Bourbon & Banter

This is actually hidden gem. It's a speakeasy in the Ststler hotel. Freat atmosphere and wonderful cocktails.

One of the coolest place to enter. Other than expensive drinks, ok service.

This is a neat bar with speakeasy decor but the atmosphere was not quite right. The secret entrance, low lightning, and employee’s attire all fit the speakeasy vibes perfectly, but there was loud music that didn’t match the speakeasy atmosphere. The style and volume of music made it difficult to enjoy the otherwise relaxing environment. The service was good once you go to the bar to get their attention. The bartenders are good and knowledgeable. I would say the drinks are slightly overpriced but it’s not outrageous for the setting. I would recommend trying Bourbon and Banter but don’t expect it to be overly relaxing. If you have reasonable expectations it will be very enjoyable.

I really wanted to love this place, but it fell short. The bathrooms were filthy, no one came by to take our drink order, and the cocktails were $20 each. I don’t mind paying a premium for drinks, but I expect that to come with good service and a clean, inviting atmosphere. After waiting 10 minutes with no server in sight, we finally had to get up and order at the bar ourselves. Unfortunately, the experience started awkwardly. While we were trying to enjoy the fun of entering through the phone booth, some guys loudly harassed us, yelling in my ear and ruining the vibe from the start. On top of that, the decor felt tired and dirty, with mismatched lighting—some bulbs were cold and harsh, while others were appropriately warm. Not to mention the valet was $25. They couldn't find a driver who could drive shift stick and arrived after 15 minutes of waiting, grinding the gears on our car. 🤦‍♀️ Maybe we’ll give it another shot in a few years if they refresh the space and improve the service to match the high price tag.

I'm always up for a good speakeasy. The ambience definitely impresses. However, it should be noted that the cocktails are expensive, even by Dallas standards. They are creative, but some of my friends didn't think the drinks were worth the cost. To each their own. That is for you to decide. I enjoyed my time there. However, just know you're paying for the setting.

I had a pleasant experience at this restaurant. The food was delicious, and the service was top-notch. However, there was a small hiccup as they brought the wrong order, but their response was quite amusing. When we pointed it out, they not only corrected the mistake but also offered a free soda, which was a nice gesture. Overall, a great dining experience despite the minor mix-up, and I'd give it four stars.

The entrance and style of the (small ish) room is definitely a legit speakeasy. The menu of cocktails, however, is disappointing and lacking. Also, it's soooo loud. Kills the vibe. It's a nice place for photos and for a drink, but not all I expected.

Their drinks are too good but service is a bit slow.

I came here on Christmas Eve for a few cocktails. Both of these were $18 on the menu and we got a second round of something the bartender created with gin,egg white, and tequila for $11. This is such a cool chill speak easy that's on the pricer side but it makes up in its ambiance, service, and quality. The bartender and owner were so nice and gave us some cookies and gave us a little free coffee liquor!! Def since it was slow for the holidays but we really enjoyed this place. Well def be back for a nice occasion again since the service was great!

Its a cute place. However, this is NOT a speakeasy. Its blasting loud music and people have to yell to talk to each other, making it louder. There is no service if you sit at a table, learned after waiting a while. But once you do order they are nice. Drinks are watered down and not what we are used to. I was really looking forward to a relaxing nightcap. unfortunately, this did not hit the mark. We decided to stay at the Statler vs the Joule for the Speakeasy and Bowling, unfortunately bowling closes early and speakeasy is Deep Ellum-vibe bar.

Cute speakeasy spot located in the Statler. Overpriced drinks as expected from a speakeasy but they were solid. My friend got one I can't recall the name of it, I think it was the Hole Mole drink but not sure, but it came with onions in it, which is interesting I know. Literally smelled like salsa when it was prepared. However there are 3 different ways to drink it; and believe it or not once it was all stirred in together it wasn't too bad. One of my friends got the Pomapdour drink which was amazing! I posted a video of it. It comes with a Crème Brûlée topping that you get to break into the drink. Super cool. This place is great for a date night or a small group, it's pretty small being that it's giving off speakeasy vibes, so I wouldn't recommend for a large group.

