Don't go. This is not a real burlesque show. Ridiculous. The drinks are overpriced. I paid a cover charge and was seated backwards toward the "show." Not what it is advertised as. read more

All I can say is WOAH. This place is so cool!! We had a reservation that was earlier than when the show started (around 7ish). It's a very intimate environment; candle lit, smells nice, very warm and cozy. Places like these are what make me jealous of those who live in Wicker Park I will definitely be going back again! read more

Bordel - 2 person table in the back. Candle lit, cozy, and very warm. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I travel quite often and every new city we go to we try to check out different speakeasies, We debated whether to go to this one as it was maybe a 10 minute drive from the downtown area. We are so glad we made the trip, the entrance can definitely be passed by easy but once inside we were seated quickly ( you can make reservations online before arriving which we did and were seated quickly) They have a vast drink menu with so many options. We went on a Thursday night and it was burlesque night, we were seated pretty close to the stage and the entertainment was great! Definitely a one of a kind speakeasy, would recommend adding to one of your must visit bars in the Chicago area. read more

After reading the yelp reviews I had big expectations but was severely disappointed. The entertainment fell flat. I got there at midnight and they were done with the performance so I didn't get to witness much. The mixed drinks were super sweet. Yuck! I thought a speak easy would have better mixologists and better tasting cocktails. I'm not into sweet sugary drinks so this was not my preference for a speak easy. Lastly, the decor was actually nice and so was the DJ. Great vibe and music that made me feel hypnotized. Artwork was risqué and nice. The bathrooms though had TP everywhere including on display which was weird. Pro tip: the entrance is a hidden doorway in plain sight right when you enter blackbull. Pro tip 2: don't walk in, go somewhere else unless you're able to catch a show that may be more entertaining. read more

Bordel - Bathroom wasn't the cleanest - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm a guy that likes speakeasy's as they usually have a nice atmosphere and have very good crafted cocktails. Bordel very much fits the description! Me and some friends were wrapping up a nice time @ Do Division Fest and then Happy Village and realized we wanted something very good other than the beer and basic whiskey cocktails we had been drinking already. One of us had already been there before so he mentioned it may be difficult getting in as they usually take reservations to get in. We walked into The Black Bull and asked if Bordel had room for walk-ins and we were in luck as they were like cmon up! We were all in shorts and t-shirts, but most people were a little dressier especially the women. Menu of drinks looked pretty good and I wanted something a little fancy so I went with the Penicillin (LOL). The Penicillin contains scotch, lemon, ginger, honey and smoke...made for an awesome cocktail and I had 2 of em. The girl working our booth was good at keeping the water coming for our group of 7 so we were able to stay hydrated. Music was nice as they were playing some classic R&B, rock and hip hop jams. The decor is nice...booths were very much reddish and the place is of course dim lit with good lighting in the bar areas. Good place to get a couple of sips and call it a night read more

Bordel - Having a blast @ Bordel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went with my gf last night. Was supposed to be flamenco dancers according to their website. Ended up being a burlesque show. Ambiance is neat. Dark room with sofas and chairs with dim red lights. Got there at 7pm and were the only people there. They sat us far away from the stage as possible, lol. Asked for a better seat and they obliged. People finally trickled in about 8pm and the show started at 8:30pm. The girls were kinda rough but charming. It was maybe 25 minutes long and was done. Our server abruptly came over and said they had other reservations coming in and we had to wrap it up. Im normally a good tipper but I gave her about 12% since she only brought a 3 drinks and was awkward asking us to leave. Cool ambiance, average tasting overpriced drinks, avg service. No way would I ever return. read more

Erin our server was amazing. Everyone else that worked there was an asshole. We went on a Friday for the burlesque show. Show was....interesting. Could've just gone to a strip club. Very overrated. Wouldn't recommend. read more

