What a chill little place. It has a great vibe and friendly bartenders. It's definitely small and fills up by 8pm on any given night. The drink selection is substantial between the beers, signature cocktails, wines and whiskeys! It's dark, cozy and simply decorated with clean lines and colors that all create a welcoming environment to chill out with a date or friends. Makes for a great pre or post dinner spot. read more

Great lounge in Boystown for those looking for something more bougie and upscale but not too elitist. I was looking for a nice lounge with good seating and environment and came across Elixir which had rave reviews. It's a small lounge with room for only maybe 20-25 people I would say. I came out here on a Wednesday with a friend, and shockingly the room was packed already by 9pm! I ordered their mint cucumber Martini - super delicious and super refreshing! Would definitely come back here for the great ambiance. I wouldn't say it's the best place to meet new people as groups tend to form here but I could be wrong. read more

Boystown's newest addition elevates Halsted with serious mixology. A good friend and I first visited Elixir over the summer. I was really impressed with the fact they wanted to keep the crowd small. The host seats everyone, even spots at the bar, so expect a small wait during peak times. The decor is soothing with a nice ambient beat in the background...and you don't have to yell with the people you're sitting with. Pros: Not the average Boystown crowd Open late (5 a.m.) Specialty drink menu will knock your socks off Great atmosphere Cons: Not enough staff. One more person either behind the bar or as a dedicated server.. (The guys behind the bar shouldn't be doing both & and it would increase the level of service.) Tight space - when it's crowded, it's REALLY crowded. Overall, a great addition to the neighborhood. read more

Wonderful bar! It's small but good things come in small packages. The bar tenders are always very polite, professional an knowledgable, not to mention good looking. They have a great drink menu with some seasonal things that get changed out. I also love that they seat people so you never have people leaning over your shoulder or practically in your lap. read more

Cocktails are amazing, drew was super fun and very helpful. Definitely will be back because the vibe of the bar was amazing, and not super loud. Try the pineapple tequila shots, they're amazing!! read more

I've warmed up to Elixir. After all the initial hype and crazy, this place has calmed down and become what you would expect. Quieter, jazzier, maybe a little classier, but not much. As a cocktail joint, they still need to improve. an $11 cocktail here - while certainly better than anything else on this stretch of Halsted - is not up to par with other well-known cocktail spots in the city like Matchbox or Violet Hour. ; read more

This was my first time there, and it was overall a great experience. From the outside, it looks clean and inviting. The decor is modern and warm. The other patrons were classy and had a down to earth feel. The dirty martini that I had was perfectly made by Drew. Drew was friendly and nice. I think that it's perfect for an after dinner drink or meeting with friends after work. read more

This bar has a great atmosphere! The bartenders were both friendly and knowledgable. The drinks were very good; however, they are a little pricey (prices range from $9 to $14). This place definitely deserves your business! read more

The drinks were amazing and the bartenders really listened to what you wanted, Chris specifically was fantastic! Great vibes, great music! Any time I want a good drink done right I'll be here ! read more

I went here with a visit friend a few years ago and loved it. But I don't really drink... thus I don't go out too often, so several years had passed, but it always stuck in my mind as my favorite lounge. Last night, two friends from out of town visited me and wanted to go have drinks for one of their birthdays. I suggested Elixir... and THEY LOVED IT just as much as I had years before. We all hung out there for hours, sampling the gourmet concoctions, catching up, enjoying the atmosphere (especially the eclectic mix of music). I must also hand it up to our bartender, Neil, who took very good care of us. We love you, Neil. :-) My friends and I look forward to returning to Elixir next time we're able! read more

I'm sure this place has the potential to be cool little spot, but for now, it's just a gay rip off of the Aviary...the "Gayviary" if you will. I didn't take long for my group to sit, nor for our drink order to be taken, however, it took 44 minutes exactly to get our drinks. That is a crazy long time to wait to get a drank. We were actually laughing because we thought they had to be messing with us. And when they did come, they were only alright. I'm not going to say they weren't pleasant, but for the money, and the hype, they were standard drinks you'd get at any upscale trendy restaurant. Perhaps this place will succeed, but I doubt it will be one I help. read more

Came here for the first time last week with my buddy. We went on a week night because we did not want to try it out on weekend of crazy. It was still pretty busy, but we got a bar seat right away. Our bartender was awesome. We originally came in for one drink, but ended up having three. Got to have three different kinds of drinks and I liked them all. I have read some of the other reviews and I can see where waiting and slower service can happen. But, it is small in there and the drinks have multiple ingredients. It is going to take a little bit longer. It seems like a nice place to sit, sip a martini, and enjoy the company of your friends. Two friends popped in while I was there as an unexpected surprise, and we got to chat with several people around us. That's a nice atmosphere. read more

