I have seen the magic of Dennis Watkins prior to The Magic Parlour even opening so when he announced this theater as part of the Goodman built for magic, I was all in! I have been there for Dennis's solo show with my daughter and cousins and I treated my dad, my mom, and my family to Three Card Monte for his birthday as a way to spend time together. Three Card Monte was where the audience was seated at three tables and three different close up magicians rotated through. The magic was literally happening in front of your eyes! The variety in the three magicians was great--they had a variety of tricks, varying levels of sarcasm and humor, and overall, made it one of the best Sunday evenings I have had! Your ticket comes with a drink ticket--I don't drink, but they made me a mean Shirley Temple. My daughter bought a 2nd one at intermission and it was very reasonably priced. I made sure to have cash to tip my bartender. With Dennis's solo show, there was an option to pay to be a VIP where we got a taste of close up magic right after the general show. It was very cool and I recommend adding it on. If you love magic or even if you just know someone who loves magic, I recommend! A classy venue with top notch entertainment! read more

The Magic Parlour - Bar area and Shirley Temple - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been a couple of times, the magician is a great entertainer and makes you believe in real magic. I tore a dollar bill into 8 pieces 2 separate times without letting go of bill and as you can see I still have it. Great mentalist as well. read more

The Magic Parlour - A dollar bill I tore into 8 pieces 2 separate times without letting go of bill and as you can see I still have it. - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The new 3 Card Monte show was a great way to see different magic acts in one venue. Dennis Watkins always puts on a great show and this was a great addition to his repertoire. I would highly going to the Magic Parlour for a time full of amazement and laughter. read more

See all

I had a great time at the Magic Parlor. A group of us went to a late night show & the experience was truly magical. The MC for the night was fantastic & provided us some historical context, which I enjoyed. The drinks were great, I loved the on theme names. I was called on the stage as well as participated in a couple up close up magic tricks. I don't know how they did it but it had me side eyeing my group. read more

The Magic Parlour - The menu - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Two words.... MIND BLOWING!! Dennis is an amazing showman. Incredible card tricks, close-up, and mental magic that left you amazed. Fastest ninety minutes of entertainment I've ever experienced! And the VIP Room was spectacular- I highly recommend it! read more

The Magic Parlour - Posing with Dennis - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great show and magician. My wife and I really enjoyed our time at The Magic Parlour. Bar staff are five star and everyone is there to make sure you enjoy yourself. We have gone to 100's of magic shows throughout the world and this one was extremely unique. Over 95% of the acts we have never seen before. He is funny, kind and enjoys a lot of audience interaction. He is one of the best slight of hand magicians I have ever seen. This is a great show and well worth the price of admission! read more

Incredible show! Absolutely mind blowing! The staff are amazing. The drinks are great. We will definitely be back!

Just saw the magic parkour in Jupiter FL Amazing up close magic! Dennis is an outstanding entertainer and mesmerizing magician His mentalist performance will leave you awestruck. if you are a magic sceptic, take chance with Dennis, you will be a believer read more

What an amazing show! Hands down the best close up magic performance I have ever seen. The whole experience feels so intimate, you are right there just a few feet from the action, and yet you still cannot figure out how he pulls off those incredible tricks. It is absolutely wonderful and well worth the experience for all ages. A great spot to bring your family and share something truly memorable together. Highly recommend! read more

Mind blowing, must see event! When I was initially pitched going to a magic show, I wasn't sold. Dennis changed my mind almost immediately. His personality, crowd work and sheer skill captivated us the entire show. 90 minutes has never flown by so fast! If you're looking for an event to cap off your night, check out the Magic Parlour. read more

The Magic Parlour - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I love magic shows, but this one goes above and beyond anything I've seen. He combines some close-up magic tricks with astounding mentalist activities that shock and amaze even the greatest skeptics. It was shocking to see what he does with the most random inputs. Truly a mind-boggling experience that will leave you scratching your head for a very long time. read more

See all

I almost never write Yelp reviews unless I'm REALLY pleased or displeased. Dennis Watkins' show is absolutely amazing! He's a true showman. Even in the few cases where I think I have an idea of what the trick was, I have NO IDEA HOW he pulled them off! The way he ties everything together in his 90-minute show is remarkable. Also highly recommend the extra, more intimate "Encore Room" experience at the end. I was surprised more patrons didn't opt for that. read more

