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We love a 5:00-7:00 Happy Hour! Great spot to hit if you get off work a little later. One of the most gorgeous bars I've ever been to! Staff were friendly.
The vibe is upscale Vegas club. The servers were very stoic almost verging on rude. Made us feel like we didn't belong in their exclusive club. Madame Blueberry was too heavy on the vanilla. Thai Kaa was delicious. My friends enjoyed the Tossing Peels and Burrata Colada. They have a very extensive spirit list. Overall good drinks but service could be NICER. Make some recommendations. Check back to see how our drinks were. Smile.
Had a great experience here for my birthday! Came with my boyfriend for some cocktails and food a few weeks ago. Love the inside vibe in here, very relaxed but upscale. To order we had the Hamachi Crudo with coconut, melon, lime leaf, the Fava Gnocchi with ramp, fava bean, a parmesan foam, and the Rêve Burger with american cheese, pickles, rêve sauce. Everything was absolutely incredible! The burger was melt in your mouth delicious, but my favorite was the hamachi crudo- so many textures and flavors that worked together perfectly! My boyfriends favorite was the fava gnocchi, which I also loved. We had a couple cocktails as well, which some were good some we wouldn't recommend. But overall will be back!
Stopped into After Lounge for a pre-dinner drink. Their standard menu has cocktails, shots, beer, wine, and bites. Looking over the cocktail menu, you can tell the bartenders go a step further in being mixologists. Most drinks offer unique flavor pairings that I've only seen here. My husband and I visited for Happy Hour where a couple of drinks were strongly discounted. He tried the Vesper martini which came with a waygu crisp and caviar. This may have been the best vesper martini I've tried with how balanced it was with a sweet finishing note. This cocktail is discounted by $11 for happy hour which is a steal! I got the Old Fashioned which had a classically, beautiful presentation. It was smooth and not smoked here. The staff working was extremely kind; and for as beautiful as the space was, was dressed casually (which I liked). Diana made all of our drinks and did a great job. She even offered us celebratory birthday shots complimentary! We told her to make what she liked and I think she gave us the Snaquiri which had fruity, sweet notes. It was very easy to take and was the perfect way to end the experience. Cannot wait to visit again soon to try out their standard menu!
The vibes were amazing with upbeat pop music, dim lighting, and an elegant upscale bar atmosphere. 9/10. Service was great. Our server checked in at the right times to order more drinks, clear plates, and keep everything moving smoothly. 9/10. The cocktails were definitely the highlight. The 24K Espresso Martini (8.8/10) was a classic espresso martini with great foam and a slightly sweeter finish. The Madame Blueberry (9/10) had a delicious vanilla blueberry flavor. The Snaquiri (9/10) drank more like a sweet cocktail than a typical shot, and the Cream Crush (9.5/10) was creamy, citrusy, and one of my favorites. The Rêve Fries (7.5/10) were super addicting with sweet seasoned salt and a chipotle aioli. The Chicago Popcorn (7/10) had stale cheddar popcorn, but the miso caramel popcorn was great. Crispy, perfectly balanced, and honestly better than Garrett's caramel popcorn. The Rêve Burger (7.5/10) was a solid classic burger with melted American cheese and pickles. Nothing groundbreaking, but executed well. The Wagyu Short Ribs (8.5/10) were super tender with creamy mashed potatoes, rich sauce, and a nice crunchy topping. The Pot de Crème (9.5/10) completely exceeded my expectations. Between the espresso ice cream, genmai crunch, tea mousse, and chocolate mousse, it tasted like a chocolate milk tea with tons of different textures. Overall, the amazing cocktails, great food, and luxurious vibes make this one of my favorite cocktail bars in the city!
(Kari's Rating 9.5/10) TLDR: -Dark Speakeasy -Craft Cocktails -Retro Vibes One of my friends had her birthday cocktail hour here and we were escorted into a dark back room, where we were able to order cocktails, and various appetizers. The old-fashioned came in a delicate high glass with a dried flower. The fries were crispy and came with a mayo sauce. The CVC with cranberry foam was a delightful refreshing and very light. Would come back with a larger group but it's a bit dark if you're on a first date. This back room rent out was so nice!
