Gallery • 9 Photos

Jacqueline Luttrell

For the #7, cinnamon is lightly burned to release the flavors in the drink.

With a small portion of its menu offering non alcoholic mixed drinks, Young American Bar is an unconventional twist on the local watering hole hotspot for many in the Logan Square neighborhood.

Young American Bar, 2545 N. Kedzie Ave., has a funky, chic vibe that sits just a few minutes walk from the CTA Logan Square Blue Line stop. The triangular-shaped venue lends itself to a picturesque view of Logan Square, and the dance floor stays busy late into the night, closing at 2 a.m. on Fridays and 3 a.m. on Saturdays.

Beloved for its colorful and complex drinks, the menu’s #7 is a shaken, mixture of rooibos—a tea derived from a South African plant—tangerine tea, melon, ginger, lime and sparked cinnamon.

These are not your run-of-the-mill club soda mixes, these drinks have pretty complex ingredients. As you sip, be sure to savor the flavors as they explode, giving you the full experience.

Another unique item on the menu is the #8, a tall glass of golden oat milk, strawberry, lemon and mint all stirred with a swizzle stick.

Customers also have the option of requesting their drinks be infused with CBD—also known as cannabidiol, a derivative of the cannabis plant—for an additional $5.

“I think the drinks are precise and the atmosphere is really fun,” said Anne O’Neil, a Young American patron and Avondale resident.

“I love the design, I like the vibe, I like the music and I always have a good time here,” said Gushes Crystal Blahnik. “I can’t describe it. This is my favorite bar in Chicago.”