Inside Swill Inn, River West’s New Relaxed Midwestern Hangout

The Swill Inn, the playful gastropub that will serve cocktails and coffee drinks from Dustin Drankiewicz (Dusek’s, Deadbolt, Pink Squirrel) and a mix of Midwestern comfort food and pub grub from Lamar Moore (Currency Exchange Cafe, The Smoke Daddy), has hosted a batch of friends and family services, but still doesn’t have a solid opening date in River West. The restaurant replaces the Paramount Room at 415 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

Drankiewicz, a bar veteran who also created the drinks at West Loop cocktail bar MONEYGUN, is a Wisconsin native. He’s grown up in the bar industry. He wants the food and drink at Swill Inn to reflect some maturity — they’re not throwing frozen jalapeño poppers into a fryer. But at the same time, the interiors show an appreciation for simple Midwestern hangs, back when friends didn’t need Instagram or Bumble to have a good time.

Spots like Yugen (Kaisho), Smyth (the Loyalist), Slippery Slope (Heavy Feather) and Fat Rice (the Ladies’ Room) have opened sibling bars inside, and Drankiewicz and Swill Inn co-owner Roy Appukuttan are doing that too. The basement bar is called Chit Chat Lounge. They’ll have DJs and it’s designed to be a little wilder than upstairs at the chill Swill. The downstairs space is still coming together. For now, check out the photos of the Swill. Check back later for updates on the opening date.

The exposed brick was kept intact in the back.