Speakeasies... this one is not a well-kept secret, and for a good reason - it's fantastic (mostly). I started my night with an Elevator, Going Up! A fantastic cocktail for whiskey lovers and those who've yet to love whiskey alike. Boozy, but not overwhelmingly so, with just the right amount of sweet, bitter, and savory! Mole bitters? Never heard of them before, but they are divine! My second cocktail was a Spirit Free Le Freak. Another fantastic drink, and one that was genuinely tasty and interesting. I love that Dorian's embraced the trend properly! Loved the balanced sweet, bitter, and funky notes with this one as well. Now, let's talk about the service. In my opinion, it was a little below spec. While leaning forward and making eye contact got the bartender's attention, two of the three bartenders working that night were otherwise disinterested. They weren't hostile, but also by no means welcoming. Further, I'd put my coaster on my glass as I stepped away for the washroom. While I'd forgive the patron for not knowing this sign, the bartenders being indifferent to it did not inspire the warm and fuzzies. There was one bartender on that night who was more friendly, welcoming, and willing to help, but I decided not to make a scene and listen to the music standing up. Speaking of, Dorian's is also an excellent music venue, with no cover if you make it early enough in the evening. I don't recall the band that night, but it is hard to go wrong with some live music in a dark and moody place with good, strong drinks. Final verdict: Dorian's makes excellent drinks and serves as a great spot for live music. However, on the opposite side is lukewarm bar service, where if I want to use the facilities, I need to enlist the help of a stranger, or go with a companion. read more

Dorian's - Elevator, Going Up - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's located inside a records shop. Interestingly enough, the stage is located behind the bar. Apparently, Tuesday is all day happy hour (score!). I got an old fashioned which was alright, but it was $9, so can't complain. Got to catch the tail end of Flex Trio performing. Staff were friendly. Cool little watering hole if you're looking to grab a drink with a friend or sit back and listen to some jazz. read more

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I have been wanting to come out to a Jazz Show @ Dorian's. I purchased tickets on BucketListers for $25.00. The show is on a Wednesday starting at 6pm. The location of this place is hidden and easy to miss. Located inside a small record store that is very discreet. The doors were supposed to open up at 6. There was a delay for some reason and the doors open up at little late. So, we were standing outside in the cold and snowy weather. The doors opened up around 6ish passed the time. There was only 1 guy behind the counter scanning in tickets and checking ID. Which took even longer for us to get inside the door. We finally made it inside and was lucky to find a small table up front with 2 chairs. Small cozy intimate space with limited seating area to accommodate tickets that were sold. Dim lighting, full bar area, Live music and a vinyl DJ in the back corner. We were giving a complimentary drink ticket only for either a beer, mocktail, or Shirley Temple. The drinks aren't the best. Our drink tasted more like a energy drink. The show was late getting started. I went out asked the guy behind the counter what time was the show going to start. It was 7ish and still no band on stage. The show time ticket stated 6pm to 8pm. He never looked up from his phone and mentioned something to me about having nothing to do with what's going on with 3rd party. Ok wow, that still didn't answer my question. Finally around 7:40 the band shows up and it took another 15 minutes for them to get set up. After the show finally gets started, in the midst of a few songs later. One of the band members mentioned that they were filling in for the band that was supposed to play for us. Unfortunately they were in a car accident. Thank Goodness they were OK. The live performance were amazing. Music range from jazz, funk and soul. Even though it started off rocky it ended up being a nice night. The band was phenomenal and entertaining. The Bartenders were amazing as well and being patient and attentive to everyone. The guy at the door was unprofessional, rude and lacked customer service skills. read more

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If you're ever in search of a cute spot to go to, with good drinks, great service, and live music -- this is your place! I was taken here as a birthday surprise and I enjoyed every bit of it! The live music was so nice, the atmosphere was amazing -- aesthetically pleasing in so many ways! And the drinks were so good! They even had little bites that were tasty as well! 10/10 experience -- will be back again! read more

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A great speaker-easy behind a record shop. The vibes and ambience of this place were 10/10. A very cozy bar and a great place to hang out with your date or friends. There isn't a table service, you need to go the bar to order drinks. The drinks were a great hit! I guess the menu keeps changing time and again which makes you want to come back to this place. read more

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Great spot! Great drinks! Great music! Bartenders worked together to keep the drinks flowing! Drinks weren't ridiculously high! Check them out! read more

