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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 Jan 22, 2015, 12:42pm CST

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by Daniel Gerzina Jan 22, 2015, 12:42pm CST

The frigid winter is here but the drinking scene in Chicago is hotter than ever before. Whether you fancy an old fashioned, a forward-thinking cocktail or a craft beer straight from the source, the Eater Chicago Cocktail Heatmap will help you quench that thirst. The updated map shows you the hottest drinking spots in town along with a few mainstays where you can sip drinks and escape winter's chill.

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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:

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

Visit Website

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:

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

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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

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

Three Dots and a Dash

The subterranean tiki bar is still a tiki paradise that will have you wondering how you ever did without such drinks before, even without mastermind Paul McGee. 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

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Also featured in:

16 Cafes With WiFi as Strong as Coffee, 2017 Edition

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:

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:

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:

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

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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

Lost Lake

Paul McGee is at it again, swiftly opening one of the hottest bars in recent memory following his exit from Lettuce Entertain You and Three Dots and a Dash. Tiki is still the theme, yet the neighborhood, size and feel is a little different. Prepare to wait in line in peak hours.

3154 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Drifter Chicago

A former original speakeasy is reborn as a pedigreed cocktail bar and "eclectic and eccentric" event space inside a small early 20th century time capsule connected to Green Door Tavern. Available cocktails change nightly and are printed on tarot cards.

678 N. Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Every Important Cocktail Bar in Chicago

The Franklin Room

The folks behind Union Sushi + Barbecue Bar have curated one of the largest selections of whiskeys in Chicago in a swanky all-day bar and eatery in River North.

675 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Bordel

Above Black Bull in Wicker Park lies a beautiful semi-hidden bar and lounge with standout cocktails, throwback live music, and a crowd of both cocktail enthusiasts and partygoers.

1721 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three Dots and a Dash

435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

The subterranean tiki bar is still a tiki paradise that will have you wondering how you ever did without such drinks before, even without mastermind Paul McGee. 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

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

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

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

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

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

Lost Lake

3154 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Paul McGee is at it again, swiftly opening one of the hottest bars in recent memory following his exit from Lettuce Entertain You and Three Dots and a Dash. Tiki is still the theme, yet the neighborhood, size and feel is a little different. Prepare to wait in line in peak hours.

3154 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Drifter Chicago

678 N. Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654

A former original speakeasy is reborn as a pedigreed cocktail bar and "eclectic and eccentric" event space inside a small early 20th century time capsule connected to Green Door Tavern. Available cocktails change nightly and are printed on tarot cards.

678 N. Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

The Franklin Room

675 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

The folks behind Union Sushi + Barbecue Bar have curated one of the largest selections of whiskeys in Chicago in a swanky all-day bar and eatery in River North.

675 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Bordel

1721 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Above Black Bull in Wicker Park lies a beautiful semi-hidden bar and lounge with standout cocktails, throwback live music, and a crowd of both cocktail enthusiasts and partygoers.

1721 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Visit Website

Related Maps