Chicago is known for many things, and spending a fun-filled weekend party in the city is truly a must.
Chicago is one of the most popular cities in Illinois and across the United States. Besides Chicago-style hotdogs, deep-dish pizzas, and sausages, Chicago is also famous for its nightlife, fun bars, and weekend party events. If you are in Chicago and looking for a place to unwind, here are the best bars to visit in Chicago that will make your time worthwhile.
19 Best Chicago Bars
The Violet Hour
📍 Address: 1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (773) 252-1500
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 1 am Mon-Sun
This hospitable and comfy drinking bar at Chicago’s Damen Avenue is one of the best bars to get a drink and dine. The Violet Hour has a comprehensive menu, and many customers highly recommend the items. There is always a seat available for anyone who wants to have a great time through drinks and food.
Even during a pandemic like we have right now, The Violet Hour ensures that their establishment is clean and safe for wine and dine people. They have a health score rate of 96 percent. The establishment also follows COVID-19 health and safety protocols, such as sanitation at all times, wearing masks for staff, and temperature checks upon entering the establishment.
The Violet Hour offers different amenities, services, and perks, such as delivery and takeout. People won’t have to miss The Violet Hour’s specials because they can order from home. They also have tons of vegetarian options for anyone who wants to stay healthy.
Among other amenities include street and bike parking, a full bar, and happy hour specials. The best time to visit the bar is every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The bar also has moderate noise, which is great for late-night drinks and conversations.
Three Dots and a Dash
📍 Address: 435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (312) 610-4220
🕐 Hours: 4 pm – 12 am Sun-Wed, 4 pm – 1 am Thurs – Sat
Three Dots and a Dash is one of the most popular food places in the city, and almost every Chicago citizen knows this place. They are known for their good soul food and fascinating mixed drinks. They also offer two different menus for patio and inside seating.
Many customers like Three Dots and A Dash’s ambiance because customers can be experimental. The tiki theme is also one that makes the bar look more dashing and cute. The staff, too, dresses the same as the bar’s theme, which means they also wear tiki costumes while serving customers.
Three Dots and A Dash is open seven days a week from 4 PM to 11 PM. You can also visit the bar anytime, and they make sure their establishment is disinfected and sanitized daily. They follow COVD-19 health and safety measures, such as wearing masks for staff and customers and temperature checks.
Remedy
📍 Address: 1910 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (773) 698-7715
🕐 Hours: 4 pm – 4 am Mon-Sun
The Remedy is truly Chicago’s unpretentious and sophisticated neighborhood bar. It is trendy among Chicago citizens, and it one of the most go-to bars in the city. So, if you want to enjoy a few shots of tequila, cocktail, or a few bottles of beer, you should head to Remedy.
Although the pandemic is still very real, Remedy is always open to serve their customers. They offer sit-down dining, and they are open seven days a week from 4 PM to 4 AM the next day. Remedy is accessible for twelve hours, which means customers get to experience the bar’s fun for that long.
Remedy offers more cocktails and local beers to their customers at an affordable price, and among their best-sellers are Asshatten and Rhubarbarella. Hence, they are known to be Chicago’s neighborhood bar. They also take in early reservations, accept contactless payments, and offer happy hour specials daily.
Love Street
📍 Address: 1325 W Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 (Google Maps)
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 2 am Mon-Sun
If you are looking for a cocktail and liquor lounge that feels intimate and sophisticated, then you need to head out to Love Street at Wrightwood Avenue. This bar is Chicago’s cupid place, and from the name itself, the area is genuinely filled with love vibes. The ornaments and decors of the bar make it more lovely for customers to stay in for drinks.
Love Street is open daily from 5 PM to 2 AM. It’s also safe to visit the place even during a pandemic like this because the bar has a health score rate of 100%. You need to know about the site and service because they accept credit card payments, happy hour specials, gender-neutral restrooms, a full bar, and a classy ambiance.
This love-filled bar is truly one of the best places to go to, whether you are going out on a date or with friends. The vibe of the area is overwhelming, and you will not have fun when you go there. The bartenders are also impressive, and they mostly ask their customer’s liquor preferences and make the best out of it.
M Lounge
📍 Address: 1520 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (312) 447-0201
🕐 Hours: 6 pm – 12 am Thurs, 6 pm – 2 am Fri & Sat, Closed on Sun-Wed
M Lounge is an elegant liquor lounge where you can chill and enjoy jazz music live. When you visit the bar, you will also be at ease because they follow some health and safety rules. Among these are wearing masks for both customers and staff, proper sanitation, social distancing measures, and temperature checks.
