Three Dots and a Dash

Three Dots and a Dash is a tropical cocktail bar in River North from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group. Its address is 435 North Clark Street, but the entrance is in the alley, and finding it is part of the fun. Once inside, the bar recreates the spirit of historic tiki bars, with drinks made in house.

The cocktail list is inspired by historic tiki bars, and it is described as a premier tropical bar and craft cocktail destination. The food menu matches the theme, with a Pu Pu Platter, tropical tuna ceviche, prime skirt steak skewers, crispy pork bites, shrimp spring roll sticks, a wagyu banh mi burger and a coconut sunset sundae.

Within the venue, The Bamboo Room is a smaller, more intimate bar with its own hours: closed on Monday and Tuesday, open 4pm to midnight from Wednesday to Saturday and 4pm to 11pm on Sunday. Ask about it when you book if you want a quieter, more focused experience.

The main bar is open from 4pm to midnight Sunday to Wednesday, from 4pm to 1am on Thursday and Friday and from 2pm to 1am on Saturday. Reservations are made through OpenTable via the website, and they are recommended for weekend evenings, when the bar is busiest. The venue is for ages 21 and over, so bring ID.

Three Dots suits groups of friends, couples and anyone who enjoys themed bars and playful cocktails. It is a lively place rather than a quiet one, and it makes a good start to a night out in River North. Prices are those of a downtown cocktail bar. Allow an hour or two. Finding the entrance can take a moment, so allow a few minutes extra when meeting friends, and share the alley directions with anyone joining you later.

For enquiries, call +1 312-610-4220. The bar is a few doors from Frontera Grill on North Clark Street, so dinner at Frontera followed by drinks here is an easy plan. Freehand Chicago, with the Broken Shaker, is also nearby in River North for another round, and the Chicago Riverwalk is within walking distance for a late stroll by the water.