Around the North Shore, there’s a drink and an experience to match nearly every personality. Are you a mezcal devotee? You like your food bold and your nights lively. An IPA loyalist? Give you a long table, a good patio and a reason to stay awhile. Always ordering whatever the bartender recommends? You’re here for the plot.
Or maybe your perfect pour comes before sunset: a bourbon vanilla latte while wandering a farm, tea between journal entries or a zero-proof margarita on a leisurely afternoon. Whatever you’re drawn to, there’s a place waiting to be discovered.
The Mexcal Devotee
Drink: La Gran Guerra
Where: Libertad, Skokie
For the mezcal devotee who likes a little heat with their smoke, order La Gran Guerra. Made with Palomo mezcal, an artisanal, fourth-generation family-owned palenquería in Oaxaca rooted in traditional production and time-honored techniques, the spirit is infused with chile ancho, chile morita and chile serrano. The cocktail layers that smoky heat with blood orange, pomegranate and passion fruit, balanced with house spicy syrup and lime. Pair it with the restaurant’s papas a la huancaína or the crunchy flautas.
The Beer Enthusiast
Drink: Chalk Eater IPA
Where: Macushla Brewing Co., Glenview
Some people order a beer. Beer enthusiasts ask what’s new on tap.
At Macushla Brewing Co., the answer is likely to come with a story. This family-owned neighborhood brewery feels like the kind of place where you can settle in for one pint and accidentally stay for three hours. Grab a seat at the long bar, gather around a communal table or head outside to the patio, where bingo nights, live music and other happenings offer plenty of reasons to linger. When asked which beer to try, the bartender didn’t hesitate: Chalk Eater IPA. No second-guessing required.
The Cocktail Explorer
Drink: Pêche
Where: Next Door Lounge at EATACO, Northbrook
The surprise begins when you open the door. Inside, an eclectic room awaits, filled with mismatched antique chairs, cozy lounge seating and walls adorned with candles and art in bold gold frames. The space is as unexpected and adventurous as the cocktail menu itself.
Order directly from the menu or describe your favorite flavors and let the mixologist take it from there, waiting curiously to see what lands in your glass. For something bright and playful, try the Pêche, a combination of Tito’s vodka, peach, strawberries, lime and Champagne. It’s refreshing, lightly effervescent and fragrant.
The Spirited Sophisticate
Drink: The Smoking Cap
Where: 1898 Speakeasy at The Barn Steakhouse, Evanston
Tucked behind The Barn Steakhouse, 1898 Speakeasy invites you to linger after the last course and step into a more intimate side of the historic building. With just 25 seats, the room is dark and moody, layered with thoughtful details that reward a closer look. Warm candlelight, rich textures and historic character give it the feeling of a well-kept secret. The Smoking Cap makes an entrance, perfectly suited to a space that feels as though it has a story to tell.
The Zero-Proof Socialite
Drink: Margarita or Lemon Ginger Boost
Where: Spirit Elephant, Winnetka
The Zero-Proof Socialite has a full afternoon planned: hunting for the next antique treasure, popping into a gallery or two and working up an appetite along the way.
Spirit Elephant is the perfect place to recharge with a vegan lunch followed by a zero-proof pour. The margarita, made with nonalcoholic Almave agave spirit and agave, brings a little happy-hour energy without the alcohol. Or try the Lemon Ginger Boost when you want something bright, refreshing and restorative.
The Wine Connoisseur
Drink: Sommelier-selected premium wines
Where: Elyon, Glencoe
For the person who wants to understand wine, not simply drink it, Elyon offers a 12-course tasting menu paired with premium selections chosen with guidance from sommelier Ismet. The intimate, chef-driven experience feels both elevated and welcoming. It’s the kind of dinner that turns “I don’t know much about wine” into “I never knew wine could taste like that.” Curious to experience it for yourself? Editor Cat Rolfes explored Elyon in our May issue.
The Fresh-Air Seeker
Drink: Bourbon Vanilla Latte
Where: Elawa Farm, Lake Forest
The Bourbon Vanilla Latte is made with beans roasted by nearby Tala Coffee and served in a café that feels as connected to the farm as the menu. Inside, you’ll find people catching up over breakfast, lingering over lunch and enjoying plates filled with fresh, seasonal flavors that seem to echo the green landscape just outside. Take a walk with the goats, wander through the gardens or browse fresh produce at the market before settling in for a meal.
The Tea Lover
Drink: Nitro Sencha
Where: No Longer Human, Evanston
For the Tea Lover, a cup is never just a cup. Opened in March, No Longer Human creates space to slow down with minimalist, Japanese-inspired design, beautiful ceramics and a dedicated tea service area. The Nitro Sencha is a quintessential choice: grassy and mellow with a distinctive nitro finish. But the real charm is in the lingering. You might spot someone journaling at a table, working on a knitting project or simply enjoying a quiet moment.
With new teas arriving for fall, including more roasted and comforting flavors, it’s an inviting place to trade the rush of everyday life for something slower, warmer and more intentional.
Your drink might tell you something about yourself. But where you choose to enjoy it can reveal something about the community around you. Family-owned restaurants carry traditions forward, farm-to-table cafés remain rooted in the land and eclectic new rooms create space for the unexpected.
So, order the mezcal. Try the IPA. Let the bartender surprise you. Say yes to the zero-proof margarita. Stay for the tea. Along the way, you may discover a new favorite pour, or a new side of the North Shore.