First of all, I'd like to advise potential visitors to not be intimidated by the lack of a front sign, or the slightly confusing way to enter the building. Given the slightly pretentious nature of nearby coffee shops and bars on Mass, one might assume that this kind of establishment would only welcome patrons who choose to cover themselves in tattoos, piercings, and sport horn-rimmed glasses as big as they can handle. Definitely not the case! I've been absolutely shocked at how incredibly warm and inviting the staff at John Brown Underground have been on the multiple occasions I've visited this place. They are very patient and thorough with their recommendations, and seem genuinely interested in your satisfaction with your order. The drink menu does a great job of introducing relatively unique drinks without going overboard, and you can always find something for everyone. The food is also delicious, and is perfect to nibble on while you're enjoying the relaxing mood and dim lighting around you. Ideally, the prices could come down a bit on the beverages, but they do offer a happy hour that makes their cocktails much more affordable. To be fair though, their drinks are strong enough that only 1 or 2 will get the job done! They've just opened up a beautiful room upstairs that should be open for private parties in the near future. I plan to have my rehearsal dinner there, and will post an update following the event. So far, the chef, staff, and owner have been an absolute pleasure to work with! I would recommend this place to anyone for a truly unique Lawrence experience. read more

John Brown Underground - Side room of the upstairs area that can be reserved for private parties. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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This place left a great impression on us. Our bartender was incredibly knowledgeable & friendly! I hate that I cannot remember his name!! It was truly wonderful speaking to him, especially after living in NYC & Las Vegas. We have friends coming into town soon & we cannot wait to take them here. read more

Having never visited Lawrence Kansas my best friend Carol K showed me this little gem. Hidden SO well I had to bend over and look hard in a window to tell if there was actually a business located there....and I am glad there was as we had a nice wait staff help us select several cocktails. Small and intimate this is probably very much like what a speakeasy looked like back in those days. A lovely little establishment folks should check out if they find themselves in this part of the country. read more

Absolutely amazing! Even through COVID the staff has been extremely accommodating to make the environment safe, welcoming and intimate for the guests. All drink recommendations have been spot on for each member of our party this evening and we could not be more satisfied! In many ways, John Brown Undergound not only competes with some of the most competitive cocktail bars in downtown Kansas City, it surpasses them! I couldn't recommend more for an incredible cocktail bar experience. read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Maybe I went on a bad night or maybe John Brown Underground is new and still working out the kinks. Seems to be a disconnect between the wait-staff and the bar. One would hope an establishment going for a speakeasy vibe would want to get their drinks* and service right... unfortunately, both need work. Drinks: $7-$10/drink, relatively cheap (I live in NYC though) I ordered the botanist and a dirty Hendricks martini dry -- if we could up the ratio of alcohol please. *But drinks are based on preference so do not let my review of the drinks weigh-in on your decision to try this place out. Service: The waitress (bless her heart) was slow, slow, slow-- her excuse "We are slammed this Friday night." Slammed is a subjective term, I do not see 20 so odd people as slammed, but okay. When we spoke to her about the service, rather than apologize and ask if there was anything she could do to make our experience more pleasurable, as we sat waiting forever -- (Here is a an example, "So sorry for the wait. We are a little backed up at the bar. Can I bring you some of our sack o' nuts or one of our other snacks while you wait?") She instead, gave us slight attitude and excuses -- boo-boo no. She was also either uninformed or her slowness/inattentiveness is the reason we ordered food, sat, and waited, all for her to come back and tell us "The kitchen is closed." However, the owner has service down to a "T" -- He is the only reason this place did not get a one star review. Eh, for Lawrence it is something different but not that great (or even good) YET (hoping for improvement). read more

Wow! What a great place. The staff and the cocktails were incredible. Small cocktail bar with a great selection of artisan spirits. The cocktails were well balanced the presentation were in point. Very knowledgeable staff, creative cocktails. A great classic cocktail bar, this place is a hidden gem read more

Excelente place, drinks and service. We have a beautiful night with my wife there. Totally recommend it.