To whom it may concern - know before you go... Was just there 2/17/24 as seen on the receipt photo, to meet friends at a table for a birthday. The ambiance was ok, but that was all. We waited 20-30 minutes at the bar in one line for a couple old fashioned drinks and neat pours - nothing complex. They had lots of staff around and it wasn't packed with customers, but for some reason only one mediocre bartender making drinks. The $20 old fashioned on the bill was made with... plain ol' Dickel Bourbon, the cheapest bottle - and not even made well. I didn't get a big ice block - just plain ice cubes and a dash of bitters to go with that. The cheap drink costs more than the near pour of higher quality rye k ordered - see receipt. How? I asked the bartender and he shrugged and said he doesn't make rules. I guess it's ok to not care knowing a 20% automatic gratuity and another 3.99% customer assistance fee is on the bill regardless. I asked for a water for my pregnant wife - he asked a waiter to help execute that. I guess bartenders don't have the means to pour water here. Another 5min wait for that, literally. Dallas has grown and we have many many many great options for bourbon/whiskey-forward bars nearby. Parliament, The Mitchell, Brass Ram, etc.

The place has gone way downhill over the last 4 months. Their out of stuff & the bar staff has some new additions that aren't very good. The guy took care of us the other day and wouldn't stop talking about his life. It was really off-putting. Still really enjoy Chill Will.

Found the perfect Monday night bar!! Our bartender Happy sure kept us happy with delicious drinks all night! I asked for my cocktail to be less sweet and she understood the assignment! My drink still tasted like a thoughtfully curated cocktail full of flavors and not just straight up alcohol like other places when I ask for less sweet. I was told it gets very packed on the weekends so come on a weeknight if you're wanting a place to chill and relax with a great drink.

This place is a hidden gem with an intriguing entrance - you pick up an old-school phone in a phone booth, dial a secret number, and voila! The hidden bar revealed itself in a dark, mysterious yet friendly atmosphere. The presence of beautiful women added to the allure. The servers were friendly, and the drinks were absolutely yummy. A unique experience that's worth revisiting. What a hidden treasure!

The drink itself was 5 stars, it was an absolutely beautiful cocktail and the craftsmanship and dare I say, love, that went into it was very appreciated. The only downside was that it was a bit pricey, and idk if the bang for buck is there. I understand mixologists have legit talent, but still on the pricey side of things. The vibes are interesting. It has the vibes of a speakeasy/nice cocktail bar, but also a starting spot of the night for many, so you get a variety of crowds. I still get confused when people ask for beer at cocktail bars, but hey, we are all weird! Either way, I think the place is worth a stop!

I stopped by Bourbon & Banter with a couple of coworkers. The place had a special entrance, so one of them challenged me to find my way in. I actually found it very quickly. As soon as I was going to open the door, it swung open anyway with people stepping out. We realized that we had just walked in on an open mic for amateur comedians. Is that where the "Banter" in its name comes from? It was a tough crowd, but I was entertained. I went to Bourbon & Banter on a second night, and it was way more chill. The comedy club wasn't on, so I enjoyed a few cocktails to cap my trip. The cocktails I've tried were The 75th Empress (gin, refreshing from prosecco) and Lover Boy (vodka, creamy from egg). My drinks were crafted well. I thought it was cool how the menus light up because of how dimly lit the speakeasy was. One thing to note is that you order everything at the bar. Even though there are tables and booths around the place, they don't have staff going around taking orders. Management from Bourbon & Banter are not communicative. I wanted a copy of my itemized receipt. I tried reaching out to management through their website but received no response. 48 hours after I submitted my request, I called the establishment during business hours to be sent straight to voicemail.

