Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Potter's Bar

    3.8 (13 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Potter's Bar Photos

    POTTER'S BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Potter's Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Old fashioned
    Michelle W.

    I walk past Potter's at least 2-3 days a week going to work cutting through to state st right past the stair case. I've wanted to come for ages and finally I was in the loop for a girls night at the walnut room (holiday spirit) and stopped in. We were surprised it wasn't busier given it was a Friday night, but also glad it wasn't so busy. It definitely hits in the old school vibes - the chairs at the tables by the bar are super comfy. I hesitate calling this hidden gem, but not knowing if it was just a slow night or do many people not stop in because it's in the Palmer house or in the loop? Either way, we had a really great time, I believe Kim was our server, she was hilarious and my old fashioned was well made. Potter's is definitely on my list to come back to!

    Old-fashioned
    Trisha C.

    I had a craving for an old-fashioned, so I stopped in. The bar is gorgeous, with sports playing on the TVs and a faint hum of conversation. The bartender gave me a snack immediately. My drink was perfect. It's pricey, but you should stop in and check it out.

    Old Fashioned
    Anirudh J.

    Wanted to grab a drink with a friend, so we came to Potter's Bar. An Old Fashioned is a classic and, for me, shows how a bar puts their own flair on a classic, well-loved drink. This old fashioned has a hint of smokiness, but wasn't too overpowering. It had just the slightest touch of sweetness. Our bartender was friendly too. I'd order it again!

    Excellent Old Fashioned
    Karen N.

    I can't see why I'm the first person to review. Yay, me! Unfortunately, I want to know why no one has found this incredible fun bar. The music is great for those that love Jazz. Drink prices are fare. My old fashioned was made with their signature bourbon. The service is friendly and not over bearing. If you want a place to unwind with music that makes you want to cut the rug, please stop by. Very nice experience.

    Food portion of menu
    Rebecca K.

    I wasn't prepared to fall in love today. However, I did. The market greens salad with huge blackberries and fresh strawberries, feta, finely chopped bell pepper and cucumber swimming in a delicious apricot vinaigrette with perfectly cooked salmon had me at hello!! The place is clean with plenty of seating. The only thing that would have made it better was a bartender who was friendly with a tad bit of personality.

    Inside
    J B.

    Could have been great but lost some speakeasy appeal when there are children in the bar. The drinks were ok, pricey - the old-fashioned was recommended. The waitress lost interest in us, maybe because we only ordered cocktails, it seemed, until it was time for us to sign the bill. Beware of the automatic surcharge.

    PH Barrel Select OF w/Bottle

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike
    0
    22
    0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karen N.
    1243
    1086
    3542

    2 years ago

    Helpful 32
    Thanks 6
    Love this 38
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J B.
    5
    457
    1449

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Che M.
    3
    9
    36

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of PK L.
    0
    8
    20

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Ask the Community - Potter's Bar

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Cocktail Bars 4,758 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    NoMI Lounge

    NoMI Lounge

    3.9
    (83 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$

    My husband and I came here for our 26 year anniversary. It was my first time in Chicago. A local…read morefriend of ours recommended NoMi. It was a great recommendation. We were so happy with everything! Our server was wonderful! The entire staff was so friendly and on top of their game! We never waited for anything. They were immediately refilling our waters, offering more bread, removing dirty plates, replacing silverware, and offering the next course. It was perfect! The views!!! I think there's not a table in NoMi that doesn't have an amazing view. The main, large window faces the lake (East). Arriving just at 7, you get the full affect of the city, and lake, and then the sunset and lights of the buildings. It was absolutely magical. I couldn't get enough of it. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and clean, but honestly it could have been a pit and I wouldn't have noticed. You'll be focused on the views for the entire evening. The food!!! Everything is very fresh. It's all well-prepared. Everything was delicious. There's a good variety of dishes to choose from. Plenty of healthy, low-carb options. We each ordered our own appetizers. I had the crispy Maitake mushrooms and my husband had the mussels. We both loved our food and left nothing on our plates. Excellent choices, that we highly recommend. As our main course we shared the sushi platter. The seafood was fresh and the sushi didn't have too much rice. It was the perfect amount of food with our appetizers. They have an extensive wine and drink menu. For drinks I had a glass of the Sauvignon blanc and my husband had a red blend. For dessert we weren't really hungry enough to eat anything else but my husband wanted a pallet cleanser. They have a few sorbets. My husband settled on the cherry cola sorbet. They brought it out with a little chocolate that said "Happy Anniversary" in French. They did not add it to our bill. Very sweet of them. It was probably one of the best anniversaries we've ever had. The bill was about $230 before tip. We highly recommend coming here for any special occasion.

    My husband and I popped in here to escape the cold and found that NoMI was doing a hot coco…read moreexperience! It was SO awesome! We were able to choose between an alcoholic or non hot coco and load it up so many different toppings. It warmed us up and was decorated so beautiful! My husband then snagged a lobster roll which was so good. We are so excited we found this lounge and will be back!

    Photos
    View from our table
    View from our table
    Crispy Maitake mushrooms
    Crispy Maitake mushrooms
    Sushi Menu

    See all

    Sushi Menu
    101 Sky Terrace

    101 Sky Terrace

    4.1
    (18 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    We hosted a pre-wedding welcome party here and were very pleased with the evening. Mia was very…read moreresponsive to our requests and helped ensure the event was designed to meet our needs. Our guests had a great time getting reacquainted while enjoying the view, the hors d'oeuvres selection and the open bar. The service was friendly and top-notch. Dharma was a particular standout! Looking forward to returning when we can just sit and enjoy the ambiance.

