The Sixth

Great service. Great drinks. Great location. We had to wait 45 minutes for a table as the location is small, however we went to a bar and waited and received a text message. We come to find that Rahm Emanuel is seated right next to us. Nice cocktail lounge, a little fancier than a typical place in Lincoln Square/​North Center. I enjoyed all of it! Great work.

Very cool place. Super unique cocktails. Like the vibe and the staff, too.
I am having The Doris, a unique gin drink. The coolest part is it has a mini rose frozen in a long ice cube. See pics. :-)

We were at the sixth on Friday after midnight because we were just done with work. There was 9 of us but my boyfriend and I were there first. I tried to call and see if there was any tables available for our group but it reached to Root’s pizza (next door) so we decided to just walked in. When we came we saw a sign ’ please wait to be seated ’ which is I understand because I heard this place is so tiny then we walked through the second door and standing by the host stand but no hostess. We were standing there to wait for someone to seat us but seems like nobody cares. I was thinking should we grab a seat any table or should I keep waiting. I looked around there were 2 bartenders who were busy to talk with customers at the bar and a server who was taking order. One thing that I was wondered ’ Did not one of you guys see two people standing by the door at all?’ Even you are not the host but at least give us a greet and tell us someone will be taking care of us or we can seat anywhere because letting customer standing and wondering what’s going on here why there is no one pay attention it makes me feel like this place is unwelcome. And I also very respect that ’ to be seated ’ sign because I work in the restaurant too I don’t like when people grab a table without being seat.
Anyways I don’t think we have any problems after someone seated us. Presentation of the drinks was great and service was very nice.
It’s our first time there and this bar is just couple blocks away from my house. For sure we will come back :) but one thing you should change is hosting

Hide the rose
from my nose
for allergies might arise.
But one shall not fret
if thou whistle needs wet
for the fleur is an icy surprise.
Yes, the drinks are whimsical — but they’re also delicious.
And, yes, you’ll probably have to wait for a seat (we arrived at 5:05 p.m. on a random Saturday, just mere minutes after The Sixth opened and we snagged the last 2-​person spot…)
Our waitress was AMAZING. Personable, fun, down-​to-​Earth. I wish the Silly Rabbit hadn’t stolen my memory, otherwise I’d know her name and give props where props are due.
Check it out for a cocktail or two.
I hope they will rotate drinks and introduce new flavors/​concepts seasonally or a few times a year. We will definitely be back for another Saturday tipple.

This is a great addition to the Lincoln Square ‘hood. Definitely my type of bar with crazy cool and delicious drinks and the atmosphere is very speakeasy (ish).
We came on a Wednesday night after eating right next door at Roots Pizza. To drink I had the Spaceman Spiff and it was so good! Tasted great, smelled just as great and visually appealing as well (see pic).
There’s plenty of seating, not only at the bar but tables and booths all around. Service was good, not amazing but fine. I’ll be back.
A great place for creative cocktails and good conversation :)

Really do not understand the complaints about service. We have been to The Sixth several times now and have found the service to be uniformly very good. Cocktails are excellent — both their specialty cocktails as well as classics like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Large selection of both liquors and beers with a lot of really unique options that you won’t find many other places.
Seating is generally quite comfortable (my one suggestion would be to rethink the arrangement of the four chairs by the front window — when two separate parties are sitting there, it feels almost as though you are sitting at a communal table). Finally, one of my favorite things about this place is that the lighting and music is perfect — it is appropriately dark with no TVs so you really get that great cocktail bar feel.

Lincoln Squarians! Before you check this place out, let’s get a few things straight: this is not your normal standing room bar. This is a classy cocktail lounge, IE you must be sitting down at the bar or at a table. These are not drinks meant to be enjoyed while standing, and some would even be impossible to hold as there are multiple carafes and glasses involved. These drinks are also $ 12 each (which is average for drinks of this quality). If you consider these things to be pretentious or outside your comfort zone, then don’t go here. It’s that simple.
Understood? Great!
This place is very similar to Violet Hour or Untitled in terms of drink quality. Very, very top notch. The décor is very 60s/​70s modern, and it’s very comfortable. It’s a long time coming for something like this in Lincoln Square. I’ve tried every drink on their menu, and I have to say the Weston was my fav. Presentation is just as detailed as flavor here, and it’s a little quirky, but fun. Come with a few friends, an open mind, and a taste for booze.
Tip: this place is super popular, as it is the only upscale cocktail place in Ravenswood or Lincoln Square. I recommend getting here early, before 7:30, for a shot at getting a seat. Otherwise, be ready to put your name on a list. My only gripe is that the place isn’t bigger to fit more seats, but you can’t have everything.

