Had a great experience at the Office. As expected, the service and atmosphere were phenomenal. It was also very expensive, but we also knew that going in. I was in Chicago for a conference and was meeting some old friends so we wanted to splurge. You can actually make reservations online now, which was easy but took away from the appeal of the speakeasy vibe. It used to be a lot harder to get into the bar. But I was happy about it, because otherwise I would of never gotten a chance to go! We had a couple of the drinks, one custom one which was a lot of fun. Then we also ate many of their snacks, the truffle explosion was amazing! It truly exploded in your mouth. Really fun experience! Would maybe go back again for a special occasion. read more

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Jarmel and Eric are awesome hosts who went the extra mile to take care-of our friend's 21st birthday. Maybe the best underground bar and the team goes the extra mile to make sure you have a delightful experience. Definitely a stop in Chicago downtown. Awesome!!! read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a very dimly lit and intimate little bar underneath the Aviary restaurant. They offer a very reduced menu of small plates to share that are definitely on the "pricey" side but I suppose not outrageous for this type of establishment. We paid $8 for a small bowl of assorted olives, oysters at about $3 each, a tiny, tiny portion of short rib tortellini for $77 (with $55 of that owing to the white truffles we added to it). Their real claim to fame however is their hand crafted cocktails which are pretty imaginative and very well executed. There are basically three sections to their vast drink menu. The first section has a few drinks which are their version of common concoctions like an Old Fashioned which they make with infused strawberry and then some originals. The second part of the menu has some more expensive cocktails which range in the about $20 to $40 range and then they have their "dusty bottle" section which is basically the same common labels of spirits that you can get anywhere, like Jack Daniels for example, but just really, really old. They have lots of spirits going back to the 40's, 50's, 60's and such. Some of these are, relatively speaking, modest in price coming in at $35 or so. Others, however, range in the several hundred dollar range for a pour. I think the highest we saw was $450. The decor is that of a 1920's speakeasy with dark paneling, attenuated lighting, overstuffed chairs and eclectic art. They play music which is also diverse and unpredictable. On this note, I was a little surprised. Some of the music included extremely profane hip-hop where F bombs and the N word were liberally used. It was a surprising, if not disturbing, choice for that caliber of bar. Due to its diminutive size and limited space the seating arrangements are a little awkward and somewhat uncomfortable but I guess you get used to it. What takes a little more getting used to, at least for us, is the somewhat presumptuous and condescending vibe that sort of permeates the place. Don't get me wrong, everyone is really polite and polished but it's just a feeling you kind of get. Or maybe it's just us. Either way, we are not strangers to dining in high-end exclusive establishments and we've never experienced that sensation before. If you do want to come here, you would be well advised to plan far in advanced. When you make a reservation they will charge you a $100 non-refundable deposit which is then credited against your bill. And speaking of bills, when they do bring it out it is presented in a hand lettered trifold piece of card stock with a wax seal. It's a really distinctive and nice touch. The bottom line: The Office has very unique cocktail offerings and decent, although limited, food. But unless you are planning on sampling some of their more hard to get but stratospherically priced "dusty bottle" offerings you might want to consider a less stuffy establishment such as Sparrow. Worth the experience, probably won't be back. read more

Got a cheeky text from a fiend recently that said the the "office" is the place to have a drink... After texting a secret number and eventually getting a formal response back saying 2 spaces just opened up, my friend and I dashed from a party we were at and headed through the gate way of the aviary to find these lovely people escorting us downstairs to the office. The atmosphere was very demure and sophisticated and staff extremely friendly. They ask what flavours tickle your fancy and they conduct the following to make a drink just for you, to make your taste buds go wild. The office is truly a chilled place to end a night or to start a tranquil exotic adventure! read more

The Office - 2 of the most exquisite drinks you will ever taste.. custom made for your taste buds! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow. What an experience. If you have an opportunity to come down to the office, take advantage. The nice thing about this place being so exclusive is that it's never crowded, so you get plenty of attention from the excellent waitstaff. If for some reason you can't find something to suit your tastes on their extensive and jaw-dropping cocktail, spirits and beer menu, they are more than happy to create something completely customized just for you. The atmosphere is just comfortable and welcoming. It's just cool. This is the gold standard. read more

The Office - Menu - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Office is a liquor connoisseur's fever dream: It has lots of leathery stuff, upholstery, and dark space gray walls. The are also whiskeys that are more than ... are you ready?... $1,500 per ounce. See the pictures below for examples. It's hard to drink here for less than a couple of hundred dollars. But they have decades-old chartreuse, and some very rare ethanols. I tend to think The Aviary is better on the drinks front, but The Office may be worth a trip. read more

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We managed to get tasting reservations for a party of 4 at The Office with a few days notice (super lucky I know). We arrived 15 min early for our 6 o'clock table and were the first ones to get seated. The Office is decorated with wood and leather, making for a very comfortable ambiance. There are about 3 seating areas for groups and a few seats at the bar. I wasn't expecting to get much food, but surprisingly we were really full by the end of it. We enjoyed oysters, foie gras, chicken pate, and some other delicious finger food snacks I'll leave for you to find out. The drinks as expected were impressive. My companions are well versed in the art of cocktails and the Office won their respect and admiration. The food and drinks aren't presented with the flourish chef Grant Achatz is known for, but with the quality and flavors you receive, you don't mind the simple delivery. I think my favorite was the Japanese whisky, but it's hard to choose. The service was great and very friendly. Even though we were slotted for two hours, I believe we stayed there for four! We never felt rushed and truly enjoyed everything. Definitely book a table if you can. read more

