Our Story
A café, restaurant and bar in Chicago’s West Loop, Expat is your home for American café classics and comfort food, select dishes from destinations around the globe, well-traveled cocktails and natural wines.
Set in an intimate room, Expat channels the style, music and mystique of Havana, Ibiza and Marrakech in the 1950s. These alluring locales captured the imagination of travelers who sought a blend of cultural richness, artistic inspiration, and a break from convention. At Expat we imagine the singular delights one would crave from back home, or from their travels, after spending time away.
“We want to be a space that provides the atmosphere of an exotic destination while preserving the warmth and flavors of home,” says Daniel Alonso, Bonhomme Hospitality Group’s Founder and Creative Director. We want Expat to be more than just a great old-world cafebar; it’s a haven for local residents and neighbors to count on for a great start to their morning to plug in and do a little work, indulge their cravings, lounge with a cocktail, and enjoy some vinyl DJ sets.”
Bonhomme Group Executive Chef Marcos Campos and Culinary Directors Shannah Primiano and Erwin Mallet filled Expat’s menus with craveable food fit for any hour of the day.
Expat is a true “American Bar” in the style and manner of famous global watering holes that once served cocktails to expatriates and global travelers. Created by Bonhomme Group Director of Beverage Programs Brian Sturgulewski, beverage offerings reflect American sensibilities and appetites yet display the influence of global flavors and cultures. The Menu is divided into three sections: Coffee Cocktails, Old Chums, and Fellow Travelers (Legendary Libations From Famous Expat Bars Around The World). Expat’s passionate bar team also keeps a rotating list of affordable natural wines that embrace authentic winemaking styles, unique varietals and emerging winemakers we fancy.
To bring Expat’s stunning vision to life, Maison Bonhomme collaborated closely with a global dream team starring Luca Lanzetta Group, Popham Design, Molteni&C, Viabizzuno, and Antoniolupi. Design elements include handmade cement and zellige tiles by Popham Design, a monumental Tisoffio Light by Viabizzuno, bar counters created with polished marble from Italy, cocktail tables by Rodolfo Dordoni, sofas by Yabu Pushelberg, handmade “Beni” rugs by Soufiane Zarib, a rotating collection of lithographs and photography, and bathroom vanities and taps by Antoniolupi.