Amazing experience! Magician Dennis Watkins is a great showman, and you'll enjoy every second of it. Check-in is hard to find. You'll need to find Potter's Bar, which you'll have to go up a small set of stairs, go past the giant lobby, and go left. We originally walked the wrong direction (don't go past the restrooms or Starbucks, you're going the wrong way). Then we saw a sign that said to check-in at the lobby, but that was somewhere a floor below, and we got lost. Just ask for directions. Sign up at the guy with the tablet, and you'll get some cute little tickets and two red flowers if you paid for VIP. Check Groupon and you might be able to get the VIP tickets for normal pricing. I highly recommend the VIP package. Everyone gets to participate in the show. It's not that hard, and he doesn't pick on you. You'll probably just guess a number or have a yes/no question. Don't worry, it's not like a comedy show where you want to avoid being the joke. Everyone had a blast, and so will you. He said the show is going to change sometime in September, so make sure to see the show before then. He didn't explain how it would change, so just go now. read more

See all

Dennis Watkins is a superb close up magic. He explains everything and he will blow your mind

It's intimate, it's interactive, it's fun, it's magical, it's highly recommended. Because there isn't a large group almost everyone will participate. Don't worry they're gentle picking on you. These are card,dice,blade, rings and head reading tricks that will blow your mind. There's a sense wonder in all these since your so close you can't believe your eyes. Dennis Watkins is not only the magician but also your host extraordinaire! read more

The Magic Parlour - Magic Parlour - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A friend of our suggested The Magic Parlour for a couples date. She handled all of the booking for us and also booked the Encore Room experience. I've seen magicians before, but really didn't know what to expect as my only real experience with magicians has been at events like benefits and holiday parties. In a word, it was awesome. Dennis is funny, engaging, and really talented. By nature I'm a curious person, so there is a part of me that wants to know how it's all done, but a bigger part of me happy that as an adult there are still some simple pleasures what can create wonder and amazement. The show runs like a well oiled machine. You can arrive in advance and get a complimentary drink at the bar as well as some snacks. You can order your mid-show drink from a QR code at your table before everything starts so as not to disrupt your experience. I won't go into any detail about the act as I don't want to ruin the experience, but will say that while the show itself is pretty intimate, the Encore Room is an opportunity to get even more up close and personal and interact with Dennis in a small group. Whether it's a date night or small group activity; it's a really fun time and I don't think you'll be disappointed. TIP: There is a dress code, all of the detail is on the website. read more

A surprisingly enjoyable magic show! I went with a group of people for a friend's birthday. The tickets are on the pricier side, but it does come with one drink! The show was a fun time and it had a bunch of classic parlor tricks! If you've never experienced a true magic show, then this is something to do at least once in your life! read more

Amazing! Went here for an event and I have to say I am so surprised by how good this show was. I love how charismatic Dennis was and he really cracked some good jokes there. I love how he tied everything together and the show just flows very well. I recommend this to anyone who wants a good time and the parlour itself is very neat as well. Love the bar area and the show area is also very nice. we got food there and it was pretty yummy as well. If you are around, definitely go check out! read more

The Magic Parlour - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fabulous show! I would recommend it to everyone visitors and Chicagoans alike. Try the special drinks before the show.

Dennis is an amazing and entertaining guide to a truly magical adventure. The show was a rollercoaster of laughs, and the many amazing parts all came together in the end like an unbelievable puzzle that has been in front of you the whole time, you just needed someone to show you how to see it. read more

The Magic Parlour - A stylish and intimate performance space. The magic happens right in front of you! - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Why is this experience not recommended more in Chicago?! Dennis Watkins was a phenomenal magician. His stage presence and engagement of the crowd had everyone on the edge of their seat, and blown away by the close-up magic occurring right before your eyes. His show was appropriate for all ages. I appreciated the recommended dress code, as it made the experience feel a little more elevated (however, I doubt they are going to turn anyone away if wearing casual clothes). Your entrance ticket includes a drink ticket to be redeemed at the bar. Lila, one of the house staff, was welcoming and helped ensure we were seated comfortably. Phone are not allowed during the performance, so no evidence of the amazing show, but I would definitely return and recommend to others! read more

The Magic Parlour - Performance area - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This was our second time at the Magic Parlour, having seen the show a few months prior. We raved about it to everyone we knew so when we got another opportunity to see it, we jumped at the chance. This has shot to the top of our list of recommendations for things to do in Chicago. We love the intimacy of the group size (around 20-30 people) and the location adds to the magic as the Palmer House is gorgeous. You cannot take your eyes away from Dennis and his performance. While there was a lot of new things added since we visited before, even the pieces we had seen before still amazed us. We also love the open bar that is included and the entire staff is so kind and accommodating. This time around we also paid extra for the encore room, where about 8 of us watched Dennis perform some close up magic after the main show. SO worth it. Amazing, fun, and so light it makes you feel like a kid again. I cannot recommend the Magic Parlour enough- just go and see it for yourself!!! read more

The Magic Parlour - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

How do you know you've seen an amazing show? When it's the very first thing you think about the next day. We were downtown for the weekend and wanted to try something "different." Dennis Watkins' show came up highly rated. So we thought, why not? Good grief we had no idea what a gem we had stumbled on to! Don't expect glam. Dennis is the real deal and doesn't rely on glitzy theatrics (his magic is theatrics enough). It's just you, the guests and the room (oh... and some light jazz in the background). Dennis does an astounding job making you feel welcome into this intimate setting while also giving you the big reveal moments. It's a balance that he has perfected and you will absolutely revel in it. He tells stories about growing up in his grandfather's magic shop and his philosophy to magic ... he has grown up breathing magic and he appears so ridiculously effortless that he makes these impossible feats seem casually easy. I will not give away any of the magic that he does.... that would spoil it (kind of like how movie trailers spoil movies). But believe me, you will not believe what he does. There is a VIP table after the show - if you can, GET TICKETS. It was wonderful to speak with him directly/ask questions while seeing his magic super up close. A word to the wise - don't drive yourself mad trying to figure out how he pulls off his card tricks, mind reading, future predictions. Just enjoy the fact that you will never understand how his magic works or where dark matter in the universe comes from while we're at it. There are some things we're just not supposed to know. read more

The Magic Parlour - Intimate setting - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Went to this Magic show because my friend suggested it. I do not particularly enjoy Magic. But this was an absolutely wonderful experience. The magician, Dennis Watkins, is amazing. His show is clever, entertaining and fun. And he has a great personality. You become part of the show and you love every minute. The space is right next door to Petterinos. It's very comfortable, holds only about 60 people. And your ticket includes a drink from the bar. Looking for 90 minutes of escapism, book your tickets. read more

What a wonderful experience. We attended last Saturday night and will gladly go again. Everything from the location to the staff who greeted us to the pre show, show, and post show experience was amazing. The magic left us speechless at points and the great story telling was the perfect touch. read more

Oh, man. My wife loves magic shows. I'm harder to please. This wasn't on our Chicago itinerary, but we had a free night. I did a search of the usual-suspect travel sites and this came up. We saw it. Don't miss it. You have to see this. read more

Not exactly certain how someone could identify my mitten with his eyes taped shut and half dollars under the tape, but nonetheless I stand in disbelief. This was a fun show in a beautiful venue and I look forward to seeing one of Dennis's shows again! Top notch. read more

What a fun, fun night. Dennis Watkins is charming, entertaining and his magic show thoroughly engaging filled with 90 minutes of 'how the hell did he do that?'Few props and plenty of guffaws. Highly recommend this great performance. read more

We went over the weekend and today is Tuesday. I am still thinking about this show. It was really mind blowing. Dennis is charming, entertaining, does amazing magic! He is interactive with all the guests! I can't talk about it more without giving it away but seriously would recommend to all! read more

