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Best Intentions

Chicago

New Entry

Sometimes it is the most unassuming of neighbourhood bars that leave the biggest mark on the drinking culture of a city, and that’s certainly the case with Best Intentions: a beloved neo-dive with a thoroughly Midwestern vibe. A true community gathering place that has more than its fair share of Logan Square regulars, on any given night the space is packed with people of all ages and from all walks of life, mingling in the glow of the backbar beer fridge bearing a tongue-in-cheek “fancy cocktail bar” sign.

One could easily spend an hour perusing all of the quirky photographs and artwork lining the bar’s wood-paneled walls — an aesthetic nod to owners Calvin and Chris Marty’s Wisconsin childhood. A few arcade games in the space adjacent to the back patio solidify the unpretentious ambiance and the drink offering is just as eclectic and egalitarian, with barkeeps pulling cheap Coors Banquet drafts with the same skill they use to assemble Manhattans, Gimlets and Old Fashioneds. It was the first bar to put Angostura bitters on tap and, when visiting, don’t miss their liquid calling card: the Wondermint Malted. As a modern take on the classic Grasshopper. The ice-cold Midwestern dessert drink just might be the best you’ll ever have.

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