One of my favorite cocktail bars in the city, I just learned a secret-- visit on Sunday afternoon…read morewhen there isn't a line out the door and it isn't slammed inside. Really creative cocktails, unusual wines, great snack list (and the complimentary olives and cheese made us able to stay longer add have another round!). If you sit at the bar, one of the very talented, friendly mixologists will guide you to your perfect drink progression-- that's right-- you're not just have one thing. Too hard to choose so why should you? There are low and no ABV options as well to balance out the martinis and other spirit forward offerings. I love the decor and overall vibe--classy, French-y, fun not stuffy. Great on your own, with a date, a small group. Special shout out to Hannah but everyone we interacted with was great.

Of course when in Chicago, I had to check out Bisous, ranked #30 on North America's 50 Best Bars…read more2026, climbing from #39 in 2025. With an intimate ambiance, in Chicago's Fulton Market, Bisous brings the vibe of a 1960s Parisian cocktail lounge. Since they don't take reservations, I had a short wait at the door. Somehow, they knew exactly what I wanted, which was a seat at the bar. My favorite place to sip, exhaole, and chat with the bartenders. The cocktails were delicious, and the service was warm, attentive, and welcoming. My tongue-clicking sips for the evening: PASTRY WAR Pistachio Cream, Agricole & Jamaican Rums, Grappa, Almond, Egg White, Lemon, Nutmeg BAIT & SWITCH Blueberry Cordial, Mezcal, Blanche Armagnac, Baking Spices COUNTERPOINT Fig Leaf, Armagnac Duffau Napoléon, Yellow Chartreuse, Oscar.697 Rosso Vermouth Mmmm... #BonAppetit! Cheers! Enjoy!

A great drink, bar service and meat board…read more I was the first person in the door as it was an early stop for a longer evening, the bartender who was serving was helpful to a first timer and tastefully attentive afterwards. As more and more people came in, he was certain to keep me in his considerations and each old fashioned was as good as the first The charcuterie board had very good sourdough bread and the meats were very delicious. Overall a great start to my evening and will be returning

Inkwell is my favorite cocktail bar in the Fulton Market area for having intimate conversations!…read moreThe vibe is so inviting, with perfectly dimmed lights and music which wasn't too loud but also not too quiet. There was chatter in the air from other patrons that had the feel of a lively cafe. I love that they have a selection of craft cocktails but also a $3 miller high life pony as a "frugal" or "light drinker" option for the low ABV enjoyers. I was impressed with the service as the doorman seemed to work as both the server and the bartender. There were some cocktails on the menu that had run out of stock for some reason but that wasn't a big deal since the ambiance made up for it. Definitely would recommend Inkwell as a perfect spot to catch up with friends!

my server Genesis was absolutely amazing. she was so fun and helpful and explained the menu so…read morewell. she made our experience 10000/10. Will be back and asking for her.

We went to Dearly Beloved for my birthday and it was such a fun night. The lounge is beautiful --…read morevelvet, chandeliers, and just a really cool, cozy atmosphere. It felt like the perfect place for a birthday celebration. The dirty martini was honestly the best I've ever had, and we happened to go during happy hour so the half-off appetizers were a great bonus. The owner and waitstaff were all so friendly and welcoming, which made the night even better. We had such a great time and I'm already looking forward to going back!

Right before starting writing this one, I wrote a review for Kibbitznest, another phenomenal…read moreChicago bar with a totally different theme and vibe. That is to say: I am not throwing words of praise like "one of a kind" and "phenomenal" around lightly. Both are different and still amazing. Sparrow has a vibe straight out of the 1920s. The decor, signage, use of color, and absence of screens or TV's all contribute to the theme. The music is also appropriate and plays at the perfect volume to be pleasant without forcing one to raise their voice. I tried the Green Daisy and a House Old Fashioned. The Green Daisy was boozy and had some herbaceous notes. A little tartness and a little sweetness helped balance the drink out and make for a phenomenal sipper. I loved the creativity with this one! The House Old Fashioned was also well done, assembled with quality ingredients in balance with one another. Nothing wrong with a well-executed classic. The prices are more or less reasonable considering the location and overall market, with bevies costing around $16. The bar staff is excellent! Very friendly and welcoming! Final verdict: A spot where I can say come for the drinks and stay for the vibe. It's the kind of place where walking in you are transported a century into the past. Everything about the experience, including the atmosphere, drinks, service, and prices, is calling me to return and bring some people with me.

This might be my favorite rum bar in the country. If you want intimate spaces, moody lighting,…read moreextensive rum selections, and drink specials come here. Monday nights are my favorite because they offer a different specialty rum in special. It's a great way to try different kinds. They also serve beer, wine, and every other spirit you can imagine. Cocktails are on point. Seating options are varied: bar seats, small tables in back, bench seating with tiny tables up front. Quiet and comfortable.

