Chicago
The Pearl Club
The Pearl Club on Milwaukee Avenue in River West came into the space previously held by Emmit's Irish Pub, keeping the original brass revolving door as an entrance. The rest of the interior was rebuilt into a London-inspired cocktail lounge with floor-to-ceiling velvet drapes, herringbone floors, and a restored grand bar.
The cocktail program was developed by Paolo Acuna, who came from Lazy Bird, which tells you something about the level of seriousness. Chef Isaac Blinn handles a small food menu. Hours run until midnight on weekdays, 2am on weekends.