Nightlife

The Merchandise Mart Serves Cocktails Now

And You Can Have One With the Push of a Button

By Sarah Freeman ·
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Photo: Barry Brecheisen
You know the Merchandise Mart.

Tough to miss, what with that historic façade sitting right next to the river and the swanky cocktail lounge and coffee bar perched at the top of its grand staircase.

Right. The lounge and coffee bar. That’s new.

It’s called Marshall’s Landing, it’s open now, and here’s some visual evidence of that glorious fact.

It’s named after the venerable Chicagoan Marshall Field. And probably the fact that it’s on a staircase landing. They’ve gussied the space up a bit with pods of comfy couches and chairs adjacent to call buttons that summon your server for another round or to request the check.

That feature comes in handy in this 12,000-square-foot space that happens to have amazing views of downtown. There’s also a long wooden bar under dozens of copper light fixtures and next to a work-friendly communal table.

Keep going and you’ll find a walk-up window offering your standard assortment of caffeinated beverages and Floriole pastries. But you’re not here to sip on matcha lattes while catching up on emails.

No. You’re here to sip on Paper Airplanes and other bourbon-based delights while enjoying Thai-spiced chicken wings and tuna tartare flatbreads. As one does.

If one is at this particular place drinking and eating those particular things.
Sarah Freeman

Sarah Freeman is often accused of hiding secrets in her hair. She can make any cocktail, as long as that cocktail is a rye Old Fashioned, and has never met a saison she didn’t like.

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