This place was super fun! I love that you have to knock on the door that doesn't look like a door to get in. It's a tiny little space with a great speakeasy. Feel you feel like you're back in the 1920s hiding to drink alcohol. That's fun to me for some reason. The hourly shows were a lot shorter than I expected. Each one ran about eight minutes, but they were cute. It's nice and intimate when the shows aren't going, so a fun place to hang out. The eight dollar cover charge for the shows was fine. I really like that they warn you about it before you go in. The drinks were really good. They're twisted on an old-fashioned was tasty. A bunch of their signature drinks looked fun. I would definitely go back if I were local. read more

The Drifter - Bullet holes seem fitting in a good way. - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a neat spot, we added ourself to the queue since it's limited. I would suggest getting there early so you don't have to wait. Food was tasty, and the overall environment was moody, and kinda spooky which is def my vibe. read more

This is one of my favorite bars in Chicago! I've been here three times now. It's hidden inside the basement of The Green Door Tavern, Chicago's oldest tavern. The speakeasy bar is absolutely perfect for such an old building, and it truly feels like you step back in time when you come here. The bar is dimly lit and features antique decor. I absolutely love how it's decorated. It's a pretty tiny space, so you might have to wait if you come on a Saturday night. We came at 5:10pm right after they opened and were seated right away. They have a 90-minute time limit for seating. I love the live shows they have here that happen every hour (burlesque, magicians, and other talents). The first show wasn't going to start until 6:30 so we had to stick around for a bit, which was fine because we ordered two drinks. Cover charge for the show was $8, which is automatically added to your bill. Every night their cocktail menu is decided by their drink tarot cards. They also have a menu with their seasonal cocktail specials and small food items. You never know what you'll discover here! It's truly a surprise every time. read more

See all

The "speakeasy" appeal was interesting, but the drinks were underwhelming. It has a cozy and sneaky vibe with the dungeon-feel and a projected screen. However, the loud music was a downer. I tried the "sun's out guns out". It's supposed to be bourbon and ginger beer based drink. But the overt sweetness numbs any other sense of taste. Wait was manageable. read more

See all

The Drifter may be the coolest bar experience I've had in Chicago. Hidden behind one of the city's oldest bars, it feels like you've accidentally stumbled into a secret society that happens to serve outstanding cocktails. The atmosphere is incredible--dark, intimate, and just mysterious enough to make you wonder if you've entered the wrong door (you haven't). The real surprise was the entertainment. At some point, a stage appeared in a place I could have sworn did not contain a stage five minutes earlier. The first performer delivered a gymnastics-inspired routine that completely defied both physics and common sense. Let's just say flexibility was involved, and leave it at that. The final act was equally impressive--a dancer who clearly knew exactly what she was doing and owned every second of the performance. The whole vaudeville-meets-speakeasy vibe was unlike anything I've seen elsewhere. The staff deserves special recognition. They were fun, friendly, and remarkably understanding. My partner managed to break a glass during the evening, and not only did they handle it with grace, they somehow avoided making her feel embarrassed about it. Considering she also misplaced several other items throughout the night, their patience should probably qualify them for some sort of hospitality award. The drinks were perfectly made, the prices were refreshingly reasonable for a place this unique, and the entire experience felt effortlessly cool. Chicago has no shortage of great bars, but The Drifter is an experience. Come for the cocktails, stay for the surprise performances, and leave wondering where the stage came from--and whether your partner still has possession of all her belongings. read more

A fun speakeasy experience overall. The cocktails were excellent--while I don't recall the exact names, we ordered from their tarot card menu, which added a fun twist. We also tried the deviled eggs, which were pretty standard. The ambiance was great, with lively cabaret-style performances adding to the vibe. The only downside was being seated at the bar, which felt a bit cramped, especially since the space is smaller than we anticipated. Still, it didn't take away from the fun--we had a great night! read more

See all

Absolutely brilliant experience. I don't want to say more so I dont give too much away.. this place was hella cool! Great service, amazing drinks and snacks. Check it out!! read more

