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.

Im so mad I haven't been to this place earlier cause its not far from where I live and it was so…read moregood!! Definitely a hidden gem in Portage Park! Street parking was easy to find which is a plus. Its walk-ins only but my party of 6 were able to get a table no problem on a Friday night. To drink, I started with the Oolong Martinez. It was good but way too strong for me so I just gave it to my husband lol. I opted for the Kiss & Tell instead except I asked for no mezcal. Much lighter and refreshing! I believe they have a downstairs lounge called "Nightshade" which serves their own special menu. My goal is to go downstairs next time! Their food is GAS!!! Everything I ate was a 5/5 for me - especially the party fries and the moon burger. We got the deviled eggs and funeral potatoes for the table and I was blown away (both of these menu items rotate flavors monthly). Also FYI - They have a photobooth!!!! I love photobooths!

Victor Bar is very cute!!…read more I was very impressed by the cocktails and the service from Caesar was phenomenal! Definitely will return!

We stopped by the Victor Bar after dinner on Saturday for our first visit. It is a small place with…read morea booth running the length of the bar and stools along the bar. We had to wait for a few minutes for a seat but got scored two seats at the bar. We tried several cocktails including a dealers choice one based on green chartreuse and one with mezcal, both of which showed off the bartenders skills. Highly recommend!!

A good neighborhood bar that is not so frat-party but has a proper patio that allows dogs. Its…read moreconvenient that you can order food at the neighbor place and have it delivered to your place and it is easy to hang out. The cocktail menu is constantly changing and makes it interesting, and the personnel are not unfriendly and reserved. It is a good place to have casual encounters or a casual night out. To that, service is sometimes a little spotty and the seating is limited particularly during rush times. The atmosphere is pleasant in general, although some additional detail could be used and make the experience truly high. Worth going to see, should you happen to be passing by.

Stopped by here on a Friday evening with another couple for a drink. We were able to sit right…read moreaway! Nighthawk has a cute, cozy atmosphere and wasn't very loud which we appreciated. The drinks here are unique and well made!! Especially the Witch, Please which tasted like a blueberry muffin. Our server's name I believe was Danny? He was awesome, friendly, and there every time we were ready to order a drink. If you're in this area, I can't recommend Nighthawk enough! We'll be back for sure!

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!

In honor of Women's History Month I would like to update my review of Nobody's Darling to state…read morethat the lovely owners of this fine establishment are still doing their thing. Nobody's Darling is not just to have a chat and cocktail, they offer quite a few events for folks to attend. Below are a few examples of the swinging times you can have there. In 2026 I am so happy that they are still in business and thriving. The vibe is still cool, the menu for the cocktails is still exciting and the crowd is eclectic. Wine Down Wednesday Unwind midweek with Happy Hour 5-7pm $7 glasses of wine $20 bottles Thursday: Pitch Your Peeps Help your friend find love (or vibes). Pitch them to the room - all relationship styles welcome. Feel Good Fridayz w/ DJ All The Way Kay Start the weekend right! Happy Hour 5-7pm DJ Kay live 8-11pm Sunday Karaoke All Day Happy Hour starting at 2pm Karaoke 5pm-8pm Sip.Sing. Repeat. Empanadas by De Luna Empanada 7pm-10pm DJ Gloria on the decks Cocktails flowing all night Friday, March 20 DJ Set 8-11PM

The drinks are always strong and creative. The people are stylish yet down to earth and friendly. I…read morelove going.

The Getaway is a bona fide gem if ever I've seen one! With fantastic drinks at great prices, this…read moreis a spot you don't want to miss. It's pretty unassuming on the outside and easy to miss if you're not looking for it. The vibe kind of sits somewhere in between a dive bar and cocktail lounge. Definitely unique and a great lowkey spot to unwind either with friends or solo. They have a fantastic happy hour on weekdays with half off all drinks. The menu is a quality over quantity situation, featuring a pretty small but super interesting and unique selection. On this visit, I tried the cocorococonut cocktail, which had a very interesting blend of coconut, lemongrass, and lychee. It was super refreshing, not at all too sweet, and aesthetically very pretty. I wish I could've tried more of the menu, but I'll just say that the pours are generous! Overall, I had a great experience and highly recommend paying a stop!

Attended a private party in the back of the bar! Enjoyed the cozy vibe with the twinkly lights and…read morecomfy seating! The drinks were really tasty with a nice variety. I ordered the Honey Bee & my husband had the getaway. We found parking across the street in a paid lot for $10. I also luved the 80s music playing in the background. Definitely will be back @ this Lincoln square neighborhood place!!!

Enjoyed my drinks here. Very complex & sophisticated cocktails albeit a neighborhood bar feel to…read moreit. I briefly discussed the bartenders "r&d" stuff currently in development why also challenging him to go off script for a custom cocktail that was delicious. Small but mighty & the price point for these types of cocktails is unheard of these days. I'll be returning asap to delve further into the menu but as of now this is a high priority for cocktail aficionados such as myself.

So... I'd parked my scooter on my way to Elixir, and couldn't help but notice The Nook as I was…read morewalking towards the entrance. After my drink next door, I would be remiss if I didn't stop in. What I got was one of the more unique and interesting cocktails I'd tried! It was the Sick Day, and while I don't command the English language or my palate enough to do it justice, I can tell you that it was definitely a great sipper. The absinthe mist, despite being just that, has a way of doing that. I want to give some credit to the service. While the bar was shorthanded at the time, the barman on duty did his very best as a one-man show. Can't fault them too much, someone calls out sick last minute, and that's that. However, if there is something I can hold against them it's the heat! I'm not sure why, but the upon coming in, the place was HOT! After settling in, it became more bearable, but this is the kind of thing that sometimes persuades me to leave before I order anything.

I've tried this place a handful times now, and honestly, the food is really subpar. The area is a…read moremecca for Mexican food, and honestly this place doesn't hold up. It's also never enjoyable to eat here. At pretty much all times of the day, they have music WAY too loud. You can't talk with your friends, the servers can't hear you. The place is always nearly empty, but they'll still have the music so loud that it's genuinely uncomfortable. Also, the last time I went here, I saw rabbits hopping in through the side door, which is disgusting. Oh, also heads up - it's cash only.

Being away from Chicago for so long, I am reminded of the amazing Mexican food they offer. This…read moreplace is great. I had two tacos and octopus tostada. Amazing. We sat outside and it was great. The serving size was also great. Too many taco places in my hometown are not at the level of this place. Service was awesome and the food was served at a timely fashion.