This is one of the best spots in the city. Came here last week on a date and it was basically perfect -- has a cool ambiance, relaxed vibe, good music and at the right volume, excellent wine and small plate selection, and the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. I didn't get a chance to go to the patio outside, but I will definitely try it out next time. Special shoutout to the staff who recommended some amazing wines I would have otherwise never heard of. read more

Stopped into this wine bar on a rainy Sunday right when they opened with five of my friends. They were able to seat us immediately in the spacious corner booth. The ambiance is really nice without feeling too "stuffy". Bar was gorgeous and service was friendly and helpful, allowing my boyfriend to sample some wines before going in on some bottles. Prices were what you'd expect for a trendy natural wine bar. The complimentary corn nuts in the antique dish were a cute touch. The charcuterie board with mixed meat and cheese was really small though. Only three pieces of cheese for five people... it made it feel like an awkward fight over who'd get to try some. The gluten free crackers were appreciated though. We ended up ordering more food including the "party tray" which I would describe more as charcuterie nachos. We didn't really know what to expect with this one so we got the canned mussels but it really would've tasted better with the prosciutto instead. It included a whipped cheese, olives, and cornichons piled onto potato chips. Less of a tray and more of a nacho-style dish. If we return next time we're in town, I'd skip the food and focus more on the wine. Beyond that, it was a fun time! read more

See all

Apero is such a cute wine bar. I feel like I am on vacation whenever I visit. The indoor and outdoor spaces are inviting. Staff are super knowledgable and friendly. read more

I think this is what people mean when they say something is a hidden gem. Apéro has an incredible wine and vermouth selection, tasty small bites, and great cocktails. Above all, the staff here is fantastic! They're super friendly and also knowledgeable about everything on offer. I love this place but get here early as it gets packed. read more

Apero - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Intimate wine bar with the friendliest staff. Super helpful with choosing a wine based on our preferences and I believe they rotate through bottles fairly quick as I was also here maybe a month or two before so definitely a variety. Winery rep from Michigan happened to be there and it was a good time trying various wines. The snacks offered were also a treat, really enjoyed the chimi potatoes. Perfect spot to end the night. read more

Apero - Chimi potatoes - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a cute and quaint wine bar! There's a wide selection of drinks, including some super interesting locally made wines and whiskies. You can even get little testers to sample before you commit. Biggest shoutout to the best bartender ever, Dan (!!), who was so kind and helpful I really liked the sparkling orange wine - super crisp and refreshing. I also tried one of their local whiskies; it did the job but lacked some complexity flavor-wise. The vibe and aesthetic are on point, and they offer small bites too with complementary corn nuts that were supppeerr yummy! Highly recommend and will definitely be coming back! read more

See all

Apero is a very welcome addition to the North Center neighborhood, a respite of wine and light fare in an area stifled with beer and bar food. We were impressed, though not surprised, with the vast wine list and quality, up there with mainstays like Webster's in Logan Square. The staff are all knowledgeable (though some more than others), able to guide you in whatever direction you'd like your journey to take you. We were glad to have complimentary hominy, as well as a delicious cheeseboard at a fairly reasonable price. Nice variety and quality, along with raspberries and lightly pickled veggies. Very good. The bar also offers a few cocktails, though they are limited with only a few spirits. The vibe is really great both inside and out - both times we've gone, we wish we would have been able to stay a little longer. And that's actually why I'm only going with 4 stars. The hours. Why can't we be open for happy hour toward the end of week and around noon on the weekend? We would have come here at least a dozen more times, but when you only open at 5pm, you're losing so much to the dinner crowd. Even opening a few hours beforehand would allow for a nice predinner drink and snack (and maybe more), rather than having a time limit before heading to the next spot. We like it here. We want to be here more often, there's a ton to like. But, would absolutely love more afternoon hours. read more

Apero - Cheese Board - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Very cute wine bar. We ordered spritzes, the seasonal focaccia, and the cheese charcuterie board. The cheese charcuterie was our favorite. read more

See all

My friend and I came in here around 5 tonight and Robert was incredibly knowledgeable and generous -- we will be coming back. Incredible wine and staff -- HIGHLY recommend!! read more

