Bar Mar

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Bold Seafood Experience from a Michelin-Starred Mind

Bar Mar is the Chicago expression of José Andrés's ever-evolving Bazaar universe, situated at 120 N. Wacker Drive in the heart of the city. Where other restaurants settle for a single identity, Bar Mar operates as what the José Andrés Group describes as "a carefully curated theater of shared plates" — a place where seafood meets Spanish culinary tradition, both classical and avant-garde, in an atmosphere that is bold and playful without ever feeling forced.

José Andrés and the World Behind the Restaurant

The force behind Bar Mar is José Andrés, a native of Spain widely credited with popularizing tapas in America. A Michelin-starred chef, Emmy Award-winning television personality, and two-time honoree on Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" list, Andrés leads the José Andrés Group, which operates 40 restaurants across the United States and beyond — including the 2 Michelin-starred minibar. His humanitarian work through World Central Kitchen, founded in 2010, has earned him the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among other distinctions.

Bar Mar sits within this broader creative ecosystem, carrying the promise the group makes across all its locations: "an experience of a lifetime," shaped by flavors both familiar and new.

Seafood, Shared Plates, and Serious Wine

The seafood-focused menu at Bar Mar follows the Bazaar's signature format — shared plates designed for discovery, rooted in José's Spanish heritage and elevated through inventive technique. The theatrical presentation and attentive yet unfussy service are hallmarks carried from the broader Bazaar concept, translated here into Chicago's specific energy.

The wine program has earned its own recognition: Wine Spectator awarded Bar Mar its Best of Award of Excellence in 2022, a distinction that reflects the depth and curation of the cellar alongside the kitchen's ambitions. For guests who care about what's in the glass as much as what's on the plate, that credential carries real weight.

A Space for Every Occasion

Bar Mar accommodates a wide range of visits — from lunch and dinner to private parties and catered events, with outdoor seating available. Whether the occasion is a celebratory dinner or a more casual afternoon, the space is designed to hold it all without losing the sense that something special is happening.