Five stars Elixir!! Where have you been? Contemporary and clean. Elixir is fantastic. I have been twice in less than a week of their grand opening. Elixir has so much that the area has been in need of. Awesome wine list, well thought out refreshing specialty cocktails, you have to check in with the host at the door, friendly bartenders that are fully clothed, and just the right price point. Best part and something they are toying with, it might be a new four a.m. !!! I am begging you Elixir please stay open until three although four would be better. At least the rest of the summer and fall. Order the Nigroni Spritz. It is a tall Negroni made with Aperol. Elixir is the new place for a mature minded crowd. Just do not start taking your guests for granted like many other places that are a hit. Best of luck Elixir. read more

My girlfriend and I met here on a Saturday night. We sat at the bar. They had an extensive menu of both classic and modern cocktails. We went for the modern ones - I liked the lemonade drink. I thought the drinks were ok, your standard cocktails. The space is pretty small. At one point it was really packed. Overall, it was a good intimate setting to catch up with a friend and reasonably priced drinks. read more

Definitely a great spot in Boystown. Service is amazing, decor is beautiful, and the drinks are classy. It's a small place so it's a struggle getting a table. read more

Made my first visit here on a recent trip to Chicago, and I gotta say, it became an instant favorite. The atmosphere is casual yet classy, the music was obvious but not obnoxious, and the bartender knew exactly what he was doing. Great drinks in an upscale atmosphere. Score. read more

All you need for a good night out is to be with good people, but a great place can make that good night awesome. I went to Elixir around 9:30 Friday with some lady friends and got really lucky because there was a group just heading out. The table was small, but all six of us were able to sit/share seats/stand around comfortably while sipping on some delicious cocktails made by a friendly bartender. The lighting was perfect and the bathrooms were clean. The only thing that would have made it awesome is if they served a little something something to satisfy our munchies. I don't recommend coming with a large group (like we did...oops), but it can be hard to find a fancy lounge that's not pretentious so elixir is worth your visit. You might even call it a respite from everything else that's going on in the neighborhood-- that is, until you have had enough happy juice to join them. read more

Loved this place! Thursday night we happen to be walking through the area and heard some wonderful sounds coming out of the open storefront windows that open to the street! Stopped in to find this gem! It was open mic piano bar night and the singers and musicians were amazing!!! The service and drinks were exquisite! They truly make u feel like u were at home and u had known each other for years! Not to mention the talented singers in the place were magnificent! Should I come to Chicago again I would make this a definite stop!!!! read more

A quaint little spot in Boystown with fine cocktails, a nice complimentary trail mix and jug of water on the table and a beautiful, quiet, dark and comfortable atmosphere filled with modern furniture. Go there on a Monday evening like we did and score buy-one-get one-free Martinis from their loveley martini list. Great service from our cocktail waitress! Not much more to say about a nice place in a good location to stop in for a drink on a date or with a small group. read more

No sign, look for the name on the windows It was alright although I didn't like that there wasn't a sign and I'm pretty sure we were charged for a couple extra drinks that we didn't order. read more

Very nice staff, I love the bartenders. So friendly and make drinks fast! Very cute and classy. I came with 6 friends on Friday night, but there aren't much seats, good for 2 or 3 ppl not more. Some of my friends have to stand. But I love the drinks! read more

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Great drinks. My mojito was delicious. I was introduced to the Moscow Mule. Loved it. The bartender, Vlad, is sexy and friendly. Very posh setting to drink and lounge. read more

Elixir - Vlad is one the friendliest and sexiest bartenders ever. Loved his cocktails - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Handmade cocktails with fresh herbs and infused liquors!!! Having lived and worked in the industry here in Lakeview for 20-plus years, it seems a nice change of pace! I will be recommending this place to visitors when they ask where to go for an after dinner drink!! Thanks for bringing a new idea to North Halsted! read more

YES FINALLY thank you for opening such a classy martini bar in this neighborhood! Much better alternative to Wang's or Kit Kat Lounge and I will be returning. I came here with some girlfriends on a Saturday night,not knowing what to expect, and was very impressed. For us straight girls, it was the perfect beginning to a night out. Obviously for this bar which is right in the middle of Boystown, we were practically the only girls there, but we felt right at home. Both the 'bouncer' and our bartenders were so sweet and funny, they tried to make sure we all had places to sit by the bar, and they really went out of their way to make our night great. This is in stark contrast to Wang's, where it's impossible to get a seat - and where women are NOT always welcome. All of the drinks we had, were sooo yummy - especially the Strawberry Basil cocktail...odd combination but it works. In addition, at the end of the night, the bartender gave us free shots of some new drink they were trying (Creme de Violette drink). Decor-wise, Elixir is clearly going for a swankier look (basically, chandeliers with fringes, black and white colors, etc.) than a lot of the bars in the area. It's also loud as a lot of people are packed in, but that didn't bother us really. read more

