The Best Cocktail Bars in Chicago
Prohibition, which banned the sale of alcohol throughout the United States from 1920 until 1933, shaped the country irrevocably – but it was arguably the city of Chicago, with its mobster network and deeply ingrained drinking culture, which was hit the hardest. Since then, The Windy City has truly risen from the proverbial ashes, not least in terms of its vibrant landscape of cocktail lounges and jazz bars, speakeasies and pubs, sports bars and hotel rooftops. But to really appreciate the Second City’s journey from bathtub gin and bootleg booze to the glittering present, you’ll need to hit up the best cocktail bars in Chicago.
1. The Green Mill
Bar, Cocktail Bar, Wine, Beer, Cocktails
2. The Violet Hour
Bar, Cocktail Bar, American, Tapas
3. Scofflaw
Bar, Restaurant, American
4. The Aviary
Cocktail Bar, Cocktails, American
5. Sable Kitchen and Bar
Bar, Restaurant, American
Award-winning drinks from a veteran of The Violet Hour, Mike Ryan, have made Sable Kitchen & Bar a go-to destination. Located in River North, the drinks list features a mix of spicy, sweet and traditional cocktails with a twist, while the 40-foot bar in front is stocked with most liquors. Be sure to try the War of the Roses cocktail, made with Pimm’s and Chase elderflower liqueur.
6. Billy Sunday
Gastropub, American, Cocktails
The menu here is always changing, and all the cocktails are handcrafted, as are the boozy sodas. The bartenders have a penchant for using unusual ingredients, like syrup with maidenhair ferns, while the cocktails themselves are a nod to tradition mixed with tastes you won’t find anywhere else.
7. Three Dots and a Dash
Bar, American
Opened in 2013, this tiki bar helped set off the trend of tiki-themed drinks in Chicago. The bar serves aesthetically pleasing cocktails, garnished with pansies and orchids in skull, coconut and tiki-head glasses. There are more than 165 rums, absinthes and spices available, plus a good range of delectable bar food, with the spicy-sweet Thai fried chicken a common favorite.
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