Before coming here on 3/12/22 I read the reviews so I prepared myself not to be surprised at what could happen as a Black patron. I was invited here for surprise celebratory birthday drinks from a good friend of mine. Reservations were for 10pm. We were seated a few minutes in after waiting for the first act to finish. We were sat against the wall adjacent the entrance door facing the show however we saw very little of the acts because they have a couch placed front and center blocking the view so we could only see the artists from the shoulders up and if they did anything on the floor just forget it. Whose bright idea was this? I answered one of the stage hosts game questions right and won a shot for me and my date but we will come back to that later. 45 minutes into waiting I notice the waitress who is white (I think Erin is her name) is only serving the two large table groups and she seems to be friends with them. Pouring shots down their throats and having a real good time. The last time she was in my section was when she serviced a white table right next to mine as we were being seated. Then in comes other people of color who is sat on the opposite side of my table. Both of our tables comment to each other about watching the waitress walk past us repeatedly with no acknowledgement we have been waiting for service for an extended amount of time while serving and partying with her friends. After an hour and a half I asked security who is a black male would our table get serviced at all and in the meantime we would order our drinks from the bar. He responds that he has watched what was happening as well and he notified management. Two white women come by one after the other to apologize with little patience to listen to our compliant and we were told they would take care of both tables. They seemed annoyed to have been requested. They also gave no explanation for the reason. Neither of them ever came back and disappeared for the rest of our evening. The request to close the tab at the bar because we were going to finally get service at the table was completely ignored. Next, the show host who was visibly drunk came over after and acknowledged he was on his way to grab our shots and he never came back and disappeared for the rest of the evening as well. Classic. At one point I after getting our own drinks I was curious enough to nicely ask Erin for an answer on why I wasn't being serviced as she walked by again. The waitress said our section was not her assignment and they were short staffed due to COVID and St. Patrick's weekend. She was extremely drunk and pretended as if she wanted to start crying. WTH? Lol. This is bullshit but I smirked at her attempt to play the victim and manipulate the situation and let her return to her work. The people of color next to us was able to move to the section the waitress was "assigned" and they invited us to sit with them. The waitress never came to the table while we were sitting there. But this is her section though...? In fact, I don't think I saw her servicing her section once after we were seated in that section. A third disappearing act. We continued to order drinks from the bar. I noticed the waitress and one of the lady managers arguing with each other behind the bar. Later, I asked the bar tender out of curiosity was anyone notified that a table won shots playing a game with the host. She said no and honored it anyway, appreciated. All in all we didn't let the racist and unprofessional treatment we received ruin our night but we will not ever be returning. Music and drinks were good, other patrons were all friendly and the talent was just ok for their craft. The host didn't announce to clarify how to tip in the top hat insecurely passed around for a brief few seconds so I think tips were little to none. We will save our green dollars for service welcome to Black and POC equally. We tipped the security for his attempt to positively assist and support in the situation before we left. Had been there for at-least three hours. Unfortunately we came for Burlesque and got front row seats to a Shit Show lol. I hope this review helps others in any way and also to let the establishment know that their business practices were very obvious, this is not okay, DO BETTER! Ps They make you pay the processing surcharge for using debit. read more

Bordel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Trashy disorganized joint - looks pretty online but in reality is tiny, very little space , so called " stage seating" is far from the stage - on the website it said that cabaret show will start at 11:30 pm we made first available reservation ( and it also included "dinner " reservation for some unexplainable reason. Got taxi from magnificent mile area all the way to Division street that s blocked by some vendor tents , had to spend time looking for this hidden " gem" - apparently it doesn't say " bordel" anywhere upfront, just green door that is not obvious leading to claustrophobic second floor As soon as we got seated they informed us that the last show already ended !!! We came in for the show and wasted an hour to go back and forth ( obviously we left immediately) / do not waste your time and energy coming to this trashy establishment!! read more

