The Violet Hour has a retro ambiance that's unique in the Chicago nightlife scene, especially in verging-on-gritty Wicker Park. The interior feels like an English or French country manor, with blue walls and white crown molding; glittering chandeliers; extra-high wingback chairs; and dramatic floor-length curtains. The door policy maintains the civilized mood: Customers aren't admitted until there's room for them to sit (and no, they don't take reservations, so you might be waiting a while on weekends). The specialties here are cocktails served up by expert "mixologists" (don't call them bartenders!), such as the Juliet & Romeo, a mix of gin, mint, cucumber, and rose water. One annoyance: The bar is too cool to put a sign out front; you'll find it on the corner of Damen Avenue and Pierce Street, marked only by a series of abstract, multicolored murals.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Chicago 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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