio is large and inviting with a fire place and plenty of tables to sit at. The drink menu is creative and refreshing and the staff is kind and welcoming. I cannot say enough good things about this gem of a bar. I am excited to hang out this fall on the patio by the fireplace with good drink in My hand.“

“We had a lovely dinner at Rose Mary last night and it was the most fabulous meal that we have had in some time. Amazing service, beautiful venue and the food was just so good. Simple but very complex; rustic but refined. And the service was impeccable. What a glorious end to our experience in Chicago!! Very highly recommend it. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟“

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

“Love this place. The atmosphere is incredible. It’s preferable to come between 8-11 when the dim lights set. Brett, one of the bartenders, got me out of a depressive episode when I was thinking about an ex. I cannot recommend this place enough. I’d give it 6 starts but black rock restricted me to 5.“

“Had an amazing experience, sat outside on a nice night. Apps were amazing, main courses, cocktails and even dessert were all delicious. I'm not going to lie I don't like duck and was apprehensive but it was all delicious. Probably the best French dip sandwich I've ever had too. 10/10“

“It’s the best. Great Bartenders and excellent cocktails“

“Really cool concept with a fully vegan menu option. I loved how they added creative twists to traditional Indian dishes — everything felt refined and beautifully presented. The restaurant itself is super fancy and definitely great for a special occasion. I also did the non-alcoholic pairing with each course, which was really well thought out and complemented the flavors perfectly. Highly recommend booking the vegan tasting menu if you want a unique fine-dining experience in Chicago.“

“I am late writing my review but I had to write it !! I visited provare chicago On july 8th !! From start to finish this restaurant gets 5 starts . The decor was nice and set a perfect atmosphere for a great night . We were greeted immediately upon arrival and seated within 5 minutes of being there . Once seated the wait staff began their introduction's on drinks and popular menu item's. After my party ordered drinks and appetizers a gentleman came over (not sure if he was the manager) and introduce himself and made sure we were having a great experience. Appetizers were amazing!! We couldn't wait for dinner!! Our entrées we just as good if not better ! Everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection! When we didn't think the night could get even better the entire wait staff and the gentleman that came over before stopped and recognized my friend for her birthday and brought over a birthday surprise!! I live 307 miles and this place was definitely worth the drive !!!“

“An incredible experience at Alma (Hotel Zachary)!

We went for their Sunday Afternoon Tea (available on select non-game day Sundays) and it was absolutely amazing! The space is chic and stylish, and you can’t beat the iconic views of Wrigley Field—such a unique and beautiful setting for tea.

We were welcomed with a glass of sparkling rosé, followed by a delicious pot of tea—I chose the Mallorca Melon, which was light, fruity, and perfect for summer. The tea selection changes seasonally, which makes me excited to come back and try something new!

The food was just as impressive: a beautifully presented spread of fresh pastries, sandwiches, and desserts, all of which were super flavorful and clearly made with care.

Huge shoutout to our server, Amir—he was outstanding! Friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

We’ll definitely be back. Highly recommend Alma for anyone looking for a special afternoon out in Wrigleyville!“

“Great variety and unique flavors. Great vibe.“

“Great happy hour daily 5-6pm The burgers are so good !! Always fun“

“Kind hearted people are quite rare to find as cooperate people or as individuals also. I'm sharing a 4 years friendship and business relationship i've shared with Mr Ralph Carico for being such an awesome, kind and specially oriented. Thank you for being supportive each time i buy and invest in digital stocks and coins with your firm.“

“Like a flash back to the 70’s, before I could hold a cocktail but fancied doing so.....“

“I love this place! We were there on 5/29/22 and Wes was wonderful as well as the drinks!“

“excellent food - we both the spring rolls and the egg rolls. the crab fried rice and vegetable salad with rice noodles were also really tasty.“

“Estimados encargados de El Solazo: Espero este mensaje les encuentre bien. Me dirijo a ustedes como un cliente frecuente y admirador de su restaurante, en el cual siempre disfruto de una comida deliciosa y un servicio excepcional. Sin embargo, en mi última visita, experimenté una situación que considero importante señalar para su atención y mejora. El día de hoy, martes 26 de noviembre, llegué a cenar a las 8:45 pm confiando en la información publicada en sus redes sociales, donde claramente se especifica que el horario de cierre es a las 11:00 pm. No obstante, a las 9:30 pm ya se estaba anunciando el "último llamado" para bebidas alcohólicas. Además, durante mi estancia, fui testigo de cómo dos familias fueron rechazadas para cenar por el mismo motivo: el restaurante estaba cerrando antes de tiempo debido a "la falta de clientes". Entiendo que puedan surgir situaciones operativas, pero considero que este tipo de decisiones impacta negativamente en la experiencia de sus clientes. Cuando se anuncia un horario de cierre, los clientes planeamos nuestras visitas en base a esa información. De no ser posible mantener el horario anunciado, sería más transparente ajustarlo oficialmente en sus plataformas para que las personas puedan planear con anticipación y, en caso necesario, optar por otras opciones. Por último, quiero mencionar que esta inconformidad fue compartida con nuestra mesera, quien nos escuchó con amabilidad. Sin embargo, creo que esta situación requiere un ajuste desde la gerencia para evitar malentendidos en el futuro. Agradezco de antemano su atención a esta situación y espero que se tomen las medidas necesarias para garantizar que su excelente servicio sea consistente en todos los aspectos. Atentamente, Jesus Jesse Hernández“