Such a lovely spot to grab a cocktail (or three!) with friends or a date. Great, diverse menu,…read moreincluding the option to have the bartender make a custom drink if you're feeling adventurous! All the servers are friendly and know the menu well. It can get a little loud with the love music, so sit in the back if you are worried about that -- it helps a little.

Wait this is a new fave spot. If it were a little cheaper I'd probably come weekly. The summer…read morespecial cocktail we got was delicious and so many of the bartender created cocktails sounded awesome. The atmosphere is dark, moody, intimate, and the live music really makes the vibe lively and fun but if you sit a bit further away from the band it isn't overwhelmingly loud and conversation is still possible (unlike, say, Dorian's). They also have a photobooth! Self seated.

One of my favorite spots for cocktails in Chicago! The drinks are NEXT LEVEL, the mixology is…read moreseriously insane. They also have live music, and it's always such a vibe. I've never not had a great time here. Shoutout to Guillermo because he's so good at his job and also so fun to talk to! Definitely one of my go-to cocktail spots.

Such a fun moody speakeasy for cocktails located in lower level of The Hoxton! They have such an…read moreincredible range of cocktails it's truly impressive. There's a decent amount of seating and space in the bar but we went on a Monday evening and it was quite busy so I can only imagine how crowded it gets on a weekend. It also is quite dark in this space, something to keep in mind if you struggle with that! We helped one of the bar staff clean a broken glass from the floor and they brought us some extra drinks which was extremely sweet of them! Would definitely come back the next time I'm in the area.

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.

New favorite cocktail bar in the city!!…read more It's the perfect spot for a winter night-- the bar has moody lighting, an outdoor fireplace, and phenomenal cocktails. We tried a couple of drinks and our favorites were the espresso martini and the n/a garden smash. The espresso martini is a must order! It's clear and made with chocolate and a coffee foam. We got to speak with the beverage manager Alex and he told us all about how they make all of their syrups and juices in house, the drinks do not contain any major allergens, and many of them have no added sugar. You can tell that eveyone here is very proud of what they do!

I've been to Three Dots multiple times so I figured I should probably leave a review…read more The place is dark and intimate and fun to hang out in. The wall of rums dominates the back of the bar, and it's super fun to watch the bartenders mix drinks. But you need to talk to them. They will give you recommendations and adjust drinks to your liking, or make you something that is not on the menu. The food is also quite good. Mostly smaller plates, appetizer style, but sometimes larger items too. The place is not cheap, but you're getting good drinks and great ambiance. If you can find the entrance in the alley, you need to check the place out. Wear a nice Hawaiian shirt!

This was another fortunate find randomly while walking around downtown Chicago. Seems to be a super…read morepopular place based on the number of reviews this place has. It was hard to find, but we discovered the entrance is in a back alley and bar is located downstairs. We loved the Tikki Bar theme. Drinks were good but a little watered down which was disappointing. Overall, it was a unique experience in the city.

Beautiful Ambiance, Good Food & Creative Cocktails…read more I went to Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink on Saturday for a friend's birthday celebration, and the ambiance was amazing! The decor is absolutely beautiful and really adds to the overall experience. The food was tasty. I had the truffle fries and grilled flatbread, and I enjoyed both. For cocktails, I tried the Side Piece, which was really good. It wasn't overly sweet, but had just enough sweetness and was nicely balanced. I also tried the Dirty Little Secret. I'm more of a cognac drinker, so while the drink was okay, I think next time I would choose a different liquor that better fits my taste. The only thing to keep in mind is that the food and drinks were a little slow coming out. Cocktails took about 10-15 minutes, and the food took around 30 minutes. However, we were there with a large birthday party, so I definitely took that into consideration. Overall, we had a great time! Beautiful atmosphere, tasty food, creative cocktails, and a fun vibe. I would definitely recommend Machine for a birthday celebration, date night, or a night out with friends. Good experience overall!

Service was decent. Food and cocktails were overall not good and extremely overpriced. Decor is…read moreaggressively hip but lacks warmth. When my husband and I checked in for our reservation, we were offered bar stools or a table. The table we were given was super awkward: low plush armchairs with a table that was way too high for them. Eating there would have been pretty difficult so we asked to move to an actual dining table. We had the chicken flatbread and truffle fries. The fries were actually really good and they accommodated my request for the mayo on the side. The flatbread was on what seemed to be a prefabricated cracker crust topped with some chunks of Sysco Foods-quality diced grilled chicken with feta cheese spread, arugula, mint and chili oil. The chicken cubes were VERY not-fresh. They had a dried-out edge on each cube, like they'd been sitting in a fridge too long inadequately covered. They tried to dress it up but the food quality was just subpar. Neither of us liked our cocktails. Gimmicky presentation but the flavors didn't come together. Our bill for 2 cocktails and two shareable plates was $100 including tip. I saw on the back of the menu that this place is owned by the same group as Dearly Beloved, where I have had SEVERAL mediocre-to-bad experiences. Had I known that beforehand, I would not have booked this place. Would not bother coming back.

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!!

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