50 Best Bars near Winnetka

“My sister and I both ordered the grilled salmon. She asked for her to be cooked through; I asked for mine to be prepred per chef's recommendation. Both of our dishes were prepared to our specifications. Mine was seared on the outside and tender moist on the inside. To add to that perfection, the sunchoke purée had an amazing mélange of flavors. I finished my meal with the Scorza Dolce--also packed with flavor.I have now had three meals that were so exquisitely flavorful that they will stick in my mind forever (previous two are from 1981 and 2005). My salmon at Mino's is now my #1 all-time favorite meals!“

“I had looked at the menu before I came here so I knew I wanted The Cuban Sandwich when I arrived. It was fast and fresh. The meat was mouth watering! Was the best Cuban I ever had. I was not expecting this. Hoping for goodness.. but the best!! ???. The service was fast and friendly.
I give this place 5⭐️
Jerry (the pigeon) gives it 5.5⭐️“

“Folks with celiac disease are often out of luck at Japanese restaurants, but Jimoto makes dining a total joy. Items are clearly marked with allergens, and tamari sauce is available in lieu of soy. Everything was very tasty, particularly the hamachi sashimi and the Chicago fire roll. Presentation is quietly elegant. Our new favorite north shore restaurant.“

“Cool place excellent service!!!“

“I always enjoy coming to Guanajuato. I ordered a veggie burrito and it was delicious. My friend ordered the fish taco however and the fish was really overcooked. If you order this item I would suggest asking them to be sure not to overcook the fish.“

“THE cocktail bar to go to in the neighborhood, especially if you're going to a show at Aragon or The Riv. Doesn't have a kitchen but you can BYO or have something delivered, and they also have a partnership with the deli down the street so you can order some truly delicious sammies at the bar and they'll deliver. Really great cocktail program from Luke who runs the bar, and really great staff that'll help you figure out what'll really wet your whistle. Also has a huge patio open in the summer, and lots of cozy couches and seating in the lobby.“

“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!!!!“

“la mejor comida mexicana y hondureña.“

“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!“

“Great place. Very friendly staff.“

“Pete's has become our favorite date spot. We came in February for Valentine's Day, and have been four times since, including this past weekend for my birthday. It is always fun, there are always new songs, and the performers are amazingly talented. Christian, Tony, Anthony and Jeremy (sorry for any misspellings) are very creative, charismatic and always put on a great show. Our favorite servers are Bree and Miriam. Can't wait to come back!“

“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.“

“Looking forward to visiting again 😊😊“

“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.“

“Best ever neighborhood bar.“

“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!“

“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“

“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.“

“This has been my friend's and my go to Karaoke spot near the city for years.
The rooms are nice, clean, and well decorated.
The music selection is great and I love that they give you the option of using either the traditional Korean Karaoke machine or just using YouTube.
While the drinks at the bar are pricey, they do allow outside food which is definitely a plus.
The staff there has always been kind and attentive. Never had any problems.
Even though the parking lot is quite small, I've personally never struggled with parking.
Overall great karaoke spot and will continue to come back.“

“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.“

“get a huckleberry vodka soda!“

“What a pizza! this is the new spot. we ordered pizza and buffalo wings, both were delicious“

“Fantastic outdoor music and drinks venue, right on the water in a nice little harbor. Great people behind the bar and in the crowd.“

“perfect place, friendly, easy on the pocket and the friendliest bartenders and customers. Makes a new customer feel at ease and welcomed.“

“Sovereign is the best type of Chicago dive. Cheap beer, good people, best jukebox you'll find. Much love to them for letting my band do a fundraiser for my buddy's medical bills. The crowd, the staff, and the regulars dug deep and we've covered medication costs for the next couple month“

“A great spot to hangout and grab a drink.“

“Great, friendly, neighborhood bar. Jimmy will make you feel like you've been friends forever. Not usually open on Sundays, but Jimmy will open specially for Bears games, and you might also get to sample his homemade chili, sloppy joes, or maybe even some Little Caesar's pizza! ?“

“Great classic Chicago Tavern with a pool table, live music and a fun blues jam on Tuesday nights!“

