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Machine Cocktail Bar

4.8 (44 reviews)
Closed • Closed
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Machine Cocktail Bar Photos

MACHINE COCKTAIL BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Machine Cocktail Bar

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Creative drinks
Gaston N.

A really cool speakeasy type bar... with really creative drinks. Great place for a date or for a group of folks to get together and have a nice time. I saw both. They had an area with couches as well.

Isha T.

Went here with a group of six friends after dinner for cocktails and absolutely loved the vibe! The presentation of the mocktails was so creative and beautiful. While the mocktail options were limited, they had a great variety of cocktails to choose from. Since it was Valentine's week, there was a violinist going table to table playing songs, which added such a romantic and classy touch to the evening. The ambiance overall was amazing -- stylish, fun, and perfect for pictures. Even the ladies' room and certain corners of the bar were great for photos! Definitely a spot I would go back to again. Service was good, well served

Cute sign in bathroom
Naba K.

Such a fun cocktail bar experience! Reminded me a lot of the aviary in terms of experimentation and presentation of cocktails. The restaurant itself is absolutely stunning, decor is gorgeous and the service is great. Everyone was very kind. The location is a little tucked away and it's in the "underground". Was surprised it wasn't more packed honestly because of how cool the cocktails were!

Naa Adoley A.

I visited The Machine in Chicago for my birthday, and it turned out to be the perfect place to celebrate. We booked our reservation through OpenTable, which was quick and easy, and from the moment we arrived the staff made me feel genuinely special. The vibe of the bar is what stood out first. It has a grown and sexy atmosphere with dim lighting and a cozy, intimate feel that makes the whole space really inviting. It felt elevated but still comfortable, and the ambiance set the tone for such a fun night. Our waiter was honestly one of the best parts of the experience. He was so kind, attentive, and funny in the most effortless way. He mentioned that he works every day, so if you go, ask for him and tip him well because he truly adds to the experience. The drinks were another highlight. I ordered one that looked like a hanging fish bowl, and it tasted even better than it looked. The cocktail menu is creative, the prices are reasonable for Chicago, and each drink feels thoughtfully put together. And if you're not in the mood for something out of the box they have a bunch of classics on their menu like espresso martinis and margaritas. The music tied everything together. They played a mix of RnB and other hits that gave the space a fun energy without being overwhelming. It was the perfect volume where we could enjoy the music and still have a real conversation and hear each other. As someone who literally can never hear this was perfect! Overall, The Machine delivered great drinks, amazing service, and a really memorable atmosphere for my birthday. I would absolutely come back and would recommend it to anyone looking for a stylish but comfortable cocktail spot in Chicago.

Ankit S.

When you walk in you're greeted by the waiter behind the bar. I really liked the ambiance inside which makes it so good. The service was absolutely amazing. The drinks were something else. The one we had with the flower ice cream was really good. It had a Gelato in the drink. They make the drinks here so unique. Definitely have to come back and try more thing off the menu.

Maxine L.

Happened upon this place on a little wander through the neighborhood and decided to drop in for Saturday night drinks. We didn't have a reservation, but we were sat at the bar immediately. The vibes here are dark, modern, and upscale. The space itself is pretty large too. I ordered the hanging garden which comes in this little hanging planter. It's so cute and the drink was super tasty. I surprisingly loved the sugar snap peas in the drink because it added a sweet freshness. Overall, 10/10 experience. I loved watching the bartenders make the drinks, loved the vibes, and loved the creativity behind the drinks themselves!

Priyanka C.

Hidden gem with literally the best happy hour in Chicago. Beautiful and such creative cocktails with top notch presentations. Our server was also very knowledgeable and helpful in guiding our selections. Would totally come back with friends!

Garden drink, blue heart
Natasha M.

Really cool drinks. First time going since they re-opened and I was really impressed. The cocktails have always been fun, but this margarita garden version was one of the coolest savory cocktails I've had in a while. Service was great, although they didn't have one of the drinks we wanted to try. Ambiance is cute too. Would love if they have more vegetarian food options.

Bee's Pajamas
Krystian C.

Fun, interactive drinks! I'm not a whiskey guy, but enjoyed the Bee's Pajamas. Nice spot for date night or catching up with friends! Server was very friendly and explained the drinks/menu thoroughly.

Fowl Woodsman
Andre W.

