Brando's Speakeasy

What a spot!! Karaoke is running all the time. The bartenders are very nice and accommodating. Stopped in here on a Sunday night and they were still partying. The people are sweet and there’s plenty of seats whether you choose the bar or a back room. This was the perfect night cap with a lovely group of people.

Best happy hour deal in the Loop! Daily 5-7pm Tried old-fashioned, expresso martini, Paloma and Moscow mule - all were decent in taste and portion at the price of $5, bar or table seating. Only food option available is pizza. It can get loud during the busy hours.

Sound system wasn’t great, and the bartender was also the DJ. There song request system should offer more variety, to just the QR request system. There should be a more user friendly system for folks that aren’t regulars. This atmosphere was AMAZING! The vast mixing pot of patrons was great. I would suggest it for a post work day spot, or happy hour spot. But if you value a quality sound system, this is not the space!

A fun speakeasy vibe bar in the loop! I came for the Tuesday trivia which was such a good time (won a bottle of vodka!) and had some great drinks! It is a pretty packed space and can get loud with the karaoke but still a good atmosphere. It’s definitely a fun little Chicago gem to see.

I didn't eat anything but the drinks were fantastic and everyone was so friendly, the atmosphere was very welcoming.

Danny and Manny were such a great experience. They know how to curate a good time and I appreciate their friendly demeanor. I look forward to next time I come to Brandos

Definitely one of my top bars. I recommend it to everyone who likes friendly and nice service, along with karaoke all night long. There is another bar without karaoke for those who are not keen to listen to it which is also a nice thing. Look out for Danny best bartender in Chicago.

Energetic, lighthearted, good natured crowd. Multiple karaoke screens, great DJ, relatively fast bartender. I wish there was an attendant who offered water or a self serve water station. The floors were ridiculously sticky EVERYWHERE and the bathroom was gross (I literally used toilet paper to pick it up a bit and then scrubbed the hell out of my hands.) There’s a back half that's slightly quieter and calmer so you can have drinks and a conversation. My friends all liked their drinks and every karaoke song people picked was awesome. Some singers KILLED it, and when some didn't the crowd TOTALLY had their backs. We closed the place down!

I came here with my friends after work one day to experience their happy hour. They have $5 cocktails galore. The back room is pretty nice to sit in and starts to clear out towards the back end of happy hour. It seems like they also have karaoke and the bouncer loves to sing if there's not many people in the queue.

I had a great time here last night for an impromptu karaoke date! Since it was a "Friday Junior," the crowd was decent. They charged a $5 cash-only cover, but luckily, there was an ATM inside, though I wish they accepted cards. When we arrived, there was a long list of people ahead of us for karaoke, and a lot of repeat singers. I think they could make it more efficient by limiting the number of songs per person, especially when new people are joining. We ended up waiting over an hour, and one of my friends left before getting a chance to sing. On the plus side, I checked in on Yelp and got a free cheese pizza appetizer, which was ready quickly. The only downside was that it could have used a little more time in the oven, but it was still hot. Overall, it was a fun night!

I went to Brando's for part of a bachelorette celebration and we had a great night on Sunday. Drinks prices are super reasonable especially if you get one of the drink packages. However, it's only limited to basic mixed drinks like orange juice vodka or rum and coke etc. Nothing fancy on their cocktail menu are included in the basic drink package. It was a fun night. We got a booth to ourselves with a group of 11 girls. I'm usually not into karaoke in front of an audience but everyone was friendly and I guess it's also less intimating when you notice some others aren't pitch perfect either. The only downside is the bartender is kind of seeming upset and not satisfied with the tips we gave him. He kept reminding us to give tips. We had drink tickets some of us were planning to hand him a tip at the end once we finish our drink package. Even my friend handed him $5usd for 2 drinks at one point and I don't think he was satisfied with that either. In terms of dress code it's all over the place. Some people were dress to the nines while some came in casual. There was another bridal party that came here just after their wedding as an after party too. They went to the other side which is a speakeasy without the karaoke system. However, some of their friends from the bridal/groomsmen party hung out with us instead (lol because we're more fun)? Overall classy spot with comfy seats and it wasn't too busy on a Sunday night.

Love coming to Brando's! They have fantastic happy hour deals and service is always great. They do have Karaoke some nights, which can definitely be either a plus or a minus depending on the vibe you're looking for!

