The Freehand
Broken Shaker + Café IntegralRiver North just got a chic new nomad hotspot. We perused the newest stomping—and sleeping—grounds in search for some serious summer fun. The simple and chic Freehand Chicago Hotel boasts the tiki-inspired bar, The Broken Shaker, and the too-cool-for-school coffee lounge, Cafe Integral. We found a cocktail perfect for summertime sipping concocted by the duo behind Freehand’s enticing new cocktail program. Gabriel Orta of The Broken Shaker and César Vega of Café Integral team up to create delectable drinks that mix coffee and liquor just right. Hint: it’s not your typically cup of of joe.
Co-founder of Bar Lab, Gabriel brings his 25 years of innovative beverage experience to The Broken Shaker’s menu. While César has grown Café Integral into the chief authority for Nicaraguan coffee in the US—ushering small, quality-driven growers toward greater quality and a more sustainable future. Together, Gabriel and César bring a new point of view and experience to the hospitality industry.
We’re shaking things up with the creative pair as they swizzle and stir us up the Integral Colada—challenging us to rethink our standard coffee routines. The afternoon pick-me-up is a sprint for summer, featuring rum, coffee and all the good feelings of sunlight in the tropics. Inspired by Central American and Caribbean flavors, the refreshing drink is bright, but omits the citrusy flavors expected from a typical tropical drink. Watch our video above and master the recipe for a summer treat to imbibe with your tribe.
Coffee cocktails aside, we’re head over heels with the art-school cool Freehand Chicago—so much so that we invited some of our best buds for the first #GFxFreehand lock-in when the joint opened. The mystic-inspired space of The Broken Shaker is undeniably sharp. We put together a moodboard dedicated to the tropical cues and carefree charisma for a jolt of midsummer inspiration.
Get the Look: A. CACTUS PRINT, $39, by LAUREN KROLL // B. BIRTHSTONE NOTECARDS, $14.95, by ELISA WERBLER // C. LLAMA BOX, $49, by AREAWARE // D. PLAYING CARDS, $10, by MARC BY MARC JACOBS // E. MATI RING, $185, by KRYSOS + CHANDI at LOCAL ECLECTIC // F. 10MM STARBURST RING, $65, by WINIFRED GRACE // G. RAVISSANTE BABY VINYL LP, $24.95, by FRANCIS THE GREAT // H. CRYSTAL BULLET NECKLACE, $330, by UNEARTHEN at BONA DRAG // I. EYEBALL CROSS-BODY BAG, $95, by REALM // J. PATCHOULI ABSOLU PARFUM, $215, by TOM FORD
Book a room at TheFreehand.com/Chicago
