5 Resounding stars for excellent craft cocktails, an intimate setting, the best staff, and inventive bites. I got reservations here for my birthday as I've been to Aviary, but never had a chance to go to the speakeasy-style concept downstairs. Haley took care of us while we were sat at a prime spot on the small bar. She was truly such a breath of fresh air and didn't intimidate like some highly skilled mixologists can sometimes do. We got to try a few drinks, but I have to call out the Martini with mango (great, balanced martini with a twist!) and the Leche de Tigre (you know this peruana had to try it!). The leche de Tigre (think ceviche in a glass) was savory, tangy, and something I would order again and again. To snack, we got the pepperoni flavored popcorn (they have a vegetarian version) and it blew me away. I would never have guessed it was vegetarian if we hadn't requested that specifically. And you know the presentation was on point. Overall, a new favorite spot in the city! read more

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

See all

This spot inside the aviary came highly recommended considering it is part of the Alinea group. Service was quick and we were told we could request for a bartenders choice cocktail if we provided some general guidelines. My first drink was average and full of ice - disappointing. I did talk to them and swap it out for a mezcal sour which turned out to be much better. They were understanding and accommodative and offered up an alternative drink as well. Overall service was good and cocktails were decent. The fanfare to book this spot and the very rigid booking policies made this seem like a much more exclusive and sought after spot. The drinks were good but not spectacular. A good spot for pre dinner drinks in that neighborhood. read more

See all

Visited the city for a weekend getaway, celebrating an anniversary and birthday. While this was not on our agenda, our friends recommended visiting it should we have time. We didn't realized that it's right below The Aviary. Since they were booked, host was able to squeeze us in last minute. It's right downstairs through this promiscuous door (speakeasy) concept that we venture through. Quickly, we were revealed that it was a library with a built in bar. This was such a great theme! We ordered the mix nuts as well as the truffle dumpling. To be honest, $20 for a truffle infused, while tasted fine, was a bit of a stretched. You can get this experience elsewhere for a fraction of the cost. To the unaware, this may be a unique experience for them. It's great... just not $20 per piece worth. Beef tartare was delicious! This is something I would recommend to pair with your spirits. I had the Caprese which had a nice basil flavor that assimilates the actual salad. Tonkatsu was also a unique drink. It was refereeing but not memorable. As for other mixed concoctions, there are several options.. several is an understatement here. My brother in law did like his custom whiskey spirit. They have several types and ages here to choose from which made it easy to meet his preference. Overall, we had a great experience and a fun evening. Let's just say our night ended well on the first day in Chicago. :) Aside from the truffle dumpling, great job team. read more

See all

This place was amazing. We hit the jackpot by being added off their cancellation list for a Valentine's Day date. We prepaid for the tasting menu and it did not disappoint! There were five courses paired with cocktails. There's only five tables in the whole place so it was very intimate and bespoke and intentional. We LOVED it. Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable about all the unique flavors and ingredients. We truly had a great time. read more

See all

Milk punch: honeysuckle, chai, shortbread Delicious cocktail The caprese was also really impressive the tomato and parmesan really coke through read more

The Office - Milk punch - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We were lucky enough to be gifted a cocktail experience at The Office (under The Aviary) by close friends and wow, what an incredible gift it turned out to be. From the moment we were led downstairs into the bar, the vibe was effortlessly cool and cozy. The seats were so comfortable I felt instantly relaxed. It truly sets the tone for a special evening. As part of the experience, we each received two cocktails and two small bites. I had the Old Fashioned and the Tonkatsu, both whiskey-based and absolutely phenomenal if you're a whiskey lover. My partner went for the Smash and the Daiquiri, both bright, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. The bites were just as creative and memorable. First up: pizza flavored popcorn and yes, it tasted exactly like pizza in the best possible way. Then came a one bite truffle explosion that literally burst in the mouth like a soup dumpling filled with rich, savory truffle flavor. We ended with a banana coconut ice cream that was the perfect sweet, silky finish. The service was outstanding, our server was the nicest guy, and made sure we were comfortable right from the get go. This place is tailor made for special occasions, romantic nights out, or honestly one of the best couple's gifts you can give. It's intimate, elevated, and thoughtfully curated. Highly, highly recommend! read more

See all

Can't say enough. The ambiance is amazing....a bit cold when we went, but nothing a light jacket couldn't fix. Drinks are worth the price & I would strongly recommend due to excellent service, food, extensive drink list/selection. We will be back! read more

