Bernard’s Bar

Small, intimate and dark space provides the perfect atmosphere for a quiet night out, or a great spot to begin/​end your night out in the town. Phenomenal drinks and great service in one of Chicagos most beautiful hotels.

I love this old man bar. Had a wonderful, private drink sesh with my old man!
Amanda was a wonderful server. Sweet as pie.

A WONDERFUL bar tucked into the Waldorf Astoria. Cozy tables & nooks, a WELL stocked/​high quality bar, a wonderful staff/​bartenders, and a small but fantastic tasting menu. This is a wonderful place for after work, a nightcap or a prelude to a night out.

Bernard’s has great drinks and a really relaxed atmosphere. It is never crowded. Drinks are very expensive.

Great bar… great atmosphere… Low key… great place to go if you are looking to impress.

Small little bar in a fancy hotel. It was a Monday when I went. Not a huge list on cocktails but not disappointed

we loved it here! had very tasty drinks. i had a sidecar (my drink of choice), which was expertly boozy and not too sweet. husband had an old fashioned, which was delicious – a really good old fashioned. it’s expensive for what it is, but what are you expecting at a classy joint like the waldorf? we will definitely be back next time we’re looking for a drink after dinner in the area.

Ideal for a intimate way to end the night. Tucked into the Immaculate Waldorf Astoria, this bar/​lounge has a warm decorum with suede boots and dark lighting, the noise level is low enough for conversation to be easy to hear. Three of us stopped in on Saturday night around 9:30, only 6 or 7 people in the entire bar. We sat in a corner section in the lounge area, having only a few people there especially on a Saturday evening definitely helped make the experience better. The clientele is a more mature older crowd compared to other popular Chicago spots.

Where do you go when you can’t into another hotel bar for a birthday party because of silly things like dress codes and douchey doorman? You come here for excellent service and cozy atmosphere.
Our Saturday night started out by hanging out with some friends. Some mutual friends were celebrating a birthday at a downtown bar. My husband and I still had energy for the night while our little one was being babysat, so why not keep the party going?! We tried to get into another hotel bar to no avail. We seriously weren’t scrubs or anything.
Instead, we decided to call ahead to Bernard’s to make sure that we could get in. The Waldorf Astoria staff were pleasant on the phone as well as in person. Once we found Bernard’s, we were smitten. This is my new favorite hidden spot in Chicago. The darkly lit, velvety bar seats about 40 people tops with a small bar lining one wall. We found a little circular spot to hunker down and get a couple of drinks. The cocktails are delicious here. They have an extensive wine and spirits list as well. We got a small dessert of a chocolate mousse terrine. It was satiated my sweet tooth for sure. Our service was fantastic. Our water glasses were constantly refilled as well drink orders taken in a timely manner. I can’t wait to return here for a cocktail downtown in my new favorite gem of the city.

Service was what did it for me. Ray is the ultimate. His personality made our evening. He succeeded in getting me the drink I was vying for… a Vieux Carre :-) Ray wasn’t familiar but made it happen… interestingly a fellow came in shortly after us and asked for the same. Funny how the universe works :-)

Stopped in for drinks and dessert after 8:00 pm on a Saturday evening. Beautiful cozy bar, we sat in the lounge area. There were not a lot of other people there, 2 or 3 other couples. I tried Absinthe for the first time and the server brought out this big fountain and lit a sugar cube on fire so that was really fun. The huckleberry tart with oatmeal ice cream was tiny but oh so delicious. 18% gratuity was automatically included on the bill, which I thought was fine. Will definitely be back, I love the intimate atmosphere.

I like fancy hotel bars a good deal more than the next guy, but this place was almost too much even for me. It’s very hard to find — you have to walk with confidence into the Waldorf and make your way up the stairs. But it’s dark, seductive, and conspiratorial, with a plausible cocktail list and exorbitant prices.
Alas, for all of this you deserve a place that’s quiet and has excellent cocktails. Bernard’s has neither. A standing-​room crowd eventually gathered and produced a loud roar that made it hard to talk. And my French 75 tasted like it had been mixed with Sprite instead of champagne.

Bernard’s is definitely my new Chicago spot. With it’s cozy atmosphere, excellent cocktails, and first rate server, Bernard’s is everything a bar should be, all tucked into the gorgeous Waldorf Astoria. Our server, Rachael, was so personable and really went out of our way to make our time at Bernard’s memorable. All of the cocktails we ordered (and we had more than a few) were delicious but my favorite is the Little Pistol, appropriately named as it really does pack a punch. Although they don’t serve their hand-​cut, home made potato chips in the bar anymore, it’s worth asking your server to see if he or she is able to sneak you some from Balsan. Bernard’s is the perfect spot to kick off your night or finish one off with a nightcap. The intimate setting lends itself well to date night or an escape from the busy and cold Chicago streets.