Really tasty and innovative cocktails. I had read some reviews before going so I was already prepared for the wait. My husband and I went with another couple and we tried almost all the signature cocktails. It was definitely a fun experience! Drinks were $ 12 each so that may be a turn off for some but I think the price tag was worth it.
We put our name on the list and went for a drink at roots next door while we waited for a table to be ready. They text you when you’re up. It’s a nice intimate little place so don’t expect to come here with a huge group of people, it just won’t work. I think their biggest table accommodates six.
Great little place for a date night or to catch up with a few friends.

Pleasantly surprised by this off the beaten path (for me) establishment. Reminds me of a very toned down, way more casual Aviary. Vibe was like a less hectic Barrelhouse Flat. Whimsical, thoughtful drinks that will be conversation pieces and delicious. We loved the Doris (flower in the ice cube) and the Silly Rabbit (with all the multi-​colored/​flavored ice cubes — wanted to eat them all when the liquid was gone). They do fun things like spritz aromatics over the Doris and give you mint in a dropper to add to the Silly Rabbit. The wait on a Saturday was just 10 – 15 minutes (even though we were quoted 30), and they send you next door to Roots where there’s beer and pizza. Owned by the same people. Highly recommend for those who want a fun cocktail without pretension.

Excellent, excellent cocktails. Love having a spot like this in Lincoln Square, the atmosphere and quality of drinks is great. I especially enjoyed the Weston and the Silly Rabbit.
I am giving 4 stars because I agree with many others, the hostesses’ rules, while understandable, make for an uncomfortable start to the evening. We have gotten lucky with seats at the bar on our visits, but I can easily see how their process could be maddening for groups who arrive to a full house or with a partial party. The hostesses also seemed to lack a bit of common sense.
For those unaware, the rules are similar to their other place, Berkshire Room in the Acme Hotel in River North. I think those are bit excessive as well.

This place was all right. Price point is fine for what it is and the drinks were all right. Our server was great. I thought the place was kind of mediocre and there are better options in other neighborhoods. I was expecting a Berkshire room kind of experience but this wasn’t as lively or exciting.

I went to the sixth a last weekend and it was awesome. There are not many tables but if there is a wait, they tell you that they will text you and you can go have a drink next door at Roots. The drinks run about $ 12 per cocktail and it is worth every penny. There most famous drink is the «Silly Rabbit.» It was featured in the Chicago Eater. The «Silly Rabbit» is based on the Trix cereal. Each ice cube is a different flavor. My friend and I eat had two cocktails and every single one was great! The bar staff and waiters are knowledgeable on the drinks so if your not sure what you want, ask them for a recommendation. I will be returning to this bar soon.

This place is fantastic! What a great neighborhood cocktail lounge. I admit, I was a little nervous when I walked in because while everything is super modern, which I usually love, the chairs and couches looked super uncomfortable. We were led to one of the back couch booths, and while it was kind of an ordeal to maneuver myself up and into one (wow, I sound old), it was comfy when I got settled. The hostess was super nice, as was our server and the [very attractive] bartender. And the drinks!!! Oh my god, THE DRINKS!!! Well, in fairness I only tried one drink, but it was AMAZING. It’s called the Silly Rabbit, and it is hands down the most fun drink I have ever had in my entire life (and I drink A LOT). The drink was inspired by Trix cereal. You’re served a glass full of colorful flavored ice cubes, with a cocktail mix you pour over it, and an eyedropper of bitters you can add at your leisure. It is SO GOOD and SO FUN! And it comes with an orange bendy straw! How could life possibly get better than that?! The ice cubes melt slowly, and the bartender suggested topping the drink off with champagne when we ran low, which we did (several times) and it was so good! We also ordered fries with some kind of veal that’s one of the only two kitchen menu options. The fries were great. The veal part, eh. Kind of wish they had more food options, but in reality, why do you need food when you can have LIQUID ALCOHOLIC TRIX!!! This is the best bar EVER!!! I cannot wait to come back here and will be a regular for sure. Too bad it isn’t socially acceptable to have the Silly Rabbit for breakfast or I’d be here every morning. ;)

I went to the Sixth on Friday 1÷26÷2016. It was great finding a great cocktail bar. Joel my bartender was excellent he brought me drinks tuned to my flavor profile. (try the Black Manhattan with rye.) Service was great and everyone was helpful and nice.
After reading many reviews criticizing and what seems like almost attacking the hostesses, I found them to be polite, pleasant and nice. I think for some because they can not be accommodated as they would like they blame it on the hostess. The place is long and very narrow. This is a logistical challenge forcing the hostess to be firm. I liken it to going to a restaurant being seated at a table or booth for two and then having 4 of friends show up to join but there are no other tables available. That would not work well. During my visit there I did observe the hostesses trying to accommodate everyone the best they could on a busy Friday.
If you looking for a place with a fabulous bourbon menu. Great cocktails and you want to stay in the neighborhood this the place to go.

