This Lawrence speakeasy is hidden in plain sight. You have to make a rez and the rez is only good for up to 2 hours. It's small and cozy and I don't think it seats more than 40ish people. The drinks are strong but creative and delicious. No food served just snacks like peanuts and such. We ordered 2 rounds: French no. 5 - their take on a French 75. A spritz of Chanel no.5 is attached to the drink. Grandma's Gun is hot and strong mulled wine. And finally we had the No Blood Only Lipstick which was the most expensive drink on the menu but worth every sip. The service is wonderful! Everyone is friendly and knowledgeable. Gender neutral restrooms. While the drinks are spendy, it's definitely worth the experience. If in Lawrence it's worth a stop. read more

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Great vibes randomly here. Get the second husband and you will be so happy! The service is fantastic read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Incredibly cool speakeasy in Lawerence, Kansas. My brother and his fiancé took us here and we all ordered different drinks and they were made incredibly well. I highly recommend my smoked cocktail Wet Jet. Their menu is seasonal so hopefully it stays on the menu longer than usual. All the drinks had a fun name and image on their menu which really added to the entire vibe of the bar. I recommend making a reservation because it's a small space and can fill up very quickly! read more

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Best cocktails I've ever had. Service was amazing. McKenzie was very helpful, knowledgeable, fun, and friendly. Amazing ambience, we were seated with another party and had lots of laughs, the place felt like home. read more

John Brown Underground - Amazing glassware, for an amazing cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

A cocktail bar staple in Lawrence! We have been going for many years especially during new menu drops. The staff is always so kind and welcoming given the intimate setup of the place with various types of seating. Reservations are recommended at least a few days in advanced, but they almost always accommodate walk ins when available. We ordered an espresso martini and time for slurp which highlighted corn! I love how fun the drinks are and am always impressed but the creative aspects that goes into a drink. Baby love child tasted like a liquid jolly rancher in a good way but the ube was more of an undertone for me. The golden eagle was definitely alcohol forward and more "intense" for those looking for a stronger drink read more

John Brown Underground - Baby love child & Golden Eagle - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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fun little spot with speakeasy vibes and a nice outdoor patio area for people watching. love the creative menu, and the bartender was super friendly and answered all my questions! read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Creativity and attention to detail in creating these cocktails is amazing! The result is drinks that taste amazing and are visually interesting and appealing. It's a smaller space with comfortable, modern decor. Service was busy but very attentive. Highly recommend for a unique experience! read more

John Brown Underground - Glass of God, carbonated with Japanese whiskey and tea - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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This is one of the coolest places to get a cocktail in downtown Lawrence. It's got a speak easy vibe with delicious, unique enjoyable drinks. It's quite busy so they recommend reservations but we arrived just ahead of the crowd. Mettea was awesome. Our sweet boy Scout was welcome. We'll be back again soon. I highly recommend!! read more

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The best cocktails ever in this any occasion small bar that looks as good as the drinks taste. Cost $35 w/ tip | Rating 10/10 Pros: Unique and quality drinks, amazing service. Cons: None. Our group of 30 booked this place for a mini happy hour. We were all able to fit comfortably and filled the space. Their decor is an artistic grunge with some classy elements scattered. Basically you could come in fancy or relaxed and it would work either way. The drinks were UNMATCHED! I enjoy a well crafted cocktail and these were the best ever. They were all complex, unique, and tested my taste pallet. Even the ones I disliked I could tell were made with a clear understanding of flavor and balance in mind. On top of that they all looked great with different aesthetics down to he cup. The menu even had a style with each page being about 1 drinks and clearly listing the special name, ingredients, and mood. Lastly the bar staff were perfect in handling our chaos. They got bills to people even when we moved around, helped with photos, and had good recommendations. Lawrence, KS isn't a big place but this bar should put it on the map! read more

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Best cocktails in town if not in the state. Amazing below street location, deceptively large, huge table in the back for big parties. Incredible service. read more

Wide selection of scotch, knowledgable staff, quiet atmosphere, and generally a good time :-) I came here to meet a friend and fellow scotch drinker. We hadn't been here before, but were anxious to catch up over a more interesting selection of single malts than you can find at an average bar. We came down the stairs and into the bar from the street like it was some hidden secret. The place was quiet with only a few other groups taking up space on a Wednesday night. We were seating by a friendly hostess, who popped off to get us a scotch connoisseur, after we explained our drinking plans. A nice gentleman came back with a couple different bottles in his hand that we'd never heard of before. We knew we were in the right place when he began to describe the origins and flavors and finishes to us, and we chose a couple different meat glasses to start. No disappointment from us! We had a great evening catching up, and will certainly come back!! read more

Great vibe and delicious drinks. Even the menu is beautifully made with fun themed drinks and names. Several interesting ingredients we haven't tried elsewhere. Our party tried 8 different cocktails and all were a hit! This is a great addition to downtown Lawrence. Make sure you get a reservation because it's small and fills quickly! read more

Really cool speakeasy kinda vibes here. Small and cozy, but great atmosphere, and really tasty cocktails. Definitely hit this spot up!

