Cute-enough spot with small plates and cocktails. However, when we visited last night, we waited 15…read moreminutes for our one wine and one cocktail, despite the restaurant being less than a quarter full. We watched our waitress make multiple attempts to pick up my husband's drink from the bar, spill, set it down, pick it back up and spill more, and finally give up and run it to us. As she set down this sticky, wet, under-filled mess, I asked her exactly how much of my husband's $16 cocktail she had just spilled. She said, "Yeah, the bartender over-poured," and walked off. We then watched her do the exact same thing to every mixed drink she ran. Way, way too expensive to be delivering messy, dripping, quarter-empty cocktails. Skip Clara and go to Le Midi, where the service, ambience, and wine list were perfect.

Such a lovely spot to grab a cocktail (or three!) with friends or a date. Great, diverse menu,…read moreincluding the option to have the bartender make a custom drink if you're feeling adventurous! All the servers are friendly and know the menu well. It can get a little loud with the love music, so sit in the back if you are worried about that -- it helps a little.

One of my favorite cocktail bars in the city, I just learned a secret-- visit on Sunday afternoon…read morewhen there isn't a line out the door and it isn't slammed inside. Really creative cocktails, unusual wines, great snack list (and the complimentary olives and cheese made us able to stay longer add have another round!). If you sit at the bar, one of the very talented, friendly mixologists will guide you to your perfect drink progression-- that's right-- you're not just have one thing. Too hard to choose so why should you? There are low and no ABV options as well to balance out the martinis and other spirit forward offerings. I love the decor and overall vibe--classy, French-y, fun not stuffy. Great on your own, with a date, a small group. Special shout out to Hannah but everyone we interacted with was great.

Of course when in Chicago, I had to check out Bisous, ranked #30 on North America's 50 Best Bars…read more2026, climbing from #39 in 2025. With an intimate ambiance, in Chicago's Fulton Market, Bisous brings the vibe of a 1960s Parisian cocktail lounge. Since they don't take reservations, I had a short wait at the door. Somehow, they knew exactly what I wanted, which was a seat at the bar. My favorite place to sip, exhaole, and chat with the bartenders. The cocktails were delicious, and the service was warm, attentive, and welcoming. My tongue-clicking sips for the evening: PASTRY WAR Pistachio Cream, Agricole & Jamaican Rums, Grappa, Almond, Egg White, Lemon, Nutmeg BAIT & SWITCH Blueberry Cordial, Mezcal, Blanche Armagnac, Baking Spices COUNTERPOINT Fig Leaf, Armagnac Duffau Napoléon, Yellow Chartreuse, Oscar.697 Rosso Vermouth Mmmm... #BonAppetit! Cheers! Enjoy!

my server Genesis was absolutely amazing. she was so fun and helpful and explained the menu so…read morewell. she made our experience 10000/10. Will be back and asking for her.

We went to Dearly Beloved for my birthday and it was such a fun night. The lounge is beautiful --…read morevelvet, chandeliers, and just a really cool, cozy atmosphere. It felt like the perfect place for a birthday celebration. The dirty martini was honestly the best I've ever had, and we happened to go during happy hour so the half-off appetizers were a great bonus. The owner and waitstaff were all so friendly and welcoming, which made the night even better. We had such a great time and I'm already looking forward to going back!

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.

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!

Welcome to le mistral! This speakeasy is amazingly simple, sexy and delivers! It's dimly lit…read moreatmosphere creates a sultry place to enjoy a smooth glass of red wine and enjoy their cornbread Madelyn's. They are little pieces of heaven with corn. This was a highlight and an amazing surprise to find. Shout out to the bartenders and the service that makes you feel welcome and sexy.

Loved this place! Such a cool speakeasy vibe in a cave. They walk you through the kitchen to get to…read moreit which is a fun aspect & every worker greets you and welcomes you in. Great service & fun drinks! Definitely perfect for a date night spot out.

Right before starting writing this one, I wrote a review for Kibbitznest, another phenomenal…read moreChicago bar with a totally different theme and vibe. That is to say: I am not throwing words of praise like "one of a kind" and "phenomenal" around lightly. Both are different and still amazing. Sparrow has a vibe straight out of the 1920s. The decor, signage, use of color, and absence of screens or TV's all contribute to the theme. The music is also appropriate and plays at the perfect volume to be pleasant without forcing one to raise their voice. I tried the Green Daisy and a House Old Fashioned. The Green Daisy was boozy and had some herbaceous notes. A little tartness and a little sweetness helped balance the drink out and make for a phenomenal sipper. I loved the creativity with this one! The House Old Fashioned was also well done, assembled with quality ingredients in balance with one another. Nothing wrong with a well-executed classic. The prices are more or less reasonable considering the location and overall market, with bevies costing around $16. The bar staff is excellent! Very friendly and welcoming! Final verdict: A spot where I can say come for the drinks and stay for the vibe. It's the kind of place where walking in you are transported a century into the past. Everything about the experience, including the atmosphere, drinks, service, and prices, is calling me to return and bring some people with me.

