Increíble food. Try their shakshuka. Drinks are amazing. Best bartenders in the city.

Go into Pops Champagne bar and head down the stairs with a "W" over the door. This place is cool. I had the "I'm a businessman" bourbon drink w/absinthe. Served in a classy cut crystal glass, it was so good. There is low light, candle light, bites to eat, and expert cocktail making. The prices were fair for this part of town. The server was cordial and really knew the drink list well, it's nice when the service staff understands the art behind the bar. There is a 8 seat bar area, the rest are cozy couches, tables, and group seating. read more

Such a cool bar! The upstairs champagne bar has an entirely different vibe, but we didn't spend time there. Downstairs, there are lots of comfy seating options. I liked that I could sit in a low seat at the bar! Lots of fancy, well-made drinks that you couldn't just make at home. Bartenders were nice and attentive. Definitely recommend for a laid-back night of delicious cocktails. read more

Watershed - Delicious bourbon whiskey drink with rosemary - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I mean wtf is this place? Not sure what makes this a speak easy... I'd call it a basement bar and with an aroma of urinal cakes and bubble gum. To round out the experience we ordered a watershed Janet and a glass of wine...Like I've had bad cocktails before and this one by far is the winner... you could not pay me to drink it. Also, the staff seemed nice or high probably both. Yeah just don't. read more

PRO: -Chill ambience and wait staff -Unique cocktail options -LOVE the music that was played closer to closing (think 90s/00s RnB: Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, etc.) CON: -Limited seating so you may have a wait depending on time of night OVERALL: One of my new favorite go-to spots for drinks/night-cap. Was able to snag a primo spot on a couch. Enjoyed the music and the atmosphere. They do a great job of keeping the crowd at a minimum for a more relaxed environment. Reminds me of hanging out in someone's living room. PRO TIP: Location is in the basement/under the Pops for Champagne bar. read more

Watershed is under Pops For Champagne and there really isn't a discernable entrance for it. I went into the main entrance, saw a W sign above a staircase and decided to explore. I'd either end up in the women's bathroom or the lounge. I had to fix my hair anyway due to the snow. How awful has this winter been? It's really been messing with my shoe game. Turns out that is the entrance to Watershed! The atmosphere is way different than Pops. The stone walls, Mid-Centry Modern furniture and vintage barware give it a 70s living room vibe. I loved it! I also loved how the cocktail menu used a lot of local spirits (Koval, Few, etc). You won't find any Grey Goose at this River North spot! We all started off with a round of the You Never Know. Not sure how I convinced the ladies to get it since I'm the only whiskey/bourbon drinker of the group, but they loved it! The apple whiskey gave it a sweet, non-threatening flavor. It was good, but a bit too sweet for me. I also had the Ginger Clementine Old Fashioned (delicious) and the Smoke Along The Tracks. The latter was super strong, but tasty! Food-wise, we had the deviled eggs, honey roasted macadamia nuts, both of the chicken wings, and a charcuterie plate. All I remember from the latter was the rabbit and chicken liver pate and the Beehive Barely Buzzed cheese. That cheese had a coffee and lavendar rub which intrigued us and was as uniquely delicious as it sounded! Service was great at first, but as the place became busier, our server was nonexistent. At one point, our group of 8 sat with empty glasses for a half hour. We wanted to order one last round but at that point, we got the check instead. Booo. I'd still come back to try more cocktails and food. read more

Watershed - Charcuterie - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My goal is to check out all the speakeasy bars in Chicago, and I can now check Watershed off the list. We came here on a Saturday night, which wasn't crowded. There were multiple couches and chairs open. We plopped down on a big, comfy couch, which was short-lived because a server came to us and asked if we could move to the bar so that they can accommodate a large party. Since he offered to buy us a round of drinks, we agreed and sat our butts down at the corner of the bar... near the bartender who occasionally splashed alcohol on us from vigorously shaking his cocktail shakers. We were also next to the area where the servers stood and punched in orders, which I'm sure allowed them to tune into our conversation. Speaking of conversation, this is one of those places where you don't have to scream in each other's ears, which is always a treat for my vocal cords. We ordered a Twig & Berries cocktail, New Holland The Poet beer, and Arcadia Sky Rye beer. The cocktail tasted great, although it wasn't really strong. The initial check we received didn't reflect the discount promised, so we had to notify the server to correct the check. I like the Pops for Champagne ambiance more, so maybe I'll check that out in the future. Watershed would be a good place to visit with friends as opposed to a date. read more

