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    Cary's Lounge

    4.2 (53 reviews)
    InexpensiveLounges
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Cary's Lounge Photos

    CARY'S LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Live music

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    Recommended Reviews - Cary's Lounge

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mel out on the back patio with us.
    Ann Marie K.

    We live in Edgewater and love that Cary's is a neighborhood spot. We usually just call it Mel's because the bar cat named Mel is a friendly little guy who is definitely a draw to the bar. Great beer on tap and good drinks. No food but there are many good food places nearby to bring take out in from.

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    8 years ago

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Cary's Lounge

    Review Highlights - Cary's Lounge

    Also outside food friendly, we love grabbing some local flavor along Devon and bringing it to Cary's for a drink with dinner.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Elixir Lounge Andersonville

    Elixir Lounge Andersonville

    4.1(50 reviews)
    1.6 miAndersonville, Edgewater
    $$

    Another fantastic cocktail bar! The drinks here are unique, interesting, and nuanced…read more I'd ordered the Sage Society, and it took slowing down, but I did detect the light whisper of Ancho Reyes. It was also approachable, lightly herbaceous, with a little sweetness and acid. Between us, was this among my favorites? No. However, this is more a matter of personal taste than something technically or otherwise wrong. I prefer cocktails that are bolder and more spirit forward. My advice is to talk to your bartender and find something you will enjoy most. To help not drink on an empty stomach, I ordered the Crispy Shrimp Tacos. As far as bar (gastropub?) food, these were extremely respectable. The shrimp was cooked very well, and the use of greens and onions helped offer a balance and freshness. As a note, the space inside is small and intimate, and I've no complaints about the service. Final verdict: If you're looking for a unique cocktail, in a small and intimate space, the Elixir Lounge fits the bill. The menu has a couple food options too, so you won't be drinking on an empty stomach.

    This is a nice, dimly lit lounge tucked in Andersonville with great drinks and food! We tried their…read moreseasonal Peachy Green and RHU-mance drinks, and they were really good. The Peachy Green reminded me of a green tea shot in drink form, perfect for spring and summer. I got my favorite mac and cheese with crispy chicken, and my friend got Brussels for her appetizer, which were delicious. For our entrees, we had the teriyaki burger and shrimp tacos. They were pretty good, just get a side of teriyaki if you love sauce like I do. We ended the night with a cookie skillet and brownie, perfect! Chris was an amazing server, can't wait to return.

    Photos
    Elixir Lounge Andersonville
    Elixir Lounge Andersonville
    Elixir Lounge Andersonville

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    Green Mill - Hearts & Minds trio 6/20

    Green Mill

    3.6(1.2k reviews)
    2.4 miUptown
    $$

    Ever since I came back from a trip to NOLA a couple years ago (and subsequently moved to Chicago),…read moreI've been looking for a place like Green Mill. A spot where someone could walk in, maybe order a drink, and listen to some music without first opening Ticketmaster and shelling out half your paycheck to their junk fees. Some of their performances are free, and some have a reasonable cover of $10-20. There are also performances every night, sometimes even in the afternoon. The vibe inside is dimly lit and very old-timey. Even the bathroom had a bar of soap! I haven't seen a bar outside of a private residence! For sure, the vibe fits the history. Green Mill used to be a spot visited by Big Al himself. Yes, there are still connected tunnels used by the mob, no, you cannot see them. In terms of the bar, do not expect anything special. Their menu is limited to the beers, wines, and champagnes they have. They have spirits, but no cocktail menu - while they *might* be able to mix something simple like a Manhattan, be prepared for basic drinks along the lines of a gin & tonic. The service was fine, but a little abrupt. Not the best welcoming or inviting, but gruff and surly in a way that is probably cute to regulars, but less so to newcomers like myself. Final verdict: Green Mill is a place one comes for the music and the vibe and to get away from life for a little bit. It appears to be a third place for many regulars. It's worth giving a shot, as long as one is ready for an experience that's a little rough around the edges, arguably by design.

