This is such a great spot to experience. It feels cozy and intimate while it's nestled in the Waldorf Astoria. We came on a Sunday evening, as it was close to our hotel and didn't want to uber. We were some of the only people in there which was fantastic. Every seating area, drink, and vibe is intentional and feels special. The low lights set a good mood and go along well with the experience. We sat at the bar and ordered martinis, old fashioneds, and beer. It was an amazing martini, and my date loved his old fashioned. The bartender chatted with us throughout our visit which was appreciated. I would love to come back when I'm in town, it was very memorable! read more

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Classy vibes with thrilling cocktails. I was in Chicago for a few days and grabbed drinks with a friend. Our host, arif, recommended some great cocktails which lined up with yelp assistant's picks. We got the no. 5 and the old serrano and both drinks were beautifully presented. Old serrano was more spirit forward and smoky, while no. 5 was sweeter with a rose flavor. Nice spot for a satisfying cocktail. read more

Bernard's - Old serrano - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I visited on a Friday evening as a party of 1, and was able to be seated about 30 minutes prior to my reservation time. The space is small, gives speakeasy vibes, and is pretty comfortable. The service is good and friendly, and was able to give quality recommendations based on my wishes for a cocktail. I ordered a toddy, The Peacock Alley Tea, and the Lobster M&C Croquettes bites. The tea was nice, borderline lukewarm and strong, and the bites were also good and warm (not hot, which I found odd). Overall, I'm not sure I'll come back just because I found both items, especially the bites, to be a bit unnecessarily pricey; if I do visit again, I'll just order cocktails, as I was impressed with their selection and offerings. read more

Bernard's - Lobster M&C Croquettes and The Peacock Alley Tea. Both were good. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Top notch experience inside a quaint cozy speakeasy vibe lounge. The service was exceptional and the drinks were fantastic. This lounge is located on the 2nd floor in the Waldorf Astoria which is a beautiful hotel in the Gold Coast. The drinks range from $30 and up for a price point so keep that in mind if choosing to experience Bernard's. read more

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This is my favorite speak easy in Chicago now. The drinks were so delicious and the service was top tier. I just wanted to try everything but knew I couldn't because I would be drunk lol. I ordered a no 9. Inspired by Chanel. A treasure chest and an old Serrano. I recommend all of these!!!! Please give them a try if you're in Chicago read more

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As good as it gets when it comes to bars. Excellent atmosphere and service. Drinks are high and above as good as it gets. A++ 5 stars and two thumbs up! read more

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This speakeasy cocktail bar located in the Waldorf Astoria is a special place. Quaint, cool and swanky! There was a tremendous selection of cocktails and spirits. It's a nice deviation for the hustle and bustle of the Chicago streets. Give it a try, would be a great late night spot to finish the evening. read more

Bernard's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Searched for a cocktail bar that was where we were walking around after shopping and this place popped up. Didn't think much or look into it much, but when we arrived we had no idea it was within the Waldorf lol. It's a little bit tricky to find, but you have to actually enter the hotel itself and go upstairs to the 2nd floor. Our bartender/server and all of the staff that watered our table and brought us nuts as snacks were fantastic and super nice. I particularly liked the drink I got, however my friends didn't rave too much about theirs. One of them mentioned it didn't seem like there was much alcohol in theirs. For the price point, you pretty much would expect an amazing cocktail honestly. The space itself is very cozy and darkish inside which adds to the environment - think, lounge space. I might return if I'm immediately in the area, but there's so many other better cocktail bars for a better price point in River North / Gold Coast. read more

Just up the elevator from the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria in Gold Coast, a quaint little speakeasy lounge. Clientele is a diverse mix of every walk of life, and obviously includes hotel guests. Came for a night cap after an amazing dinner, the space was pretty busy but another couple was closing out the tab so we scored seats at the bar. Decided on this lavender drink (No.5) and a glass of cava. Two drinks set us back $60 which we were not expecting but this is the Waldorf. Bar staff was chatty, the background music was a jazzy-vibe, and the ambiance was just a bit bland for my liking and not dimly lit. It is not pretetious or in any way uninviting, quite the opposite actually and it didn't seem to matter if Patrons were dressed up or down. I'm not a big fan of hotel bars as a local, but now I can check it off my lists of cozy spaces. read more

