The Violet Hour: User Reviews

I had know idea whiskey and grapefruit would be capital A awesome
By eeeeevon, September 27, 2011

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We had a great time last Friday at Violet Hour. At first I thought the place might be a little "tooooo toooo" based on what i had heard about the "rules" and "dress code", but the staff was totally cool and laid back, and the drinks?? Pretty great. I really liked "the Blinker"
Grapefruit bitters, grapefruit juice and really good whiskey. So yay, and yum and I'd go back for sure.

Pricey but Wonderful
By linraf, December 6, 2010

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I've had Violet Hour on my "Must Try" list forever, and finnnnally was able to cross it off this weekend. We made it over around 8pm on Saturday night and luckily were greeted with no line, which is rare from what I've heard. Over the course of an hour and a half or so the 2 of us tried 4 cocktails, all of which were amazing and I'd happily recommend. Try...

Juliet & Romeo
El Commandant
Duck Hunter
Swingin' on the Lawn

Fabulous!

Good Try
By Jon1256, September 8, 2010

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Cocktails are good but the concept is a bit contrived for my liking. Tries a little too hard for me!

Seriously pass on this place!!!
By SimplyTap, June 1, 2010

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I heard about this great place to visit for an awesome drink and ambiance so I took a date there to see. We got there to a very small line in the front, but I was OK as any cool joint will have some type of a wait.
We listened to the snooty doorman talk about no cell phones inside and to wait in the middle curtain and not to pass the last curtain or something bad would happen... this is cool... mystique we can go with it.
Once in side you see a bunch of people in shorts and flip flops at what is alleged to be this swanky lounge with great ambiance.
From the doorman to the clientel it was quite a let down. Food was OK, prices certainly match swanky but couldn't deliver overall.

Not worth the wait, or the prices.

Good luck if you want to hang out with college students fresh from the skateboard rink. Yes... the doorman said skateboards are fine.

Bewitching!
By Marianne, May 28, 2010

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Don't come to the Violet Hour if you don't want to dress up a little and act like a grown up out of an old movie drinking elegant cocktails. This is the appeal. You also don't want to go there if you are looking for a trendy drink or just a beer. They specialize in micro-distilleries. My favorite thing to order is Death's Door Gin neat. It is expensive and they won't let you in if you have violated their dress code or don't have an ID. Once you get in, they only let the same number of people in that they have seats for. It's chill, it's slow (the service is really slow - don't be in a hurry), and it's elegant. I love it! No pretension really, just a healthy respect for relaxation and the finer things of life.

Submitted from the Metromix iPhone App
By amygbernard, April 3, 2010

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I loved this place!!! Quirky speakeasy entrance, a little bit of a wait, gorgeous decor

Waiting in line for... nothing.
By ekara4, August 29, 2009

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I love Chicago. I love the amount of great restaurants and bars that I can immediately walk into in Chicago. That's why I was so surprised when arriving at the Violet Hour, there was a bit of a line out the door. Now, I can't remember the last time I waited in line to get into a place. I wasn't too worried. The line wasn't that long... wow, was I wrong. After waiting an hour, inching my way into the front door, only four more people in front of us, I saw a rule list posted on the wall. Some of the rules included, must have proper attire, do not order beer, do not order grey goose, no reservations. Weird. After investing a full hour of my life waiting in line I was determined to wait a little longer to see what this was all about. The place was at full capacity, meaning the only way the line would move forward was if someone left the club. The guy in front of me said " this place better have freaking cherubs servings drinks in there!"... My thoughts exactly. Well, there was no way we were getting in anytime soon. Suddenly, at the hour of 10 pm there were about three groups of 4 to 5 girls walking right past the line, saying to the doorman, "we have reservations." I was shocked. Right next to me there was a rule list that stated 'no reservations'. And to my doubled shock the door man let them in!! Suddenly, I went from having only four people in front of me to having twenty people in front of me! I turned to my date and said, "lets get out of here." We promptly left the line, walked into a hoppin' bar half a block away and ordered ourselves two Grey Gooses, straight up. It was great. Listen, I will never waist my time waiting in line like that again. Chicago has too many great places for me to enjoy... without the line.

Absolutely perfect
By ChefTim, July 20, 2009

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I have never before been compelled to write a review on Metromix or any other review page but my experience at The Violet Hour last night has forced my hand. Ultimately, any potential patron of The Violet Hour must understand that just for once their evening is not going to be about them. The Violet Hour is about one thing and one thing only, the most perfectly crafted cocktails you will ever drink. If you are looking for a raucous good time DO NOT come to The Violet Hour. If you are NOT open to new things, DO NOT go to The Violet Hour.
I arrived and was almost immediately turned off by the level of pretentiousness at the door but I decided to give it a chance anyways and was seated rather quickly at the bar. The bar is where you want to sit, the bartenders are very intent on performing their craft and are not necessarily there to be your best friend. If you understand this you will enjoy your experience. If you come thinking that this is like any other bar you will be very disappointed. Once again this bar is all about the cocktail. Just to clarify, a jager bomb is not a cocktail, a cosmo is not a cocktail, a vodka redbull is not a cocktail, a grey goose dirty martini is not a cocktail, and why anyone would come here looking for any of the above is completely beyond me. Violet Hour is the cocktail equivalent of fine dining, the greater your willingness to try something new and different the more you will enjoy your experience. I had three perfectly crafted cocktails and after the first sip of my second cocktail I experienced a paradigm shift in my understanding of cocktails in general. Any idiot can mix a drink, at the Violet Hour the bartenders are determined to make each drink so that is is not only perfect, but perfect for YOU. You WILL wait a long time for each drink, but you should also realize that these cocktails are not meant to be guzzled quickly, rather every sip is an experience unto itself. I put myself into the bartenders hands and told him what I do and don't like, he immediately made me a cocktail based on the those things that I didn't like and it was fantastic. I almost never drink bourbon or whiskey of any type, yet the bartender made for me a Harlan County, a Bourbon based cocktail which was quite possibly one of the best cocktails I've ever had in my life.

In short, if you understand what a cocktail truly should be then you will enjoy The Violet Hour. If you are looking for a "clubby" experience look elsewhere, if you are a frat -type looking to guzzle Jager Bombs, look elsewhere, if you are a shot and a beer person, look elsewhere, if you want to sip cosmos and apple martinis with your brood of cackling hens look elsewhere, BUT, if you are looking for a cocktail which is perfectly executed and a "No Standing" room free of idiots yelling into their cell phones and more worried about their appearance to others than the quality of their drink then The Violet Hour is the place for you.

beware
By fugly, July 2, 2009

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Enjoyed the food and drinks, but the service was terrible and the price too high. Violet Hour would be good for one drink, but if you plan to have more go some place else!

Always a great time
By maxmay72, June 1, 2009

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I've had drinks at The Violet Hour on several occasions and have always found it quite enjoyable. The attention to detail with the drinks, the host, the bartenders and servers have always treated me and my party with white gloves. To me the best part of the bar is the pretentiousness behind it as well as the fact that cell phone conversations are not allowed. All too often you can see people out together at other establishments and both parties are either texting or talking on their cell but not to each other. What's the sense of spending time together. This place is intimate and promotes "gasp" actual conversation!! I've recommended Violet Hour to several friends and have not yet received any negative feedback. I think I'll go have me a nice drink this evening.