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  4. Chicago
  5. Bucktown / Wicker Park
The Violet Hour, Chicago, IL

The Violet Hour

4.6
4.6
157 Reviews
$31 to $50
Cocktail Bar

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 25 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
  • Romantic
This James Beard award winning bar program, serves seasonally-driven libations amongst candlelit tables and a sprawling marble bar. Centrally located in the heart of the vibrant Wicker Park neighborhood, surrounded by delicious restaurants and boutique shopping. Cocktails are inspired by trailblazing head mixologist Toby Maloney.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Dining Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 5:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Phone number
    (773) 252-1500
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Private party facilities
    The Violet Hour would be thrilled to host your next special event. Events are organized in "cocktail party" fashion with passed drinks and appetizers available from our seasonal menus.
  • Area
    Bucktown / Wicker Park
  • Cross Street
    N Milwaukee & N Damen
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    - 1 minute walk from Damen Blue Line Station - 1 min walk from Damen & Milwaukee North Ave Bus Stop
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • The Fireside Experience

    USD 100.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Indulge in a flight of 3 bartender-selected favorites from The Violet Hour's exclusive back-catalog of cocktails paired with each beverage's origin story. Enjoy reserved VIP seating at the hearth of our beautiful fireplace as our team leads you through each handcrafted beverage.
  • Old Fashioned Experience

    USD 30.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Join us in an interactive evening with "front row" bar seats as our team guides you through the creation of The Violet Hour Old Fashioned. Learn the tips and tricks to crafting this classic cocktail. It is the perfect way to kick off your evening. Guests are welcome to order a la carte following their demonstration. The experience is about 30 minutes.

What 157 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Violet Hour offers an exquisite cocktail experience with "amazing cocktails" and "incredible service." Guests adore the unique, expertly crafted drinks and the "warm vibe." While occasional seating issues arise, the intimate atmosphere and knowledgeable staff make it a "fantastic experience" worth revisiting. Perfect for date nights and special occasions.

157 Reviews
  1. Heather

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Drinks were tasty and ambiance was cool… but felt more like a bar than a speak easy and service was slow.

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  2. Matt

    Nashville

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best speak easy in North America. Knowledgeable service and great choices. Always love coming here.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Randy

    Chicago

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Entrance to restaurant was hard to find. Had to wait 30 minutes after our reservation time for our table. Service was good but slow. Food was just okay. Great selection of interesting cocktails.

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  4. Kim

    Atlanta Metro

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 15 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an awesome waitress who helped highlight and explain several drinks. She was so personable . Loved the vibe and the experience.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Kristin

    VIP

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 8 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    The drinks were amazing and inventive, and the atmosphere quiet and romantic, as usual. However, the service was exceptionally slow, which was unusual for Violet Hour. We were the only table that was not provided water from the start. After finishing our first cocktail and waiting over 30 minutes without our server coming by, I got up and found him speaking with another server at the bar. The slow service prevented us from trying all the cocktails we planned to try. Hoping it was just an off night.

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  6. Melissa

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 8 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice hidden bar. All the drinks we ordered were great and for the small selection of food, it was great.

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  7. Chad

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 6 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our service and drinks were top notch. The atmosphere was really enjoyable too

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  8. Alana

    VIP

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 28 November 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Overall not a great experience. The cocktail menu is over complicated especially considering the drinks are just ok and take a substantial amount of time to create. Service was sub par and the espresso martini was horrible. I’ve been to VH several times but this most recent experience will likely be the last time.

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  9. Denise

    Milwaukee

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on 21 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cocktails are creative and playful. Service was amazing, they go out of their way to make sure you're happy. Loved the chill vibe, not at all pretentious. Will be back

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  10. Peter

    Detroit

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely experience overall. Fantastic drink selection, quality cocktails and an intimate, inviting floorplan.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Violet Hour offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (773) 252-1500.

The Violet Hour is rated 4.6 stars by 157 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 25 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Violet Hour

1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    N Milwaukee & N Damen
  • Area
    Bucktown / Wicker Park
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 5:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Cocktail Bar, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Dining Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    - 1 minute walk from Damen Blue Line Station - 1 min walk from Damen & Milwaukee North Ave Bus Stop
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (773) 252-1500
  • Private party facilities
    The Violet Hour would be thrilled to host your next special event. Events are organized in "cocktail party" fashion with passed drinks and appetizers available from our seasonal menus.
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