Minds are thinkin' about your drinkin' at J-bud (a/k/a John Brown's Underground) Logan asked for our imagination and wishes , then filled the proper glass with his solution. read more

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This place is vastly underrated and part of me wants to keep it that way for selfish reasons. John Brown Underground doesn't get enough credit for their extremely knowledgeable bartenders and creativity. One thing to keep in mind is that this is a cocktail bar. Yes they do have a small selection of beer and wine but you are missing out if you don't try something from their carefully crafted menu. read more

Choose to sit near the front of the bar if possible. Had great service from our waiter, Jack. The drinks were all very original and so amazing!! Loved this place! read more

A solid four stars because it nicely fills a niche that was otherwise missing in Lawrence, and because there is loads of potential for this place to be top-notch. Though nobody with a liquor license can really be a speakeasy, and I think even modeling yourself as one is the first step towards inauthenticity, I can absolutely respect what the owners of John Brown Underground have done with the space. I mean, it used to be a used video-game shop and now it's a cozy and moody subterranean cocktail lounge. That's definitely an upgrade. The bar is handsome, and the seating areas are comfy. With dim lights and on-point music selections, if I still lived in Lawrence, I could see myself being here more often than I'd like to admit. We went through about half of their specialty cocktail menu, with my selections squarely focused on those with bourbon or scotch as a base spirit. They were made well, and i enjoyed them well enough but... well... they were kind of boring. The selections are sort of a middle-ground between classic cocktails and original creations. For example? My Rob Roy has lemon bitters instead of the traditional Angostura while my Sazerac tossed out the lemon in favor of grapefruit. I mean, they were fine, but I'd prefer to see the classics stay classics and let the bartenders create wholly new drinks for a specialty menu. I mean, the bartender made us a fantastic rye whiskey and coffee cocktail of his own invention, and it impressed me more than anything off menu. They are awfully new, so hopefully this will be switched up once they've all gotten a bit more comfortable in their day-to-day operation. The prices are probably a bit prohibitive for the college crowd, which in turn is probably a cause for celebration of the townie crowd. Drinks were $9 a pop, but if you're thrifty and thirsty, never fear! Happy hour (4-6, I believe) means half price the entire menu! $4.50 for a quality cocktail! Yes please! I didn't get a chance to try the food menu, but it looks just fantastic. I'd recommend at least giving it a look-over. One other tiny complaint: dude, cocktail napkins are not an acceptable replacement for paper towels in the restrooms. Literally anything else would have been better than cocktail napkins. It's pretty likely that I won't be back to Lawrence for a couple of years, but when I do, I'll definitely stop in here for a drink. I'll love to see how it evolves and improves. read more

The atmosphere can be romantic if you please or relaxing if you don't please. The mixologist crafted the perfect drink for me and the menu was creative with unique combinations. The waitress was knowledgeable and courteous. Overall, it was a great experience. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 due to the price as it definitely was higher than expected- though, quality was high. read more