My first time here, and it was great! The service was fantastic. They don't have food, so go to dinner before or after. The menu is quite large, but very artistic. We had a Free Lawrence & a That girl from that movie...very tasty! You have to enter from the sidewalk down a staircase, and when it's busy, you have to ring the bell to get in. We were there on a week day, so we got right in and served right away. They recommend reservations on weekends and/or large parties. It's a bit of a younger crowd (as expected in a college town), but we had a great time. Certainly a place to check out! read more

If you're looking for a great drink spot in LFK then look no further - John Brown Underground has you covered. Their menu consists of a wide range of different cocktails but they certainly hit the spot. The drinks are tasty, unique, and strong and it's just overall such a fun setting that you're gonna want to spend some time here and enjoy the drinks and atmosphere. I believe it's a first come first serve basis but essentially - to get in you walk down some stairs on 9th street and it's hiding in plain sight but you open the door and if they have space they will take you to your spots. Now keep in mind it's a speakeasy so seating can get a bit cozy and there's a high chance you're gonna get to know your neighbor but who cares when the drinks are this good?! What a fun environment can't wait to try the other drinks!! read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

This is absolutely the best place in town to get a cocktail. I have never ordered one that I did not enjoy. The atmosphere is great and the staff is even better! They always know what to recommend. Reservations are needed if it's a busy time. But there is a decent amount of seating for how cozy the place is. Prices are not too steep and the drinks are worth every penny. If you like speakeasies this is a must try! read more

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Unobtrspeak easy type cocktail lounge. Down one flight of stairs and into the place, through curtains. Dimly lot but inviting. A small bar area with a few tables and small bar with six stools. There are more tables in a U shaped room through the archway and another room for 12 off the back side of the bar. We sat at the bar and chatted up the bartenders. The place was not crowded but there were folks sitting at the tables and another couple at the bar. I got Springtime in the Rockies. Hendricks gin. Junipero Gin, luxardo bitter blanco, Lustau vermut Bianco, chareau aloe liquor, hiking the long trail aromatics. Admit I never heard of some of this stuff. My drink was unique - I tasted a bit of aloe and other flavors. Who thinks up these cocktails? Interesting cocktails. Many mixtures I never heard of. We enjoyed it. Mark & Nancy read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Cool little off the beaten path place, iykyk! Creative menu of cocktails and the bartenders love a challenge if you want something custom. Super nice people, great time! read more

A little hidden gem and a very cool speakeasy cocktail bar. You definitely need reservations because it isn't a very big place. After a dinner date at another local spot we stopped in and read through their cocktail book, I had the get lost and was very pleased... it's a dream for generation Z's I am sure. read more

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Such a cute place, great service, and amazing drinks. I love the menu theme, makes it feel more authentically made. read more

John Brown Underground - a drink and a notebook on a table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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If you want a unique, imaginative cocktail, this is the place! Dante and his crew are the definition of "mixologists". Every drink they offer has been carefully crafted and refined to a science. And the ambiance is great too. Reservations recommended. read more

Attending a conference at KU and the hotel staff suggested John Browns Underground. Truly worthwhile, my server Clayton was perfectly balanced and brought fantastic drinks and a side of gardettos to match (there really isn't a food menu as suggested by Yelp). 7 out of 5 madonnas. read more

John Brown Underground - a mural of a couple dancing - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I love this place! Tucked underneath a donut shop is one of my favorite places to imbibe in some cool cocktails. Watch your step as you head down 5 or 6 steps as it's dark and the concrete stairs are old but it's got that "Speakeasy" vibe thing going which makes it a fun place to gather with friends. Usually I'm with a larger group when I come here so the big booths up front a cozy enough to seat 6-8. My advice? Try not to sit in the back where they tell you there is more room but usually if you end up back there, you will be the only ones . . .I guess that might be perfect if you were having a clandestine meeting! They will pour your favorite drink but be sure to check out their specials. The last time I was there they had this crazy drink called "Fruitloop" and while it had rum and passion fruit liquor in it, it also came with pieces of fruitloop cereal floating on top. Crazy but good! They also serve food but if I were you I'd skip right to the donuts that they have as they are terrific and you can get 3 small donut hole types to go with your drink! So pretend prohibition is still in full swing and head over to John Brown's Underground. The few steps you take to head below street level will make you feel like you've stepped into another time. read more

John Brown Underground - Fruit loop drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

This is one of the best bars I've ever been to. It's tiny but not overly crowded, the cocktails are unique and absolutely delicious, and the friendly, professional staff make it an even better experience. read more

The attention to your taste and palate as awesome. The customer service and atmosphere gets a 10. One of my favorite spots in Lawerence read more

John Brown Underground - a pair of glasses on a table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I like it here. Not a bad place actually. I've made a couple visits now so it's growing on me. I think it's the vibe more than anything. So if you like this sort of a place then you'll enjoy the vibe too. The opposite is going to one of the local bars with all the ruckus. The drinks work too. They have an elaborately crafted drink menu with particular ingredients for each drink. I played around with a lot of the different drinks. One came in a box. The servers are great. Everyone is nice too. Anyway stop by and give it a try at least. read more

Dante', Cammie and staff know how to make this worth your time when looking for fun in Lawrence. The underground ambiance is off the chart. Such a cool place to chill for a happy hour cocktail or a victory lap after dinner or a show. Moved back to So. Cal. recently and frequent many craft cocktail joints around LA/OC and JBUG sits near the top of unique and fun joints I have visited. And the staff knows their way around fresh, quality ingredients in all of their drinks. I frequented for 4 years and it will be the second stop after I get back to visit LFK. read more

I'm not educated when it comes to cocktails and the waiter we had really helped my friends and I figure out which drinks would be best for us! He did perfect! We all loved our drinks and got 2-3 each! I cannot remember it's name - one comes with homemade pop rocks and they are so fun and yummy! Loved the service, atmosphere, and tasty, fun drinks! Worth the $$!!!! read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

This place is fun. Love the rustic ambiance and interesting and inventive cocktail choices. It's an adventure to visit.

Great drinks, chill atmosphere, and wonderful service. It's $11-$18 for a well crafted drink, definitely worth the price.

This is one of those places that is a great, quiet underground cocktail bar. Giving them a positive review and bringing more people here could absolutely ruin it. So here's my review. DO not come here. They DO not have a cool atmosphere a day friendly staff. It is built like a old school speakeasy. They DO not have a wonderful drink menu full of interesting cocktail ideas that will interest the adventurous. Long and short DO not come here for a quiet night of cocktails read more

John Brown Underground - Best Mojito ever. Asked the bartender, Alex, to improvise and it came it amazing. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I'm a BIG fan of Manifesto, in downtown Kansas City, so I have wanted to try this out for a while. This is a similar concept, and I liked it a lot. You enter by going down four or five steps below street level. The entrance isn't marked well, but you can spot it by its black awnings. Its a cozy place, with a few tables, booths, and a few armchairs for seating options. The lights were relatively dim and it wasn't too crowded when I went on a Friday during happy hour. I can't speak to the food, but the drinks I had were good! I had the UK 75 and the glacier and tonic. I'd recommend both! I also really appreciated the service. Our server was honest about which drinks she liked and didn't like, and when we asked what she recommended she was sure to ask what we typically like and drink. It seems like they use quality ingredients (i.e. real sprigs of rosemary, herbs, fresh fruit slices). Happy hour made this a really reasonable place to grab drinks. Happy hour lasts until 6, and gets you half off cocktails! I don't think I'd make coming here outside of happy hour a regular thing, though. It doesn't quite stack up to Manifesto (so if you're into these kinds of places, you've GOT to go), but this is a bar definitely worth checking out in Lawrence! read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

If you are looking for an eccentric cocktail, I don't know why you aren't here. Staff are passionate about their craft and love to explain the extremes they go to in preparing your cocktail. We had the Free Lawrence the Let Me Be Clear the Emotional Support Animal and and Racing Stripes. You will not find a familiar drink on the menu so be sure to engage staff before ordering. Or take a chance in the unknown wilderness. read more

The atmosphere made me feel like I was in a true speakeasy. The lighting and small layout of the bar make a very intimate and romantic setting. It was perfect for drinks out with my boyfriend. We had a small corner to ourselves. Even though it is a small space, the sound of other conversations didn't carry. I had one of the best cocktails I have ever had here at John Brown. I chose to let the mixologists mix my drink based off of 3 words: fruity, delicate, bubbly. When the waiter brought it back what he said was a mix of elderflower, orange blossom, and some other delicious concoctions that I have since forgotten. Their menu is organized linearly and periodically changes. If you want to get an idea of what you might want beforehand, they have the menu in PDF format online. Would recommend!! (And will be going back) I do wish that they had some snacks still - it would have made me more inclined to order another drink. read more

