33 Best Cocktail Bars in Chicago

“Have been twice and my experience has been great“

“Esme is truly an experience to have. We did the menu and the wine pairing and it was amazing. From the presentation to the food was unbelievable and will definitely do it again as it changes quarterly“

“Nice ambiance! Will eat here again“

“This was the most flavorful meal I have had in years! We asked for house picks and shared amongst 3 of us. AMAZING. Service exceptional. The staff all helped each other with smiles- so nice to see. Chef Joe Flamm was present, pleasant and engaged with staff and customers. Treat yourself to something special.“

“Excellent place and service“

“Kind hearted people are quite rare to find as cooperate people or as individuals also. I'm sharing a 4 years friendship and business relationship i've shared with Mr Ralph Carico for being such an awesome, kind and specially oriented. Thank you for being supportive each time i buy and invest in digital stocks and coins with your firm.“

“Two of us had the pescatarian and others had non vegetarian menus. First 2 courses were underwhelming but subsequent were excellent. Dessert for pescatarian menu was odd. Gin cart was too much show and too little value. $17 gin and tonics from regular bar instead. We left with a $900 tab. Charged $10 for extra nan. $26.88 for employee health plan which owners should be picking up not the customers. It's your responsibility not ours. Fine to include 20% service charge. All in all, some amazingly delicious courses but very expensive outing.“

“Couple from Argentina here really pleased about our experience. Great general atmosphere and drinks. Perfect bar if you are looking for some nice background music and really good drinks. Amanda was amazing, learned a lot from her and her passion for mixology. Definitely a must visit if in Chicago and worth it sitting at the bar.“

“Higher end cuisine than I'd expected in Pilsen. You've got to admit, the neighborhood is changing, and hip restaurants are not rare there these days. We had good service, excellent wine available, and we made some really great choices. Nearly everything we ordered was excellent in our group of five. Glad we did the shared plates approach. The cornbread madeleines were so delicious, we ordered some to take home for coffee time the next morning. Another highlight was a mushroom dish. All of the vegetables focused selections were excellent. Our beef and fish choices were fine, but not as impressive. I wasn't a fan of the truffle oil dessert, but honestly it reminded me that my palate isn't as sophisticated as some others' are. What I expected was different than what we received. I tried it anyway, and it was too much umami and charred/burnt flavors. It tasted like it looked, so I know it was me, not the kitchen. We'd ordered several other desserts, and I loved all the others. I was more disappointed in myself that I didn't like it. Good decor, fits in well with the intended vibe. We found it somewhat noisy; perhaps if the (cool) music was turned down by half, it would be more conducive to friendly conversation. Lighting was a bit dim but not bad. Definitely have been recommending S.K.Y. They are inventive and enthusiastic. There's some room for improvement but I believe it will be truly great.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Great variety and unique flavors. Great vibe.“

“So good! We shared the pulled pork wrap with I believe Swiss cheese. Also the yucca fries and some spinach empanada. My aunt had a Cafe Con Leche also. Everything was so delicious service was good bathrooms were spotless environment atmosphere very cute and comfortable. Definitely will be back to try other things exclamation point to be honest I've had Cuban food before and I thought it was kind of bland but everything here was seasoned so well full of flavor!“

“First off, the vibes here are immaculate. The restaurant is located on the second floor of Soho House, and the ambiance is very intimate--perfect for a smaller party. The menu is pretty straightforward. There aren't a lot of options to choose from, but each item is very unique. What we ordered: Caliente en los Trópicos: pretty yummy! Supposed to be spicy, but the spice is not overbearing at all. An interesting cocktail. Ceviche: a great way to start the dinner. Very shareable; love the balance of sour and savory flavors. Tuna Tostada: my favorite! I've never had a tuna tostada before, and it's nothing like what I expected. Mussels: you cannot go wrong with the mussels. The bread goes so well with this. Considering the dishes seem so original and the quick service, I'd definitely recommend this spot to my friends.“

“Thoroughly enjoyed the meal! The volcanes starter was delicious. We shared the Chilean Bass and the Turf Platter among three people and feasted. Washed down with a pitcher of Mezcal margaritas. The Molé Enchiladas was a great side dish as well.“

“Cannot say enough wonderful things about this place. Beautiful atmosphere, excellent service and delicious food and drinks. Beber, Comer, Querer is on the wall and truly a motto for this place. The drinks are on point, the Al Pastor is legit and the Choclate Tres leche is a must.“

“Great food and exceptional service“

“Great upscale lounge with good vibe and service and attractive crowd. Server was very helpful and friendly. Ordered some food also. Disappointed because few vegetarian options but this is a place I would typically go after dinner. Could have been just me but felt drinks were a little watered down“

“This place has a vibe all its own. Dark and quirky. Bartenders you’ve known for years five minutes after you walk in. 10/10 would recommend.“

“The atmosphere was more casual & rustic than expected (basically a heated garden shed), and the menu is small, but the food was amazing. The brussel sprouts were delicious. The trout was very good, but could have used a heartier veggie pairing like potatoes. Their Bad Romance cocktail was one of my favorites. I probably wouldn't return for a while since the majority of their menu is red meat and cheese (which I don't eat) but perhaps when their menu is updated seasonally, if they have a different seafood option. The back patio looked nice for warmer weather. (Note it is quite a small venue with only 1 bathroom.)“

“Great Food. Would highly recommend.“

“We celebrated a graduation with family and Alma was the perfect setting for this event. We sat at an outside table with the ballgame on and ambiance was lovely. Food and drinks were fantastic and the service was excellent. Our server, Jane, even put congratulations graduate signs on our table for us to take pictures with. Would 100% recommend this restaurant.“

“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 best. Great Bartenders and excellent cocktails“

“Great music by Ivan Singh!“

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

“I like to visit this place during the week because it is relatively chill on nights that are not fridays and saturdays. Their food is fantastic and they have a wonderful assortment of great drafts to choose from.pool table in the back and enough Miller highlife to supply an army of beer drinkers.They have an eclectic array of spirits! This joint is a must visit for those looking for a place to relax and feel classy while they do it.“

“Darkest bar in Chicago where I can get a real Vesper = my kind of bar, hands D.“

“The food, the cocktails, and the service were all amazing. Kyle, was wonderful!“

“Had an awesome time. Thanks you great service“

“A not so hidden gem as of late now that reviews are catching up with the imaginative menu and exceptional dining experience Community Tavern has been consistently providing over the past several years. Menu is full of unique dishes… elevated dumpling and noodles are a signature. Beautifully plated and generous- but not overly. Cocktail menu is fun, with zero proof options that are spot on. Save room for baked Alaska. Oh, and ambiance is chic but allows the focus to be where it belongs. On the food. Upscale West Loop experience in modest Portage Park for a lot less and no pretense.“

“Amazing food here! Sticky bun with cream cheese frosting? And cheese curds fried on duck fat?!? Hell yes!“

“Atmosphere, service, food, drinks..... everything was great. Highly recommend.“