This was more than just a bar. It was an experience! The drinks were good and the show was good as well. I was most impressed by the staff though. As busy as they were they were still able to have a conversation with us and others. Not only that, they even gave us suggestions on places to go and took the time to write them down. read more

My scale: 5 Stars: I recommend this without any exceptions. I will come back (more than once) and bring friends! 4 Stars: I recommend this under certain circumstances. Worth going, but ONE thing was off. 3 Stars: I was ok, but in a city like Chicago you can find better places. I wouldn't come back. 2 Stars: Disappointed. I wouldn't come back, even if it was the last place in Chicago. 1 Star: Don't go here! Rip-off, Tourist-trap, dangerous, or something like this. Please close this place. I really wanted to like the drifter. I love speak easy bars, and this one is special, because (I heard) it even used to be a speak easy bar back in the days. Also, they have ever so often a little show on stage - from burlesque to musical acts. Lastly, they have their cocktails written on taro cards, with a great focus on detail. That is why I really wanted to like this place and came back 4 times. Here is why I dont like the place and probably wont be back a fifth time: the execution of everything described above is poor. 1.The bar has an original feeling, but because they usually let too many people in (e.g. standing at the bar) its gets hectic and uncomfortable. 2. The shows are nice, but very short and irregular. I spent once 2 hours on a Saturday night there, without anyone showing up. 3. Taro cocktails! Great idea.... but bad cocktails. Every single time I went, I tried a different cocktail (plus the ones of my friends) and no one ever liked them. Taste cheap and not very creative... disappointing, more than once. 4. The service is not consistently nice. One time, they even forgot to call me for my table and after waiting for an hour, they said: "Oh, sorry. We skipped you on accident". And that was the end of that story. Sorry, drifter team, I really wish I liked your place more. read more

I would never come back, poor communication on the receptionist. Why would you take people name and numbers to be text,not knowing once you get in, you have to stand against the wall. If you can drink and eat upstairs until a seat is available, make sure the seats is really available. While standing against the wall with coats in hand, they keep asking "Would you like to order a drink" why would I like to stand up in a very small space watching a live performance. read more

Prior to coming, I read all the reviews and thought I knew exactly where the hidden door was but I still missed it. Oops. Thankfully, there was no one there to judge me. I wasn't thrilled by the surprise cover charge to watch a carny stop a rotary fan with his privates (seriously.), but the drinks were creative and tasty. It was also pretty convenient that we could just hand the cards of the drinks we wanted to our server. I'm pretty sure that's not what they had in mind to do, but it was loud and it worked. My favorite cocktail was the lone horseman: bourbon, amaro, vermouth, gin. The decor and overall ambiance is awesome. If you want to impress a date, this will probably work. If you're a man three times my age who tries to talk to me by grabbing my arm while I'm happily drinking here with friends, that won't work. read more

I can't give this place a higher review because I couldn't get in. Understandably, it was a busy Saturday night. I've worked in the restaurant industry before and I understand that you can't expect to get right into a place with limited space on a Saturday night, so I very pleasantly left my information for my party of only 3 people with the flustered doorman and went up to have a drink at the green door tavern. Initially, I felt pretty bad for the doorman, as very drunk people were being pretty rude to him about the wait, but 2 hours later no word on a table, I went back downstairs to double check and he was yelling at everyone that they were closed. I understand that they may have been busy, but this doorman was so rude and frantic about his job that maybe working at a bar with drunk people isn't a great profession. There was a moment when he yelled "Jesus Fucking Christ" because so many people wanted to get into the bar. Calm down, sir. I really wanted to see this place, disappointed getting through the door was such an inconvenience to the doorman. read more

Was told to go to the door, knock loudly, mention (fill in the blank) and we are at the bar. So I did all of that and I felt like I went back in time. If only I had a fedora! Place was really cool looking and just had a friendly feel to it. The girl at the front was great, even for my friends who left to smoke and came back. The bartender was really cool explaining drinks to me. I don't know what I had but it was really good. I would definitely come back here. It is small and if there are close to 30 or 40 people you will be right on top of each other. But when I was there, not a lot of people were inside. But that also made it more fun and cool. Like you were really cool just for being there. Can't wait to go back! read more