Ever walk around River North and wonder, Man, I wish I was in a basement in Wisconsin? No? Well, me neither, but if you wish to escape the trendier, well-heeled spots littering the neighborhood, duck into the basement of Pop's for Champagne and find yourself in another world,a la Austin Powers. The decade here, however, is the 70s - wood and slate stone and your grandfather's cocktails. You won't be drinking shirley temples here. The vibe is friendly and very laid back. The menu, with its small plate and charcuterie looked great but we were just here for post dinner drinks. Watershed boasts an impressive list of small batch ryes and bourbons, and, of course, lots of cocktails. I thought their manhattans were too sweet, even when I ordered them with rye and instructed my server to go easy on the vermouth, but the pours of the small batches were just dandy. Have one or three on the rocks and let your troubles slide away. Its my go-to spot for old school brown liquor in River North. read more

Their hours aren't what they say they are. I went at 11pm on a Thursday night, and was told they were closed when it says it's closed at 2 am. So make sure you call before driving and wasting time to a "closed" bar! read more

Watershed is like a speakeasy hidden inside Pop Champagne (Have to walk downstairs to find this spot) Dress code seems much more casual than Pop champagne. I walked into POP CHAMPAGNE thinking it was watershed and felt underdressed... until I realized Watershed is located in the basement area of Pops! Watershed offers beers and spirits only from the states of surrounding lakes so don't expect to find Jameson or tequila~ All of their beers and spirits come from the following states below:. New York Wisconsin Chicago Minnesota Illinois Indiana Kentucky Tennessee Iowa Love their beer selection. Each page has beer selections from selected states! Would come here again when I am in Chicago! read more

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DO NOT GO HERE! Ordered an old fashion and was served something with mezcal and cold brew coffee? Asked if I needed to pay, giving the bartender an opportunity to make it right. Guys seemed to take joy in knowing they were screwing us on our drinks. Will never go back. read more

I like that this bar is underground. I kind of like to imagine it as a secret amongst people in the know. I like the blend of beer and cocktails this place has. I've I'm drinking in the river north part of the city it's my bar of choice. Got a New York sour and Point Special ale. Caught up with a close friend. It's not a giant bar but they do OK job of waiters taking orders from the table if you're not sitting by the bar. read more

Watershed - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not impressed.... I was expecting quite the experience at Watershed after it had been written up in just about every Chicago and foodie publication. I was seriously disappointed. The wine selection was poor...I know they are going for local flair here, but I have had good Michigan wines, and these were not good. The mixed drinks, while inventive, were miniscule! We were pleased with the prices on the drinks until we received them and realized they would be half sized beverages anywhere else! The food, while tasty, also was tiny. Portions were supposedly sized for sharing, but I could have eaten all three of our sharing plates myself and still gone back for more food. The staff was ok, but not very attentive and service was slow. I can find numerous interesting places to visit in the city and in the area near Watershed - this isn't worth the visit. read more

When my husband and I first moved to Chicago, one of our friends introduced us to this place. It's a nice intimate bar/lounge. They also have food options here as well as cocktails and etc. The place is located in the basement of Pops and Champagne. The ambiance is quite cozy and intimate. This is a perfect place to meet up casually or grab drinks after dinner. They have a good selection of drinks and if you are hungry have a nice selection of eats. Recently, I took some friends here that recently just moved into town. They enjoyed it and I am pretty sure we'll continue coming back here to try many other things on their menu. read more

Our second visit to this hidden gem did not leave us disappointed! Relaxing on a couch, drinking an amazing craft beer followed by delightful appetizers is my kinda night. The Tempura Wisconsin Cheese Curds were my favorite for the night. The breading was light and believe it or not packed full of flavor. Oh & give the honey roasted macadamia nuts a try - they pretty delicious. Can't wait to go back! read more

Watershed - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The bartenders definitely made the experience. Such a relaxed atmosphere and fun to hang out with friends. Loved having some games available. We helped Kenny Loggins have a saxy day! read more

When our drinks arrived, they looked small.. but be careful, they are strong! We got the Bebbo and the You Don't Know (so tasty!). We also ordered the cheese curds for my Wisconsin friend, and they were fantastic. Nice atmosphere for a late 20s, 30s type crowd. Upstairs Pops For Champagne was a little more busy on a Tuesday night. Would definitely come here again, though. read more

Watershed - tempura cheese curds - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is one of the most unique places in the city. My favorite place to stop by after work. The drink menu is so creative, the food is delicious, the vibes are great and the best part is the staff. read more

