Chicago bar reviews

If you order the Daiquiri Tropical at Cantina Rosa—which I highly recommend doing—you may become convinced you've bitten into a fantastical mashup of a fresh peach and a passionfruit, so balanced and purposeful is each component of this magical sour. I closed my eyes mid-first sip and floated elsewhere, my feet still firmly planted inside this beautiful, Mexican-inspired Hyde Park bar from chef and restaurateur Erick Williams. The tiki-tinged cocktail menu—which legendary mixologist Paul McGee consulted on—packs numerous delights, many of them starring agave and sugarcane spirits. Consider the bright, smoke-kissed Paddle Cactus, with mezcal, tart prickly pear, chile and just enough pineapple to bring out the vegetal notes in the agave and cactus. Glancing around the room, I saw a Jushu in front of probably three-quarters of customers. This refreshing sorta margarita is a no-brainer indeed, with mezcal, floral acacia honey, lime and mango.  As I waffled between the demure Rebujito (nutty manzanilla sherry, orgeat, ginger and lime) and the daiquiri, the server plainly suggested the latter “if you like to drink.” Her candor was a balm on that particular Friday, much like this sophisticated yet inviting room, while outside the winter wind howled and democracy’s foundations shook. In that moment I could simply marvel at how the baked apple notes of the calvados and sweet citrus of the passionfruit, lime and pineapple cleverly muffled the drink’s boozy foundation of rum-like...

Crossing the threshold of Broken Hearts on a frigid Thursday night after taking a proverbial lickin’ at work, I felt my shoulders drop a few inches instantly. Despite its sprawling size and newness, the red-lit bar with exposed brick walls feels comfortable and lived in, in the vein of the city’s finest alt-country and punk rock taverns.  Then again, Heisler Hospitality (Sportsman’s Club, Lone Wolf, Queen Mary) knows its way around this decidedly Midwestern brand of bar. Broken Hearts is a smart remake of the flashier Nights & Weekends, which struggled to fill seats on weeknights. The clubby vibes also didn’t suit Heisler, as its director of operations Jeff Donahue told Eater. Better to let Chicago’s own late country-folk legend John Prine, whose song “Souvenirs” inspired the bar’s name, guide the way. (A well-placed disco ball nods to Broken Hearts’ forerunner.)  Indeed, this quiet, still vaguely industrial stretch of the West Loop beneath the rumbling “L” seemed to want for a regular bar—the kind of place that doesn’t punch customers in the face with a “concept” like so many bars do these days through a glut of twee neons and “living” walls of climbing plastic plants, while sports flash on a dozen oversized flatscreens. Sometimes you just need to scooch a barstool up to a mile-long wood bar and get lost in conversation over a cold Budweiser or an herbaceous, bittersweet draft Amaro Daiquiri with Meletti and rum (this is the West Loop, after all). To that end, there’s...

This West Loop cocktail hub raises the bar on fine dining and delivers a superb lineup of sake- and shochu-centric sips, and delicate bites imbued with Japanese flavors. The dining room offers à la carte shareables, while the beautifully fleeting omakase menu is pricey for the portion sizes, but makes up for it on the drink side. The vibe: This Japanese-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant, helmed by chef, creative director and beverage visionary Julia Momosé, is one of measured pace and care. The food: Kumiko’s eight-seat omakase bar lends a peek into the humming kitchen through an intricately carved wood shade that acts as a focal point of the restaurant. An evolving tasting menu is offered gluten-free and pescatarian upon request, and Kumiko suggests allowing up to three hours for the full experience. The drinks: The accompanying sakes ranged from supple and delicately floral junmai to crisp, dry and nutty futsu shu—all beautiful counterparts to pristine oceanic bites. Still, it’s hard to outshine Momose’s exquisite cocktails, like her woodsy, citrusy sudachi shochu with tonic, sage and kumquat, and an elegant blend of mellow aged junmai sake, shiro and apricot eau de vie that tastes like boozy blossoming fruit trees and melted snow. Time Out tip: Sake and shochu cocktails and low- or no-proof sips headline Julia Momose’s imaginative menu, but we love asking for a recommendation on sake, which harmonizes beautifully with the refined, umami-rich fare. We recommend...