My two friends and I went on a Friday and the wait to get in was upwards of 40 minutes, but it was worth the wait. We each ordered a different drink and tasted each, all of which were amazing. Also, an unexpected burlesque show was a delightful surprise. Not a place for mingling outside of who you came with, but definitely romantic atmosphere for a date or outing with small group of friends. We noticed large groups had a longer wait time. Overall, an awesome place that I'll definitely be returning to. read more

Went here after a long time on a Thursday nite. The wait was not too bad. The shows each hour were average, but still a good touch to a speakeasy bar, which makes it different. Very dissapointed in the drinks. Their cocktails were nothing special, have had better at other places. Ordered an old fashioned which is pretty basic. Bartender didnt know how to make one. It was pretty bad.. Not sure if I will be going back anytime to pay $$ for average drinks. read more

In the basement of the Green Room Tavern, through a hidden door. A speakeasy style bar with excellent cocktails, which are printed on tarot cards. We also asked the bartender to create something custom and everything was top notch and perfectly balanced. The setting is intimate with a small stage. The unconventional performances really work well with the atmosphere and create a great experience. read more

The cocktails were fine here, but their cheese curds were nothing more than mozzarella sticks cut down to size and the entertainment was a cheap clone if Bo Burnham read more

cool place, love the charming vintage decor, but food and drinks were ok... i felt like the place gives out the pretentious vibe with the way they manage the wait...but sorta smart how they set up this "hidden" room at the basement of green door tavern so that patrons who were willing to put up with the wait would have to either hang out at the staircase or get drinks/food from the green door tavern. i have never seen the tavern that packed... read more

been on a quest recently to visit speakeasies in chicago, and this one came highly recommended by some good girlfriends. i like that this place gives you a sense of what things might have been like back in the prohibition days. while it's not exactly super well hidden (there's a sign on the door announcing that it leads to the drifter), it IS located in the basement of the green door tavern, behind a fairly well camouflaged wall decorated with a display of objects. it's dimly lit inside and every hour a different performer will come out to entertain the crowd. i've heard these mini shows change all the time as well, so if you come back in a few weeks (or even the next day) you'll likely see something different. the menu is a set of tarot cards, with each card describing a different cocktail. interesting concept. pretty much whatever you choose, rest assured that it will be STRONG. come early on a weekend because it gets packed very quickly and they don't take reservations. we came around midnight on a saturday night and had to wait about an hour before we were let in (yes, at 1am). nice thing is they'll text you when your table is ready, so no need to stand around on the basement level waiting. it's highly likely that if you come during a popular time, you'll find the drifter packed to the gills, with every seat at the bar and tables taken (and very little space between tables, to maximize the number of people they can fit). standing room only for everyone else left waiting. read more

If you're in the area, definitely come check out this speakeasy. I won't spill the fun and give you the exact location, but if you ask around at the bar, you'll figure out where (or which door it's behind ;) ). It's a nice intimate space. I love the drink menu is on a set of tarot cards, and if you come at the right time, the short performance is definitely worth watching. The bar also has an apothecary theme, with the dripper and beaker. Lots of interesting cocktails, Romo's Gin Fizz is a nice good, and don't be afraid to try the ones with egg white, sounds intimidating but surprisingly good. The snacks are also yummy, especially the sausage stuffed pepper and salt & vinegar chickpeas. Awesome drinks, nice bartender, and possibly a show, what else can you ask for?! read more

We slipped into the Drifter just before 6pm on a Thursday night and enjoyed two mysteriously quiet two hours of drink and snacks. The food is nothing to write home about, but the cocktails will tease the brain and tongue. read more

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What an interesting place! Never would have found the door if I hadn't asked the upstairs staff of the Greendoor. The cocktails were impressive, but not what I was used to - definitely very creative. The atmosphere was actually louder and more cramped than I expected, but it was still fun! read more

The bar is a modern day speakeasy with a lot of historic vibes and design. I discovered this lovely little place via the Sosh app, and I'm super happy I went there. Liz and the other staff members were very friendly and they can make some killer cocktails. Live acts were present as well, and they were all really good. I'll definitely head back next time I come through Chicago. read more

