Whether you’re about to treat yourself to brunch in Chicago, relax on a Chicago patio, or enjoy a happy hour drink at one of Chicago’s many brilliant bars and restaurants, you can be sure that a gourmet cocktail will be found within seconds.
From top-notch margaritas to more innovative non-alcoholic cocktail mixes and everything in between, the Windy City and its large number of respected mixologists will have the answers to your every need.
Based on our experience at Secret Chicago, our readers’ top pick, and a meticulous evaluation of the ambiance and drink quality, we’ve filtered through the noise to round up the best cocktail bars in Chicago.
Three Dots and a Dash
While Kumiko offers a more minimalist direction with its cocktails, Three Dots, and a Dash delivers quite the opposite. Filled with flavor and color, the cocktails at this tiki spot are as exciting to look at as they are to taste.
Also named one of the 50 Best Bars in the World, but this time by Drinks International, Three Dots and a Dash is a tropical oasis hidden beneath the bustling streets of North River that will transport you to Polynesia.
Cocktail expert Kevin Barry leads a dedicated team that prepares his creations using the freshest exotic fruits, flowers and spices, mixing them with the finest rums, spirits, elixirs and syrups made in-house. The drinks are exquisitely presented in tiki totems, folding bowls, treasure chests, etc.
Purple Hour
Located in the heart of Wicker Park, The Violet Hour offers a James Beard Award-winning bar program that includes a seasonally changing cocktail list with pre-prohibition style booze.
The Aviary
Well-known among locals, The Aviary in West Loop has been thrilling customers with its carefully crafted cocktails since opening in 2011.
Some of the options at The Aviary could be mistaken for a science experiment, but trust us when we say that science is worth trusting.
The Junglebird at the bar, for example, is an unusual blend of rum, pineapple-lime syrup, Campari, and a string of pearls that pop in your mouth. From the same hospitality group as Alinea, it’s no surprise that this is one of the best cocktail bars in Chicago.
Nobody’s Darling
Upon entering this “grown-up cocktail lover’s playpen,” as the bar describes itself, you’ll see the touching words of Alice Walker’s poem “Be Darling,” which gave the bar its name. Behind the bar, there’s even more magic in the form of its incredible cocktails, which are part of the reason why Nobody’s Darling is such a cherished Andersonville hangout and one of the best cocktail bars in Chicago.