50 Best Cocktail Bars near Forest Park

“My husband and I dined at this restaurant last month for the first time and loved it so I suggested it for a cousin’s dinner last night. Divino is a family restaurant. Chef Gabriel’s food is creative and delicious. His brother-in-law Jose, I believe, is the one behind the great cocktail list and making housemade aperitifs.
The four of us shared two appetizers. The tuna tartare - chopped tuna on top of creamy avocado surrounded by crispy capers and quail yolk. It was served with homemade potato and vegetable chips. We also shared the goat cheese - creamy melted goat cheese sitting in a pool of tasty marinara. This was served with grilled baguette pieces. This appetizer could use more of the baguette as we ran out of bread and still had goat cheese left to enjoy.
For dinner, my sister had the gnocchi with braised beef, short rib, spinach and mushrooms. I know this dish was delicious because this is what my husband ordered the first time we dined here. My two cousins had the chicken limone and said it was very good. (I have my eye on this for next time ). I opted for the branzino which was moist and served in a delicious lemon caper sauce. I would like to see a traditional pasta with marinara sauce on the menu. I think that would be a great addition for clientele who are into the traditional instead of the creative and unique.
There was no room for dessert, but shots of limoncello came to the table. So sweet of Divino. Let me tell you the limoncello was amazing. Luckily, I was able to buy a bottle of this housemade limoncello. Since the four of us were raving about the limoncello, right before we walked out the door Divino gave us a tasting of the housemade pistachio cream. Omg! So smooth, creamy and divine. We enjoyed our conversations with the chef and his brother-in-law, the other owner. Great guys who care about their customers and restaurant.“

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

“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“

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

“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.“

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

“Couldn’t even wait to leave to leave a review! The vibes are amazing but especially the customer service. Every person I talked to has been so friendly and accommodating. 2nd time being here and both have been great experiences! Also the staff did so much for us without having to ask, genuinely some of the best customer service I’ve had. The drinks were also so good so all around I’m excited to go come back!!!“

“I love the diversity of the people who come here. Just an amazing atmosphere of unique individuals that bring so much to the place whenever I'm here. And some of the best bartenders in the city!“

“Great food and exceptional service“

“This might be one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Not only because the food is delicious but the staff are the sweetest people in the world.

A special shoutout to Issac and the GM (I forget her name) for not only providing good service but providing it with a real heart and soul.“

“Awesome place! Their happy hour menu is fantastic but the normal menu is also very reasonable. Love seeing highballs getting the spotlight. Staff was friendly and attentive.
I don't usually eat when I'm out drinking but the burger was so well reviewed I had to try it and was not disappointed.“

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

“The concept for the menu is a unique trip along the Pan-American highway with stops at various Latin countries. Each dish and drink is thoughtful in its ingredients and presentation. The jicama salad was refreshing, but not at all plain. The pastel de choclo was a wonderful surprise of a warm dish. The frozen el arenal was seriously dangerous in how delicious it was, I can’t recommend it enough. The atmosphere was beautiful and the music was perfect. We are so thrilled to have this gem in the neighborhood and can’t wait to see what they do in the future!“

“Amazing experience! The food was great…best steak that I’ve ever had!“

“Great variety and unique flavors. Great vibe.“

“Absolutely a 10/10 meal AND experience! The chefs omakase coursed meal was incredible. The chef walked us through each dish that somehow was even more delectable than the last. Cocktails were wonderful and the matcha sandwich for dessert is a must!“

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

“The menu here rotates and has a different theme - could have read it like a book! Very moody, great date spot. While a little pricey, cocktails are worth it. Be prepared for a wait on the weekends - they prioritize those that wait in-person vs. leaving a phone number.“

“Always amazing cocktails! We are big fans.“

“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.“

“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“

“Love this place, sometimes they super busy especially on the weekends. On the weekdays its a pretty chill and stylish spot. The cocktails are delicious and the staff are all so kind. My friends and I really like their carrot dip thing haha, its tasty! In the morning they have the Allez cafe pop up. I recommend the cream top if you're trying out their cafe pop up (8a - 2p).“

“Great food/drinks Great service Great prices We will be back.“

“Watched the World Cup Final here with a semi-large group of friends (party of 8). I emailed asking about reservations for a table and within ~24 hours it was set. Great drinks and food. The people were super nice (both the staff and other patrons)! This place had the perfect vibes I was looking for to enjoy a big game, thank you WGT“

