Diners' Choice: Cocktail Bar restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated 05 January 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Cocktail Bar cuisine in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Alderman

4.9

4.9 (213)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Pilsen

About the restaurant

Winner of the 2022 Jean Banchet Award for Best Bar, THE ALDERMAN is an intimate, 16-seat cocktail bar tucked away, behind closed doors, within Pilsen Yards. The cocktail list rotates some of its original cocktail features, while the twists on American classics are staples of the cocktail list.

With a plush velvet banquette and a 4-seat counter, it’s the perfect room for a night cap, a date, or a casual evening of one to several astonishingly good cocktails.

Top review

Travis

Dined on 22 Dec 2024

Always a great cocktail experience and an opportunity to learn about new spirits. Bar seats are highly recommended.

Judes Cocktails and Nosh

4.7

4.7 (222)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Crystal Lake

About the restaurant

Located in Downtown Crystal Lake, directly across form the Raue Center for the Arts. Our team of outstanding chefs and servers will cater to your every need – for a dining experience that you’ll never forget.

Top review

Michele

Dined on 1 Dec 2024

Love Judes! Great cocktails and so many options with small plates. Service is always so friendly and welcoming and we especially love Camryn, the host. Judes is a fantastic place to meet friends and a nice alternative to some of the local bars.

Pandan

4.8

4.8 (41)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Gold Coast / Streeterville

About the restaurant

Venture to the 18th floor of Viceroy Chicago to discover a seductive world where the sky is your ceiling and gorgeous city views unfold from every angle. Welcome to Pandan, a lush cocktail experience in the heart of the Gold Coast. Bask in what seems like infinite sunshine and starlight as you share baos and buns from the menu of Southeast Asian cuisine. The cocktail menu is as vast as the skyline itself and full of alluring flavors you haven't yet imagined. Sink into a lounge chair surrounded by botanicals and greenery. You'll quickly see: Pandan is a world unto itself -a haven for secluded celebrations, important connections, and whispered secrets. And the undercurrent of exclusivity is undeniable. Pandan is not just a scene. It's a satisfying new perspective. Come up. Elevate.

Top review

Serena

Dined on 11 Dec 2024

Pandan is one of my favorite spots in the city after visiting with my husband for our anniversary. The stunning views paired with the amazing food and delicious cocktails made it a night to remember. The service is something that also deserves props, they were on top of everything from the moment we sat down. Great restaurant with a guaranteed nice time out if you’re visiting the city.

Three Dots and a Dash

4.7

4.7 (1852)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

With a secret alleyway entrance, Three Dots and a Dash is a speakeasy-style take on the traditional island bar—ready to transport you to the glamorous bygone eras of Trader Vic, Stephen Crane and Don the Beachcomber. Descend underground to discover a subterranean hideaway featuring a rum-soaked menu of more than two dozen classic, modern and original tropical cocktails and a selection of island fare. We are a 21+ venue.

Top review

Luke

Dined 3 days ago

Great food & drinks and ambience. Will be back again and again!

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Three Dots and a Dash (Deposit Required)

Rooftop at Nobu Hotel

4.6

4.6 (885)

$50 and over

Cocktail Bar

West Loop

About the restaurant

Soak in the vibes of Chicago’s famous Restaurant Row and the views of the stunning city skyline at the Rooftop at Nobu Hotel. The Rooftop encourages walk-ins.

Top review

ElizabethVIP

Dined on 12 Dec 2024

Delicious sushi - get the baked crab role! Great spot for catching up with friends!

Vol. 39

4.4

4.4 (81)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown / Loop

About the restaurant

Tucked away in the The Kimpton Gray Hotel is our library of spirits. Vol. 39 is an upscale bar and cocktail lounge in Chicago’s Loop where friendly faces serve classic drinks like Old Fashioneds and Expresso Martinis. For a speakeasy feel with the comfort of your neighborhood bar, Vol. 39’s collection of wine, whiskey and other craft spirits is the ideal spot for an intimate date night, networking with colleagues, pub crawl or your first drink of the night.

Top review

RachelVIP

Dined on 26 Dec 2024

Great cocktails. Unpleasant service, especially by our server (the bartender was ok). Food was ok, not more than that.

The Violet Hour

4.6

4.6 (166)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

This James Beard award winning bar program, serves seasonally-driven libations amongst candlelit tables and a sprawling marble bar. Centrally located in the heart of the vibrant Wicker Park neighborhood, surrounded by delicious restaurants and boutique shopping. Cocktails are inspired by trailblazing head mixologist Toby Maloney.

Top review

Nevin

Dined on 29 Dec 2024

Great ambiance with cocktails and drink. Love to bring people here for a new experiance.

Celeste

4.5

4.5 (188)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

**For Rooftop Garden and Disco reservation, please visit our website at celestedisco.com**

Celeste is a modern, refined interpretation of the classic American drinking establishment. Our four levels are each inspired by nuances in architecture, art movements, social clubs, and a breakdown of the barriers between art and life. A carefully curated space, upscale cuisine, and imaginative cocktails create the essence of Celeste.

Reservation Types:

Whiskey Bar High-Top:
On the first floor, The Bar is a nod to classic neighborhood bars. This space offers a casual atmosphere, perfect for gathering with friends during happy hour while indulging in elevated spirits, modern American cuisine, and an expanded whiskey list.
Open Wed-Sat at 5pm

Deco Supper Club:
Located on the second floor, Deco Supper Club pays homage to the glamorous architectural history of Chicago at the turn-of-the-century with a drink menu spotlighting craft cocktails.
Open Thurs-Sat at 7pm.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 7 Dec 2024

Nice experience. Greatstaff. Price for 2 drinks was $115. That's insanity. But it was fun

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Experience

Restaurant Week Menu

Experience

Happy Hour at Celeste

The Berkshire Room

4.5

4.5 (52)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

The Berkshire Room is an upscale lounge specializing in craft cocktails all created by a talented team. The atmosphere is retro classy and definitely worth a visit before or after dinner for cocktails with friends. There is ample seating either in the private side rooms, the booths in the lounge area or at the bar. The clientele that frequent the Berkshire Room rave about the dealers' choice, which allows guests to choose the spirit, flavor profile and glassware. The bartender then customizes a unique and customized cocktail.

Besides the tasty cocktails and the relaxing ambiance, the Berkshire also offers bar snacks and small dishes. The Berkshire room is located within River North's swanky ACME hotel.

Top review

Samuel

Dined 2 days ago

We stopped in for one drink so we did not eat. Vine is nice and the drinks also. Way too loud to have any kind of conversation but I would go back for a drink or two.

Chateau Carbide

3.7

3.7 (214)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

Welcome to Château Carbide, our botanical-driven, absinthe-inspired cocktail bar, featuring seasonal light bites from Pendry Chefs. Perched on the rooftop of Pendry Chicago, this indoor-outdoor al fresco destination evokes the airy, effortless allure of the French countryside with a sun-drenched garden setting overlooking the city.

Please note the following policies:
**Chateau Carbide is a 21+ establishment
**Light Bite service is available until 10:00 PM
**Outdoor tables are subject to availability, and a reservation does not constitute an outdoor table. We do our best to accommodate all guest seating requests.
**Reservations are encouraged but not required, subject to availability.

Top review

Jason

Dined on 3 Oct 2024

Just had drinks. They were good. Nice rooftop spot.

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