You know that feeling where you’re like, “I’m just gonna quickly pop into my favorite happy hour after work on Friday—and I promise I’ll head home early so I can go to spin in the morning”? Okay, do you also know that feeling at that same fave happy hour, where one quick drink leads to three, and suddenly you’re inspired to move on to a more nighttime-appropriate bar? NO? Then quit reading this, I guess! As for the rest of you, have I got a nighttime-appropriate bar for YOU! 

It’s called Chapel Hill (4380 SE Hawthorne) and it’s Church Bar’s li’l sister establishment. In a lot of ways, Chapel Hill is much the same: It’s just a couple blocks up, and has a vegan-friendly menu as well as a flattering photo booth. But this place has a bigger dance floor—which is a major plus! 

On the night I stumbled in, the place was filled with fog machine fog... so the photos might be a little, well, foggy. But DJ Nayiram had people out on the dance floor and everyone was having a good time—myself included! As one of the new kids on a block full of bars, I wish Chapel Hill luck; it’s a great addition to the upper Hawthorne area. Let’s hope it stays put!