Chicago bar reviews

Heisler Hospitality is on a roll this year—the group’s British-Indian beer bar, Pub Royale, opened in May, then in November, they opened Queen Mary Tavern, a bar that focuses on maritime drinking. Either theme could easily have been gimmicky, but Heisler knows how to put the right people in charge. At Queen Mary Tavern, Dan Smith and Mony Bunni have assembled a list of cocktails that’s true to the theme—rum, gin and Scotch abound—while using unexpected ingredients and offering sophisticated flavor profiles.  Take the Stone’s Throw, which uses tahini to add sesame notes to the smoky base of Scotch and cream, while a shower of nutmeg over the top ties it all together. Albatross combines gin and madeira with Angostura and coriander for an herbal sip, and St. Erasmus is a tall, icy swizzle with funky rum and some heat from chili. My favorite is Mood Indigo, which I can imagine an epicurean pirate assembling from the spoils of his travels; with port, St. Lucian rum, Batavia Arrack, cardamom and jaggery (cane sugar from Asia and Africa), it’s richly flavored, and a whole egg adds a smooth mouthfeel. The bar had been empty for four decades before Heisler took it over. The space previously held a neighborhood tavern run by Mary Kafka, the namesake for Queen Mary, who still lives upstairs. Many of the original pieces, like the bar, remain in place, which makes Queen Mary feel like it’s been there forever. Luckily the drink list doesn’t—it’s a fresh look at three familiar spirits...

After eight years of contract brewing, Middle Brow Beer Co. finally opened a home of its own on a bustling stretch of Armitage Avenue in Logan Square. The vibe: Sporting rustic brick walls, a trio of foeders (giant wooden barrels used to age beer) looming over the dining area and a spacious bar, Bungalow tries to create a welcoming environment for guests to sample Middle Brow's experimental brews. The food: In the morning, toast topped with cream cheese, fruit and honey is the main attraction, served alongside coffee and beer. Thin-crust pizzas piled with toppings fill tables in the evening, with the action spilling out onto the patio when the weather cooperates.  The drinks: With 95% of the beverages made in-house, you can't go wrong with most choices. We recommend a glass of natural wine or a beer. Time Out tip: Go ahead and order an extra pint, because 50 percent of all Middle Brow profits are donated to local social-justice organizations.   

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.  

Katie Renshaw, 2019 U.S. Bartender of the Year, opened her debut bar concept, Bar Bambi, in West Town in early 2026. The ethereal space, designed by Gensler, is a whimsical haven where the drinks are as dreamy as the space itself. The Chicago Avenue bar is a clear reflection of Renshaw's inventive style and playful edge. The vibe: The 50-seat bar, which is anchored by a glass-block bar and a massive, squiggly neon light fixture above, is a dream-like space accented by floating orbs of light, vintage furnishings and cheeky art. The food: Chef Nicklus Byrns, who spent time at Elske, offers playful takes on elevated bar bites like the popular tempura halibut sandwich, flavorful salmon crudo and crave-worthy chicken nuggets with Alabama white sauce and carrot caramel sauce.  The drinks: Renshaw's mixology chops shine through on the cocktail menu, which features sips like the sweet Miss Scarlet (gin, Apóls Ease, lavender, cola spices, lemon, tonka bean and Campari-raspberry sorbet), the balanced Nightshirt (St.-Germain, Seedlip Garden, chamomile, lime, Perrier and clarified coconut yogurt, and the mellow Sanzaru (Rey Campeto, Espadin mezcal, bianco vermouth, mango, amazake and lime).  Time Out tip: Come hungry. While the drinks are the stars of the show here, the food is too good not to try.

