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    Clara

    4.7 (32 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Clara Photos

    CLARA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Clara

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    Reviews With Photos

    Marissa M.

    My friend and I came to Clara on a Friday night. We had heard that it was an incredible music venue, and the music did not disappoint! Artists were incredible, and I loved that both acts were local. The service was subpar. It's a seat yourself environment with wait staff getting drinks. Tables were full, so we started at the bar and moved to a table. Our drinks took 25 minutes, and one of them was wrong. After another 20 or so minutes, they both came out. Ordering a second round basically was not worth it by the time the second round finally came out. The drinks themselves were really good, with our favorite being the espresso martini with pistachio. I'd be game to come back but it's not high on my list with the service we experienced.

    Grant S.

    Last night we had extra time before a show and stumbled into Clara. We had a BLAST and look forward to our next excuse to go back! First, the ambiance is so chic and refined. Immediately upon walking in we were greeted with beautiful live jazz music. Absolutely stunning and high class! There are lots of tables from the lower front section, to the upper bar section, and into the back plant room. Don't be deceived by the narrow entrance, this spot is long and full of spots to relax! We posted up at the bar because we needed to be quicker than table service. I was blown away by the creative and delicious looking cocktails and my husband was very happy with the draft beer list. I got the tangerine manhattan and my spouse got the Son of Juice from Maplewood. We both loved our selections and look forward to trying other options next time! The staff were friendly and professional, offering classy vibes and welcoming service. Prices were reasonable for such an innovative and creative space with live music. The ambiance was chic and clean. There are two bathrooms, one in the middle section by the bar, and one back in the plant room. We look forward to the next time we are in Wicker Park so we can pay a visit to Clara with intention and more time. If you find yourself in the area, be sure to check it out!

    Guansabella
    Melanie T.

    Such a cool and relaxed cocktail bar! We came on a Friday night around 8:30 to catch their live jazz music and sip some cocktails. When we arrived, there were plenty of spots to sit (it began to really fill up around 9:30-10). We chose to sit in the back at the booth where we could watch the bartenders make drinks and see the jazz band from afar. The vibe was moody and classy with its nice lighting and live jazz band, but it also was very down to earth and welcoming. The bartenders and the patrons were a mix of casually dressed and dressed for a nice Friday outing, so it really felt like you could come as you are! The service was excellent, as they were attentive and very friendly. They all had a nice warm vibe. I got the guansabella which is spirit forward but really well balanced. It came with a dried fig garnish. The large ice cube was really cool and it's clear they put a lot of thoughtful and creative details into their cocktails! They also have some small snacks. We ordered the dark chocolate salted caramels which came with dried figs, apricots, and dates. It came with a tiny fork and knife which was cute and also functional. The aesthetics were really nice and it was perfect for sharing! This spot was such a great cocktail bar and I'm excited to come back! I definitely want to come for their happy hour and to try their version of the espresso martini which seemed very popular! Overall awesome vibes and a great spot to come for a date or with a group of friends.

    Cocktails
    Vaishnavi W.

    Clara in Wicker Park had a very chill vibe. Loved the ambiance. We went there for the Happy Hour on Saturday. The drinks were phenomenal, especially 'E Major' - it was an Espresso Martini with Pistachio. A very great combination. I wish we could stay for the band to start performing, maybe we'll come back next time for that. The service was also quick and good.

    Matcha martini - A green matcha martini with a smooth surface is served in a clear stemmed glass, garnished with a small strawberry on top. The drink is placed on a wooden table, with a brick wall and bar stools visible in the background, indicating a bar or restaurant environment.
    Anita P.

    Happy hour deal has $15 cocktails! The matcha martini was super smooth and I could barely taste the alcohol. Super chill spot overall. I didn't get a chance to see the live music

    The photo depicts the storefront of CIKARY, a business located in a brick building. The large glass windows reveal string lights inside, and a sign with the name 'CIKARY' is mounted above the entrance. The scene is captured at night, with interior lighting and reflections visible through the windows.
    Andre W.

    Came to Clara recently to celebrate a friend's bday. I had never heard of this place beforehand, but glad he held his celebration here. When you first walk in, you see a piano and someone performing on it. They do really good live music here...mainly classical and jazz I believe. My friend told me Clara are heavy supporters of classical music...outstanding! Once you pass the piano and hi-tops, there are steps that take you to the bar and additional seating. The vibe is very chill and mellow and proper for good cocktail consumption. Guys behind the bar and ladies serving the tables were very good. Nice looking drinks everywhere! I decided to go with the Festive Lion which is sort of a mezcal/tequila old fashioned...I loved it! Good space and definitely a Wicker/Bucktown gem.

    Melishas drink - A pink cocktail served in a coupe glass with a pineapple slice garnish on a wooden bar table. The table has menus with the word 'CLARA' and a stylized flower logo, along with a phone stand in the background. The setting appears to be a bar or restaurant environment.
    Casey W.