Stopped by for a cocktail on Friday night. It was a nice basement bar below pop champagne. I was unimpressed with the cocktail menu. Didn't have many unique choices. In addition, only one server was working so it took a while to get served. However, we were able to get a table by walking in by 8:30pm so that was nice. It was pretty filled and loud. By the time we left there was a long line to get seated. read more

Nice little "speakeasy" we almost missed if we didn't ask for its location... ‍ Tucked downstairs of Pops champagne bar, nice spot to grab a drink and lounge... read more

Watershed - Old Fashioned & Artichoke Queen... - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is actually downstairs once you enter the Pops Champagne place; it took us a bit too long to figure that out. I definitely came here two days in a row, but the second day was mainly because we just couldn't decide what other place to try. It's a good spot, though, and a nice place to get a late night snack and drink during the week. The Mon-Thurs after 10PM specials are a delight- the poutine was delicious, and a deal at 5 bucks! I wasn't the biggest fan of the twig and berries drink- the bits of thyme were gettin all stuck in my teeth. But, I thought the I Do Declare was refreshing. Obviously much busier on Friday; we waited about 20 minutes for seats for a party of 3 while there was zero wait the night before. read more

Watershed just might be my new favorite cocktail bar in Chicago. I fell in love on my first visit. Some friends from out of town and I went out to grab a drink and maybe a bite one night. Since this place had been on my list for awhile, we decided to pop in and give it a try. The atmosphere is perfect. The space is warm and inviting and just the right amount of busy. Every time I walk in, it kind of feels like an escape. Since that first night I have been back several times and always choose one of the booths along the back wall. They are cozy and perfect for catching up with friends. The servers are friendly and knowledgable. The cocktail list is extensive but they are great about recommending the right drink for what you're in the mood for. Same goes for the food. I have to admit that I never probably would have tried the duck jerky but our server's recommendation was spot on. Now I crave that duck jerky. It's a must have. We usually end up staying way longer than we thought we would but it's one of those places you don't want to leave. All of the drinks we've had there have been very well balanced and tasty. The glassware is beautiful, too, kind of reminds me of my parents' old china. I love it! The fact that they have awesome food as well is the icing on the cake. I love this place. Looks like it's time for my next visit. read more

Watershed - Love the glassware! - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A small, intimate atmosphere in the basement of a wine bar. Classic cocktails with unique interpretations at prices that would be low in most American cities but are dirt cheap by Chicago standards. If you're in the neighborhood, it's definitely worth popping in. read more

What a cute spot! It's secluded in the basement of the restaurant, but a pretty lively atmosphere when you get downstairs. Enter in through Pops for Champaign door and follow the W down the stairs. I met a friend here for drinks after work on a Friday and it was packed, but we were able to get a table. Going off the recommendations of our waitress I went with the "you never know" whiskey based drink. I believe it was Apple whiskey and it was light and refreshing. I didn't order food, but my friend tried the oysters (tiny) and the chicken wings. She said both were good. I will definitely be back :) read more

Watershed - "You Never Know" whiskey based drink - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really like this place, it's one of the old speakeasy's still around in the city. The devote is vintage, but clean. The food (in guessing from Pops upstairs) is amazing. We have only tried a few of the appetizers, chisels, fries, escargot, and all of them were very tasty! The bartender will walk around to the little tables and take your order. They seem very knowledgable about the different kinds of alcohol they serve, and they make the drinks very well. Good place to go for a lounge conversation evening. read more

Watershed - Great selection of craft beer! - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here on a Friday night with a large group of co-workers (we were all in town for training). This place is located in the basement below Pops for Champagne. You have to walk through Pops for Champagne to get downstairs -- the attire upstairs is definitely more classy and dress-up than the casual vibe downstairs (I'm only mentioning this b/c my friends led the way to this place, and I had a split second thought of "shit, I'm under-dressed" before making our way downstairs). We had a group of 15+ people, and only had to wait a few minutes for them to pull to tables together. The service was good for such a large party. We ordered sides of Frites to share, which came with a garlic, truffle-brown butter, smoked dijonaise and house ketchup sauces. I love my fries crispy on the outside and soft on the inside -- and these delivered! I also loved their ketchup, which did I mention, is made from scratch? It was the frosting on top! I didn't pay attention to what everyone else ordered, but there was a large selection to choose from. I had a Moscow Mule, which is a house cocktail made with Crop Cucumber Vodka, Koval Ginger, Lime, and Ginger Beer. The drink was very light and refreshing, couldn't taste the alcohol, and was not overly sweet! I also noticed couples on dates on the smaller tables around the wall. The lighting is dark, which is standard bar procedure. Overall, a very chill vibe and positive first night experience in Chicago! read more