I was very much well acquainted with the former Wicker Park location as it was my haven during the summer/fall 2020 pandemic as they had the huge patio to dine and drink on! Loved it! They have now moved to the most northern part of River North and rebranded themselves as a cool and chill cocktail lounge which is right up my alley! Grand opening was recent and I was happy to be one of their first customers. Its located downstairs from Headquarters Beercade (they own it and Dearly Beloved). Walked in to a very dim setting and was greeted by some very lovely ladies. Grabbed a seat at the bar and saw a familiar face...a woman named Tessa that worked at Inkwell previously. She's very awesome and makes great cocktails. Menu looked great and it was hard to pick what I wanted. I started with the Fowl Woodman which is a Tenjaku whisky and Pechuga mezcal based cocktail...my favorite drink of the night! Puts you in the mindset of an old fashioned by the look of it but its so much better than that! Next I went with the Rose Colored Contacts. Tequila and red wine based cocktail that also includes milk and egg whites...fantastic and smooth as hell! Highly recommend! 3rd Cocktail was the Casually Judging which includes tequila and mezcal...comes topped with a chili dried pineapple. A little spicy and was ok...the lesser of the 3 but still decent. Finished my night with a nice Oaxacan old fashioned executed by Tessa! Watched them make other amazing drinks such as the Dirty Little Secret Martini, Arabian Night, Duck Duck Goose, Love is A Fog, Shrimp Cocktail Cocktail (came topped with a shrimp lol) and Pistachio Affogato (comes with gelato). Got hungry throwing these drinks down so I tried the Machine Burger. Its a smash burger with 2 patties with a fried shallot, onion soubise and pickled jalapenos on a brioche bun accompanied by truffle fries. Burger was good but would get it without jalapenos next time as I felt it disrupted the already amazing flavor. Staff here is dope and the setting and ambience is great. Great for solo, date or group outing! Love the new digs!

Lorraine W.

I loved the Machine on division (now closed) so I was thrilled when I saw their new concept and couldn't wait to try it out. It did not disappoint! Extremely classy, elevated, intimate environment from the moment you step down the stairs (and perfectly dimly lit), everyone I interacted with was so friendly. I ordered the pistachio affogato, which was beautiful and a very dessert-like drink. I liked that you could either eat the gelato(?) alone or let it melt for a creamier drink. I attempted to take a bite out of the rose but it was extremely frozen, which made it a bit difficult, though I think this was necessary to retain the beautiful rose shape. I do wish I could have tasted a bit more of the cold brew flavor but it wasn't as noticeable as the almond, pistachio, and rose flavors. The rose colored contacts was their taste on a New York sour sans whiskey, with tequila. It was also very good and interesting! I especially thought the cocoa dust on top gave it an added depth of scent and flavor. Really top notch cocktails and I can't wait to come back and try the carrot cake espresso martini. I did also order food and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't anything that wowed me. I do know they're still working out their food menu and it changes often so while I wouldn't reorder the same things, I'd be open to trying it again. I just didn't think it was on the same levels as their cocktails (at this time). An added bonus - they have happy hour during week days -50% off cocktails!!!! An insanely great deal. Definitely come check this out! It's a great happy hour or date night spot.

Menuuuu
Rie U.

TLDR: NOT JUST PRETTY BUT ALSO TASTY The ambience of this place is definitely on point! The cocktails are all very totally photogenic AND super tasty. Honestly, my Duck, Duck, Goose not only came in an adorable ducky bottle but also tasted like a roast duck dinner! And the gooseberry garnish were super tasty too. Wish I could get a bowl of them for dessert. The Hanging Garden was my second cocktail and it was so pretty! Definitely a more herbal and refreshing cocktail compared to the first one, the sugar snap peas and edible flowers gave it a green earthy flavor and the lemon and soda gave it a nice bright touch. Definitely a fun new place to checkout!

Outside
Holly M.

I will say right off the bat everyone from the bouncer to the front desk to every server was extremely kind and welcoming. We had an early reservation to kick off our evening and were seated immediately at the cutest little corner table, tucked away with a perfect view of everything going on. Felt like our own private space. Tried a bunch of things (crudo was excellent and the truffle fries were STELLAR!!) portions weren't giant, I wouldnt say shareable. Every single drink we tried was SO good. I got something with gin, and lit green chartreuse on fire. So so good and was strong. Also LOVED the clear ice. Solid clear ice is a mark of a good bar :) It was so easy to split checks and take care of everything right at the table. Would DEFINITELY come back!!

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1 year ago

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Lauren L.

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1 year ago

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Lauren L.

Thank you for the 5 stars! We hope to have you back in soon!

