Great bar and what makes it even better is it's actually covid-safe! Restaurants have done very little to protect their customers from covid because society has collectively decided to ignore it. That's led to unsafe dining indoors. But many of us still care about our health and have only eaten takeout or outside...until now. I will go out of my way to support places that are protecting people. They have installed far UV lights and have 50 air changes per hour. Take note restaurants and bars. THIS is how you do it. Stop neglecting clean indoor air and the public health. Apart from that, the cocktails and food are great. I found my new spot. read more

This place is great to just chill and have a drink. It's not fancy by any means, but it's nice to have a good time with friends and family. The food is not fancy, but is good. Service is pretty good. I highly recommend, it's one of my favorite spots. read more

Lively even on a Sunday night. Service was great. Cocktails were creative, though some are a bit too experiential. Friends tried the Angostura bitters shot and would avoid. read more

the best burger i've had in a while! especially for 6 bucks. the service was amazing, the bartender was so nice and approachable. drinks were phenomenal. it's a dive bar/beachy vibe outside. loved it read more

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

This is a fun dive bar with plenty of character. I came on a Saturday night with the hubby and a friend. There were no real seats available but we grabbed a spot near the bouncer. Seeing that there was a mysterious slushy machine with a big neon sign above it that said Wondermint, I opted to try it. It tasted exactly like a McDonald's shamrock shake with rubbing alcohol mixed in! It was actually pretty interesting, but I couldn't finish the whole thing. Thankfully they serve it in a small styrofoam cup. I also ordered a real drink, Pimm's Cup. THAT WAS DIVINE! Not every place I've been even realizes it's on their bar, much less knowing how to make the drink. I will definitely return! read more

Best Intentions - classic cocktails menu - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

No because you genuinely do not know what it's like to live unless you've had one (or six) of the burgers here. I can't talk about their boozy drinks- though I'm sure they're nothing short of fantastic- it's the burgers that really did me in. Soft, pillowy buns perfectly cradle a crispy seasoned patty with a blanket of melted cheese. Paired with a house made ginger beer? Are you fucking joking? Game. OVER. I had one or two of these burgers every night they were open. They were THAT good. Best smash burgers I've ever had and I've been chasing that high ever since. I fear that nothing compares nor will it ever. The owner will be getting an invitation to my wedding. read more

Great place to hang out with friends. The music was good, drinks plentiful. Staff are fun to talk with. I would highly recommend!

There's not much more you can ask for from a dive. Solid menu of quick bites and a very affordable drink list. The outdoor back bar in the summer is also a treat. read more

I dug the old skool ambience. The music was on a random track that was not all mainstream (refreshing for a change). I enjoyed seeing all the old furniture styles and public telephone . I love places that are not pretentious yet hold all their charm on the inside. The staff were as fast and friendly. The bar goers were a great mix of old , young, hip, old skool and good'ol, born and raised Chicago folk like myself. read more

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

So great to have this bar in the neighborhood. I am looking forward to trying all the cocktails and food menu items. read more

Best Intentions - The Hondo - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bartenders are lovely and it's a verrrry cute place but the Huge Reuben was really, quite Regular Size so I'm not sure if it's worth $20 especially without 1000 island sauce :/ still had a good time tho read more

We went there last night around 7pm and it was packed! The cocktails were really interesting - I tried The Thief and Coconutz. They've also got angostura bitters shots for $5. Service was fast, except for our food, which we had to follow-up on with our bartender after we saw people who ordered after us get there food. From there, another bartender named Chris came around to explain that the food was never put in, and honestly, I respect the truthfulness. People make mistakes. Our food came out super fast after that - cuppa shrimp and a cheeseburger - and they were delicious. We're definitely coming back. And bringing friends! They would definitely dig Best Intentions ambiance. read more

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.