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Had a great evening at The Drifter. I travel for work and one of my new hobbies is to checkout speakeasies in the area. The Drifter was my choice for this trip. I took some colleagues and it was great. The only negative was the wait. We waited about 90 minutes on a Thursday night at 10:00. It's got a great vibe, fantastic drinks, and the burlesque and side show acts were funny and sexy (burlesque show only). Definitely go if your in Chicago Just get there early. read more

One of my favorite places I have ever been! For our anniversary, my husband surprised me with a trip downtown and we hopped around to a couple of hidden "speakeasy's". This one was by far my favorite!! We waited about an hour upstairs at the Green Door Tavern to get the text to come down and it was well worth the wait! The atmosphere, the decor, the drinks... everything was incredible! The bar itself is very small and intimate. It's dark and there's a projector screen covering the stage showing old risque films. We sat right at the bar and the bar tender brought us a stack of tarot cards as the menu! Throughout the night we ordered a few drinks, the Suns out Guns out, Bye Felicia, and a few others that I can't remember the name of. I had something with chocolate in it that was absolutely divine! After trying a couple of the drinks on the cards, my husband asked the bartender to make him something not sweet with rum in it and he loved what she made. After a while we were surprised by a "strip tease" show that was entertaining and provocative. We really enjoyed the vibe and all of the staff was super friendly. We even picked a fortune cookie for a surprise cocktail and I loved the cocktail that I got for it. I cannot wait to come back and experience The Drifter again. read more

A friend of mine found out about this speakeasy through the grapevine, so a small group of us turned out for the first weekend. Entrance to the venue is through the Green Door Tavern upstairs, and is moderately hidden. While some so-called speakeasies go for glamour, the Drifter retains a "found space" quality which is refreshingly different. The cocktails are interesting, with the options for the evening printed on modified tarot cards and changing from night to night. I look forward to seeing how the space evolves. read more

Probably one of the coolest places I have been too. The bar upstairs is fun and upbeat, enough seating area and outside patio to boot. But the real fun is downstairs, the burlesque show was awesome and the bartender doubles as the guitar player! Gray drinks and reasonably priced, the $6 cover charge gets added to your drink/food bill so no worries if you don't have cash! Definitely a place to bring friends when in Chicago. read more

The Drifter - View from the second set of tables, stage and wall ambiance. - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great vibe. Small and intimate. Drinks were good and the live belly dancing was great. read more

This is a neat spot to grab drinks in River North. Located through a door in the basement of Green Door Tavern, it's a small and intimate spot with only a handful of tables. The drink menus are served on creative tarot cards, which makes for a fun and different experience. We were some of the very first to arrive on a Thursday evening at 5PM. We were asked to wait outside the door as the staff finished preparing for opening. After waiting about 5-10 minutes, there were easily 5 groups behind us in line, so this place definitely books up. We were invited in just a few minutes past 5PM and took a seat at one of their tables. It's got sexy dim lighting and a variety of traditional and nouveau cocktails. I tried the old fashioned and my boyfriend tried a different one of their whiskey drinks. Both were great. We were pleasantly surprised to see a smattering of food options as well, and we opted for the bacon wrapped dates which were very good. Overall, it is a cool spot but I will need to return for one of their shows to give a final evaluation! read more

Pretty cool place! Been upstairs in the past without ever knowing there was another bar downstairs. Yeah there is a small cover, but I think it was worth the experience. Good drinks, unique vibe, burlesque show, etc. I went with some friends, but I think it would be a cool date spot as well. read more

The Drifter - Burlesque! - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but I didn't find this place to live up to the hype. I went with a group of 6 people, and the drinks, while creative perhaps, ranged from OK (but not worth the money, including an unjustified $4 cover - $6 on the weekends) to undrinkable. I am not a frequent drinker by any means, so I made a pretty uneducated decision on what to get. However, instead of receiving helpful guidance to make my drink/experience better, I received sass, glares, and condescension from the waitress and bartender. This is NOT how you run an establishment in the food/drink SERVICE industry. Also, and again maybe this is just me (and my five companions), not a huge fan of the soft-core porn they had on display and the little 5 minute strip tease they also put up. I get that maybe its period, but just not our thing. So warning to those who don't like that stuff either: don't come here if you are aversed to the same thing. I guess the decor was nice and it was a genuine speakeasy from the 20s/30s, so that was neat. read more

