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Kinda DecentBars2026 preview

#129Global

Best Intentions

Chicago, USA · Neighbourhood cocktail bar · North America

Provisional Kinda Decent 2026 1-star — Kinda Decent

provisional 2026 rating

★ Currently qualifies as Kinda Decent in the Kinda Decent Index 2026.

A standout in Chicago, judged against the size of its scene, not just the size of the city. See the full class →

This live rating may change until the incorporated world’s 50 best bars 2026 results and remaining accepted 2026 inputs are locked in a reviewed, committed snapshot and the edition is frozen.

Best Intentions is a self-described fancy cocktail bar on West Armitage Avenue, serving drinks and food. It stays open until 2am on weeknights and Sunday, and until 3am on Saturday.

Description source · Checked 2026-09-09

Plan Your Visit

3281 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647Logan Square

Open in Maps Website
Style
Neighbourhood cocktail barChecked 2026-09-09 · Source
Hours
Closed Monday; Tue–Fri 5pm–2am; Sat 11am–3am; Sun 11am–2am.Checked 2026-09-09 · Source
Booking
Call 312-818-1254 for enquiries.Checked 2026-09-09 · Source
Menu
View the venue’s menu ↗Checked 2026-09-09 · Source

Hours and menus can change. Check the venue’s latest details before visiting.

@fancycocktailbar

The score & its evidence

Seven signals. One score.

47.6 / 100

The composite combines the seven weighted signals and the published adjustments. The chart shows each signal before weighting.

Read the full calculation
Signal / 100Score
Guest ratings
73.9
World's 50 Best
—None found · Checked; no qualifying signal found; contributes zero
Top 500 Bars
57.0
Spirited Awards
—None found · Checked; no qualifying signal found; contributes zero
Regional Recognition
78.6
Serious press
15.0
Social Vibes
61.6

Weights: Guest ratings 23% · World's 50 Best 12% · Top 500 Bars 10% · Spirited 12% · Regional Recognition 18% · Press 10% · Social Vibes 15%

Missing evidence, confirmed none and evidence outside a scoring window each contribute zero. We do not redistribute their fixed weight to other signals.

Social Vibes

Score read updated:

positive2 cited links; not a count of independent customer reviews· high confidence

Sentiment score

88/ 100

Historical 88/100 and high confidence retained. This source check qualifies attribution without recalculating the proprietary score or establishing a representative current customer sample.

Score context

John Ringor’s review, updated in November 2024, praises Best Intentions’ cocktails and lively, music-filled room. Lauren Brocato’s April 2026 guide highlights its balanced drinks and dive-bar character. These are two editorial accounts.

Guest sources checked:

Guest score details

What the cited sources say

  • Critics praise cocktails and dive-bar character

Cautions and context

  • Ringor describes a crowded room
Source excerpt
“No barstool stays empty for long, and the fun space full of knickknacks is perpetually full of people happy to stand while funk and soul music blasts through the speakers.”

John Ringor’s critic review, updated 1 November 2024; the page was first published 21 January 2022.

Source: theinfatuation.com (linked below)

This read cites editorial or award context. Those links are distinct from guest accounts; only the reviewed links in Reviews & press count toward Press.

Editorial citations in this read

Read the press coverage below ↓

Crowd signal

Google 4.6★ across 735 reviews.

View on Google · Checked . Ratings and review counts can change.

Awards

Results from the three global systems scored separately in our formula.

Top 500 Bars

  • 2026: #216
  • 2025: #465Reported by BarNews (15 July 2025); the original Top 500 listing could not be rechecked.

Regional Recognition

Regional and national lists, local awards and bartender peer picks considered for this room's Regional Recognition score. The strongest result from each program and year scores; assessed guides use the latest accepted dated status once.

North America's 50 Best Bars

Reviews & press