Canapés &
Happy Hours
Some of the best evenings last only two hours.
A tray of perfectly timed passed bites. A few craft cocktails that do what the best drinks always do, make everyone glad they came. Warm hospitality in the room from the moment the first guest walks in.
We are Michelin-trained chefs and award-winning bartenders. When you bring us in for a cocktail reception, a private shopping experience, or a corporate happy hour, the standard is the same as everything else we do.
The format is just lighter.
Experience Happy Hour with Vendador
Passed Canapés
Handcrafted á la minute by our Michelin-trained chefs, our canapés are anything but an afterthought. Drawing from seasonal ingredients sourced from Midwest farms, each bite is designed to delight and to keep your guests talking. Our professional servers circulate throughout your event so the food always finds the guest, never the other way around.
Menus are customized and draw from Asian-inspired, French, Mediterranean, and Latin flavor profiles. We also curate dessert tables or passed sweets with our pastry chef.
Craft Cocktails, Wine & Champagne
Our award-winning beverage curator designs seasonal cocktail and spirit-free menus that set the tone for the evening. From a curated selection of craft cocktails for an intimate happy hour, to a premium open bar for larger celebrations, every pour has expertise. Wine and beer receptions are always on the menu.
Vendador has a team of sommeliers. Wine tastings or sommelier service enhances private experiences and sets a unique tone for your guests. Inquire below.
For a deeper look at our full beverage program, visit Beverage.
Food Stations
Interactive, elevated, and designed to draw people in. Our food stations go far beyond the standard: think live robata grills, fresh seafood displays on ice, elevated street food with global flavors, your show-stopping grazing tables for charcuterie, and regional culinary displays. Stations are custom designed around your event, your space, and your guests.
The best client relationships are built away from the conference room. A well-executed happy hour — the right food, the right drinks, the right energy — does more for a business relationship in two hours than most meetings do in two days.
Vendador brings the same standard to a corporate cocktail hour that we bring to a private dinner. Our team arrives fully equipped, sets up without disruption, and executes with the kind of professionalism that reflects well on whoever did the booking. You focus on your guests. We handle everything else.
We work with companies hosting investor receptions, client entertainment evenings, product launches, pre-dinner cocktail hours, holiday celebrations, and team gatherings of all sizes. Whether you are hosting in your office, a private venue, or a client's home, the experience travels with us.
We offer full corporate dining including seated dinners, tasting menus, and executive luncheons. Visit our corporate catering page to learn more.
Corporate Happy Hours & Client Entertainment
Private Shopping & Retail Experiences
You have the space, the product, and the guest list. We bring everything else.
Vendador designs passed canapé service, dessert stations, craft cocktails, and champagne programs for private shopping events, collection previews, and retail launches. Our team arrives, sets up, and runs the entire food and beverage experience so you and your staff can focus entirely on your guests and your product.
When the food is this good, people stay longer. And when people stay longer, they connect more deeply with what you are showing them.
Our private retail partners include Cartier, Ferrari, Range Rover, Burdeen’s Jewelery, David Yurman, Wilson, DS Luxury. and Canada Goose.
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cocktail classes
Learn Premium Mixology with Vendador's Private Cocktail Classes
Master the art of craft cocktails with our customizable mixology classes in Chicago. Learn to create 3 professional-level cocktails while our chef prepares perfectly paired small bites. Choose your experience: focus on a specific spirit, explore themed collections like Tropical or Classic Cocktails, or discover regional specialties like Italian aperitivo culture. Our expert bartenders teach professional techniques using the same premium ingredients featured in our seasonal cocktail program.
Perfect for corporate team building, bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations, or date nights. Available as an add-on experience or standalone private event throughout Chicagoland.
wine tastings
Private Wine Tastings with Expert Sommelier Guidance
Discover the art of wine appreciation with Vendador's curated wine tasting experiences in Chicago. Savor each sip as we explore the intricate tapestry of 5 carefully selected wines, guided by our sommelier's expertise. Each tasting features a decadent charcuterie grazing board with artisanal cheeses and cured meats, perfectly paired to enhance every wine's unique character.
Choose from Old World classics, New World innovations, or a regional explorations.
Perfect for corporate events, anniversary celebrations, wine club gatherings, or sophisticated date nights. Available as a standalone experience or paired with our private dining services throughout Chicagoland.
Let's Build Your Event
Every canapé menu, beverage program, and food station we design starts with a conversation and nothing is off the table. If you have a vision that does not fit neatly into a category, tell us. We never compromise the quality of your event for operational convenience.