I love it here. If I had my way, I would live in the Waldorf, but teaching yoga may not get me there very soon. So I have to settle for visiting their bar and restaurants. Life isn’t fair. But Bernard’s is cozy, charming, intimate, masculine, private and tiny. It reminds me of a small RL, like you’re in a man’s library. I was here last weekend on a date, shocker, and it was his first time. We were one of 2 couples, it’s a hidden gem to say the least. Always dead. My date commented he would bring a hooker here if he was into that sort of thing… here’s to hoping he’s not. But it’s that kind of place. Not much of a chance of running into anyone here.
The service is fantastic, almost too formal though. We were running errands beforehand, dressed very casually, and we are young-​ish. No need for sir and all of the formalities, but I understand this is how they are trained. The wine is a bit pricey, maybe $ 18 for house Pinot, but it’s the Waldorf!!! Get over it. All I’ve had to eat are oysters, and they were good.

A great place to escape just steps from the Viagra Triangle and the high end shopping district nearby. The drinks are not cheap here but the bartender is a top act, and the drinks are amazing, classic, and well prepared. You can chill in the dark chairs or head on up to the bar and take a load off. Now, it is not easy to find this place.
This is the Waldorf now, so walk in, and on your left is a staircase going up. The bar is on the second floor. Again, understated is the name of the game at the Waldorf (former Elysian). Once in, it is just a great place to relax, have a drink, and chill out.
Perfect.

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Bernard’s Bar and Balsan Café are inside the Wardolf Chicago. The bar is keeping with the hotel’s Coco Chanel-​inspired aesthetic as if you visit this beautiful hotel, you would be at awe! It used to be the Elyssan fancy, modern, and new hotel the past few years in Chi town. Bearnard’s Bar is a little quaint bar second floor, intimate, cozy, and offer some serious juice for wine, or spirit lover. Rich brown suede walls, velvet curtains, brown and super comfy leather chairs, sophisticated as its best.
The bar is also open late on the weekend, so if you stay around this area, coming for a drink. Don’t think of a hot, happening bar for hipsters, this bar is elegant, perfect spot to drop in to chill after a long day shopping. Bartender Tom can whip up some serious cocktails for you. I got to try a few drinks here and bartender Tom made it with special gins from my backyard, literally in Berkeley/​Oakland. I can’t believe I travel away from Bay Area to try this wonder gins by St. George.
I got to try the Dry Rye, Terroir, and Single Malt Whiskey from St. George. The Arsenic and old lace gin, sweet vermouth, Cynar, tarragon was a lovely cocktail.
Check out their amazing drink menu and rare spirit, think of Waldorf Astoria New York, but much better and newer version. Exceptional service each time I visit this bar, thank you bartender Tom for the educational on St. George Spirits :-)
Follow them on Twitter: @balsanbernards

How to describe Bernies? It’s what every bar should be like — cozy, refined and exuding class. The interior is a rich chocolate brown and the lights are turned down low — but not too low — to give off a luxurious vibe, that doesn’t stray into pretentiousness.
While the cocktails are well-​crafted, the wine selection is a little lacking. Also, it’s a fair bit pricier than your local haunt, but you get what you pay for. Note that gratuity is included in your bar tab.

This place exudes sexiness and class… the crowd is easy on the eyes.
OUCH !!!

LOVE!
Cozy, Chic, Intimate…
We enjoyed some wine and cocktails before dinner. The bar was filled, but not crowded. Service was excellent. Seating was comfy. Crowd was cool.

Tucked away in a quiet corner on the 2^nd floor of the Elysian Hotel is Bernard’s Bar. An intimate, classy area to enjoy a well made drink and to catch up with friends.
The dark wood tones, leather chairs, low light and wooden floors, beckon you to sit and stay awhile. The granite topped bar located at the far end of the room– has room for only 5 people– keeping with the intimate feel. And the window to the courtyard behind the bar is a nice touch.
The drinks are small works of art. Order one of their speciality cocktails or one of your favorites and it is made in front of you– no bottles of premade juices or mixers. So if you want something that requires cucumber juice– the cucumbers will be pressed while you wait, the limes muddled, the soda mixer opened, for the freshest tasting cocktails.
Not for the faint of wallet– martinis run around $ 14 and their wines by the glass start there and go up (the one we liked was in the $ 20 range)
But the real stars here are the people who are taking care of you. Erin the bartender was amazing! Pleasant to talk to, creative with the drink making and just the kind of bartender you want to find in any bar. And no matter how nice the rest of a bar is– it’s always the people that bring me back. And you can bet I will be back.