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Step off the streets of Chicago into a beautifully dimly lit fondue experience is so cozy inside…read morewith the music of a live Spanish guitar that really create a private magical experience. All the premier dinners come with salad, cheese, fondue, and the chocolate fondue - You are just choosing what protein you would like. The Prince Geja combination has a little bit of everything. However, we most liked the seafood which includes lobster and the scallops were to die for! Also the beef also cooks well. Favorite dipping sauce included the pimento mayo, chimichurri, and garlic butter. The cheese fondue is quite rich and the bread is quite filling so maybe get as much cheese as you can on each piece of bread. The chocolate fondue, I think is actually the best course as the Belgium chocolate melts so well and has a decadent but not overly sweet flavor. It pairs well with all that is provided for dipping, which includes poundcake, rice Krispies, strawberries. They also have some liquor that they light on fire at first so you can roast the marshmallows. It is such a well thought out experience. Service flows very well from two waiters who take your order set up your fondue pots for each course, but be prepared to spend at least 2 hours on this experience. Check out the Groupon but also I read a review that they just tack on the extra $50 so it's not really too much of a savings. Not sure if this is true.

Had a fantastic evening at this classic spot!…read more Food was super tasty and fresh! The seafood was probably my favorite! The full dinner with chocolate and cheese was perfect! Also appreciated that they were accommodating for the vegetarian in our party. Everything except the cheese course can be made vegan friendly as well. The service was top notch! Appreciated that they called me ahead of time to confirm our reservation and ask about food allergies. All the staff was incredibly helpful and attentive. They were quick to refill items and answer any questions we had. The location is classic fondue restaurant, cozy and romantic. However, also perfect for catching up with a friend. I love the history in this place and really enjoyed the mood lighting. Pricing was fantastic for the quality of service, food, and drinks! Look forward to many happy returns!

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Back Again - Gemini Pt 2, but this time for brunch!…read more I enjoyed my first dinner experience here so much last week that we had to come right back to try their weekend brunch. From the start, the hostesses were inviting and lovely. The restaurant is very pretty, warmly blending a modern style with a touch of classic French bistro elegance. I'm mostly so impressed with how versatile the restaurant actually can be, shifting seamlessly from an elegant, upscale dinner setting with its beautiful U-shaped marble bar to a bright, whimsical, and enchantingly airy brunch setting. The fully opened bifold windows are adjacent to the pergola-topped patio, letting a glorious, cascading breeze drift through the space to create a wonderful indoor-outdoor flow and a lively weekend energy. Once again, we thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered: Super Green Vegetable Salad: The kale, broccoli, avocado, asparagus, and peas were crisp and fresh. We loved this so much during our first dinner visit last week that we had to order it again for brunch! Spectacular! Nova Lox Platter: The wild salmon topped with diced red onion, capers, and hard-boiled egg crumble, served with an everything bagel and a side of chive cream cheese, was excellent. French Onion Frittata: The rich gruyère and caramelized onions were wonderful. If you're a French onion soup lover like me, this is a can't-miss!! Definitely will be reordered and often. Fantastic! Daily Omelette: Ordered from the special menu, featuring black truffle salsa, mascarpone, and Calabrian chile honey. It was absolutely phenomenal, perfectly cooked, and the flavor combination was incredible. Our server, Sarah, was excellent and made the experience even better - we even share the same name! The management team was also incredibly warm and attentive, stopping by our table to welcome us back. Returning twice in one week says it all. This restaurant has made it into my regular rotation and is hands down one of my new favorites!

Over all this place was okay, and when I say okay it was mediocre…read more How ever I would like to point out that the staff and I repeat the staff was very friendly not to mention very welcoming. I came here with three others and we all ordered different things from the brunch menu along with a few drinks. The atmosphere here is open, modern, and pretty eye catching, we all heard a few negative comments about brunch here and rather than just taking words of advice we came anyways. To be honest we should've went elsewhere, the only thing about the food that actually seemed to have any flavor was the fries and even they were a little salty like my wallet when we left LOL The Jumbo (not so much) Lump Crab Benedict at $25 was honestly boring lacking any flavor also it didn't even come with potatoes I ended up sharing my Lincoln Park Turkey Club that was good but even it was pretty basic at $21, the Burger at $21 literally looked like something off the kids menu the bun was bigger than the patty LOL and the Blackened Chicken Caesar at $19 was more like an appetizer size and the chicken at least it was juicy not dry. Other reviews about brunch here seem to be about the same and honestly I think it's funny they don't even try to elevate their food when so many say about the same things. I think the only reason why people come to this place is 1. It's located in Lincoln Park and 2. that makes it a trendy spot to eat. So why bother fixing anything when it's just trendy and flavorless Their brunch is mediocre but apparently dinner is where it's at. However after the experience with brunch I'm not even sure I would even go back. Come here for the staff eat at your own expense maybe your food will have flavor or not but honestly do what you want and keep it trendy

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0.5 mi•Near North Side
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Machine Cocktail Bar - cocktailbars - Updated October 2026

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