See inside Bar Bambi, a beautiful new bar that's opening in Chicago

Chicago’s West Town has never been short on good bars, but it’s about to get one with a serious pedigree and a little wink of drama. 

Opening next week, on February 14, Bar Bambi marks the first solo project from Katie Renshaw, one of the most decorated bartenders in the city, and it’s shaping up to be equal parts technique, personality and pink-hued escapism.

Renshaw’s resume reads like a greatest-hits list of Chicago cocktail institutions, from Moneygun to The Aviary, with national accolades including U.S. World Class Bartender of the Year. Now, Bar Bambi is her chance to distill all of that experience into something distinctly her own. The result is a confident, welcoming space at 1703 West Chicago Avenue, just steps from Brasero and Beatnik.

At Bar Bambi, the drinks lead the conversation. The cocktail menu is both playful and precise, emphasizing techniques like clarification, fermentation and forced carbonation without tipping into show-off territory. Cocktails range from freezer-cold and clarified to breezy and carbonated to everything in between, with a menu that rotates often enough to keep regulars curious. Spirit-free drinks get the same level of attention and are built to feel intentional. A thoughtfully edited wine list that spotlights women winemakers, plus local and approachable beers, rounds out the program.

For food, Renshaw teamed up with Chef Nicklus Byrns, whose background includes Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pineapple & Pearls and Elske, to create a menu of bar snacks that goes beyond the norm. Think fried spicy dill pickles with curry-ketchup energy, a crispy halibut sandwich and chicken liver mousse that’s unapologetically rich. Sharp-eyed guests will spot subtle nods to the bar’s namesake tucked into the menu.

The space was designed with Gensler, featuring a 50-seat bar that layers soft textures and mirrored surfaces. There’s even a color-shifting lighting installation by Lightology that can pivot with the night, while floor-to-ceiling windows give the room a cinematic glow after dark.

Bar Bambi will be open Thursday through Monday, with late nights on weekends.