I've finally been to a speakeasy. Sorta. The place is very period. With just about every detail attended to, including a red light to indicate no entry. (I dunno if that is traditional.) I would prefer the sliding view port and a password but beggars cant be choosers. The name and some of the interior pay homage to the famous John Brown of the Underground Railroad. The rest is done with whiskey barrels and nice furniture. It felt almost necessary to be dressed in a dark suit with a open collar with my quiff done up just right.... almost. I have a bit of warning for those of you who would talk behind someones back. The acoustics make the toilets into megaphones. So, if you bull$#!+ about getting into Betty's dress, she may just come back and throw your drink in your face before storming out. I think it is because of the stone and the pipe cutouts but I really have no clue. A well intention-ed bad? They have a cooked Broccoli and Cauliflower small plate. Two things I really like but in a small place makes it seem like everyone in their has really bad gas. We had the windows open and could get fresh air. As the weather gets chilly and those windows come down, I would suggest not having that small plate on the menu. It smells noxious. And I love eating those items, just I prefer them to come from a well ventilated kitchen. The drinks. What would a review of a speak easy be without a drink review? Not much I imagine. The ladies had Mint Juleps. Said they were tasty. I had a horse feather and it was very good. The perfect balance of bourbon and the rest was additive not overwhelming the flavor of the bourbon. I despise a weak drink and this was perfect. The other fella got a Prohibition Punch. He said it was very tasty but it came in a cute stemmed glass and was half the volume of our drinks. (It appeared that way but that wide flat glass likely held the same amount. Still if you wanna be a manly-man (insert obligatory grunt and chest bump), do not get that. It looks quite dainty. Another well intention-ed bad. My friend's second drink was a Boulevard Wheat with a lemon. The bottle came with a huge lemon stuck on it. So huge in fact, all of us took turns trying to jam it into the bottle neck. Now perhaps it was a ordering mistake BUT he could see the draft taps and expected a pint not a bottle. So maybe he should have said Drought or perhaps the staff should just ask if they have both...right? If your entire focus is having a nice drink then all attention should be given to doing that well. Seriously though, who drinks a bottled craft beer when draft is there? Not I, Not I. This place really makes me think about British or Scottish pubs. Not those theme BS places but real corner pubs, where locals stop by every single day for their daily pint, a bit of conversation and some socializing. All in all, I would go back except the cab ride back to KC would be difficult for that daily pint. Definitely check it out if you are in the area. If I lived down the street, it would be my new watering hole. You will enjoy the atmosphere and the drinks. But seriously guys the smell of cooking cauliflower.... read more

We had drinks and they were fantastic. The waitress did a great job of explaining the menu. She had a flair to her and took her job very seriously. I ordered the smoky-spicy from the flavor profile portion of the menu and it definitely didn't disappoint. read more

My friend and I got a half liter of wine and with it came cheese dip and waffle fries. All for $8, I don't think it can get better! Definitely a great place to come with friends or a significant other. Lots of plates and beverage options to share. New spring menu is coming out soon! If you're in Lawrence, stop by!! read more

John Brown Underground - The cheese dip and waffle fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

It was okay. Drinks a bit overpriced and not the atmosphere to sit and enjoy a few cocktails. From all I had heard in the past I was expecting more of an experience. read more

Cosy subterranean speakeasy-type vibe with a small but well-thought out menu. Lawrence types can picture an underground Bourgeois Pig with food. The whole package is fairly well executed. The chef's choice of menu items, flavor combinations and food pairings were well thought out, creative, and tasty (at least on the four items I sampled). The kitchen executes well. The one dessert item is worthy and interesting, if not absolute perfection (should philo dough have that much chew to it?). Our server was friendly and helpful. Cocktails were good. Why not five stars? A few less than optimal choices. The cheap, institutional-quality flatware detracts from the overall vibe, as does the plastic trays in which the food is presented on brown paper. Serving on paper could work (and no doubt simplifies running a quality kitchen in a small space), but you need to have some wood blocks or something nice under there to preserve the aesthetic. My secret? I attended mid-week. Not sure I would have enjoyed myself as much on a crowded night. read more

