Forget gin and whisky, the sailor’s favourite tipple is the current spirit of choice in the Windy City. From tropical tiki joints to swank speakeasies, here are Chicago’s best rum bars.
It’s club tropicana a go-go at Lost Lake, a 30s-tinged tiki bar. Hunker down in one of the booths and let the expert tenders mix you a drink from one of the staggering 275 varieties of rum. If you’re at a loss as to what to order, a safe bet is their signature cocktail concocted with aged Jamaican Rum, passion fruit, lime, pineapple, maraschino and Campari. The rustic-tropical interior and trendy crowd creates lively, weekend vibe, whatever the day of the week – we drink to that!
For swanky speakeasy vibes it has to be The Violet Hour; this Wicker Park bar is the go-to for artisanal brews and sultry salon-style decor. Evoking a sense of pre-prohibition libations, the seasonally changing menu (designed by James Beard, no less) stars expertly crafted spiced-rum cocktails. The elegantly appointed marble bar the perfect perch for people watching.
Named among the World’s Best 50 Bars by Drinks International, Three Dots and a Dash is an enduringly popular, tropical sipper tucked away from the vibrant streets of River North. Seek solace in rum-based cocktails handcrafted with fresh, seasonal fruit and spirits from around the world.
If you’re in Chi-Town on a Tuesday beeline to cosy, low-lit Ward Eight for the weekly tiki takeover. A simple, wood-panelled fit out means the focus is firmly on the well-executed drinks; sip on their impeccable take of an old fashioned and enjoy the laid-back atmos. There’s also a small plate food menu for when hunger beckons. Cin cin!
Originally written by LUXE for PenCities.
For more super sip and sup spots, snag yourself the LUXE Chicago guide…