This was my first time ever at a Speak easies type of bar and lounge spot. My friend showed me How the entrance worked. He went into this phone booth typed in a few digits and this brown wooden popped open. I really enjoyed my time there tonight. The atmosphere was electric. Our drinks were on point. The bar mixologists were phenomenal. It was very spacious and clean. They are open until 2a.m, there located inside the Statlers Hotel Dallas. I'll definitely return.

Fun true speakeasy vibe. Being in the basement of a hotel and using the phone booth to get in is so fun! We each got one drink here as the drinks are quite expensive. They were tasty though and I'd definitely check back if in the area

This place is super cool, chill atmosphere, Service was amazing, it was so good we came back a second time,Casper served up some great drinks the first night and was super knowledgeable about the bourbon.The place is like a speak easy so may be fun to find, Walk in lobby pass the motorcycle, down a few stairs, Walk in pick up phone dial number hit star! The place will appear.

I had a really fun experence with this place!! When you search for this location everyone keeps telling you to "ask a trusted employee" haha no just walk up to a hotel staff and ask where it is. When you walk down the stairs it looks like a shoe shining area. (That's all I will say) but it was really pretty inside and I love how dark and cozy inside. The bartender was super nice and we had a nice conversation. I would highly recommond this place to anyone that wants the experence.

I made reservations for Bourbon and Banter over a month ago. I got a text yesterday confirming I still intended to attend and I confirmed. I got to the bar and saw a private party sign out front which of course was confusing. I entered the code to enter the bar and was told they were having a private party. This was done absolutely unapologetically. We were told that it didn't matter that we had a reservation. This is a bar using a reservation system. I can't imagine the private event was schedule the same day. Why are you allowing guests to book on days there are private parties? Why is there no protocol for reaching out to guests to inform them their reservation cannot be honored? I had been looking forward to trying this bar for over a month. I'm really surprised at the experience. I am not local so I can't just go back anytime.

Since it is the week of July 4th, I thought finding a bar that takes reservations would be ideal. However, a reservation wasn't necessary since they weren't busy, and there was no host, just a bartender who greeted us. They did get busy around 9 pm. The place was easy to find and get in. Once you go downstairs, find the phone booth, then dial the number that is on the phone. There was only one bartender working that evening, but he was still attentive to us. The cocktails are expensive, but if we were to compare the cocktails we had at other restaurants in Dallas, they were around the same price range. However, the cocktails here are better crafted, and there is quality. We pretty much enjoyed the cocktails we ordered. And from our experience, they can be hit or miss.

Addie, Drew, Juan, & William were AMAZING! Super friendly, had great drink recommendations and an easy going environment. Will be coming back to see them! I'd recommend coming to check this place out at least once for the experience. Had such a lovely evening. (:

Curious about the 20% service fee and 3.99% customer assistance fee we were charged. Is this a Dallas thing or simply this particular restaurant? I've seen 3-5% service fees but a total of 23.99% for 2 people who didn't order food and sat at the bar so the staff didn't have to come to us. It was a shock especially since we also tipped 20% (we were fine with this as the bartender was great and attentive) but YIKES. Enjoyed the vibe but rating it a 3 simply bc of the high hidden fees.

I honestly enjoyed myself at bar with the pool tables! Something came over me to join the speakeasy, and I went down there, and was very disappointed, I was greeted by nobody. I sat down and had to go to the bar. I spoke to somebody about ordering my drinks. 20 minutes later I was asked for my ID and when I confronted the server/bartender with the reason why it was taking so long, he told me he was uncomfortable serving me and b*tch im old asf. All because I asked him the delay on my drinks.

The drinks are amazing; the area is a private and intimate setting there were lots of couples but I was on a girls date. My only issue is that the steak frites and Parmesan truffle order was not correct, these are not Parmesan truffle fries and steak frites are cut when served; this was a whole piece of steak and regular fries. I mentioned the Parmesan truffle and they brought a garlic alioli dip which worked but it's not what was on the menu and I've had this dish multiple times before; I saw they look into what the ghost service is doing. Also the empress menu isn't available because apparently the menu is under construction; when I return I hope everything is back to normal from the menu to the food. Service was okay; wasn't horrible like other peoples experience but wasn't the best either.