The drinks were great and I am not sure why ppl don’t like service on a Sunday mine was great. It is a small place so I see why ppl would get turned away. Don’t bother with fries, mine were old and just recooked and the they have no ketchup but I didn’t go there for food.

I want to love this place, I do. It’s a nice setting, the bar set up is modern and nice looking, and the couches are nice. The drinks are excellent as well– creative and solid. The only thing that kills the entire experience: the hostess and the attitude of the servers. The attitude is that the customer is always wrong and heavens don’t think of having your friends meet here and arrive separately. The belief here is that you all arrive at the same time and together. The server was simply tolerable on occasion, and she did try sometimes to be friendly, but really, I can tell when you’re being short and your body language is aggressive.
Review:
Drinks: 4 – 5 stars
Bartenders: 4 stars (friendly, relaxed)
Waitress: 2 – 3 stars
Hostess: 0 stars.
Unfortunately they tried pretty hard to ruin our evening and generally succeeded. As soon as we brushed off that they didn’t allow a late friend to join us, they wouldn’t then let the friend and their guest to sit at an empty table. Makes absolutely no sense to me– are the tables just there for looks?
I won’t be back. I can only recommend this place if you don’t talk to the hostess– skip over her and go sit directly at the bar, and don’t have anyone plan on meeting you late.

I really hate giving one star reviews, just had to throw that out there from the start.
This place had a really good drink (Silly Rabbit) but other than that it was a nightmare.
I invited friends there for my Fiancé’s birthday, as I’m sure most of you know say they will come, then all show up when they can arrive but not exactly at the same time and one or two may bring a friend I didn’t know about. No biggie right?
Wrong! They said they don’t allow «add ons», so in other words you tell them four, don’t try to bring an fifth as the waitress might get overwhelmed. I explained that I didn’t know how many from the beginning but probably 6 – 7. So when more than could fit at one table were there she asked «why didn’t you make a reservation». Gosh why didn’t I think of that! Oh wait I did and they told me they don’t accept them.
She told us we can’t stand up, must remain seated. I had to beg for another table for the rest of our friends who showed up. which btw was empty but again «didn’t want to overwhelm the waitress», so… it’s a tiny place and they won’t even fill the booths they have?
We felt like we were at the soup nazi while we were there, finally check time comes. She overcharges us for things, to their credit while she made me feel guilty she did fix it.
All in all it was a nightmare and each one of us said we will never go back and we will tell all of our friends not to, plenty of other options out there. I know we as a group probably will be ignored since we are a tiny population of Chicago but, seriously don’t go there.

First I just start with why I rate this whole experience 2 stars. The hostess staff is the face of the business as they are the first people you see upon entering. BAD first impression… BAD!
We are very stoked about going to the Sixth to celebrate a very special person’s birthday. I called before we arrived to ask if we could reserve a table. (Was connected to the host stand at Root’s) I was told «umm, no no you can’t … Unfortunately, no.» Verbatim! That all good if there isn’t an option to reserve in advance but at least provide an explanation stating so.
Upon our arrival, the hostess said «Two?» Since there were two of us. She stated there was a table ready for us and we could be seated right away. I shared wth her that we would have 6 people and she changed her mind and said «oh, you’ll have to wait at the bar.» I was puzzled and I’m sure she could tell by looking at me so I asked «Can we just sit at our table now and keep the same table when the rest of the party arrives?» She said «No because your party is incomplete.» When I asked why we couldn’t just sit down she said «We don’t allow that because it confuses the wait staff.»
So I am seeing several reviews here about the hostess staff. Obviously they are not taking common sense into consideration when making decisions. Next time we will just say «Thanks for the table for 2!» And when the rest of our group arrives we will share «Oh by the way we now have 6!» At least we will be seated with no hassle.
EVERYONE else in the bar was amazing! It was very friendly, awesome drinks, and they even gave personal greeting to the birthday guy!
Way to go The Sixth!!! We loved it! But… Please fix the hostess situation.