The vibe: Among the framed drawings of regulars cluttering the wooden walls of this dim saloon-style staple are posters boasting that you’re in “le premiere dive bar” of Chicago. We don’t know where this place gets off speaking French, but it’s been around since 1958, so we’ll grant it bragging rights. Plus, it's a favorite among celebs like Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray and John Belushi. The food: None to speak of. The drinks: Take a look at the wall behind the bar and you'll see the massive selection of sips served at this cash-only dive. Drafts, bottles and cans, and ciders are on offer, as well as your classic cocktails and mixed drinks.  Time Out tip: One of the best parts about Old Town Ale House is admiring the eclectic and often crude paintings. The backstory is fascinating—ask your bartender.  

The vibe: As soon as you walk into this place, it’s obvious that everyone has had enough drinks to consider you their best friend—and they know every single lyric to every single song. The first floor caters to the hip-hop/Top-40 crowd, while the lower level gives you sing-along ’80s rock. If you can maneuver your way through the late-night dancing crowd, you’ll agree: This place always delivers a good time. The food: Just drinks here, but the Hangge-Uppe-to-Taco Bell pipeline is real. The drinks: All your classic canned seltzers, mixed drinks, beers, and shots...lots of shots. Time Out tip: This place charges cover, up to $20 at times, so be prepared to pay at the door. They take card, so you don't need to hit the ATM on your way over.

Like the first time I tried to go to the Violet Hour and walked straight past the door, I had no idea how to get into the Drifter, a new bar located underneath Green Door Tavern. But while the Violet Hour was Chicago’s first nouveau speakeasy, bar culture has changed over the past eight years—now, when a bar claims to be a speakeasy, all that means is that it’s dark, with well-made cocktails and bartenders in retro clothes. The Drifter breaks the mold, since it’s actually located in an old speakeasy space, and it’s missing the pretentious trappings a lot of cocktail bars have. In speakeasy days, people would enter a door a couple blocks away and get into the bar through a window, which has been covered over. We had to ask at Green Door how to get in, so I’ll save you the trouble: Walk through Green Door, head downstairs and enter through the wooden door that’s next to the restrooms. There’s no sign, but if the door guy isn’t there taking names for a waitlist that grows longer as the night goes on (though we walked right in at 5:30pm on a Saturday), knock and he’ll let you in. Once inside, the space is dark, cozy and full of objects that were already there when bartender Liz Pearce (Gage, Drawing Room, Aviary) took over the unused space. There are old paintings, like one of FDR that overlooks the end of the bar, a bullet-riddled Mobil sign, flags billowing from the ceiling and dozens of dusty old bottles lined up atop the bar. It’s a comfortable, low-key spot to hang out,...

One of the city’s best spots for rock & roll doesn’t even have a stage. Instead, this Lincoln Park favorite has one of the best jukeboxes in town for the main room (so you can play DJ Fridays and Saturdays) and hires DJs for Sunday through Thursday who know their Buzzcocks from their Bullocks. The vibe: An old-school rock & roll dive with DJ sets, punk nights, pinball, tastings and film screenings. The food: There's no food here, but it won't be hard to find a bite somewhere along Lincoln Avenue. The drinks: Delilah's has an insane whiskey selection, more than 300 beers (Belgian, microbrews, seasonals), and offers frequent wine, beer and spirit tastings. Time Out tip: Open 365 days a year, Delilah's has some pretty decent specials: $1 beers on Mondays and $2 or $3 bourbons every day, among others.

When Grant Achatz does a cocktail bar, it should go without saying that it's no ordinary cocktail bar. At the Aviary, which opened next door to Next in 2011, cocktails receive the same innovative treatment as the food at Next or Alinea. This James Beard Award-winning lounge also offers seasonal five- and seven-course food and cocktail tasting experiences, as well as a customizable three-course cocktail progression. Even if you're just dropping in for drinks, you should expect cocktails like the Partridge, an artful arrangement featuring bourbon, spiced pear, douglas fir and mint, all accompanied by a chrome bird gently perched atop. You've never seen a drink like it, and given how rare a visit to the Aviary is, you may never again.

