50 Best Bars near Wilmette

“First time at Valley Lodge Tavern and it was an outstanding experience. Cozy atmosphere, great service, top notch management, impressive menu and food. Thank you!“

“Finally went to this very established restaurant for the first time. We expected the fare to be nothing special. But we were shocked by the quality of the food and drink. Plus our server was wonderful. Will definitely go back. Can see why the restaurant is so popular.“

“10/10 Lobster Rolls! Great environment! Great menu options! Loved“

“Larry's is always a welcome and relaxing venue. It's a very cozy and intimate vibe.

They host a lot of fun events and activities like Wednesday night trivia and movie nights, and they always decorate for the season.

Bar staff are very friendly and welcoming and can handle a crowd.

They have a range of flavorful cocktails and beer selection and recently added some sandwich and food options from the local Uptown Deli.“

“We hosted a post wedding event at Delilah’s in their upstairs room. Not only was it affordable, the staff was so incredible. They ensured our guests had a great time and even helped us set food up. We were allowed to play our own music and even had a pool game going. I would 100% recommend anyone looking for a private event space to book with Delilah’s, they’re the best!“

“Totally love Guthries Tavern! 🏠 Grabbed a Half Acre Daisy Cutter and a Vander Mill cider, plus shared pretzels and mozzarella sticks with friends. Cozy, laid‑back spot with a wall of board games (classic and quirky), friendly bartenders, and zero pretense. Perfect after a Wrigley game or just to chill on a Tuesday night. Neighborhood gem!“

“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!“

“Friendly staff, great place to be and the chips and salsa are so good!!!!“

“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!“

“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.“

“My first time here (new to Chicago) saw High on Fire and Negative Approach. Sounded great! Great staff, great room for music, hope to return many many more times!“

“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 🙌🏼“

“Stopped by Four Moon Tavern on a Friday night, had the Pimento Burger and a side of onion rings. Burger was juicy, cheesy, and hit the spot; onion rings were crispy and not greasy. Tossed back a $3.50 bottle of Schlitz during happy hour, can’t beat that. The jukebox was playing classic rock, the vibe was chill, and the staff was friendly. Definitely a solid neighborhood bar with good food and drinks. I’ll be back for sure.“

“Wonderful place and wonderful. Staff!! Wowwa the beer menu is ahhh Mazing!!“

“I don’t even know where to start. This place rules.

Walked in and thought, “huh, what is this?” It’s like a bar and a weird little shop had a baby, and then that baby grew up to be really cool. You can buy basically everything inside, and I did—left with a stone parrot from, I think, Panama?? It felt right.

The drinks are really good. I don’t know what all was in mine but it tasted fancy and strong in a good way. They’ve got stuff I’ve never heard of but it all just works. Even the soda water felt classy. It’s that kind of place.

The people are awesome. Tall, friendly, funny, chill. Like, you sit down and end up talking to someone and next thing you know it’s been three hours and you’ve somehow spent $90 and also made a new best friend. Or two.

The whole place is just cozy and full of random cool stuff—like someone’s basement, but the good kind. Not the creepy kind.

If you’re thinking about going—just go. Go now. Give them your money. They deserve it. You’ll probably end up leaving with a weird lamp or a ceramic pig or something and feel great about it.

One of the best bars I’ve been to in Chicago. And I don’t say that lightly.“

“This place has a genuinely cool atmosphere. It's not trying too hard to be anything it's not. Think comfortable and laid-back, but still with a distinct personality. It’s the kind of spot where you can actually relax and have a conversation without yelling, which is a rare find these days. The decor strikes a nice balance between cozy and cool, leaning into a slightly vintage aesthetic that feels authentic.

They've got a solid drink program here. You'll find the usual bar staples, but also some well-crafted cocktails that are both interesting and reasonably priced. The bartenders know what they're doing, turning out consistently good drinks. Whether you're in the mood for a classic or something a bit more adventurous, you won't be disappointed.

Quality Time lives up to its name. It’s an ideal spot for a casual get-together with friends or a low-key date. The unpretentious setting, combined with good drinks and a comfortable noise level, makes it a reliable choice in Logan Square. It’s the kind of neighborhood bar you’ll want to revisit.“

“Such a great place! Had so much fun. Highly recommend.“

“I LOVE WANGS. The yuzu wings are THE BEST wings I’ve ever had. The atmosphere, vibe, music, drinks, most importantly, the staff. Tung, Sheila, and Linda are the nicest and most amazing bartenders ever. I will be coming back religiously and telling all my friends. I won’t gate keep cause everyone needs to know about wangs.“

“My husband and I are visiting from Arizona and were meeting some friends in The Glen. We planned on going to The Yardhouse, but thought it was too noisy. Saw the reviews for The Oak and we were so glad we did. The burger I had was the best burger I have ever had, our friend felt the same. My husband and our other friend had the rueben, they loved them also. We left the restaurant and we were going to take individual pics, then this really nice guy offered to take a picture of all of us. He was so very nice. Guess what, he was the owner. We will definitely be back on our next visit here and our friends will be back sooner. Great food!!!!“

