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    The Hi-Lo

    4.6 (59 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Hi-Lo Photos

    THE HI-LO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Hi-Lo

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    Reviews With Photos

    Martini
    Leland L.

    I think this is one of the coolest unique summer bars in chicago. I loved the vibe of this place the second I walked in! The indoor outdoor concept is fantastic, the people are chill, it feels like a great neighborhood spot but the drinks are elevated and fantastic. I got an espresso martini and a gin martini and both were excellent. Was busy on a Saturday evening but not anywhere near packed and the staff were super friendly. Can't want to come back!

    A beautiful bar
    Terry S.

    This is one of those hidden gem spots that if your not from Chicago , or don't know someone from the west side, you will never know about it , and honestly , i think they like it that way , I hear that two brothers own this bar and the EZ inn on Western and it makes sense, very similar concepts , Dark , Swanky ,, yet unpretentious, a neighborhood bar, completely casual , a first date bar , a local hotspot with unique cocktails put together by a skilled mixologist , that being said i had a drink called SQUARE ROOTS...which had Astral Tequila, Fino Sherry, Carrot, Ginger, Honey, and Spicy Rosehip Bitters, They also had seasonal drinks like a Hot Toddy and a Hot drink called SMOKE & APPLES which had 400 Conejos Mezcal, Journeyman Distillery Apple Cider Liqueur, Anise, Housemade Toasted Coconut Syrup & Fresh Lime , it does get busy on weekends so if you cant handle tight quarters be prepared,. I went during the week and it was perfect , Ok overall i give this soot 5 stars , and ill be back , This is exactly the kind of place that makes Chicago the best

    Patio that is also dog friendly
    Sofia Z.

    When I tell you this is my favorite spot of all times I mean it! It is dog friendly and has great happy hours. Wednesday is half priced bottles of wine and the red selection was divine. Excellent service with the bartenders letting you sample the wines you'd like to purchase. They have a great patio for the summer time and heated cozy fireplace for the winter. Peep my sweet foster pup being one of the girls

    Gun drinks
    Alejandro C.

    The service was fast and efficient, even when the bartenders were slammed they made sure all drinks came out perfect. The vibes are all over the place, like all are welcomed. Very unique, and the aesthetic was Spanish French decor. The drinks are priced very well and they taste amazing. Go for the tequila and the whiskey drink.

    Drinks
    Karen C.

    Interesting balanced cocktails with a chill vibe. The service was great even with a crowded bar. There is an "outdoor" patio area where you can sit or an indoor area. You can bring in your own food/take out, which is nice. It's a great place to hang out with a groups of friends. Dog friendly too.

    Strawberry mezcal negroni
    Andre W.

    The Hi-Lo quickly became one of my favorite cocktail joints this summer as a friend introduced me to it after leaving Spilt Milk. Such a cool space and great drinks. While the inside is cool, they have an amazing and nice sized outdoor patio space equipped with tables, a fireplace and just a cozy setting. So awesome in the summer as you're pretty much outside and feel like a backyard setting. I am massively obsessed with the strawberry mezcal negroni as it's an amazing cocktail full of flavor and does the trick. I can do about 4 in one sitting. Lots of other delicious drinks on the menu and I promise to try next time around

    Erin B.

    Absolutely the best patio in Humboldt, but also one of my favorites in the city. Very intimate setting inside and out. The service is always friendly and fun and the drinks are amazing!

    a restaurant with tables and chairs
    Eda X.

    The Hi-Lo is a romantic cocktail bar with a solid menu of cocktails in "lo" weaker and "high" stronger strengths. I ordered the Clarified Pina Colada and never looked back. This drink was made 3 times by the barista while I was scanning the menu, so that says something about its popularity. The Hi-Lo offers indoor and outdoor seating formats, welcoming all party sizes. Adorned to impress a dating atmosphere and large groups, too! Check this place out. Bonus: if you come by late in the evening, don't be alarmed to find a Mexican offering to sell you homemade tamales from his plastic slung cooler. Try the cheese! $10 for a handful of authentic Mexican grub. Super good.

    Citrus forward
    Marlene S.

    Finally checked this off my list!!! Came on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty dead in there. I am giving 4 stars because the outside seating area was a bit messy even though it was not busy. I had the citrus forward cocktail which was delicious and definitely up my alley. I would love to come back and try more drinks.

    Eric L.

    A gem of a cocktail lounge on the West Side. We initially ended up there just because it was dog friendly, but I can promise you that we will be back multiple times this summer. The interior of the main bar has a very clean, swanky 70s vibe to it with being heavy handed. There is a second bar outside with an awesome patio with several covered areas and large umbrellas. The owners really spared no expense with the outside, it's gorgeous. There is a water station for humans and dogs with several doggy water bowls. The staff they were super friendly and were dog lovers themselves. The bartender was very friendly and had good drink recommendations. My favorite cocktail of the night was the Cucumber Rickey, which went down really smooth. My smoking hot wife (habeebi!) really enjoyed the Naked and Famous. Our doggo enjoyed all the attention from his new friends. We will be back soon.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Really cute space with indoor and outdoor bars and seating. Drinks were really good and it felt like a more chill space.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The drinks, vibes, and indoor/outdoor options here are great. I've never had a bad here.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Cocktails were very well balanced and impressive. I wish they had some form of food, even bar snacks!