Anyone who hasn't rated Besties 5/5 stars simply does not get it and their rating is a reflection of their coolness out of 5, not this establishment's. This is the *ultimate* Chicago neighborhood spot, but not a dive. Best Intentions' cocktail program is superb, service is excellent and food is impeccable. Can you even get a burger from McDonald's for $6 anymore? I really don't know, but even if you could get 2 for $6 they aren't anywhere near as fantastic as Bestie's burgers. and when you buy 12 you get one free! (Baker's dozen for $72!!) The ambiance is cozy all year round, and the patio is always kickin in the warmer months. Groovy tunes, good people, gastronomical bliss and nothing but great times await you, and anyone you want to impress with an amazing evening, at Best Intentions in Logan Square. Check it out and tell your friends (but only the cool ones, so there's still room for the rest of us)! read more

Great drinks, love the creativity! Fun bar staff and delightful burgers for a little snack. This is a hidden gem casual bar and I'm looking forward to going back! read more

So I went here on a date because of the name. Needless to say it was such an amazing date the food was so good even though I didn't eat it there I took it home and had it the next day, Service was good, I overall had so much fun and would definitely go back again. read more

Great daiquiri, great burger, amazing service, cutest spot. Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu!

This is a local staple for the Logan area. Great cocktails, great vibes and just everyone having a good time. Sad that they haven't been open in some time and truly hoping for them to reopen soon! Definitely worth a trip if you are in the area. Their Old Fashioned is great amongst their other cocktails! read more

I really enjoyed this bar. The drinks were pretty good and they have a pretty nice selection, definitely a "something for everybody" kind of place which was nice. The price points were also very good and it's one of those neighborhood bars that is easy to become a regular at. I really appreciated the nice wooden themed patio and the sun shades which made for a really relaxing evening. A good place to read, do work at, or meet friend(s) for a drink. Overall solid spot. read more

Ahh having lived almost a block away from this bar, how did I not come to Best Intentions earlier. From outside it looks like a hole in the wall, everybody knows everybody, old people kinda spot .. you know what I mean.. (maybe that's why I always hesitated putting this in my 'bookmarked bar spots' ) but once inside it's actually pretty cool. They also have a lovely patio towards the back, but it gets super crowded during good weather evenings so watch out for that . Drinks were standard, prices weren't that of a typical hole in the wall, yet not that expensive. Bartender was really sweet. Overall, I can easily see this becoming my go to bar. The location makes it super convenient too. read more

Best Intentions - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Previous (and still) a dive bar now taken over by hipsters. I didn't notice any signs on this corner bar, but once you roll in and look around, definitely hipster-ish. The back patio is where it is at. Lots of chotskies to look around, interesting, owl, rusted backyard trinkets, big tables with green canopy that was probably reused from some gardening material. Surprisingly, they also have a varied menu for both food and drinks. A baker's dozen of burgers - wow. Not pretentious, great for groups and totally not too weird to hang out solo with a book. I came here with a fairly large party - maybe 15 for a bar crawl and they were able to handle all of us. Horchata margarita was more margarita, so it was fine, but plenty of options to choose from. I like this place! read more

Bartenders here are all super nice and eager to explain anything, mix up a fancy cocktail for you and just generally there to help. I went back when this location was Marble and Best Intentions has kept the same type of chill atmosphere and the exact same layout but it's amped up a bit with better food, better cocktails and things look much nicer. I wish they would add a few more tables though so sitting at the bar wasn't the only option. Food menu is limited and mostly everything has some kick to it, but I tried the chips & skins - basically a bad of chips with some skins added & hot sauce. Also has the muffaletta sandwich and really enjoyed it. Fries were on point as well. Loved the cocktails - I found them to really unique, competitively priced and tasted pretty darn good. One was served in this all metal glass which made me feel like all drinks should be served this way because it kept it nice & chilly. If Best Intentions were in my hood, I could see myself coming here quite a bit. I don't think it's destination spot so much - but wouldn't mind popping in again for drinks. I can definitely see coming here again in the warmer months because they have a kick@$$ patio out back! read more

Best Intentions - Cocktails ! - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

this place is a cheap imitation of Richards Bar, everything from the block windows to the coolers to the decor, but without the charm. no thanks. read more

Fav bar in the city- great drinks, great food, great people. They also have a fantastic patio in the summer

The vibes were immaculate but the burger was atrocious. Extremely burned and charred. Very disappointing :/ Could definitely be a fun spot as long as you're not hungry. read more

You've either heard of it or you haven't. I heard the buzz via locals back when the bar opened. A low-key dive to grab custom cocktails. The digs are divey and lacks pretension. Most folks are friendly. If its company you seek, a warm smile and a hello will usually suffice. It's cozy in here so don't bring a large group. (If having a large group try the Moonlighter instead.) When grabbing a drink, you've got to be motivated. Folks tend to llama around the bar and block your hopes at a quick pour. Like.. it can take time if you aren't persistent. So, clutch those dollars, it's a clear signal of your intentions. Drink responsibly. read more

