Chicago's Best Cocktail Bar — If You Can Find It 🕵️‍♂️✨

Founded in 2007, The Violet Hour is widely regarded as the birthplace of Chicago’s modern craft cocktail scene 🍸 It’s one of only two bars in Chicago (the other being The Aviary) to have won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program. While other bars were still pushing Malört, The Violet Hour pioneered the artisanal speakeasy cocktail bar concept — reshaping Chicago’s entire bar landscape and training a whole generation of bartenders who now lead the city’s top restaurants and bars. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates well-crafted cocktails. ⚠️ But here’s the catch: In true Prohibition-era speakeasy style, the entrance is intentionally hidden — no sign, no flashy door. If you don’t know what to look for, you might walk right past it. 🔐 Good thing you’re reading this guide 😏 When you arrive at the address, you’ll see a wall covered in colorful graffiti. To the right, there’s a small, unmarked door with a purple light above it and a camera. That’s the entrance — just pull the door open and step inside. 【The Violet Hour】 📍 1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL #CraftCocktails #SpeakeasyVibes #BarDiary #HiddenGemBar #ChicagoEats