Bordel, by it's super secret location and doorway, is magnificently placed above Black Bull. There's no other signage to know where you're going. The decor is very old-fashioned but it works well with the vibe. The atmosphere and drinks are what makes this place a gem. The music is loud, esp as the night goes on. And the place is not very big, so it gets crowded. Though we were told there's supposed to be a show on Saturday night, there wasn't. The drinks were delicious, tho ugh over-priced; my husband ordered the one with egg whites (like a whiskey sour) and I had the one with cinnamon. The food was a whole other conversation. Though the pepper appetizer were absolutely delicious, the rest of the food was sub-par. The main dishes lacked flavor, and if you order the steak it dries out at the table within 20 mins. The lamb had too much sauce. Our waiter rarely stopped at our table; though it was crowded I feel that it may have had something to do with his friend showing up. If we wanted his attention, my husband would have to catch him as he ran by. The 2 star rating is primarily due to the food quality -- one friend had felt nauseated after the evening and I experienced severe food poisoning symptoms. Just a heads up. read more

Bordel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Coming to Bordel is all the rage. The live acts are entertaining, the DJ is always good, and the drinks are on FIRE! Bordel is a great bar with a speakeasy vibe, and Spanish influence. The bar staff is very cool, and pleasant to talk with when they are a but slower. They have an excellent selection of drinks, and will offer suggestions based on your flavor of choice. read more

Such a cool speakeasy! If you're new to Chicago, or visiting, you must go here and get "blessed" by the bartender. I took my friend here and we had a blast! He definitely made Bordel a must when in Chicago! Must get the flaming drinks! The food is delicious as well! & have fun trying to find the place. We did! Lol read more

Bordel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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As an out of Towner it's always fun to hit a speak easy. The vibes in here were good. We had a stage view table, service was slow, and the food options are pretty minimal if you don't like seafood. Overall a good experience. We were there for Flaminco Fridays. The dancer was good, the show was short. But overall for something different to do it was fun. read more

Overcrowded and overhyped. Could not even get a drink at the bar for 15 minutes. Would not recommend.

Excellent cocktails and fun atmosphere! Definitely reserve a table ahead of time, as it's hard to walk-in without a wait. Recommend asking for a seat near the stage to catch burlesque shows every hour. read more

This is a really cool experience for a date or a night out with friends! I have been here twice and saw a bachelorette group both times. The drinks are tasty and the bites are delicious. I still think about their ham on occasion. The atmosphere is dark, cozy, and sultry with plush seating and moody red lighting. Drinks in the porrón is are fun if you have a friend group with you! It is, however, a pretty pricey experience, so it's relegated to "special occasions only" in our circle. read more

Such an amazing cocktail bar and lounge. I had my going away party here with 35 friends and it could not have been any better. The food and drinks were all delicious and in a comfortable and fun setting. The music and flamenco show were great but the volume was still at a level that we could easily hold a conversation with multiple people. Cassandra was absolutely incredible with our group! She was always there to chat with us and make sure we had the best service. She's honestly the best. I couldn't recommend Bordel more highly for a semi private event/party if you're looking for a relaxed, fun, and eclectic time. read more

Omg!!! This place is so cool. I am so happy our table wasn't ready at Black Bull or else we wouldn't have stumbled upon this place. We went upstairs and Amy, the hostess was so accommodating. She got us a table while we waited for our table downstairs. Then our sever Colleen was so bubbly and adorable. She was super friendly! A few of us wanted sangria, it wasn't served upstairs but she was like I don't mind going downstairs and getting it for you guys. Well...the music was awesome and vibe was so cool. We decided we wanted to come back after dinner so we added our name to the waitlist. And they were able to accommodate us after dinner! So much fun. Seriously, loved this place. Everyone was so nice! They definitely made my night! I wish I lived in Chicago because this is a fun place to just hang out and grab cocktails! Ohhh and you can take shots of a porron. So cool! Definitely recommend this place. It's definitely hidden. The staircase is hidden behind a mural. Colleen is awesome, if she's your server then you are lucky! Seriously so bubbly and friendly! read more

WHY DID IT CHANGE?! My first time here was a few months ago, we had such a great time. There was an MC and each performer danced to a few songs, the crowd was so into it, we were able to participate by throwing $$ at them. Coming today, there were only 2 performers who only danced to 1 song each. We were told the show would be 30 minutes and it was only about 10, which is how much it costs. It's not worth the price anymore unfortunately... I was disappointed with all of the changes and level of fun and excitement. read more

Very Entertaining. The space is limited and it can become very crowded. We just ordered some mock tails and they are very delicious. The burlesque dancers were my highlight. It wasn't raunchy or cringeworthy it was very comical and entertaining. All performer were excellent. It was a different environment for me but it was definitely worthy the money as far as entertainment goes. A++ read more

Very fun place! Super dark in there though and hard to see but I enjoyed the Flamenco dancer Fridays!