Really amazing spot, cocktails were phenomenal and very educated and experience staff. Our bartender was very friends and gave us a lot of cool information. And the overall ambience of the place was very cozy and class. Definitely will Be back. read more

Amazing cocktails and awesome venue. Only seats about 8-10 people which allows the two servers/bartenders to provide great service, strike up conversations, and listen to what you do or don't like in a cocktail. For my first cocktail, I went with something from the book. It was fine, but perhaps not great. For my second cocktail, I just described to the server/bartender what I normally like in a cocktail and he did an amazing job coming up with something that I would like. He listened as well to what I didn't like about the first one (and what I did). I'll obviously never be able to re-order that cocktail but it was delicious. It's just not cheap. You get great quality and service but even the "normal" cocktails on the menu are starting at $25ish. And while it's easy to avoid the $685/oz 1910 Belmont whiskey, you can quickly find yourself running up quite the tab. Can't wait to return, but for special occasions. read more

The Office - Old Whiskeys - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was brought here on a date and I absolutely loved it! It's an intimate setting and a very peaceful ambience. - I ordered a Rooibos Tea cocktail that was served with hot gin and star of anise. Not only was the cocktail delicious, but it was also served in a self dispensing glass container at the table. - I adored our service, the quality of the beverage and my experience. read more

I drink occasionally and I don't know anything about alcohol, liquor or cocktails. I thought for my birthday it would be a nice treat to grab a pre-dinner drink at The Office. It was a 4:30p reservation (it was either that or 11p). It was such a nice experience from our arrival to our departure, not crowded, staff was attentive and you could have a conversation without having to yell over loud music or other people. It is expensive and a once in a while experience. Overall, the drinks were tasty and thoughtful. We also ordered the truffle popcorn. I didn't expect to be there for 2 hours but we were there until our reservation slot ended. It is intimate, and cozy without being pretentious. I typically take more pictures like any other Yelper but I was just really enjoying the ambiance, and company. read more

See all

We came here for drinks on Friday night after our dinner at Alinea. You enter the space through The Aviary and go downstairs to a locked room. Inside is perhaps the coziest bar I have ever been in. Old timey mahogany and leather vibes in absolutely the best way. Their dusty bottles are such a unique value add. I asked where they found the vintage liquors and they said that they used to have to source them but now that they are known for it people come to them. Pretty cool. Service and drinks were both outstanding, super special experience. read more

See all

A great place to just chill at the end of the day. The cocktails are nice and the bartenders are very knowledgeable. If you give them a description of what you want, they'll hit the mark. read more

See all

I stumbled to this speakeasy after a dinner with friends in the restaurant nearby. I actually wanted to go to The Aviary but it was closed by the time I reached there and then gentleman upstairs told me to try this out. Honestly I think I like the bartender more than the drink: he was very attentitive and kept the guests feel accompanied with interesting conversations. I only tried two drinks and I haven't tried their food though. I heard good things about their snacks read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped by The Office during weekday on a friend's recommendation, and it did not disappoint. This place toes the line between upscale cocktail lounge and comfortably relaxed bar -- the kind of spot where you can unwind after work or gear up for a night out. What I liked: Ambience: The interior is sleek without being pretentious. Exposed brick, warm lighting, and well-placed seating make it feel polished but not stiff. read more

We were incredibly lucky to be able to just walk into the office on a Sunday night. It gives a true exclusive speakeasy experience. They escort you to the basement of the Aviary where this speakeasy is located. The server even locks the door from the outside to maintain the exclusivity. The place is small and cozy with limited seating. This explains why it's almost impossible to get a reservation here. We tried the truffle popcorn and a bunch of different cocktails. The fizz and the kimchi were my favorite, followed closely by the coffee. The beet, milk punch and old fashioned were interesting but not my personal favorite. I was also impressed by the long list of spirits they have. We ended the night with a strawberry shortcake which was delicious but a little too dense and dry for me. Overall, loved the experience and would visit again. read more