I liked Elixir. I like that a place like Elixir is in Chicago. The bartenders do a good job as far as I can tell, and are friendly. I like the decor, nicely contemporary and looking good. I have two small complaints: 1) Why are the bathrooms marked M and W, when being in Boystown there will probably be 80% men. Unisex them both, please (or don't - as long as it's okay that I used the women's room since they're both single-occupant anyway). 2) The sazerac I had was a lot sweeter than others I've had and perhaps because of that ended up tasting a bit less bitter than I expected. read more

One of my favorite places for cocktails and the best place for drinks in boystown. The menus has a variety of cocktails some classics and some new concoctions. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about spirits and the drinks they mix. John the bartender and I know there more than one is by far the best mixologist at this fine establishment. This is a great place to catch up with friends and sip on a delicious drink. So don't forget to stop here when you're bar hopping! read more

What a refreshing cocktail spot in Boystown. We came here after striking out with another bar. It was 8:30 on a Saturday and there were still several tables open. The place is teeny tiny, so snagging a table was a plus. The decor is sexy, and the bathrooms are nice (I think the bathroom says a lot about a place). We sampled several cocktails. My group loved the strawberry-basil vodka concoction! It was very refreshing. Being a gin gal, I tried the Clover Club (my fave! the raspberry syrup was a nice touch), the Aviation (they did a great job on this classic cocktail) and something else I don't see on the menu. Green Angel I think? It was refreshing but had too much cucumber for my taste. Also sampled were the Red Dynasty (my friend enjoyed) and Moscow Mule, which came in the coolest bronze mug. Not a bad drink of the night. The service was great. I've always found Boystown to be a little inconsistent and sometimes absentminded. Not Elixir! When one of our drinks came out not looking (or tasting) like the first, the waiter (Jon) explained that he had made the first, someone else made the second, and that he would gladly go back and make it again himself. Worked like a charm! Thanks, Jon, for taking great care of us! read more

Love this bar. If you are looking for a hot spot, great decor, awesome staff. This is also a great place to explore new drinks, the staff loves to go out of their way to introduce new drinks. Great spot to hold a conversation with friend(s) without the romance feel, but could still take a date there read more

Great atmosphere. Grapefruit basil martini. Just. Order. It. It won't disappoint. Or anything else. read more

Elixir - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The atmosphere, cocktails, and staff are amazing. I've been coming to Elixr for about 2.5 years and they are constantly making wonderful cocktails. The team there is very accommodating to everybody's flavor profile. I highly recommend Wine Wednesdays and also grabbing something from their seasonal cocktail list. The pineapple infused tequila is great. It's my go to for a first date/meeting somebody in Boystown. read more

I don't normally write reviews, but felt the need to write about my experience here. I went with a group of 5 on a Saturday night around 10, so I expected it to be pretty crowded. All of the tables were taken, but there was plenty of standing area in the small space. The guy at the door gave us drink menus and then told us there would be a small wait and we could go wait toward the back and turned around again. I thought it was kind of weird that he couldn't direct us where to go because we ended up getting near the back by the bathroom and didn't really know where we were supposed to go. We ended up standing near a wall where we constantly kept getting berated by a server and a bar back who kept trying to move around us because we were in their way even though there was no where else for us to go. There is an extensive drink menu, so we took our time perusing it and when the server came over a few times to ask what we wanted (basically said exactly like that too, in a gruff, rude tone), we said we weren't sure yet. This response seemed to bother him as he kept huffing away and when we finally gave our orders it seemed as if he were rolling his eyes and thinking "finally." When the drinks came about 20 minutes later, they were quite good, but we had to stand near the bathroom moving out of the way of the bar back and server constantly, which was very distracting. I got the impression that everyone in there was rude to us and I don't know if it was worth the price of the drink to deal with it, especially the way we had to stand around. I don't mind standing around at a bar where the drinks aren't as expensive, but I felt like the constant moving back and forth compared to the prices we paid wasn't right. Overall, I don't think I'll be back. We did not have an enjoyable experience and the vibe was not good for us. All of the people who worked there seemed to have some sort of attitude. I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because I did enjoy the quality of the drink (Honey Cucumber something). read more

Well I'm in love. It's a relaxing, small space with lovely bartenders who are both helpful and friendly. The drinks are definitely made with care, and made well! I encourage everyone who visits to step outside of their "comfort zone" regarding drinks and try something new here. I'm sure you won't be disappointed! It's also nice that you don't have to shout over the music to be heard. My friend and I went on a Sunday night, and the bar was initially empty but business picked up pretty quickly. Even when the bar was full, I didn't feel neglected in regards to service. It was also someone's birthday, and the bartender gave everyone free shots of this peach-infused bourbon to toast and celebrate. Too sweet. I will definitely be back. :) read more

