Milk Room

For the true cocktail and rare spirit enthusiast. A very warm, intimate space tucked away in the Chicago Athletic Association; consider yourself lucky to snag one of the 8 seats at the bar. Drinks are executed at the highest level and utilize some incredibly rare and unique spirits you likely haven't tried and even more likely won't have an easy time finding later. And they do not just use expensive/rare ingredients for the sake of saying there are expensive/rare ingredients--it is clear that drinks are built to highlight the notes and strengths of each individual spirit. I especially love how the bartender will always display and talk you through every spirit that was used while building your drink. Don't be afraid to tap into the bartender's expertise for something off menu either.In addition to excellent craft cocktails, the Milk Room sports an impressive spirit list. One of my favorite things about the Milk Room is how they do their best to make it approachable by offering several serving measurements all the way down to 0.5oz. I've never been anywhere else that offered as many opportunities to try some of the most sought-after pours.Usually, I would end a review like this by saying this bar is an absolute must visit; however, because of how complex, expensive, and potentially intimidating the menu is, I would caution beginners to try some of the more approachable bars around the area before starting at the top. For the enthusiast or those feeling adventurous, I strongly urge you to pay the Milk Room a visit (don't forget the reservation)!*If you are having difficulty locating this bar, head up the stairs to the right of the lobby and go up one flight. There should be a hostess waiting at a stand next to two beautiful sliding doors.

Waited a long, long, long, time before going to the Milk Room. It is what everyone says it is: one of the best bars in America. Maybe with some of the best bar snacks in America, too.Snagging one of the eight seats in this romantic time capsule grants access to a trove of rare, old spirits. This isn't a bar you should rush to with friends who want espresso martinis. The menu is serious, the cocktails are expensive, boozy, and intimidating. The Milk Room is a special place, but the level of sophistication is such that the premium will be hard for a general audience to justify.

You'll either love this place or think it's ridiculous and pretentious. I loved it. A super intimate experience in a small bar where you get masterfully crafted cocktails from incredibly talented and knowledgeable bartenders. What's not to love?

My husband and I had a very enjoyable time at The Milk Room! It is an old speakeasy that can only accommodate up to 8 people so reservations are a must! It is a very dark, sexy experience with specialty cocktails. Be prepared to spend a bit of cash, as food and drinks are pricey (but worth it). We were offered a complimentary glass of bubbles on arrival and we also ordered the steak tartare, which was delicious and a good portion. We will DEFINITELY be back when in Chicago. One of my new favorite places!

I had an excellent time at Milk Room. This is a perfect spot to discover new spirits and get a lesson in what makes a great cocktail. The bartender was extremely knowledgeable. You can order off the menu or just describe your likes/dislikes and they will improvise. The prices are higher than your average bar but it is worth it if you already have or are developing a taste for high end booze.

I love this place and think about it at least three times a week since first visiting. Everything at the CAA is great, but this place is perfect. Go and you will not be disappointed!

Sam was the sweetest & the drinks were amazing. was visiting Chicago & this was my first time visiting the milk room-- she was definitely one of my highlights of my trip & made my experience here 10x better. i usually don't leave reviews but she made my visit here exceptional i just had to :)

This bar features a lot of top shelf, rarer, and more premium liquors. Cocktails start at $25++ with 2oz pours starting at a slightly lower amount. Expect to shell out $$$ for the privilege of drinking at this bar, but it is well worth the experience, even if it is just once. Reservations are fairly challenging but they seem to often have last minute opening, so I booked a reservation for Sunday before dinner. Initially I booked for a party of 1, but my friend fomo'ed in and wanted to join and the hostess was nice and was able to squeeze an open seat for my friend to sit next to me. The bar does give a nice speakeasy feel, and we were welcomed with a complimentary welcome cocktail per person - a dash of some hard liquor (probably tequila) and a pour of champagne mixed together. I tasted a little strong with bubbles, and that seems to be a nice precursor to the drink we got.We then ordered the Le Fin du Monde drink as it serves two, priced at $40, so effectively $20 per drink, which is one of the better priced ones. They used some 140 proof liquor there - like Rivers Grenadian Rum (69% ABV) and Neisson L'Espirit Rhum (70% ABV). Now I see why it serves two because they pour these spirits similar to how a cocktail is made, but because of the high liquor content, it is effectively a double serving drink. My friend took a few sips and left the rest to me, so I am like ??? and I tapped out for the night thereafter. It is STRONG and I can say that it can make two people fairly buzzed after. It is very delicious though - it is fairly fruity and easy to drink, despite feeling like you are taking sips of pure liquor shots. There are a few more things I want to try, if I had the capacity to, maybe next time, and it is in the best interest to go multiple times to properly savor each drink, as you seem to get a welcome drink every visit!

Made reservations here on a Thursday at 5:30 and the bar was relatively easy to find. I gave my name to the security and I initially made a slip up by using my own name (my boyfriends name was on the reservation) and they were super nice about it, and had checked to see if there was room rather than call out the fact that I didn't have anything under my name. When I realized my mistake, the led us in to a dark, intimate micro bar where our bartender was extremely thoughtful and careful with our drinks. I love having the liquors used, placed in front of me to know what goes into it. I can't remember the name of the two drinks I tried (and can't find an online menu to go with the picture uploaded) but I guarantee anything you order here will be well worth the money. Overall, I would definitely come back here if I ever visited Chicago again, and look forward to trying other drinks on the menu.

My wife and I heard great things about Milk Room so we decided to book reservations for a Saturday night - so glad we did! We found the host who seated us just inside the bar in the corner. There's only 12 seats and is an old speakeasy. Our bartenders were extremely welcoming - I enjoyed all the whiskeys I had as did my wife. It's worth a visit for a special occasion - I'll be back!