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A drink in wine glass with a blood orange garnish.
Eden’s cocktails are thoughtful.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Where to Drink Cocktails Right Now in Chicago

Bring out the fire pits and enjoy a quality drink

by Ashok Selvam and Naomi Waxman Updated
View as Map
Eden’s cocktails are thoughtful.
| Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago
by Ashok Selvam and Naomi Waxman Updated

Even though patio pounder season is coming to a close, Chicago happily embraces sweater weather, fire pits, and all the warm and funny feelings that come from fall. With that, it’s time for the latest update to Eater Chicago’s Cocktail Heatmap. This is the guide to where locals and tourists should be enjoying a cocktail, glass of wine, or a cold beer — it’s not just about mixology here. For the latest update, 10 bars were added. Beware of too much pumpkin spice and enjoy the weather.

For updated information on coronavirus cases, please visit the city of Chicago’s COVID-19 dashboard. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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Whiskey Girl Tavern

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This newish neighborhood drinking spot from the couple who co-founded the annual Andersonville Pride party Back Lot Bash has quickly carved out a niche in Edgewater with locally brewed beers, casual bar snacks, and a solid list of classic cocktails that range from Negronis and Manhattans to margaritas and daiquiris.

6318 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 654-1766
(773) 654-1766

Nobody's Darling

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With a focus on community building and inclusivity, this Andersonville queer bar mixes old-school Chicago tavern charm with modern comfort. “The Pink Kitty” (Hendrick’s Gin, aperol, grapefruit, sparkling wine) is an example of the drink menu’s “classic cocktails, elevated” creed. The bar was a James Beard Award semifinalist this year for best bar program.

1744 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
A bright pink cocktail flows out of a shaker and into a martini glass. Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

Moonflower and Nightshade

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Moonflower, the plant-themed cocktail bar that opened in Old Irving Park in 2021, recently acquired a darker, moodier younger sibling, Nightshade. Located in the basement below Moonflower, Nightshade serves cocktails with more experimental ingredients — the Late Bloomer features purple rice-washed Ford’s gin while Son of a Gun includes salted tortilla chips and poblano peppers — plus fluffy alcoholic shave ice.

4359 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 647-1942
(773) 647-1942

Also featured in:

Dovetail Brewery

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Dovetail Brewery produces the best lager (Helles) in the city. And with Oktoberfest about to fire up, there’s no better place to enjoy a pint. There’s a variety of tasty German-inspired brews including Vienna and the Kolsch.

1800 W Belle Plaine Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 683-1414
(773) 683-1414

Also featured in:

Eden

Copy Link

All-day favorite Eden is back in full force after an extended pandemic hiatus and relocation from the West Loop. Dinner service resumed in September, along with a selection of cocktails such as the gin-based Elevenses with lavender honey and Cool It Now, a vodka drink with Cocchi Americano, aloe liqueur, and bay leaf syrup.

2734 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
(312) 366-2294
(312) 366-2294
A yellow cocktail in a coupe glass with a white foam top sits on a round black table.
Eden’s return is complete with newly expanded dinner service.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

Mother's Ruin

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This eagerly anticipated bar opened in spring 2022 in Logan Square. It’s a spinoff of a well-regarded New York hotspot, a hybrid cocktail lounge and dive bar that offers a little bit of something for everyone. Boozy slushies are on tap as well as a fun mix of classic drinks with modern twists. Food, sandwiches, and waffle fries, are also available.

2943 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
A coupe glass with a Manhattan cocktail on a wooden bar. Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

Quality Time

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The long-vacant Son of a Butcher space along Diversey gets a refresh thanks to the owners of Bangers & Lace. Quality Time, as the name implies, is a throwback to old-school Chicago taverns with simple drinks and both canned beer and craft favorites on tap. They also offer pitchers of beer. There are DJs on weekends, sidewalk seating, plus a patio area.

2934 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Cellar Door Provisions

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It’s a revival for one of Chicago’s most beloved independent restaurants. Wine was always an integral part of the nighttime experience at Cellar Door, but now there’s more emphasis on natural wine. Walk-ins only from Wednesday to Saturday.

3025 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 697-8337
(773) 697-8337
A glass door in a brick building reads “Cellar Door Provisions.” Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

The Albion Manor

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This two-story bar in Lincoln Park from the team behind AJ Hudson’s and the Dandy Crown is two drinking establishments in one: the Albion Manor, an English-style football pub with beer and snacks on the ground floor, and the Parlour, an elegant cocktail lounge upstairs.