Easily the best and most innovative cocktail bar I've ever been to (previous 1st place was Drink in Boston). I asked to be taken on a tour of last word variations starting with mescal. What came back was a hickory bbq smoked mescal based last word with a spring of thyme in it for aromatics. Absolutely incredible. I'd be careful here if you're going to be doing a cocktail pairing upstairs. The drinks are so good its easy to blow way past your point of self-control. Let's just say 2 cocktails at The Office followed by a 10-course cocktail pairing at the Aviary made for a very painful flight the next day. read more

My favorite cocktail bar in the city. Impeccable service and strong but balanced drinks

The Office is the "less-showy", more grown up cousin of the Aviary. It is a speak-easy, located in the basement and it only sits up to 14 ppl. TIP: Text in advance for a reservation. Ask any server at the Aviary for the phone number. Jason, the one and only bartender who runs The Office, is a very knowledgable and enthusiastic mixologist. In contrast to the Aviary, there is no flame, flowers or foam on the cocktails. Every drink served at The Office is made personally by Jason and Jason only. So be patience, because the cocktails here are all very well thought-out , sophisticated, and carry layers and layers of flavor. DRINKS: I ordered a cocktail on the menu, the components included - Scotch, Bonal, Brioche, Macadamia Nuts, and White Truffle. It was a steep $20, but it was Instant LOVE. One sip, and the flavor of each ingredient gradually unfold on my palate one by one. For my second cocktail, I asked Jason to customize one based on some flavors I enjoy. He did a brilliant job by combining scotch, black garlic oil, and some magic. SNACK: Foie gras terrine with black truffle. Served with a side of berry confiture & frisee salad. All of the dishes served at the Office are prepared in the kitchen at Next. Generous portion and perfectly seasoned. Who can resist food from Next? I love the respect and appreciation the bartender has for his cocktails. Every drink is beautifully crafted with syrup, oil, and essence all made in-house. It's non-pretenious, comfortable and laid-back. It does not exist for those who are looking for glamour (sorry aviary), but it exists for those who just want to relax on some fine liquor. read more

The Office - Foie gras terrine with black truffle sprinkled on top. Served with frisée salad & toasted brioche - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time at The Office. First off we've been adamantly reminded that they are a different entity from Aviary which is upstairs. It shows. We Made reservations for two at the $75-100 per person one hour tasting experience. Drinks were very good but nothing special. The few food items were good but noting that would stand out. Service was very good but not exceptional. Overall I would save my money and spend it at Aviary which is pricy but a one of a kind, unique experience which we have experienced three times in the last year and we're blown away each times. I think the office is designed for the high, high end customer who's willing to drop crazy amount on money for some old spirits that has been "aging" in the bottle after it has been opened. I will pass on this place but go back to Aviary 100 times over. You're decision though, but just wasn't worth the hype read more

Cozy, casual, approachable, educational, interesting.... all describe my experience at The Office. Eric did a great job of setting the tone, welcoming us and letting us know he was there to partner with us as we figured out what to drink. After I answered some of his very thought provoking questions, he suggested Flaming Heart, a blended scotch whiskey by John Blaser that came with a perfectly large single ice cube stamped- The Office. We had some amazing oysters on the half shell and a single dumpling that explodes in your mouth with multiple flavors all at once. We enjoyed the art choices, decor and top-notch service. Thanks to Jeramiah as well for taking good care of us. We will be back! read more

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The Office is for sure one of Chicago's greatest speakeasies. In the basement of the Aviary, you need a key to enter and it's very subtle on where it is. You'd have to know where it is, or you could be walking into the bathrooms. They service was spectacular being very attentive but also giving you space to relax and do your own thing. I highly recommend coming here and definitely will be coming back again soon. read more

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We were very excited to come here, but left really disappointed. First, everything is overpriced. Not just the rare spirits - even Old Forester was twice the normal cost. I could overlook that fact if they executed well, but everything was mediocre at best. The cocktails are supposed to be their specialty, but they were overly sweet with uninspired base spirit choices. For such an expensive and exclusive cocktail, we expected more than Elijah Craig. They have a zillion different whiskeys, but when I asked for a suggestion on Scotch, they had little useful input and then forgot to make a recommendation altogether. Real amateur hour stuff. The food menu is limited and priced twice where it should be. $40 for tartare is a joke and it came out 30 minutes after the salmon rilletes for some reason. Service was slow and they didn't have any suggestions to speak of. The best part is they charge you a mandatory 20%. That's a terrible idea for multiple reasons. A good server will get shorted and a subpar one gets too much, leaving patrons ripped off. All in all, that's how we felt--ripped off. The whole thing is stupid. read more

