Chicago’s Best Bars for Cocktails | Eater Chicago

"There are plenty of talented Chicagoans creating culinary cool, and Julia Momose and her team at Kumiko are at the forefront. A sibling to Oriole, a two-Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant, Kumiko takes inspiration Japan (Momose is Japanese American), with a deep whisky list. But the highlights are the cocktails, carefully prepared and with top-notch ingredients. When the bar reboots for indoor service, Momose will once again offer her drink flights where bartenders create custom cocktails for customers. It’s like watching a story unfold, and something drinkers can’t find anywhere else in the country. In 2022, Momose and co-writer Emma Janzen won a James Beard Media Award for their book The Way of the Cocktail: Japanese Traditions, Techniques, and Recipes. Kumiko is the 2025 James Beard Award winnner for Outstanding Bar." - Ashok Selvam