In a city where multimillion-dollar nightclubs are a dime a dozen, the Tonic Room’s scruffiness is refreshing; by not focusing on trendy glitz and flash, the bar allows the scene to shine.
Thanks to the cushy leather, ottoman-style booths (a carryover from the space’s former occupant, Jub Jub Club), which flow into one another, it’s an ideal place to meet people in a not-so-creepy way. Perched on a booth’s bench, you’re literally rubbing shoulders with the cats on the other side.
Aesthetically, The Tonic Room isn’t much to write home about–a “Trading Spaces” makeover is definitely in order. The tonic theme pops up throughout the bar: Bartenders use old-school tonic bottles to pour drinks; retro tonic bottles line the bar; and bubbles float between the panes of glass in the front window. Gimmicks are OK, but we would have preferred a cool Jazz Age drink list with swanky tonic-based drinks. Focus on who you’re with instead of the surroundings and you’ll have a ball.
Crowd: DePaul students to Lincoln Park denizens who’ve outgrown the party-till-you-puke scene. Andrew W.K. would leave in a huff.
Sounds: A stellar jukebox offers tunes by a diverse collection of bands, including Blackalicious, the White Stripes, Pixies, Wilco and Radiohead. Check out the open hip-hop night on Sunday, when budding MTV stars flock to perform with a live drummer and upright bassist.
At the bar: Tanqueray drinks are $2 on Thursdays. If the owners wanted to take the theme all the way, they’d offer super-cheap tonic drinks daily.
If your stomach is growling: Grab a burrito somewhere else on the way home. There’s nothing to munch on here unless you snag cherries and limes from the bartender’s stash.
What to wear: It’s an unglamorous jeans-and-T-shirts scene. Take a cue from the decor and scale it down.
Bottom line: The Tonic Room doesn’t offer “It” interior design, but who cares? This disheveled joint is more about talking than tearing it up on a dance floor.
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The Tonic Room
2447 N. Halsted St.
773-248-9400
