This Chicago bar was just named one of the best in all of the U.S.

Chicagoans have long known that some of the city's best nights don't happen at buzzy rooftop lounges or dimly lit cocktail dens. Sometimes they happen in a wood-paneled corner bar where you can order Angostura bitters, a basket of cheeseburgers and a frozen minty dessert cocktail.

Now the rest of the country is catching up. Logan Square favorite Best Intentions has been named one of the 10 nominees for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar at the 2026 Spirited Awards, widely considered among the most respected honors in the drinks industry. The annual awards, presented by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, recognize the bars, bartenders and hospitality professionals shaping cocktail culture across the country.

The nomination places Best Intentions alongside nationally acclaimed bars in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.—a remarkable achievement for a neighborhood spot that proudly embraces dive-bar energy.

Located on Armitage Avenue, Best Intentions opened after brothers Chris and Calvin Marty purchased the former Marble Bar and gave it a thoughtful refresh. The old-school charm remained, but the drinks program got a serious upgrade. The result is what the bar jokingly describes as a "fancy cocktail bar" disguised as your favorite neighborhood watering hole.

Step inside and you'll find all the hallmarks of a classic Midwestern tavern: wood paneling, glass-block windows, comfy stools, a record player and a laid-back atmosphere. The cocktails focus on expertly executed classics rather than elaborate laboratory experiments, while the food menu goes well beyond typical bar fare. Alongside burgers, you'll find calf liver mousse and the bar's beloved matzo ball soup featuring what the menu proudly calls "big-ass matzo balls."

Regulars swear by the Wondermint Malted, a frozen cocktail inspired by a grasshopper that's served at precisely the right temperature from a cocktail machine. Others come specifically for shots of Angostura bitters on tap—something you're unlikely to encounter at your average neighborhood bar.

Whether Best Intentions ultimately takes home the trophy won't be known until later this summer. But earning a spot among the nation's top cocktail bars is already a pretty strong argument for popping in while you still can. The Spirited Awards winners will be announced in New Orleans on July 23.