The vibe: This dressed-down remake of the bygone Orbit Room beckons with snug tavern vibes, spirit-centric sips and nostalgic drunk food that will no doubt keep you drinking. The food: Old Habits slings salty throwback bar fare at its best alongside addictively bracing condiments. Think Filipino egg rolls with pork, beef and spam; succulent smoky rib tips; and vinegary buffalo cauliflower with dill-infused ranch dip. The drinks: Martini lovers may yet become whiskey drinkers with the nutty Japanese whiskey- and sherry-based Summit, while the refreshing whiskey sour sets the new standard for a classic cocktail. Wine drinkers, take note: Lambrusco is Italy’s mid-sweet, fizzy red answer to rosé (which Ludlow bartenders will also stir into quenching Aperol spritz remakes all summer). Time Out tip: Wind down after a long day at the well-spaced bar, where you’re also guaranteed the fastest service (bar service only here). Come summer, bring a crowd and nab a picnic table in the sprawling back beer garden. Updated with reporting by Lauren Brocato

There are two options when you enter John and Karen Urie Shields’ Smyth + The Loyalist. You can head upstairs to Smyth for a modern fine dining experience, complete with a prix fixe menu, or you can walk downstairs to the Loyalist, a sultry bar with upscale bites (including an amazing cheeseburger) and killer cocktails. Positioned in the West Loop, the spot is perfect for a before- or after-dinner drink, but you could also spend a whole night there. The Loyalist’s cocktail menu is the centerpiece, springing from the mind of former MFK bartender Roger Landes. The menu is well rounded, with a mix of light and spirit-forward drinks, including twists on classics and more original ideas. All the cocktails have at least one special component, such as the use of Chinato in place of Campari in the Innocents Abroad with Gentiane, creating a citrusy and bitter negroni. Likewise, the Nothing Noble combines bourbon with demerara sugar, a bit of Amargo Valet and mint for an herbal twist on a classic old-fashioned. It isn’t just the variations and balance that makes these cocktails interesting—there’s also something to be said for the presentation. Drinks come in beautiful etched glass goblets and fancy thin-walled lowballs that exude quality and attention to detail. The food works well for the space too, with primarily small plates made for sharing—a sharp contrast to the fine dining dishes served upstairs. The most notable thing on the menu is the cheeseburger, served on a sesame seed...

Crossing the threshold of Broken Hearts on a frigid Thursday night after taking a proverbial lickin’ at work, I felt my shoulders drop a few inches instantly. Despite its sprawling size and newness, the red-lit bar with exposed brick walls feels comfortable and lived in, in the vein of the city’s finest alt-country and punk rock taverns.  Then again, Heisler Hospitality (Sportsman’s Club, Lone Wolf, Queen Mary) knows its way around this decidedly Midwestern brand of bar. Broken Hearts is a smart remake of the flashier Nights & Weekends, which struggled to fill seats on weeknights. The clubby vibes also didn’t suit Heisler, as its director of operations Jeff Donahue told Eater. Better to let Chicago’s own late country-folk legend John Prine, whose song “Souvenirs” inspired the bar’s name, guide the way. (A well-placed disco ball nods to Broken Hearts’ forerunner.)  Indeed, this quiet, still vaguely industrial stretch of the West Loop beneath the rumbling “L” seemed to want for a regular bar—the kind of place that doesn’t punch customers in the face with a “concept” like so many bars do these days through a glut of twee neons and “living” walls of climbing plastic plants, while sports flash on a dozen oversized flatscreens. Sometimes you just need to scooch a barstool up to a mile-long wood bar and get lost in conversation over a cold Budweiser or an herbaceous, bittersweet draft Amaro Daiquiri with Meletti and rum (this is the West Loop, after all). To that end, there’s...

