You may come to the Flamingo Rum Club for a drink, but you’re staying for the feather boas. Trust us. This River North bar is a house of burlesque, and the vibe of that sultry art form fills its every corner—dim lighting, cocktails set spectacularly aflame… your Insta-fans will love it. Even the servers are clad in their best little black dresses.
But it’s the dancers themselves that take, well, center stage. They perform in regular burlesque shows overlooking the dining room, dressed head-to-toe in bedazzled corsets, fishnet stockings, feather boas and feather-adorned headpieces. You may even get to grab a photo with one of the girls as she saunters down the stairs during her act.
There is a food and drink menu also vying for your attention at this long awaited concept from Adolfo Garcia and Phil Stefani. Drinks range from classic rum-laced cocktails like daiquiris and mojitos to original numbers like the Booty Collins, a vodka-filled gold swan with passion fruit and lemon—it’s designed to be shared.
Our suggestion would be to grab a tipple like the Catch a Fire, made with rum, blood orange, lime, cinnamon and a floating lime set aflame. By and large your cocktails will range from cloyingly sweet to tolerable, and none will blow you away. Need something to snack on after all that sweetness? Food towers start at $28 and go up from there, including finger foods like lamb empanadas and ceviche. Like the drinks, the food will get the job done, but both remain far-down-the-credits-reel costars to the fabulous dancers. Nab a seat facing the action at the balcony, and you’ll be in for a fun night.
Vitals:
Atmosphere: Your attention will be on the lofted balcony for the burlesque show, but glance around and you’ll see this club skews trendy, with palm leaf wallpaper and a menu sporting risqué names like “Perky Set” and “Missionary’s [Re]position.”
What to eat: Options are limited, and you’ll spend $28 minimum on food. Eat before you arrive if you’re looking for a solid meal, otherwise order whatever looks good to you. If you go all in on the Gran Havana, you should opt for the ropa vieja and octopus ceviche.
What to drink: We’re fans of the Catch a Fire, but the daiquiri and capirinha are solid choices. Glasses of wine and a few draft beers are also available (and preferable to some of the over-sweet cocktails).
Where to sit: All of the tables on the main floor will have a few seats facing the balcony, near which you should position yourself for the best view of the entertainment.