Whether you’re in love or going through a breakup, Taylor Swift’s songs are like anthems to the heart, or so I’m told. I wouldn’t describe myself as a Swift fan, and I’m not a Valentine’s Day fan, but when I heard about the anti-V-Day pop-up Bad Blood: A Taylor-Themed Heartbreak Bar, which will open on February 3, I was more than intrigued. After all, who doesn’t love a good themed bar?
I went to Bad Blood on opening day, braving the freezing streets of Chicago to be among my cynical comrades. Produced by Bucket Listers, the pop-up will take place at Chicago’s Electric Garden until February 26, just in time for all the Valentine’s Day haters. Each 90-minute timed ticket is $22 and includes a drink of your choice.
Arrived at the pink-hued venue, I went straight to the bar to try the Taylor Swift-inspired cocktails. Highlights were the Lavender Haze, a blueberry daiquiri named after a song from her recent album. Midnights, and Style, a rosé and gin punch topped with “watermelon sugar,” aka glitter, which nods to Swift’s ex Harry Styles. I also had to taste the Bad Blood, a Bloody Mary served with a shot of Malört, Chicago’s iconic digestive which is… not good. But, when in Chicago, right?
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While the food menu wasn’t Taylor-themed, it was pretty solid, with salads, sandwiches, and even fried Oreos. I would definitely come back for the huge nacho platter – when you find a place that serves nachos with more toppings than fries, you never forget it.
If you want a glimpse of your future love life, you can get a tarot reading (not included with your ticket). Looks like 2023 is going to be a good year for me. Crossed fingers.
The rest of the bar was adorned with Taylor Swift cutouts and anti-Valentine’s Day decorations, such as candy hearts with phrases like “sorry not sorry”, “fu*k luv” and “sex was trash”. Although it could be described as a bit cheugy, I was there for it. Sure, I’m a cynic, but I’m also a millennial who can admit to having ties to Taylor Swift songs back in the day. Heck, I still get in my feelings.
Naturally, the playlist was made up of all of Taylor Swift’s songs, mostly those about breakups and heartbreak – from the relationship you knew was a bad idea (“Blank Space”) to the one that has an end. inevitable (“Wildest Dreams”).
So who needs to shell out for a fancy Valentine’s Day dinner when you can hit up a heartbreak bar all month? Whether you’re a Swiftie, a Valentine’s Day hater, or especially if you’re going through a breakup, Bad Blood is a great place to dump it all.
Tickets for 90-minute slots are available and can be purchased from the Bucket Listers site.
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Allison Arnold is an associate SEO writer at Delish, where she writes about kitchen gadgets, food, and culture. She enjoys exercising almost as much as eating and has a comprehensive Google Maps ranking system for her favorite restaurants and bars. You can find her spitting out hot takes on the world of food and planning her next trip, all with multiple cans of seltzer open at once.
