Chicago’s latest and most fascinating cocktail bar, Afterbar, is nestled adjoining to Canal Avenue Market & Eatery and The Inexperienced at 320, West Loop’s largest park and backyard.
The radiant new bar gives an area that’s cozy within the winter and vivid and ethereal within the hotter months, with the flexibility to sit down indoors and outside. Afterbar gives an environment appropriate for professionals and locals alike, with the identical purpose of unwinding and stress-free with dialog and full of life cocktails.
A lot of the design of Afterbar influenced their introductory bar program in 2022, however extra not too long ago, they’ve launched a brand new menu with cocktails which can be a “labor of affection” in accordance with Laine Peterson, Director of Operations at Afterbar. “These drinks aren’t nearly quenching your thirst or wanting good in your social feed – they’re crafted to be the type you’d need extra than simply one in every of! It’s with immense pleasure that we rolled out our second menu simply in time for our upcoming one-year anniversary celebration.” Their cocktails vary from eclectic to frequent and craveable classics, however irrespective of the libation, they’re skillfully and thoughtfully balanced, and aptly named, to supply a paramount visitor expertise.
The distinctive names given to the cocktails at Afterbar inform a narrative, reminiscent of “Disappearing Island,” which was destined to be the namesake of their coconut blue cocktail, their “Payday Millionaire: No Trophies for Making an attempt” which is described as a “mic drop for these drink expectations,” and “Higher Collectively,” which will get its identify from “the rum that types the cocktail’s basis. Kasama Rum.” “Kasama” roughly interprets to “togetherness” in Tagalog, a nod to the shared expertise of having fun with a drink in good firm.
The meals menu at Afterbar enhances the drink program and is an Italian-inspired menu with antipasti, handmade pastas, pizzas, and entrees. Recent pastas are served with a variety of conventional sauce preparations reminiscent of English Pea Ravioli with pea & goat cheese, carrot puree, chevril, almonds, and Ricotta Salata, Mafaldine Cacio e Pepe, Calamarata with grilled shrimp, and plenty of extra. Neapolitan-style pizzas are baked-to-order and embrace Spicy Soppressata with Fresno honey, Truffle with spinach, mushrooms, and truffle onion jam, Bismark with Prosciutto, egg, and arugula, and Margherita.
Afterbar believes in “curiosity and collaboration” when leveling up your cocktail sport. “On the subject of brainstorming and stirring up pleasure, your colleagues and communities are invaluable. There’s one thing magical about sharing concepts and watching them evolve by way of totally different views. Belief me, you’ll by no means cross paths with somebody who doesn’t have a intelligent trick up their sleeve that you just hadn’t seen or thought-about earlier than.” Peterson feedback that sustainability and native sourcing are the following huge developments. “There’s a rising give attention to doing issues responsibly, and bartenders can lead the cost in lowering waste whereas elevating the standard of our substances.”
