In honor of Women's History Month I would like to update my review of Nobody's Darling to state that the lovely owners of this fine establishment are still doing their thing. Nobody's Darling is not just to have a chat and cocktail, they offer quite a few events for folks to attend. Below are a few examples of the swinging times you can have there. In 2026 I am so happy that they are still in business and thriving. The vibe is still cool, the menu for the cocktails is still exciting and the crowd is eclectic. Wine Down Wednesday Unwind midweek with Happy Hour 5-7pm $7 glasses of wine $20 bottles Thursday: Pitch Your Peeps Help your friend find love (or vibes). Pitch them to the room - all relationship styles welcome. Feel Good Fridayz w/ DJ All The Way Kay Start the weekend right! Happy Hour 5-7pm DJ Kay live 8-11pm Sunday Karaoke All Day Happy Hour starting at 2pm Karaoke 5pm-8pm Sip.Sing. Repeat. Empanadas by De Luna Empanada 7pm-10pm DJ Gloria on the decks Cocktails flowing all night Friday, March 20 DJ Set 8-11PM read more

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Great drinks and no douchy "bro" energy to be found anywhere. I love this bar. The staff is so friendly and the vibe of the entire experience was very appealing. It's thought of as a gay bar and clearly that's a lot of the clientele, but all are welcome. Cocktails are delicious and run about $15 each. Pretty standard pricing. They have a good selection of n/a drinks and a menu for lower alcohol cocktails as well. Great neighborhood bar read more

Nobody's Darling - Happy St Patty's Day - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Uh-mazing! This bar is a hidden gem in the Ravenswood area. It's very LGBTQ friendly owned by two African American lesbians. It isn't your typical bar as they have craft drinks with great music. The ambiance is very calming and more like a social setting. Can't wait to go back. read more

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You can tell this place is owned by women. It's a gorgeous bar, and just keeps getting better. It's tightly run, the cocktails are impeccable and the staff is not only good looking, but they are all wonderful humans. I love this place so much. Women/POC/LGBTQ+ owned - I am SITLL happy to give them my dollars! Gets a little crowded on weekends, chill during the week. During the summer, the outdoor tables are the place to be. read more

Nobody's Darling - Love & Trouble, happy hour at Nobody's Darling! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Two enterprising entrepreneurs have established a popular and stylish bar in the LGBTQ+ neighborhood of Andersonville. The fact that Renauda Riddle and Angela Barnes are black lesbians only adds to the unique personality of their bar. Away from the commercial Clark Street corridor on residential Balmoral Avenue, this spot has a stylish vibe dedicated to black and lesbian icons. Jamie W. and I took the bus from Lakeview and was immediately struck by the distinctive artwork and modern retro-vintage decor. The main bar was fully occupied, so we sat ourselves at the second bar in the adjacent area where intimate tables were set up. Jamie went for the $13 Kahlo Margarita, which had a distinctively spicy-sweet kick with its use of passionfruit liqueur and habanero bitters (photo: https://yelp.to/9iBy2Ze0ZI). I ordered the $13 Bessie Smith, a sassy cocktail made with peach and orange vodka, peach, walnut, orgeat, rosemary, and orange (photo: https://yelp.to/qDfjQN5zyG). I could see her downing a couple of these before launching into a lively take on "Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do". So if I need libations inspired by the likes of Langston Hughes or the Harlem Renaissance, here I shall be...'cause if I should take the notion to jump in to the ocean, tain't nobody's business if I do. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...creative craft cocktails with personality AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...stylish vintage with Afro-inspired art SERVICE - 4 stars...responsive mixologists with flair TOTAL - 4 stars...the two ladies have a good thing going in Andersonville RELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO read more

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My friend and I stopped by last Sunday afternoon and left with very mixed emotions. On the plus side, the moment we walked in we felt genuinely welcomed, not just as member of the LGBT+ community, but as POC customers as well (which, sadly, isn't always a given, even in an otherwise "friendly" neighborhood). The decor is beautifully done while the playlist moves effortlessly between R&B and modern hits. The crowd was diverse, relaxed and welcoming. The overall vibe was just right for drinks on a rainy Sunday afternoon. As for the drinks, the lychee cocktail was the best one I had and worth the price. The other cocktails were solid, creative takes on classics. The service was friendly and attentive, but with one caveat. When it came time to close our tab, the bartender handed me the card reader with a 25% tip pre-selected. I probably would've tipped generously anyway, but it felt a bit presumptuous--especially after a few drinks, this could be easy to miss. I've never encountered that before, and it definitely put a damper on what was otherwise a really fun visit. I'm still on the fence about bringing my wife here. She's been eager to check it out. If you decide to drop by, just watch that last step of your payment so you're not surprised. Otherwise, it's a rare LGBT+- and POC-friendly gem with great vibes and cocktails you shouldn't miss. read more

