Didn't know what to expect for this cocktail bar. The staff from the doorman to the server, Zee was the name I believe, were all great to deal with. Good place for low chill vibes and to get away from the younger bars Naperville has. Will be back. read more

It's hard to define The Northcott Liquorette. It's a bar but it's not a traditional American bar with TVs and comfort snack foods. It's not a bar with bad lighting and music. It's not a restaurant because you wouldn't just come here for the food although the food is good. It's close to a lounge I would say but again not exactly a lounge either. In any case it's a great place to hang out with a friend or friends or a date . The cocktails are made well and well thought out. They are not your traditional cocktails you find everywhere and I love an original place with unique ideas. Make a reservation, be on time, order a dish and a few drinks and enjoy yourself. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Food: I came by myself on a Saturday. I will say to make sure to make a reservation because the bar is small. I had three cocktails -- The Invisible Boatmobile (lemon-forward), the Coney Island Baby (a bitter-sweet cocktail) and Gravel Travel (a perfect mix of sweet, sour, and bitter). I found all the cocktails to be amazing! They are strong for sure! I did have the Deviled Eggs also which were okay. Personally, I like spice which I found these to lack. Other than that, I found the cocktails to be the highlight. In total: with three cocktails and the food the total was $58 before taxes. 4.5/5 Service: service was excellent. Because the bar itself is on the smaller side, I found the bartender to be very attentive. 5/5 Ambiance: the lounge is dark and moody--which I love! I am not a fan of bright lights and loud music. This is a perfect spot for a night out alone, with friends or a date. 5/5 Overall: 14.5/5 read more

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We were so excited to check out Northcott Liquorette. The decor and atmosphere were swanky and fun, but it did not really give 'speakeasy' vibes. There was no fun entrance or password; we waited at the bottom of the stairs, never got greeted, and walked up. We got seated right away and ended up asking to move seats because we were seated in the middle of a large/loud party. Our new seats were good; we did have to share a table with another couple. Our server was the best part; his name was Z. He did, however, have to cover the entire room, which seemed impossible for one person. The service did slow down mid-experience, and then we were given the option to move or leave to accommodate their next reservation, which was odd. We had some appetizers, which were okay, but we had no plates or napkins, so it was a bit messy to eat. The dirty chips were a highlight. The drinks were alright, but for being the 'main event' I thought they would offer more options for people who enjoy sweet drinks. They did not have any. The sweetest option was a pineapple option that had a thick foam on it. I took one sip and gave it to my husband. He did enjoy the fun Absinthe Foundatian; however, they only had one, so there was a lot of waiting for many tables as it was passed around. The best part was our server, Z, surprised us with donuts for my husband's birthday. They were very yummy! Overall, it was a super cute place, but definitely a one-time only visit for us. read more

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Second time having drinks here! Our first time was great, this visit? Meh. We were in just to have a few drinks before our dinner plans. Our waitress was super busy but took our orders. Our drinks arrived slow but we finished them and ordered our second round. THIRTY minutes later and no drinks, the bartender walks slowly around the bar to our table to announce that our reservation would be over at 8pm which was in 15 min. Shocked we agreed and asked when our second round of drinks would be arriving at our table so that we could hurry up. She went to make the drinks. Few minutes later a few drinks arrived. We were missing two. I swear the manager comes over to tell us our reservation was over at 8pm. We were like we know this but don't have our drinks yet. Waitress comes with the rest of the drinks and tells us our table is expiring at 8. We know.... I can't NOT make this up! The front doorman comes over to our table to tell us our reservation ends at 8pm. We were furious! We get the manager (the 2nd person to tell us we ain't gotta leave but get the hell outta here) and he apologizes and says he's here to clean up the bar and that his D staff is working tonight. Whaaa? So not only do you not offer us anything but a sorry apology that wasn't sincere, you insult your staff? Like I said our waitress was cool but that about it with this experience. The door guy was cool also but we didn't need to get told 4 times to leave at 8. We were upset and embarrassed and guess what???? They couldn't even bring us the check on time! Like WTF. Won't be coming back. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

