Fathom
Fathom offers a comfortable, highly designed and intentional space to gather. Providing a multitude of seating and lounging options throughout the bar with enhancements like darts and a photobooth to bring some lightness and entertainment to the gathering, Fathom is a wonderful place to join together for a cocktail, spirit-free drink and light bites.
About this venue
About the business
Fathom is a nautically inspired cocktail lounge in the Lakeview West neighborhood of Chicago. Owned and operated by Zoe Schor and Whitney LaMora of Friends of Dorothy Hospitality, Fathom is designed publicly to be a high-level gathering space for the queer community and privately to be a beautiful and intentionally designed location. Our team is curious and creative and composed of queer-identifying bar talent. Our cocktail list is designed around the classics and we proudly offer a variety of spirit-free alternatives. Our cocktail lounge has a variety of seating, standing and lounging areas in which to gather. Fathom also offers a customized overhead sound system for the music of your choosing and is equipped with five smart televisions on which visuals may be projected. Our space and team are flexible, hospitality-driven and able to curate an environment appropriate to your needs.
Origin story
Fathom is the second location opened by Friends of Dorothy Hospitality, Chicago's only lesbian-owned hospitality group with the mission to create beautiful gathering spaces for the queer community. Opened by life and business partners Zoe Schor and Whitney LaMora, they are leveraging their experience and notoriety from their popular lesbian bar, Dorothy, to expand throughout the Chicagoland area. Opened in April 2026, the bar is working on establishing itself in the Lakeview West and overall Chicago queer bar scene, already seeing vibrant responses for food pop-ups, trivia nights, DJ events, sports and TV screenings and more.
Why families choose us
Families choose Fathom in their moment of need knowing that all elements of their time with us will be attended to without the requirement of set up, tear down or orchestration from the family. Queer families as well as BIPOC families will feel comfortable in our space and with our team without questioning if they will be othered in any way. Families choose Fathom because we believe we offer the best hospitality in the city with strong, empathetic and passionate teams to execute.
Ownership
Meet the team
Whitney LaMora
Co-Owner / Creative Director
As someone who experienced a lot of loss growing up as well as losing a parent when I was in my 20s, I understand the importance of memorial services that feel true to the family and to the departed. The opportunity that we have to offer a nontraditional space as part of a memorial service is a great honor. Hospitality is our work for our guests' best and worst days and if we, along with our empathetic and passionate team members, can bring some relief and support to the efforts of a memorial service, we promise we will rise to the occasion.
Zoe Schor
Co-Owner / Operator
Who they serve
Community served
What they offer
Also offers
Spaces & pricing
Space
Capacity
Starting price
Our venue reservation includes the entirety of our cocktail lounge. This includes barstool seating at the bar itself, four four-tops with individual seats, four booths, a variety of high tops with booth and chair seating and a flexible stair-structured "boat lounge". Our venue also includes two dart boards and a customizable photobooth. We have a small sidewalk patio where guests also may sit or stand as well as a garage door that may be open as guests see fit. We are equipped with three gender-neutral restrooms with one being ADA. Our entrances are ADA compliant as well.
104
Contact for pricing
Common questions
Are we allowed to reserve Fathom if our family or our departed family member isn't queer?
Yes, of course! While we built our space intentionally as a gathering space for the queer community, we are still firmly for the neighborhood and the city at large. We are passionate about bringing people together and proving that queer spaces can be highly designed and highly intentional. All we ask is a respectful approach to our staff with the understanding that we work with queer, trans and nonbinary team members. We are happy to answer any questions around this and support all allies in our space.
I see Fathom is 21+. Are kids allowed?
During public service Fathom is 21+. For private rentals, all ages of guests are welcomed in. If you have alcohol at your event, guests must provide physical or mobile IDs in order to be served.
Is there parking?
We do not have private or dedicated parking. Metered street parking is available on Belmont Ave directly in front of our business and is usually easy to find. Parking is free on Sundays.
Service area
Address
1622 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Location
1622 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
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