Nighttime Nostalgia

Untitled

Unmarked doors. Live music. Addictive libations. The lure of these secret speakeasies has dwindled with overexposure, but the recently-opened, mysteriously-monikered Untitled has managed to set a new standard, quickly becoming Chicago’s ultimate after-dark playground, with its beguiling blend of liquor, jazz, and vintage twang.

The massive, 18,000 sq ft cavern is a sultry maze of multi-purposed spaces. A buzzing dining room is home to chef Joseph Heppe’s seasonal share plates selection, which includes crispy squash blossoms and grit cakes with tomato jam starters, plus hearty larger plates like the chocolate-bourbon duck confit and a half-pound bison burger with house-made pate. Grab a pew at the ambient lounge’s 30ft bar and get acquainted with the craft cocktail list featuring the likes of Pistol Smoke, a heady concoction of scotch, chamomile, vanilla and real pipe tobacco. Or, if you’ve called ahead and arranged VIP entry, collect your secret code and navigate through the underground tunnel, where an intimate patio scene awaits. But without question it’s whisky lovers that are truly spoilt for choice at Untitled, with the world’s largest American-made selection of over 300 bottles sitting ripe for the tasting in the tufted-walled, velvet-boothed library. With bands performing every night, and a seductive 1920s vibe from top to toe, Untitled is a lively time portal back to the Windy City’s swanky past.