Nuevo Novo

Lindsay Saewitz, NBC Chicago Street Team

Following recent hotel bar openings like the Roof at the Wit and Elate at Hotel Felix comes Bar Novo, the newly-renovated lobby bar inside the Renaissance Hotel.

Bar Novo adds a sophisticated yet romantic option to the Chicago happy hour scene with its red carpets, dim red lighting, and draping red curtains. The sides of the bar are made up of small dining sections surrounded by cushy chairs and plush lounges, while the main bar area is filled with two long, communal tables- perfect for meeting some new friends.

In addition to the people-watching, you can also spy on the chefs cooking up delicious small plates such as flat breads and Kobe beef sliders at the interactive chef’s station. To wash down your snack, try one of the fresh, hand-crafted cocktails on the menu like the Basil Tangerine Gimlet with Finlandia Tangerine, lime, and basil.

Already a popular favorite of nearby professionals (apparently the folks from Leo Burnett make a daily appearance), Bar Novo manages to combine a club energy with a relaxed vibe to make one new subtle scene.

Bar Novo
1 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
312-372-7200

http://www.barnovo.com

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The Roof is on Fire…Err, Sort Of

The Roof at The Wit Hotel has been dubbed THE bar to see and be seen at before the summer’s up, and judging by the hour-long lines, everyone’s trying to sneak a peak before the cold front rolls in. Spanning the 27th floor of the new hotel, the Roof boasts beautiful views of downtown Chicago, a sophisticated small plates menu, and a sleek, open-air bar space.

Two square bars with fire pits in their centers divide the main outdoor space in half, which is then bordered by white cushy

View at the Roof

booths and lounges. There’s not much space to stand around the bar and many tables are reserved, so your best bet is to hover around a group who you think might be leaving and pounce when the time is right.

If you plan on heading over for happy hour, don’t be surprised if you find yourself at the end of a line that doesn’t seem to be moving. To keep up with its “rep”, the Roof bouncers made sure a line lingered at all times, and in typical club fashion, let the “special” people in over the general crowd.

Salmon Crudo

Small plates like the Salmon Crudo and Roasted Artichokes made for a light and delicious after-work snack, but don’t plan on getting filled up at the Roof unless you’re planning on dishing out the cash…those small plates add up to one BIG bill. While the wine and beer menu was extensive, the specialty cocktail menu was disappointingly small with only six cocktails to choose from. The highlight was the Blueberry Caipiroska made with Stoli blueberry, fresh lime, blueberries, and sugar.

The Roof is definitely worth checking out, but if you haven’t played hooky yet this summer, try and get there at 3:00 PM when it opens (1pm Friday and the weekends) to avoid the line.

The Roof at The Wit Hotel
201 N. State Street
Chicago, IL 60601
312-239-9501
Website

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