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    3 years ago

    Loved the drinks and ambiance. FYI, they don't have the "typical" drinks you get elsewhere.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Definitely going to make this my neighborhood bat even though there are bars closer to me

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    4 years ago

    We've been here a few times for the yummiest cocktails on California Avenue and a really cool patio vibe.

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    4 years ago

    Fantastic cocktails, comfy outdoor space and nice neighborhood vibe. Highly recommended!

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    5 years ago

    What a gorgeous space. The cocktails did not disappoint. This is the perfect addition to the neighborhood. We will be back many times.

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Hi-Lo

    Review Highlights - The Hi-Lo

    The Clarified Pina Colada is a little less sweet than most regular Pina Colada's and was a good patio drink.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Bisous - interior

    Bisous

    4.4(124 reviews)
    2.5 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side

    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!

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    Bisous - Interior bar

    Interior bar

    Bisous - Inside

    Inside

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    Interior

    Valedor - Bar area

    Valedor

    4.5(92 reviews)
    1.1 miWicker Park, West Town

    Cute little vibe with an intimate setting and good drinks. Service was attentive and seating was…read morecozy. We made a reservation but we didn't even need it, we were able to sit anywhere we wanted. I tried the We Love Lychee & Midnight Espresso. Both were delicious!

    I came here on my own to check out their happy hour because I have heard good things but I was a…read morebit disappointed. I came in right around 5pm so it wasnt very busy yet. I ordered the horchata 2 ways cocktail which was $12 for haply hour and is typically $16. $12 is the highest amount for a happy hour cocktail that I have ever paid and I dont think it was worth it. The 1st sip was good but it was a very sweet drink and I was over it by the end. The drink also was half a very heavy cream so when you drank it you were drinking the liquid but not getting much of the cream. So you either had to lick the cream off the top or drink on the liquid and then either leave the cream or somehow scoop it out with your tongue so not really a well conceived cocktail. One of the fun and unique things about the bar is they bring out free tapas every once in a while similar to bars in Spain. They brought out edamame to the people at the bar right around 5pm and a group next to me asked at around 530pm if more tapas would come out and the bar person said the come out every 45 mins. I was there til around 630pm and another round of tapas never came out so do not expect that if you go. They did not give you water unless you specific ask for it which I though was odd, I heard 3 groups besides myself at the bar who had to ask for water, especially since this is supposed to be a nice cocktail bar and this is just one of my pet peeves but the water did not contain ice and was closer to room temperature which is not how I enjoy my water. Despite not being super crowded I had to ask for the check from 2 different people and it took 15 mins for them to bring it so if it is crowded I expect they will have pretty slow service. They do bring you a fortune cookie woth your check where you can potentially win a discount on your check or other prizes which is fun. Unfortunately the fortune cookie tastes a bit stale. I would say that this place is not worth it for happy hour but it had a cool but very dark vibe in there so it might be good for a romantic date depending on how good the food is.

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    Valedor - Strip Steak Katsu Sandwich

    Strip Steak Katsu Sandwich

    Valedor - Crispy Cilantro Lime Rice with spicy salmon

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    Truce - The cocktails are legit

    Truce

    4.8(53 reviews)
    1.5 miBucktown

    Coffee and cocktails. Do we really need anything else? With standard hours ranging from 8 AM to…read moreMidnight most days, Truce has got you covered, whatever the mood. Very clever drink list. With mixology being all the rage for the last 20+ years, I almost feel like it's hard to come up with a new drink concept these days. Truce shows that creativity in the world of booze is alive and well, and I count myself lucky to have had a taste. The 'Peas + Carrots' was a surprise win. Scotch, blanco tequila, sochu, carrot, snap pea, ginger, and kukicha. Sounds bizarre as hell, but it absolutely works. I also had a 'Final Say,' a spin on a classic featuring gin, clementine, fino, galliano, turmeric, black pepper, and lemon. The 'I Can't Believe It's Beer' has everything from mezcal and rooibos tea to guava and an aperitivo. I could ramble on about their menu, but I'd say just check Truce out yourself. You get what I'm saying. Their creative juices are clearly flowing, and they switch the menu up seasonally. They have some light bites too, but I really recommend them for cocktails and coffee. I wouldn't come here for dinner. They do drinks, so come here to drink. Plenty of very savvy-sounding N/A options, too. It's sleek, intimate, sexy, relaxed, and fun. Come through at 8 AM for a cocktail, roll through at 11 PM for a coffee, there's no judgment here. I'll be keeping an eye on Truce.

    Wow, Truce is my ideal concept of a space. It's a coffeeshop by day and cocktail bar by night. I…read morecame in during the day on a Thursday to get some work done, and it was such a cool environment. The ambiance is dark and moody inside, but I liked the music they had playing, and there was plenty of seating. They also had free Wi-Fi and outlets! Everything on their menu looked insanely good. I went with the B-A-N-A-N-A-S--it was very tasty, and the banana taste was very strong. It was definitely on the sweeter side so more of a dessert drink, but I enjoyed it. Everything on their menu looked so delicious and well thought out, so I definitely hope to try their other drinks! The service was very fast and friendly. I recommend this spot--will need to be back to try out their drinks in the future! FYI, they become 21+ after 5pm.

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    Truce - Cortado

    Cortado

    Truce
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    Truce mix and cocktails

    The Hi-Lo - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

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