Prairie School — Chicago, USA
We will never know if Frank Lloyd Wright dreamt of a cocktail bar inspired by his legacy; nevertheless, it has arrived. The late architect and designer, who became widely known for galvanising the Prairie School style of architecture, finds elements of his groundbreaking concepts disseminated throughout this new Chicago venue that has borrowed the style’s namesake for its own.
Local firm Rugo Raff Architects made an apt pairing for designer Kevin Heisner as this vision was brought to life. Dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows do a proper job of showing off the intimate interior, where striking frosted art glass in the entryway complements the palettes of Josef Albers-infuenced carpet accents. A 13-seat white oak bar is the centrepiece, of course – an unabashedly midwestern focal point that gives the prairie landscape its due reverence.
Savvy design is also in the beverage details. Mugs commissioned from Los Angeles-based ceramic artist Phil Kim are paired exclusively with the refreshing whisky highball. Wright’s influence lingers here as well – order the signature cocktail Falling Water to not only enjoy the surprisingly pleasant plum brandy and coffee combination, but also to reminisce on a storied icon.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
326 N. Morgan Street
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
This cult Los Angeles pop-up restaurant now has a permanent addressChef Brian Baik’s Corridor 109 makes its permanent debut in Melrose Hill. No surprise, it's now one of the hardest tables in town to book
-
French bistro restaurant Maset channels the ease of the Mediterranean in LondonThis Marylebone restaurant is shaped by the coastal flavours, materials and rhythms of southern France
-
How ethical is Google Street View, asks Jon Rafman in CopenhagenIn 'Report a Concern - the Nine Eyes Archives' at Louisiana Museum of Art, Copenhagen, Jon Rafman considers technology's existential implications
-
This cult Los Angeles pop-up restaurant now has a permanent addressChef Brian Baik’s Corridor 109 makes its permanent debut in Melrose Hill. No surprise, it's now one of the hardest tables in town to book
-
NYC’s first alcohol-free members’ club is full of spiritThe Maze NYC is a design-led social hub in Flatiron, redefining how the city gathers with an alcohol-free, community-driven ethos
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards 2026: City of the Year shortlistExplore the nominated urban locations making an impact in design, architecture and contemporary culture
-
A local’s guide to Miami by gallerist Nina JohnsonAs Art Basel Miami Beach 2025 kicks off, gallerist Nina Johnson shares her hometown essentials – from art museums to where to eat, drink and shop
-
Dior’s new Beverly Hills dining salon raises the bar for couture cuisineFrom Peter Marino’s onyx bar and faceted mirrored walls to Nicole Wittenberg’s vast, immersive botanical canvas, Dior’s first restaurant outside Paris is here
-
This new Los Angeles restaurant is a mischievous blend of dive bar and 'psychedelic honky tonk'At Marvito, small-batch tequila and a classic rock soundtrack create a delightfully nostalgic night out
-
Fantasy – and incredible seafood – await at Carbone Riviera, now open at the Bellagio in Las VegasInterior design powerhouse Martin Brudnizki drew on the Côte d'Azur and Picasso’s ceramics for Major Food Group’s latest Sin City outpost
-
Welcome to Polymath Park, where you can spend the night in a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieceA pair of determined Wright devotees have turned four endangered modernist houses into an overnight design retreat