I absolutely loved the entire thing. The acting was top notch (for real, y'all crushed it), the drinks were delicious (I had the mocktails), and the lighting and ambience really set the mood of the show. After what I experienced, I feel like the poor reviews were from people who wouldn't be happy with anything anyways. I highly recommend it. ‍ read more

Highly entertaining. The drinks were very tasty and the hour and a half went by in a blink. Definitely coming back for their next show.

The performances are skillful and enjoyable, the cocktails are imaginative and tasty. And we got seats in the second row; it was so wonderful to be that close. The horror, the drama, and the occasional laugh made it a wonderful way to spend the evening. Grab tickets quickly because it's a small venue typically. The Santa Rosa, California venue had street parking and a parking garage very close by. Hydrate and eat before you go!! They really do serve you 4 cocktails read more

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy - The stage at Santa Rosa, California - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

While this wasn't the most amazing experience I've ever had, it was a fun and different night out. I appreciate that this is a traveling show and that our community here in Fairbanks Alaska was one that they selected. Thank you!! Our venue was much larger than they typically use, but they did a great job of bringing the drinks and balancing their performances with serving. The actual performances were very well done, and the drink combinations were clever with the poetry and prose. We dressed up, as did many others in the audience, and the outfits were all over the place - flapper, goth, period outfits. It was fun to see the creativity. If you're one of those people who is willing to lean in to the fun , you will enjoy this. If you are a perfectionist and seem to always want more from something, you might not. I would go again. It was a fair value for the cost. read more

I attended Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy Part II in DC, and overall it was a really enjoyable experience--especially for fans of Poe--but with a few logistical quirks worth noting. First, "speakeasy" is definitely used loosely here. The event took place in a ballroom at the Kellogg Conference Hotel, with a stage set up at the front and several round 8-top tables arranged throughout the room. It felt more like a small theatrical performance with table seating than an intimate, hidden speakeasy-style venue. One thing to flag: the event FAQ mentioned that some venues may have a pre-show bar but no food. That wasn't the case here--the hotel actually had food available for purchase before the show. So if that matters to you, it's worth checking directly with the venue rather than relying solely on the event website. The performers truly carry the entire experience. They handle everything--checking tickets, seating guests, serving cocktails, and performing--which is impressive but also leads to some occasional disorganization. When we arrived, there wasn't great communication between the ticket checker and the usher, so some guests seated themselves and had to be moved later. It didn't ruin anything, but smoother coordination would make the start of the evening feel more polished. As for the cocktails: you get four, one paired with each story. Unfortunately, this was probably the most underwhelming part. The drinks weren't very strong--you could barely taste the alcohol--and despite the website showing nice glassware, they were actually served in plastic cups. It didn't quite live up to the "cocktail experience" expectation. That said, the performance itself was fantastic. The cast was engaging, energetic, and clearly passionate about Poe's work. They performed The Pit and the Pendulum, The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee, and The Fall of the House of Usher, and each was brought to life in a compelling way. There were even a few ad-libbed moments that added humor and kept the show feeling fresh. The actors also did a great job interacting with the audience at each table while serving drinks, which added a personal touch. Overall, despite a few hiccups with logistics and the cocktails, the strength of the performances makes this a worthwhile experience--especially if you're a Poe fan. read more

See all

We recently attended the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy at The Franklin Theatre, and it completely blew our expectations out of the water. This wasn't just grabbing drinks at a bar or watching a standard show--it was a fully produced, high-energy, immersive theatrical experience. If this popup event comes back into town, snag your tickets immediately! Follow me on Instagram - @thecannyadventurist for a deeper dive into my reviews. read more

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Had a great time, drinks were good, met some nice people there. Performances were great!

I went to the performance in Vallejo. It was a wonderful experience. The drinks were delish and the atmosphere was spooky and macabre as well. Many dressed up for the event. I'm going to the performance in Sacramento too on August 8th. Can't wait. New stories. read more

We attended this venue not knowing what to expect. Since we live in Ft Myers FL, we attended at Ter Tini's. Surprisingly it was enjoyable. You need to know some of Poe's works to enjoy the actors and their enactment of pieces of various Poe's literary writings. There is no food service but there are a variety of special cocktails that are served with each performance. If you are a non-alcohol consumer, tell the server and they will make a mocktail for you. The stage is visible for all seats. It's a bit narrow at Ter Tini's and they only have 1 restroom, u less you go into the bowling alley area. But the 90-minute performance was entertaining, seating was good and the cocktails are a nice touch. For something different, if you get the chance ... come see for yourself. read more

See all

A delightful experience start to finish. Great troupe of four talented actors who presented a most memorable evening of entertainment with high priority of their guests' enjoyment. My wife is already making plans for their next show when they return. Enjoyable cocktails, promptly served and cleared, with an intimate setting. We love that folks are making an outstanding effort to keep the fine arts alive! KUDOS read more

See all

I enjoyed this thoroughly. I'm read some lukewarm reviews, and am surprised at how they've missed the ENTIRE point. This event is for the true Poe-aphile. This event is clearly a labour of love by its creators and actors. The actors obviously love the works of Poe. They immerse themselves completely in their readings. The cocktails --- ohhhh, the cocktails are VERY good; but be aware: you fon't really taste the alcohol and those 4 drinks sneak up on you. Fortunately, they are more than happy to provide non-alcoholic "mocktail" versions upon request. If you are a Poe fan, you need to check this out. It was a very fun evening, being surrounded by fellow "Poe-aphiles". read more

See all

Once upon a midday dreary, I found delight, not dark or eerie. From whispered tales to spirits stirred, Each shadowed corner hummed the word--macabre. The cast? Stellar!--their art divine, Each glance and gesture, perfectly timed. The movement, mood, the costumed grace, Brought Poe himself to haunt the place. My favorite potion--Roderick's Ruin, A gothic dream worth soul's undoing. Yet Lover's Lament, though pretty in hue, Felt perfumed a touch too strong for my crew. But ah! To be woven into the tale-- To live the madness, not just inhale! A day so strange, so splendidly wrought, I left with laughter--and quite a plot! read more

See all

Overpriced. Bad lighting. Not real Poe. This was at the dr Philip's center. It did not belong.

As new parents, our first night out in almost a year felt like a major event. We hired a babysitter, got dressed up, and were genuinely excited for a unique speakeasy experience centered around Edgar Allan Poe. Unfortunately, it felt less like an immersive theater production and more like a high school drama club with a fog machine. The set was surprisingly sparse and underwhelming, the performances were awkward enough that we spent more time exchanging confused glances than feeling immersed, and the drinks were some of the weakest and least enjoyable cocktails we've had out of a plastic cup. We kept waiting for it to "get good," but it never really did. The most horrifying tale of the evening wasn't written by Edgar Allan Poe--it was realizing we were paying $30 an hour for a babysitter while watching this unfold. To be fair, the cast seemed to be trying, and I appreciate the ambition behind the concept. But the execution didn't match the ticket price or the advertising. If you're looking for a polished, atmospheric date night, I'd recommend saving your money for just about anything else. read more

Attended the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy 2 experience in Raleigh at All Saints Chapel. Perfect venue and the whole experience was flawless. Everything ran right on time and the distribution of the cocktails was smooth. Really enjoyed it -- wish I hadn't missed the first one! read more

See all

Fun and full of surprises. The drinks were good. The performances were well done and very enjoyable. Impressive that everything was handled by the cast only; will call, service, lights, sound - all by the small cast. read more

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy - Audience members - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Wasn't sure what to expect as this was the first time for both me and BF. We had a great time! The staff were the servers, performers and crew. The performances were great! My favorite was The Raven and The Red Death. I saw some bad reviews about the drinks and you're expecting Broadway then move on. This is small theater and they did a great job! read more

See all

I'm not a purist and can't vouch for the full veracity of the text/script, but I can say it was a wildly fun night out in Ukiah/SF Bay Area. The cast was passionate, bedecked in great costumes, impressively skilled, and I was struck by just how the macabre stood up the test of time: they brought the texts alive in a new way. It absolutely felt worth the price of admission for the novelty, creativity, and quality of the performances, as well as for its clear homage to a great literary figure. The drinks were delicious and not too strong (this is NOT "Drunk History). I also loved all the emcees' humor. Kudos to the cast and to everyone involved for presenting such an imaginative project! read more

We attended the Riverside, CA show and as an EAP fan, this did not disappoint! Walking into these shows, you must remember that this is a show to tell the a story, not to put on a play. This show is put on by four performers, who double as the servers, so going in and expecting a Hollywood CGI performance is a little excessive. With that in mind, the performers dressed the part in mid 19th century attire and made the crowd feel engaged from the beginning. First they told the story of The Pit and the Pendulum. The emotion and pitch really brought the story to life! Next was the Cask of Amontillado. The actors played well off each other and you could feel the hatred toward Fortunado. Third was a somber telling of Annabelle Lee. The actress was incredible and pulled at the heart strings! Last was The Fall of the House of Usher. The storytelling made you feel like you were in the story. I can't wait for a EAP 3 to come out! I will definitely be attending! read more

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

We live in Temecula California and my wife purchased tickets for tonight's show in Carlsbad California a few weeks ago. We were notified yesterday that the venue had changed to a location about 30 minutes from the original location. We have dinner reservations for tonight in Carlsbad after the 4:00 show. We tried to contact them to either refund our money or reschedule to another date closer to our location. The only response we received was that the shows were being delayed by 1 hour. This is terrible customer service! Beware of this promoter. read more

This was an atmospheric and fun event. Four actors gave it their all and managed to make a small afternoon club come alive. Yes, there were plastic chairs lined up in rows and a definite audience feel. They were a well oiled machine and the service was good. Drinks came out quickly and those who wanted mocktails got them easily. The drinks themselves were very mediocre, and that's being generous. Anywhere else I would have considered them undrinkable but they were part of the fun of the evening so I indulged, watered down and punch like as they were. Between the four of them I felt almost no intoxication, which was fine. The acting was just fine and the troop was very enthusiastic. I would give the overall evening four stars for a good experience. read more

See all

It was, well, Poe-fect! Thoroughly enjoyed our evening at the Vacaville event, held at Journey Coffee.

this was one of the best experiences my wife and I had with life theater. Will definitely be returning. The ambience the liquid libations with the engagement and everything was just amazing. read more

See all

Exceptional in every way from Stellar Actors to Creative Cocktails to Production Extraordinaire. If you miss them in your town? Shame on you. read more

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy - The Man Himself. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Reimagined gymnasium high school play. The drinks were in plastic cups and the performance was meh. The seats were folding chairs and felt like I was being definitely slammed into a pop up performance piece. read more

Loved it !!! I saw a review that stated that they don't put enough booze . They def do . I felt a bit buzzy and my friend didn't finish all her drinks because she was driving ! Not sure how much more alcohol people want .. they give you four drinks lol ! They also do mocktails or other modifications if you ask for them! Great customer service . From the moment you walk in the Edgar Allan Poe mood is set. That dark , depressing.. full of sorrow feeling due to the music playing in the background. The dark curtains and black attire the cast is wearing is awesome ambiance setting too! We had a blast ! Great actors. We laughed so much! Clever jokes and awesome storytelling. read more

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

An awesome and amazing immersive experience with great actors thoroughly enjoyable highly recommended. read more

See all

This is a unique event described as a cocktail experience, but I think the part that shined most was the theatrical aspect of it, entertaining audience members with the literary works of Edgar Allan Poe. Was it really a speakeasy setting? Nope, just an event space with regular chairs set up facing the stage and eerie melodies and dim colored lighting filling the room, mainly the stage area. The props and decor on stage were really great though, even if the "poestorians" didn't really use much of the props. Think of this event more as 4 tales being performed out loud with breaks in between each one, for the audience to be served drinks and a bit of transition storytelling from the narrator. Each of the four performances were more like dramatic readings... I'd say three of the four performers did a really good job when we attended the Oakland event this past Saturday, and the other wasn't bad, just slightly less engaging and didn't utilize the space on stage like the others. If you love history, poetry, theatre or the performing arts, or are just a fan of the great writer and poet and his works, this immersive show is worth checking out. As for the drinks, I actually liked all four of them flavor-wise (they were all weak in alcohol, probably why they didn't need to charge more for tickets). Three of the four were fruity cocktails with a pleasant taste and mix of ingredients, it's hard for me to pick a fave. I surprisingly liked the milk-based drink as well, even if not my preference. My partner asked for a non-dairy version, and enjoyed it too. In fact, you could make special requests due to dietary needs or preferences for each drink, or mocktails. All drinks were served directly to your seats in between stories/performances, and the staff worked swiftly to make sure no time was wasted. Overall, we had an enjoyable experience and it was definitely unique. One thing to note is, it felt a bit inconvenient them opening the doors less than 10 minutes before the listed start time, especially for the Oakland event since the California Ballroom entrance consists of stairs, so having a line form on those steps seemed a little unsafe. But it wasn't a big deal, we actually just waited at the top and were seated front and center when we entered, with excellent viewing of the stage. For what we paid, it was worth it, but I'm glad we decided to attend the Oakland event instead of SF or SJ, cuz it looks like tix at the other bay area locations are more expensive. read more

See all

We werent sure what to expect however the actors were amazing. You could feel the passion and emotion in the writings choosen. I loved getting to not only see their passion for poe but also for performing! It was cool being able to speak to them quickly afterwards as well. Will definitely go again next time they are in town. read more

