TL; DR: If you're going for a show, buy tickets ahead of time to get a good spot Visited on a Friday night for the Late Night Jazz. Jazz was fun to listen to and watch them play with each other. The drinks on the menu were fun to try and delicious. I can't wait to go back. read more

Lemon - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute place for a date night nightcap. The bartenders know exactly what they're doing! Service is prompt and friendly and most importantly, the cocktails are good & strong. Definitely on the pricier side but as long as the experience is worth it, I don't mind. I'd be open to visiting again. read more

I came in on a Monday. It was one of the three days this summer when the temperature in Chicago was abnormally hot. Unfortunately the bars air conditioner wasn't working. I felt bad for the hard working staff laboring with No A/C. Also upon walking in I was charged a cover for some DJs that were performing that night. Which I found odd because I just wanted some liquid refreshment. I'll get to what I appreciate about the bar. The cocktail list. Also I noticed various syrups, juices etc used in the cocktails. Looking behind the bar noticed several bottles I'm a fan of like Chartreuses+ Fernets. Ordered 2 drinks. The Old Cuban which is on the menu. As well as a Gold Rush. Gold Rush wasn't on the menu but they had the ingredients and know how to make the drink. Old Cuban is a rum cocktail with a floater of sparkling wine or champagne. Gold Rush is a bourbon cocktail with honey syrup. read more

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They were out of one of the bartender's choice drinks I initially wanted to try. Also, unfortunately, there was no live performance the night that we went. But the vibes overall are very comfortable and lowkey in there. I would give this place another try when they have live music scheduled. The staff are very friendly and chill too. I got the something spicy with mezcal and it was pleasant. read more

Lemon - Milk and honey, Something spicy with mezcal - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I recently tried Lemon on Friday night and the experience was great! They have live Jazz music shows on weekend nights and 5/5 would recommend it! There is a cover charge of $5 which is quite reasonable! They don't take reservations, and only have walk-ins. We reached around 9.30 pm and could easily get good tables closer to the stage. I tried rot and resin which a tequila based drink. It was served with oak infused vermouth and maple syrup and I felt it was a great Fall drink! My friend ordered a Moscow Mule and The Vine and Vain and she enjoyed her drink! Overall, amazing vibes and I can see how quickly this new bar is getting all the right recognition! read more

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We dropped in to Lemon before heading to dinner. We were greeted immediately and also sat near the front. Unfortunately we are all getting up there in age (LOL) and the music was too loud for us so we asked to be moved. The music was good, just a tad loud for us. Thankfully they accommodated us. Nice vibe, enjoyable, fun drinks. Good spot for happy hour and live music. read more

Lemon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stumbled in on a whim while road-tripping home to Maine, and I'm so glad we did. I had my doubts at first, but this place blew me away. The drinks? Phenomenal. The live music? Electric. And the staff? They made us feel like we were longtime regulars. Shoutout to Rose and Preston--our bartenders, our therapists, and by the end of the night, our honorary besties. I came in planning to have just one espresso martini... fast forward to me sipping a housemade limoncello creation, swapping dog photos with Preston, and yes, crying happy little tears at the bar. Not an Olive Garden "we're family" vibe. A real-deal, soul-hugging kind of welcome. 10/10, would detour again. Don't skip this. read more

We stopped in and sat at the bar on a Friday evening around 8pm. The service was absolutely incredible. The bartender was so friendly and gave great suggestions and explanations of the menu. The overall ambiance is nice too. It's on the darker side, but the live music was terrible this night. That's the only reason for a 4 star review. It started off alright, but as soon as we ordered our second drink, it got so loud and sounded like nothing. We downed the second drinks and left quickly. The drinks were absolutely delicious though and I'd want to come back on a night with different musicians or no musicians. read more

