The Best Bars for a First Date in Chicago

Meet over cocktails in one of The Violet Hour's three candlelit salons in Wicker Park. A single discreet entrance, marked by an ever-changing mural outside, leads to the salons and a long marble bar.

The seasonal cocktail list comes from a bar program that has won a James Beard Award. Hours are daily from 5pm to 1am, with reservations through the website.

Talk over drinks with Millennium Park and Lake Michigan in view at Cindy's Rooftop. The bar and restaurant occupies the 13th floor of the Chicago Athletic Association hotel, with a glass atrium and a terrace open year-round.

Reservations are encouraged and open 14 days ahead, though walk-ins are welcome for a same-day plan. Hours are 11am to 11pm Monday through Thursday, with later closing times on weekends.

Give a first date a live-jazz soundtrack at Green Mill, a historic club with music every night. Evening sets run, for example, from 8pm to midnight.

The late Friday and Saturday sets, from 1am to closing, carry a $5 cover.

Explore the world-travel drinks menu together at Arbella in River North. Its map-style format gives you something to discuss as you choose. Pick your strength: every drink is labeled somewhere between light and boozy.

Three old fashioneds stand out: Manila with ube whiskey, Havana with aged rum, and Goa Coast with spiced turmeric syrup. Share crab rangoons or potato croquettes alongside your drinks, and book online if you want to plan ahead.

Take a seat at the bar or on the lively patio at Little Bad Wolf in Andersonville, where a long craft beer, cocktail, and wine list gives you plenty to choose from.

Try the standout Wolf Burger with mac and cheese, or choose bao buns from the menu. Reservations are not accepted, so expect a wait when it is busy.

Meet for beer at Forbidden Root, an American brewpub in a remodeled old West Town theater with steampunk light fixtures.

A hidden TV comes out only for Chicago playoff games, keeping the focus on drinks and company the rest of the year.

Start a conversation over books and drinks at Kibbitznest, a Lincoln Park book bar open since 2016. There is deliberately no wifi, encouraging people to talk.

Couples often share cheese boards and cocktails; food is limited to cheese plates and snacks such as chips and salsa. Tuesday is trivia night, and the bar is closed Mondays.

Catch a live band together at Empty Bottle in Ukrainian Village, where all shows are for guests 21 and over. Most Mondays feature free performances by local and touring acts, an easy option if you both love live music.

Meet for a drink or dinner in Kumiko's moody bar setting in the West Loop. The Japanese dining bar also has a whisky bar and cafe on site.

Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 5pm to midnight, with last call at 11:30pm. Book using the website's Reserve link.

Settle into Scofflaw's dim, quiet drawing-room atmosphere in Logan Square, complete with a fireplace. Gin cocktails are the focus, with cookies served after midnight.

A marble bar and shabby-chic details add to the setting, while reasonably priced drinks keep the evening within a modest budget.