These people are amazing and are true artists I have been blessed to see them twice and I can't sing enough praises. They crank out drinks and poetry and make it look easy but it takes a great deal of talent. read more

Omg so amazing. They said that this was all put together by 3 people which is wild. They had such great energy and it was so captivating. The drinks were good, and they offered accommodations for dietary restrictions. I really enjoyed it and think its very worth checking out. My only complaint is that I wish there were more stories/poems because I could have kept watching them all night. 5 star experience for sure :) read more

This 1.5 hour theatrical performance with cocktails themed after each of Poe's famous stories was an exceptional experience. The actors were excellent, the mood dark and gothic. We attended in Placerville CA and would go again in a heartbeat!!! Many attendees dressed for the experience which was fun. There is audience participation but please don't be one of the annoying guests who speaks with the actors to show how well you know Poe! We all do! Have fun and don't forget your tip money- they deserved it! HEY big tall men- sit in back we cant see through you. After reading some other reviews I see we had a great venue- early 1900's Shakespeare Theater well decorated and professional lighting. I also see different actors so I guess we got the cream of the crop. Keep the venue in mind- true theaters are the best plus we live in rustic small town and are spoiled! read more

See all

Everything. Need i say more. Loved dressing to the period. 4 person cast. Well deliervered art. Dramatic. I will go again

Great drinks and enthralling reenactment of chilling Poe tales. Very entertaining evening

I went with a few friends last night and I loved it! I think the actors were excellent, and the MC was very engaging and just delightful! We arrived just a few minutes before six, the only seats available were in the back so if you want to be closer to the stage, I would definitely suggest you get there by like half an hour before the show. I do feel like the drinks were a little lackluster, they could've had a bit more flavor, but they weren't bad, plus I liked how each drink went with the theme of each performance. I thought the ambiance was great too. It wasn't too big of a venue and the lighting was done really well. read more

My husband and I were truly looking forward to attending the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy Part II, since we missed Part I the last time it traveled to our area. We ended up walking out about 3/4 of the way through in utter disappointment. The ambience was the only part that we liked, which is why it gets one star. The first drink was great, but the other two we tried were atrocious. Couldn't even take more than two sips. Whoever came up with those recipes needs help from Bar Rescue - learn to bartend! Your recipes were overly sweet or too bland. The performances were complete mediocrity. We have seen LARPers with less props do a better job. It was boring. No real costumes either. The "actors" at this speakeasy also could have at least tried to look Victorian since this is for Edgar Allan Poe. Where did these guys buy their vests...Hot Topic? I was more intrigued by the campy Evil Dead: The Musical I saw in Vegas many years ago...and I didn't understand half of the jokes at the time because I hadn't seen the second movie. That alone speaks for itself. Finally...the language in between the performances. This was supposed to be an Edgar Allan Poe speakeasy...and you're making comments about gender/restroom preferences? Leave the politics at the door because you will always have a mixed audience, and many people will be turned off by that. If you must say it, say it once and move on. You also made the joke that if we used flash photography that you would "have to flash us and we can't afford that." Completely inappropriate and tactless for this type of speakeasy! Poe was not an author of smut. Many improvements need to be made. Poe is probably rolling in his grave over this joke of a performance. You need to do better. read more

The Edgar Allen Poe Dallas speakeasy event absolutely sucked. The atmosphere was a warehouse with a colored projector. It was like sitting in a high school play in a cafeteria. The echo was so bad, all you could hear is the same one artist screaming like he was being raped. There was not poem reading, just a guy crying on stage like he was having a bad day. We left after the second act... the drinks weren't worth the agony of the acting. read more

I had so much fun! It was a little pricey, especially because I don't drink. But I'm glad to support this hardworking cast of people. The readings were very imaginatively evocative. It doesn't matter that the decor is actually a little sparse because the readers fill the room with their performances. You can tell they've all worked really hard on their act and it shows! I'll go again for sure. read more

Absolutely stunning performances tonight in Santa Cruz, CA. I wish we could have had a hand out of who the actors are and their training. would love to follow their careers. Go see this show!!!!! read more

We went to the Edgar Allan Poe, speakeasy event at the Palace theater last night in Syracuse and it was awesome. Not only were the actors amazing but the venue was great and all of the actors who were also our servers were very accommodating. One of my friends had an allergy and theygave her different drinks to accommodate her. I didn't like Bourbon and they immediately asked me which drink was my favorite and gave me a different drink. read more

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California