The Violet Hour

(773) 252-1500

1520 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60622 41.9088 -87.6774

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Wicker Park, West Side

Hours:

Sunday To Friday From 06:00 PM To 02:00 AM Saturday From 06:00 PM To 03:00 AM

Last updated 7.20.11

Category:

Bars & Clubs, Restaurants, Lounges, Bars & Pubs

Payment Methods:

American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Martinis

Bar & Club Special Features:

21 & Over, Specialty Cocktails, Late-Night Scene

What People Are Saying About The Violet Hour

Featured Review

Fred Schlatter

Contributor

Prohibition era abounds at this sexy gathering spot, from the non-descript warehouse exterior to the flowing gray curtain partitions that suggest hush and secret--a hidden bar. Modeled after the English club and French salon, high-backed chair and booths convey intimacy, while the mirrored back bars displays an admirable collection of fine liquors. Cocktails are complex, and made from scratch, the emphasis placed on fresh ingredients over mixes. Sipping a concoction called Three Dimes Down, made from Kentucky bourbon and Frutabomba bitters, Mavin Gaye playing sensually in the background, it's…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Del Toro's wood-plank facade is now scuffed and plastered with concert bills, no sign or door in site. Sometimes, a well-dressed man stands out front and assists the confused.
On the Menu:
The food menu features small, very savory dishes, like chorizo croquetas and curried Rice Krispy treats.
Look Good:
Before they get all huffy, advise your friends that all cocktails, like the very authentic Hemingway Daiquiri, are $11---priced discreetly at the bottom of the menu---and that they all arrive with a little sidecar carafe for topping off half-way through.
On the Menu:
A seasonal menu that pairs well with the delectable drinks offers noshes such as Thai curry coconut deviled eggs with pineapple lime sauce and proscuitto chips and duck confit with orange walnuts and herbed goat cheese on onion pumpernickel bread.
When to Go:
Contrary to most watering holes, weeknights are hopping. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best times: not too crowded, yet lively enough to escape the weekly grind.
Where to Sit:
Before they get all huffy, advise your friends that all cocktails, like the very authentic Hemingway Daiquiri, are $11---priced discreetly at the bottom of the menu---and that they all arrive with a little sidecar carafe for topping off half-way through.
ambiance
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. Ambiance is very low key and romantic, but most of all the drinks are delicious (gimlets made with muddled raspderries and fresh herbs).
  2. The decor is great.
  3. The high-baked chairs and curtain partitions made the experience cozy yet stylish, which is a change for The Park.
  4. It was very cool to feel like you were walking into a prohibition-era speakeasy, and the atmosphere inside didn't disappoint.
  5. Inside the decor is nice with a mysterious feel to it.
  6. Although the waitress was bit slow, I noticed that she seemed to be deliberately so, as if to give us more time to enjoy the atmosphere.
  7. Great cocktails, wonderful atmosphere
  8. Nice decor, nice music, and a bit dark.
  9. Inventive drinks in a great atmosphere
drinks
84.77999687194824% positive
  1. Was very impressed with the bartender, who created a fabulous drink for me based off of a poor description of what I thought I liked
  2. If you're looking for something with a little kick, the warmed wine in the Sanagree is fantastic.
  3. The cocktails are amazing and the room feels GREAT!
  4. The best cocktails in Chicago
  5. What do you expect from 2-3 tenders that serve a full bar with made from scratch super drinks.
  6. Time to order drinks: my friend asked for a dirty martini, which the Stepford Wife-like waitress indicated was not available (come on.
  7. Ambiance is very low key and romantic, but most of all the drinks are delicious (gimlets made with muddled raspderries and fresh herbs).
  8. For the record, I hate mixed drinks.
