Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced two new restaurant and bar concepts that will launch this June in conjunction with the restoration of one of the city’s most historic structures, the former New York Life Insurance building. Both projects, including a rooftop restaurant & bar, Lola Braza, and a second floor lobby bar, Vol. 39, will be located in the Chicago Loop’s Financial District at 39 South LaSalle.
Lola Braza: Perched atop the 15th floor of The Kimpton Gray Hotel, Lola Braza will celebrate the lifestyle and high energy of Latin America with a soulful ambiance, as well as a spirited dining and cocktail program. Encompassing more than 4,000 square feet, Lola Braza opens up to a lively 150-plus seated bar and dining area, as well as Esperanza, the restaurant’s private dining room, all of which are housed under an open-air, retractable glass roof that will allow guests to enjoy the rooftop feeling year-round. The menu will boast an array of bold and flavorful dishes with an emphasis on authentic Peruvian and Argentinean street fare served from late afternoon until well after dark. The beverage program will include a strong pisco presence consisting of cocktails carefully crafted with ingredients significant to the inspiration, including roasted chili, smoky mezcal and grilled pineapple. Under the open sky guests will be able to enjoy the food and beverage program imbued with authentic Latin flavors while listening to the seductive, worldly beats of live music.
Vol. 39: Located on the second floor of the historic landmark building, Vol. 39 is a sophisticated lobby bar that will offer an extensive high-end wine and spirits program. The nearly 2,000-square-foot bar area will exude a worldly refined lounge atmosphere, welcoming guests to linger just a while longer. In addition to carefully curated wine selections available by the glass and bottle, Vol. 39 will offer an impressive beverage program including a premier catalogue of hard to come by sipping spirits, classic cocktails with an elevated twist, as well as tableside champagne and caviar carts. The name is inspired by a trove of vintage encyclopedias that were discovered inside the property during renovations. The volumes will be repurposed and used to decorate the surrounding walls of the bar. The motif of Vol. 39 serves as a callback to the building’s original materials, which showcase the authentic grandeur that was often found at the turn of the century.