I love a good happy hour spot!! A casual place with chill patrons. Drinks were a little weak off the hh menu but can't complain about the $5 drinks! Would do it again! We actually ended up with free shots of Johnnie Walker(?) scotch bc they happened to be promoting. A nice surprise! They serve pizza if you need a bite (gets the job done). Left with such a cheap bill!! Didn't get to hear any karaoke but love that it's available.

A very relaxing vibe with a quality bartender, able to take a few mins to chat with the patrons. An enjoyable time visiting. Sad that the menu was curtailed.

I give this place 5 stars for the all night karaoke and great drinks (I don't feel cheated out of my liquor). I live to see the variety of songs people choose to sing. This a great little spot. It's fair to say out of all karaoke hosted places, this is by far one of the best. The service speaks for itself.

Cozy and fun atmosphere. Great happy hour drinks and friendly service. My co-workers stopped in after work and had a great time.

10/10 recommend to start your night with a full slay! It's serving class, it's serving cool, and the staff? Total queens. And honey, they've got espresso martinis on tap--obsessed!

Getting an invitation to Brando's Speakeasy for a night of cocktails and fun? It's an offer you can't refuse. Speakeasy bars like this are always cool but this is one of the best for sure. Cocktails are the only thing on the menu. That's all you need of course besides the cool vibes. As is the case at many speakeasies, it seems the main focus is on the cocktails. If looking for classics you can get these from here. There's also lots of newer stuff of course, all good and all strong. It's about $16 for a cocktail. That's a lot. Only complaint. Simple ordering process because the cocktails have numbers and no catchy names like many of these bars around here. All are good. The #9 Cocktail is one of the best though. This has banana, blanco tequila, lime, strawberry, and vanilla. A lot of these have eggs or honey so vegans be careful. This helps narrow the list a bit which is helpful of course so that's one positive. Fun times any time it's open, which is every day unlike many speakeasies that have limited hours. It's also never very crowded in here, which allows one to enjoy the entertainment such as karaoke. This is good for a weekend or whenever.

If you are looking for a small bar format karaoke downtown on a Saturday, you'll love this spot. The bar was busy when we went on a Sunday night, but there wasn't a line to get in. My friends were able to sing their favorite songs without a long wait. Bartender was busy but remarkably fast. We got a free pizza for checking in on yelp, it was small but hey it was free! Bathrooms were clean and our crew had a lovely time.

Service......on 9/8 at 12:30 am the bouncer at the door tried to charge a cover to visitors. A local in our group; who frequents the establishment often; stated they have never had to pay a cover charge then he finally let us in. He was unprofessional and rude!

Had a great time here with friends. 20's stylized interior, good drinks, great bartender, karaoke, good company, and great energy. What more could you ask for? Excited to return.

Cool spot . Karaoke was funny! Had a good time though. Bartender poured good drinks.

Went on karaoke night with a large group of people and we all had a good time. Each male guest was charged a $20 cover each, which I find to be a little excessive. Didn't have a chance to try the food, but service was good!

This place was just ok. Granted I came on a Sunday evening for happy hour the place was desolate no one else but the bar tender and one other person at one point. The front room has black out curtains and is dark. The back room has a nice window. Nice happy hour menu but the happy hour Moscow mules are in very small glass cups not copper mugs. The tables and chairs / booth seating are a little to far apart. I would try it again on another day but was not super impressed.

Brandie's Speakeasy can be chill in the back of the bar or super fun for a larger group. The decorations are historic yet has some neon signs for great photos. The front karaoke bar is always a blast with people singing and having a great time. Fun vibes all around.

Excellent, fun, great atmosphere, and friendly staff great great drinks. However, the food was not what I expected. They didn't serve traditional bar food. One thing stuck out was Humus at a bar. No tenders, nachos, and burgers etc. So make sure you eat before heading over. Everyone like to snack while drinking. I will go again with my own snacks

Fun time and excellent drinks! We were visiting Chicago from out of town and found this amazing gem! We had some happy hour drinks, then moved to the back bar for trivia. Lots of fun and all of the patrons seemed to be enjoying themselves. We didn't order any food, but the pizza others around us got smelled delightful and they devoured it quickly!

It was very lively and people were really into singing. I loved the Al Capone atmosphere and decor. I didn't eat, just had a few drinks.