This is a cute addition to the neighborhood, perfect for meeting up with friends or to stop by for a before or after dinner drink. They also have a light food menu but we only tried the ives, which were fine but i think they'd be better served warm (IMO). Prices are in line with the area and service was attentive and friendly. If you're in the area, check it out! read more

Absolutely OBSESSED with this cute little wine bar. I had seen it driving by and knew I needed to check it out. Quaint, very cute decor, excellent wine list and such kind staff. Unfortunately it was 90+ degrees when we visited so will have to come back and sit on the patio! I cannot recommend the Union Sacré orange wine enough. Come here asap! read more

See all

What is the difference between a wine bar and a bar that serves wine? In my opinion, it's the intent and execution. I go to a wine bar to be exposed to varietals, techniques and regions I'm not familiar with. I also want to be able to purchase flights or half pours to sample a few different things at each visit. And to make sure there's always something interesting to try, the offerings need to change pretty frequently (I really like wine in general and finding new things in particular). Finally, there needs to be some bites, snacks, food that are delicious, making it possible to consume freely without getting wasted. Food compliments the wine and vice versa, in a heavenly cycle. Guess what? Apero fits the bill! Great (friendly, accommodating, knowledgeable) service, rotating wines (and other beverages), a changing menu at reasonable prices. Comfortable interior, lovely patio, easy parking. A place to stop in for a pick me up (try the cheese plate and a glass of what's on draft) or to settle in for an afternoon of sips and nibbles. So happy they opened and I'm not even too bummed that it's often crowded. Check it out!! read more

Continues to be my favorite neighborhood spot. Thankful to have a chill knowledgeable staff who will both educate you but also make you feel at home. read more

Love the niche feel of this hidden gem. Robert was absolutely incredible helping me choose the perfect wine for the occasion. Would be the perfect spot before or after dinner, can't wait to come back. read more

Why, oh why has it taken me so long to check this place out?! I could have been coming here for months!!! Thank god I finally went because it is AMAZING. It is everything I hoped it would be and more. With a cozy interior, a beautiful back patio, and amazing wine and service, there truly isn't anything else you could ask for. The owner, Robert, was so kind and welcoming. He led my friend and I through a (complimentary!!!) mini-tasting to ensure we selected something that we loved. The only challenge was ultimately deciding on a selection, as everything we sampled was both unique and incredible. I seriously cannot praise this place enough. I wish I still lived down the street because I'd be there all the time! Actually who am I kidding? I will still be there all the time. What a gem. read more

What a gem. The staff are super friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate. I'm kinda a wine newbie, but they took the time to taste a bunch of different options with me and get to know me. The space is lovely too--perfect for a chic date or party. I will be coming back soon! read more

The food and drinks here are good but I wish they'd do a last call before the kitchen closes. They seemed to forget about my table and I really wanted to order another item. read more

I LOVE this place!! They provide the best wines from all over the world. Each visit feels like an international experience. The owner is the kindest soul and will go out of his way to ensure you taste a wine you truly love! The bar is the cutest, most inviting space that is also incredibly clean. Parking is SO easy and there is always space either inside or on their back patio. If you're looking for high quality international wines at amazing prices, this is your spot. Lots of great food options too so you definitely won't be hungry! read more

We walked in without rsvp on Fri early evening. Very cute, well designed, corks for stools, lots of staff and friendly host. We were sat inside and met our young waitress who was having her first day. She told us about all the apps like mushroom bread sticks, olive sampler, pork belly potatoes and mixed sweet nuts. They also had charcuterie and cheese boards which were beautifully presented and had lots of various goodies. What we really came for was the wine! The Somalia was the brother-in-law to the owner. He guided us by having us sample two wines that were similar before making a decision. We tried an Orange wine which has a very full flavor. We then switched gears to a rosé. As the evening progressed the room filled. We were worried that we might be too close to the other tables but we were comfortable and had enough personal space to talk at normal levels. The price was very fair for the snacks and wines. We will be back to enjoy the outdoor area in back. read more

What a great new spot. Had a glass of wine and charcuterie before our dinner reservation down the street. Very thoughtful wine list and delicious charcuterie plate. They make their own bread and pickled vegetables. We ordered extra bread to dip in the olive oil and smear with butter. The lovely back patio was quiet since most people were staying inside due to weather. Will definitely be back and would highly recommend. read more

Apero - Lovely back patio. - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was excited to try this since I moved into the neighborhood. While the bartenders were friendly, we weren't super impressed with the wine. Maybe just not to our taste, but we tried three and finally settled on the third one because the first one was awful and the second was just so so. Then the bartender said, we're getting close to last call, would you like a top off? Which to us meant a little more for free. But we were wrong. It was a generous pour, but certainly was not free. $70 for four glasses of average wine was too much for me to give this place another try. We should have stayed at Il Milanese and just ordered another bottle of what we had at dinner. read more

Ordered the fries and they brought us 8 steak fries, four each for my friend and me. They up-charged us for aioli.