“They super Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!“

“Dance vibes and good food.. recommend the fish tacos“

“la mejor comida mexicana y hondureña.“

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

“Came into town just to watch Euros at this bar. Brian and the crew were outstanding bartenders!“

“The penultimate neighborhood bar with plenty of characters, shenanigans, and fun! It's our "Just One More" place. Bikers, Rock Stars, and Divas will feel right at home. Live music most weekends, outdoors in the summer in a large parking lot. Everybody who knows, goes there. John & Sparklyn are good people!“

“Everything was great. Enjoyed my Brunch“

“Paddy's truly offers the best bar food around, and the atmosphere is second to none. A big shoutout to Jen, Amy, and Amy Lynn, whose friendly service always makes you feel right at home and appreciated!“

“So much fun, love replay“

“Great place. Very friendly staff.“

“At Jefferson Inn the lights are low,
A cozy dive where locals go.
The bar is small, the stories deep,
A place where laughter doesn’t sleep.

The jukebox hums, the neon glows,
A friendly face in every row.
No need for frills, no need to prep,
It feels like home—cheers, Imhotep.“

“Love the decor and the people are so nice and of course there’s Harry 😊“

“We hosted my husband’s 50th birthday last weekend there and I can’t say enough good things!!! From start to finish an incredible experience and so much fun! I plan events for a living and working with Ma O’Briens was the easiest, most helpful and amazing experience.“

“Amy was so sweet :) Good vibes here.“

“Looking forward to visiting again 😊😊“

“Craft beer, Great Atmosphere & Location, staff is awesome and Kyle just makes you feel like you have been going there for years. A must before any Cubs Game!“

“A pleasant neighborhood brewery, bar, and restaurant. We generally order burgers or fish and chips, and enjoy a local beer with our meal. We ordered soft pretzels for our ap, which came with two amazingly good dpping sauces - yum!
Great casual spot.“

“The best all around ! Staff, food, drinks!“

“First visit there tonight and it was a lot of fun. Everybody there was really chill, was having a good time, and the bartenders were absolutely amazing. Can't believe I didn't come here sooner but I'll definitely be here more often!“

“[BAR IS CASH ONLY] We came by for a bachelorette party’s main event at the request of the bride. She’d been to Big Joe’s for turtle racing nearly 7 years ago and was desperate to bring us all. It was a wacky and hilarious night out that we’ll all cherish. Great clientele, great service, great MC for the races. Cheap beer and many laughs. The loser of each race gets a free drink!“

“Best ever neighborhood bar.“

“Chicago’s Best, hands down one of a kind experience. Sports fans or not, you will be entertained and you will fall in love with close community. Staff delivers personal, attentive service with a twist of character. Last weekend, during @ChicagoBears COME BACK game against Green Bay, the place was shacking from the cheering fans. This was the mini Super Bowl for sure. Everyone delivered -Bears, bartenders, kitchen, and loyal patrons. Go check it out for yourself, you will become a part of Finley’s Family.
#bestChicagobar #ultimatefun“

“I just walked out of the door and am so glad that God sent us there. We tried 3 places prior to walking in CheSa’s doors which was a definite blessing. We had the catfish skillet, bourbon peach cobbler franchise toast, chicken sausage and scrabbles eggs w/cheese washed down with a breakfast martini. Absolutely delicious and with the owner/chef being very warm w/great hospitality. We’re definitely going back.“

“We’ve always had a blast there. murray is the best. However the new sat night Karaoke host is absolutely wretched. She was rude, snotty and acted like everyone was annoying her. We were afraid to request songs. Big bummer because that has always been our go to spot. Missing Clyde for sure!!!“

“My go to place every week! I love the selections, and the prices are amazing! Farraguts is a community spot I enjoy going to, love the staff, love the people, and love the environment! It's honestly the best bar where I feel like I can be myself, I love my trans folks. <3“

“Olive Black is a great casual neighborhood cocktail lounge. Not pretentious but serves up a menu featuring six (+?) pages of martinis and speciality cocktails, alongside a good local beer selection. They also have tvs (for sports games), a jukebox, board games and food, but the best part is the staff! The owners are super friendly and accommodating.“

“Made a delivery and the owners had been notified by my employer that it was my birthday. They put together a margarita to go for me and I can honestly say I’ve never had a better one. And the owners were extremely kind even though I was running late.“

“I can’t say enough great things about U-Star Karaoke! We had the absolute best night ever. They went above and beyond by opening up on a Tuesday just for our group of 25, which made us feel incredibly welcome. The room was super spacious and they had an endless selection of songs. The staff was so kind and attentive all evening, and they really made sure we had a blast. As a cherry on top, the staff gave us a complimentary bottle of soju and some glasses to take home at the end of the night. It was such a thoughtful touch and really made the whole experience unforgettable. Highly recommend, and we will be back!“

“Best bar in the city. Friendly. Good beer.“

“Wow. I had the soup/stew. It was great. Don't miss the garden. Koi pond. Lester the owner has stories. This is where waiters and waitresses go.“

“Great Food and Friendly Service“