48 Best Wine Bars in Chicago

“Food was delicious. Everything we had was amazing.“

“My Fiancé and I discovered this restaurant after watching “Somebody Feed Fill” and were inspired and intrigued by Sarah’s restaurant and craftsmanship. We had our eye on getting reservations here for a very long time and we ended up landing lunch reservations for my Fiancés birthday (whom is also a Chef). We just happened to be seated by the expo line near the kitchen where we saw Sarah working. From start to finish our server Rose, and Sarah made sure our experience was personalized special. Sarah even signed the cookbook we bought and menu! Everything was on point from the food to the service. I can see why it’s so hard to get a reservation here! If we could rate our experience higher we would. We greatly appreciate the hospitality and dedication that this restaurant displays!“

“My husband and I were in town from Montreal and New Hope, PA for my cousin's MFA graduation from SAIC [School of the Art Institute of Chicago]. This place is the best! Wonderful people, great food and drinks, perfect vibe. What's not to love? We will for sure be back the next time we're in Chicago.“

“Many of the most beautiful meals of my life have been at Cellar Door. Their food, the atmosphere at the restaurant, and the care put into the menu and wine selection create a magical dining experience. We ate there this week for a special occasion and loved the steak, radishes, asparagus, and a lovely tortellini with subtle herb flavors. The bread and house-made pickles are a must-order. Perfect spot for a special occasion, dinner with friends, or meal with a book at the bar.“

“I love this place, they have the best pitas in the city. Hands down. They’ve gone through I think 3 chefs in recent years as our waiter was explaining. But we both had the steak Laffa sand which and fries. 10/10 from both of us. It’s a sandwich I could eat daily. Tbh I feel like they gave too many fries, but they’re still really good, and the mango curry sauce mayo thing they give is unique, punchy and bright. We thought it was a curry mustard but it’s actually a mayo (I think).

We also learned you can buy the pita in bulk which is a game changer.“

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

“Fabulous as always A Chicago go to for me“

“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.“

“This restaurant was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was perfect and the staff was amazing. Our waitress named Frida was the most sweetest and helpful person. She was great in welcoming us at the restaurant and very knowledgeable in the history of the restaurant. The food was so delicious and flavorful. I definitely recommend and enjoyed my time there.“

“First timers and now we will be regulars! The hospitality, atmosphere and fare were outstanding! From the knowledgeable staff, the welcoming management and the hostess that went WAY above and beyond to be sure my disabled husband was accommodated from when we booked our reservation to the end of our dining experience - we couldn’t have been more delighted! See you again soon, Lardon!“

“We loved our meal last night for Valentine’s Day! pair the duck bread with the squash soup. It was absolutely delicious. The goat cheese salad with the apple dressing was equally as good. My steak was cooked perfectly. We had an amazing espresso martini and a delightful crisp lemon cocktail. My husband also liked their old fashioned. We split caramel ice cream with pineapple and it was a great finishing touch. The Moscato d Asti never disappoints either this is our fourth Valentine’s Day with Brindille and it has been our tradition ever since we have been together. Each year is different and this year was definitely better than the last! Their servers are great too. We are looking forward to our future years here. Thank you. ❤️“

“Atelier in Lincoln Square is a gem. Opted for the 5-course tasting menu on a weeknight—every dish was a creative hit, especially the Thai peanut rutabaga noodles and carrot gnocchi. The intimate setting felt like dining in a friend's cozy kitchen. Service was warm and knowledgeable, making the experience even better. Spent around $150 with a glass of wine. Can't wait to return for the full 12-course menu.“

“We always look forward to takeout (during COVID) and look forward to seeing you in person. Pizza is always fantastic!!! Always!“

“My favorite burger that I’ve ever had in the city. I could not believe how incredible this place was. Got a pretty cheap bottle considering the quality and it was perfect. Everything else on the menu looked amazing and I can’t wait to come back and try the rest. Our server was not around very much but it seemed like he had the entire restaurant to himself so he did great all things considered.“

“Great view music and drinks“

“One of the best wine shops that I know. The staff is very knowledgeable and they hand pick bottles from around the world. You can also have wine and cheese at their bar. A real gem for all the craft beer and wine connoisseurs!!!“

“Absolutely love this place and bar manager knows his wines. Very informative.“

“Great, fun cocktail class!!“

“This place is permanently closed and it makes me so sad. We came in around Christmas time back in 2018 and sat at the bar. Our bartender was friendly and extremely knowledgeable of wines and poured us the best glasses of Riesling we have ever tasted. We also had olives with some sort of bread and cheese that I cannot remember the name of, but I do remember that it was excellent. Truly wish we could go here again.“

“Atmosphere and service were on point! A must go to when in Chicago“

“Excellent wine and snacks. great experience!“

“The dishes, especially the starter street corn dip, are fantastic and truly set the tone for a wonderful meal. Our server Kevin is doing an outstanding job. His exceptional service enhances the experience, perfectly complementing the delicious food.“

“This place is a gem!! Would highly recommend to any of my friends and will definitely be going back. Amazing food and service. Relaxing, beautiful atmosphere outside on the deck. I’ve lived in Chicago, NYC, and LA and this is one of my favorite places.“

“All around excellent experience“

“A wonderful spot to sit down and have a drink and apps. The bartender Carli was very kind a gave great suggestions which made the experience that much better. Matt was very personable, talking to me about music and my visit to Chicago, great vibes all around. I’m from the south and I wish we had oysters half as good as the pickled oysters on the menu. Hats off to Queen Mary’s“

