50 Best Bars near Oak Park

“The front of the house staff and the food envisioned by Chef Laura and well executed by the talented kitchen staff are outstanding. Simply outstanding.simple yet intesting eats. Whitney is beyond attentive to his guests' beverage interests. "George" Harrison, Jack and the under 21 staff are eager, respectful, and engaging. What a treasure in this neighborhood spot, with beyond just the nearby geographically located closeby fan base. Who's going to gift me with a card to Kettlestrings Tavern for Christmas? "8 days a week" left until December 25“

“What a wonderful experience! We heard about this place by a word of mouth reference and it held up to their review of it and then some. We started with the special tuna tostadas (I am glad we got 2!) then we had the cauliflower mole followed by the skirt steak with bone marrow and finished with the tres leches. Drinks we had the 8M and mole old fashion(x2). Everything we had made us so happy, our palate doing a dance. It was truly wonderful. Highly recommend and look forward to going back!!!
Forgot to take pictures of some and dived into the mole app before a photo, just that good. 😋
First service the hostess was very nice, the food runners were ontop of it. And David our server was beyond exceptional. Food, service, and atmosphere get 5 stars without question.“

“1st time here, It was a very nice experience, our server was great and the musicians were great too! The food was yummy! And the cocktails! I will recommend to my friends!“

“My family and I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the food and the service.“

“Great vibe and good food lover of the crab legs“

“Stopped in yesterday for lunch, first-time visitors. Smash burger excellent, Cubano sandwich excellent, fries were outstanding. We sat at the bar and the young lady serving us was cheerful and attentive. We'll be back! Thank you! 🤗🍺👍“

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

“Enjoyed my first Hot Toddy here!!“

“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 🙌🏼“

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

“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“

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

“Staff was friendly and the service was great. I was really impressed by the drink selection and got lost looking at everything. Traveled from Orlando solo and I frequent similar bars in my area and I'll be sure to stop in the next time I'm in Chicago.“

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

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

“Fantastic from start to finish.“

“LOVE Gemini. Their bottomless has a great variety, and my food has been amazing every time!“

“Went there today for the first, but definitely not last time. The food was extraordinary.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Great rooms and very friendly staff. They did a great job at helping us understand how the rooms worked and how we can pick the different songs of our choice. Bartenders are very kind and helpful. I would recommend this spot if you are on the search of something to do with friends“

“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.“

“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.“

“I've been here twice and both times, phenomenal. The dry aged ribeye and burger are delicious, and the constantly changing menu always has something new to discover. Sit at the open kitchen and watch the fire magic happen! Yes, the music is loud, but it's a vibe for sure. The bar might be limited in size, but that doesn't stop them from making a great cocktail. Great old fashioned and a legit whiskey sour, I was very impressed.“

“Desert Hawk in Chicago has quietly become one of the city’s must visit destinations for burger lovers, pairing a laid back neighborhood bar atmosphere with the outstanding creations of Shorty’s Smash Burgers. The signature smash burgers are packed with bold flavor, featuring perfectly caramelized beef, inventive toppings, and the unforgettable crispy cheddar cheese skirt that has earned a devoted following. Whether you’re stopping in for craft cocktails, wings, or one of Chicago’s most talked about smash burgers, Desert Hawk and Shorty’s deliver an experience that’s well worth the visit.“

“Fabulous addition to the neighborhood! A great spot to have a glass solo, meet up with friends, take a class, or bring a bottle home. They were super accommodating when I brought in a group of girlfriends, seating us at the back table with very attentive service. Very reasonable prices, too.“

“I love rainbo club but had a really icky experience there tonight. Bouncer with a “lex” tattoo was a real prick. Snatched my ID out of my hand and literally jabbed it in my face giving it back to me (fully legal age/ID) and was all around really frustrating to all of my friends in line. Maybe just be a tad bit kinder? Or don’t work late night if you get cranky? 😅“

“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 🙌🏼“

“I hosted my wedding welcome drinks here and it was AWESOME!
From booking to the actual day everything was smooth!

