NOW CLOSED...Formerly:
Hotel bars usually get a bad rap—high prices, lackluster service, no soul and conventioneer hookups are all stereotypes of the genre, usually well deserved. But the Sea of Happiness, located just inside the Cass Hotel, goes a good measure toward breaking that trend.
Considering the bohemian, bare-bones style of the hotel, it makes sense that this garage-size space off the lobby is similarly sparse. Housing seven seats at the bar, three tables and a handful of chairs along the window, Sea of Happiness is one of the tightest spaces in River North. It's more like a shallow pond.
Helmed by Captain George, it's a frugal ship (last nautical pun, I swear), with only three beers on tap at $3 a draft, $11 per pitcher and domestic bottles for $4. Want imports? Hope you like Heineken and Corona, as they're the only ones advertised.
Anything fancier than that you might have to bring yourself. During my afternoon cruise (really, last one this time), Captain George himself sat down at the bar and pulled a lime out of his pocket.
The bar overlooks some lovely loading docks on Wabash and sits steps away from the dark waters (I can't stop!) of high-priced restaurants, sports bars and office buildings. Stop by and see Captain George to take the edge off before going out on the town or simply to escape the bright lights and flashing colors. Bonus points for turning off "Seinfeld," saying "I'm not putting up with this crap." Yarrr.
Reviewed By: Karl Klockars
