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    Best Intentions

    4.2 (193 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Best Intentions Reservations

    Best Intentions Photos

    Business Info

    BEST INTENTIONS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Best Intentions

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    Reviews With Photos

    Banju
    Alston F.

    Local bar favorite that has cozy dive bar vibes and tiki bar patio. Banju: Light and refreshing. Very strong! I got a local shot...cannot remember the name of it. I befriended a regular goer and the bartender. not sure the second drink but it was gin based and super nice to drink. I would definitely comeback for when the next time I'm in town.

    Ojuolape M.

    I didn't have food at this bar, but I can tell you that you'll be greeted as soon as you walk in. I was served by Ricky--while I'm sure all the staff are great, his specialty cocktails will make you second-guess ever making drinks at home. The cocktails are made with fresh ingredients, and the bar also features a patio and old-school games. Visit this bar and see why it's a fancy cocktail bar for a reason.

    Photos on the wall
    James P.

    Such incredible burgers one of the best in the city, I love the bar so much it's such a fun spot anytime of the day. Only one bartender that's a jerk so still highly recommend.

    Matzo Ball Soup
    The Walcotts _.

    Good food, nice vibes, good drinks and surprisingly good food! The staff was also really lovely

    Menu as of 4/25
    Jim D.

    Place was ok but this honestly isn't my cup of tea drink was ok, had decent balance & I loved the prices. It'll cost you double these prices to drink anywhere near downtown & those place don't have the accolade this place has. An article mentioned a mint drink but I didn't see it. You have to stand at the bar & stare down the bartenders similar to my younger club days which is annoying but the staff were fast & efficient to say the least.

    Theeee Burger!
    Jordan L.

    The 2nd stop on our Armitage bar crawl was Best Intentions. I had seen this place on the Gram for their $6 burger. You could easily pass this place if you did know as there isn't any signage. It just looks like your typical old school Chicago dive bar. When you walk in that's exactly the vibes you get too. The front is packed, you have video slots luminescent beer and liquor signs. If you keep walking to the back there is a patio area with plenty of large tables and benches. There are some communal tables a well. Some of the tables have coverings which was nice because it there was a light sprinkle the night we came. We ended up ordering burger, a cup of shrimp and fries. The burger was superb and had no reason being that great of deal. The drinks were also ridiculously good. The Horchata marg was out of this world. There was also this mezcal drink that was smoky and *chefs kiss*. Even though this place was packed, I can't recommend it highly enough. Easily one of my favorite Logan Square establishments.

    Christopher V.

    I tried, but I can't get to a 4 star rating. I did enjoy the burger though next time I'll sans the joppiesaus. I don't think the curry flavor works with the burger. Pass on the overcooked CUPPA SHRIMP. Service has never been the friendliest for me and the drinks are average considering the standout cocktails in the neighborhood. 3.45 stars.

    Monica N.

    Best Intentions A very quirky laid back dive bar with great cocktails! The bar was very busy when we were there on a Friday night.  They're the only bar in the world that services Angostura which tastes like a bitter saffron spirit. They do a great job with making the classic cocktails. I wish it wasn't so busy where we could have chatted with the bartenders at the bar, but overall it was a great space to drop in after a dinner out.

    Reuben Sandwich
    Ilana O.

    I was excited to try this place as it's received high acclaim and it is alright but didn't wow me. Been twice. The Reuben was disappointing. Sizable, yes. Missing some sauce to give it moisture and flavor. Was a little bland. Would go back for the matza ball soup, BUT this is a little TOO salty. Salt seems to generally be a theme here - we also had the port wine cheese, which we couldn't finish, but maybe that's expected for two people. I did enjoy the champagne cocktail I got, but my partner tried their old fashioned and wasn't impressed. Bill came to ~$53 for dinner and a drink or two. We sat outside both times. Communal tables aren't for everyone. Still, a good, low key vibe, but not necessarily better than other places that are closer to home for us.

    Inside
    Steve A.

    From the outside it looks like a dive bar. It actually serves pretty classic cocktails and more. Best Intentions is a hidden gem that looks like it's closed. Good thing is that it isn't. The cocktails are the main thing, along with beers and a few snacks. An old dive bar is what it used to be. It was cleaned up a bit inside. There's the list of the cocktails above the bar, which lists all the prices. It's about $12 for the cheapest cocktails. Some are strong. I got a Martinez cocktail. This is Carpano Antica with a Luxardo cherry and Rutte Genever. Could come to this bar again. It's one of the cheapest looking bars from the outside, but the inside is pretty good. There's all kinds of classic and contemporary cocktails, so get whatever.

    Inside
    Anthony S.

