37 Best Cocktail Bars near Riverside

“What a great gem I came across. I initially found them through Groupon, and I loved the tour. The tasting was amazing, and I probably should have ubered because you'll get knocked on your behind from all the tastings. Lol.The owner and staff are wonderful. I highly recommend going and seeing for yourself.“

“Amazing staff! Small hidden gem. Atmosphere is amazing and the drinks are phenomenal. They have specials every day of the week. Amazing ?“

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

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“Place has a speakeasy disco vibe. On a Sat the DJ was spinning real vinyl with jazz, 80s, and similar to create a chill vibe. The disco balls helped as well. Though I always appreciate unique cocktails and this place falls nothing short of a tasty twist. Order from Olven. He was very helpful and kind.“

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

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

“Great variety and unique flavors. Great vibe.“

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

“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.“

“Lunch: One of the best Cubano sandwiches I've ever had. Friends were quite satisfied with their salads and desserts (cheesecake and banana bread pudding). My chocolate layer cake was tasty. Very generous portion sizes and fantastic service.“

“Food are great And good drinks too“

“Favorite bar in Avondale!!“

“Great food and wonderful service!“

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

“Just that you will have an awesome time!“

“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“

“I stopped by here for a margarita after visiting Restoried Bookshop. The margaritas were SO GOOD! They were also having trivia and movie night. I left my books but was able to coordinate with the staff to pick them back up. They went above and beyond! I will definitely return!“

“Great food and a local gem!!! We ate out on the patio and had a lovely meal“

“my first time here with my nephew and I love it ..the bartender is freaking awesome much love to Ms. Kim .. my awesome friendly makes you feel very welcomed I got to beat my nephew in darts .lol wish there was a pool table though .. but I will definitely be back. the serves is awesome s must visit“

“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!“

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

“Great Drinks and Amazing Atmosphere. Our go to spot!“

“I came to Gretel in Chicago with a few friends and had such a great experience! The atmosphere was lively but still cozy — the kind of spot that feels perfect for catching up over good food and drinks. I ordered the Monarch cocktail and the signature Gretel Griddle Burger, and both were amazing. The Monarch was perfectly balanced — refreshing, smooth, and beautifully made. The burger absolutely lived up to the hype: juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. Our server was friendly and attentive, and the food came out quickly even though the place was busy. Between the great service, relaxed vibe, and delicious food, Gretel definitely impressed me!“

“Y’all come on out and support my girl Gina, the hostess with the mostess! Sit back and relax in a warm and welcoming environment. Daily food and drink specials, and as always…try your luck at their amazing slots, with all the latest games! Open daily till 2am, 3am Fridays and Saturdays! 😘“

“Great food and exceptional service“

“Everything about this gem is amazing. The food was delicious. They had a great selection of drinks and cocktails to choose from. If you catch Santana who is a bartender there, he’s super friendly and knowledgeable- as is the whole staff. Modelo on Tap is also just an awesome homage to have for the community.“

“Best GF Pizza I have ever had and I have been GF for 15 years! Highly recommend!“

“Free hot dogs at midnight. Cool vibe“

“Posto 31 is arguably the best restaurant and ambiance in the La Grange/La Grange park area. The food is consistently high quality at a fair price point. Portion sizes are great and the drinks are delicious.“

“This is a perfect neighborhood cocktail bar. It's definitely nicer and more polished than your average bar, yet still approachable and my favorite spot to meet up with friends. A huge shout out to the staff- consistently kind, and happy to make recommendations. To top it off, the food here is amazing, not just your regular bar-fare. I legit come here for a full dinner as well as a drink. If I had to eat only one food for the rest of my life I would choose their cheesy potatoes in a heartbeat. Highly recommend!“