This is a great spot for finely crafted cocktails. The atmosphere is intimate with great music playing. Between the three people in my group we tried four different cocktails - all of which were delicious! My favorite was the Fidelio. You can tell the bartenders treat each drink like a piece of artwork. I will definitely come here again! read more

Great place for a pre or post-dinner drink! Nice romantic vibe. We went for a pre-dinner drink and our very friendly server was able to recommend great apertifs. I was a big fan of the Love Letter, and my husband, a big gin fan, loved his grassy gin drink. We watched the bartender make some other incredible-looking cocktails and will be back soon to try them all. Great addition to the neighborhood! read more

A cocktail bar is a welcome addition to North Center! As a parent I love that many of the neighborhood spots are family friendly, but it's wonderful to have an adult place to go too. We came here for a quick drink to finish off our evening. When you walk in you quickly forget that there is a Starbucks across the street and a Cell Phone shop next door. The Victor Bar's decor is dimly lit with the prohibition era feel to it. We chatted with one of the owners who was very friendly and helpful while we waited briefly for an open table. Our server was friendly and our drinks were spot on. Looking forward to returning to this new neighborhood gem! read more

This place was excellent! I stopped in with a friend last night around 5:45pm, no problem getting a seat and wait staff was very attentive and helpful with drink recommendations. First we had To the Traveler which was a rye-based somewhat fruity drink, perfect for a sunny day (they had the curtains and the door open, which was nice for what I imagine to be a darker bar, most times) hers was Can't Talk... a green drink, she said it was very light and flavorful and liked it a lot. Next, I got the Optimo, a very tasty boozy negroni-type drink, she got an Aviation which was not on the menu, but was a VERY well done drink... I've found that they are usually either too sweet or too bitter and this one was just right. All were $12 which is perfect! I will go back. read more

I recommend coming early as it gets pretty packed in this place. The cocktails are amazing and it's family owned! Good for a first date as it's just cozy enough without being too cozy ;). The bartenders definitely have a special craft! read more

One of my favorite bars in Chicago! They have awesome cocktails that don't cost you an arm and a leg. The bartenders make you feel welcome and really take their time to walk you through their cocktails. Definitely my new go-to bar. read more

Went to The Victor within the first two weeks of its opening. Excited to have this sort of bar in the neighborhood, as it can be a bit craft beer-centric. On the whole, I enjoyed it, but a few small changes would make it a better experience Cocktails - Very good, if a bit off-beat. You know the drill: a cocktail lounge today has to push the envelope a bit in terms of flavor profiles. The Victor is no exception. Within my group, we tried nearly all of the cocktails on the menu. All were interesting; some were more successful than others. For example, the "On the Grass" was rather....lawn forward. A neat trick to do with a cocktail, but would anyone really enjoy an entire drink that tastes of grass? The bartenders/servers are very knowledgable about the drinks, so it pays to have a conversation with them to ascertain exactly what you are getting. Service - Service was mostly good - as noted above, they knew the drinks well - but a few things were missed (forgotten drinks, forgotten potato chips order) and got a bit more erratic as the night went on and the place filled up. I'm sure that the service will improve with time. Food - It is a really small space, no kitchen. So far the snack menu is very limited. Would be nice if they added a few other things. (Nuts? Olives??) Physical Space - The atmosphere and decor were well done. Definitely a Parisian vibe. It is a rather small space, and the seating is limited in function. There is a bar running the length of the room, and parallel to the bar there is a banquette lined with tables, suitable for two. There are no chairs that can be added to the tables so a larger group can suitably sit together, although I saw someone making use of a bar stool in this way. I understand that the side-by-side seating is Parisian style - and probably makes the best use of the small space - but it makes this place rather unsuited for any group larger than 2. I was with a group of friends that fluctuated in size from 2-6 people at any given time. It was difficult to have a conversation given the set up. This difficulty was compounded by the fact that the music was far too loud for the space. (I doubt that any Parisian cocktail bar with this style of side-by-side seating would have music so loud, making conversation nearly impossible.) The noise was by far my biggest problem with the place. Please turn it down!!! read more

Absolutely phenomenal cocktail bar. Didn't think there were too many places up here where you could get a great cocktail. Reminds me of violet hour down in wicker!! read more

The Victor Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great ambience, delicious drinks, and friendly bartenders--always a happy surprise in a super cool spot.