Having heard of this spot months ago, I finally ventured there for a night cap after a concert and it was a great vibe and experience. William provided awesome service and crafted me a delicious Cold Brew Martini. Looking forward to returning when it's busier to catch the full vibe and Happy Hour too:) Thanks again William for the Mother's Day shot...Cheers!!

The service was okay and the staff was friendly. Drinks weren't great, and they automatically added 20% for a tip

My fiancé, 2 of our friends and myself came here while visiting from California for the Packers vs Cowboys game. (GO PACK GO) We decided to stop at some local places and this one came across our phone screens. We love speakeasy's and this one is pretty cool, but ultimately it was our bartender Moose who made our experience so nice and rememberable. If we ever get to go back to Dallas we will be making a special stop there just to say hi.

My friends and I were in town for a conference. We were just looking for bars to spend some time in. We got this bar recommend from a local friend and checked it out. It was a bit difficult to find the entrance. You had to go through a hotel or come in a side door into a larger office building. You enter through a "hidden" door by entering a code into a telephone booth. That was a nice element that added to the atmosphere. The place had a nice vibe that struck me as an upscale pub and the waiter was polite and knowledgable. The major knock on the bar was that the drinks were very expensive. The speakeasy vibe just wasn't good enough to justify the cost. We all had one drink and then to another bar with more palatable prices. We did not have any food, so I can't speak to its quality.

The hallway and the bar inside smelled like à Portable restroom.Management was kind and personable but that was the worst bar speak easy experience I've ever had. My bill was very strange and it was not itemized and I feel the bar tender added his own tip and charged us what ever he wanted. $23.57 FOR ONE SMALL side car is outrageous, it was mediocre at best. We had to leave after one drink because of the smell. This was an extremely poor performace for an upscale establishment and drinks are ridiculously high. I'd like to be contacted about my experience,I I spent way too much money there (other areas of the hotel) to accept this service.

Bourbon & Banter is the best bar in Dallas if you're looking for awesome cocktails! I stayed in the hotel and came here for "Classic Hour." The vibe is cool: down a flight of steps, secret entrance, and dark lighting. The glow in the dark menus are a fun touch. I ordered several cocktails, the Holy Mole mezcal cocktail was my favorite. I also recommend the Pompadour, it's a creative bourbon cocktail with a creme brulee top. From the Bites menu, I had the toasted ravioli and steak frites, delicious and filling. What I loved most about my experience are the amazing bartenders! Even though it was a slow night, they kept the vibe light and fun. Bartender Moose and the team are making great cocktails and providing excellent service. I even met Chef Chris who was awesome and let me try a new dish coming to the menu. Yes, I recommend! I had fun conversations with visitors and locals. I went several times during my stay at the hotel and had a great time!

Loved this fun little speakeasy! Place was very loud and packed but the servers and bartenders were attentive. Bartender we had was very knowledgeable and made us some awesome old fashioned drinks. We intended on staying for one drink but stayed for two because we were just so blown away. Lots to look at the walls and a ton of bourbon to choose from!

Cute hidden gem. If your into taking a date or some cool friends to a hideout this is the spot. The telephone booth and entry gave me some BOND vibes. You enter to absolutely swexy vibes. Tables evenly distributed throughout and enough room for a little dancing or mingling. The drinks are HEXSPENSIVE (I know you know what that means) but, you know it was about the vibe. So what the hay live today. Bartenders nice, great space

Excellent choice of bourbons, and at fair prices with decent pours. Bartender was very knowledgeable, and the environment was great. Make sure to dial the correct code to get it!

