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Photograph: Andrew Nicodem for Nicodem Creative

The 33 best cocktail bars in Chicago

Pick your poison at the top cocktail bars in Chicago, where the drinks range from tropical to classic

Edited by
Jeffy Mai
Contributors
Morgan Olsen
,
Allison Yates
&
Lindsay Eanet
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Whether it's a rooftop in the West Loop or a Little Village speakeasy, there's a Chicago cocktail bar for every occasion and taste. Staffed by some of the world's top bartenders, the best local cocktail bars mix drinks that you can enjoy before dinner or in the wee hours of the morning. From the classic Manhattan and Negroni to over-the-top, tropical-inspired sippers with colorful bendy straws, there's nothing you won't find at the following spots. So when you're looking for something a bit stronger than what's on offer at Chicago breweries and wine bars, make your way to the best cocktail bars in Chicago.

RECOMMENDED: Discover more of the best bars in Chicago

Time Out Market Chicago
  • Bars
  • West Loop

Named for Time Out founder Tony Elliott, Tony’s is the crown jewel of Time Out Market Chicago. The cozy all-season rooftop bar is decorated in vintage Time Out London covers, twinkling lights and handsome wood beams that stretch the length of the room. The space is anchored by a sprawling bar that serves a curated selection of wines, beers and signature cocktails. If the sun is shining, wander outside to take in skyline views (you can easily peep some architectural gems from here).

Best cocktail bars in Chicago

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • West Loop
  • price 3 of 4

Star bartender Julia Momose presides over this beautiful West Loop cocktail den that's steeped in Japanese heritage. Her menu flows from light and bright to dark and stirred, allowing guests to sip rare liquors and fun ingredients like elderflower syrup, orange-saffron bitters and cashew orgeat. Expect to pay a premium—$15–$27 per cocktail—for some of the best booze you've ever tried.

  • Bars
  • Hotel bars
  • Loop
  • price 2 of 4

The Kimpton Grey's cocktail lounge, Vol. 39, boasts a library-like feel with shelves of books and leather chairs in a modern setting. Sit back and relax with a house old fashioned—made with a blend of cognac, armagnac and Calvados legal precedent—or try the Chicago-inspired Heroes & Goats, featuring Malört, Plymouth Gin and goat yogurt. Hungry? Order the wagyu smash burger to soak up the booze.

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  • Bars
  • Loop

The first thing you should know about this exclusive micro-bar tucked inside the Chicago Athletic Association is that you need a reservation—mostly because there are only eight seats available. During the two-hour experience, you'll browse a menu of vintage spirits and rare whiskeys, like 1970s Fernet Branca and 1940s Cointreau. Of course, for a taste of the past, you'll pay a pretty penny—the drinks here start around $28 and only go up from there. There's a small food menu with luxe bites (think caviar and foie gras terrine), but the better move is to make a post-tipple reservation at the hotel's Cherry Circle Room so that you don't have to stumble far to pad your belly after all that booze.

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Armour Square
  • price 2 of 4

Chinatown is home to an incredible assortment of restaurants but until last summer, a cocktail bar was missing from the equation. Nine Bar owners Lily Wang and Joe Briglio have given the neighborhood a drinking oasis with this moody, Blade Runner-esque lounge hidden away behind Moon Palace Express. Drop in for Asian-inspired old fashioneds and potent concoctions like the Paradise Lost, made with mango brandy, cachaça, ube, pineapple and Thai coconut milk. There’s also a small menu of snacks, headlined by the terrific McKatsu—breaded pork cutlet—sandwich.

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  • Bars
  • Lounges
  • West Loop
  • price 3 of 4

When the Alinea Group does a cocktail bar, it should go without saying that it's no ordinary cocktail bar. At the Aviary, which opened in 2011, cocktails receive the same innovative treatment as the food at Next or Alinea. That is to say, you should expect to drink cocktails like their take on the tropical Jungle Bird (made famous at the Aviary bar at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur), a strong, layered drink with whimsical floating spheres. Remember The Maine leaves you dizzy and delighted with 26-month aged absinthe, aviary high west rendezvous rye, vermouth, cherry and walnut.

