Three Dots and a Dash is named after the Morse code signal for "V," the victory symbol American soldiers flashed to each other during World War II. Tiki culture grew out of that era, a way for returning soldiers to chase the tropical imagery they'd picked up in the Pacific. This bar takes that history seriously.

The entrance is off an alley on W Illinois Street. Follow the tiki torches, head underground, and give your eyes a few minutes to adjust once you're inside. The space is low-lit, Polynesian-artifact-covered, and loud in the way that underground bars tend to be.

The cocktail list runs to over 25 drinks. The shared punch bowls are a draw: the Sippopotamus comes in a smoking hippopotamus vessel, and the Treasure Chest is a rum and Champagne situation served in something you'd expect to find on a pirate ship. The Bamboo Room in the back seats 22 and does tableside service with two bartenders dedicated to that space alone. Worth booking if you can get it.

Three Dots was ranked 13th best bar in the world in 2014. It still draws the kind of crowd that came specifically for the experience rather than the convenience.