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I love this speakeasy! The vibes are super chill. It's not too big and it can get crowded. If you can snag a chair at the bar you'll have one of the best seats in the house. I bring all of my out of town guests here. read more

Dorian's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Super cute speakeasy with live music and happy hour specials! Looks like a lil record store up front and you can enter from there. Cute place (kinda limited seating, but it was just a busy night). Would go back! read more

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Dorians is a combination of two things in the world I love- finely crafted cocktails and vinyl records. I love the entrance masquerading as a reputable vinyl shop but on the other side of the curtain is a fancy lounge taking you back to the 20's when this had to be hidden! The cocktails were amazing in particular the "time warp". Our host was friendly and attentive. The one minus about this place was PARKING. If you live in Chi-town you know the deal about parking however if you are visiting, try to get an uber, lyft or take public transit. Parking is virtually impossible. This will definite "go to" when I come back to Chicago; excited to try new drinks and buy records! read more

Dorian's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I lived in Bucktown so I don't recall this location being here, but I was glad that we found it on social media. It is a performance/concert hall behind a record store, which has a small area of records and bins. Nothing too large, but there are some things to definitely look at After we paid the $10 per person cover charge. We walked in and stood to the left of the bar facing the stage. The band was on its last set and would return at 11 PM so we are lucky to catch up a few songs. The bartenders were very nice and helpful. Yes it can be hard to get their attention because they were working at a feverish pace. The drinks were reasonably priced. The sound of the overall venue was great. Good vibes. Good crowd. Street parking but I recommend taking public transportation or Uber. Just a really fun late night experience. read more

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Really cool spot. Never would have thought there was a whole club space behind the record shelves. So good and vibey. Good service, good drinks. Hidden gem! read more

It was extremely loud. There needs to be a sound check for live music. The space is small enough to lower the volume of the speakers. Consider this prior to paying the cover fee to enter. I will say I didn't come here for the loud music but to check out the drinks, which were good. I would come here again for happy hour. Not worth the late night live music. read more

Dorian's - Stage , 5 feet from bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been to Dorian's maybe 2-3 times, but this was my first visit during the warmer months, and I had a fantastic time. Which meant more livelier crowd. I met a new friend during their happy hour and enjoyed some great music. The music level was perfect - loud enough to enjoy, but still quiet enough to have a conversation at our table, which is always a plus. The bartenders had excellent recommendations and really knew their stuff. Would love to see a bigger wine selection on the menu, but what was offered was good. The vibe: think charming and intimate and great spot for a first date ::wink wink::. Highly recommend checking it out! read more

Dorian's - Entrance / Record room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall Thoughts: Fantastic live music and good vibes (though can get really crowded on Fri/Sat nights), but I wasn't a fan of their cocktails. The bartenders are quick and efficient though, and we didn't need to wait too long to order and receive our drinks. There's no cover if you arrive before 8pm-- which is actually ideal for busy nights, to snag a seat/table before it gets busier. When I arrived at ~7:45pm on a Friday, it was packed and it only got more crowded as time went on. The band started playing around 9:15pm and they were fantastic-- super soothing and melodic. Drinks I tried: - Ooh Baby (3.5/5): This drink looks beautiful, but didn't taste like ube at all or any of the other ingredients in it. - Frondly Gayle (3/5): This one has 3 different types of alcohol in it, and I personally don't think it worked-- it just tasted strange, like the flavors didn't go together at all. Overall, at least with these 2 specific drinks, I think that they're trying to do too much with too many conflicting ingredients and flavors. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.2/5 Drinks: 3.7/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall Value: 4.2/5 read more

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Dorians is a Bucktown staple! I have yet to see a live show here but all you need for a good time is one of their drinks and a fun partner! Seating can be tricky so make sure to arrive early! read more

Dorian's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went for the first time last Saturday to hear Isaiah Collier play. The line outside was long but well paced. Once inside it was super crowded and loud but once the music started we realized it was all worth the wait. Not a place for an intimate night out, and I was a bit surprised to see such a young crowd. Will be back again for music read more

I had a blast here due to the music. The. Dj played an array of genres and the mixing was well done. There was a transition of Djs about a hour or so into us being there. And the vibes stayed consistent. The bartender was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of drinks ordered and i had to wait a bit, but im not losing sleep over it. read more