Since graduating from KU and moving to Chicago, I've enjoyed occasionally returning to Lawrence to see friends and revisit old haunts. On this particular visit I found my way into John Brown's Underground. The Underground's atmosphere is one steeped in the old and new - the small, intimate, and clandestine nostalgic feel of the American prohibition era speakeasy is coupled with playful accents referencing recent KU and Jayhawk history. The 20s/30s period music filling the space is played at levels conducive to conversation, and along with the cozy intimacy of the space, the Underground provides a near perfect setting for meeting and chatting with old friends, business clients, or a romantic date. The execution of the Underground's decor is impressive - clean, beautifully complex, and classy. But the space is only one element, and arguably not the most impressive, which the Underground offers its visitors. During my visit to Lawrence, I went to the Underground 4 times, each time trying different items off the menu. I tried the following drinks. - Pimms Cup - Pisco Sour - The Abby - French 75 - Prohibition Punch I tried the following food items - Sack O' Nuts - Brown's Burgers - Speakeasy - Amelia's Purse - Chorizo and Bacon Breakfast Burrito (The Underground serves a delicious brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings) The drinks I had were well-executed. Each drink was strong and the flavor profiles complex but not overpowering in any one respect. While a strong cocktail is to be expected in any speakeasy, I was impressed with the delicate complexity of flavors that played off each other in each drink I tried. At the Underground, I not only got a "strong" shot of booze, but a well-tailored concoction that helped me appreciate the difference and obvious distinction between a bartender and top-notch mixologist. I believe the lead mixologist at the Underground is a lady named Kate - not sure her background, but she has created a stunning and commendable seasonal drink menu. Of the drinks I could recommend, the Prohibition Punch won't disappoint. It is a cocktail served hot and in the coming winter months, I guarantee will be a seasonal favorite. Perhaps the biggest surprise came by way of the quality and execution of the food. In a speakeasy, one expects the cocktails to be executed at the highest level, but the food, if any is provided, always plays second fiddle to the drinks. Here, you will be happily surprised and perhaps like me, stunned by the food you get. On my first visit, I ordered the Sack O' Nuts and the Speakeasy sandwich with egg. What I got was not "bar food", but well-thought out flavor profiles that are on par with high-end restaurants on Chicago's Randolph St. Absolutely nothing is taken for granted, and everything I tried was exceptional. I briefly talked with Sarah, who developed the menu and is the head chef at the Underground. She has an obvious passion for her work, talented, and has set high standards for the quality of food that leaves her kitchen. Overall, the Underground's strength is in its careful attention to details, to not overlook the quality or importance of any one factor: atmosphere, food, or drink. While John Brown's Underground is the new kid on the block in Lawrence, it has huge potential to become a local favorite and must go-to destination spot for visitors. With the team of talent the Underground has assembled early on, the future of the speakeasy seems to be bright. I will look forward to visiting again next time I'm in town. If you can find the Underground, I highly recommend you try it. :) read more

Always the best cocktails and atmosphere. I cannot recommend this place enough. The drinks are always complex and phenomenal. I have never had a bad drink here. The staff is highly knowledgeable and can help if you are tentative about any part of the menu. The cocktails and menu graphics showcase great artistry and the prices are very reasonable. Definitely stop by and try it out. read more

Great experience overall. Wonderful waiter with great advice at ordering and drinks. We ordered the charcuterie board and the antipasto skewers and were not disappointed. The jam is not to be missed. The drinks were really good, and although I might wish they were a little less pricey, they pack a wallop. Great recipes and very smooth. WONDERFUL ambiance and music!! We'll definitely be regulars. This is why you choose to live in Lawrence as adults. read more

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My favorite​ hidden spot in Lawrence, great place to take a date or longtime​ friend who is visiting! The bartenders are extremely knowledgable and have great recommendations​. read more

Only been here once, but came with a group of three and each of our cocktails were simply devine. Creative, artistic, and most importantly tasted! Will definitely come back! read more

Whoa! Fake speakeasies are so hot! This place is hot hot hot! Hot drinks. Hot clientele! Whoa so hot! Bartender oddly fouled up my martini, but this place is so rad and cool and radical and awesome and exclusive that I was happy. Ha ha! There I was! UNDERGROUND! Everyone else has to drink overground! Ha ha hahaha! Ha ha ha! I don't care if there were problems with the cocktails, or if they were horribly overpriced. I'm rich so I gave 200% tips, because I knew I was good and decent. I was underground where the hotties drinks. No! Overgrounders stay out! THIS PLACE IS COOL read more

This place is a gem. Classy craft cocktails & an incredible wait staff paired with a unique, candle-lit ambiance. Not sure where to start when it comes to cocktails? The knowledgeable mixologists behind the bar can craft a custom drink based on your preferences - just choose 3 words to describe the type of drinks you typically enjoy (i.e. fruity, dry, bubbly). Pro tip - to get the maximum amount of attention from the staff, drop in right when they open...the place fills up quickly! Also, don't sleep on the doughnut shop upstairs. read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

The true nostalgia of a speakeasy. Hard to find if you don't know of this secret underground bar. Amazing classic cocktails and drinks, made with fresh ingredients and local herbs. A small food menu that's perfect for a quite night for a date or a small group. Bartenders are amazing and friendly that have the tastebuds for perfect daily specials. read more