Great cocktails but I miss the vibe from the past. It used to be a chill spot, perfect for a date night. Now it's crowded, loud, clubby and kinda douchey. read more

This is one of the best cocktail joints I've been to. Love their old fashions. My fiancée likes their mezcal drinks. The place is a little small so it won't be able to accommodate large parties but a date night for 2 or business meeting for 3-4 would work. read more

Fantastic. Atmosphere is dark and sexy, drinks are tasty and well made, and the bartender brunette lady is really good at what she does from what I saw: attentive, kind, and brilliant (the other bartender dude seemed on top of it as well). Highly recommended if you want to chill and have some drinks! read more

I only went here for one drink around midnight, but the vibe was pretty cool. It reminds me of New York. I got an old-fashioned, and it was very well made. read more

This is possibly my favorite bar in Chicago, definitely my favorite cocktail bar. The decor and overall atmosphere is phenomenal, it feels like being in Europe. The Love Letter and the Mezcal Old Fashion are both really great. The prices are standard for high quality cocktails and the staff are incredibly friendly. It is a very laid back and overall fantastic place to spend a few hours in the evening! Highly recommended. read more

Dropped in on this place last night and loved it so! Between the 3 of us I sampled at least 5 of their craft cocktails and they were so so good. The bartender Karl was great (and an owner so that explains that) helping us decide. And even gave us a little taste of a couple of his favorite Italian liqueurs that we'd never heard of. All of the cocktails are $12 and we didn't have a bad one in the bunch. They place was cozy and the acoustics were good - like it wasn't so loud you couldn't talk. read more

Charming little bar. I loved the dim lighting and intimate atmosphere. The drinks are great and delicious!

Cool spot, nice vibe. Small space -- hard to go with a group of more than 2 or 3. Excellent drink.

I come to this bar every few months and I kick myself for not coming more often. Amazing cocktails but even better service. The bartenders really take their time with making the drinks. They overheard it was my birthday and made us a special shot. So happy to know this place and love that it's a hidden gem, but it deserves a lot of credit. read more

i was there nov 9th........classy bar.......but male bartender was not friendly......he didnt want to serve........

There are many things that I miss about Chicago after moving to Phoenix for work and one of those at the very top is the Victor Bar. Where do I even start? My fiance and I have tried bars and cocktails across the city and this bar is the one that we call our favorite and it is not even close. Victor Bar is run by John and his two brothers and their establishment is not only classy but their cocktails are beyond fantastic (Debbie Don't and Fire in the Hole!). We plan to visit Chicago frequently as we have family and friends there and we will be sure to return to the here to enjoy drinks as well as try and persuade them to expand the Victor Bar empire to Phoenix read more

Cocktails are awesome. 3 brother owners know what's up. Huge shout out to AMANDA, the girl bartender holding it down for the ladies. Her extra dirty martinis were the best I've had in Chicago. read more

Very small bar, however it was a great overall experience. Went on a Monday night and the drinks were excellent. The bartender was pleasant. Interior was dim, but it was a great place to chat with a friend and catch up. I only did not like the fact that you have to open a tab or pay up front at such a small bar, since I am seated right in front of them and they should just bill me at the end. Great place for a couple drinks and great addition to North Center. read more

Great drinks. I kind of customized my drink and the bartender got it exactly right. The interior design is ok and thats the only reason i'm not giving them 5 stars. Would come back cuz they know how to handle their drinks read more

Fantastic cocktails. Very low dimmed atmosphere. Not for the loud and obnoxious. Classic cocktails done well. Come here for a nice quiet night with good friends read more

The best place to get an amazing cocktail and enjoy the ambiance. This is my favorite bar in Chicago, the drinks are outstanding !

Stopped on here for a night cap a couple weeks ago. Very yummy cocktails and good service. My only complaint was that it was a little too dark and music was bumping. For a higher end cocktail I like the ambiance of a dim lit and lounge music, but it was just a bit too dark and too loud. But this won't stop me from coming back. So many more drinks to try! read more

I like this joint. It is an actual refuge, not just a place to booze it up. Music here is top notch.

