Ward Eight

Lovely cocktail bar with an intimate, welcoming atmosphere. I especially enjoyed the Baton Rouge along with a few other classic cocktails—each one expertly crafted. The staff is warm and attentive, and the overall vibe is perfect for a relaxed evening out. Highly recommend for fans of timeless drinks and cozy settings.

Ward Eight has that polished neighborhood bar feel — stylish but still approachable. The cocktail menu is thoughtfully put together, with drinks that feel balanced and well-crafted rather than overly sweet. It’s a great place to unwind after work or meet friends for a relaxed night out. The space feels intimate without being cramped, and the overall vibe is low-key but lively. If you’re looking for a spot in Chicago that takes its drinks seriously while keeping things comfortable, Ward Eight is a solid pick.

Come here with coworkers pretty often and let me just say I recommend this place to everyone!! The bartenders know what they’re talking about, the drinks never disappoint. Food is also phenomenal!!

Great cocktails and super helpful service- they can and will make anything for you. I only had the fries but they were amazing. Very cool and breezy inside.

TL | DR: I highly recommend coming here just for the smells, once you're over the smells you can taste the soul and passions that goes into the wonderfully thought out and creative food menu and drinks. Chef Josh is such a talented and kind person. He prepared all of our food and brought it to us. We came here to have a great date night. We were met with wonderfully dim lighting that was complemented by the sunlight from the windows. The music was fitting the holiday theme (St. Patrick's day) the smell of pork permeated the entire restaurant and smelled delicious. We ordered the smoked marlin and the venison tartare. The dishes were excellently complimented by the accoutrements that they came with. delicious balance of flavors. Environment was quiet and calm with wonderful customer service. I highly recommend this place.

The Cocktails here are works of art as complex and beautiful as the original works on the walls. When tasting anything off of the menu, you can fully grasp the effort and the skill that comes from the chef. The ambiance is subtle and comfortable, perfect for quiet conversation, This would be an excellent place for a date. I will be returning soon

Guys behind the bar who really know and love their cocktails. Deviled eggs for four bucks that were a work of art. Pulled pork wafting from the kitchen that smelled absolutely crazy good. I'll definitely be back for another cocktail and a full meal. 5/5.

Since the pandemic, the new owner Jeremy and primary mixologist Adam are carrying on the traditions of Ward 8 that have made it one of the better neighborhood eclectic craft cocktail establishments . Jeremy and Adam are friendly and professional and offer exceptional craft cocktail offerings. We were there on a Friday night and it was the busiest we have ever seen it which was great. The only observation I made as a customer was that if all possible, Jeremy could add one more mixologist to help the team during busiest times keep the drinks coming to the customer base more quickly. I noticed they are two of the hardest-working, most caring, and attention to detail persons in the business! …and you will especially notice by how exceptional the cocktails and food offerings are! Still highly recommend is an essential craft cocktail bar in all of Chicagoland.

Are you kidding me???? You literally almost miss this spot and it's SO good! Finding well crafted cocktails in this area is almost nonexistent but they do it so well. It's almost like a small little speakeasy vibe with not that many seats but they can make anything you ask! We did a traditional aviation and Hemingway daiquiri to start and knew right away every single drink was going to be fantastic. So good, we even went back the next day! Highly recommend and I will be back, an embarrassingly large amount of times!

Great drinks but the prices seem jacked. Curious seating arrangement with no high-tops just the bar and booths. This makes it more restaurant-like when it's a cocktail bar. The city helped pay for this place so maybe that's why it's weird

Great place for a drink and food. Great service. Very chill atmosphere, not a loud place. Perfect for having conversations. Can get crowded after 9 but still worth the visit

Great drinks and small bites. Place is never too loud and plenty of elbow room. Bartenders rock too

Well stocked bar with tasty house specialty cocktails and friendly servers. Space is sophisticated but not pretentious.

