Crimson Lounge

River North, Chicago – Located in the upscale Sax Hotel, Crimson Lounge is a swanky River North hotspot reminiscent of a Victorian mansion, complete with rich walnut floors, intricate chandeliers, and a permanent wash of the sultry color from which it gets its name.

Well-dressed couples and wealthy young friends relax on embroidered settees next to hand-painted coffee tables, all of which appear to have been dragged from the living room of Louis XIV.

Floor-to-ceiling glass panes with gold lacework separate the lounge into various areas, such that intimate parties can feel like they have their own space, while larger private rooms are further set apart by deep red velvet curtains or heavy glass doors.

Early evenings see a young professional crowd and traveling businessmen staying at the Sax stopping in to unwind over appetizers and a glass of wine, while socialites, finance types, and the Chicago elite arrive later on to schmooze and drink sweet martinis and flutes of champagne.

Though normally quite laid back during the week, the elaborate venue transforms into more of a club on Friday and Saturday nights, with bachelorette parties dancing near their tables and dapper stags vying for their attention.

Those who prefer to sit back and relax settle into the velvet couches and high-backed leather chairs, ordering rounds of bottle service and bobbing their heads to the house DJ. For a mellow night or a sexy spot to groove – or merely to dawdle on fancy furniture – Crimson Lounge is the perfect excuse to get dressed to the nines and sample the Sax.    ← read less