Chicago’s 20 Best New Bars
- 1. Three Dots and a Dash
River North
… an outstanding 16-cocktail menu and irresistibly kitschy Hawaiian charm … - 2. Billy Sunday
Logan Square
… Alex Bachman charts new territory with his exotically sweet creations … - 3. Parson’s Chicken & Fish
Logan Square
… affordable drinks, comforting fried chicken, and a sweet-as-pie staff … - 4. Punch House
Pilsen
… a ’70s-rec-room-themed basement bar from the trendsetters behind Longman & Eagle … - 5. The Berkshire Room
River North
… all the swank but none of the snoot … - 6. Lone Wolf
West Loop
… one of the boldest launches of the year … - 7. Analogue
Logan Square
… Violet Hour drinks combined with dive bar minimalism … - 8. CH Distillery
West Loop
… come for the cocktails and linger for the small plates … - 9. Bub City
River North
… cocktails are sweet, strong, and well made … - 10. Sportsman’s Club
Humboldt Park
… simple yet adroitly crafted drinks make this a cocktail connoisseur’s nirvana … - 11. Birreria
River North
… the second-floor craft beer bar holds its own among the wine-dominated aisles … - 12. Chop Shop
Wicker Park
… the bar serves up strong takes on classic cocktails and invents a few surprises … - 13. The Radler
Logan Square
… this two-month-old German beer hall manages to feel like a friendly standby … - 14. Rhine Hall
West Town
… a chatty staff and a brandy old fashioned softened will justify the journey … - 15. The Bar at Nico Osteria
Gold Coast
… as exactingly chic as its patrons … - 16. The Revel Room
Wicker Park
… perfect for former nightclubbers who now prefer sitting down and actually hearing each other talk … - 17. Horse Thief Hollow
Beverly
… it’s just what this South Side neighborhood ordered … - 18. Fame
Ukranian Village
… coffeehouse seating, original artwork, and a youngish, low- key crowd … - 19. DryHop Brewers
Lake View
… East Lake View was a craft beer flyover zone until this brewpub hit the scene … - 20. Replay
Boystown
… nearly two dozen free classic arcade games and complimentary popcorn …
Other Specials
- 5 Best New Cocktails
A toast to the libations that rise above the pack - Test Your Bar IQ
Can you pass our quiz? - How Many Have You Been To?
Keep track with this checklist, then share with your friends - Mapping This Year’s Picks
Don't leave home without this map - Your Favorite Neighborhood Bars
We asked for your favorites, and you answered - Four Bars You Should Look Forward To
Coming soon to Chicago - Five New Bars That Fell Short
Ignore the hype for these newbies - Where the Barkeeps Drink
We quizzed some of the city's best bartenders - Last Call: 22 Shots of Chicago Bars at Night's End
Photographer Ratko Radojcic captures the local scene