WORST SERVICE OF MY LIFE. I asked my husband is it me? Am I the problem? Coming from nyc I wasn't sure if I was being extra but the service here was terrible. We came into the room and the hostess said there's no space so we went to the bar. We stood there for about 3 minutes and the bartenders were busy so we waited. The hostess then waved us over to tell us a table is ready so we sat down. That was when the nightmare began. We sat down on a round table in the back. No waitress acknowledge us or even gave us water. We were unsure who was even in charge of our table. We waited 30 minutes from the minute we entered the bar before someone even took our order. I am still waiting on my drink as I am writing this review. They're either understaffed or very inefficiently staffed. Either way it's very upsetting because it has potential to be a much better bar.

Super cool speakeasy with all the nostalgia you would expect. The manager and bartender were extremely helpful and made the best drinks. Only speakeasy that is open 7 days a week.

The service was so incredibly well done, Addie took a very solid care of us making jokes and incredible cocktails. I asked her for several custom drinks and she didn't disappoint at any point. She setup a great ambiance and I can't wait to come back here as she made downtown Dallas a great time. Would recommend / 10

An older barbershop turned bar, this speakeasy is one of the top 5 in Dallas . The cocktails are just perfect . I tried the Negroni, old fashioned and mule - and all of them spot on ! The bartender is friendly and the vibe is a speakeasy style , relaxing , warm and intimate . I highly recommend a visit!

Nice spot and decent finger food which is a plus. Its very loud so be prepared to loud talking. Entrance concept is very cool.

Not a big fan of bourbon but they make some amazing drinks in here ! The one we had has a sugar type lid on it you break with a tiny hammer! Chill atmosphere. Place in inside the starlet hotel! Used to be a speakeasy back in the day! Still has that vibe esp as there are no windows.

Cute little speakeasy. You have to phone in a code to enter the bar which makes it super fun. The drinks are expensive for an academic (18-20$) but they are gooood. I had the old fashioned ants highly recommend. The service is good, and I can't say anything regarding the food as I didn't have any.

There are few bars in Dallas that offer a more mysterious entrance than Bourbon & Banter. Knowing the right digits for the lobby's antique phone booth will permit you entry into Bourbon & Banter's cozy space, that honestly feels like an intersection of pub, and lounge. The intimately illuminated space offers an opportunity to enjoy craft cocktails, and small bites with your special someone. Be sure to capture the perfect photo with all the mask that are the highlight of their VIP area. There are nights they have private events, call ahead to make sure your code will work! Look for me near the mask! Xoxo Lorenzo!

I was very excited to visit this establishment, the ambiance is very cool BUT the manager has zero concept of hospitality. If I could give zero stars I would. Maybe the food is good, maybe they provide a great bourbon selection, I wouldn't know bc before I even sat down the manager grabbed my water bottle, opened it and poured my water in the drain. He didn't say 2 words to me, gave me no option to leave my water bottle in the hotel room (I was visiting from out of state) or explain the urgency of emptying my water bottle immediately. Absolute arrogant and control obsessed individual running this establishment.

This place was spot on! We celebrated our 22nd anniversary with some old fashions and bitters! Thanks to Jake who poured an Old fashion that was so good Frank Sinatra would have raved about. This place will get you all up in the Speakeasy feels. Private and hip. Only the cool kids know about it. Be a cool kid!!

This was interesting little speak easy we found. We didn't know you had to pickup the phone and dial the number listed to get door to open. We were standing there for awhile and someone left we went in. No one was outside to tell people so that was little awkward. We had several different drinks all of them were pretty tasty. We met some cool people at the bar and went to another bar after this. The service was a little slow one girl by here self for part of the night she was nice about it and apologized. Decent experience.

Great experience at this speakeasy. The entrance is really cool and makes you feel like you entered a hidden bar from the prohibition era. The staff was nice and helpful. The drinks were great and worth the price. Only tried the charcuterie board but it was really great. Would recommend checking them out! Make a reservation ahead of time.

