The party has officially started. Yes, the new kids on the bar block have finally opened, and we’re just amazed how shiny, pretty and fancy they all are! OK, most of them at least. Lounges are the name of the game and trust us, there are quite a few players ponying up. Grab your martinis and get ready to look cool.
Level
Fans of Domaine are surely going to be a tad broken-hearted when they see Level. Gone is … everything, from the Chanel bathrooms to all of the lavish decor. In its place is a low-key lounge from the guys who brought us Sauce. Expect a much younger crowd at the steel bar and black tables. Will they be able to afford the bottle service in the VIP areas? Well, they can always snag a house martini, which are named Level 1-10 ($12 each). How clever. If you’re hungry, tough luck because there’s no grub. But darling, who needs to eat when you look this fab? The tunes are hip-hop and house, perfect for swaying. 1045 N. Rush St. 312-397-1045.
Retro Cafe and Bar
Everyone gasped for a moment back in June when Mike’s American Ale House closed. Thankfully it only moved a few blocks down. In its former haunt now stands Retro Bar, or R Bar, or Retro Cafe, or a slew of other names they’re calling themselves that are just confusing the heck outta us. Whatever it’s called, expect cheap beer ($3.75-$5.50 for drafts) and low-key decor (Um, none. We hear there’ll be some redecorating soon but by then, be ready for yet another name change). 5737 W. Irving Park Rd. 773-202-8058.
Motel
Time for your monthly Motel watch. The bar is now slated to open early January, and we keep waiting with bated breath. Meanwhile we’ll have to just sit back and fantasize about downing cheap sidecars while film noir vixens in pencil skirts sidle up next to us. 600 W. Chicago Ave.
Indigo
OK, so this Evanston hotel lounge (part of Orrington Hotel) isn’t new, but it’s been redone and darn if it don’t look new to us. Both the hotel and bar have been refurbished, and the fancy new digs are pretty nice. The super-sleek black bar offers specialty martinis for nine bucks, which are great to sip while people watching a la the floor-to-ceiling windows. The lounge’s main draw is the piano man, who belts out all sorts of tunes and jazz and has even been known to start impromptu singalongs/karaoke. We love it already. 1710 Orrington Ave. 847-866-8700.
The Bella Lounge
Another foray into the restaurant/bar genre, Bella Lounge offers eats and beats with a mouth-watering menu of filet mignon burgers and free-range chicken. We ain’t talking bar grub, people! There are two levels, one for dining, one for grooving, but you can nosh on both if you really want to. The lower, clubbier level is decked out like a limo. Seriously. A limo. It’s like they pimped their ride all the way to the bar. Expect tons of martinis and specialty drinks, plus top-notch scotch and whiskey. 1212 N. State Pkwy. 312-787-9405.
Four (IV)
The boys behind Wicker Park’s Salud and Cans have teamed up yet again. This time around, they’re foraying into the club biz with Four (IV), a late-night joint in the old Big Wig space. The high-concept decor includes a glass facade, three full-service bars and gi-normous dance floor. The party gets started on New Year’s Eve, when the doors are officially thrown open. 1551 W. Division St. 773-235-9100.