Cool speakeasy downtown stairs, went early in the night and only had to wait 10 minutes. We got to see the burlesque show which is every 45 minutes. Drinks were okay. Vibe was cool and chic. read more

Finally made it to The Drifter! And it did not disappoint. We swung by on a Thursday night and managed to get in 15 min before the burlesque show--which was totally unexpected! We didn't know why there was a cover charge when we walked in, but it was totally worth it! Apparently it happens every hour on the hour. Anyway, my cocktail with grapefruit and gin was really refreshing and tasty. It wasn't overly sweet or sour; it was a really well-balanced drink that was almost a little smooth! The bartender was knowledgeable and helpful. I definitely recommend this experience! read more

The Drifter - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

On a Friday night we only had to wait ~15 minutes for a table for 2. The live performances every 40 minutes or so were risqué and fun and definitely worth the $8 cover. We loved the unique cocktails and the chickpeas were crispy perfection. read more

See all

Always so fun! Speakeasy underneath the Green Door. You get your name on the list then go back upstairs for some divy fun! Often takes like 30-60 mins on busy nights to get in and well worth it! I believe this was a real speakeasy in the past so has all the ambiance of secrecy. There are show every 30-45 mins, currently it was all unique burlesque shows which were fun and funny! The drinks are listed on tarot cards, which is fun. I tried the chickpeas snack (so crispy and delicious) and deviled eggs, and they were both fantastic. Overall always fun and flirty! read more

See all

The hour long wait was worth it! Grabbed drinks upstairs while we waited. Your tab HAS to be closed upstairs before you make your way to The Drifter. This place was great. A new performer every 45 mins. We were able to watch 2 shows while we were there. Also enjoyed great drinks and a nice, dimly lit, ambiance. I recommend if you're out in Chicago, local or visiting. read more

The Drifter - Drinks cards - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I loved this place and if you were looking for the perfect date bar, then this is it. I want my boyfriend because he loves speakeasies and I would argue that this is the best in the city. They have specialty cocktails that are shown to you on tarot cards and a wide range of very expertly made drinks. The atmosphere is the best part because it is below green door Tavern and they often have burlesque shows going on throughout the night. Although the shows only lasted five minutes they were honestly such a cool experience to watch and the dancers were really talented. I would definitely go back here and recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic date night spot and something different. Excellent service as well. read more

A wonderful Speakeasy located under the historic Green Door Tavern. It's got your quintessential speakeasy vibes: underground, totally different space than the bar above; unassuming entrance; dim lights; drink menu on tarot cards; burlesque entertainment. Their unique cocktails are great and staff super nice. If able to make a reservation, highly recommend to ensure you can get in. read more

This place is a hidden little gem! I had no idea what I was getting into when I went here. We walked into an open bar and found the stairs leading to this cute spot. It's a very small space so it was tight inside but it was well worth it!! I absolutely loved the peep/burlesque show! My drink was delicious and so was my wife's drink... we ended up having several especially since we were conveniently seated at the bar. I also loved the tarot card style drink cards that served as the menu! Super cool! As my first time visiting Chicago June 2023, this was a must!! I'm headed back to Chicago next weekend and plan on going again!! Definitely check it out! I'll update this review & photos after I visit again next weekend! Stay tuned! read more

See all

I checked out the Drifter because of the positive reviews, but I found it to be overpriced and overrated. First, the drinks were okay but mine were mostly ice, definitely not worth $16-$17 per drink. Second, the show was not what was advertised, as it was a musical performance instead of a burlesque dancer. I also had a weird interaction with the performer and left 5 minutes into the show, so I did not feel that the $8 cover charge was justified. Finally, the hostess had an attitude and seemed annoyed whenever customers arrived. If we're supposed to wait outside or at the entrance to be greeted, maybe management should put up a sign saying so instead of having an attitude with potential customers. My advice for other visitors is to save your money and check out one of Chicago's many other amazing bars/speakeasies. read more

