The Drawing Room
How the bar’s holding up since Charles Joly jumped ship for the Aviary.
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We rate 19 iconic cocktail bars to see if they’re still worth your money.
It's de rigueur for drink enthusiasts to rave about the Aviary or put the Violet Hour on a craft-cocktail pedestal. But do those spots and other mainstays live up to the lore? We revisit 19 iconic cocktail bars to assess whether they're still worth your time and money.
Follow TOC on Foursquare to explore a list of our favorite bars. Check into three from this issue and you'll unlock our Bar Hunter badge.
How the bar’s holding up since Charles Joly jumped ship for the Aviary.
Expert cocktails meet Michelin-rated food.
Two levels, two vibes, one set of stellar drinks.
New ownership, same old gimlets.
The live music is better than the cocktails at this historic bar.
Is it just for tourists?
The view is better than the drinks at this iconic bar.
Where cocktails are worth $14. Really.
A spot worth waiting 35 minutes to snag a drink?
Not so tiny anymore, but still a good neighborhood option.
Is it worth waiting in line for this speakeasy?
Does it still swing?
Can you still get a good cocktail at the bar that started it all?
The vintage bar now serves its classic cocktails with superb service.
Why you should spend your money elsewhere.
Sometimes it’s okay to pay $13 for a cocktail.
Is it still worth the hype?
The iconic bar in the post–Paul McGee era.
The year-old Logan Square cocktail spot is an instant classic.
You can’t call yourself a Chicagoan until you drink these.
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