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    Dorian's

    3.8 (115 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Dorian's Photos

    DORIAN'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Ambiance
    Vaishnavi W.

    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.

    Live band on stage
    Shawn W.

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

    Brianna R.

    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.

    Allison G.

    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!

    Shawn B.

    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!

    Record bins
    Steph G.

    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.

    Stage , 5 feet from bar
    Alyssa B.

    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.

    Perpetual A.

    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!

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

    Mona T.

    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

    Stephon H.

    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.

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

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

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    6 months ago

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

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    1 year ago

    really cool bar with live music and DJ. the drinks were solid, get there early if you want a seat. but good laidback atmosphere

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    Bisous

    Bisous

    4.3
    (118 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    The Chicago food tour commences... First stop, drinks at Bisous! This cocktail bar was listed no…read more 39 on the top 50 bars in North America for 2025. It was no wonder when we arrived that there was a line out the door. We waited around 45 minutes, and the bouncer was a really nice fellow who kept track of the numbers and people at the door. Upon entering, we were immersed in a dimly lit retro-style lounge. It was quite loud inside and packed as we walked to our seats. The server was great at taking our orders and offering suggestions. I opted for the French 75, which featured sparkling wine and mixed gin, brandies, and citrus. The drink was delicious, but STRONG. I don't know what they put in the cocktails in America, but I am always finished after one drink. Needless to say, we were all struggling to finish our own drinks. My favourite touch was the coasters, I ended up keeping all of them so that I can reuse them at my galentines event next year. The 'bisous' with the kiss on the other side is a perfect touch! I think the drinks are fairly priced for USD. I would love to return someday to try other drinks and bar bites, and also try their sister bar, Sparrow.

    My boyfriend and I were visiting Chicago (from Las Vegas) 2 weeks ago, and were very excited to…read morecheck out Bisous, as it looked nice inside and had good reviews. Imagine my shock when we didn't even make it past the bouncer because he was so rude, AS OTHER RECENT REVIEWS HAVE MENTIONED AS WELL! We had dinner nearby and walked to Bisous after, and saw there was a line of 5 or 6 people outside. We expected this as we knew Bisous is a first come, first serve bar. We were curious what the wait time would look like, so we approached the front door to ask a host or employee inside (we assumed there'd be a desk with an employee working it who could give us a wait time). We had no problem waiting, just wanted to see how long they estimated it would be! Before we could even fully open the door, the bouncer swung the door open from the other side and hit me with the door. I stumbled back a few steps and he looked at us and said, and I quote, "What do you want?". I laughed at first because I thought he was joking and putting on a tough guy act. He was not. We quickly explained we just wanted to see what the wait time was, and he said "don't you see there's a line outside?" We said yes, and explained we just wanted to know a rough estimated wait time. He just blankly stared at us while ushering us out. Both my boyfriend and I have worked in customer-service roles for a very, very long time. This encounter was not only extremely rude and unprofessional, but he also hit me hard enough with the door to send me stumbling back, and then said nothing about it and continued to address us in a tone that was nothing less than annoyed and irritated. We didn't end up going inside because that encounter left such a bad taste in our mouths. I don't believe in spending my money at establishments that don't treat their customers with the bare minimum respect they deserve! Bummed we didn't get to experience it, as I'm sure it was lovely inside and I can only hope the rest of the employees were much more kind and accommodating, or at least able to answer a simple question. Fire your "bouncer" (??) and hire someone with some basic customer service and communication skills!!

    Photos
    Interior bar
    Interior bar
    Inside
    Inside
    Interior

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    Interior
    Le Mistral

    Le Mistral

    4.9
    (14 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    The service is just incredible. That's what stands out the most. We came after having a superb…read moredinner at S.K.Y. and out waitress transferred us to Le Mistral for dessert as we were hoping to end the night with another cocktail. The transition was seamless, the walk through the kitchen was very cool, everyone was very friendly and excited to see guests. Our dessert came quickly to Le Mistral instead of S.K.Y. and was superb. Our waiter at Le Mistral was very friendly, gave some good advice on the cocktails, and was consistently attentive. My cocktail was just OK - sherry-based martini. I don't normally like a martini but all the ingredients actually seemed very much up my alley - the sherry, benedictine, rose vermouth. But the olive just overpowered. And definitely not worth the price of $24... Would definitely return and try the food next time as well.