After has always been on my wishlist of places to go and I'm glad I finally found the occasion. Unfortunately, I only stayed for one round of drinks but would've loved to have try some of the food here. I was quite surprised how full the venue was despite it being quite frosty outside. West loop is definitely where it's at. Our server Ian was very helpful in giving us recommendations. After definitely gives me "The Menu" vibes if you get what I mean. Overall a nice experience!
Was taken aback finding out this summer that this hidden gem was literally a 5 min walk from me for a couple of years now. Located in the not so popular/ non traffic heavy portion of West Loop/Fulton Mkt, this joint definitely stands out. Building is kinda dark so you could accidentally walk past as its so conspicuous. Very sexy vibe and scene inside with black and white photos on the walls. Dim lit and the bar itself has sex appeal. The one issue I have is the rock music doesnt go too well with the vibe and they have the music too loud at times. I've had to ask them to turn it down as me and my friends were shouting at each other over the music. They have a happy hour menu from 5-7pm which is good to take advantage of...I've been a couple times and its well worth it. I end up staying beyond 7pm everytime. The Duck Wing is pretty good. The Chicken steam buns are ok and Im not the biggest fan of the fries as the batter can be a bit too much. They make magnificent cocktails though! Muchroom Penicillin, Smoked Melon, Hop'd Negroni, Peachy Collins and A5 Vesper (gin/vodka cocktail comes with caviar) are all very nice and my go-tos here.A5 Vesper can be a bit pricey but if you come during HH, its less expensive. Good joint!
This was a perfect post-dinner drink after an experience at EVER. After is a social scene with a creative cocktail menu, full bar and engaged staff.
My friends and I recently went to this place to celebrate a friend's birthday, and I had no idea it even existed. It's the perfect spot for an intimate date night. The interior is all black, and the entrance is a bit hidden -- just a plain black door, which adds to the vibe. We got a table in a private area and ordered during happy hour. We had Bubbles, Dirty Martini, and 24K Espresso Martini. Since we were celebrating, our server was kind enough to bring us shots of Bell Pepper Daiquiri and a non-alcoholic shot of Mushroom Penicillin. I regret not ordering the Bell Pepper Daiquiri, it was my abbbbsolute favorite! I was unsure about it at first, but the flavors were so smooth and balanced. I definitely recommend trying it. We didn't get any food this time, but I'm definitely going back with close friends to try the full menu.
My friend and I stopped by for a drink before dinner. The bar was fairly empty when we visited at 5pm on a Saturday. They happened to have happy hour promotion so we were able to take advantage of their most expensive drink I otherwise wouldn't have ordered. I'm not sure if I liked my drink, but my friend also ordered the mushroom drink which was very nice. Overall, After did not disappoint and wish I could go back and check out more other drinks next time!
Went to After for Restaurant Week and had a phenomenal experience. The service was impeccable from the waiter to the manager to the hostess. We were a little late and they were still able to accommodate us, which I really appreciated. The food was just as impressive. The portions are on the smaller side since it leans more cocktail lounge, but the flavors really stood out. The hamachi crudo in the coconut curry was such a highlight and literally melts in your mouth.