This bar, which opened last year, is the only of its kind. Some might disagree, as it fits the "vibe" of other places downtown, but, it is hidden and most first learn of it through word of mouth. Right off of Mass Street, it is down a few stairs, marked only by a light in the window. Inside, the decor is pleasant and gives off the vibe of a speakeasy. The cocktails and drinks are strong and taste good. The snack food hits the spot too. I only give it 4/5 because of the price. For the amount you pay, the quantity is rather lacking. Yes, quality matters more than quantity, however there comes a fine line depending on how much you pay. I would recommend this place. Especially if you are looking for an upscale bar in Lawrence. read more

This was honestly one of the most disappointing bars I've been to in Lawrence (and I've been to 73 LFK bars!). I know the "speakeasy" style bar is sort of trendy these days, but it took me forever to try John Brown Underground. On the day I finally made it, it was about half full. My friend and I walked in and were greeted with a "sit anywhere", so we headed to the bar which was empty. Then one man who was working there said "Oh, it's two of you? You should sit over there." and pointed to two easychairs near the entrance. We felt like they were using us as decorations, rather than allowing us to be patrons. So we sat there, even though the seats were far enough apart so that it was hard for us to hear each other (and difficult to move closer because they were on a weird platform), and there was a weird vintage-style-but-new lamp really close to one seat. The lamplight was really close to my friend's face and was clearly for decoration rather than lighting, so she turned it off. A few minutes later, the man who'd directed us to sit there came by and asked why the lamp was off. She said she turned it off because it was distracting and he yells across the bar, "Mystery solved, guys! They turned it off!" It just seemed weird and felt like he was drawing too much attention to us. Anyway - the cocktails. I had one called the Frida Bebida. I'm a sucker for tequila and chili. This one advertised tequila, lime, chili flakes, and rosemary. This was surprisingly bad. It tasted like watered down tequila. There were a few sparse chili flakes, but no infusion so there wasn't much chili flavor. There must have been just a squeeze of lime, and the rosemary was just garnish. It was one of the worst $10 cocktails I've ever had. My friend had a bourbon and cherry bitters drink that she liked quite a bit, so that's the only reason JBU is getting 3 stars and not fewer. Overall, a really disappointing experience for something I'd been excited to try. read more

Tip: Try their Bottomless Boozy Brunch on the weekends. It's $20 for bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary's with several food options off their breakfast menu. I've been to John Brown Underground twice. The first time was for their brunch. The food was great -- I had a sandwich made up of hashbrown patties, egg, and broccoli that was deliciously decadent -- but their drinks leave a lot to be desired. I ordered a mimosa, but I saw the bartender pour the drink out of a mix. The champagne in the drink was flat, and it cost $5 for a crappy pre-made drink. The second time I went was during their Happy Hour. We ordered some cheese fries among other appetizers, which everybody at the table snarfed down. Our cocktails were very heavy on the alcohol, and mine was almost too strong to finish. I think I'll stick to their beer and wine list next time. The place has a very cool atmosphere, drawing inspiration from a 20's speakeasy. The unassuming nature of the bar (which doesn't even have a sign out front) make it a hidden gem in this college town. And you don't even need to know a password for this speakeasy! read more

I recently ventured downtown to find John Brown Underground, not totally sure if the whispered rumors heard around the Lawrence bar scene were indeed true. With the help of a couple of friends, I located JBU in the basement of a building (formerly the host of a video game store). JBU's owners have styled it as a "speakeasy," and I am not sure what that term is really supposed to mean 81 years after prohibition was overturned. I suppose it is a term that today is more closely associated with creating mystique around an establishment like JBU, rather than insinuating the selling of bathtub gin. When you arrive at JBU, you have to wait outside until there is available seating inside; we were told by a staff member that this is to create a more personal experience with the environment of the bar. I really appreciate this aspect of the bar, because it shows a bit more care with the patrons. When you actually gain entry into the bar, the experience is pretty much the standard fare of many other downtown watering holes, with the great exception of not having to fight your way through a hundred frat guys to get a drink. The ambience inside is not exactly "speakeasy," as it is too loud, a bit too bright, and two large windows that open to the street outside work against any sense of privacy; there is also a hideously colorful mural on one of the walls that is very distracting. There is a back room to JBU that patrons can apparently only gain access to by invitation or reservation, or so the prophecies suggest. The drinks on the menu are all classic 1920s era cocktails. I ordered a vodka martini with olives, and when it was delivered by our server, the three olives were not on a toothpick, but just plopped in the bottom of the glass, which meant fishing them out with my fingers. My compatriots ordered a Rob Roy and a Pimm's Cup. We all agreed that the drinks were fine, but perhaps not special enough to justify their prices. John Brown Underground is an interesting idea, and it will get better as time goes on, and I look forward to dropping in again...and maybe seeing what is in that back room. read more