Roses in the ice! Nice cocktail lounge with friendly, knowledgeable servers. When we first arrived, we were told there’s a 30 min wait and to go to Roots next door while we wait. When our table was ready, 2 of us went back over to the this lounge while the third person in our party finished paying at roots, but the hostess wouldn’t let us sit down until our third guest was physically present in front of her own eyes. I think some lenience would be appreciated with the seating policy, as it can come off as being very untrusting and skeptical of the guests that patronize this establishment. The third person in our group was next door paying for the bill at a place owned by the same owner, so it made us feel unwanted when we first arrived.
The best pet of our visit was the amazing cocktails we had and the excellent customer service that came from our server, as she was extremely friendly and professional (5 stars for her)! I had the Doris, which is a gin forward drink with a great balance and a rose in the ice. I’ll definitely come back, but hopefully they can come up with a more customer-​friendly seating policy that doesn’t alienate honest, local customers.

Already in love with this venue after just a single visit. Ben Schiller has long been my favorite bartender dating back to his Boka days. Was so excited for The Sixth to open and it was well worth the wait; completely blew away expectations.
The Sixth is the total package; the perfect venue to unwind after a tough day at work or just to have fun. Tasteful décor; the space has an upscale vibe but is quite comfortable, definitely a neighborhoody vibe. The music is loud enough to provide some energy but conversation friendly. Ben and his team are such friendly, down-​to-​earth people — the service truly enhances the experience. I highly recommend sitting up to the bar so you can watch the team in action.
The cocktails are without doubt the best in the city. All the whimsy of the Aviary but less than half the price, none of the pretentiousness — and quite frankly the cocktails are better. This is a place to step outside of your comfort zone and try some spirits you might generally avoid or think you might dislike; we sampled six different cocktails — most of which contained components or spirits we rarely order and each one was fantastic. While my favorite all time cocktail is on the menu (the Weston), we had so much fun working our way down the menu I did not even order one this visit. The presentations for the cocktails are fun and everything is top quality from the spirits used, the house made potions, the incredible ice program, the serving pieces, the execution etc. etc. The food menu is limited (just two items for now) but both were amazing as well and pair wonderfully with the booze.
I don’t think it is too soon to declare The Sixth as my new favorite bar!

Polite but firm hosts. Chic surroundings. Blessedly quiet but current music. Attentive bartenders. Cocktail menu features vibrantly flavored and artistically presented drinks. Also has a long list of spirits. Maybe skip the drafts — small albeit respectable selection, but my black stout was about a ¹⁄₃ foam (it did come in an interesting mug imitating a tree branch or a horn cup — a little try hard). Didn’t eat there but the fries look fantastic.

I must admit I’m shocked! I could have never expected a spot like this in Lincoln Square. This is a River Northish, Wicker Parkish, Bucktownish, West Loop ish spot/​vibe in Lincoln Square. Maybe you say they have mastered the mental with all the fanciness and creative cocktails at our disposal but they could never deliver on execution. Wrong! Even if you just get an Old Fashioned it’s damn good with a huge rock. This spot has nothing but success written all over it.
The Sixth is very influenced by The Aviary as they are very Aviary-​esque but by no means do they actually try to be The Aviary as that would be an utter failure. To start they actually have an ice program which they have out of sight downstairs. Anyone that knows cocktails knows that to make great cocktails you need good ice. It’s a reclaimed art that has fueled the industry. All ice is hand carved for your drinking enjoyment. Go try several of their cocktails or just an Old Fashioned, one large rock that provides slow dilution to open up the flavors of your Bourbon or Whiskey without drinking whiskey flavored water. That is a sign of quality.
My drinks included their signature drink ’”Silly Rabbit” Gin mixed with Lemon Juice poured over flavored ice cubes of various color, and an added medicine dropper of mint bitters. The taste is sweet with tart flavors from the ice cubes then a touch of minty bitterness that you can add to your liking. Overall it was a good drink but not really my style. However I bet the chicks would dig it. What makes it Aviary-​esque is it appeals to all the senses. The ice cubes are pretty and instagrammable, the Gin and Lemon juice are in some sort of flask with a fat bottom and narrow neck that you pour into another glass over the ice cubes. So it has an interactive component to it. Then of course add your bitters from a medicine dropper. A pretty cool drink to play around with I would say.
My next drink was the Spaceman Spiff. A Mezcal cocktail that is in a stemless Martini glass which fits over a small fish bowl looking thing. When you remove the martini part of the glass the smoke that is trapped inside becomes a cloud of smokey goodness that hits your nose. Another drink that appeals to the senses. But beautifully balanced with smokiness and bitter flavors without being very sweet.
Lastly «The Westin» a beautifully stirred very string Bourbon drink that has a tobacco smell to it! Wow I loved it, every time you went to take a sip you could smell cherry tobacco but without tobacco taste, insanely delightful!
Overall the drinks were expertly crafted and succeeded in involving all the senses without a ring to be too over the top. Additionally the staff were all friendly and impressively knowledgeable with expert credentials. Peeps you must try this place out if you live up north and well. even if you dont… just go!!! Tell em David P. Sent ya!

