The Violet Hour

4.6

159 Reviews

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 27, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 52 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
Website
http://www.theviolethour.com/
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.

Location
1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Neighborhood
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, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

The Fireside Experience
$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
$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 159 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

Noise • Moderate

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.

159 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Louisville
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best cocktails in chi town. Bartenders are professionals. They know their craft well. Phenemenol mixology.
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H
Heather
Chicago
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined 5 days 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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M
Matt
Nashville
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined 5 days 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.
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R
Randy
Chicago
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined 7 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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K
Kim
Atlanta Metro
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 15, 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.
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A
Allison
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Murdock was an amazing host and made my boyfriend’s birthday an amazing experience! The individual cocktails were delicious and I would recommend this experience for anyone wanting a unique and fun celebration.
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K
Kristin
VIP
Chicago
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 8, 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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M
Melissa
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 8, 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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C
Chad
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 6, 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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A
Alana
VIP
Chicago
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 28, 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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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 159 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 27, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 52 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Additional information

Cross street
N Milwaukee & N Damen
Neighborhood
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, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.theviolethour.com/
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.

The Violet Hour

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Experiences

The Fireside Experience

Old Fashioned Experience

Menu

What 159 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does The Violet Hour offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Violet Hour restaurant rated?

Is The Violet Hour currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information