Was in town for a few nights, thought we would catch their VAUDEVILLE THURSDAYS BURLESQUE SHOW! You do need to go through a restaurant in order to get up to Bordel, once up the stairs, the hostess will seat you. It is a little cramped, but once you're seated its much more comfortable. We ordered a couple appetizers and drinks, everything was delicious. Finally the show began with a funny comedian/magician to introduce acts, pretty funny guy. The opening act was sheet dancer it was, glowing sheets it was visually incredible. The came on SALLY MARVEL! OMG...gentlemen...OMG!! She is beautiful and sexy and incredibly well dressed...she dances off all her clothes and starts fire eating/dancing...and this is amazing as she spits fire, sooo hoottt! Later in the show Sally came back on stage ( in a new still incredibly sexy burlesque outfit) and started dancing and swallowing swords! This show WAY WAY exceeded my expectations and I would return every week for a new show if I lived in Chicago. Check her out on IG @sallymarvel and DO NOT MISS THIS SEXY CRAZY SHOW!! read more

Bordel - Sally Marvel came out on stage in a beautiful all white burlesque feather outfit - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Interesting!!!! I'm a visitor. Food shuts down at 10:30pm gotta get used to that especially if I'm drinking. Excellent vibes. I had a great time. Real expensive though. Would I come back. Yes. read more

Loved visiting this "hidden" bar while in Chicago. The wait for a table wasn't too bad. In the meantime we struck up a nice conversation with a bartender. He helped my husband choose a whiskey from their list and I ordered the California AF off of their specialty cocktail menu. The drink was mixed well and the presentation was quite pretty. Once we moved to a table our waiter was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Wish we could have made it on a night when they had burlesque or another show, but the DJ still did a fine enough job. read more

Bordel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Website is very misleading in reference to the "show" if you are not seated near the stage you will not see the show.drinks were really good. Service was very attentive. I would not recommend if you are trying to see the show because it is impossible to do so. The "snacks" were overly complicated. read more

fantastic experience all around. bartenders are great. ambiance is a chicago escape. Bordel Spanish coffee followed by a Parron is the perfect buzz. read more

Shit is getting a little ridiculous here!! Okkkk! We been going to bordel for yearss n made friends there!! Last time we went and i am sure you know who we are we got invited to sit at a friend's table!! Soon after we got APPROCHED by( i see) you and security asked us to leave .wtf..this is a SOCIAL place ..we go here to be SOCIAL..people invite us over to their table..if i wanted to to be in n a restaurant i would go and eat at a restaurant..also i pay for this shit ..if i am gonna pay 16 bucks for a cocktail bro how u gonna treat me like that..any ways i love bordel but u had this coming for a long time now!! read more

INCREDIBLY loud and very slow service but cool sexy vibes if you're not interested in talking to the people you're with

First off, make sure you make reservations for this place ahead of time because they stay full. You can go in any night and try to sit at the bar, but that's always crazily crowded. It's best to reserve a table or booth. Secondly, this place is pretty difficult to find. It's not marked in any way and is up a long stairwell to the side of another restaurant. This venue has different shows each night of the week. Some nights is burlesque, some nights magic tricks, some nights jazz and soul. Some acts are stronger than other. They have a lot of tasty original cocktails and you can order tapas style and bar style food from the venue downstairs. I wouldn't come here again and again, but its definitely a fun experience to have at least once. read more

