Went for happy hour cocktails. The bar opens at 6 pm on weekdays, so when my friend and I went right after work, we literally walked in when they opened. Monday is BOGO martinis, and so worth it. I had the Apple Crisp martini and Honey Cucumber, both were very sweet (which I like). My friend went with Honey Cucumber and a Dirty Gin martini. We really liked our drinks, music was pretty ok, the decor is great. The bartender was so nice and real, real cute. Only bummer was that it was just us and one other table, so it was very low key. However, I'd recommend checking this place out for sure. read more

A hidden gem in my opinion. If you are looking for an intimate cute place for a small crowd or a first date, this is the place. The drinks are very tasty and affordable. The staff are always friendly and on top of things. My friend ordered a lemon drop and wanted sugar around the rim, the waiter grabs the drink quickly and said: "that's no problem at all". Good customer service done effortlessly. read more

Please do yourself a favor and go to Twisted Vine instead! Much better service and a better cocktail without the stick up the ass attitude. I've been to Elixir about 5 times. I have never had a visit without attitude from the bartender / server. Last time I went was a Sunday night. Three other parties were there. The bartender threw napkins and menus at us and proceeded to lean his ass against the counter staring at us till we made a decision. Drinks were served with no water. Would have had a second round but didn't feel like giving this pretentious-ass place any more money What's up with no Chocolate Martini on the menu? Sure it's a suburban housewife drink. But how can you have a martini place without this? Get over yourself! To sum up- for better service- go to Twisted Vine. For a better martini- go to Marty's in Andersonville read more

Pretty great cocktails in a small classy lounge-like atmosphere. not too loud or crowded when we went on a Friday night at 9:30. Service was friendly and attentive. I'd come again. read more

Best drinks in town, Chad is the best bartender. He serves premium drinks and premium customer service. He is also the bar manager.

A friend and I came in here on a Friday night to check it out. We must have come at a good time, because there was no wait, we had a choice of the bar or a table. The cocktail list looks good. The house specialty drinks look pretty amazing. I have to admit though, it is pricey, but I guess you have to expect that for this type of bar. It was a good place to come to just to sit and have a cocktail without all the crowds and noise you get from some of the other boystown bars. The bartenders seemed very attentive and nice. This is not a place I will come to on a regular basis, but it is certainly a nice change from some of the other boystown bars. read more

The worst service imaginable, but the best drinks I've had in a while. If only their customer service could match the quality of their drinks. I have been there repeatedly and always brace myself for the god AWFUL, RUDE, bartenders that work there. I have written an e-mail to them directly and have yet to hear a reply. I once waited to place my drink order for 15 minutes while one of the bartenders was on Grindr! I really wish they got rid of some bad apples who are RUINING an otherwise great new addition to the boystown strip. ALSO, NEVER PAY WITH A CARD HERE!!!! THEY WILL ADD IN THEIR OWN GRATUITY! AND A VERY VERY GENEROUS ONE AT THAT. I had to call American Express to dispute unauthorized charges made by them. I am a great tipper, but I only tip well for GREAT service, not when I get ignored. read more

So glad there's finally a place with great cocktails in Lakeview, so I don't have to always leave the neighborhood for a good drink. Went for after work drinks with a friend. Had a daiquiri, which was true to classic old-school form -- not sweet with well-balanced rum flavor. The space is nice and small so it feels intimate/personal, and despite being on Halsted, it doesn't feel at all cheesy or sleazy, except for the music. Would be five stars if the music were decent instead of the usual gay bar club mix. The music seemed very out of place -- I'd imagine the people who this kind of place appeals to don't care for cheesy dance mixes. read more

Had an excellent time here with a few friends the other night, the cocktails were delicious and our bartender Michael even handmade some mocktails for our sober friends. He was polite, funny, and made the experience even better. Will definitely come back :) read more

Elixir has a nice intimate atmosphere.... good drinks, and super friendly staff. The place has an upscale feeling - so if you're looking to hangout casually, then Elixr might not be the spot. A good date night spot. read more

Loved it. Saw some Yelp posts complaining that they don't allow people to just belly up to the bar, but rather you have to be 'sat' at the bar (just like you need to be sat at a table). That's actually a huge plus in my book- it is what allows this place to stay less crowded, chill and keeps it from turning into a mad-house of pushing and shoving. The drinks were fantastic, the people were friendly and the lack of all that 'Minibar' attitude crap is a welcome change on Halsted. That's something that I hope never changes here. Elixir, I'm going to write on your review the same thing I wrote in my friend Becky's yearbook in 7th grade: "It was so great getting to know you. Don't EVER change! LYLAS and have a kickass summer." read more

I think this is the best bar in chicago for he gay scene and good drinks. I highly recommend any of their whiskey drinks or wines. Great selection. Nice service and they do a good job keeping it from becoming over the top crowded. read more

Really great cocktails. Thought I stumbled upon a secret but came to find out that this little spot is actually very popular! Will definitely return! read more

