I was so excited to hear that a new, hip, craft cocktail-forward joint was opening in Bridgeport, Chicago, that I had to round up a few friends and check out Charis Listening Bar (pronounced Care-iss) as soon as it was possible to find a free night. After our first evening here, when we shut down the place (at midnight), we went back the next weekend, just to shut it down again. The Bridgeport local owner, Alex Jandernoa, warmly recognized us and welcomed us in on our second night back – perhaps we made an impression the first time around? As a person who rarely goes out to bars, this spot in my own neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago now has my heart, and I fully plan on becoming a regular here.

In case you didn’t know, listening bars had first become a thing in Japan, and it’s typically a place that is hyper-focused on music, and tend to be relatively free of chatter and noise. All patrons are seated, and there’s no crowding around the bar or tables. Charis Listening Bar builds on that concept, eschewing an extreme focus on the music, and diffusing the experience across not just music, but also socializing and an extraordinary beverage program. That said, they are always spinning funky beats at a relatively high volume through an excellent, high end sound system, and have a host of guest selectors on tap changing the vibe with each record.

There are only 30 seats here, seating is first-come-first served, there are no reservations, and there’s only one four-top. They only allow four folks to stand and wait at the door, as the space is very small. Sitting at the bar is a very comfortable experience. Unlike some newer places with hard chairs, no bar for your feet, and no hooks for purses, etc., Charis has plush barstools with all the comforts, encouraging you to spend some quality time here.

The decor at Charis is comfortable but hip and very cozy, with a bit of a South Side Chicago flair. I get the vibe that I’m in someone’s very fancy basement recording studio, with lots of soundproofing, but also fishing and hunting decor, along with vintage posters and games hanging on the walls. Obligatory live plants adorn the window to the sidewalk.

There are cool decorative accents everywhere here, including a nod to the listening bar’s roots in Japan, with a cute little “beckoning cat,” or Maneki Neko, amongst the records, waving its arm and inviting customers, summoning good fortune.

In the “Malort Room,” a hellishly red all-gender bathroom, you can read about the entire history of Jeppson’s Malort (which is featured in several cocktails) while taking care of your business.

Speaking of cocktails, Gina Hoover, the Beverage Director, whom we had the pleasure of hanging out with on our last visit, has come up with a menu of truly unique and delicious cocktails to try. Not only are the cocktails amazing, but each one is also offered in a spirit free version, a real sign of the times and awareness of current trends. The zero-proof cocktails do cost the same as the alcoholic versions (generally around $15), but the cost is worth it. One of my friends tried several of these, and at one point was truly convinced that there was booze in the cocktail. Obviously, there wasn’t, but she thought it was the best zero-proof cocktail she had ever had (it was the Willy Warnock cocktail if you’re curious).

Between four of us on our first night, we tried just about every cocktail on the menu. My personal favorites were the classic high-balls, and the Chicago Clover, but the G&V Red Eye was really top notch as well. My friends enjoyed the Freezer Door Martini, the Willy Warnock, and Figurado cocktails. Honestly, you can’t go wrong here.

On our recent visit, we also discovered that they carry four types of Chartreuse liqueur, an epic array that I’ve never seen outside of France. Gina gave us a rundown and education on each type, and we tasted through them all at a very reasonable price. My favorite was the MOF – very mild and mellow with nice honey notes, but Brian liked the 1605 best, as it packed a real vegetal, herbaceous punch. Be aware that there is no food served here, so come with a full stomach, because you are going to want to try several cocktails!

If you’re in the neighborhood, or even if you’re not, run, don’t walk, to Charis Listening Bar. Show up early on the weekends to get a good seat, and don’t be shy to try several cocktails, or peruse their full liquor menu which you can find through scanning a QR code. This bar has something for everyone, including the sober and sober-curious, and I hope it’s here to stay.