M Lounge is also famous because of their excellent customer service. They also have a wide variety of drinks and food on their menu, and customers love all their items. The lounge is closed every Monday, but they are open other days of the week from 6 PM to 1 AM.
You will surely love the ambiance of the bar because it is very relaxing and calming. Accompanied by some jazz and blues live music, you will feel like you are in a high-end nightclub. M Lounge specializes in martinis and spirits, so don’t miss out on those items when you visit the place.
The Walk In Chicago
📍 Address: 2727 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (773) 697-8726
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 2 am Mon-Thurs, 5 pm – 3 am Sat, 12 pm – 2 am Sun, Closed on Fri
Wondering what a walk-in bar looks like? Then head on to The Walk In! If you are in Chicago and searching for a one of a kind bar, then this is the place to go to. With its updated services such as outdoor seating, sit down dining, and takeout, you will surely get to enjoy the bar’s best-selling items on their menu.
The Walk In was established in 2016. You can enter the lounge by going through Red Stars Liquors first. They offer the best cocktails and draft beer in the city, and you get to enjoy it at their seasonal and popular patio.
You will also be safe when you enter the establishment because The Walk In follows and imposes strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Such rules include wearing masks for customers and different gloves for staff, temperature checks, sanitation, social distancing measures, and limited customer capacity. You will be at ease once you are in the establishment.
The Walk In is open seven days a week, from 3 PM to 10 PM. When you look at their menu, you will be amazed by their items, especially in the drinks and beverages section. They have tons of things that you can choose from, whether you are alone, with a date, or with friends and family.
Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge
📍 Address: 2834 River Rd, River Grove, IL 60171 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (708) 456-3222
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 1 am Tue, 4 pm – 1 am Wed & Thurs, Closed on Fri-Mon
If you want to drink at a place where you want to feel you are at the beach or some island, you must go to Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge in Chicago. It is a legitimate tiki bar that is located in the city. You will indeed have a great time at Hala Kahiki and unwind from your stressful week.
The Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar is also among the most popular and oldest bars in Chicago. The business has been in the industry since the 1960s. The bar first became a neighborhood bar called Fullerton & Lockwood, and eventually, the place was turned into a tiki bar with bamboo walls and tropical decor. As the popularity of the bar grew, the owners decided to expand the business.
Aside from the great ambiance, Hala Kahiki is also popular because of their drinks on the menu. They have over 100 kinds of tropical drinks, and you can also request a drink mix that you like. Also, during Saturdays, they open a food truck near the bar entrance that serves different snacks and food such as chips.
Best Intentions
📍 Address: 3281 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (312) 818-1254
This bar, called Best Intentions located at Logan Square, is also a popular bar and lounge in Chicago. They serve different kinds of mixed drinks, such as the horchata margarita and a couple of tequila-infused shots. They also serve classic and upgraded cocktails, which are also some items to try when you are in the bar.
Best Intentions is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5 PM to 2 AM. This bar is also one of the city’s busiest bars, meaning customers are crowding every night. However, since there is a pandemic going around, the bar has limited capacity in their establishment and imposes strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols to their customers and staff.
Bad Intentions’ amenities and highlights are a casual dress code, full bar, free WiFi access, outdoor seating, and the place is not that loud compared to other bars in the city. It is also an excellent place for groups, so you can always bring your friends, co-workers, and family to have some fun. The area is more of a classy, hipster in terms of ambiance, and the best time to visit the place is during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Lazy Bird
📍 Address: 200 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (312) 761-1799
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 1 am Thurs, Closed on Fri-Wed
If you are looking for a cocktail lounge with an exquisite vibe and ambiance, you need to visit Lazy Bird, located at Green Street, Chicago. Lazy Bird is the best place to hold informal and casual meetings with a client and discuss business over drinks. They have a great lounge room perfect for that setting.
The Lazy Bird is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 5 PM to 10 PM. They do not cater to reservations for now since they only accept limited capacity in the establishment. They also follow strict COVID-19 guidelines, and among those are they accept contactless payments such as credit cards. You will surely be at ease even during this pandemic because the establishment is safe.
Many customers love Lazy Bird’s cocktail bar because it gives them tons of options. Customer service is also excellent and efficient, even when the bar is full of people. The DJ and live music also make the place look more fun and elegant.