If you order the Daiquiri Tropical at Cantina Rosa—which I highly recommend doing—you may become convinced you've bitten into a fantastical mashup of a fresh peach and a passionfruit, so balanced and purposeful is each component of this magical sour. I closed my eyes mid-first sip and floated elsewhere, my feet still firmly planted inside this beautiful, Mexican-inspired Hyde Park bar from chef and restaurateur Erick Williams. The tiki-tinged cocktail menu—which legendary mixologist Paul McGee consulted on—packs numerous delights, many of them starring agave and sugarcane spirits. Consider the bright, smoke-kissed Paddle Cactus, with mezcal, tart prickly pear, chile and just enough pineapple to bring out the vegetal notes in the agave and cactus. Glancing around the room, I saw a Jushu in front of probably three-quarters of customers. This refreshing sorta margarita is a no-brainer indeed, with mezcal, floral acacia honey, lime and mango.  As I waffled between the demure Rebujito (nutty manzanilla sherry, orgeat, ginger and lime) and the daiquiri, the server plainly suggested the latter “if you like to drink.” Her candor was a balm on that particular Friday, much like this sophisticated yet inviting room, while outside the winter wind howled and democracy’s foundations shook. In that moment I could simply marvel at how the baked apple notes of the calvados and sweet citrus of the passionfruit, lime and pineapple cleverly muffled the drink’s boozy foundation of rum-like...

Like the first time I tried to go to the Violet Hour and walked straight past the door, I had no idea how to get into the Drifter, a new bar located underneath Green Door Tavern. But while the Violet Hour was Chicago’s first nouveau speakeasy, bar culture has changed over the past eight years—now, when a bar claims to be a speakeasy, all that means is that it’s dark, with well-made cocktails and bartenders in retro clothes. The Drifter breaks the mold, since it’s actually located in an old speakeasy space, and it’s missing the pretentious trappings a lot of cocktail bars have. In speakeasy days, people would enter a door a couple blocks away and get into the bar through a window, which has been covered over. We had to ask at Green Door how to get in, so I’ll save you the trouble: Walk through Green Door, head downstairs and enter through the wooden door that’s next to the restrooms. There’s no sign, but if the door guy isn’t there taking names for a waitlist that grows longer as the night goes on (though we walked right in at 5:30pm on a Saturday), knock and he’ll let you in. Once inside, the space is dark, cozy and full of objects that were already there when bartender Liz Pearce (Gage, Drawing Room, Aviary) took over the unused space. There are old paintings, like one of FDR that overlooks the end of the bar, a bullet-riddled Mobil sign, flags billowing from the ceiling and dozens of dusty old bottles lined up atop the bar. It’s a comfortable, low-key spot to hang out,...

This West Loop cocktail hub raises the bar on fine dining and delivers a superb lineup of sake- and shochu-centric sips, and delicate bites imbued with Japanese flavors. The dining room offers à la carte shareables, while the beautifully fleeting omakase menu is pricey for the portion sizes, but makes up for it on the drink side. The vibe: This Japanese-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant, helmed by chef, creative director and beverage visionary Julia Momosé, is one of measured pace and care. The food: Kumiko’s eight-seat omakase bar lends a peek into the humming kitchen through an intricately carved wood shade that acts as a focal point of the restaurant. An evolving tasting menu is offered gluten-free and pescatarian upon request, and Kumiko suggests allowing up to three hours for the full experience. The drinks: The accompanying sakes ranged from supple and delicately floral junmai to crisp, dry and nutty futsu shu—all beautiful counterparts to pristine oceanic bites. Still, it’s hard to outshine Momose’s exquisite cocktails, like her woodsy, citrusy sudachi shochu with tonic, sage and kumquat, and an elegant blend of mellow aged junmai sake, shiro and apricot eau de vie that tastes like boozy blossoming fruit trees and melted snow. Time Out tip: Sake and shochu cocktails and low- or no-proof sips headline Julia Momose’s imaginative menu, but we love asking for a recommendation on sake, which harmonizes beautifully with the refined, umami-rich fare. We recommend...

The vibe: Among the framed drawings of regulars cluttering the wooden walls of this dim saloon-style staple are posters boasting that you’re in “le premiere dive bar” of Chicago. We don’t know where this place gets off speaking French, but it’s been around since 1958, so we’ll grant it bragging rights. Plus, it's a favorite among celebs like Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray and John Belushi. The food: None to speak of. The drinks: Take a look at the wall behind the bar and you'll see the massive selection of sips served at this cash-only dive. Drafts, bottles and cans, and ciders are on offer, as well as your classic cocktails and mixed drinks.  Time Out tip: One of the best parts about Old Town Ale House is admiring the eclectic and often crude paintings. The backstory is fascinating—ask your bartender.  

