When I’m in the mood for a night out in Chicago, I want more than just a good drink, I want an experience. And Chicago speakeasies deliver exactly that.
I’m not one to gatekeep the best spots, so I’m sharing 18 of the top hidden bars in the city.
With a hidden doorway, a vintage cocktail menu, and a moody jazz set in the background, there’s something about these secret bars that makes you feel like you’ve unlocked a hidden part of the city, and I’m always down for that vibe.
This guide is your key to the best speakeasy bars in Chicago—where to find them, how to get in, and what to order once you’re inside.
If you’re searching for speakeasy bars and secret bars in Chicago worth discovering, this guide has you covered.
Top Chicago Speakeasies
Sparrow | Gold Coast
Location: 12 W Elm St, Chicago, IL 60610
Tucked inside an art deco apartment building, Sparrow is a classic Chicago speakeasy that has been serving Gold Coast nightlife lovers since 1927. This intimate hidden bar known for its Cuban flair and specializes in rum cocktails. If you’re looking for a spot to grab drinks after a dinner date or before wrapping up a night out on the town, this is the perfect place, as it stays open late until 2 a.m. If you’re looking to get in, find the discreet entrance on Elm Street. The bar is located inside the building; just follow the signs.
What to Drink: The Grasshopper
Bordel | Wicker Park
Location: 1721 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
A burlesque speakeasy in Chicago with an intimate setting, Bordel is located above Mama Delia’s restaurant. If you’re looking for a sexy cabaret show in Chicago, this Wicker Park speakeasy is the perfect place. Enjoy live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday, including resident DJs and cabaret performances.
What to Drink: Lemon Drop
The Drifter | River North
Location: 678 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654
This secret bar in downtown Chicago is located inside one of the oldest taverns, dating back to the Prohibition era. Hidden inside the Green Door Tavern is The Drifter, a cool cocktail lounge offering a rotating list of more than 100 drinks, snacks, and live entertainment like burlesque, acrobatic performers, and eccentric musicians five times a week. Wondering how to get in? Head to the basement and look for a door with a variety of tchotchkes!
What to Drink: The Tarot Card Cocktails— menu options change every night.
Booze Box | West Loop
Location: 823 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
This West Loop speakeasy is tucked away in the basement of one of the best sushi spots in the city. Follow the red arrow in the alley next to sushiDOKKU, and you’ll find the entrance to their hidden bar, Booze Box. This cool underground spot offers a full sushi menu, weekend live music, and some of Chicago’s best sake and Japanese whisky. It’s a hidden speakeasy in Chicago that’s perfect for date night or a fun group hangout.
What to Drink: Sake Flight
Dorian’s | Bucktown
Location: 1939 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
This Chicago speakeasy is tucked hidden behind a record shop in Wicker Park. It features a cocktail bar with live performances and vinyl DJ sets played over a Hi-Fi Italian sound system. Keep in mind that there may be a cover charge during live music nights.
What to Drink: Classic Cocktail
Untitled Supper Club | River North
Location: 111 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
Untitled is everything you imagine when it comes to a prohibition-era speakeasy-style bar. The River North speakeasy epitomizes what a great hidden bar and lounge should be. This popular spot offers live music, a whiskey lounge, specialty drinks, dancing, burlesque, and a generous food menu. This is the best speakeasy in Chicago for date nights, birthday celebrations, and entertaining out-of-town guests. Plus, it’s located in downtown Chicago, which makes it all the more convenient.
What to Drink: Something from the Whiskey List
The Alderman | Pilsen
Location: 1163 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
A low-key and intimate Chicago speakeasy located in the basement of Pilsen Yards, The Alderman is an award-winning bar known for its craft cocktails. Since it’s a small, drinks-only concept, reservations are highly recommended.
What to Drink: Purple Pisco Sour or The Alderman Old Fashioned
Bamboo Room | River North
Location: 435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
If you enjoy a good themed dining experience, this speakeasy bar in River North is perfect. The Bamboo Room is a tropical bar located at Three Dots and a Dash(also a nice hidden basement bar). This speakeasy is known for its strong, flamboyant drinks and intimate setting.
What to Drink: The Bamboo Daiquiri
Chicago Magic Lounge | Andersonville
Location: 5050 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Chicago speakeasies with live entertainment are not hard to find, but one that offers magic. Now, that’s unique! One of the most unique spots in the city, The Chicago Magic Lounge is a Chicago speakeasy located in a laundromat. Enjoy well-crafted cocktails, an impressive magic show, and small plates at this popular speakeasy and performance venue. It’s highly recommended to book in advance. But if you’re just looking for a drink, you can grab one at the lounge where magicians perform sleight-of-hand tricks for you.
What to Drink: Classic Cocktail
The Violet Hour | Wicker Park
Location: 1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Known for its impeccable ambiance and expertly crafted cocktails, The Violet Hour is a go-to Chicago speakeasy in Wicker Park. To find it, look for the ever-changing mural marking the entrance. Inside, the dimly lit, art-filled space sets the scene for a menu that balances classic favorites with creative new concoctions. With a James Beard Award-winning bar program and a seasonally rotating cocktail list, it’s a must-visit for anyone craving an intimate, elevated drinking experience.
What to Drink: New drinks every quarter. Ask the staff for recommendations.
The Office | West Loop
Location: 955 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Sip on expertly crafted cocktails at this upscale speakeasy tucked beneath The Aviary in Chicago’s West Loop. Behind an unmarked door, The Office offers an intimate, 21-seat setting where classically inspired cocktails, rare vintage spirits, and refined bites take center stage. For a one-of-a-kind drink and dining experience, be sure to book a table at this exclusive hidden gem.
What to Drink: The Old Fashioned
Osito’s Tap | Little Village
Location: 2553 S Ridgeway Ave, Chicago, IL 60623
A hidden speakeasy in Chicago, Osito’s Tap is a low-key neighborhood gem in Little Village that has been ranked as one of the best bars in Chicago. This unpretentious spot(located inside Moreno’s Liquors) offers a strong selection of tequila and mezcal cocktails, along with a solid food menu. If you’re looking for a laid-back yet high-quality drinking experience, this is a must-visit.
What to Drink: El Palomazo
Chicago Speakeasies: The Haute Seeker’s Favorite Spots
Here are some of my top picks for secret bars and speakeasies in Chicago.
- Punch House: A Pilsen speakeasy in the basement of Thalia Hall, with a cozy vibe and DJ sets.
- The Whistler: A Logan Square speakeasy with a rotating cocktail menu and live music.
- Blind Barber: A West Loop speakeasy hidden behind a working barber shop.
- The Bassment: A downtown Chicago speakeasy featuring live bands and fancy drinks.
- Golden Tear Drops: A retro speakeasy located in the basement of Lonesome Rose in Logan Square.
- Meadowlark: A cozy speakeasy with well-crafted cocktails.
There’s no point in gatekeeping these cozy and cool speakeasies in Chicago. If you’re looking for a night out in the city and want to have a great drink in an intimate setting, you can’t go wrong with these great options.
