New Bars Harken to Bygone Days
What’s old is brand new again, as a handful of new bars harken back to bygone days of lore. Each of this trifecta of new spots pays homage to a particular bar era, from the Fern Bar heyday to saloon-style piano lounges.
The Heavy Feather is a new cocktail lounge situated on the second floor above Slippery Slope. The same people who brought Logan Square the danceable bar downstairs gets more subdued with their next endeavor, which serves as an ode to the golden era of Fern Bars. Popular in the ’70s, Fern Bars were all about casual, upscale lounging, which served as a refreshing departure from many bar scenes in those days. The facade is opulent and luxurious, bedecked with polished walnut, leather booths, and gold mirrors. Doug Phillips serves as beverage director for this enclave, doing double duty downstairs at Slippery Slope. At The Heavy Feather, the drink list draws inspiration from the storied cocktail culture of the ’70s with drinks like Grasshoppers, Polished Nails, Amaretto Sours, Freddy Fudd Punchers, and Tony Negronis.
At Pilsen’s historic Thalia Hall, the newest drinking den derives inspiration from rustic Midwestern piano bars. The saloon-esque Tack Room is a cozy cocktail and piano bar housed in a former carriage house where original owner John Dusek used to keep his horses a century ago. This carriage house motif lent itself well to Tack Room’s farm-y aesthetic, outfitted with distressed wood-slatted tables, horse wallpaper, horseshoes, yokes, and at the center of it all, a grand piano surrounded by bar stools. Thursdays through Sundays, a live piano players performs popular sing-alongs for patrons. The drinks program at Tack Room focuses on crushed ice libations, Mint Juleps, wine-based cobblers, and more, along with a rotating selection of craft beers.
Recalling the glamorous era of the Roaring ’20’s is Bar Allegro, the brand new lounge space inside the remodeled Hotel Allegro. In line with the renovated hotel itself, which celebrates the lavish lore of that storied time period, the bar features elevated interpretations of classic cocktails in pristine glassware. These include a Gibson cocktail made with Tanqueray 10, Carpano Bianco, and pickled onion; a Last Call featuring Bulleit Rye, Green Chartreuse, lime, and Luxardo Maraschino; the Cat’s Meow with St. George Terroir Gin, Carpano Bianco, Carpano Antica, Solerno, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit bitters; and the Hemingway’s Daiquiri, made with Zacapa Rum, lime, grapefruit, and Luxardo. The bar also houses a full spirits list, a concise selection of wines and beers, cold-pressed juices, and an upscale bar food menu.
The Heavy Feather
2357 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
(773) 799-8504
Website
Tack Room
1227 W. 18th Street, Chicago
(312) 526-3851
Website
Bar Allegro
171 W. Randolph Street, Chicago
(312) 325-7120
Website
