The Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile (540 N. Michigan Ave.) announces the opening of Reviver, the new contemporary bar that is a component of the hotel’s completed lobby renovation–featuring upscale shareables, large plates and an inventive beverage program with a variety of cocktails, including several zero-proof options.
Formerly Rush Bar, Reviver unveils on Thursday, April 25 completing the hotel’s five-year, multi-million renovation to all guest rooms and suites, meeting and event space, fitness center, lobby, bar and Rush Street Pantry.
The Concept
The Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile partnered with Chicago-based Whitespace Interiors to bring travelers, tourists, local businesses and residents an accessible destination that reflect The Magnificent Mile’s intersection of “grace and grit” through a renovated bar and lobby with locally inspired food and drink. Centrally located steps off The Magnificent Mile, Reviver offers contemporary cocktails based on significant periods in Chicago, a selection of Chicago and Midwestern craft beer, a curated modern wine program and an elevated street food menu that carries the casual yet refined atmosphere of bustling Michigan Avenue indoors. Reviver will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Seating options at Reviver include 28 seats at the bar for lunch, dinner and happy hour. The bar’s seating extends throughout the lobby–consisting of 172 seats across the communal high-top tables, couches, and chairs–and semi-private space known as the “library” that can accommodate up to 50 people reception-style.
The Design and Branding
Designed by Whitespace Interiors Reviver and the lobby reflect The Magnificent Mile’s intersection of “grace and grit.” The design’s blue, steel and gold accents embrace luxury and strength to tell the story of how Chicago’s Magnificent Mile transformed into one of the city’s most elegant architectural displays.
The name and branding of Reviver comes from the family of cocktails historically referred to as Corpse Revivers or Red-Carpet Revivers that were conceived as a remedy to provide restorative powers, lighten one’s mood and provide patrons a sense of revival. The name also reflects the reinvention of the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. The opening of the lobby and Reviver completes the hotel’s five-year, multi-million renovation, which also includes the completed 9,000-square-foot fitness center, 1,200 guest rooms and suites, 65,000 square feet of meeting and event space, as well as Rush Street Pantry.
The Beverage Program
Reviver’s “Chronomixoloy” program, developed by Food and Beverage Director James Samson and Bar Manager Bill Nykaza, features classic and adventurous cocktails that reflect a period expression of the beverage culture in Chicago, along with zero-proof options inspired by Prohibition.
“We want guests to take a personalized journey through Chicago’s great historical periods by enjoying our contemporary interpretation of the beverages that would have been available throughout the history of our city,” Nykaza says. “From the frontier pubs discovered by Marquette and Joliet, through the modern resurgence of the Windy City, enjoy our liquid tour of Chicago’s story that shakes up the past and crafts authenticity.”
The menu features cocktails crafted with various spirits that tell a story about Chicago from past to present. Drinks include:
* Sable’s Fence made with ginger peach cider, Basil Hayden’s bourbon, peach habanero shrub and peach and Angostura bitters, designed after the 1770s classic Stone Fence cocktail, popular when Jean Baptiste Point du Sable built his farm at the mouth of the Illinois River;
* Chicago Summer No. 1 with Valentine’s White Blossom vodka, Amontillado sherry, seasonal fruit, almond syrup, ginger, fresh lime and mint, inspired by “The Sherry,” a refreshing cocktail popular in 1837, a year of significant population growth; and
* My Fair Lady with sage-smoked Botanist gin, Carpano Bianco, crème de violette, wild flower honey and fresh lemon, a variation of the classic “White Lady” and “Aviation” cocktails created in the early 1900s during Chicago’s Golden Age when the city emerged as a global leader in design, engineering and modern architecture.
The menu also includes zero-proof cocktails inspired by Prohibition (1920-1933), including the Poet’s Holiday with SeedLip Garden 108, ginger and lemongrass shrub, raspberry, basil, fresh grapefruit and aromatic bitters; and The Mag Mile Signature Detox-Tail with SeedLip Spice 94, blueberry and lemon shrub, activated charcoal, fresh grapefruit, blueberry, thyme and basil.
The beer menu features a selection of Chicago and Midwest craft beers, and the curated wine program has a modern focus with various wines on a Coravin draft system.
The Culinary Program
Reviver’s food menu, developed by hotel Executive Chef Frank Sanchez, showcases elevated street food and flavors from neighborhoods across Chicago. The hotel’s rooftop garden provides fresh ingredients for many of the shareables, large plates and desserts. Some dishes come to guests in unexpected ways.
“The culinary landscape in Chicago is as culturally rich and diverse as the neighborhoods and the people that live here,” Sanchez says. “We designed this menu to pair well with beverage selections and pay tribute to the great food in our city.”
Upscale starters include:
* Savory Housemade Cheddar Packzi Borscht Dip ($8);
* Stockyards Platter with house sausage, cured meats, smoked dish, pickles and grilled bread ($19);
* Smashed Garbanzo Hummus with pickled vegetables and grilled lavash; and
* Roasted Duck Tamale with poblano mole, sesame and chicharron ($10).
Guests may select from various large plates, including:
* Spring Pea and Burrata Salad with preserved lemon, pickled herbs and mint dressing ($10);
* Veal Milanese Sandwich with tomato sugo, whipped ricotta, crispy Italian bread served with hand-cut fries ($13); and
* Housemade Chicago Hot Link with grainy mustard, house giardiniera and hand-cut fries ($12).
About Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
The Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile is located directly on Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile, only steps away from the city’s main attractions. 1,200 spacious and stylish guest rooms and suites feature spectacular views, HD flat screen TVs and plush Revive® bedding and accessories. The hotel combines luxury and convenience in 65,000 square feet of versatile meeting space to bring distinguished settings for business engagements and corporate events. Enjoy a delectable farm-to-table lunch or dinner at Harvest, craft cocktails, beers and shareable plates from the newly renovated bar Reviver or grab a bite from Rush Street Pantry, featuring chef-crafted food and snacks to-go. The newly renovated fitness center offers 9,000 square feet of state-of-the-art exercise equipment, as well as on-demand fitness classes in the “Fitness Lab.”