  9. If you are looking for loud music, a crowded scene or fast service, find another bar.
  10. This drink was wonderful, more of a (night) closer though.
  11. Excellent place for drinks!
  12. Every drink was great.
  13. the high back chairs make the scene a little more private, the prices are really reasonable for the quality of drink that you get.
  14. Great cocktails, wonderful atmosphere
  15. Inventive drinks in a great atmosphere
  16. Amazing atomosphere, great service and delicious one-of-a-kind drinks.
  17. The drinks were a tad bit pricey, but no more than any other place in Wicker Park.
  18. It tasted like they make their own fresh ginger syrup for their drinks.
  19. They have one of the most creative drinks menus I've ever seen!
  20. Once you step inside the doorway, though, it's hardwood floors, chandeliers, and a beautiful bar.
  21. If you want to get a drink with a friend and not be annoyed by loud people AND you want to get the best drink you have ever had, go to Violet Hour.
  22. Excellent cocktails though.
  23. Lighting could have been a little brighter but overall the Violet Hour is a very nice place to go and have really really good drinks with friends or a significant other!
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. Appetizers were tasty, and the music was right on target.
  2. It tasted like they make their own fresh ginger syrup for their drinks.
  3. This part of town is great and if you want intended pretentious, you can find it all over but with good service and food.
  4. Amazing atomosphere, great service and delicious one-of-a-kind drinks.
  5. Ambiance is very low key and romantic, but most of all the drinks are delicious (gimlets made with muddled raspderries and fresh herbs).
  6. recommend the broiled duck meatballs as an appetizer, delicious.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. They have one of the most creative drinks menus I've ever seen!
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Lighting could have been a little brighter but overall the Violet Hour is a very nice place to go and have really really good drinks with friends or a significant other!
service
70.0% positive
  1. Amazing atomosphere, great service and delicious one-of-a-kind drinks.
  2. This part of town is great and if you want intended pretentious, you can find it all over but with good service and food.
  3. If you want to get a drink with a friend and not be annoyed by loud people AND you want to get the best drink you have ever had, go to Violet Hour.
  4. Of course I heard her tell our waitress we were "difficult" and service was the worst I have ever had ANYWHERE.
  5. If you are looking for loud music, a crowded scene or fast service, find another bar.
  6. ve never received a bad attitude or poor service at the five star venues this place is desperately trying to mimic.
  7. Although the waitress was bit slow, I noticed that she seemed to be deliberately so, as if to give us more time to enjoy the atmosphere.
  8. Time to order drinks: my friend asked for a dirty martini, which the Stepford Wife-like waitress indicated was not available (come on.
  9. Our server Troy was extremely friendly.
  10. Was very impressed with the bartender, who created a fabulous drink for me based off of a poor description of what I thought I liked
value
75.0% positive
  1. The drinks were a tad bit pricey, but no more than any other place in Wicker Park.
  2. the high back chairs make the scene a little more private, the prices are really reasonable for the quality of drink that you get.
wait time
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. The doorman was incredibly polite, though we had to wait a few minutes by the door, which feels a bit like you've walked into an area that's still under construction.
  2. My friend and I were very excited to hang out at this great new funky club that she heard rave reviews for, but when we got there, we ended up waiting in a dark hallway for 50 minutes.
  3. Although the waitress was bit slow, I noticed that she seemed to be deliberately so, as if to give us more time to enjoy the atmosphere.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/13/10

