One of my favorite cocktail bars in the city, I just learned a secret-- visit on Sunday afternoon…read morewhen there isn't a line out the door and it isn't slammed inside. Really creative cocktails, unusual wines, great snack list (and the complimentary olives and cheese made us able to stay longer add have another round!). If you sit at the bar, one of the very talented, friendly mixologists will guide you to your perfect drink progression-- that's right-- you're not just have one thing. Too hard to choose so why should you? There are low and no ABV options as well to balance out the martinis and other spirit forward offerings. I love the decor and overall vibe--classy, French-y, fun not stuffy. Great on your own, with a date, a small group. Special shout out to Hannah but everyone we interacted with was great.

Of course when in Chicago, I had to check out Bisous, ranked #30 on North America's 50 Best Bars…read more2026, climbing from #39 in 2025. With an intimate ambiance, in Chicago's Fulton Market, Bisous brings the vibe of a 1960s Parisian cocktail lounge. Since they don't take reservations, I had a short wait at the door. Somehow, they knew exactly what I wanted, which was a seat at the bar. My favorite place to sip, exhaole, and chat with the bartenders. The cocktails were delicious, and the service was warm, attentive, and welcoming. My tongue-clicking sips for the evening: PASTRY WAR Pistachio Cream, Agricole & Jamaican Rums, Grappa, Almond, Egg White, Lemon, Nutmeg BAIT & SWITCH Blueberry Cordial, Mezcal, Blanche Armagnac, Baking Spices COUNTERPOINT Fig Leaf, Armagnac Duffau Napoléon, Yellow Chartreuse, Oscar.697 Rosso Vermouth Mmmm... #BonAppetit! Cheers! Enjoy!

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.

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!

my server Genesis was absolutely amazing. she was so fun and helpful and explained the menu so…read morewell. she made our experience 10000/10. Will be back and asking for her.

We went to Dearly Beloved for my birthday and it was such a fun night. The lounge is beautiful --…read morevelvet, chandeliers, and just a really cool, cozy atmosphere. It felt like the perfect place for a birthday celebration. The dirty martini was honestly the best I've ever had, and we happened to go during happy hour so the half-off appetizers were a great bonus. The owner and waitstaff were all so friendly and welcoming, which made the night even better. We had such a great time and I'm already looking forward to going back!

Right before starting writing this one, I wrote a review for Kibbitznest, another phenomenal…read moreChicago bar with a totally different theme and vibe. That is to say: I am not throwing words of praise like "one of a kind" and "phenomenal" around lightly. Both are different and still amazing. Sparrow has a vibe straight out of the 1920s. The decor, signage, use of color, and absence of screens or TV's all contribute to the theme. The music is also appropriate and plays at the perfect volume to be pleasant without forcing one to raise their voice. I tried the Green Daisy and a House Old Fashioned. The Green Daisy was boozy and had some herbaceous notes. A little tartness and a little sweetness helped balance the drink out and make for a phenomenal sipper. I loved the creativity with this one! The House Old Fashioned was also well done, assembled with quality ingredients in balance with one another. Nothing wrong with a well-executed classic. The prices are more or less reasonable considering the location and overall market, with bevies costing around $16. The bar staff is excellent! Very friendly and welcoming! Final verdict: A spot where I can say come for the drinks and stay for the vibe. It's the kind of place where walking in you are transported a century into the past. Everything about the experience, including the atmosphere, drinks, service, and prices, is calling me to return and bring some people with me.

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.

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.

Such a lovely spot to grab a cocktail (or three!) with friends or a date. Great, diverse menu,…read moreincluding the option to have the bartender make a custom drink if you're feeling adventurous! All the servers are friendly and know the menu well. It can get a little loud with the love music, so sit in the back if you are worried about that -- it helps a little.

One of my favorite spots for cocktails in Chicago! The drinks are NEXT LEVEL, the mixology is…read moreseriously insane. They also have live music, and it's always such a vibe. I've never not had a great time here. Shoutout to Guillermo because he's so good at his job and also so fun to talk to! Definitely one of my go-to cocktail spots.

Such a fun moody speakeasy for cocktails located in lower level of The Hoxton! They have such an…read moreincredible range of cocktails it's truly impressive. There's a decent amount of seating and space in the bar but we went on a Monday evening and it was quite busy so I can only imagine how crowded it gets on a weekend. It also is quite dark in this space, something to keep in mind if you struggle with that! We helped one of the bar staff clean a broken glass from the floor and they brought us some extra drinks which was extremely sweet of them! Would definitely come back the next time I'm in the area.

Bartender Calen was truly the greatest! Was kind and efficient and did bits with us! so nice! COME…read moreTO THE NOOK!!

So... I'd parked my scooter on my way to Elixir, and couldn't help but notice The Nook as I was…read morewalking towards the entrance. After my drink next door, I would be remiss if I didn't stop in. What I got was one of the more unique and interesting cocktails I'd tried! It was the Sick Day, and while I don't command the English language or my palate enough to do it justice, I can tell you that it was definitely a great sipper. The absinthe mist, despite being just that, has a way of doing that. I want to give some credit to the service. While the bar was shorthanded at the time, the barman on duty did his very best as a one-man show. Can't fault them too much, someone calls out sick last minute, and that's that. However, if there is something I can hold against them it's the heat! I'm not sure why, but the upon coming in, the place was HOT! After settling in, it became more bearable, but this is the kind of thing that sometimes persuades me to leave before I order anything.

This was another fortunate find randomly while walking around downtown Chicago. Seems to be a super…read morepopular place based on the number of reviews this place has. It was hard to find, but we discovered the entrance is in a back alley and bar is located downstairs. We loved the Tikki Bar theme. Drinks were good but a little watered down which was disappointing. Overall, it was a unique experience in the city.

We stop here every time we visit Chicago. If you love tiki cocktails, this is the place to go!…read moreCan't recommend enough. It's a speakeasy, so it feels like a hidden escape from reality. We've been to many tiki bars in the US and this is by far the best! Love that you can now buy a mug (with a cocktail) for cheaper than the shop... It's a great deal to get a mug this way! The only slight disappointment was the updated food menu.. loved the Spicy Thai Chicken, Veggie rolls, and coconut shrimp in years past.. sad to see them go.

Came here for a few cocktails for our anniversary and really enjoyed it. It's very quaint and they…read moreoffer lots of different options for whatever your preference of liquor. The service was fast and attentive during our visit.

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!!

Absolutely amazing time' went here an a mini date night for a drink! First off ambiance was GREAT!!…read moreGood music nice dim lights! Service was great the skill and finance of the bartenders were great! Drinks were fantastic too well balanced not too tart/sweet. Everything is so clean here and so well organized!! Our server/bartender Shan and Jackson if they are here you are in good hands!! Will 100% come back!! Check this place out