Was visiting some friends in Chicago & I was so glad they brought me to Nobody's Darling. A Black-woman-owned queer bar? Yes, please! The bartenders are super personable & did the fancy fire on the rim trick for my friend's drink. The two drinks I had were really delicious & balanced. The vibes & music were great & it felt like a really comfortable bar to be at to close out Pride Month. Shall return! read more

Nobody's Darling - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We love this place! The owner is wonderful and Tommy the bartender is the best! Cocktails are perfection! read more

Nobody's Darling - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Women owned gay bar open to all. Very friendly waitstaff. Drinks were very delicious and strong. Lychee martini is a must try. Indoor space is cozy. Outdoor space is very spacious as well. A must check out local bar. read more

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Nobody's Darling is such a nice changeup from much of the other Andersonville watering holes. Tucked away in a mostly residential street, the bar is slightly out of the way of Andersonville's main drag on Clark St, and feels almost like a hidden oasis. This cozy, LGBT POC owned cocktail lounge is a must try. No matter your taste in libations, Nobody's Darling has something on offer to slake any thirst. I was blown away by the balance of flavor combinations. Every single drink went down so smoothly. I love how many of the cocktails are named after prominent people in the LGBT and African American communities. Lots of literary inspiration, as well, right down to the poem from which the bar gets its name from. Looking forward to a return trip. Thanks, Nobody's Darling! read more

This bar has been around for a few years and I finally just made my first visit! It's a small but beautiful bar; great ambience as well as great drinks. They usually have a DJ as well as drink specials. Only downfall is, when is crowded, it's really hard to move or great drinks but that is to be expected when going to a smaller bar. I do love that the bar is owned by women of color!! read more

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I have been wanting to go to Nobody's Darling for SO long now! They had a happy hour deal that was $2 off woman or POC owned liquor. I tried the kahlo margarita and the ma rainey. I absolutely loved the margarita. Passion fruit is probably one of my favorite fruits and combined with the habanero bitters was perfect. I love that they have chips for purchase as well because I love a crunchy snack with my cocktail! With the opening of the second room, it's a pretty big space now. I'm excited to come back! read more

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We love a woman-owned, LGBTQ+ owned, POC-owned establishment! I've been meaning to come here for a long time and now that I live a bit closer in Uptown, I was able to walk here from Andersonville after grabbing lunch. The bartender we encountered was friendly and whipped up on great cocktails for us. We got 4 total cocktails and it was around $65 with tip. They had Mean Girls playing on the TV and there is beautiful energy in and outside of this place. There's a great amount of patio space as well, which was all used when we were there on mild late September Saturday which was a great sign. I'd love to see more of these establishments open up in the city because I feel like the lack of representation in even the LGBTQ+ community for lesbians specifically is unfortunate, and particularly from the Black community. Love to see this here! Thank you for a great experience! read more

Super yummy cocktails and welcoming staff. They even have a NA THC cocktail that was soo good. There are two sides and two separate bars. The second side is more of a lounge. There is also a patio area out front too. I went during Pride month on a Saturday night and it wasn't too crazy but was busy. All the patrons I came across were polite and friendly. read more

Good place for those looking for some quality fun and cocktails. It's a tolerant place: black owned, queer owned, woman owned. Nobody's Darling gets its name from a poem by Alice Walker. Facts like that are fun to learn, and you can even read the poem since it's on the wall inside of the bar. This is a great spot for meeting all kinds of creative individuals. Even before we went here the first time, I had an idea it was a pretty tolerant place, especially for those in the gay and trans communities. It has a glamorous sounding name, so I wasn't at all shocked by the flamboyant guys behind the bar: just give us some good ass drinks. They sure did, even though it's a bit expensive. It's about $13 for a cocktail. We only got a couple, but enjoyed them. I had a Cap Mojito. This has agave, Cachaca, lime, mint, and Q Soda. It had a little bite. There's a pretty big cocktail list. Fun place for those with a tolerant attitude. If you're a phobic person certainly you won't like it, and it's better without your kind anyway so let it be fun for anyone else. There's no food on the menu but this is next to a few places like Pauline's. read more