Happy hour is solid. $5 5-7pm Old fashioned pretty solid Mule tart Palomaa pick again White claw Miller lite Pizza not bad Decor is gorgeous. Music wasn't too loud and pretty good although did not match the speakeasy vibe. They have karaoke but did not partake. Good vibe. Cons: could do without the weed smell and needs a good cleaning

They have a false advertisement listed in Eventbrite for a drink package. The ticket is $30 and says it's for 5 regular cocktails and even specifies what drinks are not included which are no shots, no premium, and no martinis. The establishment did not want to honor that nor refund the tickets we purchased.

Great place and great owner. One of the best bourbon bars I have ever seen. Everyone should support this bar as it is a really great place.

We went for a Tuesday evening happy hour. The place filled up fairly quickly after 5pm. There were only 2 bartenders working (1 on each side), but drink service was still quick. No waiters or waitresses--go up to the bar to order. The $5 happy hour drinks were pretty marginal, but can't complain for the price. We tried to order fries to munch on, but we're told only pizza was available so we ordered a cheese pizza. It's basically just a frozen deep dish personal pizza, but it wasn't in the oven long enough. The sauce lacked flavor and there was no cheese pull. The atmosphere was interesting. They call themselves a speakeasy, but other than the decor I didn't get that vibe. They were blasting hype music in between a lot of country karaoke. Overall, I'd say this is a good place to grab a quick drink or two for happy hour before going for dinner elsewhere.

I got to give my fianceé the credit for this find. Located a block south of the Jackson Blue Line stop, this low-key speakeasy merely sports a neon martini glass sign above it's on-street door. When you enter through two-sets of doors and you'll immediately emerge into dimly lit bar with gothic and red lighting and find them bumping old-school hiphop. The music selection great-- at least it was when we entered on a Wednesday night. Brando's sports a daily Happy Hour from 5-7pm with a shortlist of beverages that cost only $5 a drink. From their HH menu I'd recommend their Revolution Brewery cans and their White Claws. Their cocktails need work (at least on the HH menu). I'll have to return here for their signature and house cocktails sometime and their karaoke nights... Which by the way is every night. You can easily sign up for a song and sing your night away. Definitely will revisit here!

Great bar! Awesome spot for a new karaoke bar! It was not too crowded and they have booths to sit in which is awesome. Bartenders were nice and quick! Karaoke was very hard to navigate, I put my song in and it never came up on que! Happened to a few others as well.

Great hidden gem in chicago. Been here a couple times and always a good time. Just be warned they do charge cover for the karaoke bar it's attached to which means you also have to pay cover for brandos but you have the option to also sing :)

Sometimes speakeasy's give me a chilling "trying too hard" vibe...but Brando's was legit. Back room was for karaoke and back room was more laid back. Had to look a little bit for the outside signs, but you wouldn't miss it and there was no silly password or such. The happy hour was unreal. Select drinks for $5 and they were good! Especially the old fashioned! Drinks this price are hard to come by in this area. Overall amazing little spot and we'll be back real soon.

Bouncer at the front is trying to pocket money off visitors. BEWARE! He asked our group for a cover charge and then my friend who is a local stepped up and said "I come here all the time, there is never a cover". then he let us in for free....so basically if visitors come and pay him, he keeping the money! no bueno! pay attention!

This was an incredible time!!! The martinis were delicious and the atmosphere was beautiful! The Christmas decoration with the original Scrooge theme was precious! The bartender was super nice and quick to get us drinks! The security/bouncer at the front made us aware of an event in the back so we could only be in the front of the bar. There was no cover or entry fee though! The karaoke was hilarious and a good time!

So so loud!! Their drinks were pretty decent but we couldn't converse among the 4 of us because everyone around us was so loud. The bar section was actually quieter because they had karaoke playing. I wouldn't recommend this if you are one to drink and converse with your group.

Definitely not hidden or hard to find , the atmosphere when they open at 5 is quiet and casual, and a place you'd want to relax and take a nap (until karaoke starts, and the vibe definitely shifts). We came for happy hour - I'd skip the Paloma as there was nothing fresh about it, all premade. I stuck with beer for the rest of the night. Staff was friendly as well .

