Chicago is already home to some of the best bars in North America, but we'll never turn down the opportunity for an international cocktail stunner to come grace the Windy City. And one of the world's best drinking dens—literally— will do just that next month: on Monday, May 5, Vesper will head to Chicago by way of Bangkok for an epic takeover and collaboration at Hawksmoor Chicago inside the historic LaSalle Powerhouse building in River North.
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The globally acclaimed Thai bar was recognized as one of the World's 50 Best Bars in 2024 and was featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list nine years consecutively, coming in at number 13 just last year.
"This is pretty much the ideal date bar: it's chic but not austere, the drinks are strong and if conversation runs dry the menu will provide the perfect talking point," the World's 50 Best write-up praised the Bangkok bar, which opened in the city's Silom area back in 2014.
Vesper's current cocktail lead Tom Hearn (formerly at the American Bar at the Savoy and KOL Mezcaleria in London) will join forces with Hawksmoor Chicago’s Zach Ballard to showcase a specially curated menu of Vesper's wildly inventive cocktails that helped them earn the reputation as one of the most exciting bars on the globe. The open-to-the-public event will run from 6pm to 9pm on May 5.
On the menu will be the Beehave (made with gin, lychee liqueur, lychee honey, soda and jasmine); A Samurai Walks into the Sunset (with tequila, Talker 10, Campari, dry vermouth, crème de cacao blanc and shio koji); and the Greenball, a strong spirit-forward drink that makes use of tequila, absinthe, mezcal and sour apple liqueur; as well as the bar's namesake Vesper (Tanqueray gin, Ketel One vodka, Cocchi Americano and orange bitters). Cocktails will be available a la carte, with prices ranging from $12 to $14 per drink.
Walk-ins will be accepted as capacity allows, though reservations via Evite are encouraged to secure your spot. Chon kaew!