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The Eater Chicago Cocktail Heatmap: Where to Drink Right Now

Here are the 18 hottest places to drink in Chicago.

by Daniel Gerzina Oct 20, 2014, 12:10pm CDT

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by Daniel Gerzina Oct 20, 2014, 12:10pm CDT

While the fall brings some chillier weather, the drinking scene in Chicago continues to heat up. Whether you fancy an old fashioned, a margarita, or a craft beer, the Eater Chicago Cocktail Heatmap will help you quench that thirst. The updated map shows you more new places along with a couple old favorites where you can sip drinks in the crisper weather. These beverage programs have mastered the art of booze and their concoctions will satisfy selective drinkers and those who want something simple, too.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Sportsman's Club

This hotspot from Matt Eisler and Kevin Heisner combines elements of a cocktail lounge, classic Chicago dive, French hunting club and retail store. Four cocktail offerings rotate on a daily basis, many utilizing an amaro machine, and there’s also a selection of packaged goods including whiskey, wine and bitters available for sale.

948 Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

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Also featured in:

Slippery Slope

Dancing, skee ball and all-around fun; Danny Shapiro's selection of bottled cocktails and the tight and cheap beer selection make the Slope one of the hottest bars of the season.

2357 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

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Also featured in:

Celeste

Three floors of art deco stylings, a new rooftop deck, and a massive book of a cocktail menu add up to a can't-miss drinking experience.

111 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

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Also featured in:

Lagunitas Brewing - Chicago

An oasis of fresh Lagunitas beer straight from the source is your prize for navigating the trippy maze of winding hallways and stairwells within the newly-opened largest brewery in the state.

2607 W 17th St, Chicago, IL 60608

Visit Website

Also featured in:

California Clipper

Brendan Sodikoff's refreshing of one of Chicago's oldest bars has added a massive cocktail menu, an updated buildout and will soon add a tobacco shop next door while still keeping much of the classic vibe in tact.

1002 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

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Also featured in:

Analogue

Former Violet Hour bartenders Robby Haynes and Henry Prendergast have opened a den of progressive cocktails, Creole food and dancing in Logan Square. Analogue's cozy, 50-seat space offers a small cocktail list that changes frequently and includes purls, which are beers laced with bitters. Also look for the dance floor, the elevated DJ booth and very good New Orleans-style dishes from chef Alfredo Nogueira.

2523 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

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Also featured in:

Three Dots and a Dash

Paul McGee’s bar is a tiki paradise that will have you wondering how you ever did without such drinks before now. Step through an alley doorway to a theme world of skulls, pirate ships, straw hut-covered bars and plenty of rum cocktails. There are classics like Mai Tai and Pago Pago, as well as more modern riffs like Painkiller No. 3 (Bajan rum, Jamaican rum, coconut liqueur, passionfruit, pineapple, cream) served in a variety of souvenir mugs.

435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

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Also featured in:

The Allis

You may not be able to get into most of Soho House, but you can always drink at The Allis. A tight selection of craft cocktails, wine and beer, as well as food, is served in a beautiful backdrop on the West Loop boutique hotel's ground floor.

113 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Punch House

Located in the basement of Thalia Hall under Duesek’s Board and Beer, Punch House is a ‘70s-style cocktail bar offering sailor-inspired punches. Bring some friends because while you can order by the glass, you’ll need help for the carafes and punch bowls, as well as the new fondue for two. Options include the Dusek Punch, featuring Good bourbon, lemon, raw sugar, dark ale and nutmeg.

1227 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

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Also featured in:

Henry's Swing Club

The myriad of fun drinks, parlor games, and relaxed vibe at Henry's are a unique and welcome addition to the River North party scene.

18 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Red Lion Pub

The beautiful build-out, hard-to-find British beers, stacks of books and interesting conversation at the resurrected Red Lion Pub combine to give Lincoln Park an anti-party bar.

2446 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Dawson

Billy Lawless’ “drinking-focused restaurant” features an extensive beverage program crafted by Clint Rogers and a massive patio. Each drink is meant to be paired with an item from the food menu, and utilizes housemade sodas, aperitifs and both clear and brown liquors. Interesting wines by the glass and draft beers are also available alongside shots of the day.

732 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60654

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Also featured in:

CH Distillery & Cocktail Bar

Out to change minds about vodka, CH Distillery is Chicago’s first distillery with a cocktail bar. The focus is on vodka but gin, rum and whiskey are also available in spirit-driven cocktails, as well as a blossoming selection of house-made apertifs and rarer liquors.

564 W. Randolph St, Chicago, IL

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Bar Takito

Bright, loud and lively, the West Loop sister spot to Takito Kitchen is a fun place to down Mexican-inspired craft cocktails and chef David Dworshak's creative dishes while listening to a DJ, live band or the buzz of the room.

201 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Where to Drink Outdoors in the West Loop and Fulton Market

Bottlefork

Rockit Ranch and Kevin Hickey's drinking-focused restaurant includes one of the best cocktail selections in Chicago.

441 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Tippling Hall

Mercadito's late-night drinking den is finally open following a lengthy delay and offers a massive menu that covers nearly every alcoholic beverage you can imagine.

Open in Google Maps

646 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Billy Sunday

Matthias Merges’ cocktail haven Billy Sunday has received rave reviews and it’s not hard to understand why. Building off the successful Yusho beverage program, mixologist Alex Bachman puts his twist on classics like the Old Fashioned, Bijou and Daiquiri. And a section solely devoted to tonics offers the Kent, one of the best Gin & Tonics in town.