We stopped in for after-dinner drinks a few weeks ago. As we walked in we noticed two cozy booths at the front that we would have liked to sit at. It seems like there was no dedicated host/hostess at the time so one of the staff behind the bar asked us to sit at a table a little farther back. That would have been fine, but it was near the open kitchen door, so we kept getting whiffs of bleach. So while it's good to know that their kitchen is clean, that's not an odor that pairs well with any wine. The wine menu was unremarkable (not bad, just nothing stood out). There was a nice selection of varieties and decent range of price points, although nothing is cheap anymore so prepare for that. At some point someone brought a little cup of nuts or something (that unfortunately had a hair in it, yuck!). I like the location and the fact that parking is easy, and I imagine this is a spot that will never be overly crowded. It also has a very quiet vibe, so I would like to come back for after-dinner drinks again and sit in the back patio. read more

Such a great addition to the neighborhood. Unique wine selection that the staff is very knowledgeable about. Great selection of pairing "bites" as well. Had the cheese plate and olives. The bread can't be missed. Will definitely be back. read more

Highly recommend! Great ambiance, excellent service and outstanding wine. While we just drank, food menu looked great, sourced by local providers. Inside is well done, was a bit overly noisy when we were there. Outside patio is beautiful. read more

Stopped by for a glass of wine and had a great experience. The inside and patio are newly updated and it's got a great vibe. They specialize in natural wine but have beer and cocktails too. The owner Robert was delightful and happy to talk about the wines/explain different processes in a very approachable way. It turns out I like orange wine! Highly recommend. read more

So lucky to have Apero in the neighborhood! Wonderful wine selections, great small bites, and what a lovely staff! Robert has done a fabulous job all around. read more

The owner/ manager/somm not sure what his title is but this person made our night so wonderful! He didn't just recommend wine, he led us through a mini tasting that was so informative and fun. The wines we drank were very expensive but very delicious!! The hummus snd local veggies were great. The atmosphere is that of a small European wine bar. Highly recommend. read more

Such a cute place and love the owner and all the suggestions he makes. The food is a bit hit or miss, but the variety of wine and the vibe makes it a hidden gem in the neighborhood. read more

Great natural wines with incredible knowledge from the owners. Ambiance is quaint and cute.

Went to check out Apero for a glass of wine before dinner and ended up having an incredible experience! We weren't sure what to order and rather than just choosing a glass randomly, Robert came to our table and asked what we were looking for. He provided us with multiple tasting experiences, explained each wine and what to look for, and was fun & knowledgeable. We will absolutely be back for more tastings & wine knowledge! A great, local spot! read more

We stopped by yesterday evening for a quick drink before dinner. Cute place, with an interesting wine list. We sat indoors because of the heat but the outdoor patio looked very inviting too. Reservations are recommended especially on weekends. Robert was great, offered good suggestions. They have several NA options. We plan to go back. read more

The wine, food & service, & atmosphere was OUTSTANDING!! Robert( the owner) was very knowledgeable about wine & food.

Came with girlfriends for drinks and dinner, and had a fantastic time! Great service, great wine list. We ordered literally 90% of the appetizers and loved all of them. Left stuffed and slightly buzzed. Can't wait to go back! read more

Three of us stopped in here for an afternoon drink. They offered a great happy hour selection and were very knowledgeable. So much so, that we stayed for another and another! The place is welcoming and so comfortable to enjoy catching up with friends and wine. We'll definitely be back. read more

Great atmosphere and the staff was very professional and courteous. Appreciate the fast response times to questions posed in yelp. Would definitely return as it's a great intimate space for a date or friendly get together with a friend. read more

gorgeous spot lovely service. server knew exactly what they were talking about and let us try a number of wines before settling on a bottle