Entry No. 42 — the Chicago file — filed under: speakeasy-bar
Bordel
Tucked above the Spanish restaurant Mama Delia, a hidden door in the entryway opens to leopard-print stairs climbing to a candlelit Parisian-style cabaret of pink velvet sofas, tasseled chandeliers, cherub sconces, and hand-knotted Persian rugs. Created by Bonhomme Hospitality as a fusion of Parisian cabaret and Chicago speakeasy glamour, the room programs live jazz and burlesque several nights a week. Open since 2014, it is one of Wicker Park's longest-running hidden bars.
The story
Division Street looks like standard Wicker Park storefronts, but inside the entryway of Spanish restaurant Mama Delia lies an unmarked door. Push it open, and you are confronted with a staircase wrapped in full leopard print climbing up to a dark, candlelit room. Opened in 2014 by Bonhomme Hospitality, Bordel was built as a hybrid of a Belle Époque Parisian cabaret and a Prohibition-era Chicago lounge.
The room trades sleek modern design for 1920s parlor drama: pink velvet banquettes, tasseled chandeliers, vintage bronze cherub sconces, hand-knotted Persian Bokhara rugs, and custom wallpaper inspired by 20th-century pulp cover art. Bonhomme intentionally stripped away traditional stage barriers, meaning burlesque dancers, jazz acts, and cabaret performers move directly through the tables inches from your glass.
Because Mama Delia occupies the ground floor, late-night food is supplied straight from downstairs. You can order Spanish plates like hand-carved Jamón Ibérico and pan con tomate directly to your sofa, paired with craft cocktails, punch service, shared drinks poured from Spanish porróns, or flaming Spanish coffee.
What it's like
Walk into Mama Delia's foyer, find the hidden door before you hit the host stand, and climb the leopard-print stairs. Inside, the space is intimate, dimly lit, and fills up fast. If you want an actual sightline for the Thursday through Saturday burlesque and cabaret shows (which run sets around 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.), reserve a stage-view velvet banquette in advance; general admission standing room leaves you peering over shoulders near the bar.
The move: Reserve a velvet banquette for a Thursday-through-Sunday burlesque-and-jazz set with craft cocktails in hand.
📍 Before you go Performances run Thu-Sun; reservations strongly recommended for stage-view seating.
- 📍 Wicker Park
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1721 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dorian's Through the Record Shop — Walk six blocks down Milwaukee to keep the speakeasy night going inside a venue hidden behind a working vinyl record shop.
- Shit Fountain — Head three blocks south for a hilarious outdoor palate cleanser in the form of a bronze monument dedicated to picking up after neighborhood dogs.
- Sportsman's Club — Head under a mile south into Ukrainian Village to swap Bordel's velvet cabarets for a dimly lit neighborhood tavern with classic cocktails and a back patio.
- Booze Box — Head south toward the West Loop for an alleyway basement speakeasy serving Japanese highballs and yakitori.
Good to know
How do you find the entrance to Bordel?
Go inside Mama Delia at 1721 W Division Street and look for the unmarked door in the front entryway foyer, which opens to a leopard-print staircase leading upstairs.
Do I need reservations to watch the shows?
Reservations for stage-view banquettes are strongly recommended for Thursday through Saturday sets, as seating near the performance space fills quickly.
Can you order food at the bar?
Yes, Bordel serves an abbreviated late-night menu of Spanish tapas from Mama Delia downstairs, including hand-carved Jamón Ibérico, cheeses, and pan con tomate.
What days and hours is Bordel open?
Bordel is open Thursday through Saturday starting at 6 p.m., with cabaret performances at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and DJs playing late into the night.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · bonhommehospitality.com · Yelp · chicagomag.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23