Howard street is a tale of two cities : Chicago and Evanston. Evanston has done more to support interesting businesses. We heard about this place on Nextdoor. We arrived when the bar opened and nobody was there - not even the bartender. We waited and finally they arrived. Their cocktails have all the classics and a small micro brew list. We ordered the cheese plate, roasted carrots and onion soup. The cook served us and explained what we were getting. The food was gastropub. This place is good and next to another good place, The Peckish Pig. This place is very small, fun and dark.

My husband and I decided to check out this place while we were in the area. Ward Eight is located on the border of Evanston and Chicago. There is not a parking lot, but there is plenty of street parking nearby if you are driving here. There are bar seats and tables around. This place wouldn't be ideal with a large group. A max of 4 or 5 people would work ok in this setting. To drink, we had the Clarified Ruby Milk Punch and Sazerac. The Clarified Ruby Milk Punch uses Arrack as the main spirit in this drink and it worked well with the other ingredients. They also use Arrack in at least 1 other cocktail on the menu. I rarely see Arrack cocktails on the menu's of other places in the Chicago area and I think most people don't know what Arrack is. I love that Ward Eight is introducing more people to this spirit. The Sazerac was really delicious. Unfortunately, we didn't have a positive experience with the food here. We ordered the seasonal deviled eggs and the smoked walleye. I believe the deviled eggs were pickled in beets. The texture of the eggs was tough. I expected the smoked walleye to be a little on the salty side, but this was too much. It felt like we were eating a bowl of kosher salt and we were only able to get through a 1/4 of it. I'm not sure if our food experience here was a fluke or not, but I probably would pass next time. The cocktails are the stars of the show and worth trying.

*Updated to include food* Ward 8. I've heard about this place for years but finally decided to venture out and try it last night. The location is accessible for far northsiders and people from Evanston on Howard next-door to the Peckish Pig. Ambiance: Dark, moody interior (think like a dive bar inherited by a kid who decided to make a mean cocktail bar-- they painted and elevated the space but still the undercurrent of the original dive). Sitting at the bar right in front of the bartender while making his drinks was a joy. he was focused, precise, and detail-oriented, which are the qualities you want from someone making you a well-crafted cocktail. Service: Service was top-notch. Ward 8 is a cocktail bar, but the guy didn't blink an eye at the person next to me wanting a vodka and tonic. The real kicker for the service was when I said, "I drink old-fashioned, but what would you recommend for someone who loves an old-fashioned but wants something different?" The bartender's eyes lit up, and he told me the history of his recommended drink: Vieux Carre. The drinks: My drink was outstanding. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect, but it was delicious. It's my new go-to drink when it's available. A few weeks ago I ordered... uhh basically all the food on the menu (including the specials). I really loved their devil eggs but I know deviled eggs aren't for everyone. The elotes barrel smoked are delicious, flavorful, and just hit the spot. Chris Bart the chef knows how to smoke meat which is, honestly, somewhat rare in Chicago-- the smoked brisket tacos are a smoked flavor-forward version of a popular Austin street food. And the specials? I've had 4 in the last few weeks and they have all been delicious- mussels, and shrimp & grits. It's amazing how much great food he can pump out of that tiny little kitchen.

Outstanding cocktails in a very intimate space with cozy atmosphere. The food is quite good, especially the steak. I'm begging you to stock ketchup for the fries!

Can't thank the people at Ward Eight enough for a successful Kor Productions opera fundraiser. The Jeremy hand crafted "The Understudy" cocktail was just wonderful with subtle undertones of gin. Stop in and try one. Chris' appetizers and smoked meat platter are not to be missed! Add to that Biurbon chocolate chip cookies and the fantastic new patio area. Thanks again for hosting and helping us have so much fun too. If you haven't been to Ward Eight it's worth the trip!

