Love! I finally made it up to this craft cocktail spot just a couple blocks from the Howard Red line stop. It's small but cozy, with a nice amount of seating, about 8 spots at the bar and a long hightop to stand at when it gets crowded. There was no table service, the signs indicate you need to order at the bar but that was totally fine with us. The bartender was so friendly (and cute!) so I didn't mind heading over to chat about cocktails, then they bring them to your table. I went the gin route and tried the Pegu Club and Last Word, both of which were delicious. My friend loved her Hemingway and Side Car. I get the feeling you can't make a poor choice here. We didn't try any of the food but it smelled delicious! Can't wait to come back! read more

I adore this bar. It's everything I want in a bar; cozy, perfect cocktails, delicious food, warm and friendly bartenders, always a place to sit. They have a great cocktail menu that is all classics, and they make them expertly. They have daily specials and Tiki Tuesday, which is great! They have live music a few nights out of the week, and it's always lovely and never too loud. I can't say enough good about it! I'm a huge fan of violet hour because I think they have been doing something well, consistently, since the day they opened. This bar is tied with violet hour as my new favorite. read more

In a word: delightful. I'm so glad that Cody, Anders et al. (of the late, much-loved In Fine Spirits bar) have created this home for their work, although it's no longer Rogers Park's best-kept secret and can be a bit shoulder-to-shoulder on the weekend. The cocktail menu is an excellent map for explorers, and if you're feeling truly adventurous, just ask them to surprise you - best case, you'll find a new favorite, and at the very least, you'll learn something. The sherry flip is particularly good on a cold day. There's a tongue-in-cheek dedication to authenticity here best exemplified by the flaming, multi-straw tiki drinks that are just as well crafted as their Manhattans. I'm not a paper umbrella girl myself, but if you are, drop in on a Tuesday sometime. Draws a younger crowd on the weekends, but nothing rowdy (this is Evanston, after all). read more

Great cocktails & great service. The drinks are pretty to look at and the bartenders almost put on a show. Cute place to take out of town friends if you don't want to travel all the way to the city. Good music and friendly service. read more

Where are the half stars? This place is a solid 4.5 but I'm rounding up because I stopped by for a friend's birthday party. Service was top notch and their drinks were tasty. A buddy even brought in a bottle of malort straight from Sweden, and most of our party including the bartenders did a birthday shot. This is a good date spot, however it can get a bit loud since space is limited. Conveniently located just two blocks from the Howard red line, I will definitely stop back once the weather is warmer for their outdoor seating. read more

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I love this spot...the vibe here is comfortable, they often have new art on the walls to showcase local artists and it is always amazing. The bartenders are courteous and helpful. Great place! read more

Very nice spot for the area. Its like walking into another dimension. The drinks are good and they sometimes have live music. Good ambiance

Great place to take a date... their mixed drinks are very delicious!! I wanted to get more but my family wanted to go check out another bar so had to leave but I'll surely be coming back for more!! read more

This bar is around the corner from my house and always has good service and great drinks. I haven't been able to go as often during the pandemic but can't wait to get back! read more

I know what you're thinking: a cocktail place on Howard? It does exist! Finally, you don't have to travel to the West Side to get an exciting cocktail. The ambiance is really great; an intimate setting with a good vibe. If you haven't gone, you must go. Now! read more

Came here for the drinks. I recommend the Hemingway for those who like something on the sweeter side!

No better food/drinks in Evanston. Nothing is bad on their menu. Their cheese/charcuterie plate is my favorite of any I've had in Chciago. I hesitated in posting this review because I was in that "keep this place to yourself" mode. But you have to share the love. read more

Great little spot! Get a cocktail from the menu, they're pretty tasty. The ambiance is lovely and is great for any date night, girls night, or family drink night. If it's nice out, their back patio is perfect! read more

Wonderful gem of a place, where the drinks match its cozy ambiance. All of our cocktails were superb, but the Absinthe "Momisette" was otherworldly. The history behind "la fée verte" (the green fairy) makes drinking it all the more interesting. It is an added intrigue to the experience to read about the mysterious spirit while in the company of other's. One could easily devote an entire evening to the topic of their cocktails, it's that fun. Plan to return in a few weeks for my birthday - only this time, we're going to indulge in some eats too! read more

Unbelievable cocktails! Whether you want a classic cocktail or a unique creation, Ward Eight has it all.

Cool bar, nice ambiance and staff is extremely nice. Mixed drinks are good if you're into that. I'm more of a straight up type of dude my girlfriend loved the Belgian triple is believe it was. Appetizers were also very good. read more

The cocktails are really lovely, full of depth. Lots of thought and care have clearly gone into them. Great Manhattan and Moscow Mule. Very nice snacks A friendly atmosphere, and good eclectic music. and wonderfully free from TVs read more

Excellent spot! Delicious cocktails and great service. Be sure to stop by for tikki Tuesdays.