Dorian's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A fun speak-easy themed bar in Wicker park. The ambience is really cool where you have to walk through a record store in order to access the bar (I believe you can actually purchase vinyl records here as well). The bar itself is well designed, tasteful, with tables and bar standing area. They do a good job of regulating the number of people entering the bar so that it does not feel over-crowded. The cocktails were well executed and enjoyable. There was, surprisingly, no table service so everything had to be ordered at the bar but the bartenders seemed to turn drinks quickly so it wasn't a long wait. If you're Wicker Park, Dorian's is a great option, however, I wouldn't venture to Wicker just for this cocktail bar. read more

Listen! Dorian's is a vibe! An amazing vibe! It's an intimate speakeasy in the back of a record shop. We went on a Tuesday for JAZZ HAPPY HOUR With MATTHEW DAVIS QUINTET and they were amazing! The tickets came with a welcome drink; we didn't get to enjoy it because it was limited to a gin cocktail and a beer. Neither of us drink gin. A rum and coke would have sufficed. With all said; I can't wait until we attend another Jazz Happy Hour. read more

My girlfriend and I ended our date here at Dorian's. We had a great time as the drinks were good and the live jazz performance was great. The vibes were nice as the building itself was very aesthetic. The only thing we have to say about our experience is that the place is very small and there were lots of people. It can make finding a spot or viewing the performance difficult and uncomfortable. We were lucky and found a great spot to post up, but it was a bit annoying with the people passing in front of us continuously and how overcrowded it was. Get there early to avoid the cover fee and find a nice seated spot at the bar or towards the back wall. Nonetheless, we had a great time and highly recommend if you don't mind being shoulder to shoulder with other people. read more

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Scammers. Showed up with 3 friends, excited to check out the place after I'd been recommended it by another friend. They charged $10 per person cover. Normal, I thought. Not great, but normal. They then had the audacity to automatically apply a TIP on the cover. 18% Couldn't react before it was too late. Beyond this, as soon as we actually enter, there is NO space for any of us to even STAND. Let alone sit. And no live music either. Absolutely ridiculous, left as soon as we could. They should NOT have asked for a tip on a cover, and DEFINITELY not automatically apply it. They should NOT have been accepting any more people in. Definitely past capacity. It was so packed you could barely even traverse the space to get to the bathroom, or back out of the door. It was like a fraternity basement during rush in there. Except at least a fraternity won't rob you at the door first. This place sucks. read more

This place was so cute, especially the menus! Will have to come here on a day with live music, this day there was a DJ off in the corner. The Big E was great, not too sweet, sparkling, and perfect for summer read more

Dorian's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place had been on my list for FOREVER. A speakeasy in the Bucktown neighborhood, Dorian's has live music on the weekends. It was definitely packed, despite my friends and I getting there before the cover charge started. We were thankful to find a table before the band started, but we were definitely crammed in. Live band was great, though a bit loud. (That just may be my age showing though.) Drinks were solid, and I like that they have a decently extensive mocktail menu! Getting them was a bit difficult with the size of the crowd and needing to go to the bar. Overall, good experience! I'd come back, but I'm not dying to get back. read more

Dorian's looks like a speakeasy gem -- dim lighting, hidden entrance, and all the right Instagram aesthetics. But once you're inside, it doesn't quite deliver the energy you'd expect. The crowd leans older, not exactly the young, hip scene you might anticipate from the branding. Drinks? Solid. The cocktail menu is thoughtful, but we went off menu because they were a little tourist focused -- it's good, not unforgettable. Overall, it's not a bad place. It just feels like it's trying to be cooler than it is. Worth a visit if you're already in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way. read more

Entering through the record store was very cool. Bartender was very slow and very cranky. Ruined the whole vibe. read more

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The atmosphere is amazing and so are the lemon drops! Everyone was super friendly and I adored the photo booth they had, I'll be back for sure read more

Dorian's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great spot for drinks and live music. Service was at the bar only. Good happy hour specials. Definitely a good vibe read more

