Chicago boasts one of the best bar scenes in America. Between neighborhoods like Hyde Park, West Town, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park, and River North, you’re likely to find a cozy dive bar with late-night pool or an eccentric speakeasy hidden in a basement.
Nevertheless, Chicago is just a small speck of the vast bar landscape around the globe, and unless you’re traveling to a different country every week, you typically can’t experience renowned international bars. But that will change next week.
Vesper is coming to Chicago for one night only
Vesper has been recognized by the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2024 and has ranked in Asia’s 50 Best Bars for nine years in a row. Fortunately for Chicagoans, you won’t have to take a 20-hour flight to experience the coveted spot.
The Bangkok smash-hit bar will be making its way to Chicago on Monday, May 5th, for a one-night-only epic takeover with the bar team from Hawksmoor.
This open-to-the-public event will run from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, with cocktails available à la carte for $12 to $14. Vesper is recognized as a pioneer who introduced the craft cocktail scene to Bangkok over a decade ago. Its vintage European-inspired cocktail bar is currently led by British-born Tom Hearn, formerly of the American Bar at the Savoy and KOL Mezcaleria in London.
Together with Hawksmoor Chicago’s Zach Ballard, Hearn will showcase a specially curated menu of Vesper’s wildly inventive cocktails that helped them earn the reputation as one of the world’s most exciting bars, including their namesake Vesper; the Beehave, made with gin, lychee liqueur, lychee honey, soda and jasmine; A Samurai Walks into the Sunset, with tequila, Talker 10, Campari, dry vermouth, crème de cacao blanc and shio koji; and the Greenball, a strong spirit-forward drink using tequila, absinthe, mezcal and sour apple liqueur.
Walk-ins will be accepted as capacity allows, though reservations via Evite are encouraged to secure your spot.