    Let me start by saying that the views were 5 star and the place has a cool vibe - although the…read morehouse music they were playing was a bit loud for the small number of people eating when I was up there. That said, this place just completely disappointed. The food was just not good. I had the burger sliders and for $9 a piece you expect them to be something special. They were not. Overcooked with a little sauce and two pickles slapped on the bun with a tiny little dab of fake cheese - it was like a bad and way more expensive version of McDonald's. The onion rings were the frozen crumbly kind not the fresh beer battered kind and so that's a big "no!" for me. The dipping sauce was okay. Service was friendly and I think the guy was new but it wasn't good enough for a place like that at the top of the building. There were two servers so I'm guessing one was training maybe. They didn't make it to my table to check to see if everything was okay while I was eating and it even took them a while to notice that I was done eating. It's was slow so I don't think they were stressing with too many tables. That kind of place should knock your socks off - but it was on the low end of mediocre. I wouldn't go there again for food. Maybe it's a decent place to go to the bar but since I don't drink I can't help much on that end.

    Photos
    101 Sky Terrace
    101 Sky Terrace
    101 Sky Terrace

    See all

    Seasons Bar

    Seasons Bar

    4.2
    (5 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    Adjacent to the Four Seasons' Adorn Restaurant, the Social Lounge is an excellent stop on which to…read moreget one's day drink on and feel classy while doing so. The lounge features not only an eye-popping crystal chandelier but also a tea service in the afternoon and luxe bites and crafted cocktails. I convened with my drinking companion during a break in his conference presentations. Since his conference hotel did not have a bar or restaurant on premises, I decided nipping into the nearby Four Seasons would be a good call. The bar area was convivial and welcoming even to non-hotel guests. I was feeling festive so ordered a glass of Prosecco. My drinking companion ordered a rye-based cocktail. The ice in the craft cocktail was an eye-catching sphere. I was transfixed as this was my first time seeing this outside of an LG refrigerator commercial. We had fun sipping our drinks and catching up. I missed the little bowls of snacks but probably that is a concession to covid and all the uncertainty of untended nibbles. Already planning my next visit back here after a play I am scheduled to attend in this area.

    Potentially country club/gentleman's cigar haven stuffy but a fantastic bartender made it…read morecomfortable and enjoyable. Cost to worth it ratio: 3 (pricier but expect that at the Four Seasons) Highlights: - Paul: our bartender. Irish, chatty, and cool. Excellent service and made it fun to hang out in the near empty lounge area. - Atmosphere: large area with big chairs and a piano player. We ended up there cause it was cold outside and close to where we were, but was one of our favorite evenings out. - Drink menu: not just your average martinis. Had drinks like the auditini with elderflower liquor in it. Good and not too sweet. - Snacks: they give you nuts and a rice cracker wasabi peas mix. Lowlights: - Closes at 1: earlier than most and deserted come midnight at that. I'd stop by here again for a mellow few drinks... and to say hi to mr. bartender. :-)

    Ila's

    Ila's

    4.9
    (64 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Ila's is officially one of my favorite date night spots in Chicago!…read more From the moment we walked in, the vibe was everything--moody, intimate, cozy, and perfect for a night out. Whether you're celebrating something special or just looking for a great dinner, the atmosphere alone makes it worth a visit. The service was phenomenal. Our server checked in frequently without ever feeling intrusive, and we always felt taken care of. That level of attentiveness really elevated the entire experience. The drinks were outstanding. I ordered an Old Fashioned, and it was one of the most unique versions I've ever had. Smoky, strong, flavorful, and incredibly well-balanced. If you're a cocktail lover, don't skip the drinks. We started with the Little Gem salad, which was fresh, tangy, and the perfect way to kick off the meal. Light, refreshing, and packed with flavor. For mains, we tried both the steak sandwich and the chicken sandwich. Both were fantastic--crispy, flavorful, served on great bread, and paired with delicious sides. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. But the real star of the evening? The Sweet Corn Agnolotti. My. God. This dish completely stole the show. It was one of the most unique pasta dishes I've ever tasted, and I still think about it to this day. The flavor profile was complex, creative, and unlike anything I've had before. Every bite brought something new, and it absolutely blew our minds. Amazing food, incredible cocktails, attentive service, and a beautiful atmosphere. Ila's delivered on every level, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable meal in Chicago.

    Loved this place. Came in for dinner and the staff was very friendly. Music wasn't too loud and…read moreeverything we tried was great. I had very strict dietary restrictions and the waiter helped me navigate the menu and provided options within my diet. AMAZING EXPERIENCE. We will 10000000% be back to try the full menu as soon as I am able to! Definitely recommend for a date night or any time. 10/10

    Photos
    Nico collin's & hugo spritz
    Nico collin's & hugo spritz
    Assorted Savory Kabobs: Paneer, Chicken & Leek, Pork Belly
    Assorted Savory Kabobs: Paneer, Chicken & Leek, Pork Belly
    Happy hour $10 sparking rose. fantastic!

    See all

    Happy hour $10 sparking rose. fantastic!

    Potter's Bar - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...