See all

Definitely my favorite speakeasy in Chicago!! We randomly tried our luck on a Sunday night to see if we could walk-in and get a table for 7 and we indeed got lucky! The speakeasy is located on the lower level of The Aviary. I loved how there is someone to escort you to the bottom floor and would lock the door from outside, if you need to step out you can grab a pair of keys from the server. I absolutely love how they maintain the theme and hinge on the feeling of discreetness. We tried a bunch of cocktails as well as truffle popcorn. My favorite cocktail surely was the Fizz and the kimchi, I also have a thing for sour cocktails so hence my liking might have been slightly biased. This place was on my list since forever and we got lucky as it was a Sunday night, however, I would recommend to reserve this place ahead in time if you're planning to visit over the weekend. The prices are slightly on the higher end however I'd say it's completely worth your penny! read more

The Office is a speakeasy that is located below The Aviary - the place has a huge following, as it offers various cocktails and vintage spirits. The menu offers 3 different types of dining experiences, or, you can order off of their a la carte menu. I liked that with the experiences, you can opt for non-alcoholic pairings. For drinks, I've tried: +That NA Drink in the Circle Thing - prepared with chamomile, lavender honey, blood orange, and honeysuckle +Ferrands with Benefits - prepared with strawberry, banana, pineapple, and rooibos tea For shareables, we ordered: +Black Truffle Explosion +Marinated Olives +Salmon Rillettes +Mushroom Tartare The food menu will change, as they've had other items rotated out, like fried pickles, mussels, and ice cream. The place itself is dark and cozy, and it's a great place to get some pre- or post-drinks with bites with a small group of friends. Service was friendly and attentive! +make reservations in advance +friendly service +located below The Aviary read more

Amazing hidden speakeasy in the basement of the Aviary. However, there are only about 8-10 spots, so be prepared to wait or be turned away during busy times. Cocktails are high quality, I love the decor and ambiance, and the service is wonderful. Definitely add to your list! read more

This place was amazing. I was recommended the aviary by a friend but I wanted more of a speakeasy feel and I'm glad I found this spot. I was happy to be able to walk in after our dinner around the corner and get a spot on a cozy leather couch that allowed us to take in the atmosphere and enjoy our last night in the city. The playlist was great and my partner and I enjoyed the ambience. The server was PHENOMENAL. He was super kind and very pleasant. My partner and I didn't know what to order and thankfully they do a "bartenders choice" for both mocktails and cocktails so we were able to enjoy to entirely different drinks crafted to our favorite flavor profiles. Didn't try any food but that's not what we came for. I definitely recommend checking this spot out! read more

The Office - View from the couch - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Drinks here are great. Very cute vibes. It's intimate cozy hidden gem. The drinks are all great classics. The old fashion was one of my favorites. Service was great experience too. read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I felt very fancy going here. It was very clean, contemporary-chic; definitely a place to go to celebrate or to have a unique experience with your date. 10 out of 10 hands down pricey but you get what you pay for. When you make reservations you ask your waiter to see the office. They take you down stairs to a LOCKED lounge that seats MAYBE 12 people. Super secret super cool!!! Check out all the inspired cocktails and vintage spirits. https://www.theaviary.com/the-office read more

See all

You've likely heard of The Aviary, a cocktail enthusiast's delight in Fulton Market. It's certainly an experience, but let's be honest, it's a bit pretentious, lacking the intimacy and warmth of your favorite cocktail bar. And that's why you make it a point to somehow get downstairs to the tiny little speakeasy known as The Office. All of the expertise and craft of what you'll find upstairs, in a twelve seat room that feels like the library of an early 20th century home. All pretense is lost down here, despite the stunning collection (and prices) of vintage spirits and knowledge of the bartenders. While their cocktail list is varied and excellent, intriguing plays on familiar drinks, they can make you literally anything you want, and probably make it better than anywhere else. Don't sleep on the food either, that truffle oil popcorn is addictive. I'm not going to say we had three orders, but I'm also not going to not say we did. It's hard to get into (we were lucky enough to have a slight in) and very expensive, but it is absolutely worth it for a spirits experience you really can't get anywhere else in this city. Incredible! read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Feels very exclusive! Amazing cocktails, decour and a wide range of liquers. The bartender was excellent and made us a wide range of drinks.