The vibe: As soon as you walk into this place, it’s obvious that everyone has had enough drinks to consider you their best friend—and they know every single lyric to every single song. The first floor caters to the hip-hop/Top-40 crowd, while the lower level gives you sing-along ’80s rock. If you can maneuver your way through the late-night dancing crowd, you’ll agree: This place always delivers a good time. The food: Just drinks here, but the Hangge-Uppe-to-Taco Bell pipeline is real. The drinks: All your classic canned seltzers, mixed drinks, beers, and shots...lots of shots. Time Out tip: This place charges cover, up to $20 at times, so be prepared to pay at the door. They take card, so you don't need to hit the ATM on your way over.

The vibe: This dressed-down remake of the bygone Orbit Room beckons with snug tavern vibes, spirit-centric sips and nostalgic drunk food that will no doubt keep you drinking. The food: Old Habits slings salty throwback bar fare at its best alongside addictively bracing condiments. Think Filipino egg rolls with pork, beef and spam; succulent smoky rib tips; and vinegary buffalo cauliflower with dill-infused ranch dip. The drinks: Martini lovers may yet become whiskey drinkers with the nutty Japanese whiskey- and sherry-based Summit, while the refreshing whiskey sour sets the new standard for a classic cocktail. Wine drinkers, take note: Lambrusco is Italy’s mid-sweet, fizzy red answer to rosé (which Ludlow bartenders will also stir into quenching Aperol spritz remakes all summer). Time Out tip: Wind down after a long day at the well-spaced bar, where you’re also guaranteed the fastest service (bar service only here). Come summer, bring a crowd and nab a picnic table in the sprawling back beer garden. Updated with reporting by Lauren Brocato

One of the city’s best spots for rock & roll doesn’t even have a stage. Instead, this Lincoln Park favorite has one of the best jukeboxes in town for the main room (so you can play DJ Fridays and Saturdays) and hires DJs for Sunday through Thursday who know their Buzzcocks from their Bullocks. The vibe: An old-school rock & roll dive with DJ sets, punk nights, pinball, tastings and film screenings. The food: There's no food here, but it won't be hard to find a bite somewhere along Lincoln Avenue. The drinks: Delilah's has an insane whiskey selection, more than 300 beers (Belgian, microbrews, seasonals), and offers frequent wine, beer and spirit tastings. Time Out tip: Open 365 days a year, Delilah's has some pretty decent specials: $1 beers on Mondays and $2 or $3 bourbons every day, among others.

When Grant Achatz does a cocktail bar, it should go without saying that it's no ordinary cocktail bar. At the Aviary, which opened next door to Next in 2011, cocktails receive the same innovative treatment as the food at Next or Alinea. This James Beard Award-winning lounge also offers seasonal five- and seven-course food and cocktail tasting experiences, as well as a customizable three-course cocktail progression. Even if you're just dropping in for drinks, you should expect cocktails like the Partridge, an artful arrangement featuring bourbon, spiced pear, douglas fir and mint, all accompanied by a chrome bird gently perched atop. You've never seen a drink like it, and given how rare a visit to the Aviary is, you may never again.

There are two options when you enter John and Karen Urie Shields’ Smyth + The Loyalist. You can head upstairs to Smyth for a modern fine dining experience, complete with a prix fixe menu, or you can walk downstairs to the Loyalist, a sultry bar with upscale bites (including an amazing cheeseburger) and killer cocktails. Positioned in the West Loop, the spot is perfect for a before- or after-dinner drink, but you could also spend a whole night there. The Loyalist’s cocktail menu is the centerpiece, springing from the mind of former MFK bartender Roger Landes. The menu is well rounded, with a mix of light and spirit-forward drinks, including twists on classics and more original ideas. All the cocktails have at least one special component, such as the use of Chinato in place of Campari in the Innocents Abroad with Gentiane, creating a citrusy and bitter negroni. Likewise, the Nothing Noble combines bourbon with demerara sugar, a bit of Amargo Valet and mint for an herbal twist on a classic old-fashioned. It isn’t just the variations and balance that makes these cocktails interesting—there’s also something to be said for the presentation. Drinks come in beautiful etched glass goblets and fancy thin-walled lowballs that exude quality and attention to detail. The food works well for the space too, with primarily small plates made for sharing—a sharp contrast to the fine dining dishes served upstairs. The most notable thing on the menu is the cheeseburger, served on a sesame seed...