John Brown's Underground

Wow! What a cool place! The hubby and I like to have a cocktail every now and then and finding a special little spot like this is our favorite. The vibes were so great. The staff was helpful, pleasant, and attentive. Loved it's funky vibes with all the cool decor. It's small and intimate. The menus were so cool (moleskin!) with really interesting cocktail options and clever descriptions. Plus they had NA options. All the drinks were so tasty! The only reason I am giving 4 instead of 5 stars is we had a Downtown Lawrence gift card that they wouldn't honor even though their location was listed as a place that would take it. Their system, apparently, wasn't set up for it. Again the staff was courteous and apologetic but we were very disappointed by that!

Simply the best cocktail bar this side of the Mississippi. Every drink is well thought out, well crafted and uses high quality and interesting ingredients. Severs are always attentive and knowledgeable and can help you find the right drink. The rotating menu keeps things fresh. A must stop if you are in town.

Yummmmy! And creative! This was a fun place to hang out for cocktails.

100% amazing service and drinks. My wife and I were immediately greeted and treated like royalty. This bar is the pinnacle of what it means to be in the service industry. Bartenders are extremely knowledgeable and are proud of what they do, and it shows. The drinks (all cocktails) are incredible. The atmosphere is authentic and immersive. John Brown's Underground is a must visit.

Inventive, delicious spins on classic cocktails. Clayton and the other bartenders are super friendly. Great atmosphere.

Sure cool and hip hang in a pretty popular college town. Make reservations if you want to sit inside otherwise outside sipping is your jam. Crazy selection of spirit! Very unique mixed drinks. No food so line you stomach before you go! We loved it!

December 2022 update: This continues to be my FAVORITE spot in Lawrence!!! Excellent service, knowledgeable staff, and fantastic bartenders. They are like a second family to me and my friends. Indoor seating can be reserved in advance via their website, and I love how slick their new booking system is. It's worth driving from all over the Midwest to drink at this ICONIC cocktail bar!

Absolutely one of the best places to sit and have an amazing drink !! Bartenders and servers are absolutely amazing

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!!

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!!

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!

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!

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!

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!!

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.

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!

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

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.

Original and thoughtful. The world needs more places like this. Would highly recommend.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 $$!!!!

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.

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

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.

Having never visited Lawrence Kansas my best friend Carol K showed me this little gem. Hidden SO well I had to bend over and look hard in a window to tell if there was actually a business located there....and I am glad there was as we had a nice wait staff help us select several cocktails. Small and intimate this is probably very much like what a speakeasy looked like back in those days. A lovely little establishment folks should check out if they find themselves in this part of the country.

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.

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

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!

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

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

Wow! What a great place. The staff and the cocktails were incredible. Small cocktail bar with a great selection of artisan spirits. The cocktails were well balanced the presentation were in point. Very knowledgeable staff, creative cocktails. A great classic cocktail bar, this place is a hidden gem

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.

So, random trip to Lawrence and my first bar stop was good ol' John Brown! Do you like to take your dates, in a small, dark, bar, hidden away fromt eh street,tucked underneather a bougee (in a good way) donut shop? BECAUSE I FREAKING DO! lol It was kinda swanky, if I do say so myself. Your speakeasy style bar. If you been to Manifesto (KC) or Wicked Rabbit (Omaha, hotel deco), then you would for sure enjoy JB. Craft cocktails, and an impressive whisky selection, I would have been more than happy to say the whole night, but I was there for 3 hours lol. The ambiance was lovely, dark, but enough lighting to see the other person. The bartender was fun and knowledgeable, I gave him the choice of what I should have (4 drinks later) and I wasn't disappointed. Definitely a place that I would back to chill...

Absolutely amazing! Even through COVID the staff has been extremely accommodating to make the environment safe, welcoming and intimate for the guests. All drink recommendations have been spot on for each member of our party this evening and we could not be more satisfied! In many ways, John Brown Undergound not only competes with some of the most competitive cocktail bars in downtown Kansas City, it surpasses them! I couldn't recommend more for an incredible cocktail bar experience.

