You Can't Pass Up These 5 Underrated Speakeasies in Illinois
By Benjamin Clancy|Published October 24, 2020
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Benjamin Clancy
Author
Benjamin Clancy is the Illinois and Indiana writer at Only In Your State, a doctoral candidate at UNC Chapel Hill in Communication, and an artistic type who has attended the Vermont Studio Center residency in poetry writing and makes something like music as "little other." They grew up in Austin, Texas and currently live in Chicago, IL with their partner, two dogs, and a cat. Get in touch by emailing bclancy@onlyinyourstate.com.
The prohibition era experience is alive and well in Illinois. Here, you’ll find many bars that emulate the historic speakeasies of the 1920s and 1930s by keeping a low profile while serving high-quality drinks. Maybe you’re not the type who would’ve gathered in underground bars out of sight from the law, but nowadays you don’t have to risk arrest to drink an arresting alcoholic beverage. These five bars offer a range of speakeasy experiences, from the upscale to the quirky, but all of them make an incredible cocktail.
Northcott Liquorette has the speakeasy vibe nailed. It looks discrete on the outside, with nothing but a logo emblazoned on an anonymous blue door. Inside, though, Northcott Liquorette is elegant and stylish, with handcrafted alcoholic delicacies to offer you.
For example, at Northcott's you'll find a prohibition-era staple: absinthe. Though the kind now legal in the United States lacks the wormwood that makes some absinthe hallucinogenic, these cocktails it makes are so good they'll leave you seeing (or tasting) double. Northcott Liquorette is located at 40 W Chicago Ave, Naperville, IL 60540.
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2. Club Arcada Speakeasy and Restaurant (St. Charles)
Club Arcada in Saint Charles is the spot to go if you want your speakeasy with a show. Attached to the Club Arcada Showroom, this is a destination for live music. Blending its jazz-age nostalgia for speakeasies with actual jazz makes Club Arcada a highlight on this bar crawl back in time. Club Arcada Speakeasy and Restaurant is located at 105 E Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174.
The Violet Hour in Chicago might be my personal favorite on this list, if only for its artistic take on secrecy. Taking the "hidden" concept of the speakeasy to heart, The Violet Hour is hidden beneath a mural, repainted each year by a commissioned artist. Part of the fun is finding the door. Once you're inside, it's pure class, with cocktails as refined and expertly curated as its stunning interior decoration. The Violet Hour is located at 1520 N Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60622.
Osito's Tap is the youngest bar on this list, having opened in 2019. Being new-school doesn't mean you can't be an old soul, though. At Osito's you'll find both vintage vibes and a classic collection of craft cocktails.
Clearly, Osito, the bar's namesake pup, likes it. He looks like a wise fellow, but, on the other hand, he's still not old enough to drink. You should probably give it a try yourself to be sure. Osito's Tap is located at 2553 S Ridgeway Ave, Chicago, IL 60623.
The Martini Room is the least "undercover" bar on this list, with more of a lively nightclub ambiance than the discrete and posh atmosphere of your usual speakeasy. That makes this a place to heartily celebrate the end of illegal alcohol, which is exactly what its monthly "prohibition nights" are designed to do. Don't worry if you miss it, though; they still serve a mean martini the rest of the month. The Martini Room is located at 161 E Chicago St, Elgin, IL 60120.
The next time you’re looking to cut loose with a cocktail that’s both classy and classic or you’re hoping party like it’s 1929, give one of these seriously good Illinois speakeasies a shot. It will make you think fondly of the prohibition era and, at the same time, make you very, very glad it’s over.
Where else do you raise a glass to the end of an era (the prohibition era, that is)? What are your favorite underground bars and lowdown cocktail lounges in Illinois? We love to hear your stories and see your photos. Get in touch!
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