1480 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 697-4686
(773) 697-4686
Plush couches, chairs, stools, and low tables on top of rugs. Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

1308 Chicago

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A newish member of a small community of Black woman-owned dining and drinking spots on the North Side, 1308 Chicago channels the city’s Prohibition-era bar culture with an assortment of new interpretations of classic cocktails. Many of their names weave in references to the legacy of infamous local gangsters: the tequila-based Bloody Valentine gives a nod to the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, while Bugs’ Bourbon Smash pays homage to George “Bugs” Moran.

1308 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(872) 829-3335
(872) 829-3335
A bartender pours a drink from a metal shaker into a coupe glass.
Goose Island’s newest restaurant aims to ride a wave of growth in the area.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Rose Lounge

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Adalina has been a hit in Gold Coast: chef Soo Ahn dazzles with a creative Italian-American menu that’s kept the second-floor dining room filled during the pandemic. The owners also inherited a downstairs lounge, and they’ve made the space their own with the assistance of beverage director Aaron Pollack. Rose Lounge is dimly lit with room for 50. True to theme, some drinks come with fancy block ice carved into roses. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 820-9000
(312) 820-9000
Six cocktails of various sizes and colors on a marble bar with a bartender’s arm garnishing the center drink with an orange peel. Rose Lounge

Also featured in:

Dorothy

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Those who pass through behind the eye-catching red door on Chicago avenue will find themselves in a neighborhood cocktail wonderland — albeit a ‘70s-inspired, lesbian-focused one that welcomes all friends (and friends of friends) of Dorothy. A sister spot to restaurant Split-Rail, Dorothy hosts events like Fruit Salad, a monthly queer open mic night, and is a reliable destination for strong drinks.

2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Funkenhausen

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Fukenhausen has been reborn just in time for Oktoberfest. The restaurant is a mash-up of southern and German food, and they recently hired a new beverage director with a new drink list. The drinks are balance and delicious, but the highlight is a special shot: the krautback. The restaurant goes threw hundreds of pounds of sauerkraut every week, and now there’s a drink that helps ensure none of it is wasted. It even comes in a cute little glass boot.

1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 929-4727
(312) 929-4727

Also featured in:

Tabu

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The owners of Recess, Atomic Hospitality, know they can throw a party. Their spaces are unique and fun. But they also want customers to know there’s plenty of quality food and drink. Tabu, in Fulton Market, has a big selection of agave drinks — there’s also a fun large-format menu for sharing.

401 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60642
(773) 453-8228
(773) 453-8228
A pink drink garnished with a lemon and blue glitter.
Tabu has a fun cocktail list.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Kumiko

Copy Link

Kumiko, the West Loop Japanese-inspired cocktail bar, is known for having one of the most thoughtful drink menus in the city. Each concoction incorporates a carefully balanced mix of spirits, including a deep bench of Japanese whiskies. Those who don’t imbibe alcohol have plenty of options as well, as the menu offers a variety of booze-free drinks made with top-flight teas. Creative director and partner Julia Momosé in 2022 won a James Beard media award for her book The Way of the Cocktail, cowritten with journalist Emma Janzen.

630 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 285-2912
(312) 285-2912

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Nine Bar

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Nine Bar is Chinatown’s first cocktail bar, located behind the Moon Palace Express takeout counter. Owners Lily Wang (whose parents own Moon Palace) and Joe Briglio mix up “Asian-ish” takes on classic cocktails, creating Old Fashioneds, highballs, and margaritias with baiju, soju, and shochu.

216 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-4081
(312) 225-4081

Also featured in:

Bronzeville Winery

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This restaurant and winery from urban planner Cecilia Cuff and Silver Room owner Eric Williams is home to some of Chicago’s hardest-to-snag tables, as well as a tight cocktail list that hits on all the major spirits. Submissions include the Uncle Yams Old Fashioned, a concoction starring Black-owned whiskey brand Uncle Nearest, sweet potato syrup, and brandied cherries.

4420 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60653
(872) 244-7065
(872) 244-7065

Also featured in:

Daisy's Po' Boy and Tavern

Copy Link

Chef Erick Williams (Virtue) has opened this third restaurant, and this one is a tribute to cajun and Creole cooking. When a James Beard Award winner opens a bar, folks should get excited that they can nosh on more than sad frozen morsels. Williams serve up po-boys and muffalettas. But also, he claims, “the coldest Abita” drinkers will drink. Come down to Hyde Park for some sports and brews.

5215 S Harper Ave, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 675-8767
(773) 675-8767
A po’boy split in half with a beer in a goblet. Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

More in Maps

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Whiskey Girl Tavern

6318 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660

This newish neighborhood drinking spot from the couple who co-founded the annual Andersonville Pride party Back Lot Bash has quickly carved out a niche in Edgewater with locally brewed beers, casual bar snacks, and a solid list of classic cocktails that range from Negronis and Manhattans to margaritas and daiquiris.

6318 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 654-1766
(773) 654-1766

Nobody's Darling

1744 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

With a focus on community building and inclusivity, this Andersonville queer bar mixes old-school Chicago tavern charm with modern comfort. “The Pink Kitty” (Hendrick’s Gin, aperol, grapefruit, sparkling wine) is an example of the drink menu’s “classic cocktails, elevated” creed. The bar was a James Beard Award semifinalist this year for best bar program.

1744 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
A bright pink cocktail flows out of a shaker and into a martini glass. Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago

Moonflower and Nightshade

4359 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641

Moonflower, the plant-themed cocktail bar that opened in Old Irving Park in 2021, recently acquired a darker, moodier younger sibling, Nightshade. Located in the basement below Moonflower, Nightshade serves cocktails with more experimental ingredients — the Late Bloomer features purple rice-washed Ford’s gin while Son of a Gun includes salted tortilla chips and poblano peppers — plus fluffy alcoholic shave ice.

4359 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 647-1942
(773) 647-1942

Dovetail Brewery

1800 W Belle Plaine Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Dovetail Brewery produces the best lager (Helles) in the city. And with Oktoberfest about to fire up, there’s no better place to enjoy a pint. There’s a variety of tasty German-inspired brews including Vienna and the Kolsch.

1800 W Belle Plaine Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 683-1414
(773) 683-1414

Eden

2734 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618

All-day favorite Eden is back in full force after an extended pandemic hiatus and relocation from the West Loop. Dinner service resumed in September, along with a selection of cocktails such as the gin-based Elevenses with lavender honey and Cool It Now, a vodka drink with Cocchi Americano, aloe liqueur, and bay leaf syrup.

2734 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
(312) 366-2294
(312) 366-2294
A yellow cocktail in a coupe glass with a white foam top sits on a round black table.
Eden’s return is complete with newly expanded dinner service.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Mother's Ruin

2943 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

This eagerly anticipated bar opened in spring 2022 in Logan Square. It’s a spinoff of a well-regarded New York hotspot, a hybrid cocktail lounge and dive bar that offers a little bit of something for everyone. Boozy slushies are on tap as well as a fun mix of classic drinks with modern twists. Food, sandwiches, and waffle fries, are also available.

2943 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
A coupe glass with a Manhattan cocktail on a wooden bar. Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago

Quality Time

2934 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

The long-vacant Son of a Butcher space along Diversey gets a refresh thanks to the owners of Bangers & Lace. Quality Time, as the name implies, is a throwback to old-school Chicago taverns with simple drinks and both canned beer and craft favorites on tap. They also offer pitchers of beer. There are DJs on weekends, sidewalk seating, plus a patio area.

2934 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Cellar Door Provisions

3025 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

It’s a revival for one of Chicago’s most beloved independent restaurants. Wine was always an integral part of the nighttime experience at Cellar Door, but now there’s more emphasis on natural wine. Walk-ins only from Wednesday to Saturday.

3025 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 697-8337
(773) 697-8337
A glass door in a brick building reads “Cellar Door Provisions.” Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

The Albion Manor

1480 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

This two-story bar in Lincoln Park from the team behind AJ Hudson’s and the Dandy Crown is two drinking establishments in one: the Albion Manor, an English-style football pub with beer and snacks on the ground floor, and the Parlour, an elegant cocktail lounge upstairs.

1480 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 697-4686
(773) 697-4686
Plush couches, chairs, stools, and low tables on top of rugs. Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

1308 Chicago

1308 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

A newish member of a small community of Black woman-owned dining and drinking spots on the North Side, 1308 Chicago channels the city’s Prohibition-era bar culture with an assortment of new interpretations of classic cocktails. Many of their names weave in references to the legacy of infamous local gangsters: the tequila-based Bloody Valentine gives a nod to the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, while Bugs’ Bourbon Smash pays homage to George “Bugs” Moran.

