Chicago’s West Town neighborhood is heating up as one of the city’s most dynamic hospitality corridors, and on February 14, 2026, bartender Katie Renshaw is kicking off the year with the opening of Bar Bambi. After racking up accolades, including 2017 Speed Rack Midwest Champion, 2018 Italicus Bar Artist of the Year, and the prestigious title of 2019 U.S. World Class Bartender of the Year, Katie is stepping out on her own in 2026 for her first-ever solo project. The high-energy hangout flips the script with a touch of drama, playful bites by Chef Nicklus Byrns (Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pineapple & Pearls, Elske), and an ambiance of fuchsia-hued fun.
Nestled at 1703 W Chicago Ave, just steps from Chef John Manion’s Brasero and Chef Marcos Campos’ Beatnik, Bar Bambi distills Renshaw’s decade-long influence on Chicago’s cocktail scene into one confident, welcoming space that beckons repeat visits. After working behind the bar at some of the city’s most respected bar programs, including Moneygun, Billy Sunday, GreenRiver, The Aviary, and Hawksmoor Chicago, Renshaw has earned a reputation as both a technician and a tastemaker with range. With Bar Bambi, Renshaw steps fully into her moment, turning her depth of experience into something personal, playful, and easygoing.
“Opening my own bar has been a big dream since the moment I started bartending,” says Katie Renshaw in a statement. “Everything I’ve learned in the Chicago industry, including from some incredible folks who helped build the bar scene in this city, has influenced what Bar Bambi has become. I love what I do, and being able to bring that joy and love into all of the little things that make up a bar and share it with the world is an honor.”
POURING UP A NEW CHAPTER
At Bar Bambi, the drinks are the main event, serving intentional cocktails with personality. Renshaw’s menu plays with flavor, texture, and form, while keeping seasonality and sustainability in mind by cross-utilizing ingredients with the kitchen. Techniques like clarification, fermentation, and forced carbonation show up in drinks that feel inventive but stay easy to drink. Standouts include the Three Decibel Rule with Ketel One vodka, Cocchi Americano, lychee, yellow bell pepper and creme fraiche, clarified and poured freezer-cold, and the Repeat Offender, a carbonated blend of Ford’s gin, Campari, apricot, jasmine and tonka bean. The menu rotates regularly, giving Renshaw space to experiment and keep things fresh for regulars and industry friends alike.
Spirit-free options are anything but an afterthought, with zero-proof sips that pack a punch. Expect concoctions like the Cloud 9, an alcohol-free riff on a Ramos-style Fizz featuring Aplos Ease, Seedlip Spice, tonka bean, amazake, citrus, cream and egg white. A curated wine list with a modern edge spotlights several standout women winemakers, plus a beer lineup with approachable favorites and local craft selections, rounds out the bar program.
SNACK ATTACK
While Bar Bambi is firmly cocktail-forward, the food is also here to party. Renshaw has joined forces with Chef Nicklus Byrns, an industry favorite whose background spans some of the country’s most celebrated kitchens, including Blue Hill at Stone Barns (NY), Pineapple & Pearls (DC), and Chicago’s own Elske. His craveable, chef-driven bar snacks are designed to flow seamlessly with Renshaw’s creations, like the Fried Spicy Dill Pickles, cut the long way, served with Chillup sauce (the traditional German curry ketchup) and the perfect amount of tarragon or the next “Best Fish Sandwich” to enter Chicago’s group chat, made with Crispy Halibut, Triple Pickle Sauce, White Cheddar, Shredduce on a Toasted Brioche Bun. There are also small bites, like perfectly creamy Chicken Liver Mousse covered with a Red Currant Jam and almost too much thyme. Subtle “if you know you know” nods to the bar’s namesake appear throughout, including this use of red currants, a nod to the opening scene of the original Bambi, in select bites.
DREAMY DESIGN
Designed in collaboration with the globally known architecture and design firm Gensler, Bar Bambi’s interior is a warm, otherworldly escape that balances softness with a sharp edge. The 1,200-square-foot, 50-seat space layers eclectic textures, locally crafted artistic accents, and a showstopping lighting installation created by Lightology’s Pure Edge team that anchors the room. With a fully adjustable range of tones and colors, the ambiance will shift with the hour, season, or the mood of the evening. Floor-to-ceiling windows give the bar a cinematic glow at night, while a mirrored back bar washed in soft neon adds to the dreamy feel.
Bar Bambi will debut in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood on February 14, 2026. Hours are Thursday–Monday, 5–11 p.m., with extended hours until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Limited reservations will be available via Toast, with the majority of seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Find more details at their website, www.bambichicago.com, or follow along on Instagram at @bambichicago.
