We had our wedding at Moonflower, and it was amazing! We originally found Moonflower on Zola. Although we are from the area, we had never visited before, and the photos immediately caught our attention. The bar fit our vibe perfectly, and after visiting a few times, we knew it was the right place for us. We rented both spaces: the main bar upstairs and Nightshade, the speakeasy downstairs. Moonflower has a small stage in the main bar, which we used for our ceremony. The space already has so much character that it needed very little decorating. We brought small flower vases and an altar piece that the bride and her now mother in law made together. After the ceremony, we held cocktail hour and served food buffet style in the main bar. Later, everyone moved downstairs to Nightshade. Its lounge atmosphere and dance floor were perfect for our 50 to 60 guests. Some people relaxed around the cocktail tables while others danced, so everyone could enjoy the night in their own way. Moonflower's event organizer, Morgan, was wonderful. She made the entire planning process feel easy and was a joy to work with. She helped turn our ideas into reality, assisting with day of logistics, décor, beverage packages, and every question that came up. She was always responsive and available. Morgan also helped us think through details that had not occurred to us, including coffee for our guests, explaining the parking situation, contacting nearby businesses about using their lots, and recommending DJs. We ultimately hired one of the DJs she suggested. Her extra support was incredibly helpful and took a great deal of stress out of planning. If you have not tried Moonflower's drinks, you are missing out. Their regular cocktail menu is fantastic, and our experience was even more special because of a custom cocktail session with Zach. He created signature drink options for each of us based on our tastes and favorite cocktails. Every option was spectacular, and the final drinks felt personal and special. We chose Funeral Potatoes for the food. Since they already handle the food at Moonflower, we were able to try many dishes beforehand. Our guests raved about everything. We especially recommend the brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, and caprese sandwiches. Alexis, who heads up Funeral Potatoes, was also extremely helpful with selecting the menu. The only outside food we brought in was our wedding cake. The entire staff was phenomenal. Everyone treated the occasion with the perfect balance of care, professionalism, and fun. The night went off without a hitch and was truly one of the best nights of our lives. Moonflower was also extremely reasonable compared with other venues we considered in the city, especially with an open bar and food available on site. Street parking was plentiful, and none of our guests had trouble finding a spot. For anyone looking for a relaxed wedding for 50 to 60 people with a memorable lounge atmosphere, fantastic staff, buffet style food, and exceptional cocktails, Moonflower should be at the top of your list. read more

Very cute and cozy place!! They do a few events here as well. The food is rather limited but they do ironically have funeral potatoes which are very seasoned. I love!!! I love the bartender, very speedy service!!! Mac and cheese (not pictured) comes out in a cute little stainless steel frying pan. They also have happy hour!!!!! read more

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Im so mad I haven't been to this place earlier cause its not far from where I live and it was so good!! Definitely a hidden gem in Portage Park! Street parking was easy to find which is a plus. Its walk-ins only but my party of 6 were able to get a table no problem on a Friday night. To drink, I started with the Oolong Martinez. It was good but way too strong for me so I just gave it to my husband lol. I opted for the Kiss & Tell instead except I asked for no mezcal. Much lighter and refreshing! I believe they have a downstairs lounge called "Nightshade" which serves their own special menu. My goal is to go downstairs next time! Their food is GAS!!! Everything I ate was a 5/5 for me - especially the party fries and the moon burger. We got the deviled eggs and funeral potatoes for the table and I was blown away (both of these menu items rotate flavors monthly). Also FYI - They have a photobooth!!!! I love photobooths! read more

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Super cute date night spot! That being said, I went to meet a date and the staff was incredibly kind while I waited nearly 40 minutes for my date to show up late. (Insane of me to wait at all at that point, I know) I didn't end up eating the food here, but the beer selection was lovely, and the ambiance was a vibe. Will come back, definitely with someone else. read more

We came here to visit the speakeasy (nightshade) downstairs, though we liked the ambiance and vibe of the main restaurant better so we sat at the bar and enjoyed some drinks and bites. My orange wine was delicious, as was the kiss and tell cocktail. We also tried the mystery grilled cheese as it was only $5 and so intriguing - it was tasty and the mystery was some prosciutto. The party fries were also huge and tasty, piled high with giardianara and delicious kimchi ranch. The bartenders were great - we enjoyed our nightcap here! read more

Moonflower - mystery grilled cheese - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best cocktail bar in Portage Park. Cozy, charming, friendly, comfortable with exceptional drinks and excellent elevated pub food. Get the deviled eggs. read more

Moonflower, located on Milwaukee Avenue just south of Montrose, is a cool bar that always seems to draw a good-sized crowd. My lovely wife and I have been here a handful of times, but recently we enjoyed the Happy Hour deals. Yes they have Happy Hour specials until 6PM every day. $6 gets you drinks such as an Old Fashioned, Lemon Drop or Margarita. You can also fill up on a New Moon Burger with fries (one griddled meat patty) or a pair of Moondogs with fries for $12. Everything was tasty - the burger, the corn dogs, and the crisp seasoned fries. Come to Moonflower and enjoy the drinks, food and the soundtrack too. read more

Such a fun spot, I wish I lived closer! fabulous vibe, great happy hour, and the party fries... shut the front door. Stopped on Friday night for happy hour to celebrate a new job secured do a friend and we had a blast. They have $6 old fashioned before $1 more you can get the large ice cube. sign me up all day. The HH margarita was also great and by the looks of the burger - I'll be getting that next time. but the fries are crispy and fluffy with chicken tendies, giardiniera, and a kimchi sauce. I stuffed my face so fast! Service was stellar and they were slammed - could have used more help but our server killed it. Will be back without question and you should visit, but don't tell too many people how good it is! read more

Moonflower - Party Fries with chicken tendies - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you're looking for a chill place to get delicious craft cocktails, with an intimate setting, but still have enough space to have a conversation without worrying others around you, this is the place to be. They only have one TV in the corner, and it's showing the albums of the smooth jazz music. They're playing over the speakers. This is a place to congregate with friends, family, or perhaps to meet strangers. Don't expect to have the local ball game on. But I think that's the whole idea, encouraging human interaction. Both the bartender and the server were incredibly kind and friendly, and I already feel like I've made new friends. read more

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This place does it right! Went here w my bf last night Fri 05/15 and sat outside. We had an amazing server, Melissa. She had the tables outside and we saw her having tables inside too. You would never have guessed that she had that many tables because she was on point. I hope management - owners read this and she gets her well-deserved kudos. ambience is beautiful. Food was perfect. Drinks were great and innovative. Will definitely come back. read more

The absolute best vegan corn dog I've ever had in my life. The texture. The flavor. The fry on the dog. I'm so glad I found this place. The staff was super friendly as well. read more

Love this place ! Interesting cocktails, great snacks, super eclectic tunes, plant shop ambience. Reasonable prices. Friendly helpful service. Highly recommend you check it out. They have a late night weekend space, Nightshade, as well (never been as I live far away and am old !) but I'm guessing it's pretty great too! read more

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Came here after work for happy hour and was amazed by their food specials and creative cocktails. I'm eager to come back to try more dishes and checkout the speakeasy in the basement. Place is modern but has a cozy neighborhood vibe. read more

I came to this bar for a quick drink. I loved the decor and ambiance of this place. Service was also great. Even though it was busy the bartender was quite fast in checking in and making drinks. I would definitely come back. read more

Moonflower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mediocre food at best (simultaneously bland and too sweet). Non existent ambiance (uninviting and too aggressively loud). Apologetic service (nice enough but unengaging). Limited bar selection (rookie level cocktails). I guess if you're used to pounding Tito's shots at a truck stop sports bar while stuffing your face with McDonald's, this place might be a slight step up. But not by much. No, it's not a sports bar. No, they don't serve McDonald's here. Yes, it's dimly lit and has exposed brick. By the way, exposed brick and plants don't make a place feel "cozy"; on the contrary, it feels like you're sitting outside of a building. I'm baffled by so many 5 star reviews. No idea what happened in 2023 since it seems that most reviews are older. The overall vibe is that of a scratch card, shiny on the outside but inevitably a losing lottery ticket under the surface. read more

Moonflower - View from the bar by the front door - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The ambience is very nice and staff nice as well. I only tried a drink. They do not have domestic beers if that's what you are looking for. They have speciality drinks and other beers, like ipa etc. I would like to go back and try their food. This place actually looks like it would be nice to go to for a date night. Update****Well I stand corrected! They do offer domestic beers as the owner has responded. I think I did not explain it properly, they do not have a wide selection of domestic beers as you would find in most bars, for example your bud lite, Budweisers, and the Miller beers, etc. Hope I explained it better this time! I do not want to give out misinformation, that's for sure! But if I once again I did, please correct me! My apologies! read more

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Amazing place, great patio, fantastic drinks and wonderful service. Just some of the things you'll find at Moonflower! I absolutely loved their kiss and tell drink! read more

I found this gem on my Yelp app looking for a place where my wife could meet me on her commute home. After walking in from a downpour, i lucked out with a seat at the bar as it was pretty busy. The bar menu had a number of craft cocktails and a small food menu. I started with the basil paloma and found it to be very good, but preferred the guajillo and jalapeño margarita. The drinks hit the spot and helped welcome in the summer. I went with the burger which had one of my favorite cheeses.....gouda. It was so gouda. The fries were also very good. The menu features a different version of funeral potatoes which the customer next to me shared a bite. Ive heard of tradition of making funeral potatoes as a staple dish to comfort those with a recent loss. A cheese potato casserole dish. It was good, but im not a big casserole guy. My wife joined and ordered a small salad and the devil eggs. Both of which were solid. If this soot was in my neighborhood i would certainly frequent. The staff was friendly. Give Moonflower a try. read more

I came here for a Halloween event they recently had and really loved it! They had really cool activities set up and it was nice that the downstairs bar had a different menu and experience than the top floor. After grabbing drinks in the bar area downstairs and enjoying the vibes we decided to head back upstairs to sit and enjoy the food menu. I got the new moon burger and we shared the Brussels sprouts appetizer and both were excellent. The burger had really great flavor and I especially appreciated the touch of chili oil. The brussels sprouts had a wonderful glaze with a harissa feta sauce and I thought the cashews were nice touch. The ambiance is very cool and eclectic. The service was also friendly and accommodating. If you're in the area and are in need of unique drinks and/or a delicious meal be sure to stop by Moonflower, you won't be disappointed! read more

Moonflower - Brussels sprouts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Loved our cocktails! The favorite for all three of us ladies was the Late Bloomer! It was textured, fresh and boozy baby! I love a good Gin drink! The space is dim and comfy, casual and chill speakeasy vibes. Happy Hour lemon drop was a little too tart for me but happy hour is always a plus! Visit and enjoy! read more

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I wanted to try something different and this place was definitely special and not a most positive way. I like the atmosphere and vibe very chic however, I was not impressed with the menu! The food selection is small narrowed now to small skewers and sandwiches. I ordered ribeye and chicken skewers. The taste was favorable. I ordered a lemon martini and it came in a small glass but for the same price a regular martini cost anywhere else. Back to the menu... I was shocked to see that they charge a 3% hospitality and wellness!!! WTF excuse my language but that should not be part of my bill (granted it says it can be taken off at request but still. It shouldn't be there to begin with. For all that add a surcha Also, on the menu it has "beers for the kitchen" $15!! I don't know if that's a joke or for real but that's why I'm already leaving a tip for the customer service of the place/server. Aside, from all that the waitress was nice and friendly. read more

great food great cocktails great vibe. place was packed when we came in but was still able to get seated immediately. read more

Moonflower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rice cake skewers, cheesy corn spaetzle, and tostone latkes off the new menu was amazing!!! The rice cake skewers were chewy and cheesy. Something very new for me but I dig it! The cheesy corn spaetzle was sweet, salty, cheesy and very delicious. Now the tostone latkes. I didn't know what to expect but this was a flavor bomb. It taste like an alcapuria, which is a Puerto Rican a round mashed plantain meat stuffed fried ball. These latkes were wild. They def nailed the flavor. I topped a latke with some of the spaetzle, so good! read more

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I was at a work event up on ohare and needed a breather, randomly searched a bar. This showed up and had 5 stars so o had to try it! This spot is truly a gem. The cocktails are so creative and delicious. I had the honey dip and it's so refreshing!! We shared a few skewers, tostones, and the corn dish. Everything was sooo tasty and the place was cozy and vibey. read more

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Great energy in the room on an early Friday evening. Great to see everybody enjoying the expanding food menu as well as the best cocktails on Milwaukee Avenue. Staff is great, well trained, and eager to please. Way to go Moonflower! Always a fun stop. read more

This is our neighborhood bar. Love that we're just steps away from this establishment. They now have a chicken entree dish! It's really good. So as their toasted sourdough bread with tofu tahini hummus. Service can be slow when the place is getting packed but you know they are trying their best to keep up! -pics were from separate visits read more

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The brussels sprouts were crispy and slightly sweet! The flavors really balanced out well. The burger came with two patties and a side of fries. Lots of vegetarian/vegan options read more

Nice chill bar in Jefferson park. Great happy hour menu. Didn't get to try any food but the drinks are definitely good. If in the area looking for a drink definitely stop here. read more

Moonflower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super dope spot. Great cocktails and the bartenders were really nice. Food was good as well. Great vibes all around. read more

Moonflower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Didn't quite grasp the allure of this place. I felt how hard the hype was for so long that I already knew it was going to be disappointing. This place is sheek, swank and super slinky for the elderly millennials (myself included). I'm guessing it's mainly about their drinks here blended with a whole lot of 50 shades of, "holy s*** this tab is pricey!" -ambiance. Overall, I dig it (clueless reference) but stay away from the German/Korean infusion tapas. The food is okay at best. read more

Women owned? Check. LNO for a group of friends in the neighborhood? Heck yes! Loved this place, menu was simple and all choices excellent (burrata and Brussel sprouts I remember well). The host/manager was SO kind and considerate of my friend's food allergy questions trying to find what worked for her. Drinks super cool and ambience made us feel like we were hip and cool again (by writing that I'm acknowledging we're tired moms who do not feel hip or cool). Highly recommend for this in the neighborhood and anyone out of area looking for a great evening! read more

Moonflower - Espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I need to return and explore more of this cocktail menu. I had their Off the Record while my companion enjoyed a No Brainer. Nicely curated menu and on Friday and Saturday nights their downstairs more experimental menu bar Nightshade opens, I must visit the ! read more

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Easy to join the group in giving this restaurant five stars. The food and cocktails are excellent! Great ambiance with art and beautiful plants that they also sell. Friendly staff and good vibes! Definite stand out in this area for restaurant experience! read more

Moonflower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wonderful addition to the neighborhood! Moonflower offers a sophisticated yet non-pretentious cocktail lounge with bites. The luscious greenery and exposed bricks makes it homey. We enjoyed the drinks and overall vibe. Definitely being in Portage Park, not too far from the Irving Park exit is an easy drive and finding parking, free after 10pm. Best part was meeting the employees of the business. They made us feel so welcomed and when we left we felt like VIPs. An interesting night from chatting the guys up was there was an event earlier from Maker's Mark and Jim Beam. He hooked us up with some cool swag and the staff waved us goodbye. Can't wait to comeback to check out the food and basement spot tbd soon. read more

Two of my great loves are plants and a warm neighborhood bar. So when I found out about Moonflower, I figured it must be heaven. I wasn't wrong. With my best mate in tow, I trekked to the northwest side and walked into a beautiful open space, with an expansive bar. As expected there were lots of plants (all for sale BTW) and ample seating. One of the owners behind the bar promptly greeted us and gave a run down of the menu. We both opted for the Really Good Manhattan which was a $10 HH special . And true to its name, it was really good! TBH, one of the best Manhattans I've had. As a long-time E Lakeview denizen, the trip to Moonflower was more than worth it and I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

Moonflower - Off the Record - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am excited to have a hip bar with good drinks in my neighbourhood! We came here on a Saturday night relatively early (~7pm) but the bar was already buzzing. We were lucky to get the last remaining bar seats and were immediately attended to by the bartender. Our group ordered different cocktails - I really enjoyed mine (Kiss n Tell) which has a dash of my FAVOURITE Korean soft drink Milkis. So original! My friends really liked their respective drinks too. We had the Bolo Fries which was a good bar snack - we actually intended to have dinner here but found their food menu quite limited, so we only ordered 1 snack and ate somewhere else afterwards. That would be my suggestion for an area of improvement - more food choices! Aesthetically, I enjoyed the house plants and industrial (exposed brick) look of the bar, which makes the venue more casual and hip. Will be coming back! read more

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Moonflower is such a gem. I live just a min walk away and to have such a classy yet unpretentious cocktail bar so close is awesome. I love being able to quickly put a date night together or friend night out just across the street. My friends are always impressed. The vibe is also beautiful with the greenery everywhere and chill music. The Really Good Manhattan is my favorite, best manhattan I've had honestly. I also love the margarita and hot toddy. Drinks are all unique and consistently good. The food is great too, especially the most recent addition of the tahini tofu hummus appetizer with sourdough. Addictive. Happy to have Moonflower as part of the neighborhood! read more

The second I took my first sip I could tell they knew what they were doing! Delicious and well balanced cocktails! We got the no brainer, nitro espresso martini and the margarita. Not disappointed in a single one. We stopped here before dinner so got an appetizer, the bacon and cheese fritters that were delicious. It's well appointed with a cozy vibe and very attentive service. So happy to get a spot like this in the neighborhood! read more

Moonflower - the interior of a coffee shop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love this addition to the neighborhood! The cocktails are good, vibe is chill, food smells great (haven't eaten there yet but plan to) and the service is phenomenal. We've been stopping in and Marvin has waited on us each time and even remembers what we drink. I love that attention to detail! Prices are less than what you'd pay downtown for a craft cocktail so we will def be stopping in here more often. I'm excited for patio weather!! read more

Moonflower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gorgeous place... but those esthetics will show up in the price. Nothing against the staff, who are really nice and professional, but the price of the drinks will scare away the casual drinker when there are a good number of bars and lounges just around that area. read more