Tried this place last night and loved everything about it!
There were no tables ready when we got there (about 11pm on a sat), so the hostess took our name and sent us to the pizza place next door. We had a drink there and within 15 mins got a text that our table was ready.
I wish I could remember our servers name because she was great– we had lots of questions about the drinks and she had all the answers. The drinks were delicious– my group of 4 had 2 rounds and the waitress was extremely attentive throughout the night. And after two drinks, I was definitely feeling the buzz, so they’re well worth it!

I was pumped to hear The Sixth had finally opened and headed there to meet four friends last night. As a Ravenswood local, it’s been great to see the beer scene erupt over the past couple years but we’ve been in dire need of some good cocktail lounges. Finally, The Sixth would provide us just that!
Upon arrival we were told we couldn’t be seated until our entire party arrived. No matter, Friend 1 and I stood near the end of the bar to snag a coveted cocktail while we waited. It wasn’t long before more people began filling in the space which was only about 30% full at 6:00 when we arrived. A couple who entered after us approached the bar and were helped right away so we figured we should move over to where they were to get a drink. Perhaps the bartender didn’t see us. Again, not an issue — or so we thought.
We were approached immediately by the hostess and were told we couldn’t block the walk way and should go next door to Roots if we were waiting on our party. I initially didn’t put it together that Roots Pizza and The Sixth were owned by the same people and was a little put off by her sending business elsewhere. We apologized for being in the way (in the way of what we weren’t entirely sure because it wasn’t packed and nobody had attempted to walk past us to no avail) and returned to the end of the bar. Just after ordering two cocktails we were approached again and told we couldn’t stand there either and they would prefer we go to Roots until our party arrives. At this point Friend 2 had arrived and Friends 3 and 4 were pulling up. We declined once again, this time perhaps not as kindly since we were beginning to think our business was not wanted there. I let her we had ordered and we’d prefer to stay at The Sixth. We came for the ambiance of a craft cocktail bar, not a pizza joint. And funny enough, I had just come from Piece so I had my fill of the pizza joint atmosphere, so thanks but no thanks.
The manager (?) overheard us and asked if there was a problem. I shared my thoughts and also let him know I was a Ravenswood local and had been looking forward to this opening and wasn’t digging the vibes of the staff. First impression is often one’s last, after all. It seems it is their goal to offer a bar that isn’t four deep with patrons trying to get drinks. Fair enough but it wasn’t even one person deep around most of the bar. The place was approaching 50% occupancy at this point. And there were plenty of empty tables still available. He then asked if we wanted to take shots with him to which we declined. Kind of a mixed message — you don’t want to be a crowded, douchy bar but you want to crush shots? Seems an acceptable way to appease customers at say, John Barleycorn. But I’m at The Sixth. I mean, I’m at The Sixth right? Or am I at Roots Pizza? Where am I allowed to be damn it!!!
The cocktails were really inventive and delicious. The Silly Rabbit is adorable with its multi-​colored, fruity ice cubes, and tastes as good as it looks. A great photo op for the IG food blogger. We also tried the doner and frites — the only food option available — and were pleasantly surprised though the frites seemed as though they may have sat out a bit before being delivered to our table. We devoured them nonetheless. Also dig the smoky, cedar smell filling the air from the Spaceman Spiff cocktail — probably the most inventive off the menu. And tasty if you like a smoky bourbon and/​or scotch.
Overall I can say I’ll be back to The Sixth. It was only their second day open and I have a feeling the standing room regulations won’t hold up. We heard others exiting the bar complaining about being forced to wait elsewhere. I would urge the staff and owners to not try so hard to make The Sixth so exclusive. This is Ravenswood, a very unstuffy, casual neighborhood. We’ve all been waiting for the cocktail scene to improve, but if we wanted the attitude and regulations we’d continue to frequent the number of places in River North and Logan Square that are really nailing the whole «no chill» vibe.

Very impressed! She had the Silly Rabbit and I had the Bracer. The cocktails were properly balanced and unique. The place is whimsical and definitely doesn’t take itself too seriously. The cocktails were priced very reasonable and the bourbon collection is world class. This is my kind of place.