50 Best Cocktail Bars near Wilmette

“Had been a while but wanted to give it a try on a nice late fall night. Good crowd, always see neighbors there. Very friendly spot, lots of college football games on but conversation friendly. Tried some new things. Really enjoyed the Firecracker Shrimp. Crisp coating and huge plump shrimp. Great sauces. Lobster burger was good, over the top with chips and fries. Finally tried the French Dip. It was very good and au jus was not overly salty like most places serve it. Good sandwich but for the price it could have been bigger. Sean our server was great and took great care of us.“

“Excellent Ramen. Excellent bartender in Helen Try the Mango Tango Vegi Roll.“

“Great vibe, great staff, well made and designed cocktails 🍸“

“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.“

“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!“

“Lovely cocktail bar with an intimate, welcoming atmosphere. I especially enjoyed the Baton Rouge along with a few other classic cocktails—each one expertly crafted. The staff is warm and attentive, and the overall vibe is perfect for a relaxed evening out. Highly recommend for fans of timeless drinks and cozy settings.“

“Stopped by for happy hour and spent about $30 on a spicy margarita and a pepperoni pizza. The margarita had a nice kick, and the pizza was solid—crispy crust, gooey cheese. The vibe was chill, and the staff was friendly. They've got pool tables and TVs for sports, making it a great spot to hang out. Only reason it's not 5 stars is the wait for food was a bit longer than expected. Overall, a solid neighborhood spot.“

“An incredible experience at Alma (Hotel Zachary)!

We went for their Sunday Afternoon Tea (available on select non-game day Sundays) and it was absolutely amazing! The space is chic and stylish, and you can’t beat the iconic views of Wrigley Field—such a unique and beautiful setting for tea.

We were welcomed with a glass of sparkling rosé, followed by a delicious pot of tea—I chose the Mallorca Melon, which was light, fruity, and perfect for summer. The tea selection changes seasonally, which makes me excited to come back and try something new!

The food was just as impressive: a beautifully presented spread of fresh pastries, sandwiches, and desserts, all of which were super flavorful and clearly made with care.

Huge shoutout to our server, Amir—he was outstanding! Friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

We’ll definitely be back. Highly recommend Alma for anyone looking for a special afternoon out in Wrigleyville!“

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

“You won’t ever get a watered down drink from Take Flight!

My wife and I have had tons of mini-dates here (I suggest Village Inn Pizza next door), we’ve shown up for game nights, and on weeknights I’ve gone solo just to have a few drink and get some work done too.

Whatever the occasion, if you’re looking for quality drinks and a comfortable place to sit for a while, this is it!

Also, you should order their pretzels.“

“Delicious cocktails:) I will definitely go back!“

“Good drinks, great spot to relax. The place has comfortable seating and a quiet atmosphere, perfect if you’re looking to wind down at the end of the night with friends or family. Drinks are solid, but most definitely on the pricey side. Still, it’s a nice spot when you want something a little more laid-back. I highly recommend the Porn Star- Although a bit embarrassing to order for a dude LOL, it was tart and delicious!“

“we love everything there, food, service and atmosphere.“

“Favorite bar in Avondale!!“

“White Sox Bar!!!!!!!!😂!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! N n n n n n“

“I love this place! We were there on 5/29/22 and Wes was wonderful as well as the drinks!“

“Pretty space, intimate and friendly staff.“

“My friends and I hosted our friend’s 30th birthday party at Room 13 this past weekend. I couldn’t recommend this space enough! It was a great atmosphere; small enough to feel intimate but still spacious enough for everyone to spread out. The food was pretty decent and the drinks were delicious!
Joanna and Devon were SO helpful with setting up before the party and during the party. I can’t thank them and the rest of the staff enough for being so kind and helpful the entire night! Definitely looking forward to visiting again in the future!!“

“Love the low key environment and drinks was 🔥🔥“

“Elena, ryne, Matt. The staff at the pines room have an amazing vibe. The restaurant is small but that's the appeal. It's an amazing place to hang out and couldn't be a better spot as a regular bar. The drinks are very well made and the staff is very attentive and personable. 100% recommend to check out.“

“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“

“Absolutely Wonderful Puerto Rican Dining Experience! This restaurant offers a beautiful ambiance that perfectly complements its creative, fresh, and incredibly delicious food. The portion sizes are generous, and the staff is warm and welcoming. I especially appreciate the thoughtful inclusion of vegan and vegetarian options. The Arroz Con Gandules is a standout—rich in flavor and an absolute must-try. I’ll definitely be coming back soon!“