“Outstanding service and an incredible meal. I had the tuna crudo appetizer as my entree and it was the absolute best I've ever had. Unique and enough for two people! The margarita was fantastic without the tartness that comes with many bottled margaritas. This was very authentic. Everything was very reasonably priced. What a wonderful find!! I will be back!“

“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 🫶🏼“

“Intimate setting with great staff who are always welcoming and warm. Their cocktails aren’t just thrown together; they take weeks to perfect their recipes with the final product being works of art. Their Old Fashioned is my favorite so far and the mango shrimp is my favorite entree. Their lavender/mint tea latte is unique, luscious and calming. Save room for Diego’s homemade desserts, they are luscious! Great food, great cocktails, great staff, great ambiance.“

“Great food and exceptional service“

“So much fun. Creative cocktails that look amazing and taste even better.“

“Great food and interesting menu to say the least. 10/10 would eat and drink again!“

“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!“

“Delicious meal, wonderful staff. The food was creatively fresh and inventive. Cocktails were also great. Highly recommend to sit at the chefs counter. Will try to make it back for brunch.

Dietary restrictions: Were able to accommodate gluten free“

“Genuinely the best place that we experienced in Chicago. An intimate and small speakeasy with a HUGE attention to detail. Roger took care of us and treated us like we've been good friends for years. He was clearly extremely knowledgeable as a bartender and very kind. The drinks that they've crafted are incredibly unique and delicious.“

“The experience was overall great! The food is amazing and good value for its price, the portions are generous and shareable. The Meze tower is enough for two people, scallops and bucatini where exquisite. The interior is beautiful, though quite noisy. Service was very good. Our server messed up the cocktail and the main dish, but both were replaced very quick, and we got compliment drinks. Would definitely recommend visiting!“

“Great music by Ivan Singh!“

“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 Food. Would highly recommend.“

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

“Great vibe, great staff, well made and designed cocktails 🍸“

“Cosmic and Carnal Cocktails, Phenomenal Food and Stupendous Staff Members! 10’s Across The Board! Oh, the sound system and curated DJ Sets will have even the deceased DANCING 🕺“

“After entering the unassuming side door to Meadowlark we were greeted by a very friendly hostess. We were actually there to buy a gift card but decided to stay and check it out. The waiting area is separated from the main room and is quite small. We waited about 30 minutes to be seated. We loved the atmosphere right away. It was dimly lit with lots of dark wood and exposed brick walls. We were sat at a little settee with a small coffee table in front of it. We were greeting within a couple minutes and given drink menus. All of the cocktails are craft and very interesting. Our server explained that the menu rotates on a weekly basis. It was a space themed menu when we were there. Our drinks were delicious and very pretty in the individually curated glasses. We were pleasantly surprised at how quickly our drinks arrived. We chose a mixed olive dish and deviled eggs for small bites. We loved both. Especially the deviled eggs! We loved Meadowlark! The space is well thought out and cozy. The drinks were delicious and innovative and the service was outstanding. Come early because the wait can get long. You won’t be disappointed.“

“You would never know. Just walk on by. But it’s your loss if you do. The food is amazing. Flat out good. So much better than any of those downtown corporate places. Cooked with heart and profoundly good flavor, texture and palate. Next door to perhaps the best pasta in the Midwest, this restaurant and bar should be on your list.“

“Love this place. The drinks are amazing, the food hits the spot, and the bartenders are what make this place a gem in Chinatown.“

“Been here several times, always a blast and great drinks. Last visit was weird. Kinda stuffy. Bartender was uninterested and ok with letting customers wait along time before taking order. I hope things are not changing.“

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

“We happened upon this restaurant during a visit from New England. It was the best meal we had in Chicago. The restaurant is fabulous! We had delicious soup with incredible warm rolls, salad and 4 different amazing entrees. The restaurant has great windows to enjoy natural light and is quiet enough to have a conversation. All this with white tablecloths and a reasonable price.“

“Oliver’s is a truly special place. The atmosphere is cozy and their service is outstanding.

The food is exceptional—every dish we tried was delicious—but the standout was the risotto, made with pumpkin, cheese, and hazelnuts. It was the best risotto we’ve ever had.“

“my best friend and I just had the BEST experience at the whale! Our waitress taylor was incredible and the manager (so sorry but we never got his name because he was just being so nice to us) was incredible as well. We will definitely return with friends and recommend anyone to try it out! classy, but not snobby, cool decor, warm kind and accommodating staff, and great food and cocktails are just the cherry on top! try the carrot cake after your meal :) Thank you again to taylor and the manager again <3“

“Very nice and friendly bartenders. They are very good at making any kind of drinks.“

“The staff was great. As a fellow mixologist, I appreciated the work that went into the bitters and mixers. The spirit list was great and expansive. We had a nice time there. The only thing I would suggest would be to not have the QR Code funnel through Canva to get to the menu or website as Canva is loaded on my phone and it had to bypass my account to get to your listing.“

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

“The food was great. The wait staff was courteous and professional.“

“Had such a great time here after a long day of exploring this past Saturday! My two bartenders were great and suggested some good sojus for a better Korean experience! I think their names were Lizzy and Ariana but i did have a bit of Soju and beer 😂 The food was also incredible! I can’t recommend the japchae enough! If ever I’m back in Chicago I’ll make sure to come by again and maybe even sing that time around!“

“The rooftop has the best views!!! Such a good spot to take a visitor. The drinks and food were all great and it’s a really good brunch spot“