Intimate bar and great cocktails. I went there for an event and absolutely loved the vibe. The bartender accommodated my request of switching a drink up and was really friendly. We had tacos, cheese board and Parmesan fries all really delicious. I would recommend stopping here for a date night or catching up with friends

Ahoy! My noble bourbon boozers, I have found a suburban whiskey outpost worthy of your late night travels. For many moons I have heard rumors of the superior bourbon booty to be uncovered at Ward Eight, and finally I beached my cocktailing cutlass upon its shores. Tis a worthy stop. Classic cocktails are the name of the game here. From the ancient leather bound tome I selected a Baton Rouge (cognac and rum) and a Vieux Carre (rye and cognac). Both were superb. There are also gin cocktails and rum punch. Arrgh! If you are craving whiskey straight, there is an extensive arrays of bourbons and ryes on display behind the bar. The crowd is chill and keeps to themselves - curl up in a corner booth or head to the back patio and savor your booze under the starry skies.

Great service and very cool space. Hidden gem on Howard. Try the white Negroni. Pumpkin seed brittle was really good

Been coming here since the first week they opened. Arrived tonight a few minutes before 10 PM because I really wanted a great cocktail, and my husband wanted a beer. Upon arrival, we sat at a table and the bartender came over with water and he tells us that it's not a busy night so the bar was closed and we can only order beer and wine. I gave up on getting an excellent cocktail and my husband headed to the bar to order a beer and a glass of wine. I probably would have ordered a snack too. Upon saddling up to the bar, he was told to hurry up with his order. We gave up and left. Never ever been treated this way at Ward Eight before. Been there later than this. Always had good service and great cocktails. We miss Cody always but because they kept things reliable, we kept coming back. This night was very disappointing. Not sure what to make of it.

We attended a special event yesterday for KOR at Ward Eight. A perfect location for a fundraiser. Ward Eight is a neighborhood bar and meeting place. A great indoor and outdoor venue and the staff attended to our every need. What was completely amazing were the drinks by owner and bartender extraordinaire, Jeremy. Everyone was blown away by this creations. Then came the next surprise, the remarkable and memorable appetizers made by Chris. Smoked bangers, crispy ends and melt-in-your mouth pork belly with side sauces, and cheese. WOW. We ordered two more platters. Someone ordered the Bourbon chocolate chip cookies that were more like muffins. We all died and went to heaven. Ward Eight is deserving of 5 stars. A wonderful and fun location with a great staff, amazing appetizers and outstanding drinks. I'll definitely do a return visit. Thank you everyone at Ward Eight for a fun Saturday!!

A friend told me this is their favorite place for cocktails and they have never tried a bad one here, and they were not wrong! Located next to the delicious Peckish Pig, you will find this very stylish and hip hang out spot. I would agree with another review that this has a "dark sexy atmosphere." I got the "Hemmingway" which was white rum, lime, grapefruit with marachino liquor. It was indeed "bright, tarte and refreshing" as they said! I love how they provide the descriptions. If you're not sure of what you want, you can request that they make something for you.

If you are looking for an intimate place for a cocktail, Ward Eight is stellar. Have been there a number of times and the cocktails are always devine. They have unique offerings as well as more traditional offerings. I had an Artist cocktail that was a gin drink with a variety of unique components. Extremely refreshing and delicious. Their Perfect Manhattan's are not the only drink they make that is perfect. Their Old Fashions are outstanding. And now they offer food. I had their smoked meat platter and it was out-of-this world. I was there on Saturday for a fundraiser for KOR Productions, a female owned opera company. A very fun time. There was a little rain that forced us from the outdoor patio, but it didn't dampen our spirits. They (the spirits, and yes, it is an attempt at a pun) were ably provided by Jeremy, whose open personality, friendly smile and engaging laugh make visiting Ward Eight a pleasure. Can't recommend it enough.

These guys are true craftsmen. From cocktails to smoked meat. Love this joint. Low key atmosphere, great service and awesome food.