Lemon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Place was pretty decent with equally good prices. I only bought two drink but I'd definitely return. Service was attentive & fast. My 1st cocktail the vieux carré was ok. I've only had this a few times & while not bad it didn't rank amongst the best renditions I've had. My 2nd cocktail featured blueberry & was nicely balanced. It's worth mentioning that the drinks are somewhat potent. There's a daily menu that changes but there's literally like 15 options in addition to the regular menu. While not mind blowing cocktails you'd be hard pressed to find better ones in the city at this price point tbh. read more

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We walked in shortly after they opened and got a couple of seats at the bar. We enjoyed our drinks. They have a good happy hour menu- even on the weekends. Staff was attentive. Since we were there early, there was no live music, but the stage set up looked like it could be fun! read more

A new bar to the neighborhood and it's already a huge hit. The house cocktails and classics are amazing. The happy hour is a wildly amazing deal. Highly recommended! read more

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OBSESSED with this place! I came with a group of 9 without a reservation on a Saturday night. How they were able to find us a table within 5 minutes was nothing short of impressive. The cocktail list was extensive, and the bar snacks were great. I had an espresso yourself, and it was everything I needed to jump start a fun evening. Great atmosphere. Great service. Great place! read more

Lemon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been very excited to check out Lemon since I realized that it had opened in the formerly Beloved space of Betty's Blue Star Lounge (happy to date myself with that one). The place has a very different feel than Betty's especially on a weeknight relatively early (pre-11 PM let's say). The Cocktail Bar menu really does offer something for everyone. I really appreciate the way that the "standards" are organized above the bar where it would be nearly impossible not to be able to see the offerings and their attendant categories and associated liquors. The specialty cocktails on offer (which I assume rotate relatively often) seemed to cater to all sorts of different tastes. There were a lot of different offerings that seemed to incorporate aroma and fragrance very high up in the experience of the drink (including my friend's seasonal mule which included an inserted twig of rosemary lit tableside). My drink was very refreshing and a little surprising given its description (a positive in my book). I'm nearly as excited to go back and experience more of the menu when my friends and I have a little more time on a non-school night. read more

Lemon - Seasonal mule and my secret drink. A wonderful night cap times two. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was pleasantly surprised by lemon! The remodel is cute. Space and vibe are really nice, we appreciated how there were different seating areas to match the kind of social interaction you're having: low lounge tables for watching the musicians, and high-tops set back from the stage for deeper conversations and dates. The only knock i'll give is that for a higher-end cocktail bar these were the worst NA cocktails Ive ever encountered. The price was outrageous for an N/A, and everything was loaded with sugary syrup and mismatched flavors. It's really impossible to hang for more than an hour on drinks like that. Like getting 2-3 slurpies. Please consider some simple, less sweet, approachable mocktails, (you can still incorporate Lyres!), maybe add Suero like they do in CDMX for cheap, and please add N/A beers besides Heineken 0 for $7+ (gross). Athletic, Go Brewing, Visitor, Big Drop, Brooklyn, Mars. I promise this is a new era of good non alcoholic beer. BOTH those who drink and those who don't will partake and drop dime on your bar. Many people these days switch off between 0 proof and proof to help with for long nights of socializing (but not Heineken, thats like Odouls). Great music booker tho! read more

Nice new cocktail bar in the neighborhood, was happy to swing by on a Friday night and get seated right away with 3 other friends. We did come over an hour ahead of when the band went on, which helped with seating. Cocktails are a bit on the pricey side for what they were and was a bit hard to hear each other once the music got going, but overall had a good time and would come back! read more

Lemon - Dirty martini and bourbon cocktail (I forget the name!) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool place! I was searching for a place to grab a drink after dinner and happened upon this space. A funky jazz band was playing so there was a cover charge and the space was flooded with music. Not many tables, but we luckily scored bar seats when a few turned over. The cocktail list contained an extensive list of both classic and creative options. Each that we ordered was well balanced. I'd definitely go back. read more