“I awoke this morning, filled with regret and resentment. I nearly stayed under my supple, cozy sheets. Yet, I prevailed. I stumbled upon this Elegant establishment. I needed something greasy and practical for a hangover. I also needed to watch the Minnesota gophers beat up Rutgers (do they even have a mascot)? I ordered the double smash burger, and went to work. The service was quick, very quick, which made me believe the burger would be subpar. My first bite awoke me. I was so back. Every following taste left me with childlike joy, much like a young Jack Slunecka frolicking through the South Dakota prairies. I can not recommend this establishment more. Thank you Parlay, not only for giving me strength. But, giving me the motivation to carry on, and make the world a better place. I Love you so so much.“

“On the evening of July 5 my wife and I tried Avaspi on Belmont Avenue in Lakeview for the first time. It will not be the last! I love lamb and am quite particular as to how is it prepared. The “lamb delight” menu item was the best lamb I have ever had in a restaurant: tender, succulent, and prepared to perfection. The side salad accompanying it was not your ordinary side salad! My wife and I both enjoyed the Mixed Meze appetizer plate. Each of the five items was quite good but the muhammara was to die for. We ended our meal with tea, baklava and kubralice. The décor and ambience were refreshing and relaxing, and the service was outstanding. The pricing was very reasonable. Please give it a try. We do not think you will be disappointed.“

“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.“

“First time here since the Rivers Casino expansion. Nice long bar with plenty of seats. Vibe and music is bumpin' as well. Ordered a Dirty Martini and was asked if I wanted dry vermouth with it. Friendly and smiley bartenders. Cute martini glass but could not really taste the alcohol. Some interesting characters at the casino in general, but more so here sitting at the bar. There are game machines on the bar top as well.“

“Intimate setting with great staff who are always welcoming and warm. Their cocktails aren’t just thrown together; they take weeks to perfect their recipes with the final product being works of art. Their Old Fashioned is my favorite so far and the mango shrimp is my favorite entree. Their lavender/mint tea latte is unique, luscious and calming. Save room for Diego’s homemade desserts, they are luscious! Great food, great cocktails, great staff, great ambiance.“

“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.“

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

“I had the mac and cheese with the steak on top absolutely divine🤍“

“Amazing place and the staff are awesome“

“This is a review for Nightshade. To get there, you go to the back of Moonflower then through the unmarked black door to the right and downstairs. There are two rooms - one for music/ dancing and the other with small tables for drinks. The night I went the music room wasn’t open (guess you have to know when it’s club night). A bit bare bones in terms of furniture/ atmosphere. But, the drinks were EXCELLENT. Not a huge selection but the table I was with ordered about four different drinks from the specialty menu and they were all better than I was expecting.

Though the downstairs is designed for drinking I saw people eating from the menu upstairs so apparently you can do that.“

“This is a nice addition to the neighborhood!

Really like how gf friendly the menu is, that was a great surprise.

The cocktails here are great! Their happy hour is also an excellent deal. Service has generally always been friendly and attentive even when it's very busy. There's additional seating back behind the bar that's really nice for groups.“

“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.“

“This was the best night out!! We went out with friends and shared multiple dishes (and so much wine.) The food was outstanding. The wine was so flavourful and we just kept ordering more. The Black Grape Crostini was probably the best I've ever had. Go here for a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with great food and team!!!!!“

“Food was delicious, wish they would’ve offered a box for the rest of my fries though instead of tossing them. Would like to come back again to try more of their burgers“

“This is the perfect spot for a date night!! The service was fantastic, the vibe is cozy and romantic, and food is amazing with great portions. I highly recommend the pesto gnocchi and trying some Italian wine!!“

“Great food and service. Tuesdays kids night is wonderful other than that great fine dining spot. Although they did pare down the menu which I have not tried but am a little bummed about“

“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.“

“The food is amazing: tasty and healthy. I love it. Thank you for also baking the Masala biscuit for our dinner.“

“The margaritas are so good. They are not too sweet and are made with fresh lime juice, which is a must!
The tacos, guacamole, and fajitas are delicious!
Don’t sleep on their happy hour either!
Our waitress was kind, patient, and very helpful.“

“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 had a great time with Dzika Fitness and Brunch after was delicious.“

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

“Everything was great. Enjoyed my Brunch“

“Parachute is one of my top ten favorite restaurants I’ve ever been lucky enough to enjoy! I think a lot about Chef Kim’s gem lettuce and fish sauce salad, I still Remember it four years later! I can’t wait to go back and to check out Wherewithall!!“

“Excellent restaurant. Nice upbeat but calm atmosphere. Simple menu with plenty of options. Service with a smile and delicious food. We need Tavern on the Glen to be around a while. Try it !!“

“My Aunt Marcia Hoffman turned 90 and is a rehab center where she is confined to her room . We wanted to do something special so we call Scotty’s and the made a meal to order for pick up. It worked out great and she loved it . Thank you Scott and the entire staff for making her 90th as special as it could be under the circumstances !“