Grant Achatz cocktail bar where drinks are served in custom vessels, some requiring tools to consume. The ice program alone is worth a PhD. This is the Alinea of cocktails -- inventive, theatrical, an...
95
2
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
Steakhouse · River North
The sexiest steakhouse in Chicago -- dim lighting, jazz on the speakers, and a clientele that looks like they stepped out of a prohibition-era film. The bone-in ribeye is perfectly crusted, the shrimp...
92
3
Bisous
Cocktail Bar · West Loop / Fulton Market · North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 (#30); Esquire Best Bars in America 2024
Peter Vestinos — the Chicago cocktail veteran behind programs at Sepia, NoMI, The Betty, and Sparrow — opened Bisous in January 2024 as one of the West Loop's rare standalone cocktail lounges. Two tho...
92
4
Momotaro
Japanese · West Loop / Fulton Market
Gorgeous three-level West Loop Japanese with sushi, robata grill, and a stunning subterranean cocktail lounge. The omakase is excellent, the A5 wagyu is properly indulgent, and the izakaya-style small...
91
5
Sepia
American / French · West Loop / Fulton Market · Michelin 1 Star
Andrew Zimmerman's seasonal American restaurant in a stunning 1890s print shop in the West Loop. The menu marries French technique with Midwestern ingredients — foie gras, duck, and pristine fish prep...
91
6
Obelix
French · River North · OpenTable Top 100 Brunch 2026
Upscale French restaurant in River North rated 9.1 by the Infatuation. From the team behind Bucktown staple Le Bouchon. Formal but not stuffy service with classic French technique. Great for date nigh...
91
7
Hawksmoor Chicago
British Steakhouse · River North
British steakhouse empire Hawksmoor's first US outpost, inside The Merchandise Mart. Dry-aged grass-fed beef from small UK-style producers, oysters pulled from both coasts, and a cocktail program that...
91
8
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge
Jazz Club · Uptown
Al Capone old hangout that has been serving jazz and cocktails since 1907. The Sunday night poetry slam is legendary, the live jazz is nightly, and the Art Deco interior is a time capsule. The most at...
90
9
The Drifter
Speakeasy · River North
Hidden in the basement of Green Door Tavern (itself a 100-year-old bar), The Drifter is a tiny speakeasy with a rotating menu printed on vintage tarot cards. Burlesque shows, fortune tellers, and cock...
90
10
Cariño
Modern Mexican · Uptown · Michelin 1 Star
Modern Mexican from chef Edgar Gonzalez in Uptown that earned a Michelin star with dishes rooted in his Guerrero heritage. Moles built from 30+ ingredients, hand-pressed tortillas, and a mezcal progra...
90
All 113 Bars & Cocktails Spots in Chicago
Longman & Eagle
New American / Whiskey Bar · Logan Square
89
Dusek's
New American / Gastropub · Pilsen
89
Billy Sunday
Craft Cocktails · Logan Square
89
The Purple Pig
Mediterranean / Wine Bar · Streeterville
89
Swift & Sons
Steakhouse · West Loop / Fulton Market
89
Andros Taverna
Modern Greek · Logan Square
89
Kumiko
Japanese Cocktail Bar · West Loop / Fulton Market
89
Shaw's Crab House
Seafood / Oyster Bar · River North
89
Hopleaf Bar
Belgian / Gastropub · Andersonville
89
Sparrow
Cocktail Bar · Gold Coast
89
The Violet Hour
Cocktail Bar · Wicker Park
89
Big Star
Tacos / Whiskey Bar · Wicker Park
88
Cindy's Rooftop
Rooftop Bar · The Loop
88
Three Dots and a Dash
Tiki / Speakeasy · River North
88
Best Intentions
Cocktail Bar · Logan Square
88
Untitled Supper Club
Supper Club / Live Music · West Loop / Fulton Market
88
Bordel
Wine Bar / Cabaret · Wicker Park
88
Aba
