After opening a new River North location this February, One Off Hospitality's beloved Mediterranean restaurant Avec has once again looked toward expansion—and this time, they're moving upward with an 8th floor rooftop bar designed for all-day snacking and drinking.
Located above Avec River North at 640 N Lasalle Drive, Bar Avec channels the Iberian Peninsula with a breezy, open-air patio and a menu inspired by the seaside cafes of Spain and Portugal. There's no sea (or lake) in sight here, but the 1,200-square-foot space is decked out with summer-ready coastal decor that does a serviceable job of mimicking the real deal, from lush greenery and a rosemary plant trellis at the entranceway to blue-and-white tiling and low-slung Adico chairs. Guests can settle in at two-person seats, communal benches and picnic tables or a skyline-facing bar.
One Off culinary director Perry Hendrix, executive chef Paul Kahan and Avec River North chef de Cuisine Ross Henke have assembled a seafood-forward menu, with options ranging from shareable small plates to larger dishes meant for for dinnertime. Current offerings include bites like wild halibut la plancha served with potatoes, briny charred olives and fava bean salsa verde, plus heartier choices like lemony whole fish and slow-roasted pork shoulder (and yes, the restaurant's ever-popular bacon-wrapped chorizo-stuffed dates will also be available). Avec River North bar manager Kate Smith (Pacific Standard Time, Motel Bar) helms the beverage program with a roster of warm weather cocktails perfect for summer sipping—Livin La Vinho Verde, made with Portugese wine, basil, lemon and cucumber mint vodka, sounds like an especially winning option for all the balmy evenings on the horizon.
Bar Avec is open from 4pm–10pm Monday through Thursday, 4pm–11pm Fridays and Saturdays and 4pm–9pm Sundays, plus from 10am–3pm Saturdays and Sundays for brunch services; reservations are now available on Tock. Take a closer look at the new space—and its summery food and drinks—below.
