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The Violet Hour
Speakeasy, Cocktail Bar, and Lounge$$$$
Wicker Park, Chicago
The experts at The Wall Street Journal and Eater recommend this place
"Nice and intimate atmosphere, great for a cocktail date!"(10 Tips)
"Get the Juliet and Romeo, so something along the lines of that name"(5 Tips)
"Sexy ambience, great mixologists, great speakeasy vibes"(19 Tips)
"Get 'the etiquette' .. Is a drink off the menu.. Enjoy!"(6 Tips)
250 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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AFAR MediaAugust 4, 2014This isn’t a get up and mingle kind of joint, which makes it the perfect dark sexy lounge for romantic dates and quiet conversations about world domination. Try the pimento cheese toasts. Read more
Upvoted 1 week ago
Cole KennedyNovember 26, 2016It's the perfect date spot. Whether you go before dinner, instead of dinner, or after dinner, you won't be let down. I liked the Midnight Stinger.
Mary AlesandriniApril 18, 20168 - Romantic, cool place. Did a good job making a large open place feel intimate. Drinks are super strong and tasty. Not great for large groups (long wait), but got right in with two!
- Pocket SunSeptember 6, 2014Nice and intimate atmosphere, great for a cocktail date! The cocktails with egg white are interesting, but I prefer the sweeter ones. The entrance is very hidden so you gotta be looking for it.
Best cocktails in the city. Never had a bad drink here. Go on a week night or Sunday to avoid the crowd. Have some drinks then cross the street to Big Star and grab some tacos.
Beril EsenSeptember 28, 2017You feel like you're in a Tim Burton movie as you enter this beautifully absurd space with high top chairs and romantic lighting. Their egg white cocktails, for example the Oofta, are delicious.
_October 10, 2015Hard place to find if you don't know about it. Great for dates or anyone who enjoy well made drinks. Dark, cozy, and intimate.
EaterApril 11, 2013Step inside the intimate space and peruse through an extensive handcrafted drink menu that includes vodka, tequila, rum, brandy and portable bitters creations. Try the Juliet & Romeo or the Sazerac.
Alex GeorgeJanuary 15, 2023AmaIng cocktails, bartenders a ale to help you discover what you want, a lovely and pretty authentic speakeasy feel, and again: the cocktails. Amazing.- Diana FriessJune 14, 2019Put your cell phone away (house rules) and enjoy the carefully hand-crafted cocktails amongst your friends or with a date in this cozy & intimate spot. Avoid the crowds on a weeknight or Sunday.
Jc QSeptember 16, 2014Walking through the curtains takes you into the world of Alice in Wonderland. Take it all in while sipping on a cocktail and seated a seat at one of the high backed chairs.
EdmarcAugust 2, 2018Find Abe and ask him to make you something based on how you're feeling and qualities of a drink you'd like to experience. E.g. "I want something vibrant to lift my spirits."
Cristian LöfvallSeptember 11, 2016Low lighting, excellent cocktails and great music makes for an awesome date spot. On weekends, come early or be ready to wait to be seated!
ブルーノFebruary 12, 2017One of the highlights of my weekend in Chicago. Funny place, a surprisingly airy and large speakeasy with a great selection of (strong) cocktails. Approved! 🥃
Nick FruendtDecember 1, 2017Fantastic date spot. Intimate setting, great mood lighting, and delicious cocktails. Perhaps what I liked most was the music had me vibin'
Dieter KieselNovember 13, 2018Put your cell phone away (house rules) and enjoy the carefully crafted cocktails amongst your friends or with a date. You might have to wait to get in, but you're treated like royalty once inside.
Simply a must! Sophisticated, chic, and everything you want for a one of a kind night out. The most hidden of all the gems but the biggest reward if you find it!- Nate FolkertApril 16, 2019entrance is unmarked door on damen between the clinic and the montessori school. if you go lurking around the back of the building looking for a way in, you will get glared at by the pizza store guy.
Rob JuckettApril 4, 2015Amazing cocktails all around. Get "the end of the earth" if you like Madeira and pineapple it is fantastic. Good atmosphere and even if there is a wait, the line moves fast
Travel + LeisureFebruary 21, 2014Behind a nondescript door in Wicker Park, Violet Hour serves handcrafted drinks (try the Hush & Wonder, made of Matusalem rum, lime, and crème de violette).
Redeye ChicagoJanuary 6, 2015Analogue’s Robby Haynes and Owen Gibler of New York’s Mother’s Ruin, who both previously bar tended at the Wicker Park lounge, return to serve cocktails from the bar’s past menus and their home bars. Read more- Allison KaminskiDecember 6, 2018One of my favorite places in wicker park. Get the Juliet and Romeo, so something along the lines of that name
Stina P.December 21, 2013lose yourself in the blue curtains. this place has an energy that makes it something to behold once found in chicago. it is tasteful and classic with an edge of biggie rap.
Natalie Morse-NolandOctober 4, 2013It's a little too dark to see the menu, but I really like the unique setup and their cocktails are delicious. Also, fiddling on your phone is forbidden here!- L KDecember 20, 2016The intimate atmosphere let's you focus on your private party and forget there are even other patrons. Cozy, trendy, and amazing cocktails.