Lemon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely loved this place!! Great atmosphere with the friendliest staff I've ever met. The mixologist could make any drink to suit your palate. Music was great!! Can't wait to go back! read more

Lemon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best cocktail bar in the neighborhood- has speakeasy vibe and cozy atmosphere, cocktail menu is impressive and has lots of variety (from classics to signature mixes) and cherry on top they have life music performances (Thursday to Saturday). Staff is friendly and knowledgeable, they have some food options as well but haven't tried yet read more

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Wonderful cocktails and friendly owners. There was live music the day we went. We got a seat the bar away from the stage so we also got to see the bartenders in action. Forgot the names but the cocktails I had were good...had pear juice with cava. We all had the opportunity to try their delicious homemade limoncello...I think this is a must for next time. read more

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For being "The New Kid On The Block" Lemon is acting like an old pro! On this cold and rainy week night, this place was jumpin'. As I walked in, I thought to myself, the cocktails must be great and the entertainment must be excellent. Well, the cocktails were great, but Lemon, being so new, the Ludwig drum kit on the stage was just for show; they're waiting for their Cabaret License, so there is no entertainment yet. We still had a wonderful time at this cozy, relaxed bar. Their drinks were very inventive and their bar had a tremendous selection of spirits. So much so, I thought I was in an unlit Binny's. The four of us ordered some pretty "strange brewed" concoctions that were alien to our taste buds but really quite delightful. Everyone was having a good old time, and as soon as they can get an entertainment permit, I'll be the first one in line, waiting to get in! read more

Some of the most fun we've had this year. This new bar and eatery in Westtown definitely needs to be on your list. Just outside of the beaten path, they offer an electric atmosphere with delicious drinks and food pairings in an adventurous part of town. We spent hours at the bar, enjoying our night and left filled with more serotonin and rum than we expected. Special shout out to our bartender Jeremy who ensured a great night. Drinks: Ti Punch: 5/5 a classic from my bartending days that I have missed dearly. Funky rum Agricole serves as a base for this stiff Caribbean must have. Paired with just a simple combination of sugar and lime, you are in for a treat. While it may pack a punch for some, the unique flavors are something near to my heart and I highly recommend if you've never tried Rule of Plum: 4/5 a nice stiff stirred cocktail with a delicious essence of plum throughout. Not overly sweet, not overly earthy. A delicious balance between the two while I certainly enjoyed the drink, the menu offers a few drinks I would put ahead of it. Viva Piñata: 5/5 an excellent pairing of sweet and tangy pineapple with smoke and a fermented Tepache finish. I fell in love with this cocktail from a first sip. If you aren't familiar with tepache, ask your server. They have small batch bottles you could even take home if you enjoy the flavor read more

Phenomenal cocktails. Chill vibe. Friendly & knowledgable staff. Easily my favorite local cocktail joint.

Creative cocktails, laid back vibe and some of the friendliest service I've had in a bar. We had a Trinidad Sour, Something Spicy With Mezcal, and a Mule with cranberry, ginger beer, and rosemary. Great addition to the neighborhood! read more

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Atmosphere and food and ambience was great. Definitely going to come back.! m My favorite thing on the menu was the appetizers! read more

What a wonderful, cozy bar! Stopped in with a friend for after-work drinks. Staff were friendly, service was excellent and drinks were spot-on. read more

We've been here a few times since we moved to the area, the first 2 times it was great, good service, music and vibe the last 2 times we came it was a very different vibe. The very last time we stopped in on a Thursday night. The Bartender was rude and very condescending. He tried to educate me on "vodka" when I asked for a Tito's and Soda. They don't have Tito's which is my preferred vodka no big deal but then he chose to tell me all Vodkas are gluten free & Tito's is the only one that markets that way. Which is false, yes, all Vodka SHOULD be gluten free but sometimes there are additives that don't make it GF so its best to check all ingredients no matter what. Also, if someone has a severe allergy or is celiac and the Vodka was made in a facility where there is wheat or Gluten, there can be cross contamination. But he apparently knows it all. After we got our drinks him and another bartender were screaming over the music to have a conversation about how much they workout and bench at the gym. Needless to say my husband and I left very shortly after since we couldn't enjoy the music or even our own side conversation. read more