This is truly an amazing little gem on Howard street - tucked in next to Peckish Pig, it's got just the right vibe for late night drinks, with the added bonus of having a little "backyard" space if you walk all the way through! It's definitely got sort of an elevated dive bar/speakeasy feel to it! The owners are absolutely the nicest, and the craft cocktails are amazing - I've never once had one that I didn't love. My favorite is their take on the Bees Knees, and hubby LOVES the Hemingway Daiquiri. Highly recommended! Take note that they're only open Wednesday - Saturday, and their closing times are a little fluid stop in, you won't be disappointed

It feels like a hidden gem that's right off the Howard red line stop. We came here for a friend's birthday, and they had reserved a table and part of the bar for us. The reserve signs were personalized to wish my friend a happy birthday. I'm filing this bar into my list of dimly-lit date night spots. The ambiance is quite romantic with dim lights around the bar. There are tables that range from two to six seats. I also like the art on the wall and restroom. The restroom was pretty clean. The charcuterie board was pretty good for $30 and comes with bread and accompaniments. It would pair well with a nice glass of wine. The service was great. The bartenders were knowledgeable and friendly. One guest from our party listed ingredients that she wanted in a drink, and the bartender worked his magic to serve a delicious cocktail.

Ward eight is probably the only legitimate cocktail bar in the evanston area and I am obsessed. It's dark and vibey and always seems busy - probably because the drinks are awesome. I got a green chartreuse cocktail with gin (Last Word) and would absolutely get again!

I've been peeking my head in here as often as once a year. I have friends that live in the area and happy hour around these parts. Drinks are carefully crafted with decent pours and the mood is quiet enough that one can enjoy the silence working on their laptop or have an uninterrupted chat with a blind date. It's the combination of high prices & sleepy mood I'm not jumping for joy over. There are spots in higher rent areas of Chicago that charge $8-$10 per cocktail and if this were their pricing, I might have more than one. I'll tell ya, I like craft cocktails and a speakeasy vibe too but it's way too laid back. It's sleepy and that constant mood is a downer for my nights out. If I were heading back from Evanston and needed a "last call" I might dip my head in. Though usually, I'd last call at the Mark.

The best place for a memorable experience for a date or out with friends. Stop by on your own and strike up a conversation in this charming spot. The care and perfection with which Ward 8 creates and presents it's food and cocktails is second to none. It's a delight.

I didn't realize how close this gem of a bar was to where I live, just between Howard and Jarvis stop! As soon as we entered the friendly bartender greeted us and brought us water. It was a Wednesday evening and they had a couple specials for food. Though the portions were smaller it was very high quality food, especially relative to regular bar food. I especially enjoyed the gnocchi! I will definitely be back for drinks and a snack.

Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world that I have walked into in my long life, this one is my favorite. Nothing equals Cody's attention to his craft and to his customers. The curbside setup through the plague months has been wonderful. Easy to order and pick up. Cool labels, delicious drinks.

If you're not ordering any of their food, you're missing out. Impeccable service and thoughtfully constructed dishes (and cocktails, obviously). We were so lucky to have found this lovely spot! I've been struggling to find a new go-to spot since moving from San Francisco, but this is what I've been looking for :) We'll definitely be back!

My friend and I walked into Ward Eight on a Thursday night a little after 8pm, and it wasn't too crowded. It's a seat-yourself system, so we got a table and ordered us some cocktails. Ordering is done at the bar even if you're sitting at a table. My friend, a bourbon lover, got an Old Fashioned, and I, a gin lover, got the Last Word. The cocktails were awesome, and also pretty strong, which I liked. The atmosphere is pretty chill, not extremely classy, which I also liked. It's a good hangout place, and I had a good time drinking and conversing with my friend. It's also a very popular place, and people started milling in shortly after we seated ourselves and formed a crowd around the bar. I had to talk pretty loudly to get over the background noise from the crowd; not a problem for me, but it might be a little difficult to be intimate with your company depending on what time/day you're here.

The opitimy of a neighborhood cocktail bar with the skills of a downtown craft cocktail spot! When I walked in a folksy local band was playing, very dimly lit, small space with amazing portraits on the wall. You'll find that it's a seat yourself system.with a twist. You order at the bar but they bring you the food and drinks. The menu contains a plethora of whiskey/bourbon based drinks, more than the usual and just what I love. The New Orleans inspired name of course is followed up by a good Sazerac on the menu. I had the Lions tail, Brooklyn and old fashioned...all of which was rich and delicious. The food was spot on and hit the spot. Eventhough it's a small food menu, you'll find plenty to fill yourself up. Truly feels like your having a drink in the eighth ward...good vibes, good drinks, great spot in Evanston!

