Chicago has always had a reputation as a drinking city. It is, after all, the adoptive home of Malört. But while the Second City has long played custodian to a unique brand of tavern culture, boasting corner pubs on nearly every block, Chicago has simultaneously reshaped itself into a destination for any serious cocktail drinker. The Violet Hour paved the way for a speakeasy-style revival in 2009 and even as that stalwart of the early renaissance remains largely unchanged, bars across the rest of the city—including many VH alums—have taken the baton and run with it. Not long after, in 2011, The Aviary opened; the trailblazer in molecular mixology set a high bar for drinks that break the mold and push the boundaries of technique. At a rapid clip, Chicago has since produced a canon of bars that borrow from both camps, matching innovation with classic constructions. Those featured on this list do the same, with the added achievement of feeling as integral to the fabric of the city as the many taverns that came before them.
Chicago
Where to drink in
With only a limited time in the city, here are the can’t-miss places to drink.