The Magic Parlour has 100% Five Star reviews for a reason! It's legit. A few of my friends took me to The Magic Parlour for my birthday and none of us knew what to expect. We thought it may be cheesy but it really wasn't! It was a classy show with truly mindblowing magic. It's very interactive and we had the most fun time with the Great Magician Dennis Watkins. We arrived at the Palmer House at the time they asked, checked in, were given our fancy tickets for the night, then bellied up to the bar at Potter's in the Palmer Hotel to grab a quick drink as we waited 20 minutes to go to the magic show. Our group of about 40 people was then taken upstairs and open bar began! During his show, they had a couple of wines and beer at the open bar which we made full use of. We grabbed a table and sat back for the show. Listen, I don't know how Dennis does it, but he is amazing. He is a magician and a mentalist with The House Theatre of Chicago (which I totally need to check out now). I don't want to spoil any of the show for you but it included card tricks, sleight of hand tricks, a bunch of incredible mind tricks and it's just genius! We kept turning to each other in shock and awe mouthing silently HOW THE HECK DID HE DO/KNOW THAT!? The Magic Parlour show is a must see at least and truly, I'd go back and see Dennis again. It's a completely magical experience! read more

See all

Prepare to be amazed. The iconic Palmer House Hilton is the perfect place to wear cocktail attire and take in a magic show. Dennis Watkins The Magic Parlour was an entertaining mind blowing 90 minutes. He does quieter magic with every day objects right in front of you with all the lights on and believe me you will spend the whole show asking your seatmates how did he do that?. The pacing is good and Dennis interacts with the crowd nicely to keep everyone engaged. Pro tip upgrade to the encore room. It was 15 minutes sitting at a table with Dennis Watkins and you can ask whatever you want as he does up close tricks. read more

The Magic Parlour - Tickets - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am extremely disappointed that Dennis and his Guest Manager, Patrick Poulin did not put the safety of their guest as their highest priority. Today for the 2pm Sunday show it is -3 degrees and -25 degrees with wind chill in Chicago. I reached out numerous times to request the tickets valued $285 be credited to another show with no success. We have enjoyed his show in the past but this insensitive and cruel disregard for the safety of others is the definition of callousness and I strongly suggest you do not support their greed. read more

The kind of magic that startled and made us laugh at the mystery. We talked for hours afterward about the magic we saw, and I have no doubt we'll be talking about it months from now. And I am so glad we booked the Encore room where the magic continued close-up and personal, and even more surprising. read more

See all

We went to Dennis' show and loved our experience. Our family is STILL talking about how amazed we are of one trick in particular, it may stump us for the rest of our lives. The Palmer House is a great old Chicago hotel and it is is the perfect setting for a close up and intimate magic show. You arrive by the Burger Bar (near check-in desk for the hotel) and then travel as a group to the room where the MAGIC happens. Dennis is a great magician and is super engaging, he manages to connect with every guest in the room and it feels like a personal experience. I highly recommend this show! read more

Prepare to be amazed. Dennis Watkins is the consummate artist and magician. The Magic Parlour venue is an intimate ballroom in The Palmer House Hilton. There is an open bar available, but grab your drink before the show because you won't want to look away for even a moment once it starts. The seating is artfully arranged, so everyone has a good view and can bask in the incredible feats of magic up close. Dennis weaves his personal relationship to magic into the show and makes the audience truly feel like part of the magic that happens. And magic happens! You won't figure out how he does these tricks and you really won't want to try - it's that incredible. Just let yourself be transformed to a place of pure magic and wondery. read more

The Magic Parlour - Ticket and souvenir program - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gotta agree with the other reviews, Dennis is awesome. How does he do what he does! On the way out we had a couple of other people who thought we were plants because of how Dennis figured out what one of our group was thinking. He's truly magical! ;) We're just folks off the street like everyone else there. The price includes wine beer or soft drinks which adds value to the price of the tickets. Palmer House is a very nice venue & although you don't have to get dressy for the event you will want to. Be ready to be called on, with the small intimatE crowd he gets just about everyone involved in the action but doesn't embarrass anyone. Check him out you'll enjoy the show! read more

Fantastic show!! This is definitely worth checking out when you are in Chicago. You will not be disappointed. Interaction with the audience members was great. COVID protocols are in place. You will be amazed by the magic! read more

The Magic Parlour - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

An amazing evening of magic and entertainment. From 7to 70 a joy for all couldn't ask for a better night. Thanks, Dennis Watkins.!

Amazing. Entertaining. Surprisingly mind blowing. Definite must-see! Dennis is a master at slight of hand and keeping the audience on their toes. read more

AMAZING is an understatement! Sister and I went to a show over the weekend and we left with our minds blown and have so many questions which we know, a magician will never reveal. It was so much fun and everyone needs to go check out this show without a doubt !!! read more