Cool atmosphere, needs to be experienced, but underwhelming drinks. This place is a true speakeasy - you go in The Green Door, and I don't think there is any signage or indication of any kind that the bar is hiding in the basement. Walk past the bar and look for stairs on the left side, heading to the bathrooms. At the bottom of the stairs, there is a bookcase on the right with a door knob. Head in to find The Drifter. The main draw of the place is the burlesque performances. Every hour on the hour someone comes out and puts on a 5 minute show. Very fun atmosphere to hang out in. They add a $7 cover per person to your bill to cover the costs of the entertainment, but it is well worth it. Between performances, they project burlesque-themed films on the curtain, which is fun. The signature cocktails are printed on custom tarot cards. Cool touch. I tried one with banana and becherovka, two of my favorite flavors. It was good, but I would say a bit too sweet for my tastes. My wife had a dirty martini and said it was probably the worst she has ever had, and she has had many. She couldn't even finish it. Too bad. If they could work on the drinks, this place would be top notch. read more

Hidden Gem at the Green Door Tavern, Drifter brings in an experience with its delectable selection in cocktails and a show every hour. Dimly lit atmosphere with bottle cut outs that make the lamp, create the vibe of the place. We got a table close to the stage and were able to catch the 4th of July performance which was interesting to say the least. My most favorite part about Drifter is the concept of drinks written on Tarot cards I absolutely love the idea and it makes this experience 100 times better! Features expertly crafted cocktails with a twist in every one of them! Drifter never disappoints! read more

See all

Told to leave because someone 'reserved' our table.... There was 5 other free tables. They told us we had to leave 10 minutes AFTER we paid a cover for a show. My date and I got a weird look from one of the servers when we asked for forks for cheese curds we ordered. read more

Such a cool and historic speakeasy. The drinks were good and the atmosphere was fun. This would be a good spot for a date or hanging out with a small group of friends. The space is very very small and there is a stage at the front. We waited upstairs at Green Door Tavern for about an hour for our table downstairs which was also a fun spot! Every 45 minutes they have a show and this comes at an additional cost of $7 per person. I found this to be a bit steep considering the show is only about 3-4 minutes in total. Besides that, everything was great and I would come back. read more

The Drifter - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A wait for 15min. Not too long of a wait even just for 1. Drinks were great. I asked the bartender to surprise me with something dry and with gin. The burlesque show was fun - happens every 45min - I saw 1 performer do 1 song. Nice that the bar has coat hangers read more

TL;DR : Drinks are awful and the show is not worth the cover charge. I LOVED The Drifter...two years ago. I'm not sure what's changed, but our experience last night was not great. Wednesday night got a seat at the bar right away (great!). Seater mentioned an $8/person cover charge would be added to the bill for the show that is every hour on the hour (amazing!). We sat down at the bar ordered a couple of drinks that were quite literally the worst cocktails I'd ever tasted. My girlfriend's was overly sour/limey and mine was the most gaggingly bitter cocktail I've ever had. We didn't really get a check back from the bartender, either. Whatever, lots of bad cocktails around Chicago. We sat and waited for the show. Show started at 8pm and was fun. Girl was doing hula hoop tricks. All of a sudden the curtain closed and the girl went off stage....after a five minute show. Asked the bartender if that was it...and he said "Yep, but there's another show at 9." An $8/person cover charge for a 5 minute show (of a girl hula hooping) is absurd. Go to Green Mill and pay a $20 cover for a true experience and show. Go to Andy's Jazz Club and have a decent show for the money. I'm really upset at how upset I am about how awful the experience at Drifter was because I'd been recommending it to people for years since my first experience in 2022. I will probably never come back unfortunately. Vibe is cool, but maybe just stay upstairs at Green Door instead. read more

Cool spot. We came after an early dinner to check out the burlesque show. The small undergound spot gets packed in tight. We didn't have to wait long to get a table, but we came pretty early in the evening. The tarot menu cards are super cute. The burlesque show was a little short, but a lot of fun. We had a good time. read more

See all

Overall 3.5/5. Really cool venue with a cozy atmosphere. Unfortunately, the drinks are underwhelming. If they work on their cocktails this could become a great spot. Also, be forewarned all the live shows are burlesque of a man or woman. There's also an $8 cover charge per person that is not mentioned to you beforehand. Decent experience but we probably won't be back. There's too many great bars in this city. read more