Great Cocktails

by JaneD2010 at Citysearch

Love this place! The cocktails are amazing and the room feels GREAT!

This is the spot to go when taking an evening of cocktails to the next level!

  • Pros: Amazing drinks
  • Cons: Long lines
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/17/09

Excellent place for drinks!

by capuccino1 at Citysearch

My husband and I visited the Violet Hour a couple of months ago and this is a place that if you go solely on outward appearances you'll probably pass up a gem. From the outside it resembles some type of wooden shack. Inside the decor is nice with a mysterious feel to it. Was very impressed with the bartender, who created a fabulous drink for me based off of a poor description of what I thought I liked . Appetizers were tasty, and the music was right on target. Lighting could have been a little brighter but overall the Violet Hour is a very nice place to go and have really really good drinks with friends or a significant other!

  • Pros: Bartenders were very creative.
  • Cons: Lighting could be just a little brighter
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/04/08

Customer Service NIGHTMARE!!!!

by Lampshade47 at Citysearch

I was at the Violet Hour not too long ago. I was in town visiting my sister and she suggested we go. The website made the place seem mysterious, and the entrance to the bar was no exception. I was impressed upon entering.

Since it was a Friday, there was a wait. Which was fine, so this doorman comes out with a clipboard to take your name, # in your party and a cell #. We were a party of 3- he said the wait was probably 20 minutes. Fine. So there was another party of 3 ahead of us and then one came about 10 minutes after we did. He comes out and gets the group of girls that arrived AFTER us! Which was baffling because they weren't even cute people. They were wearing Gap sweaters frome like 2002. I digress.

One of the people I was with decided to approach the doorman and ask why we were overlooked- apparently she had this issue twice before with the same doorman. He seemed really uneasy that a customer was voicing concern, like he didn't know what to do- so he just apologized. We finally get inside and the person who was voicing concern asked the hostess the manager's name because she wanted to relay her displeasure to them. The hostess said she couldn't give out that information- she wouldn't even give out the phone number. So then my partymate says she will just call the Btr Bus Bur. and ask them the information. The hostess who was about to seat us tells us to hold on. The doorman reappears and says "We have talked about it and suggest you find another bar to go to". This irritated me because I'm from out of town and really wanted to go here. I pull the hostess aside, explain the situation and pretty mch begged her to seat us. So she gives us this big ottoman in the back room. Of course I heard her tell our waitress we were "difficult" and service was the worst I have ever had ANYWHERE.

I just found it odd that if you are voicing displeasure with an establishment, they would kick you out.

Excellent cocktails though.

  • Pros: Interesting drinks, sidecars, atmosphere
  • Cons: doormen, servers, hostesses
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/16/08

Best drinks in the city

by fashionfromlondon at Citysearch

It's quiet, dark, and intimate. If you want to get a drink with a friend and not be annoyed by loud people AND you want to get the best drink you have ever had, go to Violet Hour. If you are an idiot, do not.

Not great on the wknds, unless you want to stand in a line.

1 Star Rating: Poor

04/24/08

It's great if you've never been to the real deal

by trwii at Citysearch

I visited the ?Violet Hour? and experienced several different reactions. At first, the place was difficult to find and obviously designed to be that way with the speakeasy concept. The boarded up entry is I?m guessing the way to stand out so I was curious. As we entered the place it had a very nice feel. Nice decor, nice music, and a bit dark. So far, so good.

Cocktails were order and despite claiming a ?full? bar, the selection of liquors was somewhat limited. I have read other opinions about the prices but not too bad for the concept they were trying to achieve. The bartender took pride in the fact that they were different and not aware that he was annoying. He actually told a lady at the bar that they didn?t have her type of vodka and but she could get it across the street and some other place.

The space provided for the party was not large enough and so six of us sat at the booth and the others stood near the bar. Because we were sat at the last booth and near the end of the bar, this didn?t appear to be a problem. Apparently they have a no standing rule there. I?m just glad I didn?t have to line up to use the washroom with the other kids in my class.

The menu was a version of a chef driven home economics class. Deviled eggs, waffle fries, deep fried green beans, etc. It was comfort food but at the lowest level. Very ?County Fair? comfort.

As the first hour progress, the service got worse, the music went from classy 1960?s Basa Nova to Waylon Jennings, and the attitude got nasty. For a place in Bucktown that wants to have the atmosphere of the Four Seasons or the Park Hyatt, it?s really missing the mark. The part that is missing is at those other places, the customer is the main focus. I?ve never received a bad attitude or poor service at the five star venues this place is desperately trying to mimic. This part of town is great and if you want intended pretentious, you can find it all over but with good service and food.

  • Pros: Great concept
  • Cons: Staff, Food, Management

The Details on The Violet Hour

Place Categories:

  • delicious drink
  • very nice place
  • worst service
  • great cocktails
  • enjoy atmosphere
  • nice decor
  • great experience
  • beautiful bar
  • never bad attitude
  • pricey mixed drinks
  • fresh ginger syrup
  • incredibly polite doorman
  • big ottoman
  • definitely recommend stormy
  • recommend broiled duck meatballs
  • dirty martini
  • amazing atomosphere
  • fresh herbs
  • extremely friendly server troy
  • nice music
  • tasty appetizers
  • order cape cod
  • great fireplace
  • great vibe
  • most creative drinks menus

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