So glad this hidden gem was recommended to me. I didn't have any food as I had eaten earlier. The drinks were fantastic and the employees were so nice and friendly. A special shoutout to Margaret who made excellent drinks, 'Z' for the friendly banter and Marquis at the door!! read more

You will be glad if you take the time to find this gem of a place. Amazing cocktails, wonderful and attentive service, along with knowledgeable suggestions based on what you enjoy drinking. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Went here with a large group for my friend's birthday. We walked in and stated we had a reservation, and the doorman mumbled something and told us to wait at bottom of stairs. Other people had walked in behind us and tried to go up the stairs, which they too got yelled at to go back down and wait. The bouncer definitely could've been nicer and we're jam packed in a very small space waiting. We got sat at our table and were brought water glasses. We never got a bottle of water at all that night just a bunch of empty glasses sat there. We had to go up to bar and ask for napkins. We tried to flag down someone several times to bring us some water, but finally gave up. Saw other tables had bottles at theirs. Service was poor and server seemed uninterested. Made a point to tell us we'd have to wait 20 min for our drink and that 3 parties were waiting ahead of us. I don't think we needed to know we were all talking anyways and would've welcomed our drinks whenever they came. The space is nice and speakeasy like but all the leather couches are falling apart. The drinks are all very unique. I usually drink vodka and there weren't any featured cocktails with vodka, so I tried the one the server said was most popular- crystal pistol. I personally thought it was awful. The BFD wasn't great. They were out of the spicy marg style drink. I remember coming here before covid, sitting at the bar, and the experience was very different. Not sure what has happened but it seems to have gone downhill. Was looking forward to the fun drinks and vibe of the place, but was disappointed. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Featured cocktails - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

When I went, they were very crowded, about 25 people and 3 or 4 servers. I spent an hour there and only got one weak, watered down old fashioned. read more

so fun! loved it here, fun trendy drinks, cool little spot. would recommend & 100% coming back when in area

A speakeasy bar is always cool. In downtown Naperville there's one to have some bougie fun. The Northcott Liquorette is one of the coolest hidden places. Everything except prices are good. Very tasty drinks and food but it will cost you a lot. Came recently with a sexy date. It has limited hours. They require you to make reservations. Be sure to make these weeks in advance. They fill up fucking quick. Drinks are hell ass expensive. It's jarring, and you don't get a lot. All Mixed Up is among the best. It's $16 for a small glass. This has banana liqueur, grapefruit bitters, grapefruit juice, lime, Scotch, and simple syrup. Among the food, it's also expensive. We had one of the few vegetarian items. It was a burger. This is The Vegetariat. It's $15 and comes with a side, and we both got chips. This has fried onions straws, green tomatoes, and spicy avocado aioli, which we left off. Hard to find, like a speakeasy should be. It's at the corner of Jackson and Main. The entrance is on the north side of Empire and it's up the stairs to find this. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Inside - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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Excellent speakeasy experience in an intimate and beautiful atmosphere. Cozy, warm, and comfortable! The drinks here are excellent! Dangerously good! I had the fairly odd French 75 and I'm absolutely in love with it! Waitstaff were friendly and kind. Highly recommend the dirty chips, which were a perfect pairing to our drinks. Washroom is downstairs and a bit of a hike, but not a dealbreaker. Make a reservation to secure a table or the coveted couch and armchair seating! read more

I happened to stumble across this place by accident. I've been living in DT Naperville for a few years and never knew this place existed. I was pleasantly surprised. I stopped by late on a Friday night for a quick drink. The ambiance is pretty nice and the drinks are amazing. The bartender Nate offered friendly service and gave great recommendations. I will definitely be back! read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Dreadlock holiday - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Such a cute hidden gym! The space is a perfect speakeasy vibe. The drinks are on point; it was the first time I got to sip on pho broth at a bar so that was a delicious treat, and my husband loved the two drinks he tried also. The food was also really good. The deviled eggs were very mustard-y, which we love. The buffalo blue cheese chips were like a lighter version of eating buffalo wings, in the best way, according to my husband. And the pork belly bao was tasty too. Very, very attentive and welcoming service. 10/10 experience and can't wait to go back! read more