Ward 8 is the place to go for classic with a handful of more recent cocktails. If you can, sit at the bar so that you get the full experience of bartenders who are true craftsmen. The prices are very reasonable with a selection of beer, cider and mead also. Food looks great although never tried myself and overheard someone saying that the onion soup was perfect for a cold night. Parking in the area can be a bit challenging, but normally can be found within a block or two. Personally recommend the old fashioned or the Mexican firing squad.

Every drink is perfect and the food is sufficient for light dinner and not shabby.

A+++ cocktails and food. Definitely try their old fashioned and signature cheese platter. Everything is high class and so tasty.

You have a small jewel that sparkles because of the drink selection and ambiance. Tucked on Howard Street a few blocks from Howard Station or if you like plenty of parking spaces on the main road. You will enjoy music and a chilled vibe in this place. They offer good with yummy plates as well. Go and find yourself surrounded by cool staff.

Best service, crafty cocktails but not too bizarre and dark sexy atmosphere make this place one of my favorite spots to hang out. Bartenders are so inventive, friendly and cool that an evening there is a pleasure.

The best cocktails you can get in the area. The drinks here are extremely balanced and are delicious. The boys behind the bar are absolutely amazing as well. My partner has moved into the area for grad school and every time I visit I'm definitely coming here every night!

Amazing cocktails. Favorite spot. We love the vibe and the kitchen snacks. So happy it reopened post-Covid.

I've been dying to visit Ward 8 for a while. What could be more perfect than a new, hip, highly-rated lounge close to Howard station?! Not too far from Evanston, but far enough so it was a nice change of environment. Came with a friend, and we each ordered two drinks and shared an artisan cheese platter and a charcuterie platter as well. Drinks: 4.5/5 - Mexican firing squad: tequila, habanero, citrus undertones (and other things I cannot remember). Took a couple sips to initially get used to the flavor, but the spiciness of the drink made it fun and very unique. Enjoyed it very much. - Fish house punch: Jamaican rum based, fruity and summery. Typical girly drink that I enjoy. They powdered it with some spices on top (my friend thought nutmeg?), and there was also some finely crushed ice. Great flavors. Food: 3.5/5 Thought it was a bit overpriced for the amount they give you. Also wished they gave out more bread for both the cheese and charcuterie plates. Ran out for both platters, and when I asked for more bread for the cheese, they said I had bread coming with the charcuterie plate, so didn't get any (they weren't rude about it, but still). I also wish I had some choices for the cheese platter - I'm used to having a list of different cheeses and getting to choose from there. Only saying this because I only really enjoyed 1 of the 3 that they gave me. Charcuterie plate was good but nothing particularly amazing. Overall a great experience. Can be pricey (2 drinks per person = 4 total, plus the two platters = $70 pre tip). But worth the occasional visit for sure. Great drinks and great atmosphere. Will be back (actually am going again in a few days!)

If you are looking for classic cocktails, this is the best place for you. Its a small bar yet rustic and inviting. They have specials every day and nice food to grub. They are offering small plates and appetizers to pair with your drinks. Street parking .

A place where, if you care how your drink is made, and you respect people who respect ingredients and take pride in what they do, you should stop. They know what they do, care about how you want your drink, regardless of how they think it should be, and really know what they are doing. If what you want is a rack run and coke, you may not appreciate what they do. I dislike scotch and Irish whiskey, because I don't like the taste of pete or smoke, and, because I'm willing to try anything, and not complain, one of the bartenders suggested a Japanese whiskey. I had said I don't like them because of the scotch like qualities and pete flavor, but this was stunning. A bit of smoke but it worked and I was really impressed. Much respect and highly recommended.

Wonderful speakeasy off of Howard street near West Rogers Park. Food, drinks, ambiance=immaculate.