My boyfriend and I went here for the pre fixe multi course cocktails with food pairings. The space is cozy and because it's so small it does feel very intimate. We sat at the bar which I liked - some of the other spots have lower tables and living room chairs which looked cozy but probably make eating harder. The cocktails were great - creative combinations that I never would have thought to order or even thought I would have liked based only the ingredients. They offer a mix of liquors and flavors so you don't feel like you're drinking the same type of drink over the course of the meal. The food was good, but the portions were not done well. The first two courses were very small, so by the time the third course comes you're two cocktails in and still hungry. The third course was heavier and came with a lot of bread, so I ended up eating a lot of that to fill up. The fourth course was similarly heavier (though very tasty) and had as much bread. I would have preferred if all four courses were more evenly divided in size, and if they cut down the bread amount. I get what other reviewers have said about the ice cream feeling like a bit of a cop-out, but I didn't mind too much. What did crack us up was that, when showing us the tray of candy toppings, our server referred to "the gummy bears from France." Why? No other candy had that distinction and it doesn't make them or the dessert any cooler. If you're going to do an ice cream sundae, just own it. It's a little overpriced for what it is, and if I went back I would go for the drinks. There are other places in Chicago where you can get a great meal for significantly less money. But, it was a cool experience and worth doing if you've had it on your list! read more

The Aviary was all booked, so I headed down to The Office to grab just one drink (or so I hoped). I went for the Gimlet, which had a unique and delicious combination of mastic, lime, and eucalyptus. The bartenders were attentive, friendly, and truly cared to see that I was enjoying myself. The space is dimly lit and adorned with old tagged bottles. Would highly recommend when in Chicago. read more

The Office - The Gimlet with sparkling water - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious drinks, laid-back atmosphere, BALLER AS HELL. I mean, it felt pretty rad to tell the door guy that we had reservations for drinks at the Office. Getting a key to the room was pretty cool, too. (You need one to get in the Office if you need to use the loo, which are right outside, by the way, and used by the whole establishment: the Office and [the upstairs] Aviary). My favorite part were the drinks: customized, delicious, and fun. At one point, after the boyfriend had ordered, he didn't feel so good. The bartender made a ginger + bitters concoction that settled his stomach so he was back in the game 20 minutes later. His original drink order? Placed in the fridge and ready for consumption at his discretion. Love that the drink didn't go to waste. It's not cheap, sure, but you already know that coming in: it's a fancy-shmance place. You want a $5 Bud Light, go to your local watering hole. This place ain't about that. read more

I finally was able to try the office! We went to celebrate my birthday. I had heard so much about the office and I was super excited to check it out on my special day. The ambiance of the place I can only describe as cool. Awesome. The cozy dark feel and the vibe really helps you relax and be excited all at the same time. The menu is smaller than I had hoped but the server told me he could get me a table at Roister if I was still hungry. The oysters were some of the best I had in the city. Very clean and delicate. The Jamon Iberico ham was really amazing. I wish I could have it for lunch every day. The alcohol experience is something I'm not sure you could have in any other place in this city. The dusty bottle collection of very vintage spirits can transform your drinking experience to another place and time. I would gladly pay for another prohibition era old fashioned despite its cost. Our server was more like a curator. I can't say enough about how amazing of an experience the office is. Save room for blackberry cobbler! read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ummmm, this place was awesome. Also, not at all what I was expecting. I thought from the reviews this was just classic cocktails with The Aviary doing all the hip stuff. Sure, kinda. But no. Everything was not only exceptionally executed, the drinks are built off top notch liquor options that are constructed into perfectly balanced flavor profiles. For heavens sake, there were three different aged Vieux Carre options. Plus, they can free form drinks based on what you like. Master-crafts(wo)men. Besides making two of the best drinks of my lifetime: 1. The selection of liquor is remarkably diverse. Rare bottles for the uber geeks on all sides (including 2-3 pages of vintage chartreuses). I'd totally come back just to splurge on something neat (literally) and fancy. 2. The vibe is chill with some awesome art on the walls. Hello comfy leather couches. And faux intellectual conversations about perspective in painting. 3. We grabbed oysters, tartare, and mussels. You should do all those things, especially all of them. 4. Service was legit. Everyone was so freaking nice and attentive. They really took a standout experience and made it one of the best we've had in pretending to know stuff about food/booze for the last five years. read more

What kind of office has no computers, no copier, no water cooler, and only like 3 TPS reports lying around? How does anyone get any work done here? I kept thinking I was going to see Magnum P.I.'s boss reading The New Yorker on the next chesterfield (that's wealthy for "sofa"). Yeah, you can probably see where this review is going by now: nowhere. Basically, if you're taking the time to read this, you probably aren't cool enough to go here. If, however, you're like me and you're definitely not cool enough to get into The Offce, but know people that are (read: 2 women that may be prosties you met several hours earlier in a hotel bar), maybe you can shamelessly ride some coat tails too. Due to the hip factor, I attempted the triple check in to cover all bases and ensure that everyone on the mobile internet knew where I was. Foursquare and Yelp check ins went off without a hitch, but I was disappointed to find that Facebook failed to recognize The Office as a location where one might imbibe. Several people would not be getting push notifications of my whereabouts. Frowny face. To mitigate the impending geographical tragedy, I simply updated my status in the form of a check in, i.e. "[Matt L] is at The Office with Blondie and Fancy." Only about 2 people liked my status update, but I think the other 9 people on my friends list were just jealous. read more