The Drifter - Inside - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Happened into this gem on a week day and bellied up to the bar for some deviled eggs and amazing cocktails. It was such a great vibe!! If you haven't been - add to the top of the list!! read more

The Drifter - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Very fun to come across this speak easy in the Green Door Tavern that I didn't know was even there till I went potty and saw someone going in a secret door. Amazing hostess and bartender staff! Plenty of seating but small enough to stay cozy and relax with friends. Would also be great date place as it is very intimate. Had more fun here then at Green Door this night so highly recommend if you can get in and visiting bar! Great drinks and they are generous with water without even asking. It's the little things that make a difference! Will be back! read more

See all

Love this bar! Definitely up my alley with the tarot cards and the show is definitely entertaining to say the least read more

The Drifter - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The bar space is cool, and the shows are entertaining, but the service/drinks aren't too great. You can find this bar underneath The Green Door Tavern by the restrooms. The entrance is behind a bookcase door. The wait can be long. Thankfully, our friends reserved a table ahead of time. If not, the wait was 45 minutes. And you can only sit at the table for 1.5 hours. Once inside, the space is pretty dark and cramped. I ordered the non-alcoholic blueberry cocktail. It was very tart. I had to dilute every sip I took with water. Also, our waitress was a bit aggressive with trying to get us to order more. Even after we had all ordered a cocktail or two each and said we were fine, she would come back to the table every 10 minutes. We just wanted to talk and relax without being interrupted constantly. But the shows were entertaining. I've never been to another place like the Drifter. It's definitely one-of-a- kind. read more

The Drifter - I just blue myself non-alcoholic - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the most fun speakeasy I have been to. It's located right under the green door tavern and there usually is a waiting. We had to wait for almost 2hours to get in and it was worth the wait. It's a small place and the ambiance gives you a journey back in time vibe. The highlight were the drinks which were on top of the tarot cards. My friends and I had a great time trying to read the tarot cards along with our cocktails. Also, kudos to the two performers who entertained us with their dances during our time there. read more

See all

Located in the basement of Green Door Tavern, The Drifter is a wonderful speakeasy. The cocktails are all incredible and if you aren't feeling any of them then you can just order a classic drinks. Every hour on the hour there's a burlesque show and all the performances are a lot of fun. I repeat: there are burlesque shows every hour on the hour. You would not believe how many first dates come here and don't realize it EVEN THOUGH THEY TELL YOU. read more

Tucked away in the basement of Chicago's Green Door Tavern, The Drifter is a cool little speakeasy with a historic vibe and a cocktail menu delivered on Tarot cards. My friend and I only waited about 10 minutes in the narrow basement hallway to get in, as The Drifter limits visits to 90 minutes to avoid overcrowding. The Drifter is dark and cozy, but the managed access ensures guests don't get in until a seat is available. I wanted to love this place, but the cocktail my bartender recommended was a big disappointment and the burlesque show was pretty underwhelming. Still, it's a fun, casual lounge with a legit Prohibition-era feel -- exactly what we were looking for on a visit to Chi-Town. Worth a visit. read more

Cool place for good ass drinks. It's a little hidden speakeasy. The Drifter is located under Green Door Tavern. Kind of expensive but worth it with the atmosphere and old school charm. Performances including burlesque, music, and others. A lucky circumstance is what caused me to find out about it. I came down the stairs to use the bathroom and saw a few people come out of a door with what sounded to be a bar behind it. This turned out to be a speakeasy. Because space is limited, we made reservations to come back. The next time here we immediately went to the door and got in. Easy to see why reservations are recommended, because this is a pretty tiny ass bar. The cocktail menu is beyond cool, except for prices. It's about $15 for a cocktail. That's a lot even for around here. Featured cocktails are on tarot cards. Totally funny names. I had the "Bye, Felicia!" This is pineapple infused Absolut with Earl Gray soda, lemon, and pineapple gomme. Certainly fruity. We got the Marinated Olives. It's about $6 for appetizers. These were good to snack on, but there's not much as far as a meal. Best to get a reservation if going in a group. It's a nice place but space is limited. The price will often include the music and shows. read more

