Logan Square, Chicago
Thirty Seats Behind an Unmarked Door
Meadowlark hides behind an unmarked door off the alley at 2200 N California Avenue, under the same roof as Lardon and Union in Logan Square. The room measures 825 square feet and seats 30, with 14 of those at the bar, per Block Club Chicago.
Beverage director Abe Vucekovich, formerly of The Violet Hour, opened it in October 2022 and names every cocktail after a bird. North America's 50 Best Bars listed it in 2025, and The Infatuation calls it one of the most compelling cocktail bars to open in Chicago in recent memory.
Anyone who wants a slow, studied drink in a room like a private library will love it. Groups larger than four should drink elsewhere, because thirty seats fill fast after 8pm from Thursday through Saturday.
Exposed brick, leather chesterfields, and shelves of worn books make it read like a home library from the late 1800s. Menus rotate around themes such as birds of the Midwest and landmarks of the 1893 World's Fair, per Block Club Chicago.
Cocktails run 16 to 18 dollars and reward attention. Order the Cedar Waxwing, gin and sotol with amaro, green chartreuse, lime, and mint. The list turns over completely with each theme, so regulars treat every visit as a new menu.
Planning a longer night? Start with our guide to the best cocktail bars in Chicago and build the crawl from there.
Logan Square cocktail devotees and industry people on nights off hold most of the seats. Weeknights before 7pm offer the best shot at the bar rail, where the build is part of the show.
- The Infatuation: "one of the most compelling cocktail bars to open in Chicago in recent memory".
- Google Maps reviewers repeatedly praise the staff for walking newcomers through the themed menus.
- North America's 50 Best Bars included Meadowlark on its 2025 list.
- A second date that needs to impress
- Cocktail students who want to watch the rail work
- Avoid if your group is five or more
