Dockum

This place is awesome. Best old fashioned I've ever had. Dakota was an amazing bartender. And the drinks were way cheaper than our hotel bar.

The idea of this bar is pretty nice. It definitely has a speakeasy vibe. I suggest asking one of the staff members where it is located when you arrive. It is inside the ambassador hotel down the stairs from the first floor. It is the stairs are in the same hallway as the restaurant. Once you get down the stairs, you'll see a metal door with a sign. You open the door to take you into this ante room with a big wooden door. Knock three times and they open the door for you. They do have reservations, but we went on Tuesday and it was not busy. They have a cocktail menu, but they can make you anything because they have a full service bar. They also sell some food. I opted for an old-fashioned (not on the menu). My friend got the gin fizz. Prices were very reasonable. We were going to eat afterwards, so we decided just to snack. We ended up getting the truffle fries. The Fries were good and the portion size was adequate. It did come with an aïoli, but we weren't too fond of it. We ended up getting ketchup instead. The waiter was able to give us good suggestions and was prompt. Parking is street parking nearby

3.5 stars. As a New Yorker, I'm a sucker for any speakeasy, so when in Wichita I had to try Dockum. It's a cool entry experience in the basement of Wichita's fanciest hotel: find the wooden door and knock for entry. It's fairly large inside, so the bar's energy is diffuse and subdued. I was seated at the bar, where a cranky and entitled corporate type bristled when asked by the hostess to move over six inches to make room (so I wouldn't be sitting on top of where the staff was preparing cocktail garnishes).Service was friendly and the bartender was solid. However, two younger staffers were a bit immature (chatty, loud, and unprofessional), making the overall impression less than what I seek from a luxe cocktail bar experience. My drink - a faintly smoky Old Fashioned called the Leadslinger - was fine, but not amazing, and in general the entire experience felt just a bit soulless. It was around 8p on a Wednesday, so maybe Wichita is just lively on Fridays and Saturdays, or it just wasn't my night.The best thing about Dockum is that its name pays homage to an important civil rights event that happened upstairs on this site many decades ago. Courageous Black students conducted a sit-in - perhaps the first nationally, but definitely early in the civil rights movement - at the lunch counter upstairs. It inspired the broader movement for racial justice that continues on today. This legacy, now connected by name to a basement bar of a swanky hotel, is the most soulful part of the entire experience and definitely one to toast to.

Cool space but the prices are a little ridiculous. An old fashion should not cost $20.

I absolutely loved the vibes here -- dim lighting, historic charm, comfortable seating, and wonderful drinks (albeit pricey). I loved the "dizzy dame" cocktail. The setting is intimate enough for a romantic date night, but still informal enough for a group of friends to gather and hang out for hours. They had live jazz music on the Friday night we went, which made it all the more fun.At first we weren't sure how to get into the speakeasy, but you have to go through the Ambassador Hotel lobby, through some hallways and down stairs, before you come to a door where a doorperson will admit you. All in all, it's a unique experience to have in Wichita and I look forward to returning!

A wedding in Wichita brought us to this little gem.Dockum is a quaint speakeasy in the Ambassador hotel basement. The concierge informed us of is existence upon check-in so we booked a reservation immediately (we love speakeasys).Knocking on the designated door gains you access after the host or hostess confirms you're "cool to come in" through a barred peep hole.Once inside, it's definitely a bar. But the ambiance was elevated a notch above the usual bar. Dim lighting, cool artwork, industrial vibes greet you once you sit down. There's bar, high top, low top, and couch seating. There was a live guitarist pumping out great laid back classic rock hits. Food: it was the end of the night for us. So small bites was the plan. Parmesan fries and fried hot green beans really hit the spot.Drinks: the server informed us Dockum is known for their smokey old fashions. The Leadslinger was their riff. As far as old fashions go. Solid. Tasty. Nothing crazy. The stand out for me was the Last word. Complex, herbal, refreshing, and tasty. If you like craft cocktails that are different than the usual, give it a try. Our server was attentive and checked on us a bunch. Overall, an unexpected but very pleasant end of night stop for our post wedding night cap. The best part? Our room was 10 floors up. Nothing like going straight from the speakeasy to the room in under 5 minutes. Cheers!

Definitely recommend!The drinks are a lot of fun and exceeded my expectations. The environment is a lot of fun. I recommend making reservations as it does get busy and run out of space for the rest of the night if you don't have one!If you're going with a friend, having a seat at the bar is a lot of fun. You can watch the bartenders make each drink, and they are all very fun.The special drink comes in the bottle (seen in the photos), that comes smoked. If you can watch them make it, it's worth seeing! I'd get it at least once, but probably not twice in one night. My friend and I were originally sat in the back room that was very quiet and separate from the rest of the room which was disappointing. After asking, we got moved to the bar-- which was awesome. We appreciate the staff helping us find a spot and moving into the main room. Despite being short staffed, they all worked hard and made sure everyone's experience was eventful- so thank you!

Best little hidden spot in Wichita!Absolutely worth seeking out. The drinks are delicious, and the service is exemplary.

Very nice place with great drinks. Staff super friendly. Sometimes very busy so best to book in advance. Loved the vibe of the place. Very good music.

loved the live music! servers were great and drinks tasted amazing even if they took a little bit to get to the table. will definitely be going back!