Fancy Baby, the Pearl District wine bar that opened late in 2024, has quietly resurfaced this month with a fresh identity: Il Corso. The reboot shifts the focus away from Champagne-by-the-ounce and toward housemade pasta, imported salumi and an Italian-leaning wine list. Regulars will still find that compact, European bar vibe, but the action is now centered on snacks and small plates instead of big-time bubbly pours.
Portland diners first met Fancy Baby at 1204 NW Glisan Street in November 2024, according to Eater Portland. Owner William Oben then closed the spot for about a month at the start of 2026 to rethink the concept and reopen it under the new Il Corso name. The pivot marks a noticeable shift for the block and for Oben’s import-driven approach to wine programming.
From Champagne To Salumi
Il Corso now builds its menu around imported cured meats, snacky small plates and a tight lineup of fresh pastas. On the drink side, the bar leans on fortified wines in mixed drinks because it currently lacks a spirits license, Portland Monthly reports. Chef Brady Stephens, whose background includes time at Jacqueline, OK Omens and Scotch Lodge, leads the kitchen, while Lisa Talbert handles aperitifs and spritzes behind the bar. Champagne is no longer the star of the show, but bottles of bubbly and Old World still wines remain on the list for those who want to keep things fizzy.
Practical Details
Il Corso lists its location and hours on its website, confirming the address as 1204 Northwest Glisan Street and outlining evening service times, with menus marked as subject to daily change. The site describes the concept as a "cocktail bar, wine spot and salumeria" in Portland’s Pearl arts district, underscoring the mix of by-the-glass pours and salumi retail in one compact space. A quick check of the restaurant's page before heading over will get you the latest hours, menus and any reservation information.
The rename lands as a tidy pivot for a room that already leaned European: neighborhood regulars get a more food-forward option, and fans of Old World wine now have more to pair with toasted bread and housemade pasta than before.