Well, we finally made it to The Office and it really was all that it's cracked up to be. We went by way of tickets. I'm still not sure how I feel about the ticket system. On the one hand, it's awesome, you have your reservation locked in so you don't have to jump through hoops to try to score an invite. On the other hand, you have to make sure you and your friends aren't flaky because you're on the hook for the ticket cost. The good news, though, is that they sometimes have room for last minute visits if you give them a ring (I asked). We chose an early reservation, which turned out great for us. We had two seats at the bar and were pretty much the only people there for the first hour or so. That gave us time to chat with and discuss our drink selections with the bartender and enjoy the place to ourselves for awhile. Our bartender was friendly and engaging and she made a mean drink. Two of our drinks were off the menu but the other four were her creations. All of them were perfectly balanced and delicious. Definitely some of the best cocktails we've had in the city. As you've probably read in the other 80,000 reviews for this place, it is completely different from The Aviary. The Office is the kind of place you go for fine spirits, interesting flavors, and drinks made to your personal taste. They have a huge selection of spirits so it was much easier to go with the bartender's suggestion than to try to choose myself. I would probably still be there trying to decide. I was impressed to see that they also have a large selection of beers of all varieties. By the time we left around 8:30 - 9:00pm, the place was packed and the bartenders were in full swing. It was really cool seeing them come up with cocktails suited to each person. It is amazing that they have the knowledge to think of such great and original drinks off the cuff. I wish I could do that! I look forward to my next visit, although, it will be a tough choice between The Office and Aviary. The drinks are great at both places but there's something to be said about breaking open your drink with a rubber band! read more

So it's come to this, the first 1 star review. And at a place that others seem to adore - reading these reviews I'm not sure we went to the same place. Disappointing, pretentious, overrated, rude - that's how I would describe The Office. To start they give you a dog and pony show about even getting down there, I get it, it's small & everyone and their mom wants to go there but just be realistic about wait times and everyone will be happier. So when you get your golden ticket and get to go downstairs behind a locked door (seriously, isn't that a fire hazard?) you are given seats in an intimate setting. The decor is nice and what people have said, wood paneling, books, a variety of reproduction paintings. I did appreciate the numerous Matisse painting, he happens to be my favorite. So we were lucky enough to sit at the bar and get served directly by the bartender. No qualms with him personally, he was nice enough and and even shoed away an aggressive male, but he did embody the elitist attitude that The Office seems to be going for. And I'm not opposed to elitism, when you have the good to back it up - The Office does not. The cocktails. I don't understand the obsession with sugar when making a 'craft cocktail'. Some people, me, don't like a lot of sugar. So when I tell you that I want a drink that is in no way sweet, it still ends up too sugary. I think I'm going to start telling bartenders that I'm a diabetic. The bartender made me a tequila based drink which was ok, but still sweet. Not worth the steep price by any means. As a reference point to explain my taste I mentioned that a vodka martini with blue cheese olives was my go to cocktail. The bartender looked at me with disgust as if I just suggested a cocktail with rubbing alcohol. 'We don't server vodka here' Yeah that's a direct quote, I'm not sure what to do about that. So with this 'craft cocktail' revolution comes an renew interest in egg whites. Now I'm a fan of egg whites, in the morning for breakfast, not sure about them in cocktail. But to each their own, I'm sure some people pretend they like them with booze. What makes my skin crawl is improper handling of eggs by barehanded bartenders. When cooking it is advised to wash your hands after handling raw foods. The bartender cracked an eggs, separated the white then proceeded to make the drink, touching the shaker, liquor bottles, etc. These drinks take a while, I don't think it's too much to ask to add a hand wash after handing raw eggs in there. Let's go back to the locked/ fire hazard door situation. The bathrooms are outside the door so if you need to use them you have to be let back in. We were there late and the doorman was mia and my friend got locked out, not cool. Add in a bar manager who made it his purpose to skirt around and be rude to people. It's a bar's prerogative to limit the use of flash (I think it's to protect all the priceless art reproductions) but you could at least deliver that message in non condescending way. We had another cocktail which was also average and expensive and contained sesame oil. Nothing like putting an overwhelming oil in a drink to mask all the other flavors. Nothing about either drink I had was worth $20. Check arrives and we get grief for wanting it split. Gratuity is already included - for a party of 3. Annoying but I'll roll with it. For the amount of money we spent I would have at least liked people to treat us better -or a toaster to take home with me. I'm ok with spending a lot of money on food and drinks when they are worth it, these are not worth it. Go to the office if you are trying to impress people by showing them how cool you are. The Office is like a steakhouse in downtown Indianapolis - exits for people with expense accounts in town for business and not for the regular population. It's the fine dining set's equivalent to bottle service. You know you are overpaying but you do it so you can tell your friends about it. Thats just not my scene. read more

