Amor y Tequila

A hundred times "yes" I will come here again. Kindest service and the retro interior is just…read moreadorable. I could literally have sat here all nice enjoying all the amazing drinks they whip up. It's such a great spot for gals.

This was our first time here and it was a fun time! We were able to get prime reservations for a…read moreSaturday night. We opted for their cookie decorating and cocktails. It was about $40/ per person after fees. This included a shot, a cocktail and some hard cookies that came with sprinkles and icing. We definitely had enough cookies to go around! The bar itself was very fun and festive. I loved the decor. It's smaller than what I expected but we had enough space. The cocktails were good and I'd definitely go back to try some of their other drinks! Overall fun experience!

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Estereo

3.5(281 reviews)

As a visitor from Los Angeles, walking into a new spot in Chicago can sometimes feel a little…read moreintimidating, but Al at the door completely changed that experience for me. From the moment I arrived at Estereo, Al made me feel welcome, comfortable, and safe. He has a way of reading people and creating an atmosphere where you feel like you belong, even if you're from out of town. He was professional, respectful, and genuinely went out of his way to make sure I had a great experience. What stood out most was that he didn't just do his job as security... he helped with local recommendations and made me feel like more than just another customer walking through the door. People like Al are a big part of what makes a place memorable, and Estereo is lucky to have someone like him representing the front of the house.

Love this spot. Gotta say the drinks here are always amazing. People who know- know. If you're a…read morecocktail lover, this is your spot. Their rum and tequila & mezcal offerings are awesome. I'm going to keep this review a hundred. I come here for their frozen drinks. Namely their coquito. Hands down the best frozen drink in Chicago. The staff is always nice and welcome. Shout out to Lena at Logan Square. Also, they have two locations (Logan Square and Fulton Market). Logan Square all day (just sayin'). If you know, ya know.

Frozen Piña Colada

Inside sitting at the bar

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The Whistler

4.0(611 reviews)

I'm going to show my true age with this review. The first time we went here it was early in the…read morenight and pretty dead, so we left. We went again last night, and my husband and I had a table and sipped on a few drinks. We were enjoying the music and talking, but the music just got louder and louder to the point we were screaming across the table to hear each other. I just got more irritated, and we decided to leave.

Heard about this place with live music and craft cocktails and was really excited to check it out…read more Went with a few friends on a tuesday night for the Kabir Dalawari Quintet. The show started at 9pm, so we got there right around 8:30. There was plenty of seats when we got there (though it did start to fill up by around 9:15/9:30). It's no reservations and no cover, which I think makes the experience a little more relaxed. I ordered the red diamond cocktail, which came with mezcal, cognac, hibiscus, lemon, lime, & absinthe. The flavor mix was really good and I'm hoping to try more drinks there. The jazz quintet was great as well. We just stayed for the first set which lasted until about 10:15, but really enjoyed the skilled musicianship. Definitely enjoyed my experience a lot and hope to be back!

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Inside (kabir dalawari quintet)

The Welcome Back Lounge

4.4(138 reviews)

"Welcome back." I…read morehesitate. I know with absolute certainty that I have never stepped foot in Chicago. Yet, the bartenders greet us with such a warm and friendly energy that I know with absolute certainly that I have been a regular at this bar for years. Decades. Centuries. I know within my soul that this was my go-to bar in a past life (and hopefully in the next). Just as welcoming as the awesome people are the $1 PBRs and $3 shots of tequila. And of course they hand out free hot dogs every night at midnight, which in my (intoxicated) mind was cemented as the definitive Chicago dog, even if it comes with no toppings whatsoever. And fittingly complementing the amazing energy of the bar is a 10 hour Youtube video of that memed Ukrainian kid dancing at a club playing endlessly on the TVs. Rocking sunglasses and looking like a stud, absolutely grooving without a single care in the world, and effortlessly matching every single song on the bar's playlist. That kid truly embodies the spirit of this bar. No matter what day it is, what time of day it is, or who visits, the bar's energy always works. Vibing to Black Eyed Peas on a Monday night never felt better. Imma be... back one day, rest assured. I genuinely can't wait for the next time I'm greeted with, "Welcome back."

The bar itself is great- I've had good experiences when I've come as a patron…read more However, when the nonprofit I work for partnered with them for their charity bingo last fall, it completely turned me off from going back. They collected all donations and did not clarify that they were going to take 90% of them for expenses for their DJ and other costs, which is very misleading for the people donating. For the actual donated money itself after expenses were taken out, I reached out three separate times to confirm if the check was being paid and the lady three times I got completely ghosted. We never received the money, so who knows what was done with it. TL/DR: this is a warning to not partner with them for their charity bingo.

Brats bacon jalapeño cheese dog. DELISH

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Mezcal Quarter Water

Daisies

4.3(774 reviews)

Daisies continues to prove why it's one of the best pasta spots in the city -- creative, seasonal,…read moreand comforting without feeling heavy. The meal started strong with crispy, golden flatbread paired with creamy ricotta. The ricotta was silky and lightly tangy, topped with olive oil, shaved cheese, herbs, and a sweet-savory jam that added depth. The bread had that perfect crunch on the outside with a slight chew inside -- simple but elevated. The pasta was the star. Wide ribbons cooked perfectly al dente, coated in a rich, slow-simmered ragu that tasted deeply savory and comforting. The sauce clung beautifully to the noodles, and the generous sprinkle of parmesan tied everything together. It felt rustic but refined -- the kind of dish you keep going back for.