We visited this place hoping to enjoy a relaxed Saturday evening. After reaching we were told there is a long wait and when asked what is the approximate wait time we were told "I cannot really tell", which i felt was extremely unprofessional. Regardless, we decided to put our names down at around 10pm and check out other places in the meanwhile. To our surprise we never received a callback the whole night, yes the full night. To me that is poor customer service. If a business is that busy you shouldn't add parties to the waitlist or at least have the courtesy to inform the waitlist if things don't pan out. Never visiting the place again! read more

Seriously? Hands down best speakeasy I've ever been to. We got the pleasure of speaking with Jill and she was wonderful. We are visiting from NY so she filled us in on all the things and themes they have going on there. Since it was Halloween and their Tuesdays have different themes we walked in just in time for old Halloween movies and ouija board menus ! Played awesome movies on the projector screen! Great drinks and performers. This has been my fav thing about Chicago so far! read more

As I walked down the back stairs of the Green Door Tavern and placed my eyes on the old photos and signs, I already allowed myself to escape. An old bookshelf with a hidden doorknob harkened below the steps. Upon entry, I was immediately taken back to the era of Capone, Dillinger, Floyd. The days when bootleggers ran operations from the Appalachias, down into Miami and Cuba and up the east coast to Atlantic City and certainly into the streets and alleys of Chicago. The entire package of The Drifter is so retro and so great, yet regal and modern in its own way. Drinks such as the 'Bye, Felicia' and 'Spruce Jenner' adorn tarot cards each with their own exotic enchantments. There is a solid craft beer and wine selection for the small venue, and a nice array of bourbons and rums amidst the retro bottles of old and an original painted portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt for those who like to think outside the box. My advice is to belly up to the bar. Make friends with the staff and enjoy the small stage shows which range from jazz musicians to comedians, magicians to burlesque and be taken back to when the only worry in the world was which drink was next to consume. The Drifter is certainly one of the best bars of 2015. But it really should be one of the best bars of any year. I highly recommend this place if you love history, real crime of way back when and are a fan of shows as HBO's Boardwalk Empire. read more

The lady that looked like a mime taking names and numbers to put on the list was beyond rude. The first time she stated, I texted you. when we ( party of 3) showed her no text was received. She then realized she took the down the wrong number. We placed our names on the list for a 2nd time and texted her back once we received a message. Apparently we declined and were removed from the list. We attempted a third time (the birthday girl and more friends were already in), the mime , let a party of 6 in and stated we were next. 30 minutes later we got a status , 45 more minutes !!!! fuck this place and fuck that lady who looked miserable doing her so called job. My first and last time here. read more

I love burlesque and anything vintage, so I was super excited to try this place! It's in the basement of the Green Door Tavern, though I won't spoil for anyone who doesn't know (or hasn't read the other reviews!) exactly where. I went on a random Saturday from 5-7, and it was just starting to get full when we left. We managed to catch one short burlesque performance, which was really fun and high quality, and mostly just had a good chill time hanging out with our drinks. The drinks were printed on tarot cards, which were fun to go through, and they had a wide variety of tastes to suit everyone. My favorite was the "Bye, Felicia" but everything I tried was pretty excellent. At 12 dollars a piece, this place is probably going to be a more special occasion location than a regular haunt for me, but I plan to be back again soon! read more

Amazing. This bar was a piece of prohibition history. It is intimate and beautiful. The cocktails are unique and intricate. They kept many original liquor and wine bottles from the 1920's along the top of the bar area. They open at 5pm and I recommend getting there by 5:30 so you get a seat. Shows starts at 7pm and are every hour. I didn't see a live show, but they play old burlesque shows on the curtain on stage. It is really neat to see and you feel like you are in that era. So neat! read more

The Drifter - Sit and Spin crafted cocktail - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a cool experience! The shows are fun to watch and the drinks are extremely unique. You'll likely wait, but it's fine- just grab a drink upstairs and wait for the text. It's worth it. read more

Love this speak easy. It's at a central location that is super easy to get to from anywhere in the city. Plenty of street parking. It's about a 25 minute wait. The ambience s super intimate and seating is limited to about 20 people. Drink menu is unique. Perfect place for a date. Hourly entertainment is amusing- magicians and burlesque dancers! Fun! read more

