A bar within a bar inception…read more Nightshade is the basement bar of Moonflower. We came to the opening weekend to check out the vibe. There was a healthy amount of folks coming through, but not too crowded. It's dark, closed off with a smaller bar and also additional washrooms below. Vibe is sparse - at the moment, it's simple with the centerpiece of the red glowing bar, side bench seating, a few lamps off to the side, painted in a dark green/black floor to ceiling color. I think the reason to have this secondary space is the potential to do more fun, experimental drinks. Though space is cozier, it's nice to see seating was designed to accommodate groups too. I think it would have been easy to talk to other table groups if the music was just a tad softer. Son of a Gun - it's a tortilla chip in drink form. It's savory with a hint of cilantro. Sneaking Suspicion - nice apparent flavor of chamomile balanced out with a slight, creamy sweet flavor of yogurt. If you're into exploring unusual flavors and forms, Nightshade is a place to check out, and of course Moonflower offers another menu so you can do 2 in 1. Kitchen closes at 10pm.

SUCH a cool little "hidden" spot!…read more Nightshade is a small little cocktail bar under Moonflower, and it's INCREDIBLE. The drinks were so fun- I had one rimmed with crushed tortilla chip. Absolutely worth the stop!

The drinks are great and during the week it's half off 3-5pm. The service is so friendly and the…read morevibe is very cozy that you'll think you were at a lounge in the city. I'm adding this to spot to frequent in Elmwood park. Thank you for the chill vibes.

Very delicious food, The restaurant was very clean and let's not talk about customer service was…read moreamazing . 100% satisfied.

We had our wedding at Moonflower, and it was amazing! We…read moreoriginally found Moonflower on Zola. Although we are from the area, we had never visited before, and the photos immediately caught our attention. The bar fit our vibe perfectly, and after visiting a few times, we knew it was the right place for us. We rented both spaces: the main bar upstairs and Nightshade, the speakeasy downstairs. Moonflower has a small stage in the main bar, which we used for our ceremony. The space already has so much character that it needed very little decorating. We brought small flower vases and an altar piece that the bride and her now mother in law made together. After the ceremony, we held cocktail hour and served food buffet style in the main bar. Later, everyone moved downstairs to Nightshade. Its lounge atmosphere and dance floor were perfect for our 50 to 60 guests. Some people relaxed around the cocktail tables while others danced, so everyone could enjoy the night in their own way. Moonflower's event organizer, Morgan, was wonderful. She made the entire planning process feel easy and was a joy to work with. She helped turn our ideas into reality, assisting with day of logistics, décor, beverage packages, and every question that came up. She was always responsive and available. Morgan also helped us think through details that had not occurred to us, including coffee for our guests, explaining the parking situation, contacting nearby businesses about using their lots, and recommending DJs. We ultimately hired one of the DJs she suggested. Her extra support was incredibly helpful and took a great deal of stress out of planning. If you have not tried Moonflower's drinks, you are missing out. Their regular cocktail menu is fantastic, and our experience was even more special because of a custom cocktail session with Zach. He created signature drink options for each of us based on our tastes and favorite cocktails. Every option was spectacular, and the final drinks felt personal and special. We chose Funeral Potatoes for the food. Since they already handle the food at Moonflower, we were able to try many dishes beforehand. Our guests raved about everything. We especially recommend the brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, and caprese sandwiches. Alexis, who heads up Funeral Potatoes, was also extremely helpful with selecting the menu. The only outside food we brought in was our wedding cake. The entire staff was phenomenal. Everyone treated the occasion with the perfect balance of care, professionalism, and fun. The night went off without a hitch and was truly one of the best nights of our lives. Moonflower was also extremely reasonable compared with other venues we considered in the city, especially with an open bar and food available on site. Street parking was plentiful, and none of our guests had trouble finding a spot. For anyone looking for a relaxed wedding for 50 to 60 people with a memorable lounge atmosphere, fantastic staff, buffet style food, and exceptional cocktails, Moonflower should be at the top of your list.