Great drinks. Cool space. Bring money!! Apparently, this review isn't long enough...until now! read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a very nice experience! If you're interested in vintage drinks and paying top dollar for some amazing mixes, you'll love this. If you think of this as an entertaining experience, rather than a night out at a bar, I think you'll set yourself up for success. The service was top notch, and the food was absolutely wonderful. I would give this 5 stars if I was absolutely blown away, but I still think you'll be glad you tried this!! read more

See all

Very cool vibes, downstairs from The Aviary. However 2 out of the 8 cocktails that I prepaid for were sold out by 7:30PM and for the price of $160 between me and my boyfriend, not sure if they were worth it. Reservation is limited to one hour. read more

See all

This is definitely a place coasting on reputation. There's plenty to like and ultimately I am glad I experienced it-- the uber-exclusivity, the speakeasy vibes, the rare bottles-- all awesome! Not to mention, the drinks were really good! Our server was nice enough but he definitely didn't go above and beyond explaining drink components or helping us create cocktails as some other reviews have mentioned is the norm here. I think it also would have been appropriate to warn us about 20 minutes before our time slot was up instead of hurriedly dropping the check and essentially forcing us out the door. My friend had ordered one of the $50+ drinks and basically had to chug it. Considering it costs $50 a person just to sit down at this place, my expectations were sky high and the experience isn't aging particularly well in my mind. You can get drinks that are just as good elsewhere in the city for less than $20 a pop and they don't shove you out the door after 54 minutes. read more

First timer at The Office and it was an amazing experience. I started to love the speakeasy vibes and this place did not disappoint. From the ambiance, dim lighting, couches and chairs for seating, and great background music vibes to exceptional service, mixologist and cocktails. I have checked for reservations here and normally they are sold out but I was able to snatch a late night 11:30pm spot. We were seated right away. It's not a large space but that is perfectly fine. Lots of "dusty bottle" cocktails you can get but with a pretty high price tag if that is your style. We tried the tiramisu cocktail, manhattan, old fashion, and a 5th edition Eagle Rare. Great experience and we will 100% be back again in the future. read more

See all

My buddy and I just stumbled in here without a reservation at around 7 pm on a Saturday. Luckily they had availability for two on the fly. The vibes!! It's down some stairs and behind an unmarked door. Pretty sweet. The bartenders are all very knowledgable and they have a pretty impressive collection of alcohol, according to the bartender it was "voted top 10 in the world." They have one of the best hip hop soundtracks of all time, it's perfect. The drinks are amazing, I had the fizz and margarita, both $25 each. Both very refreshing and uniquely flavored, really happy I tried them. My buddy got 2 dealer's choice (also $25 each), basically you describe what kind of flavor you want and the bartender makes you a drink. Both his drinks were amazing too. I'm happy I found this place and undoubtedly going back. read more

See all

Wow if you like rare and vintage liquor this is your place! It is really in the basement and the space is small and intimate with low lights. The staff is knowledgeable and can make really anything you ask for. We ordered and Cloverleaf and the bartender knocked it out with no problem. A Red Hook Manhattan it one of my favorite drinks and it was on the menu!!! Most places look at me like I am crazy. Now with that said...be ready to spend some money on drinks. They are worth it, but pricey. read more

See all

Terrific experience - small and casual vibe - amazing mixologists who will custom make drinks for you " I like Mezcal and a cocktail that is not too sweet " - came up with an amazing complexly layered cocktail with a few ingredients I had not heard of - great small bites too. A true refuge for those of us privileged to be able to imbibe. Small enough to talk to the mixologist behind the bar while not actually sitting at the bar - but in overstuffed leather chairs - speakeasy vibe . read more

Service was 5 star ! Mariah the server was just incredible. Her thorough knowledge of the menu items and the 'special's were great: Tuesday pizza special) What made the service just perfect was her sincere attentiveness to details. Her table service was perfectly timed! The food was fresh, the food was hot , (pizza) and the 'status-checks' as diner progressed were just another example of perfectly timed service can be when the server genuinely cares about guests . The beverage service was spot-on ( just water and coffee) my glass was always freshened at the right time. I do highly recommend the pizza it was great. Mariaha's fatastic service was a great reminder as to how good things 'should-be" and how absolutely perfect things can be!! read more

This speakeasy has one of the best liquor collections in Chicago. It's mostly a drinks only cozy limited seating (~5 tables and a few bar seats). Cocktails are reasonably priced given the ambiance at around 20 bucks and are worth the price! The server takes the order at the table so theres no concept of a crowded bar. This can be a good fourth-fifth date place as well as a good place for an after hours business meet. read more

