The Aviary

Jake Hewitt★★★★★★★★★★5.0a month ago

The Aviary cocktail lounge in Chicago was one of the highlights of my trip! Owned by the Alinea Group, The Aviary is known for its fantastic, cleverly designed cocktails are not just visually appealing but taste great as well! I did the 3-course cocktail tasting which really is the way to go to try a few of their excellent drinks. I got lucky to have Benjamin as my server who was filled with knowledge which is just what I wanted. Also, thanks to Ian as well for the VIP service! Jack and Ebony in reservations were extremely helpful as well. When I come back to Chicago, I’m definitely returning to The Aviary and maybe their sister bar, The Office, more of a classical speakeasy vibe.

Courtney Johnson★★★★★★★★★★3.03 weeks ago

I was really excited to experience this place, but unfortunately left very underwhelmed. I tried two cocktails; one was the drink served in the sort of plastic bag, and the other somehow tasted like pure BBQ sauce. Neither were great, and both felt more like dive bar attempts at cocktails than thoughtfully crafted drinks. Super unfortunate considering the hype. That said, the food was definitely stronger than the drinks. The chicken nuggets topped with caviar were tasty, and the black truffle explosion was easily the best bite of the night.

Mad Buy★★★★★★★★★★5.07 months ago

I have been to a lot of restaurants with the chef's tasting menu and paired drinks, but this place is above and beyond any tasting experience I've ever been to. The drinks are part delicious and part entertainment. They are masterfully crafted and truly enjoyable to watch being made tableside. The food is amazing and just as unique from sweet, salty, sour and savory. From the lined coconut shell, the mini Japanese grill at tableside to opening the popcorn bag with the cracker jacks and drink inside - each dish is a surprise. I don't know that I can recommend this restaurant enough and I'm sure I will be talking about it to my friends for a long time coming.

Brandy Jay★★★★★★★★★★5.03 months ago

The Alinea group always delivers an amazing experience and The Aviary is no exception. We did the 3 drink experience which gave us an opportunity to get 6 different drinks from their menu. Some presentations came with fire, others with smoke. No matter what, they all came with incredible flavor. I had one pick that didnt sit well with me, and the waitstaff replaced it with a different option immediately. Incredible service. It is not cheap, but it IS worth it.

Dabitha★★★★★★★★★★5.010 months ago

Went for our 10 year anniversary- Such a unique experience for those who appreciate cocktail culture and bartenders alike. Nothing about this place radiated pretentious or stuck up. The vibes were amazing, art deco inspired decor with some low key hip hop playing on the speakers. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable, and didn’t mind my slow pace or try to rush us! The cocktails were boozy and portioned well along with the small bites. We expressed to our server we based our trip to Chicago around our love for the books and coming to The Aviary, so she offered to have someone give us a tour of the establishment. It was pretty dope, got to see behind the bar and kitchen counter, the basement/prep areas, a few other spots, and ended in the speakeasy. Honorable mention to the wonderful Host who gave us a list of food and cocktail recommendations in the city. Thank you for the awesome hospitality! We will be back :)