Admitting my respect for Chef Achatz and his creativity from the very first time I heard of Alinea I have to say that for someone who largely does not drink alcohol or (ever) go out to bars my reasons for wanting to visit The Office were mostly to see what it was all about, say I'd been there, and to check out the food menu; I feel no shame in admitting that and neither should anyone else because it is a simple fact of human nature that exclusivity has a direct correlation with desirability and all things being equal The Office is about as 'exclusive' as it gets. Dark and serene with oil paintings dotting the wall and only two servers plus a bartender working the room it was mere moments after entering The Office and plopping down on the softest leather couch I've ever found that we were greeted by our waitress, a cheerful young woman who welcomed us in a style more befitting Alinea than Aviary and presented us with menus for both food and beverages. Making small talk and apparently informed that we'd dined at Alinea earlier in the evening she informed us that she would be going for the first time on Sunday and inquiring about the menu she appeared as much a "fan" as an employee and leaving us to make our decisions I instantly felt much more comfortable in the relaxed confines and low light of The Office than I ever could have upstairs. With menu prices earmarked to fit the experience we spent a few moments debating our choices before our server would arrive and after asking about the portion size of the foie gras I debated the order to which our server mused that if I could eat that after a meal at Alinea she'd place my picture on the wall (a tempting offer that if she had such authority I'd have certainly taken her up on.) Deciding against such gluttony largely because no one else in the group enjoys foie we instead placed our orders for three drinks and a something equally gluttonous but vastly more sharable. With time moving slow down in the office due to the low light, low noise level, and lack of windows we spent some more time chatting and browsing the works on the wall before our beverages would arrive, my sister again ordering the most punchy of the group in the form of Bourbon, Pecan, Cinnamon, Thyme, Lemon, Sparkling Cider served with a similarly carved ice ball to the drink upstairs. Intense and spicy with the pecan notes particularly lingering on the finish this would prove to be the sort of drink that benefitted by letting the ice melt just a bit as the flavors better separated out as the alcohol was diluted. Moving next to Nate's selection, the sweet but slightly-too-hopsy-for-my-palate "Kirsch, Cherry, Thai Long Peppercorn, Flemish Ale" would prove to be a favorite at the table but at the same time also a confirmation that no matter how good the preparation or ingredients I'm simply not a beer guy. For my choice, the "Gin, Huckleberry, Averna, Clove, Angostura, Eggwhite, Black Pepper" would prove to be my favorite drink of the evening with the frothy eggwhite head providing a smooth foil to the black pepper while the admixture of alcohol, berries, and cloves shined beneath with an almost fruit-punch smoothness punctuated by unique herbal tones that I'm guessing derived from the Sicilian Averna. Enjoying our beverages the grand finale of nearly 7 hours of Achatz would arrive in the form of the "Ice Cream Sundae for two" modified for three. Beginning first with the arrival of a nearly twenty-inch diameter crystal Lazy-Susan laden with gummy bears, crushed Oreos and chocolate toffee bars, maraschino cherries, salty peanuts, fresh bananas, and hand whipped cream and subsequently followed by three silver chalices with at least two cups of hand churned vanilla ice cream in each plus a porcelain pitcher of melted milk chocolate the whole experience was quite like being a kid at a sundae shop and just like said children the next half hour was spent with each of us dabbling with the various ingredients to form the "perfect" sundae. With the ice cream dense, smooth, creamy, and intensely vanilla I will simply note that while some may think $37.50 seems expensive I personally found the experience to be every bit worth it for both the quality and the quantity of the ingredients and considering the cost of "designer" ice cream these days I actually did not find the cost all that substantial at all. Returning to find our ice cream bowls, the chocolate vessel, bananas, whipped cream, and cherries gone as we picked at the Oreos and Toffee our server noted that she was "impressed" (the second time I'd heard this after dessert that night) and asking us if there was anything else we'd like I joked that I was still pretty sure I could handle the foie gras to which she laughed and said she'd get the tab - a hand written bill sealed in wax with tax and tip again included - and with the bill paid we made our way to the door, the hour now just after midnight and all of us with smiles on our faces. read more

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It is what you think it is. You have to be really independently fucking cool to turn down an invitation with good conscience. I am not nearly at that point, so I went, and it was all very lovely. The little bites of cake they serve with the giant sundae are disarmingly wonderful. But really, people love The Office because it's really fun to say you went to The Office. So fun, in fact, that I witnessed no less than two girls illegitimately checking in on Foursquare from the basement vestibule, which The Office shares (behind a locked door) with the Achatz bathroom suite. Something about this place really makes everyone lose their shit, so watching drunken negotiations for an invitation at the Aviary can be highly entertaining. Just keep in mind that if desperate begging were a reliable strategy, this place would have far more than 33 reviews, all of which would probably be as arrogant as this one. ~Douche, party of one read more

I've been wanting to come here for soooo long, just because, I mean...it's so exclusive, so douchey, so omg-only-cool-kids-can-come-here kind of atmosphere...why not. All it took was a quick last minute text to the oh-so-exclusive speakeasy, and they told us we were good-to-go. They were also very nice about the fact that we initially said 5 people, but 6 people showed up. You enter through the Aviary, let the person in front know that you're there for The Office. Then a very nicely dressed good looking man comes and takes you downstairs to where the bathrooms are, whips out a key, and opens this door that takes you inside to The Office. A LOT smaller than what I imagined, but very vintage-y looking, grandpa's office atmosphere. Just. my. style. And so different from modernness of The Aviary upstairs. The drinks here are completely different from the drinks upstairs. Everything is more from a classic bar menu, but they let us know that if we let them "have-fun" with a classic drink, the bartender would be glad to add a little twist to a common drink. That's what I went with - a classic gin & tonic, and I asked her to let the bartender do what he wanted with it. The waitress asked if I wanted to note of fruits, citrus, etc. and I asked for a note of fruitiness. What came back was an amazing gin&tonic with a note of passion fruit, topped with a rosemary. Waahhhh, it was so goooooooooood. And it was $20. Other people I came with ordered the Aviary beers, and two of my friends ordered one of the wines. Everyone was pretty much disappointed. Beers were...probably more for the acquired tastes...If you like Stella's or ciders like me, the beers here would probably not make you happy. Next, the wine was not what my friends were expecting - smelled and tasted more like whiskey than wine, so neither of them ended up drinking it. The waitress was so nice about it and took it off the check. Oh, and the checks come out in these adorable old parchment-paper-like material, with a FRESH red wax seal stamp, and each drink was hand-written. Small details like these make me so happyyyyyyyy I felt like I was in Harry Potter. If it was solely based on MY experience here, it would be 5-stars, but everyone else was so disappointed, so I dropped a star...But seriously, I think people should just let the bartender take control and make what they want to make!! read more

John and Ian were awesome! Will def come back! Thanks for the great cocktails and conversation!

