Ward Eight Bar

Ward Eight is on the border of Chicago and Evanston, and it’s a great, not-too-well-known option if you’re getting together with your friends who live up north. It feels a little like a dive bar, but it’s too clean to actually be a dive. Inside it’s dark and small, with wooden floors and walls, and reclaimed church pews for seats. Cocktails are straightforward, and the drink menu focuses on excellent renditions of the classics, like Old Fashioneds. Food-wise, you’ll find charcuterie and sandwiches, as well as a fantastic chocolate cake that’s good enough to make the drinks the afterthought.