Elmhurst's new cocktail bar! Lo Key has been coming up on my socials for a bit now and as soon as I saw they are now offering happy hour, I had to go. The entrance is located in the alleyway along Schiller Ct. Street parking was hard to find but there is a parking garage adjacent to accommodate guests. Once inside, the vestibule is rather dark before entering the stairs down to the bar. I loved the eclectic finishes, velvet upholsteries, grand bar, fun photo moments, and sprinkle of cheetahs. Staff was extremely kind and made it a point to take good care of us since our group was all first timers. From the happy hour menu, my group got a round of the $10 martinis. It was nice that the offer was really for any martini type you wanted. We ended up getting a cosmo, french, vesper, and their lo key classic martini. The vesper martini was the standout of the night being perfectly balanced yet spirit forward. My next favorite was the french martini as it was perfectly sweet and easy to drink. The cosmo was a little tart for me and the lo key classic martini was the most spirit forward of them all. For food, we shared the parm fries, spicy cucumber salad, and the adult happy meal. Our server was nice to let my husband try one chicken and one filet slider. Both had great flavor and the chicken slider was a great portion! The parm fries were my favorite by far being perfectly salted but wish there was a sauce to go with it. Overall, I loved the atmosphere, pricing, and flavors Lo Key offers. I'd love to see a bit more variety on the food menu but everything else about my experience was great! read more

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Wanted to like this place, but apparently attentive service takes a back seat to flirting with male customers. Between the touching, bending over tables, dancing and partying at the bar, and even a staff member vaping in the alley with a male patron, it felt more like auditions for the champagne room than a classy cocktail lounge. Meanwhile, getting an order taken or a check? Good luck. Definitely not a female-friendly atmosphere. A little less attention-seeking and a lot more professionalism would go a long way. read more

I came here solo on a whim last night and now wish I had checked it out sooner. I got there in time to order one of the happy hour happy meals and was obsessed with my food. The Parmesan fries were crispy and delicious. The hot honey chicken sliders were amazing. I am consistently disappointed by the food in downtown Elmhurst and I'm excited to have found a new place to come back to. I had two dirty martinis and they were both perfect. Shout out to Ashley for the great service. I will for sure be back. read more

Lo Key Cocktail Lounge - Hot honey chicken sliders and Parmesan fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

I was so excited to try out the newest cocktail lounge in Elmhurst. The space itself is absolutely stunning! The luscious deep green give it an elegant and classy look. The velvet decor and cozy lamps elevated the vibe ambiance. However, I left very underwhelmed by my experience. A friend and I came in for happy hour. From the happy hours menu, we ordered the parmesan fries ($5), an espresso martini, and a mezcal. We also opted for the bang bang shrimp, which is on the regular menu. The fries were quite bland and hardly had any parmesan on them. My friend said her mezcal was not strong at all and "just fine." My espresso martini was a very standard espresso martini. It taste just as I would expect one to taste, but nothing special. The bang bang shrimp was very good. The batter had a nice crunch to it, and the sweet chili flavors of the sauce was very tasty. However, one order of bang bang shrimp came with five pieces and priced at $19. This price seemed kind of steep to me, especially since while the dish tasted good, the pieces of shrimp were not especially large. I would also like to note that the service left much to be desired. It took awhile for a server to take our order. Once we placed our order and got out food and drinks, it seemed like our server was going up to us solely to convince us to keep on ordering more food. It gave the attitude of, "order more or you are not really welcome here". I have a lot of patience for all establishments, especially newer ones. Unfortunately, Lo Key Cocktail lounge was a major disappointment. read more

Lo Key Cocktail Lounge - espresso martini, parmesan fries, and bang bang shrimp - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

My friends and I checked out this place after we had dinner at Gia Mia and the vibe was opposite from "low key"! We were expecting a quiet, chill bar but the music was hype and felt like we were in River north. There were lots of people so it's kind of hard to talk but luckily we only had to wait at the bar for a few minutes and a table cleared up. We got the cookie skillet dessert which was really good, one sweeter cocktail and another one that tasted like bourbon/old fashioned. I forgot the names and there isn't a drink menu on the website. I would go back to try out the small bites but be prepared for an experience! The entrance is cool with a key shaped door knob (You first get in through an alley like 3 dots and a dash in the city) and good for the suburbs to get more places like this! There is street parking and a garage really close by as well. read more

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I came in with 3 others for happy hour. I didn't see a specific happy hour menu posted online (which is why I was sure to snag a photo to post). When we entered, we all noticed the immensely beautiful space dotted with feline references (with respect to the artwork, lamps and wallpaper). Our server was kind, approachable and prompt. We appreciated his clarification with the martini including more than the classic on their regular menu and accommodating our friend's desire to try both sliders. Each ordered martini was delicious but the Vesper was standout. We also ordered parmesan fries and the cucumber salad. Both items were excellent though I would have appreciated a dipping sauce or aioli for the fries. The cucumber salad had a nice balance of spice and garlic flavors. I see a return visit in our future as part of a broader exploration into the downtown area- especially with some more friends. read more

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Been here twice now and loved it both times. Agree with some of the cocktail reviews - some are lighter than others . The martini though was STRONG and so was their espresso martini variation . They had the vibe nailed down and the music / ambiance is amazing . I've been at 520 and it was packed the same way it was at 630. If you have a big group, I'd attempt make a reservation because a few groups tried to come in and there wasn't space. The staff was accommodating trying to make seating work for anyone who walked in. Overall, couldn't be more obsessed with this place. Absolutely perfect for pre or post dinner . So happy we have it ! read more