I love Spain, the countryside, the culture, the food, the people, specifically the South of Spain (Andalucia where the Flamenco hails from). I plan to retire there. Combining my love for good food, food drink and good music it was a no brainer to come check out Black Bull and Bordel. It has the makings of a world class bar. Hidden speakeasyness for exclusivity, they don't carry the ultra high end and rare stuff that only draws barrel hunters, the view is amazing. It also has a letdown of being more European. Besides the Flamenco performances, carry coffee and wine, nothing really made me feel like I was in Spain. "Burlesque" is the word I would describe the whole place. Lots of red, lots of velvet. Come for the Jazz Wednesdays instead of the Flamenco Saturdays. The rugs felt Moroccan the lighting Parisian (like the drink presentations) The Tea's did nothing for me, my friends and I split the Boston and I drank and Frederick by myself on a Wednesday. No Calimoxo which would be like an Argentinian Bar not carrying Fernet con coca (though I get the nature of not carrying coke, so I understand what era you're going for). Drink menu was on the sweet side. Very loud, dark, almost so dark you can't see how nice the décor is. Surprised the Prescription Saz didn't have herbsaint or absinthe. Rules of the Game and Cat's Meow were my favorites. I did like how the Porrons have a very South American more Latin Vibe. Made me water for some Costa Rican Guaro. I was hesitant to try the Brazilian Buck, but seeing as they had Cachaca I had to go with a Caipirinha. Not bad they had the proper ice for it. They really preferred the snowball and crushed styles to clear cocktail ice, which I shrugged at. Staff is great from the doorman to the bartenders and servers who I got the feeling really wanted to interact more, but music kept conversations shouted and short. I'll definitely come back to Black Bull for the food and maybe for 1 drink (nightcap) for the view, but I can get better drinks and ambaiance elsewhere. read more

Wife and I were really excited to check this place out but everything was a let down... they charge you for a table by the stage, okay cool, but then they tell you to pay more to watch the show.. ok whatever, we're obviously not getting up with our drinks to move. Then after the 5 min show the girls walks to each table and asks for tips. Total scam! I wouldn't recommend this place. Not to mention the food is portioned for toddlers. read more

Great atmosphere and service. Paid for a stage table and the entertainment was a male flamenco dancer. I was expecting burlesque. A little disappointed. read more

Gorgeous place. Located above a restaurant and has a completely different vibe than its counterpart below Ambiance: low lighting good for a special occasion with a group, romantic date night, or a birthday. People: Typical crowd. Caucasian, Id say mid 20's and up. There were a couple of Russian groups out that night. And a sprinkle of African American's including myself and my boyfriend. People were dressed nicely for a special night out on the town. Drinks: Pricey but gorgeous presentation and wonderful taste. $12 each. A pitcher is $40. Wine is $11. And beer is $6 There was also Flamenco Dancing on Saturday which was a wonderful surprise and seems to be a regular thing Yes id go again and do it for my birthday or a romantic night out. Make a RESERVATION or expect to stand. The host even said that sometimes the manager asks those standing to leave at 12am which I thought was wierd. We were not asked to leave, but I thought the concept was silly. read more

Bordel - Cocktails! From Bordel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had stage table reservations for the burlesque show. The performers were fun, but it's a very short show and then you're hustled out the door. The show was about 30 minutes, but over half of that was the emcee reminding you to tip--which we gladly did, but the $20 per person table charge wasn't worth it for me. The drinks were meh, but I'd say fairly priced for the area. read more

We came on a Friday night and I don't know if it was just me but we just didn't care for this place. It had this burning spice of a smell which just isn't for me. We ordered drinks and although our server seemed very nice, we didn't really care for the drinks, so that was also a bummer. Now we waited for the Friday night cabaret show and it lasted like 2 minutes. Seriously? That's it?! We came and waited 2 hours thinking there would be multiple performances? I'm sorry I wasn't expecting her to break a sweat but something lady, give us just maybe 2-3 dances. Honestly wasn't even enough to get my hubby excited Bc it was so fast. They said if we waited another hour someone else may come out. May? Okay, thank you but no thank you. The one major bonus and why they get some stars is that we were there for a friends bday and the manager did come out in the end and bring us this very cool drink on the house for all of us to share which I thought was very nice of them. But they really need to work on their Friday night performance!! read more