Great drink menu (every cocktail I've tried has been top notch), lovely atmosphere (love the dark lighting and cozy tables) but it has gotten way too loud! There is no need to blast music in this type of place. I used to love going here but will not return unless they rethink their acoustic choices. read more

An absolute hidden gem that helps put North Center on the map. I live around the corner and my wife and I turn on a movie for the kids and sneak over here all the time. We'll pop in at 5:30 on a Wednesday and it'll be 75% full. Only a matter of time before this place becomes more of a destination for people all over the city. The owners have obviously put an extraordinary amount of care into the place, whether the rivets in the bar or the skull-tipped cocktail stirrers. Not a single thing was half-assed. The drinks are obviously fantastic, the seating is fun, I love that it's nearly pitch black inside (how else can you be transported to some other world?), and the staff are extremely friendly. read more

This is my favorite cocktail bar, maybe favorite bar in general. The drinks are amazing and the prices reasonable. The staff is excellent and the overall vibe is very European but not pretentious at all. Very relaxed, cozy, yet refined. I definitely recommend the Victor Bar especially for a date or rendezvous with a friend. I would give it ten stars if I could! read more

I love this bar. I have been walking by this place for a couple of months and thinking, "Great, another hipster cocktail bar." But this is not a hipster cocktail bar. The crowd skews slightly older and reflects the down-to-earth vibe of North Center. The cocktails are delightful and creative. The staff is friendly and very welcoming. Definitely give this place a try. read more

Great little spot. Simple yet sophisticated. Concise yet elaborate cocktail menu. Mixologists work here for sure. Update: for some reason now this place plays the music way too loud. It was a quint cocktail spot you could go to and have a CONVERSATION, that seems to be a thing of the past. read more

Amazing cocktails - the bar itself is a little small but worth the wait if you can't get a seat right away.

super small intimate bar. the bartenders are very knowledgeable and we had a great time sampling their specialty cocktails! We will definitely be back. read more

Sarah and Augustina are worth a visit to this place! The cocktails are all delicious - there's not a bad one in the bunch. The ambience is cool yet unpretentious and it feels like an awesome neighborhood haunt with a new spin on cocktails. Personal faves are the Kentucky Bramble and the Category Five. read more

I've been here twice. The first time I don't remember so much haha but the second time I do! I was at Northmen a few blocks down before munching on cheeses. My boyfriend and I wanted to check out Victor bar because we slightly remember it being amazing the first time we went. When we walk in we decide to choose just one cocktail for each of us and call it a day. I decided to try a dealers choice where the bartender makes up some concoction. I told her I wanted something alcohol forward and this girl brought it. I told her I will not drink vodka though so she had a lot of free ranch with what she made. She made me this bourbon mix drink that reminded me of an old fashioned but had more of a floral after taste. I don't know how she did it but it was great. If you want a more classic cocktail they can make literally anything. They have a long list and they perfected pretty well. My boyfriend ended up getting an old fashioned which is his go to and it was perfect. What gives this place a 5 stars is that they really go above and beyond. My boyfriend went to the bathroom for less than 5 minutes and another drunk patron was trying to make a move. The bartender obviously saw how uncomfortable I was and kindly asked that man to leave. Super amazing of her because she didn't have to do that. I can't wait to come back to Chicago to go to Victor bar to see all the other cocktails they make! read more

This is a quality old school cocktail bar. It's a small, intimate place (and dark) but really cool, and it has a great variety on the cocktail menu. Bartenders are engaging and fun, as well. read more

We've been waiting for this place to open and it did not disappoint. The space is small but cozy. They have a great selection of old-fashioneds. The one with mezcal was smokey and delicious. Nice addition to the neighborhood. read more

Love this small bar in our neighborhood. Craft cocktails are delicious. Great for before dinner or a night cap. Lo pro. Love it.

Great cocktail bar with a good atmosphere. Nice place for pre or post dinner drinks. The old fashions are great and so are the other cocktails. Terrific addition to the neighborhood! read more