The Drifter - Bye, Felicia! And Marinated Olives - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a cool spot to check out but there is a one hour time limit. We really only had time to have one cocktail before we had to leave. We also ordered fried cheese curds which I definitely got because a friend said it's a Chicago must. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Awesome speakeasy in Chicago. We had a great time. A little pricey but worth the experience I think. Drinks come out on tarot cards so is very interesting! They have an extra cost for tip for the singers which is good to support rising artists. A long line to wait for but once we got to the front the service was really good. The ambiance was super cool and dark: it truly feels like you're going down underneath to a hidden speakeasy. read more

The Drifter - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Decided to check out this place after dinner due to its great (and helpful) reviews during a week-end visit to Chicago. This is definitely a speak easy, complete with an unassuming entrance. Fun drinks (and loved the menu via tarot cards), fun ambiance (caught the last show, a 5 min burlesque show), and fun concept (I mean, it's a speakeasy). The wait of 1.5 hrs for 2 on a Sat night knocked it down a peg, and it was way more causal than we expected inside. Would love the opportunity to go back, though I'd try another night to hopefully minimize the wait. read more

The Drifter - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Thankfully we read the reviews about how to get in the place, otherwise we would of been wandering around for a while. When we got in we sat at the bar and were told in 30 min the first show would start and it's a $6 cover. No problem. We take a look at the tarot cards and place our order. The bartenders were prompt and helpful. Also asked about the history of the place which was really neat to hear. The drinks were good, the speakeasy itself is really neat and the service was good. We'd come back! read more

The Drifter - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

It was a cute find! We went on a Saturday night and got on the waitlist and went to another nearby bar for a drink. We probably waited around an hour and then got the text to come back. Drinks were pretty tasty and we got to catch the last 45 seconds of the burlesque show, which was nice. It was unfortunate that shows are every 45 mins, as we didn't want to stay for that long. It was really dark inside, so I couldn't tell much about the decor. I'd come back; it was a fun experience and hopefully in the future I can catch more of the show. read more

Drifter is hands down my favorite speakeasy in Chicago. They have live performances every hour. During the weekdays, the performances are only until 12 AM but on the weekends they go on until 2AM. They let you choose cocktails from Tarot cards and I think that's super cool. They have nice bar snacks such as cheese curds, crunchy chickpeas, etc. It is a small intimate place located under the green door tavern and gives you a true speakeasy experience. 10/10 recommend! read more

The Drifter - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was a good stop in at Drifter, not great. We had just gotten into town and there was a few late night options we were considering. We went with Drifter as it seemed like a spot we would as our 1st beverage in Chicago. We stopped in later at night, about midnight. They are open till 2AM so didn't figure it to be much of an issue. After wandering around a minute we found that it was down the stairs in the back of the bar that is above it. After the sneaky door down stairs we were in. It was a basic bar vibe, with some "old-timey" movie playing on a large screen. The gal who sat us seemed irate about something, maybe us arriving, as she said last call 20 minutes. it was a rough introduction to be sure. The gal behind the bar seemed angry too. We asked her about a couple drinks and she kinda rolled her eyes and walked away. We went back to checking the menu to see what they had. later a gal came over(a third one in a row that seemed not in the best mood). We ordered the drinks form her. Their menu is a series of playing cards that Seemed to get messed up alot on the bar. We had our drinks which were just fine and headed out. the spots we hit the next day made up for this bad start to Chi-town. We wont be back to the Drifter. read more

The Drifter - Rum daiquiri - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This is one of my favorite speakeasys in Chicago. It's what you'd picture one would be like: hidden and in a nondescript area. The bonuses that comes with the Drifter are that it's small, there's great drinks on a unique cocktail menu (along with a separate menu with snack options) and live entertainment. The entertainment varies and can include performances from a burlesque dancer, to a singer, to even a magician. Lol. I love the quirkiness of this place. On this occasion, I met up with a friend and we both had too much to drink but oh what a fun night! Highly recommend a visit to this venue. read more

See all