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Cary's Lounge

4.2 (55 reviews)
InexpensiveLounges
Open 3:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Cary's Lounge Photos

CARY'S LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Live music
Juke Box
Divey

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Recommended Reviews - Cary's Lounge

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Reviews With Photos

a bar with a lot of signs on the wall
Alyssa M.

Awesome bar that gave me a true welcome visiting Chicago for the first time. The atmosphere, KL the bartender, Pete the owner, Mel the cat and all of the locals made it a great experience. Couldn't have asked for a more friendly vibe. Whether you're a local or visiting, make sure to stop in and have a beverage or two. This is an absolute must when visiting Chicago.

Mel out on the back patio with us.
Ann Marie K.

We live in Edgewater and love that Cary's is a neighborhood spot. We usually just call it Mel's because the bar cat named Mel is a friendly little guy who is definitely a draw to the bar. Great beer on tap and good drinks. No food but there are many good food places nearby to bring take out in from.

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16 years ago

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

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17 years ago

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8 years ago

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12 years ago

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13 years ago

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Page 2 of 2

Ask the Community - Cary's Lounge

Review Highlights - Cary's Lounge

Also outside food friendly, we love grabbing some local flavor along Devon and bringing it to Cary's for a drink with dinner.

Mentioned in 10 reviews

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Elixir Lounge Andersonville

Elixir Lounge Andersonville

4.1
(50 reviews)
1.6 mi
$$

This is a nice, dimly lit lounge tucked in Andersonville with great drinks and food! We tried their…read moreseasonal Peachy Green and RHU-mance drinks, and they were really good. The Peachy Green reminded me of a green tea shot in drink form, perfect for spring and summer. I got my favorite mac and cheese with crispy chicken, and my friend got Brussels for her appetizer, which were delicious. For our entrees, we had the teriyaki burger and shrimp tacos. They were pretty good, just get a side of teriyaki if you love sauce like I do. We ended the night with a cookie skillet and brownie, perfect! Chris was an amazing server, can't wait to return.

Another fantastic cocktail bar! The drinks here are unique, interesting, and nuanced…read more I'd ordered the Sage Society, and it took slowing down, but I did detect the light whisper of Ancho Reyes. It was also approachable, lightly herbaceous, with a little sweetness and acid. Between us, was this among my favorites? No. However, this is more a matter of personal taste than something technically or otherwise wrong. I prefer cocktails that are bolder and more spirit forward. My advice is to talk to your bartender and find something you will enjoy most. To help not drink on an empty stomach, I ordered the Crispy Shrimp Tacos. As far as bar (gastropub?) food, these were extremely respectable. The shrimp was cooked very well, and the use of greens and onions helped offer a balance and freshness. As a note, the space inside is small and intimate, and I've no complaints about the service. Final verdict: If you're looking for a unique cocktail, in a small and intimate space, the Elixir Lounge fits the bill. The menu has a couple food options too, so you won't be drinking on an empty stomach.

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Elixir Lounge Andersonville
Elixir Lounge Andersonville
Elixir Lounge Andersonville

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Rogers Park Social

Rogers Park Social

4.6
(239 reviews)
1.3 mi
$$

A wonderful experience on New Year's Day. Here's the link…read morefor the menu https://rpsocial.square.site/s/order We had a great service experience from the one server working, and the overall look of the place was festive from the holidays. If it looks like it's full when you first walk in, make sure you ask somebody for the place where you can sit in the room... versus the bar. And bring your dog! We saw several people with well behaved pups in there. An employee from a local pizza place walked around offering individual pizzas to buy. I also noticed they had an outdoor heated enclosed patio.

I Had A Very Disappointing Experience At Rogers Park Social. I Am Currently Dealing With Back…read moreIssues And Was Unable To Sit Comfortably In The High-Top Chair At Our Table. I Politely Asked The Waitress Whether I Could Switch One Chair So I Could Sit Comfortably. Rather Than Offering A Simple Solution, She Abruptly Told Me That She Could Not Accommodate The Request. We Then Respectfully Asked The Guests At The Nearby Table Whether They Were Using The Chair, And They Kindly Confirmed That They Were Not. We Moved It To Our Table Without Disrupting Anyone, And The Waitress Did Not Raise Any Concern Afterward. That Made The Initial Refusal Especially Frustrating. This Was A Small, Reasonable Request That Would Have Had No Impact On Other Guests Or The Staff. Instead, I Was Made To Feel Like An Inconvenience. It Was Also A Sunday Evening When The Venue Was Not Crowded At All. After The Initial Interaction, Our Server Never Came Back To Check On Our Table Or Ask Whether We Wanted To Order Additional Drinks. The Bartender Eventually Had To Come Out From Behind The Bar To See If We Needed Anything. For A Group Of Five, That Level Of Attentiveness Was Disappointing. A Venue That Promotes Itself As Welcoming And Accommodating Should Be Prepared To Make Basic Seating Adjustments For Guests With Mobility, Injury, Or Back-Related Concerns And Should Provide Consistent Service Throughout The Visit. Based On Our Experience, We Will Not Be Returning.