If I lived in Chicago, I'd be here every single night. Hell, I was only here for 5 days and I WAS here every night. It's chill while still being hip, perfect for an after-work cocktail or a nightcap to close out your evening. Stupendously amazing staff - especially Frazier and Rich. An atmosphere like nothing we have in Louisiana (because we can't have basements - damn you sea level!) with a hidden, intimate, home-like feel. Delectable, unique drinks made right before your eyes and poured into really cool glassware. I strongly recommend the Hot Pumpkin Cider with Woodford Reserve, the Manhattan #6, and the Girl Scout drink with Whiskey...basically anything with whiskey/bourbon is a strong choice. Frazier also has a different take on the Sazerac, that I suggest you try if you are a Sazerac fan. If you feel like we did after drinking all these cocktails, you probably want to have a bite to eat. Why leave? They have a selection of cheeses that are very tasty - I recommend the blue cheese and their pretzel bread pudding with HONEY MUSTARD ICE CREAM (yes, you heard right) is spellbinding. Oh and, great LIVE music during the week. You MUST come check this place out, but not too many of you because it doesn't need to become the hip secret place where I can't sit down when I finally make it back. I miss it already... read more

Um, what. Another amazing spot my friend brought me to. Food was yummy, cocktails amazing. I had the "Thoughts & Prayers' concoction. Refreshing & sneakily strong. Atmosphere was very cool & contemporary. Like. read more

This bar is kind of hard to find. It's hidden away in the basement of the bar above it, but that just adds to its cool atmosphere! The drinks here are really good and reasonably priced for a downtown bar. The cocktails are particularly good! I got a Moscow Mule and it was well made and served in a nice glass. Overall, I recommend this bar! read more

Watershed - Moscow Mule - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a wonderful new place for the neighborhood! I have been to Pops a few times, but had no idea Watershed was even underneath until the Groupon came out. My boyfriend and I stopped in for post-dinner dessert and drinks last week. So, as you can see with my easy to follow and completely subjective arithmetic, overall I really enjoyed this place: 2 points for atmosphere - it's underground, but they did a really great job making it feel much more like a cozy ski lodge. very laid back, and they have live music pretty often it seems! 3 points for the beer and cocktail list - I had a specialty hot beverage (hot mulled wine) to heat me up from the cold outside, and my boyfriend and I then tried a bevy of beers. I think it's awesome that they serve beers only from the Midwest - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin - and the cocktail list was also great. 3 points for service - our waiter was AWESOME. just a really nice, cool guy who gave us honest and good beer recommendations and contributed to the easygoing vibe of the place. -2 points for the food - we had a bread pudding that unfortunately was about 95% egg. couldn't even eat it. gross. Looking forward to go back and try more of their beers! read more

Hidden, comfortable, non-pretentious oasis downtown for a cocktail with a unique emphasis on local alcohol. 3.6 stars Highlights: - Atmosphere: like in a nicer basement or lodge. People of all ages just looking for a chill night to drink and chat with their friends. Upstairs can get a little crazy, so this spot was more relaxing. - Staff: super friendly, passionate about their offerings, and attentive. LOVE Jacob with the long beard--he was so cheery and made our experience here great. - Local alcohol: from beer to wine to liquor, I loved the concept of only serving local products. I tried vodka from Minnesota and Wisconsin which cool - Cheese curds: tempura battered was a nice twist. Them being accompanied by the interesting slightly spicy harissa sauce was a bonus. We love having cheese curds as much as we can when we're in the Midwest and these were up there. Huge portion served in a deep canoe-shaped bowl. - Cool glassware: not your standard boring glasses--more antique-like. Lowlights: - Not the best craft cocktails: I tried a few of the vodka ones which sounded great, but didn't pull it off. I found both to be watery and the moscow mule to be lacking that ginger beer spicy bite. The hub got a few whiskey ones that tasted a bit too cough syrupy. Even though the cocktails I had weren't the best, I enjoyed my experience here and would come back to try others and more snacks. read more

Yes, I like it here. I remembered being unimpressed by Pops for Champagne and was unsure what to expect here. It is a cozy, unpretentious basement sort of place. It is NOT rowdy and is very quiet, so make sure you are with someone you want to talk to! My friend really enjoyed her cheese curds and said they're some of the best around. I was more focused on the vast cocktail menu, which is similar to Sable Kitchen in its depth and breadth. The Chicago Fizz is a delicious egg-white-laden cocktail, tart and refreshing. I was interested in the mild fruitiness of another drink, oddly called "Why don't you like me?" The title was slightly prophetic, since I didn't really like it too much. Still, I would come back here easily. I love how laid-back it is...perfect for catching up. It's much quieter than some of its counterparts, but there's a time and a place for such an atmosphere, and coming here has not yet let me down! read more

