Watershed

Watershed is the rare speakeasy that doesn’t have an air of exclusivity. It’s easily located in Pops For Champagne (a massive “W” marks the staircase) and bartenders will fist bump you while talking about the origins of the bourbon in your experimental cocktail. The whole place feels like hanging out in grandpa’s basement—complete with a leather couch and chess set—with friends who are studying for Mixology 201 by making hit-or-miss drinks. One cocktail might include white port, bitters, peaflower, and Sprite. Another might be more straightforward like a mezcal grapefruit margarita…with Malört. Luckily, the menu changes regularly, and every season focuses on a different TV show like The Good Place or Sex And The City. A night at Watershed depends a lot on the “season” and the crowd—which ranges from people on dates to rowdy groups of friends. But it’s worth taking a chance on this River North bar for the novelty and creative cocktails.