Great venue for a party ... attended a 50th bday . They keep the space really dark ... all the women dressed to the nines couldn't see each others couture outfits haha ! They also don't have a proper signage outside their business for guests to locate the space . Drinks were good, food was fine ... overall vibe was cool
2 years ago
From dinner at EVER, we entered through a speakeasy-esque door through a domed observatory-library, to AFTER, a journey of artfully crafted cocktails and one of the best caviar services. Intimate ambiance and the mixologists truly care about what you think about their craft. They pay attention to your preferences and tailor the cocktail to your palate This is not just another bar/lounge, this is an experience. read more
2 years ago
I wanted to try Ever but didn't have time so we settled for their bar. i am floored this place is fantastic and miles better than aviary. the interior gorgeous with very comfortable seating. my friend and i were celebrating our (late) birthdays so they poured us complimentary champagne and gave us complimentary choux . i ordered the smoked duck dish to get a taste of Ever and the mini bread plate they served included the best madeleine of my life. my favorite drink of the night by far is the clarified colada. my friend also ordered the hades and our bartender (Yuliya!) tweaked the drink a lil so it wouldn't be as strong. she also did another rendition of the hades for us about 15 mins later because she thought of a better way to incorporate fruity notes. overall fantastic food, drinks, and service. i am thoroughly impressed and will be back for ever + after read more
2 years ago
This place is a must!!!! We thought the bar was super cool and overall vibe of the restaurant was moody chic but approachable. The burger OMG! Don't sleep on it! And the best caviar I have ever had! Amy and Hannah were fantastic hosts and made us feel like we were lifelong friends.... they have that hospitality superpower for sure! Amy even suggested a waygu beef fat infused gin shot to pour into the empty caviar tin. Now that was unique and unexpected! I can't express how fun of an experience it was. The cocktails were also unique and I loved the Pina colada cocktail. Can't wait to try Ever next door next time! You won't regret going to After for a great evening! read more
Cool spot to check out if you want drink$ with a friend or on a date. The ambiance is casual enough for you to come without feeling the need to be formal. Look presentable and you'll fit right in. Service was ok, nothing out of the ordinary or extraordinary to mention. I will recommend making a reservation, there's really no place for you to just wait around and mingle. Seated service only. read more
2 years ago
I really enjoyed After. I started with an espresso martini (my favorite cocktail) and it was amazing, it even came with a chocolate truffle! I ordered the Vietnamese duck wings, which were so mouthwatering, and probably my favorite wings that i've ever had. I also got the mushroom arancini and the rêve french fries. They only had the late night food menu when I went or I would've ordered more items. For dessert, I got the crème brûlée and my boyfriend got the "grapefruit". The lounge itself is breathtaking and feels like something out of a movie, the atmosphere is laid back despite how fancy it is. I would definitely come back next time I'm in town, it was a fun experience. read more
I love the atmosphere of this place so much. The lighting and décor make this bar the perfect setting for a romantic date or a celebration with friends. My friends and I came here for a birthday party. My friend made a reservation in their library room and it was great having a separate section to ourselves. I have no idea if they accept walk in's, but I would highly suggest making a reservation ahead of time due to how busy they get. The drink pricing is a little bit on the higher end, but most drinks are still under $30. The cocktail menu features familiar bar favorites and also cocktails with slightly more complex flavors. We had ate a big meal before coming here, but the fries were really good. I would love to try more items from the food menu next time. read more
We had reservations to sit at the bar before our dinner at Smyth. The bartenders were are very good. The drinks we had were all well balanced. You are paying a bit for the environment, if that's your thing. Overall it was a nice experience. read more
Lots of potential. If I were on a romantic date and we stopped here first for drinks, I would be impressed. But I wasn't on a date so I really didn't care for my experience. This place reminded me of Violet Hour sort of... Too Dark! The lighting is awful. The music was drab. It's super small inside... This place reminded me of a bad SNL skit of an overpriced bar. One cocktail was $38. Like? The menu is this huge book. How can you read all that in the dark? The food was delicious I will say that. But overpriced. My friend got a wagyu steak dish. It was $50. When I tell you it was super small! It was like a mini strip of fajita meat. I get it's wagyu but damn... The fries were so good. They had seasoning on them that reminded me of the BBQ Jays chips. But they were also super expensive, $9! The duck wings were delicious. You get two, they were $20! I wasn't impressed I believe it was the lighting and music that killed my vibe. Our server was excellent and very knowledgeable. read more
2 years ago
Great service drinks and food was excellent Ambiance is 10/10 we really enjoyed it will be back read more