Sister restaurant to three Michelin-starred Smyth upstairs, The Loyalist is John Shields and Karen Urie Shield's headline-making bar and restaurant in the West Loop. Consistently named one of the best restaurants in Chicago, the buzzing basement has become a staple of the city's culinary scene. The vibe: The subterranean space is dimly lit with singles, couples and happy hour-goers filling the intimate space with hushed chatter. The food: The star of the show here is The Loyalist OG Cheeseburger, a mouthwatering, onion-forward dish topped with pickled and charred onion between a delicate sesame seed bun. It's served with a side of onion aioli, which is great for dunking fries in. Many consider this one of the best burgers in the city—and we don't disagree. Another menu standout is the pillowy squash gnudi, doused in brown butter, Parmesan Reggiano and an optional caviar upgrade. The drinks: Inventive drinks with cheeky names like Chai Me A River (Fortaleza blanco, green chartreuse, cacao, chai, pineapple and lime) and House Of 1,000 Carrots (pecan rum, cachaça, carrot, ginger, tropical spices and cream cheese) offer plenty of inventive options to choose from. We love the Cruel & Un-Yuzual, a flowery, vibrant purple cocktail crafted with Oka vodka, housemade yuzucello, Snow Maiden sake, chamomile, lavender and lemon. Time Out tip: The Loyalist always saves a few seats for walk-ins, making it an ideal spot for post-work drinks with your team. If you arrive between 5 and 6pm...

Hospitality group Orbit Group (Segnatore) revived The California Clipper, founded in 1937, after a brief closure during the pandemic. These days, the signature red leather booths, vintage decor and live music make this post-prohibition-inspired spot one of the city’s best bars. The vibe: A dim red glow invites you into this iconic Humboldt Park cocktail lounge. Most nights, you can catch live music performances, from DJ sets to funk, blues and jazz jams.  The food: Food isn’t served here, so plan on eating before or after your visit. If you’re in the mood for Italian, Orbit Group's other spot, Segnatore, is directly across the street. The drinks: Despite the bar’s deliberate “classic Chicago tavern vibe,” the cocktail menu offers much more than a Chicago Handshake—though they do offer that for $8. The seasonally rotating menu features interesting takes on familiar favorites like the Mezcal Soda Highball, Yuzu Spritz (yuzu sake, sparkling wine, soda and rosemary) and the Basil Gimlet (Condessa gin, basil, lime and mole bitters). Time Out tip: If you’re craving a change of pace, venture to the Clipper’s back room (which previously housed coffee shop C.C. Ferns) for DJ sets and late-night dancing meant to channel the spirit of Danny’s, the iconic Bucktown spot that shuttered in 2020. 

It’s no wonder this sexy cocktail cave below the Hoxton Hotel is one of the city’s best bars. With Boka Restaurant Group behind the scenes, it’s a favorite for an intimate date night or an elevated evening with friends.  The vibe: The Fulton Market spot is appointed with an inviting blue velvet banquet, a massive curated bookshelf and a stage where guests can catch live music performances three nights a week.  The food: You won’t find any food on the menu here, but upstairs, Cira and Cabra offer plenty of sumptuous bites to tide you over.  The drinks: With 52 cocktails to choose from, you’ll have plenty of options to try something new, like The Curious Water-Bearer (bourbon, cynar, chamomile, blackberry, lemon, egg white and bitters) or the delicate Dotonbori Blues (vodka, vermouth, sherry, red bean and salted vanilla). Time Out tip: There’s a $10 cover for walk-ins from 9pm to midnight on nights when a band is performing, typically Thursdays through Saturdays. We recommend securing your spot and avoiding the charge by making a reservation in advance.

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...

Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy’s cocktail concept After opened in 2022 right next door to his ultra-luxe restaurant, Ever. At this West Loop spot, an extensive selection of cocktails pairs with Michelin-level fare that makes for an extravagant experience. The vibe: Although the space is high-end and futuristic-looking, After has a “come as you are” policy. As they say, there’s no dress code, no VIPs and no judgement.   The food: Elevated bar bites include gochujang-glazed Elysian Fields lamb rib with shiso and sesame, hamachi crudo with coconut, melon and lime leaf; and puffed pasta crisps served with housemade dip. The drinks: After’s seasonally inspired beverage program offers expertly crafted sips like the chilled Pantone 110609 (fennel, crisp apple and anise), the “weird and delicious” Dirty Martinez (gin and blueberry atom) and the After Handshake (Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash, cassia and mango tepache). Time Out tip: Those looking for a more intimate experience can book After’s eight-seat, music-inspired space, The B-side, which is stocked with more than 200 vinyl records.

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.

Heisler Hospitality is on a roll this year—the group’s British-Indian beer bar, Pub Royale, opened in May, then in November, they opened Queen Mary Tavern, a bar that focuses on maritime drinking. Either theme could easily have been gimmicky, but Heisler knows how to put the right people in charge. At Queen Mary Tavern, Dan Smith and Mony Bunni have assembled a list of cocktails that’s true to the theme—rum, gin and Scotch abound—while using unexpected ingredients and offering sophisticated flavor profiles.  Take the Stone’s Throw, which uses tahini to add sesame notes to the smoky base of Scotch and cream, while a shower of nutmeg over the top ties it all together. Albatross combines gin and madeira with Angostura and coriander for an herbal sip, and St. Erasmus is a tall, icy swizzle with funky rum and some heat from chili. My favorite is Mood Indigo, which I can imagine an epicurean pirate assembling from the spoils of his travels; with port, St. Lucian rum, Batavia Arrack, cardamom and jaggery (cane sugar from Asia and Africa), it’s richly flavored, and a whole egg adds a smooth mouthfeel. The bar had been empty for four decades before Heisler took it over. The space previously held a neighborhood tavern run by Mary Kafka, the namesake for Queen Mary, who still lives upstairs. Many of the original pieces, like the bar, remain in place, which makes Queen Mary feel like it’s been there forever. Luckily the drink list doesn’t—it’s a fresh look at three familiar spirits...

After eight years of contract brewing, Middle Brow Beer Co. finally opened a home of its own on a bustling stretch of Armitage Avenue in Logan Square. The vibe: Sporting rustic brick walls, a trio of foeders (giant wooden barrels used to age beer) looming over the dining area and a spacious bar, Bungalow tries to create a welcoming environment for guests to sample Middle Brow's experimental brews. The food: In the morning, toast topped with cream cheese, fruit and honey is the main attraction, served alongside coffee and beer. Thin-crust pizzas piled with toppings fill tables in the evening, with the action spilling out onto the patio when the weather cooperates.  The drinks: With 95% of the beverages made in-house, you can't go wrong with most choices. We recommend a glass of natural wine or a beer. Time Out tip: Go ahead and order an extra pint, because 50 percent of all Middle Brow profits are donated to local social-justice organizations.   

Katie Renshaw, 2019 U.S. Bartender of the Year, opened her debut bar concept, Bar Bambi, in West Town in early 2026. The ethereal space, designed by Gensler, is a whimsical haven where the drinks are as dreamy as the space itself. The Chicago Avenue bar is a clear reflection of Renshaw's inventive style and playful edge. The vibe: The 50-seat bar, which is anchored by a glass-block bar and a massive, squiggly neon light fixture above, is a dream-like space accented by floating orbs of light, vintage furnishings and cheeky art. The food: Chef Nicklus Byrns, who spent time at Elske, offers playful takes on elevated bar bites like the popular tempura halibut sandwich, flavorful salmon crudo and crave-worthy chicken nuggets with Alabama white sauce and carrot caramel sauce.  The drinks: Renshaw's mixology chops shine through on the cocktail menu, which features sips like the sweet Miss Scarlet (gin, Apóls Ease, lavender, cola spices, lemon, tonka bean and Campari-raspberry sorbet), the balanced Nightshirt (St.-Germain, Seedlip Garden, chamomile, lime, Perrier and clarified coconut yogurt, and the mellow Sanzaru (Rey Campeto, Espadin mezcal, bianco vermouth, mango, amazake and lime).  Time Out tip: Come hungry. While the drinks are the stars of the show here, the food is too good not to try.

