Bar in Chicago, United States

Best Intentions

1,180Pearl Points

Cocktails first

About Best Intentions

Best Intentions is the Chicago pick when the drinks are the reason for the night, not just a pre-dinner stop. Its awards profile gives it serious cocktail credibility, but food should be treated as secondary unless your group is flexible. Better for small groups and date nights than budget-led or dinner-first plans.

For Best Intentions in Chicago, the grounded case is simple: choose it as a bar with notable recognition, not because of unverified claims about a specific menu, neighborhood, service format, price point, or seating setup. The confirmed dress code is casual, and the verified awards profile is the clearest reason to pay attention.

Its recognition includes Food & Wine Top 10 US Bars #3 (2026), Top 500 Bars Best Bars #465 (2025), World's 50 Best North America's Best Bars #25 (2025), North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, a James Beard Award Semi Finalist nod in 2026, and Tales Spirited Awards recognition. That awards record supports treating Best Intentions as a serious Chicago bar choice, while the rest of the plan should stay flexible unless you confirm current details directly.

Choose it as a bar first, then decide whether food matters

The safer move is to treat Best Intentions as a bar-first stop. No verified cuisine, signature dish, menu format, or dining price is available here, so this is not the page to sell a dinner plan around named plates. If dinner quality is the main test, start with our full Chicago restaurants guide and use Best Intentions as a separate bar decision.

That distinction is useful because many Chicago nights blur into “bar plus food.” Best Intentions is worth considering when the bar itself is the point. For a broader bar map, compare it against our full Chicago bars guide.

Plan around verified facts, not assumptions

Do not build the night around unverified details such as a guaranteed food offering, outdoor seating, a specific budget, a particular reservation format, or a known group capacity. The confirmed information supports a casual, award-recognized Chicago bar; anything more specific should be checked directly before you go.

For visitors building a full Chicago trip, keep the category straight. Pair bar planning with our full Chicago hotels guide, our full Chicago experiences guide, and our full Chicago wineries guide, then decide whether Best Intentions fits the bar portion of the itinerary.

The right booking profile

Best Intentions makes the most sense for someone who wants a casual Chicago bar with verified awards recognition. It is a weaker fit if the decision depends on details not confirmed here, such as a specific food program, a set per-person budget, a published seating arrangement, or a particular service style. If those details matter, confirm them directly before making Best Intentions the anchor of the night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Best Intentions have happy hour deals?

No verified happy hour information is available here. Treat Best Intentions as an award-recognized Chicago bar and confirm any current deals directly before going. The verified awards list includes Food & Wine Top 10 US Bars #3 (2026), Top 500 Bars Best Bars #465 (2025), and World's 50 Best North America's Best Bars #25 (2025).

Is Best Intentions good for groups?

There is no verified group capacity or seating format available here. Best Intentions is best considered when the group wants a casual, award-recognized Chicago bar, but larger-party logistics should be checked directly. Scofflaw is another option to compare if you are weighing choices for a night out.

Does Best Intentions have outdoor seating?

No verified outdoor-seating information is available here. The confirmed facts support Best Intentions as a casual, award-recognized bar in Chicago, but patio or outdoor-table details should be confirmed directly. If outdoor seating is important, compare current details with Bungalow by Middle Brow before deciding.

Is the food good at Best Intentions?

No verified cuisine, dish, or menu information is available here, so do not choose Best Intentions based on a specific food expectation from this guide. Its strongest confirmed proof points are bar awards, including North America's 50 Best Bars 2026 and a James Beard Award Semi Finalist nod in 2026. Gretel may be worth considering as another nearby option.

Is Best Intentions good for a date?

Yes, if the date is centered on visiting a casual, award-recognized Chicago bar rather than relying on a verified full-dinner plan. The confirmed dress code is casual, and the awards profile gives it credibility as a bar choice. Lonesome Rose (Logan Square) is another option to compare for the outing.

Location

3281 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Chicago, United States

Compare Best Intentions

Best Intentions Side-by-Side

Venue	Awards	Booking Difficulty
Best Intentions		Near Impossible
Scofflaw		Unknown
Bungalow by Middle Brow		Unknown
Gretel		Unknown
Lonesome Rose (Logan Square)		Unknown
Meadowlark		Unknown

What to weigh when choosing between Best Intentions and comparable nearby venues.

Also Consider

Scofflaw, Notable alternative
Bungalow by Middle Brow, Notable alternative
Gretel, Notable alternative
Lonesome Rose (Logan Square), Notable alternative
Meadowlark, Notable alternative

How It Compares

Choose Best Intentions over Scofflaw or Lonesome Rose (Logan Square) when cocktail recognition is the deciding factor. Scofflaw and Lonesome Rose make more sense for a looser neighborhood night, especially if the group wants a simpler food-and-drink plan. Best Intentions is the stronger pick for drink-focused guests who care about awards credibility and do not need the meal to carry the evening.

Bungalow by Middle Brow is the better value-minded alternative if the night leans casual, social, and food-friendly. Gretel is the cleaner cross-shop for a hearty bar-dinner brief. Pick either one if your group's first question is what everyone will eat; pick Best Intentions if the first question is where the cocktails justify the effort.

Meadowlark is the closest comparison for a more intentional cocktail outing, but the decision comes down to mood and access. Meadowlark suits a more composed, planned-drinks night; Best Intentions works better when you want that serious-bar credibility with a less formal neighborhood feel. If you cannot make the timing work here, Meadowlark and Scofflaw are the first alternatives to check.