A hidden gem in downtown Naperville, located right on the river, within the same walls of restaurant/bar Empire. An intimate, one of kind experience awaits. Their ever-changing menu is innovative, well thought out and delicious. Ideal for small groups, a date, with background music played at just the right decibel to allow for quality conversation. A perfect spot to impress out of town friends or family. This visit we tried the two summer teapot offerings. Both were presented on a tray, with vintage teacups and dry ice for a spectacular presentation. As a group of 3, there were plenty of cups to share. The fresh ingredients combine with the expertise of their bartenders made for a memorable experience. While reservations are not required, I strongly encourage them. Walk ins are taken, but usually aren't available until later in the evening. read more

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Cocktails here are absolutely amazing!!! Nice speakeasy vibe and perfect amount of lighting. The service was amazing as well. Would recommend this place 9/10 read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Tired and hungry from a long flight and had to wait a little bit for our table, we were greeted with insane drinks and surprisingly good food. We started with the Absinthe fountain that came with a full light show. The kettle drinks were good. We had the Florida Man and Island Boi. The drink is in a kettle and served in tea cups, like having high tea but so much better lol. The food was insanely good esp the dirty chips and the bao. Their charcuterie board has wild boar in it. Whatta treat! read more

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Wow wow wow! One of the best cocktail places I've ever been! With a herb group of friends I was able to try it all! I myself ordered a Toni Amos and it was on the sweet side but had an amazing flavor. The tea pot kettle was our favorite!!! It was so cute stylish but overall the best of all the cocktails! Definitely a great place to enjoy new flavors and have a fun time! read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Kettle Tea Pot - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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The first thing to know about this place is that it's located inside Empire restaurant. It gives speakeasy vibes, so you won't see signage anywhere outside. The lounge is located on the 2nd floor, accessible by stairs only, so it would be difficult for someone in a wheelchair or other with limitations to get there. The place is small and appears to be understaffed. There was only one gentleman taking orders from everyone. He did his best serving everyone, but the service was a bit delayed at times. This might explain why we're required to make a reservation. They had a nice selection of specialty cocktails. Overall, the ambiance was very chill. I will try this place again. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Absinthe fountain. - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

This speakeasy bar in Naperville is great to grab some late night cocktails! The tea pot kettles were our favorite! There are quite a few options for parking. There's garage parking next to Hotel Indigo and street parking is available too. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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My wife and I went there for a drink after dinner and had a great experience. We sat at the bar and had great conversation with the bartender and a couple of fantastic drinks. The cocktail list is very unique and they've got some solid bourbon as well. Great hidden gem! read more

This is a cool little bar located upstairs from Empire. Don't follow Yelp map because it has the place located across the street. True to speakeasy nature, the main entrance is inconspicuous but has a short velvet rope right outside. When we first arrived, the bouncer asked if we had a reservation and made it seem like it would be difficult to fit us in without one (even though we could clearly see the place was half empty). I suppose it was trying to make us feel special for being able to find a spot for us. We shared a communal table with another group of people. Our waiter was very attentive and nice. Drinks are expensive here with signature cocktail costing $16 and Absinthe starting at $14. There's a tea pot you can get for...$60?!? I got the Van Gogh for the lavendar and it was beautifully crafted. There seems to be a higher concentration of women compared to men while I was here. ....| \ _ , , , - - , , _ , .../ , ` . - ' ` ' . _ \ - ; ; ; , _ ..| , a - ) ) _ . ; . ( ` - ` - ' - ' ' - - - ' ' ( _ / . _ ) - ' ( _ \ _ ) 2019 read more

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An uninspired menu the was not executed particularly well. Prepackaged bao with dry pork, bagged salad, and boring charcuterie served to an equally boring soundtrack. Drinks were fine but I'd suggest if going, make it the last stop of the night after a decent meal and several drinks. read more

Very unique and well constructed drinks. Absinthe fountain is fun. Very cool design inside. Staff is very helpful, gives great recommendations, and make amazing drinks. Have been multiple times, very consistent. read more

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I heard about this place from a coworker. she said that if I love cocktails, rare whiskeys or bourbon this will be a good place for me. I dont drink those 3 but my husband do love whiskeys and bourbon! So I decided to treat him for a night out and surprise him! He kept asking if we are going to Empire (because of the address) or Pinot Palette (which he doesn't like not because of the place but he hates the idea of painting and drinking). When we got there he said he didn't even know the door/place existed, the place is small and we love the decor of the place. they recently added some food in the menu and we had he charcuterie and pork buns which were both tasty. the bartender (for some reason I forgot his name) prepared me a cocktail that is not in the menu... love it and he made me another..this time I remember and it's called "get lifted" one of their signature cocktails. My husband on the other hand had woodford reserve, Japanese whiskey (Nikka) and another 1 that I cannot remember. overall, we were happy with our experience and will come back. it is a bit pricey but I guess this is because they wanted to keep a limited clientele and they are open 2 to 3 days a week only. definitely considered a hidden gem of Naperville! read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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Door man Greg is great!! Thanks for your hospitality last night. Amanda our server is a gem! She always is so knowledgeable about the menu and super friendly, and this was the second time having her as our server. This whole place is a vibe! Wonderful music, creative bartenders! This is the place to be, but shhhh don't tell no one! Make sure you reserve a head of time. read more

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Amazing bartender. Very cool and inventive drinks. Lounge is classy and dark. Nailed the speakeasy theme. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounge area - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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I was extremely impressed with our experience at Northcott. The ambiance was really nice and classy. The customer service was top notch and professional. The drinks were outstanding, and well presented. All of the food was delicious. I would highly highly recommend this place for a nice date night, or an evening out with friends. read more

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The drinks were great and I can't get over how delicious the pork belly bao was. Our server was swamped but amazing! I highly recommend getting a reservation - I'm not sure we would have been seated on a Saturday without one. The only downside was the music was pretty loud and didn't match the atmosphere. In the two hours we were there we heard everything from 2000s R&B to the best of the 80's. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Pork Belly Bao - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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Great vibe, great music. Artistic drinks. Had an amazing time. Very accommodating. Thank you! read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Gorgeous drinks with pistachio and matcha - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

This place is AWFUL!!! We had reservations and that was fine. The waitress was rude, abrupt and completely uninterested in serving us. She took our drink orders pretty quickly, but didn't return for at least 30 minutes and forgot about some of the drinks. When we asked about them, she rolled her eyes. By the time we wanted a second round it was ridiculously difficult to even get her to acknowledge us. We would have spent a lot of money and left a good tip but she was just terrible. Additionally, they were out of many of the drinks and they only do drinks off of the menu. Don't go here! read more

The food is from empire so if you like them then you'll love the food here. The ambiance is perfectly cosy and very intimate. I wished our waiter explained what we were drinking more but overall it was nice! read more

My husband and I came to visit for our anniversary and our experience was amazing! Amanda we our waitress and was incredibly attentive. The bartender, Reese, made amazing drinks. My husband asked for something "off of the menu" and Reese made him something he loved (first time for everything!) I can't wait to come back and enjoy the atmosphere again! read more

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I love the idea of a speakeasy bar in downtown Naperville. Four and a half years ago I moved back out to the burbs from the city and I have to admit, I miss a lot of the cool swanky places you can find in Chicago. Luckily, Naper-thrill has stepped up it's game in the last few years with new restaurants and bars that remind me of my old city vibe stompin' grounds. The Northcott Liquorette is located in the same building as Empire, although I guess I'm kind of ruining part of the experience by telling you that (sorry not sorry). This speakeasy lounge is not advertised at all. There is no sign on the building and I personally found out about it by word of mouth. Pretty fun, am I right? They're open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and a reservation is suggested. I will say that when I went online to book a reservation the same night, the earliest available time was 11:45 pm which I found hard to believe, so we popped on over at like 9 pm anyway and were radio'd up to the bar no problem. There were a few others sitting up at the bar along with a group or two of other peeps at tables, so not very crowded on a Friday night at all. Their cocktails are very inventive and the bartenders definitely know what they're doing. My husband and I only stopped in for one drink to check the place out, but I'm glad we did. I enjoyed one of their speciality cocktails called the Fernet About It which was made up of bourbon, fernet, sherry, honey, lemon juice, and fresh mint, all served on the rocks. At $16 I'm happy to say this strong, refreshing, and flavorful drink was worth it. Their cocktail menu is pretty extensive including fun teapot kettles to share, apsinthe fountains, rare liquor acquisitions, and more. They don't offer food other than charcuterie, but that includes delicious cured meats and artisan cheeses. The look and feel of the bar itself is pretty fantastic. I love the decor, color of the walls, and overall vibe. For me, this isn't a place I'd hang out at all night considering the cost of drinks (although they are quality), but I will definitely be back for a beverage and to enjoy the ambiance. Northcott Liquorette also seems like a great place to cheers to a special occasion, so maybe this will be my next birthday celebration spot! read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

This is an awesome speakeasy - little else needs to be said. It stays true to the prohibition era theme and drinks are pricey but well worth the cost and experience. If you have never had absinthe, I recommend the Chicago blend. Very cool to see the flaming sugar cube and the water drip that dilutes your drink to your liking. I'll be back, loved the experience. read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Man or man. You're in for a treat here if you love your cocktails. Made to order with high end ingredients. These bartenders or should I say mixologists, are on point let me tell you. Tell them what you like in terms of flavors or liquor type and bam - you'll have heaven in a glass! You'll miss this Naperville speakeasy if you're not careful as it's situated right on the corner without any attention grabbing decor or signage. As you enter, you go up the dark lit stairway and into a rather unique decorum with soft lighting and welcoming seating and lounge chairs. The joint isn't real big, but cozy just the same. The drinks are as delicious as they are $$. So be prepared. AND MAKE RESERVATIONS ... yep, that's what I said. Enjoy. read more

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Not worth it. Next! As a 15 year resident of Naperville I appreciate unique ideas but also strong execution. Northcott started out as a unique idea but failed on execution. Our first few visits felt welcoming with great mixologist talent and warm service. The place has gone way downhill post Covid becoming a pretentious wannabe Vegas club with arrogant bouncers. Too many options in suburban Chicago to pay $20 a drink for a show of attitude. They have lost touch with who they need to serve. Not going back! read more

The Northcott is a hidden gem of the downtown Naperville lounge/bar scene. With hours limited to weekend evenings, and a nearly unmarked door just down from Empire's flashier entrance you have probably passed it by several times without even knowing it's there. You email them for a reservation from their website, they text a confirmation and when they're open there will be a roped off area on the sidewalk with a "bouncer"/host to check you in and escort you upstairs to an old speakeasy style lounge. Very cozy, appropriate for either a date or small group, it's a warm, hip vibe that's quite relaxing. The bartenders are true mixologists, and offer a menu full of high end, complex cocktails. The ingredients are high end and fresh, producing delicious drinks. They specialize in absinthe, and have other drinks meant to share. I see they've also added a very nice selection of whiskeys and other liquors since we were there. Highly recommend you check out the menu on their website for a better sense of selection. For us, it's a great spot to hit after dinner for a nightcap. Very glad to have the Northcott in Naperville! read more

The Northcott Liquorette - Lounges Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Best hide and seek door drinks are worth price lil high but worth it absinth was amazing (Next to empire )(literally) read more

Super fun place to get drinks! Small, crowded room but a nice atmosphere. Drinks were unique and really good. Make a reservation! read more

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