Fifty/50 Group Spills Name & More Details On New Rooftop Bar in River North

As Mother Nature continues to toy with Chicagoans—as usual—during March, The Dana Hotel and Spa and Fifty/50 Restaurant Group have revealed more details on the hotel’s revamped rooftop space. The former Vertigo Sky Lounge will now be called Apogee, and it should open sometime in mid-April, according to a news release. Benjamin Schiller—who’s worked his bartending magic with the cocktails at The Berkshire Room in River North and The Sixth in Lincoln Square—is focusing on large-format drinks with decadent garnishes.

How interesting are the drinks? The “Surtur,” a rye- and rum-based drink, comes with lightly-torched marshmallows that are dipped in anise and coconut ash. Fifty/50 pastry chef Chris Teixeira is also working on a garnishes such has dehydrated starfruit. Dehydrated citrus is part of a drink called the “Panda Party,” made with black strap rum, cognac, lime, ginger, absinthe with orange and mint powders, plus sesame seeds.

BlocHaus, the design firm whose work includes Dixie in Bucktown and Fifty/50 projects The Sixth, Bunny Slope, and Roots Handmade Pizza, has remade the former Vertigo. Additions, according to the release, include fluted-walnut panels and marble-clad walls. They’ve also added new lights, including chandeliers, and there’s a large marble bar with handmade tile and gold grout. There’s also brass partitions and mohair sofas.

While Chicago really loves a new rooftop bar, don’t forget that Fifty/50 is also working on a new ground-level restaurant inside the hotel. The new eatery replaces Freestyle Food + Drink, and will focus on seafood. Management didn’t share any new details on the restaurant, but hopefully they will in the coming weeks.