Made last minute reservations here online and they surprisingly had a lot of available slots for a Friday night. When we got here, it wasn't very busy, especially compared to other cocktail bars. The bar area was beautiful, but the rest of the space didn't feel as connected. Almost too cold. Music did not match the ambience at all either. At first, ordered this smoky cocktail that I forgot the name of with black garlic and pear and a peaty Japanese whisky among other things. Did not like it at all. Even the smell was kinda off-putting and struggled to even make a dent on the drink. The staff was kind enough to replace the drink, which was totally appreciated, and just opted for a classic old fashioned (since it's probably one of the best ways to judge a cocktail bar aka how they do the classics). It was good, but not great. Honestly a bit of a disappointment. For a cocktail bar that's under the Ever group, i expected more pizzazz, more creativity, better flavor combinations that would blow one's mind away, especially given the crazy prices of some of their cocktails ($190 cocktail, anyone?). Otherwise most cocktails fell around the $18-28 mark pre tax- still pricey and not that great imo. After fell short in this regard. Skippable - just go to Kumiko, Arbella, or (hot take) even Starbucks Reserve makes a better old fashioned. read more
4 years ago
Happily Ever After?? Well at least fairly close lol Yes this is a complimentary cocktail lounge to the Michelin Star restaurant next door(Ever). It sits unassumingly with an easy to miss storefront a bit further away from most of the west loop frenzy. Now if you go in knowing what it is then you can avoid being annoyed by it's pretentiousness. No you can't have substitutes and yes it's pretty expensive for the smallest of bites. Nonetheless it's well executed for the vibe it wants. A really sleek and relaxing ambiance with a bar that takes a beautiful center stage. Really good cocktails and food (although limited selection) -Espresso Martini - on point -Haitian Daquiri - solid -Royal Cuban - meh minty mixed bag -burger & fries - delicious! -short rib skewer - spicy and well done The service was very attentive and bespoke. Overall it really is the vibe that makes this place so cool. Drinks and food were nothing extraordinary but it's a cool spot to show off the sophistication of Chicago to visitors. read more
First time visitor and had a lovely experience. Didn't have reservations, but were able to still be seated with ease. Our server, James, was very attentive and started us with complimentary champagne. The ambiance is dark and sleek. Definitely great for a night cap. read more
2 years ago
My girlfriend and I went in Friday night for drinks before our dinner reservation. The lounge was very classy. I got the Bouquet 75 and the mushroom penicillin. Both drinks were fantastic. They gave us a complimentary drink that was created by one of the bartenders. It was delicious and something I had never tasted before. I believe he said there was alpine amaro in it! Thanks very much for the memorable evening. read more
6 months ago
After is an amazingly beautiful space! The decor is matte black everything and it's a vibe! I came to After last night with my boyfriend and best friend. We got the mushroom arancini and caviar service. Both were delicious! Everything was so well balanced! For drinks, my boyfriend asked if the bartender could make a bee's knee with cognac and he exclaimed that it was the best he's ever tried! I would have to agree! I wasn't drinking but I was tempted to order a bee's knee for myself! Like I mentioned, I wasn't drinking, but I love that After had a list of about 6 spirit-free drinks. And what was nice was that they looked like real drinks vs a kiddie cocktail. One of my drinks looked like a highball and the other looked like a Negroni! Very impressed with that. And the drinks were so good! Each spirit free drink cost $15, which is high end but to be expected. I can't wait to come back to try more items from the menu. read more
2 years ago
Great ambiance, great food and loved the overall experience! Our server was also really nice and helpful with suggestions. read more
2 years ago
Visited for Chicago Restaurant Week and it was a beautiful experience. Food was delicious, standouts for me were the Vietnamese Duck Wings, Iberico Tenderloin, Scallops and the most perfect Pear Sorbet. Gorgeous place to stop by, even if it's just for a quick bite and drink! read more
2 years ago
Love a moody lounge with great drinks! Walked over after dinner to meet some friends. Didn't get a chance to try any of their dishes but will definitely be back soon! read more
3 years ago
This place is a great place to experience some wonderfully crafted cocktails. The bartenders here are amazing and know their stuff. The interior is aesthetically pleasing with a nice vibe to it. We ordered a couple of cocktails - Bhaka Eraser and Ground Control. Both of these drinks were amazing. It was great to be able to sit at the bar and see the bartender make the drinks. We didn't get any did as we just came from a heavy dinner. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Begrudgingly writing this positive review because I want to keep it to myself, please don't go here, literally don't want anyone else to know about it. The service was delightful and the food was just superb. The ambiance is sexy, but cozy too. Perfect little date night vibe. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Amazing service. Fantastic vibe and ambience for a date night or evening catching up with friends over drinks, the background music is a perfect volume without having to yell to hear someone next to you. You can't go wrong with any seat in the house and the drinks are fantastic and adventurous. I definitely recommend a reservation! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