Stopped in for a post dinner night cap and I think I found my new favorite cocktail bar in the city. Fun and creative cocktail list featuring house originals and solid, slightly esoteric classics menu. Rose was our bartender and we loved her! Great service and knowledge made it easy to pick a drink my wife and I would each enjoy. Very chill vibes but I would love to someday come in for the live music. Will absolutely be back. read more

Amazing Food, Staff, and Ambiance, I can't suggest this bar highly enough!! As a NA person, the detailed care and effort that went into their non-alchohalic offerings really means a lot to me. I could recommend them highly enough! read more

Lemon - Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This bar is the epitome of a hidden gem! The cocktails were meticulously crafted, the people working were all genuine and super helpful, and it looks like a great outlet for local talent as well. This bar is the shivity bop! read more

Lemon - Lemon's stage. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to the Lemon a few times and it's become my favorite bar in the city! The music is always good. The owner is an active musician, so they're great at vetting their performers. On top of that they had really cheap beer in addition to the fancy cocktails, so it never felt too expensive to spend an evening there. It's also got a great crowd! read more

Terrible environment if you are a minority. An Indian colleague and I came in for a few drinks and the service was appalling. They make you wait for service as if they are doing you a favor. Hospitality is short at this establishment. If you are not white (and or connected to someone socially powerful) you are out of luck. I learning recently that they were voted into a list of top 100 bars and good for them because the drinks were quite tasty, but who would want to enjoy them with ambiance such as this. I should preface this by saying that I have worked in hospitality for 15 years, many in leadership roles. I can scan the room and take into account amount of people in the bar, difficulty of cocktails, what bartenders are currently occupying their time with (most were having side conversations for extended periods of time with other guests) and know how long it should take to be as the very least greeted and also served. This establishment left so much to be desired ( and mind you there are minorities working there) but it had an LA aura about it. Very much, " You need us, we don't need you" but if you are a restaurant or bar you should care about the experience that you provide for the guest otherwise why open a hospitality based business? If you are white, disregard this, you will probably have a good time I watched them walk by us and some others to serve certain others and at times stand out of direct line of sight and avoid eye contact with some people in order to not help or talk to them and then chat it up with everyone else around them and it was disheartening I have spoken to many minority counterparts that have been here to see if I was just being sensitive and they all experienced the same things, it is disappointing because it really doesn't have to be that way, why would you treat people like that? read more

Lemon might just be my new favorite cocktail bar in West Town. Tucked in what used to be the old Grand Bar, this bar provides an upscale yet relaxed vibe and is the perfect date night spot if you're in search of a creative cocktails, a romantic atmosphere, and very knowledgeable/personable bartenders. Each person that we encountered was more friendly than the next and seemed to be taking genuine pleasure in their job-must be a properly managed place! A couple of my favorite things about this place were the fun cocktail names, which, I admit, I did inquire about! The little special details including the beautiful antique pitchers that they serve their water out of, the lit candles across the bar, and the live music stage open for many amazing future opportunities were also some highlights. I highly suggest this place and would love to see it succeed, yet also selfishly want to keep it as my hidden little gem. A special shout to our bartender, Janics, who was warm, inviting, interesting to talk to and very well spoken on his cocktails. We loved every minute and look forward to returning when the live music makes an appearance! read more

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I absolutely love this bar. The staff is so wonderfully professional, warm, and friendly. They're also really hot? Like every one of them... it's crazy. Try the Bamboo, by far my favorite cocktail, but you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu! read more

I own a condo next door neighbors are cool. Owners are top notch and respectful Great solo or date spot. Was impressed by their drinks.