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!!

Genesis was our server and she was absolutely amazing and attentive. She offered great suggestions…read morewhich we adhered to. Smash burger was . Caesar salad+ shrimp was a hit too. Fried chicken was crunchy and good. A touch sweet for my liking but very good. Truffle fries were a big hit. Also had warm crab dip wish had quite a few shells/cartilage but flavor was good. The drinks were all very good too. Music was nice. You good hear it a vibe to it but it was too loud. We didn't have to yell or talk loudly. We were were celebrating all 4 of our upcoming June/July birthdays and she treats us like rock stars. Great job Genesis

I really enjoyed my time at Dearly Beloved! I had the burger and blackout cake. The cake was the…read morestar of the show, for me. The service was great! There was a group of 9 and she did an excellent job accommodating and serving our party. I really enjoyed the decor and the music. It was lively and unique! Overall, we had a great time celebrating with friends. If I'm ever in Chicago again, I will definitely go back for the cake and drinks!

Inkwell is my favorite cocktail bar in the Fulton Market area for having intimate conversations!…read moreThe vibe is so inviting, with perfectly dimmed lights and music which wasn't too loud but also not too quiet. There was chatter in the air from other patrons that had the feel of a lively cafe. I love that they have a selection of craft cocktails but also a $3 miller high life pony as a "frugal" or "light drinker" option for the low ABV enjoyers. I was impressed with the service as the doorman seemed to work as both the server and the bartender. There were some cocktails on the menu that had run out of stock for some reason but that wasn't a big deal since the ambiance made up for it. Definitely would recommend Inkwell as a perfect spot to catch up with friends!

Well priced bar with good prices, quality cocktails, and a strong identity in West Loop…read more Out of the options you have in West Loop, this one works perfectly for something slightly more lowkey. This is a great place to go for friendly ambiance to not break the bank.

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.

This might be my favorite rum bar in the country. If you want intimate spaces, moody lighting,…read moreextensive rum selections, and drink specials come here. Monday nights are my favorite because they offer a different specialty rum in special. It's a great way to try different kinds. They also serve beer, wine, and every other spirit you can imagine. Cocktails are on point. Seating options are varied: bar seats, small tables in back, bench seating with tiny tables up front. Quiet and comfortable.

Elegant, Refined, a spot well worth the wait…read more Sparrow's ambiance, customer service, and drink menu could have been better in my eyes even if they purchased all of my personal data from Meta and Google and tailored it. I would venture to say it is the best cocktail bar in Gold Coast, or at least my personal favorite. Great for a slightly more upscale, special evening out. Lots of food options near by.

Remedy is excellent. From the giant fish tank behind the bar to the sign outside that just says…read more"BAR", you'll know this place's vibe the second you step inside. The happy hour is pretty much unbeatable here, EVERYTHING is half off. I can walk out of there after an hour of drinking having only paid ~20 bucks, including tip. On top of that, the cocktail and beer selection is really solid. And, the music is always bumpin' and seems to be whatever the bartender on shift likes, which I think is great. Can't say enough about the service here. Everyone I've interacted with has been friendly and efficient behind the bar. This place is truly a hidden gem on Milwaukee ave.

This was our last stop in Chicago before heading to the airport. Great experience and honestly one…read moreof the cooler cocktail bars we hit on this trip. Sat at the bar and had a friendly chat with the bartender. Service was fast since it wasn't too busy on a late Sunday afternoon. Ordered the "Asshattan" which was basically a really well-made Manhattan... Strong, delicious, no complaints. The space is small but cozy. Loved all the plants hanging around everywhere. Overall, solid spot for decently priced cocktails (they had specials/happy hour advertised too). Good vibes, friendly bartender... can't really ask for more than that.

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.

Wow, Truce is my ideal concept of a space. It's a coffeeshop by day and cocktail bar by night. I…read morecame in during the day on a Thursday to get some work done, and it was such a cool environment. The ambiance is dark and moody inside, but I liked the music they had playing, and there was plenty of seating. They also had free Wi-Fi and outlets! Everything on their menu looked insanely good. I went with the B-A-N-A-N-A-S--it was very tasty, and the banana taste was very strong. It was definitely on the sweeter side so more of a dessert drink, but I enjoyed it. Everything on their menu looked so delicious and well thought out, so I definitely hope to try their other drinks! The service was very fast and friendly. I recommend this spot--will need to be back to try out their drinks in the future! FYI, they become 21+ after 5pm.

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.