Nighthawk Chicago
📍 Address: 4744 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (872) 888-8361
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 2 am Mon-Sat, 11 am – 2 am Sun
This bar, located at North Kimball Avenue, also attracts tons of customers daily because of its rustic ambiance. They serve cocktails and beers, but they also have the best coffee items that they serve during the day. However, they only allow dine-ins, and delivery, takeout, and curbside pickup are temporarily not offered.
Nighthawk is open seven days a week from 7 AM to 2 AM the next day. They also serve breakfast and brunch meals, making the place a wholesome venue for any meet-ups and gatherings. You can grab a bite here during lunch break or get some late-night drinks after work to shrug the stress off.
Other highlights that the business offers is they accept credit cards for payment, the place is also great for business meetups, they have free access to their WiFi, and you can also bring your pets inside the establishment. The place’s ambiance shows off a classy and casual vibe, which makes it perfect for anyone. Visiting Nighthawk on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is the best time because they have special hour items.
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The Office
📍 Address: 955 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607 (Google Maps)
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 12 am Wed-Thurs & Sun, 5 pm – 1 am Fri & Sat, Closed on Mon & Tue
This traditional American lounge located at the famous Fulton Market in Chicago is one of the best nightclubs to visit. Some of their updated service due to the COVID-19 pandemic are they offer takeout and curbside pickup. You can also dine in the establishment, but they only offer limited capacity.
Among the highlights and amenities that The Office offers is they take in early reservations for people who want to reserve a spot beforehand. They also accept credit cards as a form of payment. You will see tons of vegetarian options on their menu, which makes it a friendly restaurant and lounge for vegans and health-conscious individuals.
It’s best to visit The Office on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and they have a full bar and waiter service for people who will wine and dine. Another fantastic fact about The Office is the place is located in the basement of the aviary building upstairs. You will love the speakeasy vibe that the lounge offers, and the bartenders also make the best drinks that you will surely love.
Kennedy Rooftop
📍 Address: 1551 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (773) 270-6770
🕐 Hours: 4 pm – 9 pm Mon, 4 pm – 10 pm Tue-Thurs, 4 pm – 11 pm Fri, 11 am – 4 pm Sun, Closed on Sat
If you want to go to some rooftop bar to enjoy a casual drink or two, then you should head out to Kennedy Rooftop in Chicago. This bar is closed on Monday and Tuesday but is open for business from Wednesday to Sunday from 12 PM to 9 PM. This bar is located at West North Avenue in the city.
This classic American cocktail bar and lounge are trendy because of its ambiance and location. If you plan to visit the bar anytime soon, your mind will be at peace because they follow and impose COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Some of their updated services also include outdoor seating and sit-down dining.
They don’t also currently offer reservations, and the bar imposes a first-come, first-serve basis. After 9 PM, the bar is still open, but only people over 21 years old can be admitted to the establishment. This bar lounge is perfect for family and friend gatherings, and you will surely enjoy the place because it overlooks the city of Chicago.
The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and Dash
📍 Address: 435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (312) 610-4220
🕐 Hours: 4 pm – 12 am Sun-Wed, 4 pm – 1 am Thurs-Sat
Three Dots and Dash is a popular bar in Chicago, but it also has another bar within the establishment where many people in Chicago also know. This tiki bar is called The Bamboo Room, and it is among the best tiki bars in the city. You will love the vibe and ambiance of The Bamboo Room, and you will feel like you are in a different place.
The Bamboo Room only offers outdoor seating, and currently, they don’t provide sit-down dining yet due to COVID-19 restrictions. They also follow health and safety measures, such as wearing masks for customers, different gloves for staff, proper sanitation, social distancing measures, and temperature checks upon entry. You will be at ease once you visit the bar because they ensure the place is safe and disinfected.
The Bamboo Room is open daily from 2 PM to 10 PM, and you can get to enjoy all their items and specials on the menu in that timeframe. They also have food items on their menu, but mostly they serve appetizers only and not full meals. Most of the things they do are cocktails, mixed drinks, beers, and other beverages.
Suite Lounge
📍 Address: 1446 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610 (Google Maps)
If you want to taste the best martinis and specialty cocktails in Chicago, you should head out to the Suite Lounge. This liquor lounge is located at North Wells in the city, and it very popular for many people in Chicago. The establishment is open Tuesday to Sunday from 7 PM to 2 AM.
Suite Lounge is a place suitable for dancing, but it is not too loud for crazy party goers. There is no dress code required for you to enter the bar, and it is an excellent place to hang out and chill with a group. The best nights to visit Suite Lounge are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and they serve specials during those days.