I really enjoyed the club; the drinks, performers, and staff were so amazing. I do have an easy request that a manager or even a bartender could carry out. The American flag is being displayed incorrectly. If someone there could make sure that the union blue is on the left (flip it around), that would be awesome. I mentioned this before I left, but it was really busy and I don't think that my request was understood. Thank you "The Drifter" see you soon. read more

Def a special place in the city. We were told 45 mins. for our group of five. No problem, as we were still finishing up dinner and drinks upstairs. However, it was a bit past and we had to go and inquire. Luckily, they were ready for us. The space and ambiance is exactly how it should be. Drinks were great and tarot cards serving as the options were a fun touch and made it easy to order in a rather dark area. My only qualm was that my boo and I each ordered the fortune drink and got the same fortune, and thus the same drink. It would have been nice if one was altered even just a bit, especially as the fortunes were rather ambiguous. Nonetheless, again drinks were tasty. We got to see two shows, and both ladies were fun. All in all, The Drifter is a fun place. Service was pretty spot on as well. read more

A group of 12 of us came here this past weekend for my sister's birthday. Unfortunately it was not only disappointing but actually just outright terrible. We got there early, around 6, so we could get a table, which we did...that is the extent of the positivity. The first show didn't start until 7 so we were all catching up (family who has not seen each other in awhile) and four of us got up to take a picture together. We got yelled at because we were "being rude and disrupting others" by taking a picture? What? Then I proceeded to literally get scolded by the waiter saying I was being rude to the other customers. I didn't know a picture with family was such a disturbing activity. I honestly never write reviews but I HAD to share this because it was that bad. That waiter apparently proceeded to walk away and say under his breath (which my friend at the further end of the table heard) "fuck off". THAT is customer service? I am so confused. Also, they barely had any alcohol that the people in my party wanted - captain, crown, etc. Then we STILL stuck around, hoping the 7pm show would make up for the small space and rude staff, but...it did not. The microphone wasn't working so you could barely hear anything. Disaster and I would NOT recommend. We went to Kingston Mines instead and that was waaaaayyy better x a billion. read more

This is a cool cool place. It's location can be a little hard to find, but once you arrive you know you are in the right spot. There is a long bar with tables down the side and a slightly larger seating area at the end. It can fill up quickly, so you might have to wait, or perhaps its best to go when they open at 5 pm. The ambience is super-chill, going for that Prohibition era speak-easy feel (which apparently this place was!). Contributing to the feel is the 20s era burlesque films playing on the wall at the end of the room. Apparently live jazz is also present as well. Specialty drinks are presented on Tarot cards with the ingredients listed to help you choose. If you can't pick, then ask the bartenders for a recommendation. The cocktails themselves are excellent. A few select beers are also available on tap, and I'm sure they will make you whatever cocktail you choose as well. A few food items are also quite interesting. I personally had the potato chips. Overall, I think this is a great hidden (literally) gem. read more

Love the drink menu tarot cards. The bartenders were very accommodating and even let us know that we could order off menu right from the start. Entertainment was fun we saw a band and a quick burlesque show. This place really transports you to the 1920s. read more

Expensive drinks, cool spot, other drunk people will ruin the surprise of having to find the door because they'll be talking to the doorman with the door open. If you're bored in Chicago, want to have a few drinks, and possibly catch a live show, then go. read more

I love a good speakeasy! You'll find this secret bar in a very unassuming, casual, irish pub that is on street level. Go down the stairs and right at the bottom, to your right there is a secret wall that opens into a beautiful, secret, small high caliber craft cocktail spot. The old school burlesque projected on the wall, the feel of a circus, and the tarot cards with drinks printed on them all work with the ambiance of this great spot. If you don't see a drink you want the bartenders will make something delicious for you. The whole experience is great. We were lucky to find a spot at the bar - I hear that many times there is a line as it is a small space. read more

The Drifter - Order your drink from a Tarot card - Speakeasies Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The experience is everything at this legit speak easy. Nestled away in a basement, dark, quant and perfectly adorned. Fun shows that vary on the hour. A drink selection presented on Tarot Cards! Who could ask for more? Well my one complaint is the drinks are solid but not memorable. I am not looking for Aviary level but want on par with The Berkshire Room and Broken Shaker. read more

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