This spot had reservations gone in minutes and I get why, but it didn't fully blow me away…read more Vibes were just alright. We sat in the back so it was quieter, but still kinda loud overall and felt more casual than expected. Better for groups than a romantic dinner. 6.5/10. Service was great though. Our server was funny, super attentive, and paced everything perfectly. Loved the little details like switching plates and checking in at the right times. 8/10. The sweet onion toast was sooo good. Reminded me of Au Cheval's bone marrow + jam combo. Crispy & flavorful. 9.5/10. All the pastas were cooked perfectly al dente and not oily at all which I LOVED. The strozzapreti was super comforting with great duck flavor. 8.5/10. The beet agnolotti was really unique, tasted like a cream cheese lox everything bagel. 8/10. The cappelletti was more mid for me, good filling and sauce but nothing crazy. 7/10. The pork collar had an interesting texture like medium rare steak, but I'm just not a big pork fan. 6/10. Now the desserts... BEST part of the meal. The chocolate pavlova was insane. First time trying it and the textures were crazy good with the sorbet, mousse, and crunch. 9.5/10. The cookie dough brownie ice cream was also one of the best flavors I've had. 9.5/10. They also gave us a free chocolate cake for our celebration which was a nice touch, but it tasted pretty basic. Overall, really solid pastas, amazing desserts, and a great app, but a litttttle overhyped for me.

Nice ambiance

Pappardelle

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Late Summer Preserves (Clarified) peaches, brandy, maple, lemon, amaro, milk, fizz

Deadbolt Bar

3.8(56 reviews)

Came here with a large group to celebrate my birthday. Maalik really took care of us. He made sure…read morethe bartender knew it was my birthday and she did a great job of keeping our shots coming all night. We enjoyed the music and everyone had a great time. Looking forward to coming back.

Stopped in on a Friday night. The DJ was playing great music. Staff was friendly. They played hip…read morehop and it was a diverse crowd.

Guests having fun

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DJ spinning at Deadbolt

Quality Time

4.6(45 reviews)

1.3 mi•Avondale

Just discovered a new cocktail bar in the Logan Square/Avondale area. It's cozy, rustic, and has…read moresuper welcoming vibe. The cocktails are unique and creative; great quality without the crazy price tag. I heard they have DJs on weekends too. Pro tip: Don't miss the famous tamales from Claudio, the Tamale Guy. 6 pieces for $12 is a steal.

A few rounds full of laughs, arguments, and liquor. What a fun place to spend a saturday afternoon…read more Super friendly staff having a good time together while we got--maybe too--rowdy at a booth. A good mix of classics as well as some fun cocktails(a frozen baja blast?!?!) In any case, a decent old fashioned, a wonderful espresso tini, and a fun tiki drink all were savored. I love a place with balance. Like many chi bars it has the "dive bar design" where it isn't a dive bar, but still feels like one. Super fun spot to hang, chat and booze!

Espresso Martini

Back seating

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ALONE IN PARADISE - South African Rum, Mezcal, Alpine Amaro, Pineapple, Passionfruit

The Meadowlark

4.5(107 reviews)

1.7 mi•Logan Square

(Review from my visit back in late February. I read somewhere their Ad Astra menu is going away…read moresoon, so you should go asap if you want to try it!) I went here a couple years ago for their composition book menu, but had to come back to try their new Ad Astra space themed menu. I absolutely love the concept. All the cocktails are inspired by a planet. We tried the moon, mars, saturn, earth, and pluto. Loved all of them! They were all super inventive. Meadowlark is definitely in my top 5 cocktail bars in Chicago because I love the speakeasy aspect and also how unique their menus always are. Can't wait to see what they do next!

Excellent experience from top to bottom. Great ambience, from the speakeasy style front room to the…read morecozy ambience of the bar itself. And the drinks, well... Expert level cocktails with some extremely impressive bites from Union/Lardon - the mushroom cabbage skewers are about as good a pure mushroom dish as I've had. The cocktails are delightful, tons of options on a rotating, thematic menu. Very thoughtful, with pairings you wouldn't expect and may never have come across. Very impressed, and looking forward to what their next theme will be.

Interior

Cute inside sitting area/bar!

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The Heavy Feather

4.1(87 reviews)

Heavy feather needs no long review…read more Grunge as f***. Punk as f***! Vibes are killer; menu is killer. Volume bar using fresh ingredients and speed pours. Attention to detail is superb. Small spot, but the party is ALIVE. Your dad's 70s tiki bar in his man cave sans tackiness. Definitely one of my favorite bars from an execution stand point and vibe standpoint

I only have great things to say about this place (besides the upstairs bathroom placement. its a…read morebit confusing as to why its like that but whatevs) 1) the vibes are actually elite. I felt like i was in a coming of age movie and i felt like i was going to cry tears of real joy. 2) photobooth!!! 3) service was great!! i got a cocktail and it was really strong i couldnt finish it but thats bc im weak lol anyways idk this was just the most perfect place i couldnt have even imagined it to be this great. i was introducing 3 dif groups of friends this night and this booth was perfect for it. i will alwayssss think of this moment and how special it was for me thanks to the ambiance and service of this place

Drinks

The CampFire

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The Whale Chicago

4.2(1.1k reviews)

Eddy was a fantastic server and the food never disappoints, from wine to fun conversation just a…read moregreat place!

This place is great. The vibes are great. The service has always been great…read more As someone who is gluten free/ pescatarian there are plenty of options for me. The two times I have been I have gotten the barbecue jackfruit and the cauliflower entree.