PRESS
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THE 2025 WINNERS OF THE JEAN BANCHETS, CHICAGO’S LOCAL FOOD AWARDS
“The Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence honor Chicago’s food and beverage industry, but if you take all the ceremony presenters and winners at their word, the awards may as well honor the best in the country. Chicago and its food scene were spoken of only in superlatives…
While Bisous is new, it has already won plenty of admirers for its retro vibes and French inspiration, from Esquire to the James Beard Awards.
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NORTH AMERICA’S 50 BEST BARS 2025: THE LIST REVEALED
“This Fulton Market gem brings a taste of 1960s Paris to Chicago under the watchful eye of native bar veteran Peter Vestinos. As one of the only standalone bars in Windy City’s Restaurant Row, it’s the ideal spot for a romantic pre-dinner martini, of which there is an entire dedicated menu to choose from.“
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THE BEST BARS IN AMERICA 2024
“You get a hint of Paris from the outside, between the gold lettering and the white curtains, but don’t expect this to be another cookie-cutter bistro in the West Loop. Bisous gives you that whiff of France through the subtle sixties-inspired logo and lush booths and textured wallpaper, sure, but definitely through the cocktails, too, which all have a certain je ne sais quois, often delivered via a bit of brandy or fortified wine.”
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THE BEST PLACES TO DRINK COCKTAILS IN CHICAGO RIGHT NOW
“1960s Parisian vibes provide the backbone for this cocktail bar in Fulton Market from Footman Hospitality, the local group behind spots like Bangers & Lace and Emporium Arcade Bar. A moody, low-lit space devoted almost entirely to drinks, it specializes in popular cocktails from the era, like martinis, highballs, and aromatized wines. There’s also a mostly French wine list (it’s heavy on sparklers and Champagne) and a solid lineup of natural wines.“
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THE PREDINNER DRINKING SPOT THE WEST LOOP NEEDED
“The West Loop is a great drinking neighborhood, but most top spots are reservations-based (Kumiko, the Office), are casual (Estereo, Lone Wolf), or fill up with diners (Sepia, Rose Mary), leaving no good options for a martini before dinner. Bisous changes that.”
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BISOUS, FROM BAR VETERAN PETER VESTINOS, BRINGS ‘60S PARISIAN VIBE TO FULTON MARKET
“If you’ve spent any time drinking proper cocktails in Chicago, odds are you’ve had a drink created by Peter Vestinos, or someone trained by him, even if you didn’t know it at the time…
His newest venture: Bisous, 938 W. Fulton Market, created with his partners at Chicago-based Footman Hospitality. The restaurant group’s portfolio includes Bangers & Lace, Split Milk, Little Victories, Bucktown Pub, Sparrow and the upcoming revamped SmallBar.”
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SPOTLIGHT CHICAGO: BISOUS: PARIS-INSPIRED BAR IN CHICAGO’S FULTON MARKET
“In West Loop’s bustling and flashy restaurant row on Fulton Market there’s an inconspicuous gem– Bisous – one of the few standalone cocktail bars, welcoming walk-in patrons nestled amongst reservation-only heavy hitters…
The brainchild of bar veteran Peter Vestinos and the Footman Hospitality team behind Cuban-inspired rum bar Sparrow in Chicago’s Gold Coast, Bisous became an industry favorite and awards darling within its first year. “
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TOP 10 CHICAGO BARS
“Peter Vestinos and the Footman Hospitality team opened Bisous in January 2024 as the sister to their enchanting bar Sparrow. Like Sparrow, Bisous is a romantic, soothing escape from the busy city streets. Different from Sparrow’s 1930s–40s vibe, Bisous takes inspiration from 1960s Paris, with a heavy focus on martinis, highballs, and fortified wine cocktails alongside French and sparkling wines.”