After getting stuffed up at Next, we got two seats at the bar down in the office. This was our second time here. First time, this was one of the most awesome experiences, this time, probably the worst you could have aside from having drinks spilled all over you. If you are going to ask people to not take pictures, fine. But if you don't have the decency to tell the table of 6 making noise like they are at a Cubs game, GET A SACK! Great drinks but awful experience. I had love this place and to have it ruined ultimately by a bunch of CLOWNS even after asking a few times to have them quiet down. No staff ever said anything to them. Save your money for the drinks upstairs at Aviary or any other place. read more

Somehow, by stroke of luck and timing, I got to visit the Office. If the Aviary is exclusive, then the Office is some super secret mobster stuff. An unassuming door downstairs among the restrooms ushers you into a small cozy nook of a bar that packs one hell of a punch. Having visited the Aviary a few hours before (then taking a break for dinner at Publican) I found the office to be not all like its big sister up stairs. Fundamentally, both venues are about the cocktail-- the difference is upstairs is about flash, show, presentation whereas downstairs is about highlighting cocktail craftsmanship. The decor upstairs is slick, modern, loungey and downstairs is small, intimate, warm like a library-- much more the speakeasy you picture. The Office delivers on every level-- wonderful, gimmick -free drinks, exclusive while still being inviting. The gin, honeydew etc etc is one of the best cocktails I've ever consumed, hands down. The $25 sundae with the wagon wheel of topping options is fun and playful for a group. I only hope to make it back in the near future. Oh and don't forget to take the key from the monkey on your way to the bathroom.. don't want to be locked out of this one.... read more

The Office is like unlike anywhere else I have been. This place is truly one of a kind. There is no menu - but as others have stated they have "helpful phrases" that elicit a meaningful discussion about what you would like to experience. I say experience, because it truly is an experience. It's a little intimidating if you don't have a lot of knowledge about the different components of a drink - but the bartenders are SO amazing, they would never make you feel foolish, but will ask you a lot of questions to understand what you enjoy and what you are in the mood for as well. They are also incredibly knowledgeable. Seriously, the bartender who won the award for being the best bartender in the world works here. How amazing is that! These are not the folks at your local bar who call themselves mixologists. These are true trained artists (really!) who will create something amazing for you. They are really passionate about it to and are so excited to see you enjoy their creation. The space is small and dark, and resembles an old school library or office (ha!) and is super cozy and feels very intimate. It can barely seat 12 people and I have no idea how you go about getting a reservation because I went with a friend who knows the folks who work there, but if you have an opportunity to go - you should go! It's pricey - absolutely, but this is not where you go for a cheap happy hour deal or a rail drink. I am a pretty standard drinker and the first drink I had will stand out in my memory for a very long time, for very good reasons. It looked lovely, smelled terrific and tasted amazing. These are drinks to be savored, not gulped and take the time to linger and take it all in. The handwritten checks are also sealed with wax - I mean, seriously, someone really thought this through. Despite the exclusivity surrounding it, I never felt judged or out of place and had a fantastic experience. Until next time (I hope!) read more

The Office is perhaps the classiest bar in Chicago and a visit here truly makes you feel like a VIP. The Office is Grant Achatz' super secret, invitation only speakeasy located in the basement of The Aviary and Next. The Office seats only 14 to 16 people (three tables for four and a few barstools). The lighting is dark, accented by candlelight and there are no windows. There is plush, comfortable, elegant, classic furniture and decor that makes you feel like you are in the private lounge of a powerful politician or famous mobster. Eclectic music plays in the background and the walls are adorned with oil paintings. The menu at The Office features a page of divine sounding cuisine such as oysters on the half shell, caviar, foie gras and the like. There is also a fancy decadent ice cream sundae available as a dessert. However the food is very pricey and is more for a pre or post dinner snack than a meal. There is also a page listing approximately ten specialty cocktails featuring the finest ingredients and interesting blends of contrasting ingredients that enhance one another. All of the drinks sounded tantalizing. My wife ordered the Cognac which was served with the coolest looking hand carved sphere of ice and a very aromatic vanilla bean sticking out like a straw. The cocktail also included some black pepper to add some heat. I opted for the Tequila based cocktail that was essentially a margarita on steroids. The fine tequila was again mixed with some spice to add a heat component and finished with a fruity aftertaste courtesy of lemon balm. All the cocktails are priced at $20. There are also pages of spirits as well as well over a dozen of the finest craft beers to choose from and a handful of wines. Whereas the upstairs lounge (The Aviary) is all about whimsical concoctions that appear like they were whipped up in a laboratory, The Office is all about taking you back to a forgotten era and serving up the finest classical cocktails. The service at The Office is a high end as the drinks. Our servers (Bri) was with us as often as she was absent and was so interesting and friendly to speak with. Grant Achatz always seems to find the most amazing service staff who have that rare blend of exuding professionalism and polish, yet being totally down to Earth and engaging. You feel like you are in a really special place, but there is absolutely no stuffiness or awkwardness. The Office is a great retreat from the real world. A special, unique venue where you can forget the stressors of your daily life, relax and feel pampered. A trip to The Office is a true privilege and something to cherish. read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh delicious indulgence. We finally got in. I came with a larger group to celebrate my birthday and it was perfect. Drinks were perfect, though expensive ($20 - we started off ordering off of the menu, then moved to the bartender's recommendations). The steak tartare was by far the best I've ever had (with an egg yolk on top). We also ordered the oysters, which came with droppers that held different flavors (smoke, lemon, curry, etc) so that was fun to experiment with. The BEST part was the sundae bar that came with heath bars, oreos, gummy bears, bananas and more. Everyone in our party got two scoops of ice cream with hot chocolate sauce on the side and we were free to make our sundae as we pleased. The service was fantastic and the bar was super comfortable. My only (tiny) gripe was that we spent $800 and they kind of pushed us out after a while. I feel like if I'm going to spend that much money, I should be able to relax as long as I please... No matter - I still had an amazing birthday. Go to celebrate or impress someone, but it's obviously not an everyday place. 69/365 read more

