Cool new spot in Wicker Park. Reminds me of Blind Barber in Fulton Market with the walking through a business to get to a bar. Except you can actually get your hair cut at blind barber. I don't think they actually sell records here. Or maybe they do what do I know. We came on a Friday night around 730 (they open at 7) and it was already packed. The decor is slick and kinda feels like you're in someone's fancy basement. They have these overhead fans that are almost seizure-inducing in the way they projected shadows on the tables, but they probably help keeping the room from getting too hot if it gets packed. Maybe if they darkened the room a bit it would help. Music is a little loud for the ambiance (I sound so old) but makes it hard for talking to your friends. We ordered a bunch of food to share and drinks. Their drinks menu looks intriguing, but the only cocktail I tried was the Frooty Loops and it was honestly just ok. Loved the concept (I mean helllooooo cereal milk) but the drink was just not well balanced and was way harsh Tai. Thought it'd be more like a milk punch (I love a good milk punch) but it really wasn't. Hopefully their other drinks are better. There are a few fun ones for sharing. The food, which is Asian-themed, was much better than the one cocktail I tried. We had the Sriracha Fried Peanuts which were super flavorful and mixed with crispy rice. We also had the charcuterie and cheese plate which is very pricey, $8 per meat and cheese (small portions), ended up being $32. The fan favorite was the Berkshire Pork Belly Larb, which is typically a Southeast Asian dish that's essentially like a minced meat served with lettuce wraps. Their version was more like a fried rice (they do give you butter lettuce to make wraps, and you can ask for more if you run out). I love wrapping things in lettuce. Still a really super flavorful dish and the winner of the night. I'll come back and give the cocktails another shot cuz I like the vibe. read more

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I think the concept is fine but the execution comes off as very gimmicky and not very hospitable. First of all, there's always a long wait to get in and you're forced into the tiny front room with the records to wait. That was pretty inconvenient. The drinks are expensive even for the area and are honestly not that good. I had the stirred Akashi whiskey drink and it was an okay, savory-ish cocktail. My friend had some cereal milk concoction that definitely looked real try hard. The loud obscure jazz music definitely didn't help but everyone has their own tastes. Bottom line it wasn't for me. Long waits, sub par cocktails and a weird atmosphere were kind of what I came away with. read more

It's good! The space is dark and comfortable, but lively. The drinks were as good as anywhere else doing the creative cocktail thing these days, but the couple of food dishes I tried (the liver mousse sticks out) were interesting, plated well, and very very tasty. I sat at the bar and the bartenders and staff were all super friendly and outgoing even though I'm pretty sure it was at capacity. It felt welcoming and down to earth in a way that these kinds of places don't sometimes. Zero complaints. Had a great time. read more

Had a great experience at Dorians! Didn't make a reservation, so my friend and I were guided initially to a standing room area by the bar, but we were approached by a server quickly who took our drink orders. Stools didn't take long to open up and we got a good spot right near the stage. Servers were attentive throughout the evening. Very much enjoyed the live music! Unlike some other reviewers, I felt like staff was up front about the $5 cover/entertainment fee, which honestly is not bad at all for the quality of service and music! Will definitely be back! read more

Dorian's has that new, funky, "I'm the cool kid in the group" feel and I can see why. The secret entrance is fun and unexpected and once you get inside, the dark room and low lights make it feel like they don't care who you are or if you showed up unexpectedly, you're gonna have a buzzy ol' good time. The drinks were strong, but good. The bartenders were super nice and gave suggestions about drinks and when we told our bartender we didn't like a particular drink she had made for us, she took it back, no problem. It definitely feels like a date night spot but I saw several groups of friends just hanging out. The music was funky and jazzy and I'd like to see that perk up a bit, hopefully, next time..... read more

Dorian's - Green Juice on the left and Sorry, Eh? on the right. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great little 'secret' spot for drinks & small bites. Bring your s-o for a treat. Or an out of town client for a "behind the curtain" moment. Staff is friendly, the coctails are complicated and can take a little time when it's busy. But, it's worth the wait. My one complaint: while we were there music came from the playlist (as opposed to a DJ/jazz outfit) and one of the "records" that played was an early 2k band called Cursive... I like them. When I'm working out... But it's not exactly coctail lounge music... read more

Came here with a Bachelorette group. Amazing drinks and food! The chicken bao and banh mi were so good!!! We got the stormy daniels and radscorpion for the table and both were really good and we didn't need to get other drinks because they are huge!! read more

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

The door man refused us entry because my friend had alcohol on his breath. It's midnight on a Friday--of course he has had a couple of drinks. None of us were belligerent by any means. My friend was very respectful and tried to talk to him and understand the issue. The door man showed no respect--was condescending and hostile. I've never experienced anything like this before. Very disappointing experience. read more

