Fab Happenings: Top 5 Cocktail Bars in Chicago

In a city as big as Chicago, there are many options for cool spots to grab a drink. From tiki-themed cocktail bars to elegant rooftop lounges, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

With new bars frequently popping up around the city, sometimes it can be a bit challenging to decide where to go. Here are my “Top 5 Cocktail Bars in Chicago”…

5. Up & Up

Up & Up, located on the 13th floor of The Robey Hotel, is one of the multiple bars inside of the hotel. It offers expansive unobstructed views of the city with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace. The inside is cozy and intimate with comfy chairs and couches in a candle-lit space.

I ordered the Game, Set, Matcha, which was made with vodka, chartreuse, St. Germain, lemon, egg white, and matcha. The egg white gave it some froth on top with a subtle taste of matcha. Definitely a unique cocktail I highly recommend.

Next, I tried the Oaxacan on Broken Glass. It was made with mezcal, which gave it a strong, smokey flavor. It was also surprisingly sweet. The cocktail had a touch of spice from the chipotle tabasco. It’s the perfect drink if you enjoy spicy drinks.

FAB TIP: Up & Up is open year-round.

{Location}
Up & Up
Wicker Park || 2018 W North Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (872) 315-3082

{Price Range}
$$$ ($37-$65)

{Fab Rating: 3.5 Fabs}

4. Apogee Lounge

Searching for creative cocktails? Look no further than Apogee. Apogee is located on the rooftop of the Dana Hotel. What’s cool about this rooftop lounge is that because part of it is inside with floor to ceiling windows, you could go year-round. Not to mention, there is a bar inside and one outside with frosé on tap. The outdoor terrace offers beautiful views of the city right in the heart of River North.

I tried the 1 Up Cocktail (serves two people). This retro cocktail based on Nintendo’s Super Mario video game was served in a decorative glass mushroom. It had absinthe, gin, chartreuse, oregano, and topped with pretty flowers. FYI, they don’t serve food, but offers a wide variety of unique cocktails.

I also tried the Nymph cocktail, one of Apogee’s specialty cocktails. Refreshing and light, it was made with vodka, sparkling rosé, elderflower, raspberry powder, and an edible butterfly.

{Location}
Apogee
River North || 660 N State St, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 202-6060

{Price Range}
$$$ ($37-$65)

{Fab Rating: 4 Fabs}

3. Arbella

Arabella is a modern bar with an eclectic vibe. They offer a limited food menu with snacks, starters, plates, and desserts. The large drink menu is organized by geographical regions across the globe.

My favorite cocktail was the Old School cocktail. It was made with peanut butter infused vodka and jelly ice. It actually tasted like I was eating a PB&J sandwich. As odd as that sounds for a cocktail, it was delicious!

Want to relive your childhood? Don’t miss out on the Snow Cone cocktail. It’s refreshing and perfect to enjoy on a warm day. You can choose from orange, blueberry, or tropical flavors. I went with the tropical flavor.

FAB TIP: It’s not on the menu but the Frosé made with liquid nitrogen is available.

{Location}
Arbella
River North || 112 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 846-6654

{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$36)

{Fab Rating: 4 Fabs}

2. Lost Lake

Lost Lake is a tiki bar serving a variety of tropical drinks. Paul McGee, formerly from Three Dots and a Dash, is the head man behind the bar. When you step into Lost Lake, you feel like you’re on vacation somewhere tropical. There’s the main bar and then up by the entrance, there’s another bar in a separate room called Stranger in Paradise. They feature a limited menu of unique bar snacks including 5 Spiced Duck Confit, Curry Udon, Chilled Blue Crab, and more. There is a wide variety of tiki-themed cocktails featuring various types of alcohol so there’s sure to be something to suit everyone’s taste.

If you’re looking for a photogenic cocktail, you can’t go wrong with any of the options. My favorite cocktail was the Bunny’s Banana Daiquiri. This cocktail was served with a banana in the shape of a dolphin. It was not as fruity and sweet as one would imagine, which was perfect for me. The subtle hints of banana and coconut were a great combo.

They also offer three large format cocktails. You can share or not.

Fire! Fire! Fire! Got $30 to spare? Then order up the flaming Ruby Mae’s Second Surfin’ Bird at  @LostLakeTiki – filled with Reposado Tequila, Mezcal, Ruby Port, Campari, Pineapple, Lime & Passionfruit #beavisandbutthead #YelpChicago

A post shared by Sarah (@hayanyujah847) on Sep 6, 2017 at 5:03am PDT

FAB TIP: Both bars offer the same food and drink menus.

{Location}
Lost Lake
Avondale || 3154 W Diversey, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 293-6048

{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$36)

{Fab Rating: 4.5 Fabs}

1. The Aviary

The Aviary is an upscale cocktail lounge from the Alinea Group. It’s the perfect spot for celebrating a birthday or special occasion. I recently went with @fabsoopark for my birthday and it was incredible! You can order creative drinks and chef-driven bites à la carte, but we went with the 5-course tasting menu. Each cocktail was paired with a delicious small bite. The cocktails at The Aviary were strong and beautifully presented. These are inventive drinks you can’t find anywhere else.

My favorite drink was the Bunker Pants. It had Thai chili, raspberry, lemongrass, rum, and sochu and was served in a porthole infuser. Each time we poured more, the flavor varied.

Another one of my favorites was Loaded to the Gunwalls. This one was cool because the drink was poured into a glass bottle that had an ice sculpture inside of it.

FAB TIP: Tickets can be purchased in advance on their website for any of the tasting menus.

{Location}
The Aviary
Fulton Market || 955 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 226-0868

{Price Range}
$$$$ (Above $65)

{Fab Rating: 4.5 Fabs}

What are some of your favorite cocktail bars in the city? Share below.

Eat, Eat, Repeat,
Lisette

Note: These items were not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.