One of my new favorite bars. The charm and elegance is impeccable. The intimate vibes are unbeatable. Cannot wait to come back and enjoy the space again read more

Bernard's - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First class experience in a spectacular, small bar. Not easily found on Apple Maps but worth the adventure. Great cocktails, excellent bartenders, and decor you'd expect. One of the BEST you'll find in the area. read more

Great place for Valentine's Day cocktails and light eats. Expensive ofc it's in the Waldorf Astoria

Bernard's is a quaint, upscale hotel bar in the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago. It's a beautiful space that is easy to see the exceptional attention to detail. The design and aesthetic is inspired by the men in Coco Chanel's life. French design was the inspiration behind the latest renovation of the Waldorf and Coco Chanel was positioned as their muse. It's dark and warm steeped in refinement everywhere you look. The staff is well-trained and they treat you like they've been waiting for you all day. The attention and engagement we received from the bartenders made it a memorable experience. They welcomed discussing their craft and made sure you enjoyed any of the creative cocktails in their program or anything you preferred off menu. It is definitely an elevated spot, but not pretentious. Bernard's understand service and I guarantee you will enjoy it. It is one of the hidden gems in the Gold Coast neighborhood. Check them out next time you're in Chicago. Salute read more

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Nice, quick service. Perfect for a quick nightcap drink and small eats. We were staying at the Waldorf Astoria, so this was a nice laid back place with a speak easy kind of vibe. read more

Bernard's - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bernard's is located on the 2nd floor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago. The atmosphere at this bar is classy and dark. They brought a complimentary light snack to the table while we reviewed the menu. Most of the cocktails are in the $20-$30 range. The Old Serrano cocktail was well-balanced and interesting. This was the perfect cocktail to slowly sip on. All of the staff were really kind. I would visit here again in the future. read more

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Bernard's is sophistication, darkness and seduction with an equestrian twist. Stepping into this landmark cocktail lounge, you're immediately part of the history. The Japanese whiskey Old Fashioned stands out as a delightful twist on a classic, highlighting the creativity of the mixologists. Bernard's is more than just a destination for fashion-inspired cocktails. Named after Bernard Heerey, a Chicago philanthropist who left a mark on the city. This spot pays homage to its namesake through its commitment to charitable causes. read more

Bernard's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a great atmosphere and private ! The manager was so nice and the cocktails were top notch ! read more

Seating is strange and the drinks are ok at best. For the price you can find much better. You are for sure paying for convenience being in the hotel. But $50 for 2 ok drinks is crazy. I will pay a premium for a great drink but these were mediocre to say the least. Service is ok but it could've been great but hard to tell since you can barely hear anything due to music and terrible acoustics. I wouldn't go back simply for cost/quality. read more

Bernard's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Swung by Bernanrd's to try out their popular 'The Treasure' cocktail. We entered Waldorf Astoria and had to walk around a bit before we could find the entrance for this place. The hostess was welcoming and immediately seated us. The ambience is elegant but definitely dated. The service was fast though. The treasure cocktail came in a small treasure chest. When we opened it, it spewed out smoke to reveal the beautiful cocktail. It was even adorned with a plantain dipped in dark chocolate and covered in gold which was pretty cool. The cocktail was delicious and strong. We also got a side of chips and olives with the cocktails. Loved my experience here and the treasure cocktail is a must try. One thing to note is that the price point is on the higher side but the experience is well worth it. read more