Ok, I know it's new and everything, but you have to wait to have a seat at the bar!? Then what the hell are the tables for?? Every other bar/restaurant seems to manage fine with everyone just standing at the bar, and whomever gets a seat gets a seat. You're supposed to pay $10+ to stand in the corner and sip on a blazé cocktail??? I'm sorry but this place is not hip enough for that kind of attitude and policy. Skip it!!! read more

I'm not a huge drinker... but when I crave a Manhattan (straight, with a cherry) this is the kind of place I like. The space is nicely decorated... the barkeeps are polite. There are also tons of imaginative drinks that are fun to sample. read more

Tonight was marred by my encounters with the owner. I love Elixer and would consider myself and coworkers regulars. Although the normal staff attends to all of our needs before we can think of them, tonight the man who we learned to be the owner, tarnished my experience at Elixer. Not only did he bump into my table and knock mine and my friends drinks without an apology, we also witnessed him speaking very rudely to his wait staff. The owner conducted himself in a manor that made us and those around us uncomfortable. My friends and I come to Elixer for the refined and upscale experience, if we wanted the music turned up so loud we would have gone to hydrate... I love coming here for the ambiance, the bartenders and the amazing drinks, but tonight, the owner made my experience less satisfactory. read more

Finally, on Halsted, an intimate space with a classy cocktail lounge vibe, serving top of the line cocktails !! What took so long ? This is an obvious and much needed addition to the Halsted Street experience. The menu has all the classic craft cocktails you would expect, with plenty of twists and embellishments along the way, the Aviation a classic gin-based cocktail, is the best I've tasted, the addition of a violet liquer takes it to a new level. The one surprising absence here is something that we have come to expect and unfortunately accept in this sort of establishment......attitude. Despite the sophisticated decor and the quality of the drinks on offer there is none of the "our mutton-chop facial hair, pitch-dark speakeasy joint is WAY too cool for you" an attitude the one might encounter perhaps at similar bars further south. If you want a dirty Martini you get a dirty Martini, and you're not treated like pond-scum as a result. The service is excellent and the staff know the drinks and ingredients in great detail, perhaps befitting the first "generation" of bartenders and waiters in a new venture, everyone was invested, interested and eager to make the concept work. So, great atmosphere, classic cocktaIls, attitude free, this one is a winner. read more

Chad, Vlad, Keith and the rest of the boys are great bartenders that run Elixir. They're doing great things with cocktails here and I always give them a challenge in asking them to make me a cocktail off the cuff. I come in here so often that Chad already knows that I prefer sweet herbal-y or a balanced fruity herbal cocktail. The guys are great here and I'm gonna miss this as my neighborhood haunt :( read more

This is just the kind of place we need in Lakeview/LP. I feel like I always have to go to Violet Hour or Sable for a fab cocktail so I am super excited that this place is within walking distance for me to stumble back home! Doors open at the front for the summer months, the gorgeous drapes over the brick wall will make it cozy for the winter months. Music is modern loungy and at an appropriate volume. Went on opening night over 4th of July weekend and the service was impeccable! It was nice that we could leave our phone # with the host and he would call us when our table was ready. We were told a 25 minute wait but we got the call in 5. We sat at the bar and was asking some of the (gorgeous) bartenders what they would recommend and all of them were so polite even though the place was jam packed, asked me what types of drinks I usually prefer, and gave fabulous recommendations. It takes a little while for your drink to be made since each drink has like a million steps but it is soooo worth it and kinda makes me feel like a princess that they are taking such good care of my drink! I saw all of the servers specifically picking out each and every mint leaf that went into each drink and if it wasn't a perfect leaf, would throw it out and ask for a fresh bundle of mint leaves from the fridge! Between my friend and I we tasted 6 different drinks from all over the menu and each was amazing! Menu says Pastoral will be providing the cheese and charcuterie service in the near future. Nervous that my entire pay check will end up here! Will be back soon for sure! read more

I went after work. I bought two drinks, not knowing the price. I put sixty on the bar. The tender grouped it together with my co workers. Two drinks cost $60. I said something and they said you only gave me twenty. Im out forty something. Done with this place after work. read more

When I'm committed to a night of partying in Boystown, Elixir is my choice for a first stop. You can sit, chat with your friends, and tuck into some strong cocktails before heading somewhere loud to dance, etc. I've always found the service and other patrons to be really friendly. My drink of choice here is the Aviation, but you also can't go wrong with a classic choice like a Manhattan. If you appreciate a well-mixed drink, go for Elixir. read more