The secret passcode to my heart of hearts is "Wundermint." It's all you need to know, now go. Thank me later. read more

Best Intentions - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We've been talking about visiting Best Intentions since it opened, but it took a visiting friend for us to actually explore our neighborhood a little more. We're very glad we did! The atmosphere has a very traditional midwest dive-bar vibe. The awesome plus is that they have a wonderful fenced in patio, including an outdoor bar and fire pit. Also a kitchen! I started off with a shot of Angostura Bitters (on tap!) which was.... intense to say the least. It also stained my fingers. No complaints. I followed it up with a "Jungle bird" which was refreshing with it's ice and pineapple juice, but also kind of dark and bitter. Very delicious. Rum, Campari, Lime & Pineapple. Nice. Next up I tried the "Ef Em" with rum and gin. Also good. Then I tried a champagne drink that included a sugar cube and some more Angostura. Last drink was a Sconnie D'Itala, which included gin and white port. All of the drinks were great. And YES I was a little tipsy so we ordered some apps. The chickpea fritters were AWESOME. Light and fluffy with a nice and spicy mayo dipping sauce. The "chips and skins" were sharable but I could have eaten them all myself. A small bag of LAYs chips tossed with fried chicken skin and some hot sauce. Delightful! Also, the styrofoam cup filled with peanuts and bacon, tossed in a maple glaze were AOK. We didn't try any of the cajun themed entrees but I'm sure we will in the future. Service was great. Best Intentions is a perfect neighborhood bar in a most perfect neighborhood. Yay. read more

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I guess I could describe this weekend as a weekend of going away parties. Ended up here at Best Intentions to wish some friends farewell before they moved on from Chicago. First things first... Who's house is this? Definitely a bar that was once a house at some point, but all in all a cool spot to hangout on a Saturday night. One main bar up front when you first enter and another out in the back for the outside patio area. Music throughout was solid and I'm sure people get their groove on later toward the night. Cocktails going off at $8-$10 a pop, but I would say in general cocktails are a bit on the sweet side. Overall the spot wasn't overly crowded and bartenders and staff were all pretty nice. Inside had maybe one or two arcade games as I recalled and two dart boards which were a bit sketchy placed near the restroom entrance and exit. But all in all, I dig the retro feels and vibes this spot gives off. A bit of a trek for us to get out here, but worth a stop if you're looking for something in Logan a bit more low key / hipster-ish. 'Til next time, cheers! 217/365 read more

I don't really know why this is the case, but as good as the drinks are at BI (and now that Time Out Chicago has recognized this bar as the "Bar of the Year" this month), the food is strangely great. We came by for brunch this past Sunday and tried the Charred Asparagus Salad, the Chicken Thigh Sandwich, and a couple rounds of fries. We also had about a half-dozen different drinks amongst the four adults in our party. All of it worked. The chicken is super-tender and combined with the off-the-wall-for-a-bar ingredients (chicken, on a chicken liver mousse? with aioli, cabbage and served on a hoagie/steak roll?), it's a solid entree. The salad was great too, and we even added an order of walleye for the kids at the table to try too. The back patio is spacious and a perfect fit for a summer day right when they open, so that you can score a big table. Service was very friendly (thanks Natalya!) and the prices are more than fair. I can see why some of my friends are loyal to this place. It's not in my neck of the woods but when I make the ride up to Logan, I'm sure I'll be back! read more

Stumbled upon this place. Cool drinks. Easy vibe. Payphone. Jukebox. Recommend if you're in the area.

Drinks were great, but at the end of the night I was finishing my drink before leaving the bar and the owner literally took the drink out of my hand. I feel that it was extremely rude. He said it was "illegal" for me to have the drink even though I only had a few sips left. I felt really uncomfortable as he physically removed the drink from my hand, even though there were multiple people in the bar still hanging out and drinking. Not only did this incident happen, but at the same time his gf that he was with spilt her entire drink on me. I did not receive an apology, and the owner disregarded the fact that other people in the bar were still drinking. I will not return based on this treatment alone. read more

The drinks here are very good. Pretty standard cocktails and beers. One really cool thing is that Best Intentions is the only bar that serves shots of the bitter Agnostura. I would recommend having at least one of those. The atmosphere inside is pretty standard for your average dive bar. The bar is nicely laid out and there is a counter opposite the bar if you are looking to stand and/or wait for a seat. What's really great about this place is their outdoor patio. They have an actual bar outside and also some semi-communal seating and a nice long table in the center to stand at. I am always impressed by their menu. It's well thought out and well done, especially for a "dive." Excellent snacks and starters and a few classic larger dishes. I always love the Harissa Chicken and at $12 I'd say it's a steal. I can't wait to try the steak. So, it seems like I love this place, right? Well, I really want to... but it has one fatal flaw: terrible service. And it's terrible from everyone except the doorman/woman: the bartenders, the servers on the patio, even the busboys. I will be back (I must try that steak) but I know full well to be ready for terrible service. read more

This place is fantastic. The drinks are that special combination of really unique and actually delicious (unlike most other places that just land the unique part but don't actually make a tasty drink). Also everything was very affordable, way cheaper than counterpart bars you'd find in west loop or river north, but just as high quality (if not higher). There was a slight mixup with my order, but the staff was very friendly and apologetic, and they comped the issue without prompting. Overall I was very impressed, and this bar definitely makes the list of places to take out of town guests. read more

Really loved this place. We went on Thursday evening for dinner/ cocktails and we were so happy we went. First, the vibe is casual and chill, and yes, 'hipster'. The menu is impressive with many different type of liquors and beers. They even have their own ginger beer on tap and shots of bitters. We tried their burger and it reminds me of a simpler time. Like when I was little and I went to hamburger heaven on the south side... memories... The burger has two patties cooked medium/medium well. It was shredded lettuce, tomatoes, mayo; truly an old school, simple but delicious burger. Hit the spot and it's a great option for later in the night after one too many margaritas. Their classic cocktails menu offers 12 classic cocktails priced $7-$10. We really enjoyed the mule and the old fashioned. But can we say an 'AMEN' for the horchata margarita! That is one of the best cocktails I have had all year (yes, I try a lot of cocktails). It's perfectly creamy (but not thick) and lime-y and tart, and sweet, and perfect. No wonder Playboy named it one of the best cocktails in the city. They have a garden for the summer too. read more

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OH MY was I impressed with this spot!!! Best Intentions was on my list for a couple of weeks as a spot to try on my next bike ride on the 606. I finally got the opportunity to try it, and I drove right past it!!! The outside is very unassuming-- it really looks like a dumpy dive bar. Once inside, the bar area still looks divey, but they have a nice cocktail menu above the bar and a nice cocktail menu to share. They have multiple cocktails on the menu that are original, but they also have a the classics like old fashioned and Moscow mules. I ordered the mule, because I saw another one served to someone else and it looked so cool!!! They serve in these little aluminum looking tins and a big chunk of diced up ice. I was so happy with this cocktail! There was something special about the flavor. They also had $3 coors, which was a big hit for everyone who was drinking beer. The back patio is where it's at!! So cute, all covered, with lots of picnic style tables as well as some smaller tables. They also have food service outside with a small menu of snacks and larger dishes. I ordered the asparagus for something light. It was sort of a strange dish because it was just a ton of asparagus with some sauces, but it was very good. Definitely a good spot for anyone looking to relax! Our favorite spot of the day. read more

We came here after having a couple of drinks at Scofflaw. After the really long wait to get a table at Scofflaw and their slightly overhyped drinks, I was surprised at how much I liked Best Intentions. It's a pretty casual bar which looks like a dive bar but it has a certain charm to it and the drinks are much better than what you would expect from a dive bar. The bartenders/staff was really nice too! We started off with the Angostura bitter shots. Yup, you read that right. It was definitely better than a shot of malort. We also had a drink called AB Positive and Wondermint malted. I really liked the later. It was like a boozy minty milkshake. I will definitely come back here for more! read more

Best Intentions - Angostura bitters shot - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best Intentions has the atmosphere of a true dive, the selection of a cool cocktail bar, and prices somewhere in between. It has a no-frills vibe for everything except the actual drinks. There is an extensive list of cocktails, liquors, and beers to choose from. It's relatively small (especially in the winter when their patio is closed), so it gets pretty busy on weekends. The bartenders are always friendly and service is relatively quick. Good place to stop for a drink, especially if you enjoy retro tunes! read more