This place left a great impression on us. Our bartender was incredibly knowledgeable & friendly! I hate that I cannot remember his name!! It was truly wonderful speaking to him, especially after living in NYC & Las Vegas. We have friends coming into town soon & we cannot wait to take them here.

Maybe I went on a bad night or maybe John Brown Underground is new and still working out the kinks. Seems to be a disconnect between the wait-staff and the bar. One would hope an establishment going for a speakeasy vibe would want to get their drinks* and service right... unfortunately, both need work. Drinks: $7-$10/drink, relatively cheap (I live in NYC though) I ordered the botanist and a dirty Hendricks martini dry -- if we could up the ratio of alcohol please. *But drinks are based on preference so do not let my review of the drinks weigh-in on your decision to try this place out. Service: The waitress (bless her heart) was slow, slow, slow-- her excuse "We are slammed this Friday night." Slammed is a subjective term, I do not see 20 so odd people as slammed, but okay. When we spoke to her about the service, rather than apologize and ask if there was anything she could do to make our experience more pleasurable, as we sat waiting forever -- (Here is a an example, "So sorry for the wait. We are a little backed up at the bar. Can I bring you some of our sack o' nuts or one of our other snacks while you wait?") She instead, gave us slight attitude and excuses -- boo-boo no. She was also either uninformed or her slowness/inattentiveness is the reason we ordered food, sat, and waited, all for her to come back and tell us "The kitchen is closed." However, the owner has service down to a "T" -- He is the only reason this place did not get a one star review. Eh, for Lawrence it is something different but not that great (or even good) YET (hoping for improvement).

It was okay. Drinks a bit overpriced and not the atmosphere to sit and enjoy a few cocktails. From all I had heard in the past I was expecting more of an experience.

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.

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.

Excelente place, drinks and service. We have a beautiful night with my wife there. Totally recommend it.

Minds are thinkin' about your drinkin' at J-bud (a/k/a John Brown's Underground) Logan asked for our imagination and wishes , then filled the proper glass with his solution.

Choose to sit near the front of the bar if possible. Had great service from our waiter, Jack. The drinks were all very original and so amazing!! Loved this place!

This place is vastly underrated and part of me wants to keep it that way for selfish reasons. John Brown Underground doesn't get enough credit for their extremely knowledgeable bartenders and creativity. One thing to keep in mind is that this is a cocktail bar. Yes they do have a small selection of beer and wine but you are missing out if you don't try something from their carefully crafted menu.

Always the best cocktails and atmosphere. I cannot recommend this place enough. The drinks are always complex and phenomenal. I have never had a bad drink here. The staff is highly knowledgeable and can help if you are tentative about any part of the menu. The cocktails and menu graphics showcase great artistry and the prices are very reasonable. Definitely stop by and try it out.

The atmosphere can be romantic if you please or relaxing if you don't please. The mixologist crafted the perfect drink for me and the menu was creative with unique combinations. The waitress was knowledgeable and courteous. Overall, it was a great experience. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 due to the price as it definitely was higher than expected- though, quality was high.

We had drinks and they were fantastic. The waitress did a great job of explaining the menu. She had a flair to her and took her job very seriously. I ordered the smoky-spicy from the flavor profile portion of the menu and it definitely didn't disappoint.

My friend and I got a half liter of wine and with it came cheese dip and waffle fries. All for $8, I don't think it can get better! Definitely a great place to come with friends or a significant other. Lots of plates and beverage options to share. New spring menu is coming out soon! If you're in Lawrence, stop by!!

My favorite​ hidden spot in Lawrence, great place to take a date or longtime​ friend who is visiting! The bartenders are extremely knowledgable and have great recommendations​.

Only been here once, but came with a group of three and each of our cocktails were simply devine. Creative, artistic, and most importantly tasted! Will definitely come back!

This place is a gem. Classy craft cocktails & an incredible wait staff paired with a unique, candle-lit ambiance. Not sure where to start when it comes to cocktails? The knowledgeable mixologists behind the bar can craft a custom drink based on your preferences - just choose 3 words to describe the type of drinks you typically enjoy (i.e. fruity, dry, bubbly). Pro tip - to get the maximum amount of attention from the staff, drop in right when they open...the place fills up quickly! Also, don't sleep on the doughnut shop upstairs.