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

This is my first Yelp review, and I just need to go out of my way to say what a disappointment Dorian's was. I had been wanting to go to Dorian's for months. A secret hideout. Ambiance. Mystery. Sorely disappointed. We went for a friend's birthday. For personal reasons, she hadn't been able to celebrate birthdays in her childhood, so we were hoping to make this special. The staff at Dorian's went out of their way to make us feel like we didn't belong. WARNING: Dorian's is not a venue for special occasions or groups. It is for basic squares to come on their 3rd date to awkwardly spend their way to compromise set to the key of uninspired "music". If you don't fit this sad profile, you are not welcome. The good: The drinks were delicious, honestly. The RSVP system allowed us to get a table. Great. The bad: They charge a $10 deposit per person to RSVP, which kind of sets the tone that they don't trust their customers. Fine. People don't show up, I get it. We were there at 7 PM on a Thursday, the place was 1/3 full. When we got our bill, we were surprised to learn we'd also been charged a $5 "entertainment fee" per person. It's unclear why. Was the DJ on stage considered a "band"? It wasn't good music, I wasn't entertained, it was not worth paying for. For $5 cover you can see an amazing show at the California Clipper, and with a cover at least you're given the advance warning. In addition, they automatically charged a gratuity for our party of 5 people, which in some situations could be OK, except the staff were really ugly to us (see below), so it was like we didn't even have the choice to provide feedback on their service in the form of a tip. The ugly: I told the staff early on, "it's her birthday!" You know, in case they had a tradition of treating people. Because this seems like a special place that people come on special occasions. This probably isn't the first birthday group that's come. Obviously not the first. When someone pulled out a cupcake for our friend, multiple staff people rushed over to inform us "If you open that cupcake container, we will make you leave." Multiple people informed us. No cupcake. Cupcake=boot. Again, I can understand policies or safety or something.. but could they have been nicer about it? For a bar that doesn't even have a dessert menu, is it fair that people might mistakenly think they could bring in a single cupcake? It really soured the whole night and made what was supposed to be a special day a night that left a bad taste in our mouths. Paired that with the multiple hidden fees, and it just felt like we weren't welcome here. I will never be back. read more

This place is super cute. It's a speakeasy, so You enter through a record store and then get instructed to walk through a listening booth where sliding doors open and are greeted by the host. Once you're inside, you're greeted into a dark and intimate setting with a live DJ spinning the sounds of Jazz and funk. There are record stores along an entire wall, that adds elegance and takes you back to a simpler time. The menu consists of both food and drinks. Our table ordered a "Stormy Daniels", which was a punch bowl that came in a Disco ball (yes a literal disco ball) and served 4-6 people. Everything was amazing and I would definitely recommend it. read more

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

Walking up to a very concepty speakeasy, I was expecting to encounter some attitude--whether real or just feigned as part of the atmosphere--but every staffer I encountered was incredibly warm and made us feel very welcome and at ease from the moment we stepped up to show our IDs on the sidewalk. Drinks are potent, and some come in entertaining vessels like disco balls. We didn't order any of the crazier concoctions, but just watching the prep work for them was a show in itself. I'm looking forward to trying out some of the food on a subsequent visit. We apparently got there at the magic moment when the band had announced an upcoming break--causing a lot of tables to become available--so if there's any way to gauge when breaks are scheduled, you might save yourself a wait in the storefront. read more

First of all, when we called them to ask for assistance in locating their establishment, the woman who answered the phone was incredibly unhelpful and clearly did not want to assist us in finding where they were located. Then, after wandering around in the 10° weather and finally finding the front to the bar (I mean to be fair, it is a speakeasy after all), we were told that they would not accommodate our group, even after we offered to split up. We had a large group so we said we would do whatever, but she said "no we won't be able to make that work." Multiple people entered the bar while we were trying to work this out and if we had split up (as we offered), we would have been able to fit. Overall, the staff is incredibly rude and unhelpful, and even if the bar is cool, the people there are so stuck up that you'd be lucky to even be able to experience it. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!! read more

This place is complete trash and would give 0 stars if I could. I waited 40 minutes to be told they were overbooked and could not be let in. Even returned a record that I bought while waiting just because I refuse to support a business model like this, even as a small business owner. read more

Writing this up as we're finishing up our experience at Dorian on a Wednesday night. Fun space and the drinks we ordered were great. BUT we also order the chicken liver mousse for a small bite and that was bad on so many levels. ONE, we were given 8 small pieces of bread that came out half burnt. TWO, the mousse was topped with coconut cream and pineapple bits which is such an odd flavor to pair with chicken liver mousse. THREE, we we told we needed to pay for additional bread when we asked for more to finish the mousse. We had already closed our tabs after ordering a drink, so we didn't want to start a new one just for burnt bread. I'm really offended they wouldn't just give us two more slices. It's not like it would take much from their bottom line. read more