I feel as though by writing a review I am doing a disservice to the exclusivity and the vibe of the venue. Nonetheless, here we are. We were greeted by a very friendly man who took us to the lounge below and sat us at a very comfortable, slightly secluded table. First off, I was utterly blown away by the decor. The dim lighting, luxurious couches and furniture, the forward but not mainstream hiphop music all made the entire experience feel very avant garde. But it was the exquisite liquor collection that takes the cake. Beautiful bottles of rare, perfectly crafted spirits lined the shelfs behind glass cabinets. At upwards of 20, 40, 80 dollars per pour I chose not to taste but that didn't stop me from appreciating the beautiful and unique bottles displayed in all their glory. Our waitress came by, very friendly all smiles and extremely knowledgeable about her spirits. All you really need to know is that the first 6 cocktails they have on their menu are there most perfectly blended, well-crafted drinks. However, seeing as I was from out of town and would likely not be back for who knows how long, I decided to opt for their more unique style of ordering--that which makes them so special. Give the hostess your list of likes and dislikes; your favorite spirits and ones that you absolutely can do without; tell them your favorite season; a feeling that you would like to relive (sipping daiquiris on the beach;) the more information you give them the more they will be able to perfect your order. I was part of a party of 4 and we each ordered differently. There was one who had been there multiple times with his wife and he ordered the chartreuse of the menu. His wife told the waitress to give something that reminded her of campfires and the fall. My girlfriend loves her fruity summery drinks, but she hates brandy and whiskey so she mentioned that as well. As for me I love mezcal as well as mojitos. Our drinks came out and we each passed them around in a circle. Every single one of them was phenomenal. The flavors were forward, each matching the description of their respective orderer. The cocktails were incredibly unique I had never tasted anything like it. Finally, our waitress came back to tell us a little bit about her drinks. It was obvious that she not only had a great passion for it but was also incredibly knowledgable and personable. Remember how I said my girlfriend hates brandy? Well she loved her drink and after telling the waitress how much she liked it she was informed that the bartender used strawberry brandy. This really just goes to show how much these guys and gals know about their spirits, flavor profiles, and giving an all around great experience. This was easily the best cocktail experience I have ever had and was extremely impressed by the professionalism, the exclusivity, and the style of it all. read more

We were lucky enough to get reservations at Aviary on a Friday night at 8pm, so I wanted to put our luck to test further by asking and asking and asking if we could get into the Office. (I also mentioned that i'm Next's season tickets holder, not sure if that helped.) So after we ordered second round of awesome cocktails, the girl came over and told me my persistence finally paid off! She said after we are done with our drinks, we can go to the Office (but can't bring drinks down). With that said, we all chugged our drinks, probably not a good idea. Then we followed a guy in a sleek suit downstairs. And yes, he had a key to unlock the door and let us in. Once we got in, we were seated at this very classic looking sitting area (hugh leather couch, wood coffee table, and two chairs). It's cozy and elegant. There are about four chairs at the bar, another table seats up to 4-5 people, and another similar seating area with a couch and two chairs that can probably seat up to 6 people. The decor was European-ish plus kind of old school. Four of us ordered one cocktail, two scotches (one is some rare Japanese yamazaki scotch), and a port. Our waitress also said, that's really not the rarest scotch they have, if we want to, they have some drinks that only they have in Chicago... Anyways, I have to say, if you want to have more creative drinks with crazy presentations, stay upstairs at Aviary, our friends from New York couldn't get over how cool those drinks were (we had cider, oolong, and something came in a plastic bag...). If you want to have a more exclusive experience, try your luck. :) read more

Simply put, if you get a chance to go, go. Just. Go. If you have to use the facilities, be sure to grab a key from the doggie butler. The drinks are amazing. I'll be back for the food. This place is seriously one-of-a-kind. Seriously? Beautifully-calligraphed checks stamped closed with a wax emblem? The experience is just perfect to the last detail. read more