I love the IDEA, it's just not up to par YET. I caught bartenders at shift change. First guy was owners' husband, kind of filling in. Second bartender said he'd been tending about three weeks. Both did ok, but both rookies. Nothing against either, but it feels like a trial by fire, which is unfortunate when you make your name on high end cocktails. I mean if you haven't poured many rum and cokes, expecting a bartender's take on a Manhattan is a bit sketch. It's evident they need a better training program. Plenty of bartenders willing to work hard though so I know it will get better. Truly, I only have one complaint and it will sound weird. The glasses stink. They smell as though they've been washed in a dirty pond. I had three cocktails and each glass reeked, which is unfortunate because a cocktail is as much about smell as taste. I truly think this place is a welcome change to Lawrence and I want it to do well but better training and fresh water in the sink are in need. read more

Went here on Sunday night and enjoyed the food. It was familiar flavors that were well-prepared. The small plates were interesting in their conception, like egg salad with capers in a ham cup. The standout was the speakeasy sandwich--nice bacon with Brie and a fig jam that lets the fig speak for itself. read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Super limited menu for breakfast, seems like it's just a front to keep the bar open. The cheese plate didn't come with a carb and the portions on the main dishes were really small. They either need to do more or change the concept. read more

Both times I've been there it reeked of used cooking oil, which I assume was coming from the kitchen upstairs. I ordered an old fashioned and I'm not sure what they made, but it wasn't anything like an old fashioned. Servers are nice, the place is a bit dark and cramped, and the prices aren't worth the results. read more

Excellent speak easy type bar with low lighting!!! Staff is very knowledgeable about their drink options. The drinks are funky and wonderful!!! Love this place!!! Would definitely go back!!! read more

Worst service ever. Felt like I was pushed into the backroom because I didn't meet some sort of requirement. Get your shit together and be more welcoming. read more

My wife and I stopped here for drinks before going out to eat. This is a fun spot with a sharp staff. The atmosphere was unique and cozy. A cool place to take someone who is visiting or to stop in with a date. read more

Love alllll the whiskey cocktails at John Brown Underground!! Beautiful atmosphere, kind staff, smaller room in the back, amazing painting of the man himself. Don't sit close to the door/old windows in the winter, otherwise a must stop for an evening in Lawrence! read more

Lawrence is definitely upping their cocktail game. John Brown Underground is a tiny little bar with a cozy, speakeasy vibe. All the drinks we tried from the cocktail menu were great and they also can make a pretty mean Old Fashioned. This is the perfect spot for a quiet, laid-back night with friends. read more

While the bar downstairs has a cool trendy vibe with good drinks, the brunch they offer upstairs is a sad excuse for brunch. The menu is very limited but sounded interesting, so we were excited to get our food. It took about 45 minutes for most of us to get our food, and everyone was disappointed with the outcome. One of us ordered the chicken and waffles, and it didn't make it out until everyone else had already finished their food. The chicken patty on the waffles was described as Tyson chicken nuggets, the 'hash browns' seem like frozen breaded potato patties, and the biscuits and gravy were bland and a sad serving size. It's sad that The Waffle Iron was kicked out of this space for JBU's brunch, and definitely wasn't worth the city giving JBU a temporary liquor license for not selling enough food. In a city with great breakfast/brunch, this is far below par. read more

This unexpected little haunt is home to the best Mixologist I have ever met. Logan will tempt you, challenge you, and leave you wanting another of his special cocktails. read more