Dorian's is a speakeasy behind a record shop. Went there with a few girlfriends around 7:30/8 pm on a Saturday night and got in without a wait. The majority do their drinks are rum based, so as someone who isn't a rum fan I enjoyed an I-75 cocktail (their take on a French 75)... I definitely prefer the original, but this was an okay alternative. Also ordered the mushroom dumplings and sriracha peanuts. Both were just fine... could only really taste there ginger in the dumplings. The peanuts were ok, but were cut by rice crackers.. the bowl was more rice cracker filler than peanuts in my opinion. Overall, would likely check out other bars first before returning back to this one. read more

Interesting hipster vibe that felt more like a 50's lounge. The cocktail menu is certainly attention grabbing as almost every cocktail sounds amazing. A bit lacking in execution as a few of the drinks missed their marks. Overall, I did enjoy my experience, but not a place I'd rush to come to, especially if I had to wait again. read more

So I haven't been to many speakeasy style bars but Dorian's definitely has vibe! I love coming here on weekends when they're playing live music (I think Thurs. - Sat.). The bar staff is excellent and as long as you're respectful and courteous they will always lift you up (seen some jerks). Overall, I would definitely recommend to sit at the bar during live music if you are a concert goer and love to be right in the music with the artists, or definitely in the back of the room if you like a more chill and pulled back experience. read more

Super cool bar. Love the ambiance. Great staff. Drinks are fairly priced for what you're getting, plus they are DELICIOUS! Definitely will be back :) read more

Was supposed to meet a friend here for drinks at 6pm, but after walking in, was told by someone that there was a shoot going on and Dorian's was closed and would be opening soon. That someone was a person on the shoot, not even an employee. You open at 5pm--why did the shoot go a hour plus past? And why was there no sign on the door or a message online to alert possible patrons? Weird. Left a really bad taste in my Mouth. read more

4.5/5! This speakeasy-style bar is one of my favorites in the city. It has all the things I love: music, style, and delicious cocktails. For a first timer arriving at Dorian's, they might be confused at the fact that it looks like a record shop. But, wandering into the listening booth for a Narnia-esque experience. A wall panel will open and reveal a hidden bar. The bar itself has an entire wall filled with records, a very elegant bar, and seating for around 50. The drinks are clever and delicious. They also have options for group drinks, if that's what you're into. There is a small menu for light bites, but I'd recommend grabbing food beforehand - the drinks are pretty heavy. The only downside to Dorian's is its size. On a weekday, you'll be able to get a seat/table with no issue. But on a prime night like Friday or Saturday, I would recommend getting a reservation. read more

We had an amazing time at Dorian's! After you walk through the record shop and into the listening booth, you enter the bar. All of the decor was really nice and the music was great. Our service was incredible! A really thorough description of drinks and food. Two people in our group were pregnant, so they made us some great mocktails. My friends that enjoyed the drinks said they were delicious. Will definitely recommend to others and will come back for sure! read more

Pros: Good baos, good drinks in fun glasses Cons: We tried taking our friends here at 1am after a show and got turned down from the bouncer because "they were closing in 15 minutes". We didn't understand because they close at 2am but he wouldn't let us in. Missed our business for tonight and future times! read more

Amazing food, drinks and ambience! Excellent service...live music. Loved the detail put into every drink served. Highly recommend.

Awesome inside, clever delicious cocktails, great and fun food. This team keeps knocking it out of the park. Chef Brian Fisher from Entente and Saved by the Max is an absolute mental genius. I love it here and plan to come whenever i'm in town. read more

Awesome atmosphere, delicious drinks and tasty food! Could probably eat a pound of the sriracha peanuts. Service was attentive without being intrusive. Though it was pretty darn full when my group was there, we were still able to chat and hear each other easily. Will definitely be returning!! read more

Love this bar!!! Elegant, laid back vibe, killer cocktails, and some fantastic music. It has become my new "home bar" and I always try to bring friends over. Definitely worth the trip! read more

I came late with a group of 4 friends who were already seated. I was able to tell the man at the front in the record store the reservation name and then someone walked me into the speakeasy part of the bar. I really like the concept of the record storefront and the vibe of the bar is really cool 70's ish but I don't understand why they feel the need to also be a tiki bar. It lacks cohesion and is trying to be too trendy maybe? I think they should stay in one lane. Really missed an opportunity to lean into having music/artist themed cocktails or something. Anyways the cocktails we all ordered were great and even did a shared drink (the stormy Daniels) with 5 straws and it was delicious, boozy, and not too sweet. We had great service our waitress was very knowledgeable and witty. Would recommend to a small group to start the evening. If you come after 8ish there's usually live music and they charge a $5 entertainment fee that is added to your bill. I was told about this by the hostess when entering the bar. But we asked for our check before they started playing so we were not charged. read more