Had a great time at Watershed when I came here for drinks the other weekend. The bar is downstairs, you have to walk through the champaign bar to get there. Watershed couln't be more opposite to the champaign bar. The champaign bar was full of glitz and loud music whereas Watershed had this great, homey feel to it. Drinks were good. I love just about any strong whiskey-based drink. There were a couple options on the menu, most notably Girl Scout on Valentine's Day and Proximity Effect. Girl Scout on V-Day definitely had some strong mint elements to it and will remind anyone of some thin mints. The Proximity Effect was better, it had more of a smoky flavor to it and went down more smoothly. It just felt like a more complex and well-tested drink Only complaint I had was with service - there was only one waitress for what seemed like the entire place and while Watershed is fairly small, it needs at least 2 servers. As a result, it took a while to get drinks sometimes. read more

Really nice drinks for the right price in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, much better than pops for champagne above (how cool is it to have the entrance of a bar inside another? :) It is small and crowded so expect some wait. read more

I don't get why this place is so un-crowded, but glad of it. On a Monday night, it was just me and the bartender sipping and chatting. Good food options that I'm already planning a trip back to explore more fully. (It's the first time I've ever been intrigued by ketchup, of all things. But really, get fries, just for the ketchup. ) Strong pours with good balance, and a few dollars less than other options in the area. Nice cozy library-like setting. There seems to be a profusion of bars of this type in River North lately, but I'm not complaining. Watershed executes perfectly on that formula. read more

Loved this place. We were a party of 4 and ordered over 10 drinks all of which were fabulous. The small plates were excellent as well. The place is not as dark as other speak easy's which I liked. Loved the names of the drinks..We def liked it better than 3 dots and a dash which seems to be the rave around here.. Highly recommend for a good time! read more

Nice, comfortable, dimly lit cocktail bar that will make you feel warm & cozy during a Chicago winter. It's located in the basement of Pops for Champagne Bar and for first-timers, you will likely need to be shown what direction to head in to find this. We came around 5 pm on a Friday night & had a pick of any couch, chair, table, seat at the bar that we could possibly find, but within 30 minutes the place was filled up! While the bar is geared more towards whiskey/scotch drinkers (and it definitely passes my husband's test for good whiskey bar), it also has numerous options for the non-whiskey drinker (like myself), as well. I found a delicious mixed drink to start off with and ended with a nice (and affordable) glass of bubbly! It's a great hidden bar that I will definitely come back to! read more

Awesome spot! I came to Watershed this past Friday evening for pre-dinner drinks with two friends. We were seated at three cozy, overstuffed armchairs by the main bar. After a long day at the office I loved being able to sit back in the armchair while I chatted with my friends and enjoyed my cocktail. The ambiance overall is one I rarely experience in Chicago. It was comfortable and warm with a touch of elegance. I loved all the different forms of seating, the private booths, the low tables with chairs around them and the overstuffed chairs. The seating was perfectly complemented by the lighting and decor and all together made me feel like I was at a private club house rather than a bar in river north. My group drank cocktails, Twig & Berries for me, Moscow Mules for my friends. The Twig & Berries was really refreshing but missing a little something I could not place my finger on. We also tried the fries as an appetizer and they were to die for. I literally could not get enough of them! All in all Watershed is a must experience in Chicago. I for one hope to be back soon. read more

On a mission to find a fab whiskey bar in Chicago, I stumbled across Watershed and after some research, thought to give it a try. I don't know where to begin. I'm floored!!! Step down the stairs and you'll enter an old English style, dark & cozy world of exceptional cocktails. Their cocktail names are bound to get your attention as they are quiet humorous- 'Why don't you like me?', 'I'm a businessman' to name a few. Coming to the highlight of the evening- I conveyed to my server that I was new to bourbon and would appreciate some suggestions. 5 min later I'm presented with flights of 5 bourbon's 'labeled'- & Guess what- On the house!!! Mind blown!!! And hence Im introduced to my fav bourbon- from a small batch called Rowan's creek. Their selection of whiskey's is exceptional. One of the best in Chicago in my opinion. So are their cocktails- worth every buck- couple I tried were Crick in my neck, daiquiri and few more I was too happy to remember the names of. I've suggested this bar to all my friends ever since and will continue to do so. Very romantic, lovely spot! read more

Great place, ambience, wine and DESSERT! This dessert that I had (photo attached, s'mores) was too good. Highly recommend! read more

Watershed - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois