Nightjar

Nightjar is the kind of cocktail bar that sneaks up on you—in the best way—and suddenly you’re like, wait… do I want to buy a house here and just fully commit to Peoria forever? Yeah. That kind of place. Tucked into downtown Peoria, Nightjar doesn’t just serve drinks; it world-builds. Their menu constantly shapeshifts with new concepts, and the current one—Cryptids & Creatures—is an absolute trip. Think folklore, mythology, and mysterious beasts from all over the globe, reimagined as wildly thoughtful cocktails. Every drink feels like a tiny passport stamp, equal parts clever, nerdy, and genuinely delicious. Nothing is gimmicky; everything is intentional. You can tell the bar team is having fun, and that energy comes straight through the glass. The vibe is effortlessly cool without tryin

A nice place to get drinks with friends. They have a great selection of drinks you can get. I got The spirits of Peoria, Fun Fact (I guess), etc. they are very good!!! The staff is very nice and helpful. The atmosphere is very relaxing here. Me and my friends very much enjoyed it!!!

My wife and I love this place so much. It has become a go-to for us when we need a night out. Jessie and Cassy have put together such an amazing atmosphere with top notch and and great food to match. And the way they conduct themselves even with super busy crowds is something that stood out to me. They're just super friendly and courteous to their customers. I hope this place becomes a Peoria staple for years to come.

My employer recently held an event at Nightjar, and Jessie and her team were fabulous! She conducted a mixology class for our group of 40+, then quickly brought out enough of their delicious pizzas to feed our group. We were there on a Wednesday, so we also got to play trivia, which they host every Wednesday. They kept the drinks coming quickly. We really enjoyed ourselves! Highly recommend!

I’ve been coming here for a while now but my most recent visit really impressed me with the creative/fun cocktail menu. Solid beer selection and atmosphere as well. This is a staple spot for the riverfront.