See all

We stayed for the Office Hour and added on a few more cocktails and bites. The cocktails were nothing but phenomenal created by an expert staff. The room was small yet dark and cozy filled with art and leather chairs and couches. We began our meal with the Hot Dog (you won't be disappointed) and Quince cocktails, but really recommend giving any drink on the menu a chance. Out next round of drinks, a gin martini and the fizz were even more flavorful and unique. I also recommend a shot of chartreuse or the 8 year aged barrel Negroni. We cannot recommend the truffle explosion or the foie gras enough. The salty foie gras with the not too sweet quince jam is a match made in culinary heaven. The oysters and truffle popcorn were equally as enjoyable. I am not the one to typically spend this amount of money on a meal, but if you have the opportunity and you are in Chicago, take the chance. read more

See all

My partner surprised me with reservations to this place. Our buddy who used to work at Alinea recommended this spot since this is their speakeasy. Hands down one of the coolest speakeasy I have ever been to. I opted for their whiskey flight and it did not disappoint. The bartenders took their time explaining each bottle to me. I like that they keep them in front of me since I like to read them. I was definitely already tipsy after this one flight, but I had to try an old fashion. It did not disappoint. My partner loved her drinks as well. We sat at the bar, which was nice. Next time a couch seat would be ideal. It is very small, dark, and quiet, everything in a perfect speakeasy. There is one bathroom key that is left at the bar that everyone shares if they need to use the restroom which is a cool concept as well. They have one of the best collections of old spirits I have seen, check them out all around the room if you get a chance to go. read more

See all

Loved my visit to the office! Street Parking is hit and miss - good luck. They offer valet beginning at 4:45pm on Morgan St. in front of the Aviary. Rates are $20.00 for the first 4 hours and $25.00 for over 4 hours. Check in with the host stand at the Aviary and they will escort you below to the Office behind a locked door. Incredible vintage spirits collection, expansive bar. I took advantage of the bartenders choice for a couple drinks and also had the milk punch. The strawberry shortcake was my favorite but I also had the truffle explosion and salmon rillettes. Will absolutely be back! read more

See all

An exclusive speakeasy type establishment perfect for aged spirit connoisseurs and those with a discerning palette. If you're not a huge fan of spirit-based drinks, The Office is more of an expensive novelty. While we enjoyed our experience and have no regrets, neither my husband nor myself feel as though we would be eager to go back during a future trip to Chicago. My husband had both an old fashioned and smoke from the regular menu and a dealers choice that was not what we had discussed with our mixologist. He liked it, but was not looking for a super heavy rye-based cocktail and was hoping for something I could also try (I have celiac and rye is a no-no). I opted for champagne since cocktails aren't my thing. The one champagne offered was very good, although I don't recall the name. There are no other wines (aside from fortified) on the menu. As for the small plates, the two we tried were delicious. If nothing else, you MUST try the truffled popcorn (which can be prepared vegan on request). The olives were also very good but equivalent to excellent local olives I've had at home in Arizona. Overall, a novel experience but not quite worth the hefty price tag. At over $200 for three glasses of champagne, three standard high-end cocktails, a small popcorn, and an order of olives, The Office is more expensive than comparable establishments in other major cities across the U.S. read more

See all

Had reservations to come here with some friends. This place is downstairs of The Aviary and was in a room that required a key to get in which was such a cool concept. We had to wait a little but for a table but we got a compliment drink which was nice. Going into the room was cool, there is a key required to go in. So take note, if you need to go to the bathroom... take a key with you. We got another complimentary drink once we sat down at our table. The service was good. We all ordered our drinks and some food to share. I had no complaints with the food we ordered and everyone liked their drinks as well which is always good. Quite pricey overall but it was a good experience. read more

See all

I booked the Chase experience via Tock, and thought there was going to be an added bonus or something special. Turns out, the Chase experience is just a reservation time "held" for Chase members. So, don't feel compelled to book this specific type of reservation (especially since they're only early bookings). Drinks: Dealer's choice, old fashioned and highball. All nice. The old fashioned was really easy to get down, which we found out was due to strawberries! Food: Black truffle explosion and prime rib tartare (with the addition of white truffles). The black truffle explosion was ok. The tartare was really good. In hindsight, I wish we had tried the tartare with and without (pre-mix) the white truffles to compare since they were very subtle. Silly me! I somehow got The Office and The Aviary intermixed. I asked if we could order off the Aviary drink menu, but unfortunately that can't be done. The staff was so nice to call upstairs and see if they could accommodate us, which they happily did later that evening. read more

See all