Lo Key Cocktail Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

If you are looking for a space to get away from everyday life transport yourself to Lo Key. The interior design and color palette combined with the bar and table layout makes for an intimate and unique experience. The food was delicious - the bread platter is a must - fresh with homemade butter and cheese dip to go with it. The chicken dumplings were amazing and left you wanting more. Our server, Caitlin was attentive and kind knowing when to follow up and take our order. Other things to note: just getting into Lo key is an experience with the entrance and getting downstairs. It was nice to be greeted upon walking down the stairs and then seated so we weren't left wondering where to sit. I noticed there were no loud hand dryers which thank goodness, so that the noise wouldn't disturb the tables outside the restroom. I'm all for saving the planet but details like just having paper towel make a difference. Having a mirror outside the restrooms was a nice touch too - one can do one last check before heading back to your table. Cannot wait to go back! read more

Lo Key Cocktail Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

I don't know where to start, from the amazing food, to the best bartenders (Mary and Jo are my favorites), to the GM Ashley, Lo-Key hits on everything. The atmosphere is perfect and the whole staff has the best energy. 10 out of 10, would highly recommend! read more

Downtown vibe in the suburbs. The 'burbs aren't so boring anymore. Tucked away down an alley decorated with colorful umbrellas. Down a few steps to a moody sexy vibe inside. Probably the coolest place west of the city. Food (cocktail hour portions) and drinks. read more

The drinks and service are good but the volume inside was loud and the wait staff attire was retrograde. I think they could easily change both and still have an awesome vibe. No need to retread sexiest mistakes of the past. read more

Wanted to love this place because there's nothing like this in the area and I love a swanky speakeasy/lounge but way too pretentious and mid. Note for the warmer months, when we went there to give it a second chance we were denied entry because of a no shorts policy. My husband was wearing khaki tailored shorts. They should definitely put this on the website. read more

The ambiance is on point. Really great when you walk in for the first time. We didn't have the same service issues others did, maybe those managing tables handle it better. It was also a slower night. We didn't try much food aside from a charcuterie board which was expensive but at least good. Our purpose was just to grab some drinks and socialize, and the majority of food prices were a little too steep to incentivize much on-the-whim ordering, especially the meat options. The drinks were fine- the descriptions on the menu were a little more interesting than they ended up being. I feel like it was a preparation issue. Their primary cocktail list was a little unbalanced with a lot of sweeter options, IIRC. They're very new so I'm hoping there will be improvement as time goes on. It's a great location and idea. But there's a lot of solid restaurants in the area that have their own bar, and their food options are more reasonably priced. This isn't downtown Chicago. read more

Checked out Lo Key in Elmhurst last night--and the vibe is anything but "low key". This elevated, hidden cocktail lounge opened just a few months ago and already feels like a neighborhood favorite. Chic, cozy, perfectly designed, with creative cocktails, great bites, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. If you haven't been yet, put it on your list. read more

Lo Key Cocktail Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

I tried to make a reservation for six people, but it appears they don't take reservations--at least not through their website, as there was no information provided. When we arrived, the space itself was very cozy and the overall vibe was great. When we were greeted by the host, she asked if we had a reservation. I explained that I couldn't find any reservation details on the website, and she mentioned that reservations are made by DM on Instagram. Unfortunately, that wasn't communicated anywhere online. We then went to the bar, where we waited about five minutes to place our order while the two bartenders were flirting and taking shots, seemingly bought by a regular. We also had to ask for water glasses rather than being offered them. After finishing our first round, we sat with empty cocktail glasses for over ten minutes while the bartenders continued socializing. No one checked in or offered another round, which likely cost them additional business. When the check came, we paid, and that was essentially the only interaction we had with the bartenders after our initial order. Overall, not a great first experience. The atmosphere has potential, but the service fell short. I'm not sure I'll give it another chance. read more

I really wanted to like this place. Interesting concept and cool ambiance. We were there for 45 minutes and never served a drink. After 30 minutes of literally standing at the bar, I made eye contact with the bartender who said "hi" then tried to ignore me again. I asked if we could order drinks, she took the order, then never made them. She was making drinks for other people but never for us. Literally took the order and ghosted us. After another 15 min of waiting, we just left. We aren't the only ones that had this experience. Our other friend was there with 8 women and they were all only served one drink in the two hours they were there due to lack of service. The place was crowded so there is clearly an appetite for a new cocktail bar in Elmhurst. I really hope they can figure out their service and turn it around. read more

great atmosphere and cocktails! The place is small and can be packed on the weekends. I preferred going on a weekday night.

Made reservation and they kicked us out asking for the table saying we "weren't ordering enough". Why put us at a table then? Also added a 20% service charge where it does not show it anywhere or were even told about it. Overall atmosphere was good, just shitty management. Don't let people reserve tables if you are going kick them out for not ordering the $350 bottle service for a bottle of Tito's. We spent over $600 and it was still not enough, need a new manager! read more

Awesome new place in Elmhurst! The food is great and the drinks are better! The atmosphere is cool and cozy. It feels like a lounge that should be in Manhattan. The owner, Sal was so hospitable and friendly. Fantastic small business and can't wait to go back! Highly recommend! read more

$10 for bread? Oh, sorry it's called a "bread service". the food is okay but most of the prices are a rip-off. I rarely drink alcohol so probably not a place for me. I went for the food. Costly mistake read more

Loved the speakeasy vibe this places off. Walking down those stairs made me feel like a king with my little lady by my side. The drinks were funny as tasty and the food was absolutely amazing. Bar tenders were really cool and will have to come back. read more