The var also offers happy hour specials daily, which differ every day. They have a full bar, a DJ, and they also accept credit cards as a payment form. The ambiance of the place is trendy and classy, so you will truly enjoy your experience if you are there for a casual drink.
Up Room
📍 Address: 2018 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (872) 315-3082
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 12 am Sun-Thurs, 5 pm – 1 am Fri & Sat
If you want to get drinks and have an amazing view of the city of Chicago, then you must visit the Up Room. Although they don’t accept reservations currently, they allow walk-ins and dine in. The ambiance of the place is a mix of trendy, classy, intimate, and upscale vibe that everyone will surely appreciate.
When you go to the Up Room, you will enjoy free WiFi access, outdoor seating, and paying your bill will be more comfortable because they also offer credit card payments. The place is also great for groups, so you can bring your friends and family to drink here. The best nights to visit the Up Room are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
So, if you are dying to wine and dine where you can see a 360 and skyline view of the city of Chicago, then going to the Up Room is the best choice to do. You can also enjoy their special drinks, and they have accommodating bartenders who are ready to serve you throughout the night.
The Promontory
📍 Address: 5311 S Lake Park Ave W, Chicago, IL 60615 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (312) 801-2100
🕐 Hours: 6 pm – 1 am Mon & Tue, 6 pm – 2 am Wed & Thurs, 4 pm – 2 am Fri & Sun, 4 pm – 3 am Sat
The Promontory is a bar located at Lake Park Avenue. This traditional American bar and lounge are trendy, especially to most people in Chicago. Among their updated services are outdoor seating, sit-down dining, curbside pickup, and takeout.
It is also safe to visit The Promontory even during times like this because they follow strict COVID-19 protocols that ensure customers and staff are safe from getting the virus. They require face masks, proper sanitation, temperature checks, and social distancing measures that are applied inside the establishment.
The Promontory is open Wednesday to Sunday every 4:30 PM to 9 PM. They also serve food and meals for anyone who wants to dine for dinner. Although they do not take reservations, some of the bar’s highlights include vegan options, free WiFi, perfect for groups, and also, it is a great place to have brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Easy Bar
📍 Address: 1944 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (773) 227-4644
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 2 am Mon-Thurs, 4 pm – 2 am Fri & Sun, 4 pm – 3 am Sat
The Easy Bar is among the oldest and most popular bars in the city of Chicago. This liquor lounge is always packed with people, and their menu items and liquor options are countless. The bar’s ambiance is a bit dark, but it entirely looks cool, especially with the giant palm tree decors.
The Easy Bar is open seven days a week from 4 PM to 1 AM. They are available for business despite the pandemic that is going on around. The establishment follows strict COVID-19 health measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, proper sanitation, and contact tracing towards staff and customers. You will be drinking in peace at the Easy Bar.
If you want to gather some friends and family for a party, you can also contact the Easy Bar and set a private event. Private parties are available, and you can select one anytime you wish. The best nights to visit Easy Bar are on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday.
The Lodge Tavern
📍 Address: 21 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60610 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (312) 642-4406
🕐 Hours: 10 am – 4 am Sun-Thurs, 10 am – 12 am Fri, 10 am – 6 pm Sun
If you are a beer person, then you should try out The Lodge Tavern in Chicago. Draft, ice-cold beers are what this bar is all about. They also serve both imported and local beers, and you will genuinely enjoy drinking because of the bar’s rustic vibe.
The Lodge Tavern is now open for sit-down dining only. They do not accept reservations, and walk-ins are welcome. The bar is open daily from 10 AM to 11 PM. You can get to enjoy happy hour specials, a full bar, free WiFi access, and jukebox and fun music.
Janitor’s Closet
📍 Address: 312 W Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60610 (Google Maps)
If you are looking for a fun and weird bar to hang out for drinks, then you must visit The Janitor’s Closet in Chicago. The menu of this bar is also unique, and there are times customers can also ask for some requests for their drinks. This is truly a place to be when in Chicago.
The Janitor’s Closet is closed on Sundays and Mondays, but they are open from Tuesday to Saturday every 5 PM to 1 AM. They also accept reservations for those who want to reserve a spot, and there is no dress code required. This bar is small, and it is not best for groups.
This hidden getaway located in Chicago is among the best-hidden gems of the city. You will also have a hard time searching for the entrance of this bar because it is hidden. However, you can always ask for directions.
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