Not a dive bar. This place is very expensive, even if you hit the happy hour for $5 Moscow Mules and Palomas. The drinks are strong, though. It's a karaoke bar so be prepared for random moments of people singing their hearts out. It's dark. Extremely dark. It definitely looks like a speakeasy with fabric curtains on the walls and old school bathroom decor. The entrance isn't obvious, which makes sense because it's a speakeasy. The door that is across the street from the Plymouth doesn't open until later so you have to go around the block and then seek out the door in the middle of the block. The bartender is nice when he has a chance to breathe. It was super hopping when we were there so it wasn't until right before we left that we were able to ask for food recs in the area.

Came on a Saturday night. $10 cover charge. Easy to find speakeasy. Drinks are not great but locals seem to love it here. It was karaoke night and it sure brought in a strange crowd. They sang all sorts of songs and made me question their lives! ha. People were terrible. I felt bad for the bartenders having to listen to this all night long. The bouncer came off as an a hole at first, but by the end of the night he was super chill. I love that there were all sorts of people here. Very diverse and many seem to know one another.

Karaoke night! Love stumbling on this spot while in the city. We had a blast. If you aren't prepared for Chicago cocktail prices just know you might be spending $10-$14 for a mixed drink but beer and others might be more affordable.

If you love Hip-Hop and you think you can sing or sing-along this is a good place for you! Tight, quaint little place with a lot of vibe

This place was so much sunshine to the square inch. I will totally visit again. A very charming spot.

Visited here on a Saturday night to celebrate a friend's birthday, specifically for their karaoke! I love this bar because they have two separate rooms if you're not feeling the questionable voices of tipsy customers & want real music. Karaoke crowd was great & full of energy. Never had any food here so can't speak to that but their cocktails are always pretty solid. Even though it was busy, it wasn't much of a challenge getting served. They're a winner for me because they're mezcal options are considering it's location in the Loop.

A group of us went in, Lots of fun and great drinks. We had a blast. The old fashion was perfect

the best bar in the universe if you don't come here you're dumb. I love the vibe and the people. The music is great!

Cute little place with two rooms; one for karaoke and the other for a traditional bar setting. You can't hear the karaoke from the adjacent room so that was a plus for me. Went during holiday season and there was plenty of seasonal cocktails and decor. Will return.

Super fun vibe, even on a weeknight. If you're into karaoke with a speakeasy type atmosphere- this is your spot!

We were staying at the Blackstone and were freezing our way around downtown from bar-to-bar. Brando's Speakeasy was our final stop before calling it a night. This place was wild - in a good way. No cover charge which is always nice. Place was steady but not crazy busy. Great group of patrons - some you could tell were regulars who own that karaoke mic while others were wallflowers and watching the show. However, an issue was there was a monopoly on the karaoke since you request your song via an app. One guy had the next 11 songs, so this got a little old. Bartender was efficient and fast. They had two hard ciders, so I was happy to have one of those. Cool vibe inside with the speakeasy theme. There was decent seating which included booths. However, we were in a booth in the front, so each time the door was open you'd get a nice cold blast. The bathrooms were through a hallway and connected to the other bar area. The crowd was encouraging of the karaoke singers - no judging. Fun place to be!

1000% recommend! Enjoyed amazing karaoke in a speakeasy styled bar! Absolutely enjoyable very lively crowd and good vibes all around! If you like karaoke certainly check this place out! Excellent experience!

Food- ordered pizza! It was damn good! It was tasty and the crust was delicious! Drinks were amazing! Service- we experienced awesomeness from Both sides of the establishment! The eating and karaoke area. Service did not disappoint! Everyone who worked there were pleasant and personable! Even the big bouncer! Ambiance- it was perfect for a surprise party! Hid at the eatery section to surprise my sister and moved on to the karaoke section to continue partying with the rest of the patrons! Such a fun atmosphere! Much needed place to see people just happy! Will definitely be coming back here!!!

Great happy hour deal! They have a selection of $5 drink options for happy hour. I got the Paloma which was pretty good. They also have $6 personal pan pizzas. I highly recommend if you are looking for a good happy hour deal in the loop. They also have Karaoke which looked like a lot of fun. I will be back!

Best bar ever! Has the funnest time there! We were in town for a conference and went for the karaoke! Best crowd and great music!

We had a great time here for a bachelorette weekend. Karaoke and a more mellow back room were available.

My friends and I had a great time at Brando's. The drinks were tasty and the mood was just right.