    Wow, what an incredible dive bar! This is a dive bar with world class cocktails and even better food. The Reuben is probably the best I've had anywhere! It was outstanding. The burger is also very good. Would highly recommend checking this bar out. It's worthy of the hype it receives. 10/10.

    Kiaya S.

    What a little hidden gem!!! This bar has everything, back patio, reasonably priced drinks, great service , aesthetic inside, ample seating!!! Loved the vibes and the drinks were DELICIOUS! Also the food!??!! The burger was one of the best we have ever had for $6!!!! Will be back to try more

    Pickled egg?!
    Thomas G.

    Doesn't even come up as a restaurant on Yelp but it has one of the best fish sandwiches I've ever had (Fridays only). The fish is very juicy with the perfect amount of breading. The burger is not bad either and they have some other unique food items. Beer is at 2012 prices, 16 oz coors banquet off the tap for $3 come on. Throw in the classic Chicago corner bar feel with some unique individuals and you've got yourself a fun time.

    Reuben Sandwich

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    8 months ago

    It's a great neighborhood bar, can get too crowded with how many people hear about it!

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    2 years ago

    Everything about it was excellent...ambiance, Ricky the bartender, the hamburgers..really great bar.

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    1 year ago

    So good! After a horrible day, this place hit the spot! Their old fashioned was so smooth! Definitely coming back!

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    1 year ago

    Awesome food, drinks and service! Hand crafted cocktails will be worth going back. It was my first time there and it won't be my last.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Best Intentions

    Checking in again - Is Best Intentions open now? (Oct 2022) - the website is live but IG still says closed ...sincerely, your loyal fan.

    As of 12 May 2023, it's open.

    Pretty sure this place is closed permanently right?

    We’re not! I understand why it might appear that way, based on the timeline, but we’ll be back.

    I don't see any pictures of the food. Does anyone have any recommendations on what food to order here? Thanks!

    View All 5 Questions

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    Bisous - interior

    Bisous

    (114 reviews)

    Fulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side

    The Chicago food tour commences... First stop, drinks at Bisous! This cocktail bar was listed no…read more 39 on the top 50 bars in North America for 2025. It was no wonder when we arrived that there was a line out the door. We waited around 45 minutes, and the bouncer was a really nice fellow who kept track of the numbers and people at the door. Upon entering, we were immersed in a dimly lit retro-style lounge. It was quite loud inside and packed as we walked to our seats. The server was great at taking our orders and offering suggestions. I opted for the French 75, which featured sparkling wine and mixed gin, brandies, and citrus. The drink was delicious, but STRONG. I don't know what they put in the cocktails in America, but I am always finished after one drink. Needless to say, we were all struggling to finish our own drinks. My favourite touch was the coasters, I ended up keeping all of them so that I can reuse them at my galentines event next year. The 'bisous' with the kiss on the other side is a perfect touch! I think the drinks are fairly priced for USD. I would love to return someday to try other drinks and bar bites, and also try their sister bar, Sparrow.

    My boyfriend and I were visiting Chicago (from Las Vegas) 2 weeks ago, and were very excited to…read morecheck out Bisous, as it looked nice inside and had good reviews. Imagine my shock when we didn't even make it past the bouncer because he was so rude, AS OTHER RECENT REVIEWS HAVE MENTIONED AS WELL! We had dinner nearby and walked to Bisous after, and saw there was a line of 5 or 6 people outside. We expected this as we knew Bisous is a first come, first serve bar. We were curious what the wait time would look like, so we approached the front door to ask a host or employee inside (we assumed there'd be a desk with an employee working it who could give us a wait time). We had no problem waiting, just wanted to see how long they estimated it would be! Before we could even fully open the door, the bouncer swung the door open from the other side and hit me with the door. I stumbled back a few steps and he looked at us and said, and I quote, "What do you want?". I laughed at first because I thought he was joking and putting on a tough guy act. He was not. We quickly explained we just wanted to see what the wait time was, and he said "don't you see there's a line outside?" We said yes, and explained we just wanted to know a rough estimated wait time. He just blankly stared at us while ushering us out. Both my boyfriend and I have worked in customer-service roles for a very, very long time. This encounter was not only extremely rude and unprofessional, but he also hit me hard enough with the door to send me stumbling back, and then said nothing about it and continued to address us in a tone that was nothing less than annoyed and irritated. We didn't end up going inside because that encounter left such a bad taste in our mouths. I don't believe in spending my money at establishments that don't treat their customers with the bare minimum respect they deserve! Bummed we didn't get to experience it, as I'm sure it was lovely inside and I can only hope the rest of the employees were much more kind and accommodating, or at least able to answer a simple question. Fire your "bouncer" (??) and hire someone with some basic customer service and communication skills!!