    We popped in on a Monday night for a nightcap after finishing up at Mon Ami Gabi across the lobby…read more Our experience was meh. I don't know if every Monday is Metal night, but it was that Monday - Black Sabbath, Nu-Metal, everything but the live goldfish. Perhaps they should advertise "Monday Metal at Mistral" if that is to be a regular thing. It does flow off the tongue. To be fair, there was a full house and the other patrons did not seem to mind. We were not looking to feel the noize, however, and so stayed for just one cocktail. Mine was a Sazerac adjacent mix, and it was very high quality. The decor is very low light, but the vibe is pretty basic - more Paint Your Dorm Room black than Parisian Opium Den black. A bit of a missed opportunity for romance.

    Photos
    Le Mistral
    Le Mistral
    Le Mistral

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    Valedor

    Valedor

    4.5
    (86 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Happy hour daily 5-7pm to seat at the bar…read more Reservations are for the tables Happy Hour menus- food for $8 Tuna poke taco $13- salmon is soft. The taco shell is nice and crisp. Al Pastor Gyoza $12- good flavor on the meat. The Gyoza could be more crispy. Quesabirtia roll $12- great flavor. It comes with mole sauce that I would skip. Chicken and Mushroom karaagr $14- actually very good. Good portions. Crispy chicken and mushroom. Nice side dipping sauce. Crispy rice- very disappointing. It is not crispy. Drinks- happy hour $12 drinks. Tamarind sour $16- decent sour. Nice mix. Mano de sol $16- excellent flavor, blood orange, tequila We love lychee $16- great flavor with lychee. Midnight espresso $16: pretty good coffee flavor. Sakreita $15- strawberry- prob bed drink I had. Served in an aluminum can. Pretty cool

    I was lowkey nervous about writing this review because I know this place is already popular... and…read morepart of me wants to keep it a secret. But Valedor is easily a 10/10. From the moment you walk in, everything just clicks -- the atmosphere, the door host, the staff, and the overall level of service. It's one of those places where you can tell the team takes pride in the experience they create. What I really like is how versatile the space feels. It works for a birthday celebration, dinner date, or even an after-work happy hour. No matter the occasion, it fits. If you're thinking about checking it out, make the trip. You won't regret it.

    Photos
    Strip Steak Katsu Sandwich
    Strip Steak Katsu Sandwich
    Crispy Cilantro Lime Rice with spicy salmon
    Crispy Cilantro Lime Rice with spicy salmon
    We love Lychee

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    We love Lychee
    Truce

    Truce

    4.8
    (52 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Wow, Truce is my ideal concept of a space. It's a coffeeshop by day and cocktail bar by night. I…read morecame in during the day on a Thursday to get some work done, and it was such a cool environment. The ambiance is dark and moody inside, but I liked the music they had playing, and there was plenty of seating. They also had free Wi-Fi and outlets! Everything on their menu looked insanely good. I went with the B-A-N-A-N-A-S--it was very tasty, and the banana taste was very strong. It was definitely on the sweeter side so more of a dessert drink, but I enjoyed it. Everything on their menu looked so delicious and well thought out, so I definitely hope to try their other drinks! The service was very fast and friendly. I recommend this spot--will need to be back to try out their drinks in the future! FYI, they become 21+ after 5pm.

    Came here after hearing and reading great things. The drinks were good and very spirit-forward. We…read moretried the in full bloom, peas + carrots, and uma off their spring 2026 menu. We also tried the mango no. 5 off the classics menu. My favorite was the mango no. 5--it was very smooth with a hint of spiciness. We sat in the corner at the bar behind the coffee machine, which was nice because it felt somewhat private. Bartenders tended to leave us alone and not really check on us unless we made direct eye contact with them. The vibe inside felt cozy and intimate, with very low lighting and a few couches to sit. We wanted to try the "cosmic brownie" I read reviews about, but unfortunately they no longer have it. I was excited to hear they are planning to bring it back sometime soon though. Don't know if I'd go out of my way to come back here again, but maybe if I'm in the area and want to check out a new seasonal menu. I'd also consider coming during the day for coffee.

    Photos
    Cortado
    Cortado
    Truce mix and cocktails
    Truce mix and cocktails
    Truce

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    Dorian's - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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