So next to last time I was here, I got a Side Car. Just as with all their other cocktails, it was perfect. We also decided to eat here too. I had their special sandwich and Hubby had a ham and cheese. They came with (seemed like homemade) chips and (seemed like homemade) pickles. They grill the sandwiches in butter. They come out nice and hot (not too hot), crisp and just the right amount of greasy. mmmmm-mmmm. The last time we came here, I had TWO drinks! I had a Sazerac and a Last Word. The Sazerac was nice and bitter. It was a great sipping drink. The Last Word had Green Chartreuse, Gin, Lemon and something else.... It was very good, as usual. Cody has been training others to make the cocktails, and it shows! Matt can make 'em for me anytime! Have I told you to... Sit at the bar. You will learn a lot about cocktails!

Very cool place with amazing drinks. I don't drink often and usually my biggest complaint is strong taste of alcohol. I know for some people it's a plus, but not for me. Barkeeps at other places always reassured me they could make me a drink which won't taste like alcohol and failed each time. Eight Ward bartenders make the drinks exectly to my liking. Also worth mentioning, they have the best non-alcoholic cocktails. It's a classy place with good atmosphere. The staff is always friendly and bartenders are super knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their job. Between this and the awesome drinks I'll keep coming back.

I absolutely love this bar! Extremely kind and welcoming service, incredible ambiance, and amazing drinks! If you don't drink alcohol, they have very delicious alcohol free drinks-- I've never ordered one that I didn't like. All of their drinks are delicious and reasonably priced. They also sell food-- I've only had their desserts (a chocolate cake with a nut crust), but everything I've tried has been great.

A super chill environment! Very welcoming, knowledgeable and friend staff, and everything is very clean! Highly recommend the fun cocktails.

We love the cocktails and the vibe at Ward Eight and can't wait til they go beyond their current takeout only service!

Spent a wonderful Saturday night at Ward Eight and will definitely be back soon. Great selection of beer and and wine, but their stand out specialty are the cocktails (I highly recommend the Pisco Punch). Food was unique but phenomenal and prepared in the open kitchen beside the bar. Cannot day enough great things about the fig and farmer's cheese sandwich!! Great atmosphere, even better service. Loved everything about my experience at Ward Eight.

So my bestie introduced me to Ward Eight. We've come here together, two years in a row to celebrate her birthday, but she's also somewhat of a local. Ward Eight is located at the border of Evanston and Roger's Park on Howard. It's crazy how stark the difference is. On one side of Howard is Chicago, you got some dingy bar and Popeye's and questionable people hanging out. On the Evanston side of Howard you have lovely Peckish Pig and Ward Eight (not to mention Evanston street parking rates). Anyway, Ward Eight is super small, dimly lit, and cozy. This time, after dinner at Peckish Pig, we made our way to W8 and sat at the bar, and oh how attentive the bartenders are! You can tell a lot of regulars come by because the bartenders knew so many people by name. My bestie came here knowing she wanted their chocolate cake for dessert. We asked the bartender which drink would pair best with the cake and he suggested their Side Car. He was right. The cake was devine and the cocktail was strong. We arrived around 7:30 and ended up staying until closing. But during the entire time, both bartenders came by, chatted us up, as well as the sweet chef that works there! There was a steady flow of people. That night the bar was full but not packed. In previous times we've ordered food and everything tastes great. Their brussel sprouts, and cheese plate are awesome. Overall a great night and a great atmosphere for a date, catch-up or just to hang out.

Ordered the vesper. Light and strong drink, goes down smoothly. Garnished with lemon. Fully enjoyed. Not too crowded hear, or too loud. Great vibe and ambiance. Will definitely go again

Best cocktails in Evanston (their Vieux Carre is my all time favorite.) Nice dark rustic space with cool art. Bartenders are awesome. Food is good, patio is nice in the summer. Overall, definitely my favorite place for a drink in the area.

I've been to Ward Eight a few times later at night and their cocktails never disappoint! I came in with my boyfriend for a quick drink while we were waiting for a table to open up at peckish pig and the bartenders are all super friendly and accommodating, I love that you order at the bar but they bring your drinks to you. They also brought water without us having to ask. I didn't realize they had food but the menu looked really tasty and very reasonably priced. Definitely worth checking out, really cool ambience!