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." ― Will Rogers Truer words have never been spoken. This quote from "Liz G" describes our experience perfectly: "Check arrives and we get grief for wanting it split. Gratuity is already included...not worth it. Go to the office if you are trying to impress people by showing them how cool you are. ..You know you are overpaying but you do it so you can tell your friends about it." Including the exorbitant gratuity for a party of 4, it came up to $200. That's with merely 6 drinks and a waffle. (drinks were good) Fancy, a $40 waffle. At that price I expect something much more than a glorified Chinese plate (see photo). Overall the only redeeming factor was we met Grant and took tequila shots with him. read more

Unbelievable spot... really great drinks, but the ambiance is really what does it. Amazing service. Great for a special occasion -- would go back in a heartbeat. read more

Ok, call it "gimmicky", call it "trying too hard", call it whatever you want. But the Office is awesome regardless of what you think of the atmosphere and process to get in. We had no problem getting reservations for this past Saturday evening for a party of 3 and walked over after dinner at 8:30 to have one of the more mind blowing alcoholic experiences of my life. My husband and his brother and I were immediately escorted through the Aviary and downstairs through an unmarked locked door into a very cool, basement/library-esque/speakeasyish room. Theatrical? Maybe, but I dug it. The lighting was very dim, excellent music, a very chill and quiet but friendly vibe. There is a glass case in the room containing some of the most rare bottles of whiskey I've ever seen. We were given seats on a nearby leather couch and our host came by shortly after to discuss our drink preferences with us. The discussion was open and free and really just centered around what types of drinks and alcohol we typically enjoy and prefer and what type of mood we were in that evening. My husband and I both went with bourbon based cocktails. My brother-in-law typically enjoys whiskey based drinks as well, but to spread out the variety he went with rum and gin based cocktails that evening. We had a variety of drinks with each round, everything from whiskey influenced by cardamom to cayenne pepper to coconut to chai. After our second round, we were asked to move to the bar to accommodate space for a larger group. No problem - I wish we'd been seated at the bar from the beginning. Watching Julia, the most amazing bartender I've ever seen, concoct her creations was incredibly entertaining. For the new group that had entered, she made a drink that involved burning rosemary and pouring liquid fire into each glass at the table. Some yelpers have complained about the price. And while $20 per drink is steep, I'd much rather pay that for a true work of art and amazing creation than the typical $13 for a basic boring drink at any other bar in Chicago. The Office is a little bit like a Vegas casino, in that once you enter, you lose track of all time and the outside world. We spent 4 hours there easily without even realizing. I can't wait to go back to this amazing alternate universe. read more

Awesome evening out last night. Fantastic drinks and experience. We ate foods we couldn't pronounce but loved all of it too. I started with a daiquiri (9.5/10) and the Mrs. didn't know what she wanted so the waitress asked her a good number of questions about what she liked and preferred and came up with a cocktail off-menu she really liked (9.5/10). While those were being made I asked to try a chartreuse which they seemed to be known for. We got to try several and got an education on the history. I didn't care for it but the wife liked it and ended up ordering a house-made specialty shot to sip on as a result (10/10). I ended with an Old Fashioned that was definitely a top-3 O.F. For me and I order them everywhere and make a pretty damn good one myself (9.9/10). The food was great. We ordered a Salmon spread and the pork special (something I couldn't pronounce or remember now). Both were supposed to be filling on their own but even after eating both we could have kept going but that is probably our fault not the size of the portion lol. (10/10). Star ratings Food 5 Drinks 5 Price 4 Service 5 Ambiance 5 Overall 4.99 Excellent. read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend somehow scored a reservation for 6 at The Office for his birthday. I had never heard of the place and consider my tastes at about "Average Joe", with my culinary skills amounting to burning water. I would go as far as to say my friend "wasted" a spot on me because I rate my drinks on a simple scale of "yes" or "I'm too drunk", but the company is what matters, right? I was not aware of the exclusivity of The Office before going, but was surely impressed when being whisked away into a locked room in the basement (that sounds comforting). The bar/lounge itself is small (fits about 16 people max) and definitely has a "cigar room" vibe. The lighting is dim, but not Violet Hour dim where you're pulling out your phone to light up the menu. The couches/seats were super comfy and you could easily doze off while sipping on a cocktail and relaxing. The waitress was super nice and helpful and gave great recommendations; I enjoyed the whiskey and tequila cocktails and she was very knowledgeable when sniping my next drink. We also ordered the ice cream sundae. This is a must. The tray of cookies, gummy bears, cake, etc. is awesome. They give you a shiny chalice for the sundae. Picture your ice cream covered with gummy bears, cookies, cake, topped with chocolate syrup, all in a golden chalice - drunk. It's very satisfying. We had eaten dinner before, so I did not get a chance to try out "real food", although I imagine it is of high quality. If you are presented the opportunity to go to The Office, take it; you won't be disappointed. There is sure to be a cocktail for you, especially with the help of the nice and knowledgeable waiting staff. The ice cream sundae is a must, and the atmosphere is perfect for an intimate group to hang out and relax. read more

The other reviews here are spot on, and there really isn't any reason to go into a lot of detail other than the ambiance is amazing and the drinks are unbelievable to say the least. One note, I have absolutely no idea how we got in here. Scratch that, my date and I did one thing. We straight up asked. While putting our name on the waiting list with the doorman we asked if there was any space open in the Office. He asked if we had been before, we lied and said we frequented. He took our first and last names and 20 minutes later we were lead downstairs. I have no idea if that will work again but sometimes faking it works pretty well. We had the gin drink, wheat whiskey and the rye whiskey. All of them were were amazing, inspiring even. read more