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Wicker Park
  • price 3 of 4

This sleek cocktail lounge is exactly what you’d expect from a bar named after a line of T.S. Eliot poetry: pristine (the carefully constructed cocktails are excellent), pretentious (you won’t find a sign on the door—just look for the long lines) and, ultimately, completely and unarguably gorgeous. Just make sure to obey the house rules by refraining from talking on your phone and not trying to order a cosmopolitan or any drink followed by the word “bomb.”

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  • Bars
  • Lounges
  • Logan Square
  • price 2 of 4

If gin is your liquor of choice, you've come to the right place. This swanky but understated cocktail bar specializes in the clear booze and offers a seasonally rotating lineup of beautiful gin sippers (which are all lovingly illustrated on the menu). The bar team doesn't discriminate: They also use tequila, rum, mezcal, sake and other spirits to craft their beverages.

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Logan Square
  • price 2 of 4

Who would have guessed longtime Trotter's chef Matthias Merges would find his calling checking IDs at the door of a Logan Square bar? Granted, his is not just any bar: Here, the menu is full of original cocktails and twists on classics packed with loads of amari. Though Billy Sunday is squarely a bar, the food is a worthy companion to the drinks: Don't miss any of the snacks in jars.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • West Loop
  • price 2 of 4

Ever, one of the most luxurious restaurants in Chicago, expanded its footprint in 2022 with the opening of an upscale cocktail bar right next door. Dubbed After, the chic and futuristic-looking lounge provides a new place for Chicagoans to imbibe rare and vintage spirits plus expertly crafted mixed drinks. You’ll have plenty of high-end options to drop your money on, including Japanese whiskies, and scotch and Armagnac flights. And if you’d like some light bites to accompany the drinking, there are premium delicacies like wagyu skewers and caviar flights, too.

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • River North
  • price 2 of 4

Live music and weekly DJ sets take centerstage at this chic and unpretentious River North cocktail bar, where locally-sourced ingredients like honey and kombucha are used to create cocktails that focus on bright, bold flavors (lots of fruit, lots of spice). Whiskey lovers should turn their attention to Arbella’s Traveling Old Fashioned menu for globally-inspired renditions of the classic cocktail, including the Lagos, which blends smoked, spiced-ginger whisky with habanero honey and elderflower.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • West Loop

You won't soon forget an evening at the Office, a tiny speakeasy hidden below lauded cocktail bar the Aviary in the West Loop. Your best bet is to reserve one of four bar stools for the Office Hour, a 60-minute guided experience that includes two bespoke cocktails and food pairings (ideal for pre- or post-dinner tipples). Can’t decide on a drink? Opt for the Dealer’s Choice and let the expert bartenders craft a concoction tailored to your preferences.

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • River West/West Town
  • price 2 of 4

Boka Restaurant Group co-founder Rob Katz and business partner Matt Ruder have transformed the space that once housed Emmit’s Irish Pub into an elegant cocktail lounge. Designed by Kehoe Designs, The Pearl Club is sophisticated yet cozy, sporting floor-to-ceiling velvet drapes, rich wooden tones, a restored grand bar and other artful touches. You'll imbibe unique riffs on classic libations and when you need a snack, the kitchen turns out complementary bites like pigs in a blanket and double crunch chicken nuggets.

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  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Bars
  • Wrigleyville
  • Recommended

Serious drinkers have never had much reason to frequent Wrigleyville until Matthias Merges opened this restaurant and bourbon bar across the street from the Friendly Confines in 2018. The shelves are stocked with countless vintage releases and for those willing to open their wallets, there are several bottles of Pappy van Winkle on offer, too. The cocktail program is also fantastic—headlined by the Three Finger Old Fashioned featuring Mordecai’s house bourbon.

  • Bars
  • Hotel bars
  • Rush & Division

Atop Viceroy Chicago’s 18 stories in Gold Coast sits chic poolside bar and lounge Devereaux. Glam decor circa the '40s fills the intimate rooftop space, with mod white furniture and tiny high-top tables scattered across the pool deck. Refreshing libations like the Silver Fox (vodka, grapefruit, vanilla) and Lakeshore Spritz (Lillet, orange vermouth, sparkling wine) make up the main drink menu, with extensive beer, wine and spirit-free selections, too. The limited food options include shareables such as fries, cheese boards and sliders. Devereaux’s location guarantees a stellar atmosphere and stunning views.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • South Lawndale

Located in the back of Moreno’s Liquors—which has sold hard-to-find tequila and mezcal in Little Village for more than 40 years—this lofty speakeasy leans into its locale with a robust selection of agave-focused cocktails spiked with ingredients like ancho chile and jamaica, plus an impressive draft beer list to boot. Slide into high-backed booths in the bar’s historic interior, or grab seats at the patio and soak up the sunshine. 

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • River West/West Town
  • price 2 of 4

If the thought of being crammed in this tiny boxcar of a bar makes you nervous, relax. The patio practically doubles the capacity of the place, and it’s the perfect spot to throw back one of its margaritas, made with fresh lemon and lime juice, top-shelf liquors and powdered sugar, and poured with a heavy hand.

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  • Bars
  • Lounges
  • River North
  • price 2 of 4

Located under the Green Door Tavern, the Drifter is a cozy bar from Liz Pearce (Gage, Drawing Room, Aviary), who serves up a rotating selection of cocktails (printed on a tarot card menu). Your order depends on the cards bartenders deal each night, so keep your fingers crossed for the velvety chocolate negroni or South American Mistress, a smooth blend of pisco, vermouth and Fernet, balanced with chocolate liqueur and blackstrap bitters. The space is a former speakeasy and much of the original decor remains; the live performances, curated by Michelle L'amour, feel right at home amidst the vintage vibe.

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Andersonville
  • price 2 of 4

This queer, Black women-owned cocktail bar in Andersonville serves twists on classic drinks amid a sleek and sexy atmosphere. Owners Renauda Riddle and Angela Barnes augment martinis, mimosas and sangrias with pops of lychee, mango, and blueberry basic syrup. Inspired by the famous Alice Walker poem from which the bar takes its name, cocktails fall into one of three categories, Featured Darlings (elevated classics), Golden Girls and Keep It Cute (zero-proof).

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • River North
  • price 2 of 4

The menu at Three Dots and a Dash—and its bar-within-a-bar concept, the Bamboo Room—features exquisite tiki cocktails crafted with fresh pressed juices and house-made syrups. The arsenal of garnishes is next level, with tropical flowers, colorful bendy straws and fresh herbs and citrus. First-timers should start with the namesake cocktail, an agreeable blend of rums, allspice, falernum, orange and lime. After a few drinks, ask for the blue crab rangoons, which are packed with cream cheese and hunks of tender crab meat.

  • Bars
  • Albany Park

This Albany Park lounge takes its name from a photography term for the dreamy, out-of-focus look achieved by fast-moving lenses, and its interior—all dim lights, sleek furniture and brick walls—offers a similarly sexy aesthetic. Cocktails rotate based on the season, but the core menu favors bold and vegetal spirits; the signature Bokeh cocktail, for example, uses Fernet and cardamom to enliven a traditional sour, while the smoky Verichrome brings the floral notes of lavender bitters to mezcal for a delicate dance. 

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Logan Square
  • price 2 of 4

From the outside, this place looks like a gallery (which, technically, it partially is). On the inside, it’s open and loft-like, with a permanent stage set up for weekly live music and performance. But behind the bar, the drink-slingers have perfected the art of the cocktail, skillfully crafting colorful refreshments that pack a punch. One sip and there’s no doubt that despite everything else going on here, the drinks are the reason to stick around.

  • Bars
  • Café bars
  • Logan Square
  • price 2 of 4

You can’t feel more hip than sipping the Pisco, a blend of rhubarb, lime, Cocchi Americano, piña bitters and piscos, and swaying to the vintage Latin beats played on vinyl under the string lights of this Logan Square bar. The brass light fixtures, wood paneled bar, suede stools, leafy green plants accented by pale blue tiles create a soothing and intimate setting as you sip their pan-Latin American cocktails. If you need a pick-me-up, the Coffee, featuring 4-Letter Word cold brew, house horchata, and cañada aguardiente de caña, will certainly keep you grooving to the tropical cumbia.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Logan Square
  • price 2 of 4

The team behind Logan Square spots Union and Lardon also operates this intimate and swanky cocktail bar. Housed in the same century-old building as the other two concepts, Meadowlark provides guests with a cozy den to hang out in—complete with low lighting, comfy leather couches and book-lined shelves. The drinks are all named after birds and there’s also an accompanying menu of small bites. Seating is limited, so be sure to snag a reservation ahead of time.

With vibrant green houseplants from Sunnyside Plants lining the bar, the vibe at this Portage Park cocktaillery is as lush and dreamy as its cocktail menu. The repertoire features standards from a Knob Creek Manhattan to a Michelada, alongside creative originals like the Sittin' Pretty, featuring jasmine-infused gin, peach, white vermouth and Milkis Korean soda or the summery Kiss and Tell, which combines tequila, mezcal, watermelon and lime with Milkis.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • River North

The menu at this underground speakeasy—located beneath celebrity chef José Andrés' flagship restaurant, Jaleo—centers around one thing: The pig. You'll find braised pig ears and croquettes filled with jamón ibérico as well as inventive savory beverages like the Consomé Cocktail, a combination of a house-made pork consomé with palo cortado and amontillado sherries topped with egg foam. 

  • Bars
  • Lounges
  • Logan Square
  • price 2 of 4

Ten years from now, when this strip of Armitage is populated with coffee shops and vintage clothing stores, this old-school, soul record–playing, classic cocktail–mixing bar will be overrun with hipsters vying for their turn in the photo booth or a spot at the shuffleboard table. Start hanging out here now so you can say you knew it in the good, old days.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Lower West Side
  • price 2 of 4

Located below Dusek’s Board & Beer, this dark, ’70s-themed bar is decorated with a fish tank, wood paneling and a huge fish on the wall. Think of it as an upgraded, boozy version of your grandparents' basement. Like its name suggests, punch is the main draw here—and you can order most cocktails by the glass, carafe or bowl. Whether you go big or small, you'll experience the genius and precision happening behind the bar at Punch House. If you're looking for a good place to start, order the milk punch, a blend of rum, coconut, lemon and chai tea. After a few glasses, you'll be ready to head upstairs to piano bar Tack Room.

  • Restaurants
  • Contemporary American
  • Loop
  • price 3 of 4

Chicago's unofficial Best Rooftop Bar for Your Out-of-Town Visitors also boasts fantastic beverage program. Order the funky Tear the Roof Off or a spicy Summer Night Walks and secure a spot on the sprawling rooftop deck, which offers sweeping views of Millennium Park, the Bean and the surrounding skyline.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Lincoln Square
  • price 2 of 4

There’s a delicate balance of quality and whimsy at the Sixth in Lincoln Square. Expect playful garnishes at this intimate hangout. And you’ll never get bored of what’s on the menu — drink options rotate seasonally.

 

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Ukrainian Village

Enjoy tiki cocktails to the east of Humboldt Park at this Caribbean-inspired lounge, which thankfully feels more like a spot for a late-night rendezvous than the cheesy hotel bar at an all-inclusive resort. There’s a solid selection of classic tiki drinks that even the inexperienced drinker will probably recognize, but the original (and frozen options) are more exciting. Cool off with a frozen Pina Colada or try something new with the rum old fashioned or the lavender gin fizz.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • River North
  • price 3 of 4

As one of Chicago's latest late-night bars (open till 5am on Saturdays), Celeste is equally suited for date night and last call. The welcoming first-floor bar slings killer cocktails that are easy to love, including takes on classics like a refreshing cucumber Collins. After a few rounds, boogie on up to Disco to hit the dance floor and order bottle service.

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • East Village
  • price 2 of 4

Up leopard-print stairs and behind a hidden door, Wicker Park’s Bordel is a speakeasy that seeks to revive the intrigue of Paris’s belle époque. Order one of the classics, like the Jungle Bird, and settle into the plush red seats as you take in the bar’s nightly entertainment. The large format porróns are the perfect accompaniment to watching the scantily-clad fire dancers and burlesque performers that frequent the stage at this lively bar late into the evening.

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Everything about The Dandy Crown draws you in, from the jewel-box blue interior to the colorful murals lining the summer-perfect patio. But of course, the real draw is the drinks—try a house-made craft creation like the elderflower-aloe-lime Between Friends or sip some history with their drink selections pored from vintage publications. A solid menu of shareables, salads and sweets complements a leisurely afternoon of sipping and socializing.

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