Girish JoshiAugust 28, 2014They make great non alcoholic drinks here. They will try most anything on the menu, within reason. My favorite is their twist on a Pimms cup.
Time Out ChicagoNovember 2, 2011It's pristine (the carefully constructed cocktails are excellent), pretentious (you won’t find a sign on the door–just look for the long lines) and, ultimately, completely and unarguably gorgeous. Read more
ChicagoistAugust 1, 2014Perfect place to get lost in conversation. Draped in periwinkle velvet with sparkling chandeliers and a fireplace, it's a very romantic atmosphere. Read more
Autumn ChoiSeptember 30, 2019The best cocktail bar with huge options for creative drinks. Amazing bartenders will make you custom drinks. Great ambience
Josh SciannaOctober 3, 2017Good place to impress a date, their cocktail menu is expansive and the bartenders are sublime. Keep in mind that it’s on the intimate side.
Katie Konrad SwansonDecember 9, 2012Get any of their drinks with potable bitters. I am never disappointed! Ambiance is unmatched, modern spin on an old speakeasy. Excellent service and knowledgeable waitstaff.
OkCupid Daters' ChoiceJuly 18, 2017The Violet Hour was voted the Best Date Spot to Get Sex Started by OkCupid users in the first-ever Daters' Choice Awards! Tap Read more for additional date spot categories in Chicago. #daterschoice Read more
Mike DuFresneApril 21, 2014Really amazing speakeasy. Line really starts to stack up at 7 on Saturday and moves really slow. Definitely don't try to come with a group larger than four
Suri RNovember 30, 2013On the menu under each spirit, each cocktail is listed shaken and refreshing to stirred and bold. I had the French Professor, it was epic
MissBruce LeeMay 23, 2013An original selection of cocktails, and an impressive whiskey selection! Hidden location and quiet design, bringing a date at Violet Hour is a winner.
Wicker Park Bucktown InsiderJanuary 8, 2014If you're looking for a place where you can actually talk, this is your spot. Sophisticated bar. Beautifully decorated.Excellent drinks. Cheers!
Kirti DOctober 2, 2012The small plates are delicious, full of flavor, & help soak up the buzz from the amazing cocktails. It's dimly lit, & perfect for a discreet night out.
Xandrea RapierJune 15, 2019Craft cocktails. Appis are good too. They don't take reservation. Go early before the line gets too long.
Time Out ChicagoOctober 19, 2011It's pristine (the carefully constructed cocktails are excellent), pretentious (you won’t find a sign on the door–just look for the long lines) and, ultimately, completely and unarguably gorgeous.
Men's Health MagNovember 15, 2011Here, the bar is a stage, and the tenders are the actors. High ceilings, giant mirrors, hell, even curtains to either side of the bar. Snag a Maloney Negroni, then watch the performance.
Jake HelmenMarch 6, 2022Great drinks and awesome atmosphere. Definitely great for having reservations as well finally.
Emily BoltonMarch 22, 2017I enjoyed my visit and had a great cocktail, but I wouldn't recommend going alone. They don't allow phones, the bartenders aren't chatty, and you're stuck to a seat.
Sitting at the bar is fun to check out how they make all the drinks but I also love the high backed throne chairs
Sharon TsaoNovember 23, 2015I love the variety of cocktails there are! Largest menu I've seen in awhile. I liked the gin based drinks :)
Zach SmithNovember 16, 2015Fancy cocktails and sophisticated ambiance if you feel like feeling sophisticated... Or impressing a date in this low-lit speakeasy.
JenKuduSeptember 16, 2016If you don't want to loose yourself in the menu, just tell what flavor or season your craving and they'll come up with perfection.
Erika DavisMarch 29, 2016Love the atmosphere & all the drinks I had here so far. Perfect ambiance for a romantic date.
Caroline WuApril 12, 2015Had the Sunday Best. One of the best cocktails I've ever tasted - incredible. Ambience is dark and private but classy
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The Violet Hour does not accept reservations, we operate on a first come first serve basis. If there is a wait upon your arrival, our door host will take your name and cell phone number then call when seating becomes available.
Closed until 6:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Fri, Sun
- 6:00 PM–2:00 AM
- Sat
- 6:00 PM–3:00 AM
(773) 252-1500
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express & MasterCard)
Wi-Fi
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Restroom
Yes
Food & Drink
Drinks
Beer, Wine, Full Bar, Cocktails
See More
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- 9.1
"Super cute and low key neighborhood place with a huge beer menu"
Ellen Stolar - 7.9
"The friendly staff, oddball performers and intimate vibe make this place approachable and impressive. Expertly crafted cocktails and a rotating menu will lure you to return again and again."
Redeye Chicago - 8.0
"If an Old Fashioned had a baby with a coconut.... it would be OFTDOF. Or trying your Origami skills while enjoying a Paper Crane. The $13 house cocktails do not disappoint."
Ryan Ruggaard
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