    Such a pretty interior! I had the Melishas drunk cocktail, wasn't really sure if the ingredients would work well together, but it was delicious! The $10 martinis at happy hour are well worth it. I would go back for live music.

    A woman with blonde hair, wearing a beige quilted jacket, is seated at a wooden table, smiling and clasping her hands. A server with dark hair, dressed in dark clothing, is holding a tray with a cocktail garnished with a red straw. The background features green walls, brown curtains, and hanging plants, indicating a cozy, plant-decorated environment, possibly a bar or restaurant.
    Colleen M.

    Good vibes, even better drinks. For the month of April (I think?) they had a speciality cocktail-- a strawberry matcha martini. This review is me formally requesting that this drink be permanently added to the menu. It is the best drink I've ever tasted. PLEASE, IM BEGGING

    E Major aka Espresso Martini - A cocktail in a coupe glass features a dark liquid topped with a layer of whipped cream, decorated with three coffee beans and chopped nuts on one side. The drink is placed on a wooden table, with a water glass, a glass bottle, and another cocktail in the background. The setting appears to be a dimly lit bar or restaurant.
    Agnes K.

    Walked by and saw the live Jazz band and decided to pop in. What a pleasant surprise! The ambiance and vibe is equally cozy and festive. Decided to sit at the bar and while perusing the menu, the bar tender was more than willing to take a few minutes and discuss the options. I settled on the much recommended espresso martini complete with crushed pistachio sprinkled on top, and made our way over to a small table next to the booths. Delicious cocktails, friendly staff, live music and no cover. WIN!

    Festive lion - delicious! - A close-up of a whiskey glass containing large ice cubes and a lemon wedge, set on a wooden bar counter. In the background, there are small bottles, a glass of water, and a bar menu from Clara, a craft cocktail bar in Chicago. The scene suggests a relaxed, upscale bar environment with a focus on craft drinks.
    Anna G.

    There was a live band playing when we walked in and plenty of seats at the bar in the back. You can pick a spot depending on how loud you want the music to be, which is nice. The cocktail menu is thoughtful and well balanced with non-alcoholic options, including shrubs. I picked the Festive Lion and it was delicious! So glad to have stumbled into this place.

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    2 years ago

    Great new bar in Wicker Park with friendly bartenders, live music, and 10/10 cocktails. Hidden gem!

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    2 years ago

    Amazing cocktail menu and great addition to the neighborhood. Will definitely be back for the live music!

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    Ask the Community - Clara

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    Came here with a friend a few months ago after a show at empty bottle for a couple beers. This…read moreplace uses touch tunes which allows you play whatever music you want through the app. We were playing some early 2000's hip hop and couldn't help to notice the bartender giving us dirty looks. Made us feel uncomfortable, so we left. Fast forward to a couple nights ago . We were in the area and gave it another chance. Couldn't help to notice that all hip hop, rap, Latin music are completely blocked off. Politely asked the bartender what was up with that? He seemed very uncomfortable with my question and gave us a very sarcastic response. "Well, I guess that's a racist juke box." We immediately felt the bad energy. We proceed to finish our beers and play a jazz song by a black female singer. Immediately the bartender and some older biker looking dudes next to us start talking smack about the song. They asked if we put the song on? We said yes, and tell us to read the room. So I respond in a very sarcastic tone. "oh, you want us to read the room, would you like us to play some Toby Keith or Kid rock for you?" They smirked and had no response. I strongly believe the place is owned and operated by white supremacist maga brothren's. I would strongly encourage people In the neighborhood to stop supporting this business.

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    I attended rootstock with two female friends last night. What was supposed to be a chill, relaxed…read morenight with a little wine turned into a major hassle. First of all, I want to comment on the way the host was handling guests coming in. The female host that we met last night was incredibly aggressive, and made every person in my party uncomfortable. Not only was it in the way that she talked to us, but it was also the fact that when she brought up the fact that we could get bar spots, after waiting for an hour and a half, I began moving towards the bar spots, and she actually put her hands on my chest to stop me from walking. That is just completely unnecessary and highly inappropriate. Similar to other reviewers, we put our name in on the list and then went and waited at another establishment because the space in there is so limited. When we got back, we had serious questions about how we were progressing on the waitlist and whether the waitlist was fair. The waiting game lasted about an hour and a half for us. I was happy that they did give us a glass of wine while we waited basically after we told the host that things seem to be becoming hopeless. Then fast forward to when we were seated with bar seats. We ordered a couple burgers and a couple bottles of wine. The food took forever to come. It felt like a never-ending story after having gone through this incredible wait, and the bartender was near useless he disappeared in the back for over 10 minutes at one point and like we couldn't even figure out who to give a complaint. The wine and food was great, but nowhere near worth the hassle. We went through to just sit down and have momentary enjoyment. We will not be returning.

    Clara - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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