Nobody's Darling - Cap Mojito - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

yazzzzzzzzzzz red orange yellow green blue indigo violet great drink specials and nonalc options and now, even thc/cbd drinks. :) read more

This spot was on my must-see list while I was in Chicago this past Super Bowl weekend. It's rare to find a queer bar with an actual cocktail program and with it also being owned by two Black women, I made the trek from River North to the Andersonville neighborhood -- it was well worth it. I happened to sit next to one of the owners, Renauda, who was quite welcoming and gave me plenty of great information about Chicago and the queer scene there. The bartender who initially took my order wasn't familiar with my cocktail choice (a black Manhattan made with a high quality dark rum instead of rye whiskey). The other bartender on duty, however, was familiar and while he went to get the ingredients Renauda offered me one of the drinks on the menu (The Harlem Renaissance) while I waited. It was the perfect choice because it was spirit forward as I usually prefer my cocktails. I'm typically a rum or mezcal drinker so I was a bit hesitant at first because "The Harlem Renaissance" is a cognac cocktail. Fortunately, my hesitation was turned into a pleasant surprise with a well-balanced, flavorful cocktail. The night I was Super Bowl Sunday and there was a DJ playing an R&B set with plenty of Usher hits mixed in. The energy was lively but still felt more like a lounge than a loud nightclub. The bar's Instagram page lists a variety of weekly and monthly events so there's something for everyone. read more

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Me and a relative visited here after wanting to for some time, mainly to support a small, African-American/Woman/queer owned business! There are WOEFULLY few gay bars on the south side (notwithstanding Jeffrey Pub and Club Escape which we will visit at some point). This was Pride Weekend/Soulstice (no that's not a typo) weekend so we were not sure if it would be super busy or crazy or just 'normal'. The seating outside was a nice touch, but it is not assigned and there's no service, at least not that I could see. Patrons just order and bring out the drinks themselves. Ok..There was also a very efficient bar back clearing drinks outside and refilling the water bottle. The inside is very small, a long bar, a long table slab along the wall with backless chairs, and a couple of tables. Maybe the small size is due to it being located in a residential area? There is a restaurant 2 doors down, but otherwise this is right where people live, on a quiet street, so of course there's a sign asking us to respect the noise level when we leave. The door and windows were open and there was music, mostly dancing/disco. We ordered drinks at the bar, and Felisha was busy but on top of it! Our first drinks, Darling Sangria and Lychee martini, were very good! The Darling Mule and special Pride Punch were good too, if a little sweet. I liked how the drinks are named after or inspired by other queer writers/books (Frida Kahlo, Giovanni's Room, a James Baldwin book) so we're learning/dancing/drinking all at once! The restrooms were clean and cool, with pictures of famous people, and free feminine products! Most people came with someone, so we did not engage much with the patrons, who were friendly and diverse in age, gender, color, etc. Around 10:30 the re was a 'last call' for drinks outside, again, prob for respect for the neighborhood. We were headed home in an Uber by then anyway. This place and Andersonville in general, could be a good alternative to the bars in Lakeview, (where crime has gotten WAY out of hand), if you're ok with an early closing time (12am)and not having your ears blown out from noise. read more

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Nobody's Darling is a true craft cocktail bar. They have their own cocktail menu, and on request, the bartender made one of the better old fashioneds I've ever had. Friendly and professional bar service. No food, but you can have some delivered if you want. At 6:30 on a Friday night, they were already packed. We managed to snag a table outside on the dreary sidewalk to enjoy our stellar cocktails. By 7:30pm, it was really hopping, inside and out. By 9pm, if I were a neighbor, I would have been sending furious emails to my alderman about the noise level. No complaints whatsoever about the cocktails or service. I want to support a black-owned/LGBTQ-owned business, for sure. But right now, it feels like they don't need me too much anyway. And this place is just a little too cool for me. If you're really cool and youthful, go for it. But I tend to like my bars operating on a lower gear. read more

Of course we are going to support this black women owned queer inclusive bar. We went for their two year anniversary. Very easy to find within the neighborhood. Very cozy bar with outside seating. We came in and were greeted immediately at the bar by Rob, who honestly was a gem the entire time we were there, and enjoyed our drinks. The crowd started coming in and filling the place up but the bartenders kept up and did so with smiles. The crafted cocktail menu had a variety of drinks & the spirit selection was ample. The music was a good eclectic mix of 90s hip hop and pop and we truly enjoyed it. We will be back very soon because parking here for a few hours seems like the move. Cozy. read more

Nobody's Darling - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute cozy local bar owned by women staff were welcoming and vibe was inviting! Cocktails were tasty! Enjoyed dinner prior to visiting as there is no food available. Would visit again! read more

Nobody's Darling - Cheers! Old fashion - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of the chillest and coolest places to hang out, meet people, and enjoy some pretty amazing craft cocktails.

Fun if not a little odd. It was lively with a crowd, but not overly packed. Definitely not a wrigleyville type bar. Overall would recommend read more

Nobody's Darling - the outside of a restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was POPPINGGG last Saturday when we went! It was also their 2 year anniversary so they had some drink specials. Everyone was very nice, the bartenders did look swamped though! read more

Nobody's Darling - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great neighborhood bar with a cool vibe and good cocktails. The decor is lovely and there is nice outdoor space too. It's usually pretty hopping so be patient and with the service, they are doing their best. read more

My girlfriend and I are currently on a journey to visit every lesbian bar in the US and this was stop #5! The bar is tucked away in a cute neighborhood and is pretty cozy. We got there around 8 on a Friday and it was packed! Bar service was super quick for how busy it was. We ended up standing in a corner by the window and got lucky enough to snag a table when some people left! The drinks were all delicious. I got the lychee martini and the non alcoholic desire drink, and my girlfriend tried the Chai Town and the Nojito. I appreciated that they had fun nonalcoholic options! There's no food or snacks so be prepared. There were a decent amount of men there for a lesbian bar. I would definitely return for happy hour during the week when it's less busy! read more

Nobody's Darling - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I had the absolute pleasure of meeting for drinks at Nobody's Darling on Friday. This is a great space with a great energy. Our bartender, Xavier, was really helpful and friendly. We ended up trying The Nobody's Darling, the sangria, and the A. Walker Summer Martini. All were excellent. I loved the vibe there. The music was everything I wanted to hear without knowing I wanted to hear it, and the lack of dudebro energy was a dream. The pop-up from Taylor's Tacos was the cherry on top (the asparagus tacos are delish). I definitely recommend stopping in for a cocktail, though I will say they were swamped when I left around 9 so be patient if it's crowded. Which it will be because word is out that it's awesome. It's also great to patronize a business run by women, people of color, and people from the lgbtq community. It's the trifecta of who I want to be supporting rolled into two people. read more

Nobody's Darling - The A. Walker & the sangria - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The most easy going wine bar in Ravenswood. The ambiance is small space but huge smiles from everybody around you.

Good vibes only. I've come here so many times, I cannot even keep up. I find the drinks to be a bit pricy but you're getting to be part of a wonderful community that is extremely diverse. It's the perfect after brunch spot when you want to sit with friends and talk without being in a noisy bar. There is an extensive cocktail list and this includes mocktails as well! Stop by. You won't regret it. By the way, they also use Rockbot which allows you to influence music selections. We may or may not have belted "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston this past week. read more

I have been wanting to try this place forever and am so glad I did. It's a great little cocktail bar off the main drag in Andersonville. We went early on a Saturday evening, and it was still quite busy. There's a nice outdoor patio and maybe two tables inside, then a long bar and some standing room along a counter in back. No service at the tables or outside; you order at the bar. Despite how busy it was, I was greeted quickly and got my drinks pretty fast. They were out of one of the ingredients needed to make my first choice drink, the Silk Gardenias, so I instead opted for the Rose Parque, which was bubbly and refreshing and delicious. My husband enjoyed the Torii Old Fashioned and let me have a sip: it is hands-down one of the best old fashions I have ever had. Service was great. It was quite loud inside, even so early on a Saturday night, but the vibe was fun and everyone was friendly and cool. I understand the hype surrounding this place and will definitely be back soon. I may also be lame and ask if they sell t-shirts because the Nobody's Darling logo is just adorbs. read more

Recently checked this place out on a Friday night and it is exactly the kind of bar Chicago has needed. It was packed with a great mix of people and everyone was welcoming. It kind of felt like a "gay cheers". One walk from one end to the other of the bar and I met about ten new people who immediately befriended me and brought me into their groups. At one time about ten pizzas were delivered. Bartenders were friendly and I never waited more than 2 minutes to get a drink. This is a great spot, go check it out read more

I would just like to say that Nobody's Darling is hands down the best cocktail and bar establishment I have ever been too. There was one particular bar tender name Thomas that greeted us the moment we stepped into the door and has been truly Amazing! Not only does he make the most delicious Martini I have ever tasted his service was exceptionally professional, and welcoming and we will most definitely be coming back. read more

No matter the time of day or day of the week, I'm always up for a trip to Nobody's Darling! I've stopped in after dinner on a weeknight to a surprisingly full (but not crowded) bar, sat outdoors during a weekend afternoon in the summertime, and chatted the night away in a very crowded space on a Saturday night. Nobody's Darling has range and I've loved it every single time I've stopped by. The staff is warm, friendly and great at what they do. The drinks are delicious (and strong - so watch out!). My go-to is always the Carry Me Home Darling. Highly recommend it if you're a gin drinker! Not your thing? My partner loves the Lychee Martini. The Kahlo Margarita is also delicious but definitely on the sweeter side. You really can't go wrong with any of the cocktails here. The environment has always been welcoming and fun. It's easy to meet folks whether you're with friends or solo! If you're there on a weekend night, it's pretty packed by around 9pm so be patient because you may need to wait a minute for your drink. But just make some friends while you're hanging at the bar! read more

I heard so many good things about this black-woman-owned LGBTQ bar (yassss‍) we just had to check it out! We went to this bar on a Sunday evening and had the best time. They only had the bar and outdoor area open, there's another side (think a lounge area) which was closed for the evening. The drinks were bomb and strong! And you can bring your own food to this bar which is great! You can download an app and play music u want to hear- u put your request in on the app and your song gets placed in the queue. We loved that! The service was great, we had some good convos with the bartenders. The crowd was cool, there was a good mix of different people. We'll definitely be back! read more

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What an amazing little place to hang out with your loved ones and friends. The staff is so sweet, and the drinks are so delicious and well mixed. It's a small place you must order and hang out outdoors with the rest of the crowd having a wonderful time outdoors. My wife and I met new friends there so it was a great night celebrating their first year in business and spending time with new friends. I highly recommend the bar read more

Fantastic joint! Love the ambiance and vibe - we were here for Pride weekend and the place was popping! Can't wait to return the next time we are in the Chi! A++ Open one in southern California! Service was top notch and the drinks looked delicious. My only suggestion is to offer some non-alcoholic concoctions for those of us who still want to chill but are on that sober tip. Otherwise, highly recommend! read more

Stopped in here after seeing it on several "best of" cocktail bar type lists. Upbeat fun atmosphere. Seating outside, at the bar and along bar rails. Was pretty excited to stop in. I hate to leave this review, but it's 2 stars because the cocktails were actually quite low quality. Watching the bartender make these felt like I was at a college bar. Overpouring and spilling, it certainly didn't have the feel of the other high quality cocktail bars I have been to, where the craft is taken seriously. We had the C Cruz Daiquiri and the Kahlo Margarita. I know what a real daiquiri should taste like (it's one of my favorites), and the C Cruz was poorly balanced and hardly drinkable. The Kahlo Margarita was loaded with passion fruit liqueur and equally poorly balanced. We didn't bother to try anything else. I'm baffled how this cocktail bar made any of the "best of" type lists. The environment was fantastic and refreshing, but the cocktails were on par with a crappy sports bar. Maybe we came in on an off night, but I expected much better. Cocktails feel like they are a low priority vs curating a party environment. What a shame. read more

This place was everything I expect and more the bartenders had the best recommendations got to know our likes and recommended what we would appreciate. The vibe is great beautiful day for outdoor seating nice cold water for in between cocktails I thought I was going in for one drink stayed for four conversation with all different types of people my husband who doesn't like to try new things especially in environments he's not used to had an amazing time so this location speaks volumes such a comfortable place such a beautiful vibe a must when visiting Andersonville enjoy! The drinks are so good I cannot describe them you just have to go try them out yourself! read more

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Great drinks. Nice staff. Patio is comfortable with a lot of seating. Thank you, Holly!

As soon as I heard there was a Black queer woman-owned bar in Chicago I knew I had to visit! When we arrived there was a separate event happening so both the inside and the outside of the bar was bustling at 5 in the evening. The space was smaller than I expected it to be but I enjoyed the feel of the space. The bartenders were moving to accommodate so many folks and the patrons naturally formed a line for drinks, making it one of the most orderly process to order a drink in a crowded bar that I've ever seen. My friends and I ended up ordering half of the cocktail menu and all of the drinks were absolutely phenomenal. They were strong and yet reasonably priced and so tasty! My favorites, in order from best to least, was "carry me home, darling", "a walker summer martini", lycee martini, daiquiri, pink kitty, and the sangria. Xavier the bartender was also fantastic. Get him to make your drinks, lol. I cannot wait to come back! read more

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