Absolutely terrible service. Was seating 45 minute ago and still waiting for my first drink to arrive as we speak. Already waited 30 mins before someone was able to take our order. Place isn't even crowded, they just have a terrible system in place. Would never come back and would never recommend to anyone. You're better off going to midnight rambler down the block where you can actually get a drink. Update: 50 mins after I first sat down and I finally got my old fashion. Verdict: drink isn't even that good. Way too much sugar

Great food, good service, neat atmosphere. Don't tip before you see the itemized bill. They sneak 23.9% in there without telling you before hand. Don't let anyone fool you, this is not standard for Dallas.

We arrived at 7:00pm and liked that it was not crowded. It's got a old school style, nothing fancy like other cocktail bars. I ordered the maple haven and my husband got the pompadour. Both were delicious! Would come back to try some of the other cocktails.

We stayed at the Statler for our 24th anniversary and excited to try this place. The place smelled like a sewer. The atmosphere was a dive and not the picture from The Statler website. The $40 tab for 2 cocktails did not add to the experience. We drank them quick and left. The only positive was the bartender, Max, did help us right away and recommended drinks that we both liked.

Very cool relaxed vibe. Nice whiskey selection, unique cocktails, and a proper Old Fashioned. Definitely recommend visiting!

Worst service ever. We literally sat down for 15 mins... nothing. The hostess nor bartender offered us the menu. No waters. No acknowledgement except the hostess told us to sit down wherever and left. The server went around to EVERYONE but us. She didn't even bother looking our way while she asked the table next to us if they were okay. Terrible service. I'll take my business elsewhere. Sad because I was really looking forward to trying the cocktails here especially because they were closed for so long. Welp! On to the next bar

Such a cool place. For anyone looking for a speakeasy in Dallas this is the spot. Drinks are top notch and the atmosphere is even better. You'll feel like you're living in the 1920's. Dial the number on the phone and you're in.

A fun speakeasy with an amazing drink menu. The night we came, there was a large 20's-themed birthday party, so it was very loud and crowded. Service seemed to suffer because of the unexpected crowd. We initially thought it was maybe a routine thing to have a 20s themed night, but the barkeep told us otherwise. I'd love to return on a night without the large crowd, to enjoy a more relaxed ambiance.

Nicely priced at $18! Pair this with Meiomi Pinor Noir and gtg. Cool establishment and good conversation.

Speakeasy - an illicit liquor store or nightclub. Enter Bourbon & Banter which is neither. *insert shrug emoji* Ventured out on a Friday evening to finally hit B&B because I've had it bookmarked for months now. It's located inside of the Statler - which has so many attractions inside. It's like a Vegas hotel LOL...restaurants, night clubs, pool lounge, bars...all you need is a casino and you'd never know the difference! So, B&B is located in the bowels of the Statler, which is why they're probably giving it the speakeasy moniker. Definitely suggest making a reservation because they are pretty popular, even late night. I think we arrived close to 10 and all the tables were booked. Luckily for us, there were available spots at the bar. Let's talk atmosphere. It's very intimate, tables are close together, there was music playing but I don't recall the vibe of it. Very dark and loud - couldn't hear my date sitting right next to me trying to have general conversation - not necessarily a bad thing but just not expected. Menu - it's definitely a craft cocktail bar and not just bourbon is on the menu. There's a nice selection of bourbon of course and a few tequilas and vodkas for those who didn't read the name of the place before entering LOL. I opted for the Sex & Candy which was a vodka based drink (yes...vodka at a bourbon place...judge your mama) and my date got the Figgy Piggy (LOL) his was hennessey based with a slice of bacon LOL...both were meh. Mine was super tart and his looked fun but the taste didn't match the presentation. Here's the thing - I kinda want to go back. I think the vibe of the place makes you want to come back and hangout just to people watch. Probably order something with less than 18 ingredients....like a tequila on ice with lime LOL!