From the greeting at the door by Mario to the hand crafted cocktails made by Lee, our experience was great! The sexy dark ambiance sets the mood. Saw a menu of small plates that sounded yummy, didn't have but will next time! read more

Well priced bar with good prices, quality cocktails, and a strong identity in West Loop. Out of the options you have in West Loop, this one works perfectly for something slightly more lowkey. This is a great place to go for friendly ambiance to not break the bank. read more

If you are an ally of a minority, please do not patronize this business. 3 black men entered the establishment, set at the bar for nearly 10 minutes. The bartender did not speak, greet, or acknowledge us when there were more than 12 seats empty at the bar. The funniest part is that I am a multimillionaire so their lost to not appreciate black business. We took our dollars elsewhere. The bartender was a blonde, older white guy on 8/21/26 after 11pm. His energy and attitude was disgusting!!! We will NEVER return. read more

Inkwell is my favorite cocktail bar in the Fulton Market area for having intimate conversations! The vibe is so inviting, with perfectly dimmed lights and music which wasn't too loud but also not too quiet. There was chatter in the air from other patrons that had the feel of a lively cafe. I love that they have a selection of craft cocktails but also a $3 miller high life pony as a "frugal" or "light drinker" option for the low ABV enjoyers. I was impressed with the service as the doorman seemed to work as both the server and the bartender. There were some cocktails on the menu that had run out of stock for some reason but that wasn't a big deal since the ambiance made up for it. Definitely would recommend Inkwell as a perfect spot to catch up with friends! read more

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Very nice bar with happy hour on the weekends. We found this bar as we were nearby and saw that they owned a bar in Omaha also. Go Big Red!!! The bar will do well in Fulton Market as it has an old school feel with modern facilities. We thoroughly enjoyed our drinks at the bar and had lovely talks with bartender, Anastasia who recently from Florida. Overall, nice bar with limited food menu. Plenty of meter d parking nearby. The music was diverse but not too loud. Try this bar out. We will be back. read more

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Visited on a Tuesday night around 6:30pm with a friend, bar had several other patrons but plenty of open tables and bar seats. We were able to seat ourselves at our preferred spot. Drinks: Little Edie's - sweet with a slight herbaceous note, a little bubbly and subtle notes of gin, sweeter than expected but still fairly refreshing Killer bee - really good, nice balance of sweet and sour with a noticeable spiciness that made this unique, a fun take on the bee's knee Service was solid, friendly and warm, only one bartender when we visited, they actually take order at your table and bring you the drink which was a few minute wait but very manageable. Water available on request. Overall a fun cocktail spot in the west loop, great vibe with cozy booth and warm interior. Also had a small food menu if you wanted a snack with your drink which I think is a great touch. Would love to visit for happy hour. read more

Inkwell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing decor , amazing drinks. This is a good spot to come and relax after a long day of work. Anastasia was out bartender and she makes great drinks. Had the old fashioned and it was mixed to perfection. read more

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I love a cute little bar, and this spot definitely delivers. I've been to Inkwell a couple of times now, and it always has such a great vibe cozy, stylish, and just the right energy. The drinks are really good too. I'd recommend getting there early before it gets crowded. Plus, there's street parking available, which is always a bonus. read more

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Love this cozy cocktail bar! Definitely would recommend for a date night or night cap after dinner. Probably good for a group of 4 max in my opinion as it's a smaller space. read more

Love the ambiance, music was good and although we came for Cocktails, we loved the crab dip. The bartender was attentive, informative and easy on the eyes which is always a plus lol. The cocktails were innovative, unique and boozy! We loved the vibe of this spot. We will return! Good for date night, ladies night or a solo night! We sat right at the bar and enjoyed the happy hour specials. read more

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Located on the quieter end of Lake St, this nice little spot was incredible. There was live music and the ambiance was delightful. This is a perfect spot for a date or catching up with a friend. The staff are also very welcoming and helpful. They have a variety of cocktails available and there's something for everyone. I went with the Killer Bees which was good with the right amount of sourness! Would def recommend stopping in for a drink! They also have a happy hour available with $12 cocktails. read more

Inkwell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love the decor and overall beauty of this place. This was another cocktail bar that was on my list of places to try and I got a chance to do just that. The service was great and again I just thought the overall ambience was well suited they have a really beautiful bar area that are stocked with all the spirits and premium spirits that you could imagine. The drinks were good, I specifically ordered the "kick push "which contained Hennessy and rum with bitters. As you can imagine, it was a pretty strong drink, but it was well made, and one that I would get again. This is a nice date night spot. You can take someone there as you wait for your dinner reservation, or you can seal the night here. read more

Awesome bar. Tommy is great. 2nd time in whine he's behind the bar, will be back again soon.