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.

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.

Cute little vibe with an intimate setting and good drinks. Service was attentive and seating was…read morecozy. We made a reservation but we didn't even need it, we were able to sit anywhere we wanted. I tried the We Love Lychee & Midnight Espresso. Both were delicious!

I came here on my own to check out their happy hour because I have heard good things but I was a…read morebit disappointed. I came in right around 5pm so it wasnt very busy yet. I ordered the horchata 2 ways cocktail which was $12 for haply hour and is typically $16. $12 is the highest amount for a happy hour cocktail that I have ever paid and I dont think it was worth it. The 1st sip was good but it was a very sweet drink and I was over it by the end. The drink also was half a very heavy cream so when you drank it you were drinking the liquid but not getting much of the cream. So you either had to lick the cream off the top or drink on the liquid and then either leave the cream or somehow scoop it out with your tongue so not really a well conceived cocktail. One of the fun and unique things about the bar is they bring out free tapas every once in a while similar to bars in Spain. They brought out edamame to the people at the bar right around 5pm and a group next to me asked at around 530pm if more tapas would come out and the bar person said the come out every 45 mins. I was there til around 630pm and another round of tapas never came out so do not expect that if you go. They did not give you water unless you specific ask for it which I though was odd, I heard 3 groups besides myself at the bar who had to ask for water, especially since this is supposed to be a nice cocktail bar and this is just one of my pet peeves but the water did not contain ice and was closer to room temperature which is not how I enjoy my water. Despite not being super crowded I had to ask for the check from 2 different people and it took 15 mins for them to bring it so if it is crowded I expect they will have pretty slow service. They do bring you a fortune cookie woth your check where you can potentially win a discount on your check or other prizes which is fun. Unfortunately the fortune cookie tastes a bit stale. I would say that this place is not worth it for happy hour but it had a cool but very dark vibe in there so it might be good for a romantic date depending on how good the food is.

Coffee and cocktails. Do we really need anything else? With standard hours ranging from 8 AM to…read moreMidnight most days, Truce has got you covered, whatever the mood. Very clever drink list. With mixology being all the rage for the last 20+ years, I almost feel like it's hard to come up with a new drink concept these days. Truce shows that creativity in the world of booze is alive and well, and I count myself lucky to have had a taste. The 'Peas + Carrots' was a surprise win. Scotch, blanco tequila, sochu, carrot, snap pea, ginger, and kukicha. Sounds bizarre as hell, but it absolutely works. I also had a 'Final Say,' a spin on a classic featuring gin, clementine, fino, galliano, turmeric, black pepper, and lemon. The 'I Can't Believe It's Beer' has everything from mezcal and rooibos tea to guava and an aperitivo. I could ramble on about their menu, but I'd say just check Truce out yourself. You get what I'm saying. Their creative juices are clearly flowing, and they switch the menu up seasonally. They have some light bites too, but I really recommend them for cocktails and coffee. I wouldn't come here for dinner. They do drinks, so come here to drink. Plenty of very savvy-sounding N/A options, too. It's sleek, intimate, sexy, relaxed, and fun. Come through at 8 AM for a cocktail, roll through at 11 PM for a coffee, there's no judgment here. I'll be keeping an eye on Truce.

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.

Queen Mary won the title for us- "favorite martini in the city". The castelvetrano olives are…read moregreat quality, not soggy or too soft, perfectly mild and buttery. Great olives and olive juice go a long way. Idk how they do it but these martinis are so well balanced. You just never get that "oh my god, I'm drinking only vodka" taste. GET A DIRTY VODKA MARTINI WITH EXTRA OLIVES

I was sold on the concept more than on the experience. This is a LOUD place. It is beyond me why so…read moremany establishments play music when they have large, loud crowds present. People end up speak/shouting. The people at the table next to us had difficulty hearing one another. We were seated on the far corner and still it was too loud. I ordered a cocktail. My 2 companions had cider and... wine? One person ordered a white fish dip and I believe she liked it.