Three Dots and a Dash

"Originally founded as a basement tiki bar by bartender Paul McGee and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Three Dots has evolved over recent years, steering its focus toward tropical cocktails and away from tiki’s complicated past. A festive retreat even on the most frigid winter days, the bar is a popular after-work stop in Downtown Chicago. It even houses a bar within the bar, the Bamboo Room, for a more intimate experience." - Ashok Selvam, Naomi Waxman

"Signature cocktails from eight of North America’s best tropical bars are on offer from 8 p.m. to midnight on Thursday, October 31 for a night of unique drinks, festive vibes, and tropical fun. An exclusive marketplace tent will be available with merch from the visiting bars. Tickets, available on OpenTable, are $85 and include five drink tickets." - Lisa Shames, Eater Staff

"This River North spot is a tiki bar serving tropical cocktails in mugs shaped like pineapples, conch shells, and mermaids, among other things. It’s a good place to go before your Super-Bowl-winning trip to Disneyland, because your (very generous) friends can buy you the $425 “Treasure Chest,” a cocktail for 6-8 people. It gets especially crowded on weekends, so unless you want to be standing and getting an unintentional arm workout by holding up that chest full of booze, book a table in advance." - adrian kane, john ringor

"Escape to the tropics at Three Dots and a Dash, a speakeasy hidden in an alley serving strong sippers in funky glassware." - Samantha Nelson

"Listed as one of the best bars in the world by Drinks International, Three Dots and a Dash makes you feel as if you've been transported to a Hawaiian luau. Don't be fooled by drink names, like Bunny's Banana Daiquiri. These drinks are strong. Going out with a crowd? Three Dots has drinks to share. Giant seashells, treasure chests, and skulls are filled with exotic rum cocktails accented with brightly colored straws, cocktail umbrellas, flaming limes, and orchids. Three Dots and a Dash is a bar that should not be missed in River North - although the alley entrance off Clark street is very missable. To find this spot, go down the alley behind XOCO (one of our other recommendations)." - One Design Company