The Barrelhouse Flat

Excellent bar staff. Very knowledgeable and passionate in creating numerous cocktails from their volume of recipes/menu. The bartenders are also willing to go "off menu" and play with some creative cocktails based on a few questions of your likes and dislikes. I've sampled from both the regular menu and the bartender choice and I infinitely prefer the bartender choice, mostly because of the enthusiasm displayed by the bartender as they whip-up something special. Food menu is very limited but delicious.

Beautiful bar, friendly staff, amazing food and drinks. Quiet atmosphere. The seating lends itself to small groups. You can have a conversation and relax without feeling crowded or eavesdropped.

Edit: I do really love the cocktails here, but the past several times I have visited, the service has been very very slow and not a very up beat vibe. Last time, one of my friends waited at least 30 mins for her drink with no explanation. Tonight when we visited, my date and I sat at the bar and for 15 minutes no one acknowledged us (except someone who brought us water but didn't say a word). Several people were working frantically behind the bar (it looked like only one poor guy was actually making drinks though - on Valentine's night). Finally I said something to a bartender/barback and he took our order but it made me anxious to have to sit there for so long and for no one to even speak to us! I totally understand if you are busy especially on a holiday, but acknowledging customers and explaining that you're busy would be very helpful and help me feel better about paying the higher prices for drinks too. After we got our drinks the main bartender did say they were just slammed, so I do appreciate that, but I wish he had said that while we were waiting for someone to at least look at us for the first 15 mins... 😬 Original review: Delicious cocktails. Great spot for a date or to get a drink with friends when you're wanting a nicer drink. Very expansive cocktail menu.

Low key, dimly-lit cocktail bar with a speakeasy atmosphere. There's a piano and pool table upstairs. There was a small group of flapper girls when I went in one evening and it really played up to the 20's vibe. Loved it!

An absurd amount of excellent cocktails. Romantic feel inside. Bartenders are friendly but leave you alone because, romance. :) Almost everyone in there is on a date - I probably wouldn't bring a pack of bros inside but maybe one bro. :)

Great spot to grab beer and or cocktails. They have an additional bar area inside upstairs. The cocktails were well made. They are unique and flavorful. The pricing was on par with the area. Service was good. I would recommend this spot to start the night off or to grab a few cocktails after dinner.

One of my favorite cocktail bars in the city. Excellent atmosphere/ambiance that feels like a speakeasy. If you go to the back and put your name in you'll get a call when you can go upstairs to a more intimate floor that feels even more like a speakeasy and is less crowded and quieter. Food menu is really solid too. Great for a date if you want to impress.

I love coming here for cocktails--easily the best in the city. My favorite drink is the dark 'n' stormy and I'd say they make the best one in Chicago. The food was good, but the food service was pretty slow. They forgot my friend's food as well. The waiter promptly brought it out and didn't charge us for the burger, which was a really nice gesture.