A Fleeting Ode to Fernet and Pursuits of Leisure in Logan Square

Discreetly tucked away behind a door inside of Emporium is a place called Branca Bar. It’s an elevated ode to fernet and other quaffable botanicals, and it’s open now in Logan Square.

There are some things you need to know about it. These are those things…

Green means go.
You and your date will slink past whatever’s going on in Emporium and walk down an illuminated green hallway accessed via the door marked “Branca Bar.” So far, so makes-a-bunch-of-sense.

The art of leisure is alive and well here.
There’s a long concrete bar with old-timey fernet advertisements behind it. There are two separate lounge areas with well-worn couches and rugs. There’s a dartboard and a vintage billiards table. You would do well to explore them all.

They have drinks.
Oh, the drinks they have. A whiskey, rum, vermouth and fernet concoction with mole bitters. Bourbon and coffee liqueur topped with Branca Menta whipped cream. Miller High Life. You knew there’d be High Life.

On Wednesdays, they’ll set up a portable bocce court.
And then you’ll play bocce.

It won’t be around forever.
Right. Because it’s a pop-up. You’ve got but a few months to make a lasting and impactful difference in the world.

This totally counts. We checked.