Kumiko, Chicago

On a quiet corner of the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, just a few blocks from the snaking line for Au Cheval, an unassuming blue door transports you with Narnia efficiency into an oasis of Japanese calm. Kumiko, a hyper-detail-oriented cocktail and small plates bar, is as much a sensory experience as it is a mixology and culinary one.

The brainchild of partners Julia Momose and Noah and Cara Sandoval, it focuses on Japanese-inflected cocktails, spirits, nonalcoholic beverages, and food with an eye toward harmony and simplicity. The Triptych drink, a blend of three sakes, Armagnac, and purple sweet potato, dissects the flavor profile of a Japanese sweet potato, while the tempura prawn with mayonnaise, yuzu kosho, and mint arrives at the table bedecked with a veritable garden of edible flowers and herbs. Designed by Momose, who acts as creative director, and named for the ancient Japanese art of kumiko, in which tiny pieces of wood are crafted with precision into patterned panels sans nails or joints, the bar cocoons guests in a space that melds pale custom woodwork with midcentury style. Here, Momose walks us through the thought process behind Kumiko’s space.

Kumiko is an intimate cocktail bar in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. It is an expression of elegance, commitment, and passion, from the mind of creative director and bartender Julia Momosé.

Kumiko offers a unique perspective on the notion of a bar, through a remarkable experience of drinking and dining.