Dorian's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice lil speakeasy spot in Wicker Park. Came around 8pm on a Friday. Seating was pretty much all taken so would recommend coming earlier if you wanted to snag a spot. No cover when we came but I think they have some closer to the when music plays. Service was fine. Can be kind of hard to stand between people sitting to get a hold of attention, but I guess that's the struggle with any bar. Drinks themselves were also okay. Forgot what my first drink was, but the fish bowl my friends and I got was solid. But the real highlight is definitely that live music. Started around 9pm and they did about an hour set. Was really impressed with that and the vibes were great. Made standing for an hour waiting worth it and made the next hour listening fly by. Definitely a spot worth checking out in Wicker Park if you're looking for some good live music! Drinks won't knock your socks off though and I've yet to try the food. read more

Dorian's - Fish bowl shared cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really cool spot. Definitely go when they have live music. The drinks were good but expensive

Great spot with lowkey vibes, and good live music! Will most definitely be back again

Glad we found this gem. We couldn't stay for the live music. But we stayed for a couple cocktails and had a nice chat with the bartender. You enter into a tiny record store which is very cute. read more

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Super fun vibe, amazing drinks, cool speakeasy! Sweet funny bartender. Would recommend. Cute little speakeasy with live music read more

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I had an amazing time! The artist was amazing and the vibe was also amazing. The drinks were very strong but very expensive. Great for a date night. read more

Cool little hard to find bar. It's one of those speakeasies, which is why. Dorian's is a pretty interesting place for cocktails. Plus it's a music venue, so you can hear some bands live. The entrance is through a record store, so you can also pick up a few records. After hearing about this we had to come. It's a pretty hidden place located on North. The entrance looks like a record store. Go through the door and you get into the actual bar. The main thing here is the cocktails, but there's also a food menu. It's about $14 for a cocktail. We only got one each because of that. I had the Boomboom Room. This is made with amaretto, aromatic bitters, cherry, Citadelle gin, lime, Oloroso sherry, pineapple, saline, and sugar. It's sweet but has a bite. She had the Magic Man. This is made with Abelha Cachaca, aloe, cucumber, and lime, so it was a lot simpler. Even so, it was no less good. To eat, we had the Pretzel Rods And Mustard. It's $6 for a good amount. This came with Vargo Brother Ferments mustard, with a choice of hot or hot and sweet. Good place to get some expensive but top cocktails. It's a pretty cool atmosphere but the temperature inside isn't cool, especially summer. This is a pretty small bar so it gets packed with hipsters and the hot air coming out their mouths, so maybe go earlier or not on a weekend. read more

Dorian's - Magic Man - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is the type of place everyone wants to end up at end of night. A swanky chill vibe space, with music, artfully crafted cocktails, and friendly folks dressed to impress. A variety of seating options allow for both social group hang and one on one. I personally recommend the Hollywood lawn drink, although all of them looked good. It's a record store with more! read more

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Great local place Enjoyed it. They didn't seem too pleased with visitors & Travelers, but we enjoyed the music, cocktails and had a good vibe. Will definitely go again read more

Cool speakeasy type place that you have to enter through a record store. We had to pay $10 cover charge each as there was live music. The inside was pretty packed, and there wasn't much anywhere to sit. The music was good and the people were enjoying it. The bartenders were non-stop making drinks. Overall, a cool place to check out. read more

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I loved it! Came here on a Tuesday for drinks and live jazz. I love that the speakeasy is "hidden" behind a record store. I thought the service was great (was sitting at the bar) and jazz was awesome. It felt like an authentic / non-touristy kind of place and I loved the vibes of the crowd - chill but having a good time. Highly recommend! read more

I really like Dorian's! It's a 'hidden' speakeasy behind a record store, giving off a cozy hipster vibe. They serve delicious drinks, including non-alcoholic options -- I'm a fan of the 'Lovely Bunch' spirit-free mocktail. It has live jazz performances on select nights, adding to the experience. I will say it was really busy inside when there was jazz, standing room only until we snagged some seats from people leaving. When we left, there was a long line of people waiting to get in because it was at capacity. I also think there is a cover on jazz nights if you don't get there early enough (which we did), but just something to keep in mind. read more

Dorian's - Non alcoholic lovely bunch & spritz - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I loved the place, it has a nice speakeasy vibe. It was hard to find at first because we were not aware that its a record shop during the day. When you first walk in it's very bright, a person checking IDs, records being displayed and you can browse through. Then, you walk towards the back and open a door that leads you into the main sound room - for a listening lounge it has everything that you would want... beautiful display of vinyl, lovely record players (for DJ) purposes and great cocktails. I can't wait to go back. read more

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