A medieval royalty-themed cocktail lounge
with a sense of humor has moved into the Lincoln Park space formerly
occupied by neighborhood bar Sterch’s. The latest project from Dino
Vulpitta and son Brandon, owners of Loop karaoke lounge Brando’s Speakeasy, King of Cups officially started serving Thursday, May 9th at 2238 N. Lincoln Avenue.
Customers get original cocktails from
beverage director Danny Jahnke, a performance from the Royal Tease
burlesque ensemble, and more surprise entertainment.
The cocktail menu includes 20 drinks with
easily-recognizable ingredients like watermelon and beets. There’s a
special section for swizzle drinks, attractive tiki-style cocktails made
with crushed ice. Customers can try a beverage with banana-infused
mezcal or apple-infused scotch, or Jahnke’s favorite, a bell pepper
margarita that diners can spice up with a side of habanero tincture. A
full drink list (which will include zero-proof cocktails) isn’t
available yet, but Jahnke said all cocktails will be available Thursday
for the opening.
Despite the lounge’s luxe appearance, Vulpitta said he
wants to create an unpretentious atmosphere where customers feel
comfortable asking questions and making suggestions regarding cocktail
preferences and flavor profile. Devin Kinder of Hollow Leg
will host a weekly cocktail class and each month a student cocktail
will appear on a secret drink list created by Kinder. King of Cups won’t
offer a full food menu but customers can devour upscale bar snacks
including stuffed olives and charcuterie plates, as well as treats from
as-yet-unnamed restaurants and businesses in the area.
Dubbed Chicago’s first “spirit bar” by its owners, King
of Cups plays on the dual meaning of “spirit” with a focus on both
mixology and the returning popularity of tarot readings. The lounge will
host live music events every Thursday, as well as a variety of
performances from local singers, acrobats, and classical burlesque
entertainers (but no stripteases). Believers can even try to get a peek
into the future with tarot readings, offered daily.