After is a great new upscale bar concept from the team behind Ever (sidenote: A+ for clever naming). We made a last-minute reservation on a weeknight without much difficulty, though I'd recommend booking more in advance for reservations in the 5:30 to 8:00pm stretch, as these were mostly taken. The space is incredible. Elegant, intimate, buzzy but quiet enough to carry a conversation with ease. We had a few rounds of drinks, all of which were excellent. My personal favorite was the espresso martini, which I might dare to say is the best I've had in Chicago to date; the bold coffee flavor came through really nicely. The cocktail list is fairly extensive, with about 7-8 unique in-house creations, plus a number of high-end takes on classics. There's also a nice variety of excellent non-alcoholic options. Spendy, but for the right occasion a nice once-in-a-while experience. read more
2 years ago
Adjacent to EVER and part of the EVER family, this bar lounge is top notch. Very classy with creative yet extremely satisfying drinks. A great way to ease in before the EVER Experience next door. When visiting, be sure to ask for the observatory themed speakeasy room connecting After to EVER that can be rented out for intimate, private gatherings. read more
Nice ambience, service is great but the drinks don't quite satisfy for the price:quality! The food is good but definitely again on the pricier side with much better options available in the city. I'd recommend this place to pop in and get a cocktail as you soak the ambience before moving on to the next cocktail lounge! Citrus Fuze cocktail - highly recommended! read more
4 years ago
Went to After after an anniversary dinner with my girlfriend as we wanted to go to a bar to finish off the night. We ordered a couple of small plates of food and it was delicious, as expected being opened from a 2 Michelin Star restaurant. We both enjoyed every bite of the wagyu skewers and ordered the duck wings as well with a excellent crème brûlée to finish. Cocktail were great, like many people here said, it is a little pricy but nothing I felt too out of reach. I mainly came in wanting to try some whiskey as I knew nicer upscale places would have finer stuff. That's where I felt it was too expensive. I understand due to allocations, whiskey boom, and other factors it would be expensive, as I also know the "whiskey hunt" game, but I felt it was reaching even by secondary market prices. My girlfriend and I sat at the bar and saw the bartenders work. We both felt they, as some people might have mentioned, they were following a script. Understandably they are working, but the small talks didn't feel like there was much care behind it and was trying to make an interaction. Overall the interior design of it was beautiful, my girlfriend mentioned multiple times how awesome it would be to film something in here as she is a film major. Drinks were great and food was spectacular. While this place is not cheap and would probably be a date night thing, even then I feel like I would probably go else where with more character. I know that there's an image of professionalism that needs to be displayed and is also carrying the Ever's name, but there should be a way to be more flexible without compromising the experience. read more
What sets after apart is the fact that their food is actually pretty damn good. Without mentioning names most bars with above average cocktails are one hit or literally one bite wonders in regard to food but the wagyu here was amazing & the duck was pretty damn good. read more
They're definitely going through some opening pains! We were seated and told the server we were going to ever for dinner when he asked if we wanted food or drinks. And then when we were brought menus and actually ordered the drinks, he asked about food again. So he was just not really paying attention. The cocktails were good. Nothing wrong with them, but no ingredients or style that would make me feel like $30 a cocktail is justified. Kumiko is the same price and has unique cocktails that are also served in fun ways. This was just an overpriced drink because it's next to Ever. read more
2 years ago
Everything about this spot is perfect. Music level, lighting, service, drinks, food. We ordered the bao, the kampachi, the purple sweet potatoes, and the mushroom risotto. Everything was flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and beautifully played. Service was refined yet authentic and comfortable. They really strike the balance of being a top tier establishment without being stuffy. Highly recommend this spot. Will definitely be back. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Loved the old fashion here and espresso martinis. The Japanese cocktail was disappointing compared to the others. The arancini and duck wings were amazing. read more
3 years ago
I decided to pop in to this new bar about 1 hour before they closed a few nights ago. I had the pleasure to work with the bartender Rob while at After and he served up nothing less than cocktail greatness. Standing in front of the full bar are some of the most exceptional bartenders and staff members that Chicago as ever seen. This place over is class personified!!!! The place is very dark and dim, not really good for groups more intimate than anything. The ultimate date spot if you're into high end wine and dine. I didn't get a chance to enjoy the food, I was able to check out the menu and there are definitely great options on the menu. Can't wait to come back and try the Waygu skewers. read more
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