1308 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(872) 829-3335
(872) 829-3335
A bartender pours a drink from a metal shaker into a coupe glass.
Goose Island’s newest restaurant aims to ride a wave of growth in the area.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Rose Lounge

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

Adalina has been a hit in Gold Coast: chef Soo Ahn dazzles with a creative Italian-American menu that’s kept the second-floor dining room filled during the pandemic. The owners also inherited a downstairs lounge, and they’ve made the space their own with the assistance of beverage director Aaron Pollack. Rose Lounge is dimly lit with room for 50. True to theme, some drinks come with fancy block ice carved into roses. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 820-9000
(312) 820-9000
Six cocktails of various sizes and colors on a marble bar with a bartender’s arm garnishing the center drink with an orange peel. Rose Lounge

Dorothy

2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Those who pass through behind the eye-catching red door on Chicago avenue will find themselves in a neighborhood cocktail wonderland — albeit a ‘70s-inspired, lesbian-focused one that welcomes all friends (and friends of friends) of Dorothy. A sister spot to restaurant Split-Rail, Dorothy hosts events like Fruit Salad, a monthly queer open mic night, and is a reliable destination for strong drinks.

2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Funkenhausen

1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Fukenhausen has been reborn just in time for Oktoberfest. The restaurant is a mash-up of southern and German food, and they recently hired a new beverage director with a new drink list. The drinks are balance and delicious, but the highlight is a special shot: the krautback. The restaurant goes threw hundreds of pounds of sauerkraut every week, and now there’s a drink that helps ensure none of it is wasted. It even comes in a cute little glass boot.

1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 929-4727
(312) 929-4727

Tabu

401 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60642

The owners of Recess, Atomic Hospitality, know they can throw a party. Their spaces are unique and fun. But they also want customers to know there’s plenty of quality food and drink. Tabu, in Fulton Market, has a big selection of agave drinks — there’s also a fun large-format menu for sharing.

401 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60642
(773) 453-8228
(773) 453-8228
A pink drink garnished with a lemon and blue glitter.
Tabu has a fun cocktail list.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Kumiko

630 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60661

Kumiko, the West Loop Japanese-inspired cocktail bar, is known for having one of the most thoughtful drink menus in the city. Each concoction incorporates a carefully balanced mix of spirits, including a deep bench of Japanese whiskies. Those who don’t imbibe alcohol have plenty of options as well, as the menu offers a variety of booze-free drinks made with top-flight teas. Creative director and partner Julia Momosé in 2022 won a James Beard media award for her book The Way of the Cocktail, cowritten with journalist Emma Janzen.

630 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 285-2912
(312) 285-2912

Related Maps

Nine Bar

216 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616

Nine Bar is Chinatown’s first cocktail bar, located behind the Moon Palace Express takeout counter. Owners Lily Wang (whose parents own Moon Palace) and Joe Briglio mix up “Asian-ish” takes on classic cocktails, creating Old Fashioneds, highballs, and margaritias with baiju, soju, and shochu.

216 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-4081
(312) 225-4081

Bronzeville Winery

4420 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60653

This restaurant and winery from urban planner Cecilia Cuff and Silver Room owner Eric Williams is home to some of Chicago’s hardest-to-snag tables, as well as a tight cocktail list that hits on all the major spirits. Submissions include the Uncle Yams Old Fashioned, a concoction starring Black-owned whiskey brand Uncle Nearest, sweet potato syrup, and brandied cherries.

4420 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60653
(872) 244-7065
(872) 244-7065

Daisy's Po' Boy and Tavern

5215 S Harper Ave, Chicago, IL 60615

Chef Erick Williams (Virtue) has opened this third restaurant, and this one is a tribute to cajun and Creole cooking. When a James Beard Award winner opens a bar, folks should get excited that they can nosh on more than sad frozen morsels. Williams serve up po-boys and muffalettas. But also, he claims, “the coldest Abita” drinkers will drink. Come down to Hyde Park for some sports and brews.

5215 S Harper Ave, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 675-8767
(773) 675-8767
A po’boy split in half with a beer in a goblet. Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Related Maps