    If you want good jazz in Chicago, go to Andy's Jazz Club instead! The music at Green Mill was good,…read moreit was not worth the unpleasant experience. My Chicago trip would've been nearly perfect if I hadn't come here. I was visiting Chicago from Cali and made a point to arrive early because I wanted to secure a decent spot for the music. When I got there, the place was nearly empty, maybe two other people inside and I sat at a booth near the stage. A woman came over, asked if I was alone, and and laughed telling me the booth was for a group of 10 (it could visibly only fit 4), so I moved to the bar. I understood the logic at first, even though it was disappointing after intentionally arriving early and after walking 8+ miles that day, hoping to sit somewhere comfortable. What frustrated me later was seeing the staff seat multiple unrelated parties together at the same size booths as the night filled up. Since I arrived early, I don't understand why I couldn't have simply shared a booth as well instead of being moved to the bar from the beginning. The music itself was good, probably the strongest part of the experience, and the venue's history is cool. But the atmosphere felt unpleasant. The place smelled oddly rancid, like something was rotting, and everything felt sticky. The counters, the floors. Also it's a cash-only policy. Definitely something to note ahead of time. What really left a bad impression was my interaction with staff after I realized I had likely left behind my headphones there. I called in the evening during business hours to ask whether anyone had turned in a pair of black Beats headphones. I was tired, solo traveling, and flying back to California the next day, so I was trying to figure out if there was any way to confirm they had them before making a long trip back at night. Instead of simple, straightforward communication, the person on the phone kept cutting me off, sounded irritated, and gave vague answers ("we might have them") after putting me on hold. As a solo female traveler trying to decide whether it was worth taking a late-night train ride, I really needed clarity. It's like they were going out of their way to be unhelpful. I ended up making the trip anyway, and thankfully my headphones were there, for that, I'm grateful. But between the snappy interactions from staff, the overall unwelcoming vibe, and the lack of basic courtesy for no reason throughout the experience, I left feeling more stressed. For comparison, I also visited Andy's Jazz Club and had the opposite experience, warm, welcoming staff, a cleaner venue, and people who genuinely seemed interested in making guests feel comfortable. The music at Green Mill was good, but the overall experience was regrettable.

    Photos
    Green Mill - Awesome wooden frame from the Capone days

    Awesome wooden frame from the Capone days

    Green Mill - Interior

    Interior

    Green Mill - Before the stampede and a great view of the band. This didn't last long

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    Before the stampede and a great view of the band. This didn't last long

    Elixir - Montage of images from Elixir

    Elixir

    4.1(119 reviews)
    4.1 miLakeview
    $$

    We have been to Elixir a few times and it is always a great choice for unique and delicious…read morecocktails! It is a cozy little bar with dim lighting perfect for a date night drink. The bartenders are always very friendly and check in often which is always appreciated. You're always immediately given little pretzels to snack on which I love as a unique touch. This time we both chose a more standard cocktail, but they also always have very unique and delicious seasonal cocktails which are always amazing! I would definitely recommend Elixir to anyone looking for a spot to grab a quick and delicious cocktail!

    On our first night in Boystown, Jamie W and I were pretty overwhelmed by the crowds at Sidetrack…read moreand Roscoe's, so we ended up coming here to make Jamie's virginal gay bar debut. It was the right move because it had the kind of chill vibe we were seeking after a long flight from SFO. Fortunately there were two seats at the bar with our names on them. Figuratively speaking. They had quite a signature cocktail list on hand, and we felt it was our obligation to try as many as we could. At least that was what we said to ourselves as the evening wore on. Each cocktail was $14. We started with a couple of familiar libations. Jamie ordered the Mint Julep, a delightfully Deep South mix of bourbon, simple syrup, and fresh mint (photo: https://yelp.to/u-td8LdPLj). I went further south with the Pineapple Margarita which was emboldened by a tropically potent mix of pineapple infused tequila, lime juice, and agave (photo: https://yelp.to/V-Sf6Q_2qK). We got a bit bolder with our second round and found mixed results. Jamie had the Not Your Mom's Daiquiri which amped up the margarita by blending pineapple-infused tequila with Bacardi 8-year rum. Along with fresh lime and simple syrup, this one definitely had more of a kick (photo: https://yelp.to/1ZijDf6wMV). However, my order, the Pontiac Pony, was a spicy miss for me. It was a rather oddball mix of apple-cinnamon infused vodka, pear liqueur, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and ginger beer (photo: https://yelp.to/5dQoFdzG98). There was just a harshness that didn't sit well on my tongue. Oh well, the mellow vibe was cool. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...three out of four cocktails were aces, just one clinker AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very chill, fairly quiet for Boystown SERVICE - 4 stars...cool bartenders TOTAL - 4 stars...check it out when you take a break from your Boystown cruising RELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO

    Photos
    Elixir - Bar view

    Bar view

    Elixir - Not Your Mom's Daiquiri

    Not Your Mom's Daiquiri

    Elixir - Behind the bar

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    Behind the bar

    Cary's Lounge - lounges - Updated May 2026

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