Popular Downtown Riverfront Bar Debuts Bright and Eclectic Indoor Space

Beatnik on the River, the downtown spin-off of Beatnik — the constantly busy West Town restaurant and bar — today unveiled a new indoor space. Beatnik on the River is a popular riverside bar that packs Loop workers during happy hour. But now the owners have remodeled a former sign shop that neighbors the existing bar and added fancy details like shiny chandeliers, crystal sconces, Persian rugs, and more.

The venue is no longer seasonal and customers can patronize the indoor regardless of the weather. That’s one way of making sure winter doesn’t ruin business. Bad weather is something Chicago restaurant owners worry about, and they’ve tried to combat the frigid temps with heated domes and converting outdoor space to customer attractions like ice skating rinks. The city even made a big deal of its ordinance that allowed restaurants and bars to keep their patios open in the winter.

Owners Bonhomme Hospitality Group own Beatnik, Black Bull, Bordel, Celeste, and Disco. Tour the space, which opened today, below.