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Kumiko

Chicago

• The Best Bar in Midwest USA 2025, sponsored by Tia Maria

Infused with owner Julia Momosé’s signature elegance and razor-sharp attention to detail, Kumiko is a sophisticated cocktail bar blending Japanese and American cocktail influences with style and finesse. Named after a Japanese woodworking technique where intricate patterns are created by assembling thin, grooved wooden pieces, the bar’s minimal interiors are softened by light wood, cream tones and exposed brick, punctuated with thoughtful details like the occasional statuesque plant.

At Kumiko, drinks and food are treated with equal reverence. Expect seasonal menus and a refined approach. In addition to the thoughtful collection of shochu and Japanese whisky, cocktail menus feature drinks made with both Japanese and American ingredients, usually selected with seasonality in mind, and, as to be expected from Momosé’s Japanese inflections, nihonshu – better known as sake – forms a major part of the Kumiko offering.

In need of something lighter? Momosé’s range of alcohol-free drinks – dubbed ‘Spiritfrees’ are just as profound. Reservations can be made for the main dining room, while bar seats are first come, first served.

For a fourth consecutive year, Kumiko is named The Best Bar in Midwest USA, sponsored by Tia Maria.

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