Elixir is a nice change of pace for a fancier cocktail if you are able to get in...the place is quite small. It's much quieter than the other bars on Halsted and is a good spot if you want to have a conversation. Drinks are also unique and not your normal mixed drink. Service can be a little slow and inattentive at times. This place would be 5 star if the staff would make customers feel a little more welcome. There is only seating for maybe 30? so it shouldn't be that hard. read more

Pleasantly surprised. Was invited by a couple of friends to join them for cocktails here and this is a great place for after dinner drinks or even pre-game before a crazy night out. Very small and intimate. The bartender was extremely friendly and on his game. The music they were playing was random as all hell, but given the good company I was with, it didn't bother my evening. Great stop on the Boystown tour and I'll definitely be back. read more

Unbelievably friendly and fun staff! Beautiful cocktails and ambience. Naturally classy establishment to enjoy superb service, cocktails mixed with thought and creativity. I must mention again the individuals (every single one) running this place are elite, they have mastered the perfect mix of professionalism and art of entertaining their patrons while working very hard to do so! They put the needs and desires of the guests first and treated me so well during my visit. Def my fav on the boystown strip for an upscale yet amazing night without pretentiousness. read more

Discovered this place about 4 months ago and it has quickly become my (gay) bar of choice. How rare and wonderful to find a sophisticated, relaxed gay bar with friendly staff (real friendly, as in sincere - not 'I work for tips' friendly). I have my favourite - Justin. He's a doll. Remembers your drink, has great suggestions and seems to never get flustered or forget about you. I'm just sorry I discovered it long after I decided to quit Chicago, but I'll visit and often. read more

I've lived nearby for over a year and had seen it a ton and just not thought to stop by. My mom was in town and we decided to stop by for a couple drinks. The staff was all friendly and made us feel right at home. The drinks tasted amazing and the atmosphere was great. I would recommend this bar. read more

The only classic cocktail bar in BT. Matt is awesome and prepares the best old fashions. totally non pretentious because I usually find myself here on Mondays in jeans and tennis shoes after a long bike ride. read more

I was very reluctant when a friend suggested we stop in at Elixir after dinner, but I'm glad me did. Great atmosphere. The staff is personable and fun. The drinks are unique and different. I usually just let the bartender surprise me with a concoction. I recommend going during the week when it is a little more low-key. The space is quite small, so it can fill up quickly with the usual Boystown crowd. read more

On our visit to Chicago, we stopped in at this cozy little N. Halsted bar for some cocktails to start our night with friends. It was very stylish and the greeter at the door made you feel welcome.... nice touch. They make specialty drinks and I told our server a flavor and they created a great custom drink. Just know this comes at a price. But it made for a fun night. Get there early because this bar gets busy and ends up with standing room only. read more

Fun drinks and friendly staff - Dan rocks the cocktails with a great smile!

I found elixir on metromix's staffs choice page. Naturally, it peaked my interest. Thus, I went to elixir on a sunday night last weekend with a couple friends. My first impression of the place was that it was a little cramp. I'll tell you this, it did not matter. The staff, service, ambiance was phenomenal. I must give my compliments to the bartender Chad. Have to admit we must have called him over countlwss times with millions of questions. Yet, he was professional and more than willing to help. Not to mention, he makes a mean cocktail. So, if you have a chance go on a Saturday. Chad will make you a good cocktail. read more

Delicious drinks, Chelsea is the sweetest most welcoming bartender. Great experience.

This 1 star represents Elixir as a whole. I have been to Elixir in the past and could have easily given it 5 stars, but I returned several times only to have it get worse and worse. This is my first yelp review and admittedly, I'm writing it out of anger. I suppose I'm particularly angered because it has such potential: great drinks, new vibe for Halsted Street and a few folks who are gems...but somehow I could only give Elixir 1 star. My girlfriend and I were waiting at the bar having a really great drink and were going to have some other friends join our fun. We were looking to move from the bar to a table. There's only maybe 6 tables in this small bar. The bar went from being pretty decent for a Saturday to a huge headache. The front tables became swarmed with 20 or so people and they were terribly loud and obnoxious. I was rather annoyed that my friends and I couldn't move to a table, but that's not Elixir's fault...or so I thought. Then it came to my attention (thanks to a friendly gentleman at the bar) that the loud swarm of obnoxious folks were THE OWNER and his friends. They kinda ruined the party. The music didn't help. His name is Mark L. Now that I am informed that he's the face of Elixir as well as Halsted's Bar and Grill and Hydrate, I'll not be returning to his joints. As the owner he has every right to go to his own place and enjoy a spirit, but he was seemingly getting quite drunk and consequently changed the entire atmosphere of the bar with his special guests and their entitled behavior. He then became very handsy with the bartenders and the rest of his decently friendly staff. I could overhear him interfering with their business and critiquing their work. I felt bad for his staff. I was embarrassed for him. It's a shame--this bar could be a fantastic Halsted spot, but I doubt it will be any better than his other joints: messy, rude, pretentious and unprofessional. My advise Yelp users?: support establishments with friendly owners who don't put themselves first and create special rules for their friends while abandoning paying customers. Support establishments where the staff are free to do their job without getting grouped and criticized by the owner. Support establishments that are well run and not sloppy messes. This is not your Halsted go-to place...and shame, it could be... read more

