Phoenix Lounge Hotel Bar / Lounge

The Loop, Chicago –

Although it lacks the views of ROOF on theWit, the Phoenix Lounge does offer a sleek atmosphere for well-to-do hotel guests and party hoppers looking for a quieter spot to linger over intricate cocktails before heading to the clubs or live theater venues nearby.

Situated in theWit’s mezzanine, the space gives a nod to its name with a pair of impressive bird-wing chandeliers and a large phoenix mural, while intimate groupings of plush velvet couches and cushy club chairs provide a living room feel perfect for relaxing conversation.

Sophisticated couples nibble upscale snacks at the candlelit café tables overlooking the lobby, though hungrier patrons waiting for a table at Cibo Matto, the hotel’s restaurant, tend to congregate at the bar, whetting their appetites with a martini in the glow of a glass sculpture that doubles as a liquor cabinet.

A small perch near the stairway hosts emerging acoustic artists and local house DJs later in the week, while rainy or overcrowded nights means the stream of good-looking club-goers that were headed for the ROOF make a detour to Phoenix instead, mingling with the other pretty people over a signature Phoenix Fizz (gin, egg white, and orange flower water).

Though Phoenix Lounge may not be a destination spot, it’s an easy choice for starting the night with a few drinks and some mellow music before heading up or heading out.