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Bisous

Chicago

New Entry

From the Footman Hospitality group (Spilt Milk, Bangers & Lace, and Emporium Arcade Bar) together with veteran barman Peter Vestinos – who opened the sultry Cuban-inspired drinking den Sparrow – Bisous is a Fulton Market gem with drinks and decor inspired by 1960s Paris. It is one of the only standalone cocktail bars in Chicago’s famous Restaurant Row, making it an ideal pitstop for a first date, pre-prandial Martini, or quiet nightcap after dinner. From the romantic globe lighting to the weighty marble bar, cozy velvet booths and lavishly patterned wallpaper, no detail was overlooked in creating an atmosphere that feels sophisticated with a touch of French joie de vivre.

The cocktail menu matches the mood with a rich collection of French wines, ciders and spirits, and upscale bar snacks (think caviar and chips, marinated Manchego and olives, rillettes, and an array of tinned conservas). The highlight of the drinks programming is Bisous’s magnificent martini menu, which serves as a love letter to sometimes overlooked iterations like the alaska, gibson, martinez, and vesper, each made with subtle updates to help ferry the vintage drinks into the modern age with grace and elegance. The house Olivette, made with olive leaf-infused gin, vermouth, and saline solution, is a special diversion from the theme, as is the restrained list of house highballs, including one with persimmon liqueur and tonic, and another with armagnac and ginger.

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