After enjoying other places in the Nonhomme Hospitality Group, my friend and I were very excited to check out Bordel. We were especially interested in the Vaudeville show and made reservations for 9:30 to enjoy the 10 show. Our excitement quickly withered away. The website says the show starts at 10 but the show started after 10:40. This may not be a huge problem, but on a work night this was not great for us. We had hoped to enjoy the show for about an hour before sneaking out, but with the very late start this was not going to happen. After about 20-25 minutes of the acts, they took a 20 minute intermission. So after an hour and a half after the posted start, there was only about 20 minutes of the show. Additionally, we made reservations early to get good seats to enjoy the show. Making reservations and getting seated is beyond pointless and honestly, took away from the show. They allow people to walk in and stand around the stage in the main aisle, which blocks pretty much anyone past the first or second booth from being able to see. If I was going to come here again, I'd rather show up late and push to the front because I'd get a better view than arriving early with a reservation. On top of that, the people standing were stepping on the booth seats and putting their drinks on the reserved table we had and the staff was not willing to assist us in ending that. While the little bit of performance we were able to catch was very good, I would not be looking to return any time soon - or if I did, I'd plan to come late and get the standing room. The servers here were pretty attentive considering the tight space once the show started and I could see this being a nice date spot with the hidden, dimly lit vibes - but overall the experience fell very flat. read more

This place looks amazing and the music matches the theme. The drinks are great, only reason i am not giving this place 5 stars is because the server over charged us two appetizers that we never received. The server spent most of her time dancing around and paying more attention to the table next to us. Being over charged for food that we never received and one that we never even ordered was a let down but will be back just hope we get a different server. read more

Bordel - La Mula - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Another Chicago speakeasy gem ! Reading other peoples reviews sounds like this place unfairly had stars removed from their reviews simply because they didn't make reservations . So be sure to make a reservation and prepare to have a good time. My boyfriend and I came in Valentines Weekend last year (with reservations )This place has it all ... Hidden entrance ?check ..Dim sexy lighting ? Check ..Cool wallpaper and art?... check..Live entertainment including live music and burlesque ?check ..Amazing drinks served in the most adorable serving glasses ? Check check check ! Alot of people are complaining about the drinks being overpriced . Its a swanky speakeasy people !The liquor and ingredients put into these drinks are not cheap and what you find in a regular bar /dive bar . If you want cheap drinks walk down the street to your pick of dive bars and order yourself a PBR .You're paying for the experience and the entertainment along with that drink . I look forward to coming back soon and hopefully catching a burlesque show next time . read more

Bordel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came for a show, but didn't see one. I thought they did shows on the hour, but when I arrived I was told they only do like 2-3 per night. If you're coming for a show, I would definitely recommend you reserve accordingly. Drinks were good and the place had a great vibe. read more

The place: this sexy speakeasy had been on my list for ages. I'd actually like to go back when they have the burlesque show, but an impromptu saturday night date led me there, and they had a DJ playing. Was maybe a smidge loud for my personal taste, but was still able to get to know the man sitting across from me well enough (though, truth be told, I kind of felt like I already knew him a little bit). Service was pretty slow -- it took about 25 minutes for us to place our first drink order, but we were in that first date bubble, where the person is actually cooler than you thought they'd be, so we didn't really mind. The taste: Started with the bananas foster cocktail, and he something with pisco. I think we both were satisfied. I wasn't convinced that there was actually alcohol in mine, but it tasted amazing, so i didn't mind. I got the Art of Choke next, with the artichoke based spirit, cynar, which was much stronger than the first drink. I forgot what my date ordered, but the end, I was stumbling a little bit (2 cocktails instead of dinner does that to me sometimes), but no regrets. My face: I left with that tell-tale alcohol rosy glow, and a thoughtful smile. It's a sexy place, I had good company, and he was a total gentleman and wouldn't let me pay. i think cocktails ran at around $13 a piece, so while I wasn't paying attention to the bill, I'm guessing it was around $60 for 4 drinks and at least a handful of laughs. read more