2. Estate
Estate Ultra Bar opened on Leap Day along the Chicago River. Available for buyout, the 8,000-square-foot venue can host receptions for some 260 guests. Several smaller areas are also available for private events. Later this year, a rooftop lounge will open, as will a riverfront dining area and a semi-enclosed patio called the Gazebo. The outdoor spaces will all be available for private functions, and though final capacities are still being determined, venue reps say that the alfresco spaces combined will hold more than 100 guests. Chef Chris Turano oversees the menu, where specialty items include lobster mac and cheese with a Goldfish-cracker crust. Mixologist Dan de los Monteros, formerly of the Aviary, stirs up seasonal cocktails.