3143 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Aviary/The Office

"World's best" bartender Charles Joly leads the beverage program only until the end of October at this highly-acclaimed cocktail kitchen from the Alinea team. Andrew Brochu heads up the food menu and if you're feeling lucky, try and see if you can get into the exclusive Office underneath.

955 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Sportsman's Club

948 Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

This hotspot from Matt Eisler and Kevin Heisner combines elements of a cocktail lounge, classic Chicago dive, French hunting club and retail store. Four cocktail offerings rotate on a daily basis, many utilizing an amaro machine, and there’s also a selection of packaged goods including whiskey, wine and bitters available for sale.

948 Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Visit Website

Slippery Slope

2357 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Dancing, skee ball and all-around fun; Danny Shapiro's selection of bottled cocktails and the tight and cheap beer selection make the Slope one of the hottest bars of the season.

2357 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website

Celeste

111 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Three floors of art deco stylings, a new rooftop deck, and a massive book of a cocktail menu add up to a can't-miss drinking experience.

111 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Lagunitas Brewing - Chicago

2607 W 17th St, Chicago, IL 60608

An oasis of fresh Lagunitas beer straight from the source is your prize for navigating the trippy maze of winding hallways and stairwells within the newly-opened largest brewery in the state.

2607 W 17th St, Chicago, IL 60608

Visit Website

California Clipper

1002 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Brendan Sodikoff's refreshing of one of Chicago's oldest bars has added a massive cocktail menu, an updated buildout and will soon add a tobacco shop next door while still keeping much of the classic vibe in tact.

1002 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Visit Website

Analogue

2523 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Former Violet Hour bartenders Robby Haynes and Henry Prendergast have opened a den of progressive cocktails, Creole food and dancing in Logan Square. Analogue's cozy, 50-seat space offers a small cocktail list that changes frequently and includes purls, which are beers laced with bitters. Also look for the dance floor, the elevated DJ booth and very good New Orleans-style dishes from chef Alfredo Nogueira.

2523 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website

Three Dots and a Dash

435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Paul McGee’s bar is a tiki paradise that will have you wondering how you ever did without such drinks before now. Step through an alley doorway to a theme world of skulls, pirate ships, straw hut-covered bars and plenty of rum cocktails. There are classics like Mai Tai and Pago Pago, as well as more modern riffs like Painkiller No. 3 (Bajan rum, Jamaican rum, coconut liqueur, passionfruit, pineapple, cream) served in a variety of souvenir mugs.

435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

The Allis

113 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

You may not be able to get into most of Soho House, but you can always drink at The Allis. A tight selection of craft cocktails, wine and beer, as well as food, is served in a beautiful backdrop on the West Loop boutique hotel's ground floor.

113 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

Punch House

1227 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

Located in the basement of Thalia Hall under Duesek’s Board and Beer, Punch House is a ‘70s-style cocktail bar offering sailor-inspired punches. Bring some friends because while you can order by the glass, you’ll need help for the carafes and punch bowls, as well as the new fondue for two. Options include the Dusek Punch, featuring Good bourbon, lemon, raw sugar, dark ale and nutmeg.

1227 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

Visit Website

Henry's Swing Club

18 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

The myriad of fun drinks, parlor games, and relaxed vibe at Henry's are a unique and welcome addition to the River North party scene.

18 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

The Red Lion Pub

2446 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

The beautiful build-out, hard-to-find British beers, stacks of books and interesting conversation at the resurrected Red Lion Pub combine to give Lincoln Park an anti-party bar.

2446 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Visit Website

The Dawson

732 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60654

Billy Lawless’ “drinking-focused restaurant” features an extensive beverage program crafted by Clint Rogers and a massive patio. Each drink is meant to be paired with an item from the food menu, and utilizes housemade sodas, aperitifs and both clear and brown liquors. Interesting wines by the glass and draft beers are also available alongside shots of the day.

732 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

CH Distillery & Cocktail Bar

564 W. Randolph St, Chicago, IL

Out to change minds about vodka, CH Distillery is Chicago’s first distillery with a cocktail bar. The focus is on vodka but gin, rum and whiskey are also available in spirit-driven cocktails, as well as a blossoming selection of house-made apertifs and rarer liquors.

564 W. Randolph St, Chicago, IL

Visit Website

Bar Takito

201 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607

Bright, loud and lively, the West Loop sister spot to Takito Kitchen is a fun place to down Mexican-inspired craft cocktails and chef David Dworshak's creative dishes while listening to a DJ, live band or the buzz of the room.

201 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

Bottlefork

441 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Rockit Ranch and Kevin Hickey's drinking-focused restaurant includes one of the best cocktail selections in Chicago.

441 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Related Maps

Tippling Hall

646 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

Mercadito's late-night drinking den is finally open following a lengthy delay and offers a massive menu that covers nearly every alcoholic beverage you can imagine.

Open in Google Maps

646 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Billy Sunday

3143 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

Matthias Merges’ cocktail haven Billy Sunday has received rave reviews and it’s not hard to understand why. Building off the successful Yusho beverage program, mixologist Alex Bachman puts his twist on classics like the Old Fashioned, Bijou and Daiquiri. And a section solely devoted to tonics offers the Kent, one of the best Gin & Tonics in town.

3143 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website

The Aviary/The Office

955 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

"World's best" bartender Charles Joly leads the beverage program only until the end of October at this highly-acclaimed cocktail kitchen from the Alinea team. Andrew Brochu heads up the food menu and if you're feeling lucky, try and see if you can get into the exclusive Office underneath.

955 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

Related Maps