Loved this cocktail bar! There were lots of seating options, and everything looked so classy. Waiters would take your order at your table, which was a nice change from other cocktail bars in the city. My personal favorite was Little Eddie's Garden with vodka. They had a nice selection of snacks as well. read more

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The ambiance was nice for the speakeasy vibe and the service was friendly. But the seats were surprisingly uncomfortable and the drinks were more ice than flavor. I certainly did not experience any mixologist expertise. It's in a convenient location after dinner surrounded by so many restaurant hotspots but was still dead on a Thursday night. I'm not sure what about my experience would pull me back here. It was absolutely averagely meh in every way. read more

Cute business but a little tooo slow on the service side my drink was solid but wish it had one ice cute Instead of a lot of little iceeeeee . I could be too fussy though :/ but they are on Inkind! So pay through that read more

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We stopped by this new cocktail bar in West Loop for happy hour on a Saturday afternoon. Happy hour is available daily from 4-6pm with select $12 cocktails. Our bartender was very friendly and attentive. First, we tried the Saturn and Kick Push then we ordered a Manhattan and Moscow Mule. All of our drinks were fantastic and well crafted. We loved the creative cocktail menu and variety of drink options! The ambiance is perfect for any occasion - date night, solo visits, or a small group gathering. The inside feels cozy yet sophisticated. We definitely plan on being back to explore more of the menu! read more

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Glad to have a chill place that makes great cocktails, plays great music and provides a great experience in my hood! I believe they have been open for a couple of months and I can tell the hood loves it. Great days are usually Thurs-Sat for a nice crowd. The place itself is very dim on the interior in which I love as it sets the tone for a good evening while throwing a few carefully crafted ones back. I love the Kick Push which is kinda like a cherry old fashioned...might be my favorite drink here. The Tijuana Brass which is a mezcal cocktail is pretty outstanding as well. Oaxacan Folkore, Old Fashioned, Island Spice Sour and Divino Maguey are fantastic drinks as well. The lovey Tessa is great at making these cocktails and can go off script as well. Overall staff is pretty good. Music is always dope here as they have a very diverse selection playing. I really like this place and I love that its in walking distance. Ive added it to my rotation of nearby speakeasy, great cocktails joints such as Lazy Bird, Press Room, Moneygun and Izakaya. Inkwell is originally based out of Nebraska and I am glad they decided to expand to Chicago. read more

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Amazing low key cocktail lounge. Great drinks and vibe. Great bartender who made a delicious Manhattan read more

Inkwell - Manhattan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hidden gem in West Loop! Inkwell is a must-visit for any cocktail enthusiast. I learned they also have one location in Omaha, Nebraska. The handcrafted concoctions are inventive and expertly mixed. The ambiance is romantic and intimate, with a speakeasy-like vibe that's perfect for date nights. The mixologist is knowledgeable and passionate about their craft, happy to guide you through the extensive menu. Plus, the bar bites are delicious! Don't miss this spot. read more

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The vibe is nice. I showed up at 5 on a Thursday. There was one bartender (staffing issue) and the place was packed. I witnessed so many people come to the bar and leave because of how long it took to be greeted. I ordered a grilled cheese at 5:05pm. It's 6:11pm and I still haven't received it. I've been here twice and I've always had a negative experience. For happy hour, especially when I'm here with clients (which I am), this is embarrassing and unacceptable. read more

Great surprise find! I stumbled on Inkwell around the corner from my new office. Happy accident! It's gorgeous, cozy place with a lovely bar, lighting, and overall feel. It feels like I was swept away into another time and place, especially with the old brown painted brick wall and dark wood window and wall trim lined with books. Actual books! I could be in a historic pub in England. Combined with a great bartender, and happy buzz of small groups of people kicking off the evening of celebration for a better 2025, I'd highly recommend this place. read more

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I really wanted to like this place. It has a great dark speakeasy vibe -- well-designed, moody, and intimate. The kind of ambiance that promises a top-tier cocktail experience. Unfortunately, that's where the positives ended. When we walked in, there was no greeting. Not even a nod. It felt like we were interrupting something rather than being welcomed into a bar. The only staff on that night were the door guy and a bartender who was also doubling as the waiter. That might explain some of the service issues, but it definitely doesn't excuse all of them. The bartender seemed disinterested from the start. When we tried to make light conversation and asked how he was doing, he replied "alright" and just walked away. Later, when he returned and asked what we wanted, we asked a simple question about a drink -- his answer was vague and dismissive, as if we were bothering him. FYI...there were only three other customers in the entire place, so it's not like it was so busy. He brought the drinks over, didn't say a word, didn't offer water, and never once checked in on us again. No "how's everything?" or "can I get you anything else?" Nothing. Just silence. It was one of the most lackluster service experiences I've had at a cocktail bar -- especially one that presents itself as a high-end spot. The drinks were decent, but nothing to brag about. But the vibe? Completely off. The lack of basic hospitality turned what could have been a great night into a quick drink-and-leave situation. We ended up heading over to other cocktail bar in Fulton where the service actually matched the quality of the drinks. This place seriously needs a customer service wake-up call. Good ambiance and decent cocktails aren't enough if guests are made to feel unwelcome. Hoping they get it together before it's too late. read more

Inkwell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Minus the espresso martinis being amazing, horrible experience. The bouncer ignored us and let another couple that came in after us not even knowing we were waiting for a seat and ignored all eye contact, the bartender was the least attentive I've ever had, and their birthday gift card is a scam. They send $15 for your birthday that doesn't even work in the bar and despite the bartender seeing us struggle to figure out how to pay with it, he never helped. They send a phony $15 to get you to go there just for it to not work and have the worst service of your life. Stay away at all costs read more

The drink was really good, but the vibes were off here. There was only one person working and there was someone sleeping in the front on the couch who was later a door holder and all of the other workers came back at the same time. It was just odd and the one worker seemed overwhelmed (rightfully so). They were also out of some apps and drinks and didn't suggest alternatives. read more

The drinks were amazing - so many options. Plus there are great bites to share. I loved the vibe.. great for pre or post dinner.

Nice vibes in this laid back old school-ish spot featuring jazz straight from waxed vinyl laid down by the bartender also serving delicious drinks in addition to the delicious vinyl. read more