Sipping in Style: 5 Hotel Bars to Get You in the Mood for Happy Hours
Hotels pose a dilemma for today’s travelers. On one hand, there’s the room with its comfortable bed, giant TV, floor-to-ceiling windows, and room service. On the other, you’ve got modern facilities like lobbies with cafes, stylish restaurants, and chic bar spaces with cocktails to match.
Who wants to spend all day in their basic white bed when there are amazing bars in the building?
That’s why we’re featuring five Tripleseat hotel customers and their bars in this issue of Seated. Take a look at these trendy watering holes and get inspired.
1. Shinola — Detroit
The Brakeman is Shinola Hotel’s own beer hall that offers rotating drafts of Midwestern craft beers, seasonal frozen drinks, classic spirits, and fried chicken from Penny Red’s restaurant next door. You won’t be bored in this beer hall — after you’ve tried a beer or cocktail and sampled the chicken, watch the game on The Brakeman’s big-screen TVs or play foosball, table shuffleboard, or ping-pong. Or step outside to the beer hall’s outdoor spot and people-watch in Parker’s Alley.
2. Broken Shaker — Chicago
Located on the first floor of the Freehand Hotel in Chicago, Broken Shaker is described as a “den” on the Freehand’s website, and that’s exactly the vibe you get when you walk in. Take a seat on one of the leather couches draped with plush blankets, get cozy on the couch that runs the entire length of one wall, or perch on one of the bar stools at the wood-paneled, retro-wallpapered bar area. Prepare to stay for a few hours because there’s plenty of things to keep you occupied, from the eclectic bar menu that includes drinks called Camping on Acid and Sequence in Nature, to the hodgepodge of decor on the shelves and a large wooden cutout of an octopus wearing a hachimaki on the wall.
3. Lorenzo Hotel — Dallas
When it’s time to escape the Texas heat, you’ll want to surround yourself with the coolness of Hamilton’s at the Lorenzo Hotel. The mirrored ceiling and huge windows give the space a ton of light, and the seating choices are endless: cowhide print chairs, black leather ottomans, Victorian chairs, posh metal barstools, and hot pink leather chairs. You’ll feel a sense of satisfaction no matter where you sit if you arrive in time for Hamilton’s Happy Hour starting at 4 pm daily.
4. The Robey — Chicago
This hotel in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood provides guests with three bars that provide a place to relax with a drink as well as the best people and city watching spots in town. The second-floor Lounge is outfitted with couches, comfortable leather chairs, and a pool table, but the main attraction is the window where you can see the street action below. Want to spend some time outside? Try the Cabana Club on the 6th floor, where you can swim in the pool or settle down on the outdoor cushions and lounge furniture for 180-degree views of the skyline. The Up Room is on The Robey’s 13th floor, and provides stunning views — The Robey is the only skyscraper in Wicker Park, which allows visitors to see for miles across the city of Chicago.
5. Dear Irving — New York City
Dear Irving’s New York bars are a feast for the eyes. At the Grammarcy location, you’ll enjoy the jewel-toned velvet seating and an Art Deco vibe from the glass elements, lighting, and flooring. The Hudson location has a modern twist on midcentury design, with wide velvet couches, wood decor, and sputnik chandeliers, plus floor-to-ceiling windows that offer an amazing view of the NYC skyline.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of Seated magazine.