Vol. 39

Bars in the Loop generally fall into two camps: cookie-cutter hotel lounges with overpriced, mediocre drinks or dark dives with little to offer beyond pitchers and shots. Though it’s technically a hotel bar (it’s situated at the Kimpton Gray Hotel), Vol. 39 is a refreshing alternative: It boasts a well-versed staff (Jess Lambert, formerly of Sable, is in charge) mixing up drinks worth their price tags in a room comfortable enough for many rounds.