1. Joe Russo, creator of Funky Buddha Lounge, opened the Shrine in the South Loop in May. The club’s African-inspired decor is accented with tribal patterns and twig-covered light fixtures. The 8,000-square-foot nightspot houses a dance club that can host receptions for 600; the smaller Coup d’Etat lounge has room for 250.
2. In February, Simone’s opened in Pilsen. The bar’s quirky recycled decor includes booths made from reconfigured pinball machines. Decked with old lab equipment and chemistry tables, a private 1,000-square-foot back room known as Simone’s Lab can host receptions for 120.
3. Open since January, Lincoln Park’s Faith & Whiskey is dressed up with authentic vintage choppers and backlit steer skulls. The spot can host receptions for 100, and a raised semiprivate area accommodates 20. Hosts can bring in caterers of their choosing; the venue will take care of specialty whiskey cocktails.
4. Billed as a gastro-lounge, the 1920s-style Red Canary opened in River West in July. Eschewing traditional bar fare, the venue serves items such as buttermilk-fried quail and s’mores with lavender marshmallows. Classic cocktails such as sidecars and Manhattans headline the cocktail list. At 6,000 square feet, the space can seat 100; an ivy-covered patio seats 78.
5. River North’s rock-themed LaSalle Power Co. opened in May in a three-story, 20,000-square-foot structure that can accommodate 1,000. On the ground level, the private Red Room seats 40. Decked with pool tables and retro swivel chairs, the second floor seats 250. With a stage used for live performances, the third floor can hold 300. An American menu offers whimsical items such as spiked milk shakes.