Mediterranean · West Loop / Fulton Market
88
Vajra
Indian Fine Dining · West Loop / Fulton Market
88
Alla Vita
Italian / Pasta · West Town
88
Cabra
Peruvian Rooftop · West Loop / Fulton Market
88
Elia
Turkish / Mediterranean · Wicker Park
88
Cafe Yaya
Middle Eastern Cafe · Lincoln Park
88
John's Food and Wine
American Bistro · Lincoln Park
88
London House Rooftop
Rooftop Bar · River North
87
The Bassment
Jazz Club / Bar · Wicker Park
87
Owen & Engine
British Gastropub · Logan Square
87
Gilt Bar
American / Gastropub · River North
87
Superkhana International
Indian / Creative · Logan Square
87
Mirra
Mexican Fusion · Bucktown
87
Perilla
Korean-American · West Town
87
The Whistler
Cocktail Bar / Gallery · Logan Square
87
Gingie
American / Shared Plates · River North
87
Green Street Smoked Meats
Texas BBQ · West Loop / Fulton Market
87
GT Fish & Oyster
Seafood / Modern · River North
87
Celeste
Cocktail Bar / Disco · River North
87
Kuma's Corner
Burgers / Heavy Metal · Avondale
87
Winter's Jazz Club
Jazz Club · South Loop
87
The Duck Inn
American / Gastropub · Bridgeport
87
Bar Tutto
Italian / All-Day Cafe · West Loop / Fulton Market
87
Osaka Nikkei
Japanese-Peruvian · West Loop / Fulton Market
87
Gus' Sip & Dip
Cocktail Bar / Tavern · River North
87
Hopleaf
Belgian / Gastropub · Andersonville
87
Z Bar
Rooftop Lounge · Gold Coast
87
The Gage
Gastropub · The Loop
87
Gibsons Tavern
American · West Loop / Fulton Market
87
Swift & Sons Tavern
Steakhouse / Oyster Bar · Lakeview / Wrigleyville
87
The Radicle
Coastal Italian · Logan Square
87
Taxim
Greek · Wicker Park
87
TAO Chicago
Pan-Asian · River North
87
The Signature Lounge
Cocktail Bar · Streeterville
86
The Promontory
New American / Live Music · Hyde Park
86
Bar Siena
Italian / Bar · West Loop / Fulton Market
86
Sochi
Vietnamese · Lakeview / Wrigleyville
86
Ciccio Mio
Italian-American · River North
86
Scofflaw
Cocktail Bar / Gastropub · Logan Square
86
The J. Parker
Cocktail Bar / Rooftop · Lincoln Park
86
Andy's Jazz Club
Jazz Club / American · River North
86
Duck Duck Goat
Chinese-American · West Loop / Fulton Market
86
Chef's Special Cocktail Bar
Chinese-American / Cocktails · Bucktown
86
Nettare
American / Italian · West Town
86
All Together Now
Cafe / Wine Bar · Ukrainian Village
86
LH Rooftop
Rooftop Bar · Streeterville
86
Pandan
Rooftop Bar / Lounge · Gold Coast
86
Mordecai
Cocktail Bar / American · Lakeview / Wrigleyville
86
Half Shell
Seafood / Oyster Bar · Lakeview / Wrigleyville
86
The Whale
Cocktail Bar / American · West Loop / Fulton Market
86
Bohemian House
Czech / European · River North
86
La Lunita
Mexican / Bar · Logan Square
86
The Dawson
American / Cocktails · West Town
86
Arbella
Mediterranean / Cocktails · River North
86
El Che Steakhouse & Bar
Argentine Steakhouse · West Loop / Fulton Market
86
Sushi-San
Japanese / Sushi · River North
86
Pilsen Rooftop
Rooftop Bar · Pilsen
85
Handlebar
Vegetarian / Bar · Wicker Park
85
Beatrix
American / Health-Forward · River North
85
Estelle's
American / Bar · Wicker Park
85
Gavin's on Damen
American / Bar · Bucktown
85
Range
American / Bar · Lincoln Square
85
The Alley Cat
Dive Bar · Wicker Park
85
Lonesome Rose
Tex-Mex / Bar · Wicker Park
85
Beatnik West Town
Mediterranean / Global · Noble Square
85
STK Steakhouse
Steakhouse / Modern · River North
85
Stetson's Modern Steak + Sushi
Steakhouse / Sushi · The Loop
85
Etta
American / Wood-Fired · Bucktown
85
Cantina Loca
Mexican · West Loop / Fulton Market
85
Bar Biscay
Spanish / Basque · West Loop / Fulton Market
85
Bar Goa
Indian · River North
85
Maude's Liquor Bar
French Bistro / Cocktail Bar · West Loop / Fulton Market