I love this place! The drinks are SO good and change constantly(I think every season). They are on the pricier side and take longer than normal drinks do, but it's definitely worth it. I've been coming here since it opened, and love it even more now, as they were a little uptight when they opened, but now are a lot more easy going like a good neighborhood bar. read more

I can't believe this place is still trying to figure themselves out. It has been a year now and they still can't get reliable people to manage the traffic flow on a busy Friday night. No one at the door when we walked in tonight. Waited five minutes and grabbed an empty table in the corner that was still full of dirty glasses. Sat there for ten minutes (with the host in plain VIEW) thinking we would get waited on and have the table cleaned. To our surprise we were asked to leave beacause there was a group of five waiting for the table. The host was extremely rude and basically stating he was schmoozing with another table, as that is his job, and can't do everything at once. Hello, this is bar of 5 tables, WTF. Anyway we left and will be very clear with friends that this is a VERY unfriendly place on a busy night. BTW....we are LOCALS and very regular at many of the bars in Boystown. read more

Walked in on a slow weekday night. Bartender said Hi and he continued to look at his phone and talk to his friends. After a minute or so, reached for my drink menu. He saw me and grabbed it for me to give me. I sat at the bar and the empty drinks next to me stayed there for 15 minutes. Had a tasty Mint Julip but in a small glass. Drink finshed and wanted to leave. Waited for the check. Still a slow night. I like the one in Andersonville much better. read more

We came here with a group of 10 for a joint bachelor party in May 2017 and had a marvelous time. The cocktails were fancy and amazing which was exactly what we wanted. Since the bar is smaller and quieter, it was a nice "pre-game" to our wilder activities later in the evening. The staff was so accommodating and helpful. Shoutout to Chad for making our evening so successful! read more

Very nice intimate little spot with dim lighting and signature cocktails. Bartender is friendly and will suggest cocktails if you tell him what you like. Small but wasn't too crowded when we got there during the week. read more

SO i have been back after a little fiasco... some friends of mine like to meet here about once a month as a small get together on monday nights and the service is good. No snottyness, its comfortable so who is working the weeknights kudos! I dont plan on coming on weekends though cause its too camped. but you have me back on weeknights. read more

I went here last night on a date, the place is not your typical boystown bar- it is nice! Very nice atmosphere and drinks weer excellent.

Finally, something grown up with class in boys town....outstanding

I come here for the impeccable Negroni, but I stay for the Chad. Be sure to ask him for his Negroni Mojito.

I went with a group of friends around 9 pm on a Saturday night. We got there right as it was starting to pick up. We got a table, but 20 minutes later we would have been standing. Excellent selection of cocktails. I think everyone in my group loved their drinks. Our server was quite knowledgeable about the menu and helped me pick something that suited my tastes. I gave it four instead of five stars because it took way too long to get our bill when we're ready to leave. read more

Well.... I was in Elixir this past Saturday night. Very classy space. Small but it works. I can't say I'll be back. Took 20 minutes to get my apple crisp martini which tasted like Apple Cider with no booze added... I left more sober than when I walked in and my drink was $11!! Noticed a group of 3 guys standing at end of bar waiting to be acknowledged by someone... when they weren't acknowledged after over 10 minutes because the mixologist was making my apple cider, the group of 3 walked out. They need to pull it together as far as customer service. More organization and more customer appreciation. It's NO Mini Bar... read more

Nothing special. Front door staff seemed indifferent. Bartender was polite but not engaging. Drinks were average. It feels like it is trying a little too hard to be hip. Crowd was sparse even though it is meant to be a intimate club. read more

Wonderful place. The drinks were great, the staff was super, and the space is really nice. We came in with a large group and the staff could not have been nicer about accommodating all of us. read more

This bar is a gem. It is intimate, tastefully decorated and the cocktail menu is filled with enough creative concoctions to please any palate. But I think it is the staff that truly set it apart. They are all consistently pleasant, highly attentive and capable of lively and witty conversation. They are also extremely knowledgeable and happy to make suggestions based on patrons' taste preferences. It has a warm, casual elegance that is not often found in "Boy's Town." However, on more than one occasion I have a noticed a sudden shift in the ambiance. It occurs when the owner stops in with an entourage. The staff seem suddenly uncomfortable, even tense. I have overheard unwarranted criticism of the lighting, music and petty chastisement of staff. I am not sure what to make of this but, fortunately, he does not come in that often or at least not when I am usually there. Over all, it is a very welcoming and relaxing lounge. read more