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Cocktail bar report cards

We rate 19 iconic cocktail bars to see if they’re still worth your money.

Arsenic & Old Lace at Bernard's Bar

It’s de rigueur for drink enthusiasts to rave about the Aviary or put the Violet Hour on a craft-cocktail pedestal. But do those spots and other mainstays live up to the lore? We revisit 19 iconic cocktail bars to assess whether they’re still worth your time and money.

Follow TOC on Foursquare to explore a list of our favorite bars. Check into three from this issue and you'll unlock our Bar Hunter badge.

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The Drawing Room
How the bar’s holding up since Charles Joly jumped ship for the Aviary.
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Violet Hour
Is it worth waiting in line for this speakeasy?
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Sepia
Expert cocktails meet Michelin-rated food.
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Pump Room
Does it still swing?
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The Barrelhouse Flat
Two levels, two vibes, one set of stellar drinks.
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Nacional 27
Can you still get a good cocktail at the bar that started it all?
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The Matchbox
New ownership, same old gimlets.
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Weegee’s Lounge
The vintage bar now serves its classic cocktails with superb service.
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Coq d’Or
The live music is better than the cocktails at this historic bar.
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Double A
Why you should spend your money elsewhere.
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The Bar at the Peninsula
Is it just for tourists?
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Sable
Sometimes it’s okay to pay $13 for a cocktail.
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NoMI Lounge
The view is better than the drinks at this iconic bar.
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The Aviary
Is it still worth the hype?
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Bernard’s Bar
Where cocktails are worth $14. Really.
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The Whistler
The iconic bar in the post–Paul McGee era.
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Bar DeVille
A spot worth waiting 35 minutes to snag a drink?
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Scofflaw
The year-old Logan Square cocktail spot is an instant classic.
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Tiny Lounge
Not so tiny anymore, but still a good neighborhood option.
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Five iconic cocktails
You can’t call yourself a Chicagoan until you drink these.
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