“Awesome people and cool bartenders“

“Loved Jarvis Square—what a hidden gem! The neighborhood vibe is so inviting, and the Wednesday open mic night is an absolute highlight. I really appreciated that the first five performance spots are set aside for queer voices—such a thoughtful and inclusive gesture. Drinks are well priced, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the energy is warm and supportive. I’ll definitely be back! Cash Only.“

“This is one of those rare first-time stops that you make in life. You have a beverage, the clientele and staff make you feel welcome, & soon you're part of this warm, friendly family. Stay well!“

“Nice place, nice people. It's a bar but they have pizzas which I will request to be less well done next time as I like my food closer to the raw side.... They also have the polish zapiekanki which I did not try.... Some of the karaoke singers were really good. Looks like it's not just regulars here which surprised me.“

“My gf and I had an amazing time here, incredibly friendly service and the food was delicious.

However!! Their bathroom has toilet paper with the roll under and not over. Very close to taking a point off for this grave travesty 🤭“

“Erin was our server and was awesome. The chicken sandwich I had was amazing. The Mexican corn side was also amazing. My father had a burger which was huge and he said delicious. I will definitely come back again.“

“Love this place! And especially Owner, Jackie!“

“The food is delicious and staff is very welcoming. Great vibe to relax and visit with your friends. I come here every time I'm in the area.“

“This place is truly the beating heart of Lincoln Square and earnest and wonderful and healthy community. May this place and those who call it home remain in good health and fortune for a thousand years, because this place represents something that is at risk of being lost in the neighborhood -- lest we guard against it by supporting each other and the businesses and people who take this to heart, in turn.“

“Great place. Been going for over 50 years. Cash only is no problem. Food is great and beer selection is outstanding. A true gem on the north shore. Wisconsin road house in Glenveiw.“

“Super nice peeps- dog stuff so it’s a keeper. Just go“

“I just took my 12 year old nephew here as a surprise adventure. The place is amazing! It’s well laid out. There is plenty to do for every one. The staff was friendly and went above and beyond. And the prices are reasonable for both games and the bar. We will definitely be back.“

“We’ve been going to K’s Dugout for quite some time and we really love it! They open at 7am! ( long story) but If you’re looking for a fun no-nonsense neighborhood place to enjoy yourself and the fun connections you can make with neighbors, bar tenders, and the owner Diane, then this place should be at the top of your list! Their indoor AND outdoor spaces are all welcoming and I promise you’ll have a good time. Tell Diane that Randazzle sent you!“

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

“spots in the area to watch a Bears game. The energy is perfect — TVs everywhere, great sound, and the crowd actually feels like a community.

The food is consistently great (way above typical bar food), and it’s obvious the ownership really cares about the place. You can tell in the details — the place is spotless, from the front tables to the bathrooms, and everything feels well run.

The bartenders are fast, friendly, and know their stuff, whether you’re ordering a draft, a cocktail, or just asking what’s good to eat. Service is always quick even when it’s packed, and you never feel ignored.

If you’re looking for a clean, well-run bar with great food, great service, and the perfect setup for a Bears Sunday, Filonek’s is the spot.“

“Lively, loud, exciting and fun!“

“This is the bar that made me fall me in love with Chicago, and I’m still a regular there 2 years later. I can come watch any sport games (or Jeopardy at 3pm on weekdays for those of us who work from home), and the bartenders are so perfectly kind.“

“We randomly stopped in hungry after getting off a flight at OHare. WOW! The food was so good and beers perfectly cold. Might be the best wings I’ve ever had!! Also had a pulled pork sandwich which was scrumptious, chicken Alfredo pasta quickly devoured by our daughter. Curly fries and sweet potato fries also 🔥! Our server, Rachel was great, too!“

“We have discovered this place 3 years ago when we are searching for an outdoor casual dining. What we found was a great place that had outdoor seating on a deck patio with umbrellas and a TV set to watch sporting events. The service was friendly, and the food was great. The drinks were very reasonable. The menu was large having everything from sandwiches to dinners. We never had a bad experience there and brought family and friends to enjoy the evening sitting outside. We always come back.“

“We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to The Local Tavern partner who supported Wisloka Chicago team in the UPSL interstate semi-pro league. Thanks to your generous support, our club is in the place that few years ago we could only dream about. Big applause for you 🔝🔝🔝🤝🤝🤝 🟢⚪️“

“This place is great! Personable staff and owner, always a game on the TV, always a cold drink and a warm smile. 11/10“