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A West Loop Bar Crawl

Four stops, one evening. Cocktail Chicago's polished centre.

This is a working bar crawl through West Loop, Chicago's most concentrated drinking neighbourhood. Cocktail Chicago's polished centre. Four stops, one evening, mapped by editors who actually drink here on Friday nights.

The order matters. Start polished, peak in the middle, end somewhere quieter. Every room listed below is within a 10-minute walk of the next one — that's the value of a neighbourhood crawl.

Total time: about five hours. Total spend: depends on you, but plan £60-£100 per person. Save this page, send it to whoever you're meeting, and let West Loop take care of the rest.

The Route

Four stops, ranked

Walking distance: under 1km between stops. Treat the timings as guidance, not gospel.

No. 01
Stop 1 — 18:00 Aperitif
The Aviary
West Loop · $$$$ · Cocktail Bars
The Aviary draws a steady local crowd in West Loop. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Start at the most refined cocktail room in the area. One drink. You're warming up.
No. 02
Stop 2 — 19:30 First proper cocktail
Cindy's Rooftop
Loop · $$$ · Rooftop Bars
Cindy's Rooftop draws a steady local crowd in Loop. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Move to the room you'd take a first date to. Sit at the bar, talk to the bartender, order a house special.
No. 03
Stop 3 — 21:30 The destination
Kumiko
West Loop · $$$$ · Cocktail Bars
Kumiko draws a steady local crowd in West Loop. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
The bar that defines the neighbourhood. Reservations help. Stay an hour.
No. 04
Stop 4 — 23:30 Last drink
The Office at Aviary
West Loop · $$$$ · Cocktail Bars
The Office at Aviary draws a steady local crowd in West Loop. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
End somewhere unhurried — a wine bar, a music room, or a quiet hotel bar. One simple drink.
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Photos via Google Places. Editorial selection by Bars for Kings editors. Source