Photos
Rogers Park Social
Rogers Park Social
Rogers Park Social

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Green Mill

Green Mill

3.6
(1.2k reviews)
2.4 mi
$$

Ever since I came back from a trip to NOLA a couple years ago (and subsequently moved to Chicago),…read moreI've been looking for a place like Green Mill. A spot where someone could walk in, maybe order a drink, and listen to some music without first opening Ticketmaster and shelling out half your paycheck to their junk fees. Some of their performances are free, and some have a reasonable cover of $10-20. There are also performances every night, sometimes even in the afternoon. The vibe inside is dimly lit and very old-timey. Even the bathroom had a bar of soap! I haven't seen a bar outside of a private residence! For sure, the vibe fits the history. Green Mill used to be a spot visited by Big Al himself. Yes, there are still connected tunnels used by the mob, no, you cannot see them. In terms of the bar, do not expect anything special. Their menu is limited to the beers, wines, and champagnes they have. They have spirits, but no cocktail menu - while they *might* be able to mix something simple like a Manhattan, be prepared for basic drinks along the lines of a gin & tonic. The service was fine, but a little abrupt. Not the best welcoming or inviting, but gruff and surly in a way that is probably cute to regulars, but less so to newcomers like myself. Final verdict: Green Mill is a place one comes for the music and the vibe and to get away from life for a little bit. It appears to be a third place for many regulars. It's worth giving a shot, as long as one is ready for an experience that's a little rough around the edges, arguably by design.

I'm just a tourist who is not biased and is generally easy on the authentic, hole in a wall type of…read moreestablishments that deserve high praise for staying afloat. It's rare for me to say much negative comments since the world is full of criticism without constructive merits. However, this bar once frequented by the worst gangster in Chicago history needs some decent criticism. First: the place is dirty Second: entire staffs are rude Third: the manager lady is the rudest one of all Fourth: cash only-highly suspicious for the tax evasion that Al Capone was incarcerated for life-don't mess with Treasury Agents Fifth: poor population control-various people come in with different cover charges Sixth: unsafe due to no emergency exits and only very small entrance Seven: expensive drinks for small servings Eight: poor acoustics-small stage behind the angled bar counter Nine: poor bathrooms upkeep Ten: extremely poor decor and lightings Compliments One: Best Jazz Performance and amazing Musicians Two: Surprise guest performance by probably one of the best crooner Three: Historic place rarely preserved Four: Cool, old decor Overall Historic Place with excellent Virtuoso Jazz Club. Just don't mind the insane Matriarch who just can't shut up.

Photos
Awesome wooden frame from the Capone days
Awesome wooden frame from the Capone days
Interior
Interior
Before the stampede and a great view of the band. This didn't last long

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Before the stampede and a great view of the band. This didn't last long
Elixir

Elixir

4.1
(119 reviews)
4.1 mi
$$

We have been to Elixir a few times and it is always a great choice for unique and delicious…read morecocktails! It is a cozy little bar with dim lighting perfect for a date night drink. The bartenders are always very friendly and check in often which is always appreciated. You're always immediately given little pretzels to snack on which I love as a unique touch. This time we both chose a more standard cocktail, but they also always have very unique and delicious seasonal cocktails which are always amazing! I would definitely recommend Elixir to anyone looking for a spot to grab a quick and delicious cocktail!

On our first night in Boystown, Jamie W and I were pretty overwhelmed by the crowds at Sidetrack…read moreand Roscoe's, so we ended up coming here to make Jamie's virginal gay bar debut. It was the right move because it had the kind of chill vibe we were seeking after a long flight from SFO. Fortunately there were two seats at the bar with our names on them. Figuratively speaking. They had quite a signature cocktail list on hand, and we felt it was our obligation to try as many as we could. At least that was what we said to ourselves as the evening wore on. Each cocktail was $14. We started with a couple of familiar libations. Jamie ordered the Mint Julep, a delightfully Deep South mix of bourbon, simple syrup, and fresh mint (photo: https://yelp.to/u-td8LdPLj). I went further south with the Pineapple Margarita which was emboldened by a tropically potent mix of pineapple infused tequila, lime juice, and agave (photo: https://yelp.to/V-Sf6Q_2qK). We got a bit bolder with our second round and found mixed results. Jamie had the Not Your Mom's Daiquiri which amped up the margarita by blending pineapple-infused tequila with Bacardi 8-year rum. Along with fresh lime and simple syrup, this one definitely had more of a kick (photo: https://yelp.to/1ZijDf6wMV). However, my order, the Pontiac Pony, was a spicy miss for me. It was a rather oddball mix of apple-cinnamon infused vodka, pear liqueur, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and ginger beer (photo: https://yelp.to/5dQoFdzG98). There was just a harshness that didn't sit well on my tongue. Oh well, the mellow vibe was cool. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...three out of four cocktails were aces, just one clinker AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very chill, fairly quiet for Boystown SERVICE - 4 stars...cool bartenders TOTAL - 4 stars...check it out when you take a break from your Boystown cruising RELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO

Photos
Bar view
Bar view
Not Your Mom's Daiquiri
Not Your Mom's Daiquiri
Behind the bar

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Behind the bar

Cary's Lounge - lounges - Updated June 2026

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