Three Dots and a Dash
Cocktail bar · Near North Side ·
Classic tropical cocktails & rums in a retro Polynesian-style setting
Classic tropical cocktails & rums in a retro Polynesian-style setting
"Chicago’s subterranean tropical shrine dives deep into rum culture with more than 300 bottles and an in-house juice program so intense they press 30–55 gallons daily, then doubles down in winter with the River North Pole holiday takeover featuring whimsical décor, hot drinks, and themed sippers in festive mugs, including a collectible snowman design that people chase like treasure." - Carrie Honaker
"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
"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
"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
"Tiki-forward cocktail bar serving as the starting point for a walk-around tasting event that brings together more than two dozen world-class local and international bars; tickets include vouchers for sample-size cocktails from a curated lineup." - Lisa Shames