urbanSTL

If you're a frequent visitor to Chicago, chances are you've stumbled across Bar Louie. What began 15 years ago as a contemporary, affordable bar/restaurant in the city's trendy River North neighborhood has become a minichain; it now boasts 10 locations in the greater Chicago area.



Recently, Bar Louie has expanded to several more cities, including St. Louis, where it occupies the space that used to house M.P. O'Reilly's in the Central West End.



The look of this local Louie is inviting, especially the ample main bar, with its dark wood furnishings, mosaic tiling, plasma TVs, retro lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Maryland Plaza. An adjacent alcove offers plush chairs scattered around low tables for patrons wanting more intimacy. And there's a second, smaller bar area, located east of the entrance; it was empty on one visit, and hosted a party on another.