Bars in Chicago

Chicago's River North entertainment district supports dozens of exceptional bar programs serving the most active bar corridor in the Midwest, where craft cocktail bars compete with craft breweries and classic Chicago dive bars. River North's enormous hospitality market, driven by convention and tourism visitors alongside Chicago's large professional workforce, creates one of the most economically significant bar districts in the United States.

Goose Island Brewery is the beer that put Chicago on the craft brewing map — a Wrigleyville institution whose Bourbon County Brand Stout (released each Black Friday in what has become the most anticipated craft beer event in America) has earned national and international recognition as one of the world's finest beers. Goose Island's extraordinary contribution to American craft brewing culture and its Chicago heritage create a brewery taproom of genuine American beer historical significance.

Half Acre Beer Company is Chicago's most celebrated independent craft brewery — a North Center institution producing outstanding ales and lagers whose genuine Chicago character and consistent quality have established it as the most important independent brewery in the Midwest. Chicago's extraordinary craft beer renaissance and Half Acre's artistic commitment to great beer create a taproom experience of genuine Chicago neighborhood brewing significance.

Hopleaf is Chicago's most beloved beer bar — an Andersonville institution serving 200+ Belgian and craft beers in an authentic Flemish atmosphere that has earned it consistent recognition as one of America's great beer bars. Its extraordinary Belgian beer selection, knowledgeable staff, and resistance to trendiness in favor of genuine quality have made it one of Chicago's most enduring and beloved drinking establishments.

Hopleaf is one of the finest Belgian beer bars in America — an Andersonville institution presenting an extraordinary selection of Belgian ales, outstanding food, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere that has made it a Chicago institution for 30+ years. Chicago's remarkable beer culture and Hopleaf's extraordinary commitment to beer quality and hospitality create a bar experience of genuine American craft beer excellence.

Longman & Eagle is Chicago's most acclaimed neighborhood bar and inn — a Michelin-starred Logan Square gastropub that combines an extraordinary American whiskey collection (500+ bottles) with one of Chicago's most celebrated kitchens and six upstairs guest rooms. It pioneered the "gastropub with rooms" concept in Chicago and has been imitated across the country, while remaining the most definitive expression of Logan Square's creative food and beverage culture.

Lost Lake is America's most acclaimed tiki bar — a Logan Square establishment that has appeared on the World's 50 Best Bars list and consistently ranked as one of the top tiki bars globally for its extraordinary rum program, immaculate tropical cocktails, and genuine love of tiki culture. Its commitment to taking tiki seriously as an art form while maintaining the fun that makes tropical bars beloved has made it a pilgrimage destination for cocktail enthusiasts worldwide.

The Green Mill is Chicago's most iconic jazz bar — an Art Deco cocktail lounge in Uptown that has operated continuously since 1907, making it one of America's oldest jazz venues. Al Capone's regular booth is still pointed out to guests; weekly jazz sets and the world's oldest poetry slam (Sunday nights) create an atmosphere of genuine Chicago history unmatched anywhere in the city. An essential destination for any jazz enthusiast or serious cocktail traveler visiting Chicago.

The Violet Hour is Chicago's founding craft cocktail bar — opened in 2007 and instrumental in launching the city's serious cocktail scene. Cocktails are original compositions using house-made syrups and fresh-pressed juices, served in an intimate and deliberately quiet room under house rules that prohibit loud conversation and cell phone use at the bar.

The Violet Hour is Chicago's most celebrated craft cocktail bar — a Wicker Park speakeasy-style establishment that helped define the modern cocktail revival when it opened in 2007 and has remained one of America's most consistently excellent bars. Its unmarked entrance, prohibition-era atmosphere, and extraordinary cocktail program representing the highest standards of American mixology have earned it consistent placement on national and international best bar lists.