The 13 Best Chicago Wine Bars

No matter where you are in the Windy City, a spectacular wine bar is not far from reach. The best wine bars in Chicago offer up unique bottles you won’t find anywhere else. These bars know how to pair a wine with a dish (and many of the dishes are crafted with locally sourced ingredients by award-winning chefs). Whether you’re new to wine and need some hand-holding or are so well-versed in oenology that you could teach a course on winemaking, you’re going to find something surprising at each of these wine bars.

1. Uvae

• Best for: Beginners
• Neighborhood: Andersonville

Lindsey Anderson-Perez, owner and sommelier at Uvae in Andersonville, has been at the hospitality game since she was 16 years old. She built Uvae on the idea that anyone can learn about and enjoy wine. The wine bar hosts educational tastings throughout the week and weekly wine flights. Work your way through their wine list this way, or join their wine club and get three (or six, if you upgrade) bottles per month. We love that Uvae’s wine list is broken down into clever sections like “Coy & Complex Whites,” and “Spirited & Charming Reds.” This would help with decision-making, but everything looks too good to choose! Uvae also serves cheese, charcuterie and entrees.

5553 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60640

4. Proxi

• Best for: Happy Hour and Groups
• Neighborhood: Fulton Market

Proxi also focuses on female winemakers (90 percent of the wine list comes from female owners, importers or makers). Wine director Alex Ring’s work to highlight women has paid off—earlier this summer Proxi served up Marie-Pierre Manciat Cremant de Bourgogne, a bright sparkling wine out of Burgundy, and Ovum’s 2022 Big Salt, a white blend that was so unexpectedly delightful and refreshing, you could taste the Pacific coast spray coming out of the glass. A word of advice: arrive hungry. Choose between the chef’s menu for dinner or order small bites for the table. Though Executive Chef Andrew Zimmerman’s tempura elotes is a fan favorite, we are still salivating over the wood roasted mushrooms and steamed coconut curry custard.

565 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661

6. Easy Does It

• Best for: Non-Alcoholic Wine Lovers
• Neighborhood: Logan Square

Easy Does It was supposed to open in August of 2020, but plans were postponed due to a certain global pandemic. When doors finally opened in March 2022, visitors were met with a very laid back, yet intentionally well-designed space. The goal was to appeal to everyone—not just wine snobs or even wine drinkers. A portion of the menu is dedicated to non-alcoholic and low ABV beverages like an N/A sparkling cider from Normandy. Of course, there’s also wine wine. The wine menu is much smaller than other spots on our list, but that’s kind of the point. Trust the Easy Does It team has picked the cream of the crop, then sit back and relax with friends.

2354 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

10. Red & White

• Best for: Wine Clubbers
• Neighborhood: Wicker Park

Contrary to what its name suggests, the Red & White shop sells tons of bubbles, rosés and orange wines in addition to the classics. Red & White also has a bar space called Noisette where diners can grab apps throughout the week or a full meal on Fridays and Saturdays. Grab a bottle from the shop and pay a $10 corkage fee to sip with dinner, or order by the glass. Intrigued by their wine club? Stop by on Saturdays between 2 and 5 p.m. to sample a flight and get a taste of their membership (members receive five percent off shop purchases and three chosen wines per month for $85). All of Red & White’s wines are natural—and there are always new arrivals waiting to be discovered.

1861 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

11. Chicago Winery

• Best for: Winemaking Enthusiasts
• Neighborhood: River North

Ever wanted to see how the sausage is made? Well, the wine at least? Then get thee to Chicago Winery. In the heart of bustling River North, Chicago Winery actually makes wine on site. Grapes are sourced from high-quality vineyards around the country by Executive Director Conor McCormack. Stroll into the Tasting Room for a five-wine flight before or after touring the winery itself. (Reservations are not available for the Tasting Room, but you can book a table at Liva, the on-site restaurant open for brunch and dinner.)

739 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654

12. Rootstock Bar

• Best for: Something New Every Time
• Neighborhood: Humboldt Park

Due to Rootstock’s close relationships with local farmers, the menu changes frequently. Jamie McLennan, Rootstock’s proprietor and wine director, warns that if you check out the menu right now, it could change tomorrow depending on what’s in season. We love this (because it means more reasons to visit a delish Midwestern wine bar more often). Choose from 100 wines by the bottle and 20 by the glass (again, these can change depending on the time of year). “When selecting wines, we definitely lean into a more natural style while keeping the list diverse and, most importantly, accessible,” McLennan says. “A wine that we always offer by the glass when it's available is a bottle from a grower in the Loire Valley named Olicier Cousin called ‘Pur Breton.’ It's a natural expression of Cabernet Franc from Anjou that shows a wilder side of the varietal and is incredibly versatile with our menu.” Say no more. Reservations unavailable.

954 N. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60622