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Cozy bar tucked away at the Waldorf....never knew this existed! Just happen to find it as we looked for a nearby bar on Yelp. You certainly won't walk by it as it's concealed on the second floor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. As the setting would imply...yes it's expensive. Probably best as a stop for a drink or two. It's a square room that probably seats around 40. Very welcoming host and delicious drinks. A nice small menu if you are a bit hungrier. All in all...perfect lounge vibes for good drinks and long conversations. read more

Bernard's - Santa's door old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My Gold Coast pull up... Came to Bernards while staying at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago after the recommendation from the front desk. Not only was this one great night of cocktails in an elegant environment, the staff and bartender Fati in particular, were phenomenal. Will definitely come back when in Chicago! read more

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Great stylish cocktail bar on the second floor of beautiful Waldorf Astoria offers, amazing selection of signature, cocktails, including our favorites, Smoky, old fashion, and Chanel No.5 Each signature cocktail is presented in its own very unique way. During our visit, Saturday night, a two man band played great jazz music This lounge offer high end liquors including Louis xiii cognac and some hard to find scotches. read more

Bernard's - Smokey old fashioned & No. 5 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a smaller speakeasy bar with wonderful small bites. The cocktails are perfect and the service was spot on. We stopped in for a 5pm pre dinner cocktail. There were no seats available for walk in (try and make reservations) so we left. The receptionist came after us because a table didn't show up for their reservation and we were seated. We ordered an old fashioned and something else whiskey based. They were well done. We also ordered Gruyère beignets, which were okay but I think they would have been better warm. We also got the short rib bites, these were perfect. Overall a great time was had by all. read more

I came here solely for their collaboration with the illustrious "proof & company". I only indulged in one drink but Twas actually pretty damn good. I had no idea this place existed. I'm extremely interested in trying several things on the menu including the truffle fries. The menu is quite impressive & extensive featuring some of my favorite spirits. This is off the beaten path & although quite small I doubt it'd ever turn into a crowded cesspool read more

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*This review is from the soft opening that took place in July.* Bernard's is an EXCEPTIONAL cocktail lounge. From the ambiance to the service, to the food, to the environment. This place? Incredible. We exclusively stay at the Waldorf when visiting Chicago and were so lucky to be there during the soft opening of Bernard's. Drinks: My favorite was the Treasure. It was served in a treasure chest. When you opened the treasure chest, it was smoky, and you have to lift your drink out. I loved this. It was unique. The drink was practically a high-class margarita with a chocolate-covered plantain on top. Would order this every time. Food (Nosh): Caviar Service: I enjoy caviar, and the caviar service was excellent. There is nothing more to say. If you like caviar, get it. It's worth every penny. 10/5. Lobster Pico: This was my favorite dish on the nosh menu. Fresh lobster, fresh ingredients, fresh everything. EXCELLENT. 100/5. Duck Confit Croquette: Everything about this dish was perfect. 1000/5. The Waldorf Astoria knows how to make every experience you have special and luxurious. Every aspect of our evening at Bernard's was of the highest quality. This is the place to go for a intimate, light cocktail experience. read more

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Finish my evening with a couple drinks I ordered a specialty cocktail and a Japanese whiskey, and it was incredibly comfortable. read more

Bernard's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have to say I have not been this impressed in a while. Wow ! The service , drink choices, ambiance are all red hot at this location. Great work to the team and I would love to come back when in town. Great job ! read more

I visited Bernard's during my first trip to Chicago and had the pleasure of being served by Dana. She was attentive and friendly. Her cocktail recommendations were spot-on! The ambiance of the bar overall was amazing. Will definitely be coming back on my next trip to Chicago. read more

It's inside the Waldorf Astoria, Chicago, on the second floor, tucked in a corner. Dim lighting, plush chairs and sofas, and a general "speakeasy" vibe, which we loved. Friendly welcome and easily found a spot for us to sit and chat after a long evening out, but not quite yet ready for bed. Had sidecars, that one classic cocktail and they were VERY delicious. Great mixology. Yeah, you pay a WA price for a hotel bar drink, but it is a very good drink at least. We enjoyed one nightcap there, and then since we were guests at the hotel, we took one "to go" up to our room. Whenever we're back in Chicago, we'll be at the Waldorf, and every expectation that every night will end here. read more

I came in last night with my wife and the bartender was so rude to us. He was dismissive and inattentive.