    Le Mistral - Inside the building - Le mistral is all the way down on the right side

    Le Mistral

    (12 reviews)

    Lincoln Park

    The service is just incredible. That's what stands out the most. We came after having a superb…read moredinner at S.K.Y. and out waitress transferred us to Le Mistral for dessert as we were hoping to end the night with another cocktail. The transition was seamless, the walk through the kitchen was very cool, everyone was very friendly and excited to see guests. Our dessert came quickly to Le Mistral instead of S.K.Y. and was superb. Our waiter at Le Mistral was very friendly, gave some good advice on the cocktails, and was consistently attentive. My cocktail was just OK - sherry-based martini. I don't normally like a martini but all the ingredients actually seemed very much up my alley - the sherry, benedictine, rose vermouth. But the olive just overpowered. And definitely not worth the price of $24... Would definitely return and try the food next time as well.

    We popped in on a Monday night for a nightcap after finishing up at Mon Ami Gabi across the lobby…read more Our experience was meh. I don't know if every Monday is Metal night, but it was that Monday - Black Sabbath, Nu-Metal, everything but the live goldfish. Perhaps they should advertise "Monday Metal at Mistral" if that is to be a regular thing. It does flow off the tongue. To be fair, there was a full house and the other patrons did not seem to mind. We were not looking to feel the noize, however, and so stayed for just one cocktail. Mine was a Sazerac adjacent mix, and it was very high quality. The decor is very low light, but the vibe is pretty basic - more Paint Your Dorm Room black than Parisian Opium Den black. A bit of a missed opportunity for romance.

    Valedor - Bar area

    Valedor

    (85 reviews)

    Wicker Park, West Town

    Happy hour daily 5-7pm to seat at the bar…read more Reservations are for the tables Happy Hour menus- food for $8 Tuna poke taco $13- salmon is soft. The taco shell is nice and crisp. Al Pastor Gyoza $12- good flavor on the meat. The Gyoza could be more crispy. Quesabirtia roll $12- great flavor. It comes with mole sauce that I would skip. Chicken and Mushroom karaagr $14- actually very good. Good portions. Crispy chicken and mushroom. Nice side dipping sauce. Crispy rice- very disappointing. It is not crispy. Drinks- happy hour $12 drinks. Tamarind sour $16- decent sour. Nice mix. Mano de sol $16- excellent flavor, blood orange, tequila We love lychee $16- great flavor with lychee. Midnight espresso $16: pretty good coffee flavor. Sakreita $15- strawberry- prob bed drink I had. Served in an aluminum can. Pretty cool

    I was lowkey nervous about writing this review because I know this place is already popular... and…read morepart of me wants to keep it a secret. But Valedor is easily a 10/10. From the moment you walk in, everything just clicks -- the atmosphere, the door host, the staff, and the overall level of service. It's one of those places where you can tell the team takes pride in the experience they create. What I really like is how versatile the space feels. It works for a birthday celebration, dinner date, or even an after-work happy hour. No matter the occasion, it fits. If you're thinking about checking it out, make the trip. You won't regret it.

    Truce - The cocktails are legit

    Truce

    (50 reviews)

    Bucktown

    Love the concept and execution of Truce. The interior is gorgeous and upscale. Dark and moody- to a…read morefault in the restrooms though. I literally couldn't see anything in there lol. The best of both worlds for me and my partner, as he is obsessed with cafes and I'm more of a cocktail bar type of person. We went in the afternoon and got specialty cafe drinks and overnight oats. The drinks were really good and the oats were... oats lol. Not particularly special but not bad. After we sat down we were given water and a menu. We then went up to order. Didn't really interact w the workers much but I didn't want to anyway, I just came to chill and enjoy some cafe drinks. The atmosphere is definitely way more lively than a regular cafe, lots of people chatting and more of a cocktail bar vibe so like I said it was the best of both worlds for me and my partner. I'll probably come back here often. I live nearby so I'm super pleased with this place. Dare I say it's a neighborhood gem?

    Came here after hearing and reading great things. The drinks were good and very spirit-forward. We…read moretried the in full bloom, peas + carrots, and uma off their spring 2026 menu. We also tried the mango no. 5 off the classics menu. My favorite was the mango no. 5--it was very smooth with a hint of spiciness. We sat in the corner at the bar behind the coffee machine, which was nice because it felt somewhat private. Bartenders tended to leave us alone and not really check on us unless we made direct eye contact with them. The vibe inside felt cozy and intimate, with very low lighting and a few couches to sit. We wanted to try the "cosmic brownie" I read reviews about, but unfortunately they no longer have it. I was excited to hear they are planning to bring it back sometime soon though. Don't know if I'd go out of my way to come back here again, but maybe if I'm in the area and want to check out a new seasonal menu. I'd also consider coming during the day for coffee.

    Best Intentions - divebars - Updated May 2026

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