Don't order the old fashioned sounding drink with sesame. The sesame just overwhelms and kills the drink. When we raised this to the bartender, she was just plain rude, shrugged her shoulders, and implied 'too bad, not my problem'. The best bars and bartenders accommodate and ensure people enjoy the drinks they order. Not Dorians. read more

The staff was very unprofessional. Door man was arrogant and condescending. Service took much longer than necessary. The live music was very delayed from initial start time. Drinks are over priced as they are mediocre.The facility and ambiance are well developed however the management seems poor leading to an underwhelming experience. Would not recommend people choose to go here as Chicago has many other amazing options and many are close by. read more

Very cool idea with a super helpful staff! The drink menu is very unique which ended up not being for me. I'd go elsewhere if you'd like traditional cocktails with a twist. These are unique cocktails with a twist. Both of the drinks we ordered I couldn't stomach, they were super earthy tasting. But like I said super cool idea and a great staff just not the place for the average taste that I have. read more

Really cool atmosphere and creative drink menu. Neat how you start in record store before you go in bar. The only reason it was not a 5 star, we were not crazy about the food/menu. read more

Came to Chicago on a business trip and my coworker and I decided to stop in for a cocktail. Well, we ended up spending 5 hours here because it is so fabulous. The folks here are true mixologists, they care about their craft, and the drinks are out of this world. Kelsie, Shelley and John made our night so much fun, mixed us up some of the best drinks I've ever had in my life, and the conversation was just as awesome. The icing on the cake is the atmosphere and music; unique and such a joy to the senses. Go have a coconut old fashioned...I promise you won't regret it. read more

Did'nt spend much time there. Everyone was pretty nice , tho' I had to show ID just to enter the record store area. Then , it was immediately assumed I was going to the bar. I mean , I was , but only to meet a friend. I was told the wait would be about 20 minutes , as were the people behind me. I figured the place was packed , and they had to wait for some people to leave. Turns out , there were 30 to 40 people , tops , inside , and a noticeable lack of standing patrons. When I told the lovely Hostess I'd opted not to stay , as my friend did not turn up, i think that turned her head around , a bit. The record selection , though not large (Maybe about 200 LPs) is quite good , reissues , new and old releases curated by Ric Addy, former owner of the only reason to go Uptown that didn't involve Chinese or Vietnamese food. But , the more people started to fill the small area , the more difficult it got to be to go thru the records. I don't blame the bar patrons , they had nowhere else to stand. I found a good double live LP on The Pink Fairies ( Early UK Hard Rock/Protopunk outfit that still plays , today.). I saw some other, pricier albums that I was interested in , but , the customer turntable was busted. I'd go back just to peruse the LPs (There were no 45s.),but the Wicker Park bar scene holds no interest for me. Not since Club Dreamerz was about the only game in town. John. Still not from San Francisco. read more

Best new bar I've tried in Chicago all year. Everyone loved their cocktails and food favorites included the scallops and short rib bahn mi. Gracious and attentive staff, fabulous music and chill atmosphere. I wish I could live there. read more

Kelsey was an amazing bartender, friendly and didn't mind answering my million questions about the drinks. The cocktail list is outstanding. Usually I like to drink spirits straight or on the rocks, so I'm often regretful when I order cocktails. This was not the case at Dorian's. My partner and I tried four drinks and I can't wait to go back to try the rest! read more

So I went here last night with 3 girlfriends and we loved the concept (speakeasy type bar hidden behind a record store). Had a bit of a wait to get in so two of my friends bought some vinyl. We finally get a table and the inside is pretty cool. Very 70's vibe, good music, etc. We wait about 10+ minutes and no one has acknowledged our table, the servers just keep walking past us. So my friend goes to the bar to order drinks and then our server brings them to us. Cool. Once we are ready to order round 2 our server brings us the tab, tells us we missed last call at 11:30 and they close at 12pm. But yet we just watched them seat 2 tables?! We now realize they are lying to us and clearly want us to leave. We ask to speak to a manager who comes over and thanks us for telling her what happened but offers to do nothing for us. Finally, she takes 25% off the bill. We were very disappointed in how this was handled as we did absolutely nothing wrong, and were expected just to leave. Still not sure why our server blatantly lied to us, why they wanted us to leave so badly and why the manager didn't seem to care, but I live in the neighborhood and go out frequently - I will be sure to tell everyone I know to steer clear of this place. read more