This place is highly underrated. No, it isn't in the city but it's worth the trek. Killer and consistent cocktails and a small yet delicious menu of food. The staff is fantastic. No pretentious attitudes, just friendly faces and always a great experience. read more

I came to Ward Eight on a whim, after a friend relayed that she had heard good things about it. Obviously it's not a proper dinner spot, but my date and I did order quite a bit of food and treated the experience as if it were. Here's the rundown: Positives - Cocktails are creative, diverse, and tasty. Plus a decent selection of draught beer. - Food is inventive, fashionably presented, and of a high quality. I definitely recommend checking out the specials on the blackboard. - The waitstaff (once you garner their attention) are fairly attentive Negatives - On the Saturday night that we visited, there was a bluesy duo (guitar and harmonica) playing in the front corner. The volume was out of control, and the issue wasn't properly addressed after our raising it to the "waitress" (though I hesitate to use that term for Ward Eight...see below). If I wanted to see a show, I would buy tickets and go to a proper venue. The purpose of music in a bar is to enhance the ambiance, not to altogether dominate all senses. It's ironic that one of the bar's "rules" is no shouting; were we to have followed this directive, it would have been impossible to carry on any sort of conversation. - Another curious convention of Ward Eight is that all orders must be placed at the bar. To the establishment's credit, there are signs on all the tables informing guests of this protocol. Nonetheless, it comes off as pretentious and perhaps lazy to carry on business in this manner, let alone inconvenient. For example, after ordering our first round of drinks and a smattering of small plates to share, I had to leave my date at the table and return to the bar to order more drinks. My advice would be to tip, shall we say, accordingly, to the level of service that this ordering technique entails. Final thoughts: I would probably return for a late-night cocktail if I find myself in the neighborhood again, merely because I found myself enamored with the libations themselves. The blaring band, inconvenient service, and haughty rulebook I could do without. read more

I admit I'm biased about Ward 8, but still want to give them props and rounds of applause, ESPECIALLY when I read negative, 1-2 star reviews, because the place is "too crowded." Here's a tip: crowded is good. It's crowded because it's popular, because the cocktails, food, and service are outstanding. It should be crowded. My husband and I go all the time, and there have been evenings when there isn't anywhere to sit..oh well, that's life. Criticizing them for being successful is absurd, just as it's absurd to complain that a cocktail bar was too loud (and crowded) for a book club meeting. read more

Have I really not reviewed Ward Eight yet? I've been here three times, maybe four, and have loved it each time. The cocktail menu is perfect - a good selection of tried and true cocktails, each annotated with the year it was created (1800s, anyone?). The food menu is small, but quality. You can get a bowl of almonds or a larger meal - something for everyone. They have local artists' work on the walls, atmospheric lighting, really friendly servers, and good music. It's small, it's not a pick-up joint, it's not a scene - it's a great little place to go hang out with friends or a date/spouse and relax with good food and drink. read more

Ward 8 is Evanston's Speakeasy. Rightfully so, considering its location on Howard Street. Times have changed, but I am not about to take a long stroll in the middle of the night, in this neighborhood, by myself. My first visit happened on Valentine's Day. I went here on the suggestion of a friend. I decided to take a guy up on his offer, and go on a date. We were completely out of our element when we first walked in. There were no instructions regarding the service. When you walk in, no one greets you. Menus are located in the back of the bar, just before the hallway to the bathrooms. Grab a menu and just sit anywhere you want. On the menu, there are small food plates offered; along with a list of the various cocktails, described by their ingredients. Do not come here hungry. These plates are more like snacks. They are also over priced. Overall good vibes made up for everything.You might have to wait, but once you have made your selections from the menu, you must place your order at the bar. Ordering wine, bread and cheese took almost 10 minutes. The mixologists appear young and possibly not the best at handling a busy venue. I simply immersed myself in my cellphone while my date did all the work ordering. Overall our stay was uneventful and pleasant. I think if I ever visit Ward Eight again, it will be to serve as a halfway point to gather for my friends that live up north. If you live in Chicago, you definitely owe it to yourself to check it out at least once. It really is more down to earth than other speakeasies found in the Chicago. read more

I love this place. Very cool artsy vibe with excellent bar tenders who always remember my drink order! The incredible owner is usually there which makes a big difference. Newbies and a regular crowd mesh together nicely. Cocktails are their specialty and when you go you'll see why. Menu is great with an awesome charcuterie and cheese plate. A must go!! I highly recommend. read more

Five billion stars! What a gem hidden in a not-so-good part of Evanston. Don't let the shuttered businesses on the block and cop cars roaming up at down the street dissuade you from coming in here. The drinks are top-notch--everything I've had has been fantastic, with my current favorite being the brandy alexander. The food is quite good as well. My only gripe is that Ward Eight is becoming more popular. I liked having it all to myself! read more

Re: Adriane P. This is a review of your review, since Yelp won't allow me to say that your post was anything other than "good", "funny", or "helpful"-- I would have chosen "ridiculous". Your attempt at sounding cultured and intelligent falls far short of its goal. Your syntax and grammar are atrocious. Your culinary knowledge is clearly limited, but this fact does nothing to deter you from posting as though you were a judge on Iron Chef. You've offered nothing in the way of a real review of this new establishment, and have instead chosen to stumble unwittingly over each of your ill-thought out analogies just so that your voice could stand out as an important one. Thankfully, we are not fooled. Hopefully, your review was a joke; you get kicks from writing faux-pompous reviews on Yelp, right? If not, I encourage you to spend more time on your sentence structure and less time sniffing your farts out of a cognac glass. http://i.imgur.com/ODEdKTk.gif read more

Walking in here is like walking into another world. Dark, sultry, mysterious. Great decor, awesome mood music and can we talk about the drinks? Delicious!! Nice place for a romantic moment or hanging out with friends. Friendly knowledgeable staff. So glad to have such a unique place as a go to. read more

Ok - talk about a turn-around! I was contacted by the manager of Ward 8 whose customer service skills are exceptional. Cody invited me to return, offered to meet with me and suggested nights that were less crowded since that was a turn-off for me. I went back last week and what a completely different experience! The place had seats available and we did not have to wait at all. The noise was conversationally friendly. The wine list had also been updated and I really enjoyed my choice. I suggest caution if noise is a problem for you - Cody suggested Wednesday or Sunday nights are quieter. But I think it is a good addition to the neighborhood. read more

What a FANTASTIC new cocktail bar! Best I've been to in Chicagoland short of In Fine Spirits. The staff are fantastic, highly educated in the art and history of the cocktail. Their ingredient selection is amazing, and each cocktail creation gets the full attention of the mixologists / owners. This is not a place where you chug anything - even the beers are high end. The food's great too - cheeses and breads and simple, elegant fare. The clientele are great too - super friendly and outgoing. Rumor has it that the local alderman (Evanston Ward 8) is already a regular, and their official grand opening isn't even until Wednesday the 12th of December. I'll be going here regularly. read more

Great place to go. Bartenders were attentive but not annoying. Atmosphere was relaxed. No televisions or excess noise, just good music. Beers were $5-6 at most and had good selection. Just 4 beers on tap, but most were microbrews, one was from Evanston. Selzter was free! Toasted almonds were delicious $4 bar snack. Was quieter for a Thursday night bar, so great place to meet friends and actually hear them talk. I'd come again for sure. BTW: free parking on the North side of Howard Street after 6 pm. Boo ya! read more

I went to Ward Eight for the first time this past weekend...what a gem! Great cocktails and intimate. Great for a drink with a friend and romantic enough for a date. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed ourselves. Oh, they also have an impressive beer collection which my BF really enjoyed. The music is interesting music, not dance-able but eclectic. Highly recommend! read more

Place is small but nice, it gets a little too dark in there when it hits evening time. There wasn't too many fruity or girly drinks there. I had the Mexican firing squad which was really good, I stuck to that. You do have to order your drinks/food at the bar, which I think is a little weird, especially if it gets busy in there, you don't want to be lingering over the person sitting at the bar if you are sitting on the other side. The only thing we tried for food were the meatballs, they were okay, lacked flavor. Read the sign before you walk in...I know for guys no baseball caps! read more

The drinks here are unlike anything you have ever had. It can only be the work of true mixologists!! No matter what drink you order, you are sure to love it! As an added bonus, they have some of the best food I have ever had! I have always left Ward Eight incredibly impressed and excited to go back! read more

Wonderful! I was over the moon to learn the existence of a modern gastropub nearby. Ward Eight offers delicious small plates (recommend the artisan combination cheese plate), classic mixed cocktails and a exquisite chocolate torte in a beautiful small atmosphere without the pretension of similar places in the city. The bartenders were surprisingly sweet and friendly and the customers where equally the same. So refreshing to experience fine drinks and small plates without the attitude and long lines! I'll definitely be back to try more cocktails hopefully served by that one cute bartender :) read more

Awesome well made drinks, tasty, not your typical bar food and nice staff, but too many women.

Small quiet neighborhood bar with first rate cocktails. Service is quick and friendly.

Awesome bartenders!! The Ward Eight on the border of Evanston & Rogers Park offers craft cocktails at an average of $10 :) The drinks are great and if you need help deciding ask the bartenders, they made great recommendations and are super nice. Enjoy sitting at the bar and watching these bartenders create amazing well balanced drinks. read more

Good food, excellent service, a bit pricey. We intended to eat and drink in the bar but it was so crowded we ended up in the dining room. Different menu but very good. read more

Following a shooting a few blocks down that had just transpired, seems to get off the street is always a good idea- Guys do it right, especially how easy it is to mess up a negroni. Good selection of rare spirits, barkeeps have knowledge, passion, and good jokes. Food is on par and compliments what they do without going overboard. WiIl return again and again, hopefully this summer isn't as eventful as the last one. But hey, living in Chicago area guess we have a little more appreciation for life than others? Cheers. read more

I love this place. It's one of my favorite bars in Chicago and I love taking my friends who bother making the trek up to Evanston here. All the drinks I've ever had here are super sophisticated and well balanced. The bar staff are extremely knowledgeable about their craft. One of the made a beautiful Aviation after my mixologist friend requested it, and it wasn't on the menu. Not much can be said for the food because the cocktails outshine the crap out of the food, but I remember the bacon wrapped dates to be a nice supporting act for my Vieux Carre. read more