Vertigo Sky Lounge

ABOVE IT ALL At the top of the Dana Hotel—26 floors up, to be exact—Vertigo Sky Lounge aims to be a sight to behold. But while the vantage point will offer plenty of tall apartment buildings to gawk into, the Dana team is hoping the real draw will be the people inside. Going for substance over sparkle, the place is designed to be sophisticated—a place where the vibe is laid-back and the crowd is more interested in talking than, say, grinding. To that end, it is keeping the music low, the decor stylishly simple and the gimmicks to a minimum. (It’ll be pushing some ’60s-style cocktail carts around the place, but if that’s a gimmick, it at least sounds like a classy one.) If all goes as planned, the lounge will be a smart gathering spot for thirtysomething professionals—an addition to Chicago’s nightlife scene that’s on both a literal and figurative higher plane. Dana Hotel & Spa, 660 N State St at Erie St (312-202-6000).

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