Very cute and cozy place!! They do a few events here as well. The food is rather limited but they…read moredo ironically have funeral potatoes which are very seasoned. I love!!! I love the bartender, very speedy service!!! Mac and cheese (not pictured) comes out in a cute little stainless steel frying pan. They also have happy hour!!!!!

On this night we visited Twilight as we were invited to see a band playing on the Patio. The band…read morewas great Donna came out to greet us and chatted us up a bit. Service was great and quick even though it was packed inside and out on the patio. Prices are still neighborly. We returned the next day, Saturday. Enjoyed lunch and some Modelos on the patio with my friend's puppy. Agi and Donna were great yet again. Will definitely go back.

Amazing local spot. Great potato skins! Friendly bar tenders. Cold drinks. Outdoor area.read more

Very friendly and accommodating staff. Cold drinks. Local. Neighborhood. Old history.read more

This is one of the best spot in chicago to hang out and have fun. Pool table, dart game board,…read morekaraoke and plenty more. Not to mention the bartenders are great(shout out to Lily) and the owner Renny is a great guy. It's a great neighborhood bar.

THIS is a hidden gem. I wish they'd update the tiki aspect of the decor, but it's still an…read moreexcellent and fun place to hang out. Margaret the bartender is incredibly sweet and generous, and the jukebox has nearly any song you can imagine. Finding this place was one of my favorite things of 2022!

The Banana Spider is a wonderful summer drink that tastes just like liquid Hawaii…read more An invention of Paradise Club's current proprietor, you have to go to the city's premier Polish Tiki lounge to get it. When you get your Banana Spider (or the Scorpion, or whatever other tropical mixed drink you prefer) it will come in a beautiful ceramic tiki mug. You might as well drink it with your eyes closed, not because it's that good (though it is) but also because it's too dark to see a thing in this fading 60-year dive which is thrifty with electricity. There are only three lightbulbs going at all times, two of which illuminate the fishtanks. A gloriously garlanded plastic Buddha basks under a third as if it were the Hawaiian sun. If you ask for help finding the restroom the bartender will briefly turn on one more light, the "Kings" light above the men's room or the "Queens" light above the women's room. Not to say this place is stingy... if you're a bar snack afficionado, this place ranks tops with complimentary bowls of mixed pretzel sticks, potato chips, and bugles- which must have been cryogenically preserved because I thought they stopped making them in the '70s. Though this lounge features prominently on the specialty niche business review site CriTiki, it has somehow eluded Yelp all these years, which is a shame. These days it's pretty quiet, and if you go on a weeknight you'd need to bring your own Tiki party to take the place of the young and the Polish who have fled the neighborhood for lower taxes in the west suburbs. Still worth a visit.

I should have discovered this place a lot sooner than I did. The menu of ciders is expansive and so…read moreis the food menu. I got the blueberry flight and the 50/50 cider was excellent. I also enjoyed the smash burger as well though wish this trend would end and we went back to non-smash burgers. The dining area was big with lots of cool long seating. I appreciated how they transformed the building. Our server was professional, kind, and efficient. Please note that this is a very family friendly place so there maybe a kid or two running around. Good experience and looking forward to returning.

Our group of about 20 had made a reservation in advance for a family event. The food and drinks…read morewere delicious, and I would return for those, but the service issue we encountered was almost comically mishandled. One guest noticed that her wine pour was noticeably smaller than everyone else's and politely asked about it. Instead of simply addressing the concern, the server argued with her at length, announced that she was the manager, and insisted that every pour was measured perfectly before finally replacing the glass. After that interaction, our large group was barely checked on, and we weren't even offered utensils. Considering how long we stayed and how much we collectively spent, the lack of hospitality was disappointing. Perhaps she was having a bad day, but the situation could have been resolved quickly with a little grace and professionalism.