Brian was so great with all our guests and everyone had an incredible time! We had
~65 people and did a cabana rental, it was cozy, but there was plenty of room and everyone who wanted to play, got to!“

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

“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!“

“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 and Friendly Service“

“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. 🖤“

“Excellent spot to grab a free hot dog before the ball game. My only complaint is they packed up the hot dog station before the game started!! Good beer selection and generally a good crowd here. Very busy on weekends and often week nights as well. The patio is lovely.“

“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.“

“This is one of my favorite bars in the city. I love that it's nearby my neighborhood, it's a lovely addition to the area. The food is delicious, I recommend the dill pickle pasta salad and the burger. The cocktail menu changes seasonally I think, so there's always something new to try. Cocktails are always nicely balanced and tasty. The staff is so friendly and I love the atmosphere. Busy on the weekends but weeknights are a bit quieter. Visit immediately.“

“Food was delicious. Few dishes I was not a fan of (oysters) and they accommodated with substitutions. Overall each dish was incredibly memorable. The donut was one of the best deserts I've had.

They made sure to give a personal experience. Atmosphere was wonderful as well.

Highly recommend.“

“Смачно. Весело. Приємний персонал. Гарна музика👍🥂🤘🤙👍“

“Stopped in for lunch. The salads were excellent, gumbo delicious, and the corn bread is out-if-this-world amazing!“

“Honestly I love the red neon aesthetic, I only wish the white light from the lobby didn't bleed in as much. I will note, this place is small, like you're not gonna fit more than 20 people in here if you tried, more often than not you'll only find 4-5 people in here, but that's a vibe honestly too.

One thing I need to note is the food, omg how is the food here so good? It's ordered from across the street and some guy brings it over in a bag and it's phenomenal and well priced.

Overall good place to bring a date or for a first time causal meeting“

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

“My friend and I went to a Cubs night game and decided to celebrate the win with some pizza afterward. We found this place on Google and were so glad we did. The atmosphere was fun and unique, with a cozy camping-style vibe and colorful lights. I ordered the large Hawaiian pizza, and it was fantastic. The staff were incredibly friendly, and our server even said it was better than Lou Malnati’s. Honestly, I have to agree! Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.“

“Nobody can beat the classic pasta dishes at La Scarola. Escarole soup and escarole with beans; they have it and it's excellent. Be sure to save room for dessert; the cannoli is as good as it gets and the best Spumoni anywhere.“

“Rogers Park Social is an absolute standout neighborhood staple that perfectly captures a welcoming, vibrant, and sophisticated atmosphere. It is the ideal place to gather with friends for a craft cocktail or to enjoy a relaxing evening in a space that feels both polished and genuinely inviting. The quality of their drinks is consistently top-tier, and you can really taste the care and expertise behind everything they serve. I place an incredibly high premium on cleanliness and the overall maintenance of a venue, and I am consistently impressed by how tidy, well-organized, and immaculately kept their space is—it creates such a professional, stress-free environment that makes every visit a truly positive experience. The staff is consistently friendly, highly skilled, and does a wonderful job of ensuring that every guest feels right at home. If you are looking for a reliable, high-quality venue that prioritizes both atmosphere and professional standards, I cannot recommend Rogers Park Social highly enough!“

“Great music by Ivan Singh!“

“Such an easy place to fall in love with as I have. Perfect vibes and the sweetest bartenders on the planet, drink menu's always rotating with interesting and delightful flavor combinations. Hosted a birthday party here and staff were so helpful and kind throughout the night. This place has my heart forever, long live Consignment Lounge“

“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.“

“this cash only establishment is a foundational part of the river north neighborhood. the prices are from the past, and the bartender is a kool friend to every patron. with Italian ties, and $.75 hard boiled eggs, Richard's bar is a must to anyone with a love of the city, and respect for community. i Will be back.“

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