“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!“

“Great selection of wines and delicious small bites. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.“

“Tonight, the Wife and I asked for a table of 4, saw multiple tables open. Host replied with "Looks like we're not going to have table free for the rest of the night." Our 2 friends walked in about 5 minutes after us for a table, Host proceeds to not automatically deny them and asks the servers. Servers apparently had a problem with having another table until another server came worked it out. Finally, Wife and I walk back in to join our friends and overhear 2 servers discussing with the host about not seating anyone after 9pm (they close at midnight btw) Great to know that you wanting to close early is more important than actually doing your jobs and making easy money (we only got drinks and 2 apps) Pathetic, will not come back. Sayonara!“

“Absolutely wonderful place! Met the owner and he provided us with a wine tasting before we picked which one to order. He was so friendly and kind! Atmosphere was exciting yet calm. I'm so grateful to have found this place - cannot wait to return!“

“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.“

“Im embarrassed it took us a couple of years to finally dine here but I'm SO grateful we FINALLY arrived and assure you we will be back again soon. Fun cocktail menu, great wine list and an impeccably delivered menu and great service! Thank you for the perfect date night!“

“Nice quiet steakhouse with good service and great staff“

“Watershed is a true Chicago hidden gem. I hesitate to tell people about it, because it's so good. The atmosphere, food, cocktails, and service are unparalleled. The bartenders are total characters, and will make every visit special. Can't recommend enough.“

“Unique neighborhood locale with its own distinct character. 2/5 for the price of the espresso martini — it’s a below-average serving portion and a lackluster flavor profile. Each room had its own vibe, decor, and ambiance. Attentive and great service from a gentleman bartender.“

“LOVED the drinks and our Entrée was Spectacular can't wait to go back“

“What an amazing wine bar. They have an excellent list that really pleased my out of town sommelier friend. They even have a lovely franciocorta that is really hard to find and really lovely staff that are funny and warm. It’s everything you would want in an Armitage wine bar: old world, vibey, laid back, high quality — will return“

“Sometimes, you pick one restaurant over a million other nearby options thanks to a tiny detail. For me, it was a picture of their mouthwatering mushrooms tartine. Well, tried and verified!The orange wine was excellent, and the entire wine list and menu looked great.I also gave a try to the desserts, but here I was a bit disappointed. The pistachio bread pudding was excellent, but the quantity was way too small. The ice cream served with it held its apricot promise, however it was more crème au beurre-like and more fatty/buttery rather than fresh and tangy like what I would have expected from an apricot.Looking forward to my next visit!“

“What an incredible experience. We thought a bubble party would be fun for the kids but I think the adults enjoyed it just as much. Anastasia is a true professional. This is really performance art as much as it is entertainment. The party was a couple weeks ago and I still hear about it from kids and their parents. We will look into this again for certain. Cannot recommend enough!“

“Located on the "Dress Circle" Floor, next to "Aisle One". The convenience of pre-ordering food and having it waiting during intermission is a unique and luxurious experience. Had the strawberry tart with gold leaf and prosecco. I was in and out with time to spare.

I also had changed my reservation last minute and they were most accommodating. I called and left a message and someone called back within a couple hours.“

“It’s more than the drinks that makes you want to return. The ambience is chill and you can have a conversation at any volume. Not good at names but I think it was Manny and Allen or Adam. They know the menu well and gave recommendations on solid drinks. Only problem you’ll have is being hungover.“

“We had a delicious breakfast and the service was Excellent. Looking forward to coming back for lunch and mock tails.“

“This place is a must visit. My wife and I have been here twice and they don’t miss! Love the Chicago spin they put on a lot of their dishes. Each dish is well balanced and so flavorful and their cocktails are tasty too! Every team member we have interacted with is always knowledgeable and welcoming. There is no doubt this place will continue to get more popular and is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Can’t wait to go back“

“Beautiful Birthday dinner here in one of the cabanas. Liked the privacy and obscuridad the cabanas and low lights gave. Flavors of soup , scallops, and rib eye were great. Definitely recommend for a date night or girls night 😍“

“If you are looking for a really special food experience with a cozy casual atmosphere, this is an awesome place to visit. The chef, Ms Dani Kaplan, is the daughter of one of my closest bff. OMG! Each bite is a tastebud delight! And the bar - so special! If you want a true, high-quality, Chicago, eating experience don’t miss this place!!!!“

“Nice spot for a quiet drink at the bar, plus they have a small but mighty menu. The birria eggrolls and pretzel crusted chicken definitely live up to the hype. If you're looking for a late night bite or a quiet place to catch a game, you found it.“

“The risotto in the arancini was undercooked (crunchy) and the pasta vesuvio and shells were bland. Atmosphere was cool and wine was delicious. Would be a good place just for drinks and possibly apps. Otherwise, there are so many other better pizza and pasta restaurants in the city.“

“We thought the atmosphere was cozy, service was very nice, and food was really good/tasty. We shared the Arugula Beet Salad and Grilled Octopus apps, then had the Grilled Salmon (really tasty!) and Chicken Verdura (tasted as expected) entrées. Also, the cheesecake they served we both agreed was better tasting than any we’d had before.“

“Great Bavarian liverwurst sausage and hunters sausage. First time there this past weekend and will back for sure when I get back to Chicago. Rooftop beer 🍺 and sausage was awesome too!!“