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.  

Hospitality group Orbit Group (Segnatore) revived The California Clipper, founded in 1937, after a brief closure during the pandemic. These days, the signature red leather booths, vintage decor and live music make this post-prohibition-inspired spot one of the city’s best bars. The vibe: A dim red glow invites you into this iconic Humboldt Park cocktail lounge. Most nights, you can catch live music performances, from DJ sets to funk, blues and jazz jams.  The food: Food isn’t served here, so plan on eating before or after your visit. If you’re in the mood for Italian, Orbit Group's other spot, Segnatore, is directly across the street. The drinks: Despite the bar’s deliberate “classic Chicago tavern vibe,” the cocktail menu offers much more than a Chicago Handshake—though they do offer that for $8. The seasonally rotating menu features interesting takes on familiar favorites like the Mezcal Soda Highball, Yuzu Spritz (yuzu sake, sparkling wine, soda and rosemary) and the Basil Gimlet (Condessa gin, basil, lime and mole bitters). Time Out tip: If you’re craving a change of pace, venture to the Clipper’s back room (which previously housed coffee shop C.C. Ferns) for DJ sets and late-night dancing meant to channel the spirit of Danny’s, the iconic Bucktown spot that shuttered in 2020. 

Sister restaurant to three Michelin-starred Smyth upstairs, The Loyalist is John Shields and Karen Urie Shield's headline-making bar and restaurant in the West Loop. Consistently named one of the best restaurants in Chicago, the buzzing basement has become a staple of the city's culinary scene. The vibe: The subterranean space is dimly lit with singles, couples and happy hour-goers filling the intimate space with hushed chatter. The food: The star of the show here is The Loyalist OG Cheeseburger, a mouthwatering, onion-forward dish topped with pickled and charred onion between a delicate sesame seed bun. It's served with a side of onion aioli, which is great for dunking fries in. Many consider this one of the best burgers in the city—and we don't disagree. Another menu standout is the pillowy squash gnudi, doused in brown butter, Parmesan Reggiano and an optional caviar upgrade. The drinks: Inventive drinks with cheeky names like Chai Me A River (Fortaleza blanco, green chartreuse, cacao, chai, pineapple and lime) and House Of 1,000 Carrots (pecan rum, cachaça, carrot, ginger, tropical spices and cream cheese) offer plenty of inventive options to choose from. We love the Cruel & Un-Yuzual, a flowery, vibrant purple cocktail crafted with Oka vodka, housemade yuzucello, Snow Maiden sake, chamomile, lavender and lemon. Time Out tip: The Loyalist always saves a few seats for walk-ins, making it an ideal spot for post-work drinks with your team. If you arrive between 5 and 6pm...

It’s no wonder this sexy cocktail cave below the Hoxton Hotel is one of the city’s best bars. With Boka Restaurant Group behind the scenes, it’s a favorite for an intimate date night or an elevated evening with friends.  The vibe: The Fulton Market spot is appointed with an inviting blue velvet banquet, a massive curated bookshelf and a stage where guests can catch live music performances three nights a week.  The food: You won’t find any food on the menu here, but upstairs, Cira and Cabra offer plenty of sumptuous bites to tide you over.  The drinks: With 52 cocktails to choose from, you’ll have plenty of options to try something new, like The Curious Water-Bearer (bourbon, cynar, chamomile, blackberry, lemon, egg white and bitters) or the delicate Dotonbori Blues (vodka, vermouth, sherry, red bean and salted vanilla). Time Out tip: There’s a $10 cover for walk-ins from 9pm to midnight on nights when a band is performing, typically Thursdays through Saturdays. We recommend securing your spot and avoiding the charge by making a reservation in advance.

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...

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.

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,...