John Brown Underground - Date night at John Brown - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Great place for a well-crafted drink. Bartenders are super helpful for new comers! Have yet to try any food from here but the drinks are always great!! Definitely on the pricey side but worth it for the experience too. read more

John Brown Underground - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence is slowly getting dragged into a little bit of downtown hipness by local entrepreneurs like the folks that have opened John Brown's Underground. While this sort of thing is uber common in New York, Chicago, hell, even Kansas City, this is the first of its kind in Larrytown. Thank goodness. We found the bar hopping this past Friday night. Mixed drinks being slung like mad, and a fierce crowd enjoying themselves. The drinks are skewed towards the cocktail crowd which is to be expected, but we opted for single malts and a small selection of craft beers and wine are also available. Affordable comparing to KC or NYC where the latter any single malt is at least 20. We left with four drinks, a brat sandwich that was very fine and bill before tip, $48. Very, very reasonable. What food we sampled was exceptional and the small bar menu is a welcome addition to my eye. The folks working were really friendly and everything seemed to hitting on all cylinders. The clientele was a mix of younger and older folks and everything in between but thankfully, the college crowd seems to have not yet discovered it. Lets hope it stays that way. Surely there are places closer to the dorms and frat/sorority halls with adequate and ample selections and larger bathrooms in which to puke, eh? If you go: it's downstairs, no signage whatsoever, look for the black awning and black paint leading down steps into the basement across from the Raven Bookstore. Expect it might be crowded and you might have to wait to get in the door. It's noisy. Hey, it's a bar and it's popular. What do you expect? The background music favored 30s, 40s... I approve in spades. Be sure to check out the spectacular John Brown themed mural on the east wall. It's a hoot and filled with lots of inside jokes. A fine watering hole, this. Even an old dude like myself has to admit, downtown just got a little hipper with the opening of JBU. We shall return. read more

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Love it love it love it. We have been going here for a couple of years and never disappoints. Servers are always polite and friendly and give good drinks suggestions. My order was the Emotional service animals and it's a vodka drink and delish. My husband and friend ordered Old fashions and also perfect. We ordered the cheese plate and it came with 4 different delicious cheeses, cracker and some veggies. If in Lawrence and want a fancy cocktail, head to JB's Underground read more

Love this place. Really left an impression when I drove across country. Yummy drinks awesome bartenders

First of all, I'd like to advise potential visitors to not be intimidated by the lack of a front sign, or the slightly confusing way to enter the building. Given the slightly pretentious nature of nearby coffee shops and bars on Mass, one might assume that this kind of establishment would only welcome patrons who choose to cover themselves in tattoos, piercings, and sport horn-rimmed glasses as big as they can handle. Definitely not the case! I've been absolutely shocked at how incredibly warm and inviting the staff at John Brown Underground have been on the multiple occasions I've visited this place. They are very patient and thorough with their recommendations, and seem genuinely interested in your satisfaction with your order. The drink menu does a great job of introducing relatively unique drinks without going overboard, and you can always find something for everyone. The food is also delicious, and is perfect to nibble on while you're enjoying the relaxing mood and dim lighting around you. Ideally, the prices could come down a bit on the beverages, but they do offer a happy hour that makes their cocktails much more affordable. To be fair though, their drinks are strong enough that only 1 or 2 will get the job done! They've just opened up a beautiful room upstairs that should be open for private parties in the near future. I plan to have my rehearsal dinner there, and will post an update following the event. So far, the chef, staff, and owner have been an absolute pleasure to work with! I would recommend this place to anyone for a truly unique Lawrence experience. read more

John Brown Underground - Side room of the upstairs area that can be reserved for private parties. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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The bar Drinks are crafted perfectly by the knowledgeable bartenders. Ambiance is unique as it is underground but also has tables and chairs that is classical. However, the air smellee oily and the breeze from outside is often too cold. NEW! Wake the dead donuts and cocktails Good unique new improvement to the upstairs area of the bar. More space, more light, more decoration. The idea of tapas donuts, and drinks with unique menu names is awesome, but... - donuts and waffle fries are overcooked - takes too long to get food out - actually forgot my order of chicken tinder (had it checked twice, and ended up cancelling it) Not a good first impression. read more

John Brown Underground - Wake the dead Breakfast Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas