The Chicago food tour commences... First stop, drinks at Bisous! This cocktail bar was listed no…read more 39 on the top 50 bars in North America for 2025. It was no wonder when we arrived that there was a line out the door. We waited around 45 minutes, and the bouncer was a really nice fellow who kept track of the numbers and people at the door. Upon entering, we were immersed in a dimly lit retro-style lounge. It was quite loud inside and packed as we walked to our seats. The server was great at taking our orders and offering suggestions. I opted for the French 75, which featured sparkling wine and mixed gin, brandies, and citrus. The drink was delicious, but STRONG. I don't know what they put in the cocktails in America, but I am always finished after one drink. Needless to say, we were all struggling to finish our own drinks. My favourite touch was the coasters, I ended up keeping all of them so that I can reuse them at my galentines event next year. The 'bisous' with the kiss on the other side is a perfect touch! I think the drinks are fairly priced for USD. I would love to return someday to try other drinks and bar bites, and also try their sister bar, Sparrow.

My boyfriend and I were visiting Chicago (from Las Vegas) 2 weeks ago, and were very excited to…read morecheck out Bisous, as it looked nice inside and had good reviews. Imagine my shock when we didn't even make it past the bouncer because he was so rude, AS OTHER RECENT REVIEWS HAVE MENTIONED AS WELL! We had dinner nearby and walked to Bisous after, and saw there was a line of 5 or 6 people outside. We expected this as we knew Bisous is a first come, first serve bar. We were curious what the wait time would look like, so we approached the front door to ask a host or employee inside (we assumed there'd be a desk with an employee working it who could give us a wait time). We had no problem waiting, just wanted to see how long they estimated it would be! Before we could even fully open the door, the bouncer swung the door open from the other side and hit me with the door. I stumbled back a few steps and he looked at us and said, and I quote, "What do you want?". I laughed at first because I thought he was joking and putting on a tough guy act. He was not. We quickly explained we just wanted to see what the wait time was, and he said "don't you see there's a line outside?" We said yes, and explained we just wanted to know a rough estimated wait time. He just blankly stared at us while ushering us out. Both my boyfriend and I have worked in customer-service roles for a very, very long time. This encounter was not only extremely rude and unprofessional, but he also hit me hard enough with the door to send me stumbling back, and then said nothing about it and continued to address us in a tone that was nothing less than annoyed and irritated. We didn't end up going inside because that encounter left such a bad taste in our mouths. I don't believe in spending my money at establishments that don't treat their customers with the bare minimum respect they deserve! Bummed we didn't get to experience it, as I'm sure it was lovely inside and I can only hope the rest of the employees were much more kind and accommodating, or at least able to answer a simple question. Fire your "bouncer" (??) and hire someone with some basic customer service and communication skills!!

Inkwell is my favorite cocktail bar in the Fulton Market area for having intimate conversations!…read moreThe 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!

Well priced bar with good prices, quality cocktails, and a strong identity in West Loop…read more 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.

As soon as you walk in, this place is breathtaking, absolutely gorgeous. They really went all out…read morewith the decor . The employees are very friendly too. I've been here for two events, the Daiquiri Fest and the Martini Fest, and both were a great time. The drinks were delicious and the space is very spacious so it never felt crowded. The chips and dips were good. I tried the fried chicken but it wasn't really for me. I'll personally stick to the drink events. Parking is street parking. I can't wait to attend another event!

I really enjoyed my time at Dearly Beloved! I had the burger and blackout cake. The cake was the…read morestar of the show, for me. The service was great! There was a group of 9 and she did an excellent job accommodating and serving our party. I really enjoyed the decor and the music. It was lively and unique! Overall, we had a great time celebrating with friends. If I'm ever in Chicago again, I will definitely go back for the cake and drinks!

This might be my favorite rum bar in the country. If you want intimate spaces, moody lighting,…read moreextensive rum selections, and drink specials come here. Monday nights are my favorite because they offer a different specialty rum in special. It's a great way to try different kinds. They also serve beer, wine, and every other spirit you can imagine. Cocktails are on point. Seating options are varied: bar seats, small tables in back, bench seating with tiny tables up front. Quiet and comfortable.

Elegant, Refined, a spot well worth the wait…read more Sparrow's ambiance, customer service, and drink menu could have been better in my eyes even if they purchased all of my personal data from Meta and Google and tailored it. I would venture to say it is the best cocktail bar in Gold Coast, or at least my personal favorite. Great for a slightly more upscale, special evening out. Lots of food options near by.

This place knows what's up! It's beautiful, easy to get to, their service is always phenomenal and…read moretheir drinks are delicious. Their snacks are totally worth getting, and the staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. Every time I've asked for a recommendation, they do not disappoint! It's become a regular spot for a night out with the gals. PS - Their live music is so good!

Cute-enough spot with small plates and cocktails. However, when we visited last night, we waited 15…read moreminutes for our one wine and one cocktail, despite the restaurant being less than a quarter full. We watched our waitress make multiple attempts to pick up my husband's drink from the bar, spill, set it down, pick it back up and spill more, and finally give up and run it to us. As she set down this sticky, wet, under-filled mess, I asked her exactly how much of my husband's $16 cocktail she had just spilled. She said, "Yeah, the bartender over-poured," and walked off. We then watched her do the exact same thing to every mixed drink she ran. Way, way too expensive to be delivering messy, dripping, quarter-empty cocktails. Skip Clara and go to Le Midi, where the service, ambience, and wine list were perfect.

I stopped by Lazy Bird on a Wednesday night after dinner, and it ended up being such a great…read morechoice. We made a reservation ahead of time, which I'd definitely recommend, but it wasn't overly packed and we were seated without any issues. The vibe in there is top tier. Dim lighting, live music energy, and just the right mix of chill and upscale. It's the kind of place where you can actually enjoy the atmosphere without feeling rushed. This was my second time here and I remember it being just as good back in 2022. The drinks were immaculate. I had two mocktails that were both well-balanced (not overly sweet, which I appreciate), and he ordered an old fashioned. You can tell they take their bar program seriously and can go beyond a gin & tonic. Overall, it was a really good time. It can give you a great midweek outing or a laid-back night with a little something.

Very cool cocktail spot in the basement of the Hoxton. Great vibes and service!!…read more They have a large cocktail menu with lots of classic drinks and also a fun rotating menu. It was zodiac themed while we were there. I didn't order a special drink though-- just a dirty martini. It was great and they have delicious blue cheese olives.

New favorite cocktail bar in the city!!…read more It's the perfect spot for a winter night-- the bar has moody lighting, an outdoor fireplace, and phenomenal cocktails. We tried a couple of drinks and our favorites were the espresso martini and the n/a garden smash. The espresso martini is a must order! It's clear and made with chocolate and a coffee foam. We got to speak with the beverage manager Alex and he told us all about how they make all of their syrups and juices in house, the drinks do not contain any major allergens, and many of them have no added sugar. You can tell that eveyone here is very proud of what they do!

Enjoyed my drinks here. Very complex & sophisticated cocktails albeit a neighborhood bar feel to…read moreit. I briefly discussed the bartenders "r&d" stuff currently in development why also challenging him to go off script for a custom cocktail that was delicious. Small but mighty & the price point for these types of cocktails is unheard of these days. I'll be returning asap to delve further into the menu but as of now this is a high priority for cocktail aficionados such as myself.

The absolute best loaded fries I've ever had in my life. The layers of flavor were so incredible…read morethat I still can't stop talking about them. I have no idea what they did, but it was next-level delicious. The steak skewers were pure perfection--tender, buttery, and practically melted in your mouth. Paired with a chimichurri sauce that complemented every bite, they were unforgettable. The cocktails were equally impressive. I had a passionfruit and rum creation that was dangerously good and far too easy to drink. Despite not having reservations, the hostess found us a cozy booth after only about a 10-minute wait. Entering through the alley added a fun sense of mystery and charm. House music drifted through the space, creating an energetic atmosphere. It's definitely lively--sometimes loud enough that conversations require a raised voice--but the vibrant vibe, incredible food, and outstanding drinks make it more than worth it.

We came here as a part of 4 on a Friday night. It was PACKED. We thankfully had reservations which…read moreto me is a must, but they will accommodate you at the bar without them. The drinks were so good! They were good size and simply delicious. Well balanced. Not too sweet and not artificially sweet. It's clear those making them knew how to make real cocktails. The ambiance is true tiki. It is large but there were people surrounding our table because it was close to the bar. If you make a reservation and pay a deposit, make sure to make your server aware. The quickly made adjustments for us, but this was an issue in ensuring we got our credit. I would recommend getting a reservation in their smaller internal bar for a more intimate experience and more commonly crafted drinks. I would definitely come back but likely on a weeknight or earlier in the day.

Went here with a group of six friends after dinner for cocktails and absolutely loved the vibe! The…read morepresentation of the mocktails was so creative and beautiful. While the mocktail options were limited, they had a great variety of cocktails to choose from. Since it was Valentine's week, there was a violinist going table to table playing songs, which added such a romantic and classy touch to the evening. The ambiance overall was amazing -- stylish, fun, and perfect for pictures. Even the ladies' room and certain corners of the bar were great for photos! Definitely a spot I would go back to again. Service was good, well served

Machine Cocktail bar was an incredible spot to go and test out a bunch of new cocktails with…read morefriends. They are known for their innovative cocktails, bold flavours and unique glassware and decor on the drinks to enhance the experience even further. I would recommend going in a group so that you can try many! They also have a happy hour that is worth checking out. We tried these cocktails: 1. Heart of the Ocean - spoiler alert - it's the blue heart image I've attached haha. I loved this, looks beautiful and was tasty 2. Savage Garden - interesting mix of spices 3. Pistachio Affogate - I had more expectations on this one. It was alright, tasty but nothing crazy. 4. Devil's Cup - maybe the best one we had. The chili chocolate is YUM 5. Love is a fog - strong and classy We really enjoyed our experience here. The only thing that was frustrating was that they were trying to kick us out towards the end of the night to close out early and we were having a great time and didn't want to leave. But highly recommend!

We stopped by the Victor Bar after dinner on Saturday for our first visit. It is a small place with…read morea booth running the length of the bar and stools along the bar. We had to wait for a few minutes for a seat but got scored two seats at the bar. We tried several cocktails including a dealers choice one based on green chartreuse and one with mezcal, both of which showed off the bartenders skills. Highly recommend!!

Victor Bar is very cute!!…read more I was very impressed by the cocktails and the service from Caesar was phenomenal! Definitely will return!