Drinks were fabulous! We enjoyed espresso martinis made by Ruby. They were amazing. Ruby took great care of us, gave us some pointers on local attractions and just made us feel at home. Great ambiance, quality drinks and exceptional staff. 5 stars - the staff here are top notch. read more

This place was so good! The drinks were delicious and the service was amazing. The waitress was super nice and very knowledgeable, she answered all the questions we had and suggested some delicious ones (did not disappoint) if your looking for a delicious cocktail and not a crowded place then this is the place to go :) read more

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Didn't love this place. Elegant and clubby decor and clearly a lot of thought was put into the interior and the menu. But it also felt self conscious and a bit like the young staff was acting in a play about a speakeasy. They were attentive but small things - like bringing an already opened bottle of wine to our table - belied a surface level understanding of what they were trying to pull off. And the piped music was too loud and didn't fit the vibe. Sinatra or Samara Joy would have been better choices than the vaguely techno nonsense they played. Go to Bemmelman's to see how it's done. read more

For the Waldorf being a 5-star establishment, my experience at this cocktail lounge unfortunately fell short of my expectations. When I visited this bar the female bartender was so noticeably overly intoxicated which impacted both their professionalism and the quality of the cocktails and experience. Now I know it's common for bartenders to drink on the job, especially being the Saturday night before New Years Eve, but I'd say this was a bit out of hand and I was actually shocked by the lack of professionalism in a place like this. read more

Great place for a classic cocktail and proper atmosphere! Don't miss this place for capping off a great read more

Bernard's - A refreshing Southside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had an amazing time this past weekend celebrating. Dana, our server, was such a joy! She took care of us and made sure we had the best time. read more

Was here for a small birthday celebration and had a time. Located on the second floor of the Waldorf Astoria, this is a stylish cocktail lounge with a very warm and sultry atmosphere. There was live entertainment when I went and everyone just seemed to be having a ball. Yummy drinks, incredible service. I would definitely recommend for a date night or something intimate. read more

Bernard's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good vibes inside. 2nd floor of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Pretty intimate. The table had a cushion bench like seat on one side and comfy chair on other side that felt a Bit low down but I was comfy lol. The drinks were great. About $20 per cocktail but good amount of alcohol and flavor. They even did this perfume spritz thing in one drink. The server checked in a bunch at first, but when it was time for the check they took a really long time to take it and bring it back. The place did get to be buzzing with people around 10pm with an upbeat vibe. read more

Tucked away in a quiet corner on the 2nd floor of the Elysian Hotel is Bernard's Bar. An intimate, classy area to enjoy a well made drink and to catch up with friends. The dark wood tones, leather chairs, low light and wooden floors, beckon you to sit and stay awhile. The granite topped bar located at the far end of the room- has room for only 5 people- keeping with the intimate feel. And the window to the courtyard behind the bar is a nice touch. The drinks are small works of art. Order one of their speciality cocktails or one of your favorites and it is made in front of you- no bottles of premade juices or mixers. So if you want something that requires cucumber juice- the cucumbers will be pressed while you wait, the limes muddled, the soda mixer opened, for the freshest tasting cocktails. Not for the faint of wallet- martinis run around $14 and their wines by the glass start there and go up (the one we liked was in the $20 range) But the real stars here are the people who are taking care of you. Erin the bartender was amazing! Pleasant to talk to, creative with the drink making and just the kind of bartender you want to find in any bar. And no matter how nice the rest of a bar is- it's always the people that bring me back. And you can bet I will be back. read more

Bernard's - Seating clusters - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very cool little bar located on the second floor of the Waldorf. The drinks are very pricey so don't be shocked by that but enjoy the space and quality craftsmanship of the cocktails. The bartenders do a phenomenal job in there. read more