“Nice place, wonderful burger and good bar selection. Totally disagree with the credit card surcharge, though - no restaurant with $20 burgers should charge guests the comission!“

“Everything was top tier. From the fresh, flavorful Japanese/mexican fusion tapas, to the amazing cocktails and the cozy dim lighting. Our server Mirely was the sweetest and so fun to talk to with great recommendations. The happy hour was fantastic with free little bites throughout. Honestly, worth every penny. Definitely a new favorite spot!“

“Hands down one of the best restaurants in Chicago. It’s rare to find a restaurant where every dish is so flavorful and on point but Elia does it so gracefully! Amazing atmosphere and great service - Ebrar made our dinner experience so enjoyable. Can’t wait to go back!“

“Absolutely love Vistro! Amazing staff, delicious food, wonderful atmosphere, and superb customer service. It never disappoints!“

“Lovely place for a cocktail, conversation and live music. Lots of seating options so you can get as close or far to the music as you’d like. Bartenders do a great job creating original craft cocktails with seasonal options. Service was exceptional“

“5 Stars ⭐️ amazing food, highly recommend“

“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“

“Excellent customer service. Food was delicious and the prices weren’t bad at all. Highly recommend!“

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

“This is the place to go if you’re looking for a delightfully creative cocktail list and scrumptious food options. We hit this place for brunch and were not disappointed. We had the burger, sausage, jam and egg sando on a milk bun, the earl grey cinnamon (it comes warm by the way), fried potatoes and the matcha raspberry GF cake and Bloody Marys. All of it I would order again with the exception of the GF situation.
The vibe is amazing, loved the design and the service was spectacular.“

“Just discovered a new cocktail bar in the Logan Square/Avondale area. It’s cozy, rustic, and has super welcoming vibe. The cocktails are unique and creative; great quality without the crazy price tag. I heard they have DJs on weekends too.
Pro tip: Don’t miss the famous tamales from Claudio, the Tamale Guy. 6 pieces for $12 is a steal.“

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

“Favorite bar in Avondale!!“

“The wife and I went back to the old neighborhood to visit somebody at the hospital driving around we found modern plate. We figure we’d give it a try. There is no doubt in my mind that this place eventually will be a five star restaurant. The food was phenomenal service atmosphere But I will tell you this much. Don’t go there with your good. Looks thinking you’re gonna buy something bring your cash, but it’s well worth it. The wife and I cannot wait to go back to try something else.“

“What a wonderful place! Great location with plenty of parking. The hospitality and service was 5 star. The food and specialty cocktails were excellent. We had a 1972 class reunion there today. Mike Moreno is one of our classmates. He and his family treated us like royalty. I wish I lived closer because it’s a beautiful place.“

“Saturday afternoon stop for a brew and snack. Wings were on the Smokey side.“

“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.“

“Was brought here with a local friend. Hung out in the back. Outside, under the stars and playing on the drums. Definitely a place high on my return list.“

“Excellent food and ambiance, The brick chicken is my favorite. Our friends who have lived throughout the country said the pork chop is the best they ever had“

“Ten out of Ten !!!!!!!!!!“

“If you're looking for a place in which you can get a real quality Martini, this is it.

Not only the martinis in here are great, but the place itself and the atmosphere of it, makes it such an unique place. Enjoy. 🖤“

“This bar is awsome! But when Danny works I am made to feel so uncomfortable.

Every other member of the staff has made me feel like a valued member of our community and I think that’s what this establishment stands for. However , when Danny works, I feel objectified, disrespected, and over all disappointed with my stay.
I do not think this person speaks for the volumes of wonderful experience at Nighthawk. Others should definitely continue to support Nighthawk if you’re about supporting queer friendly / local communities and small businesses. I firmly, as a patron for a decade, do not feel this employee represents what this establishment stands for.

I am confident in the authority of establishment to remedy the situation to optimize experiences for all.“

“Flavor galore! Everything was delicious! Our server was great - explained the menu & helped us decide which dishes would please our palate. Fried items were light & crispy and saucy dishes weren't heavy. Our date night resulted in 4 thumbs up. 😋“

“Just that you will have an awesome time!“

“Great vibe! Sat outside.“

“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.“