Entry No. 44 — the Chicago file — filed under: speakeasy
The Office at The Aviary
A clubby, antique-and-art-filled speakeasy hidden behind an unmarked door beneath Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas's cocktail lounge The Aviary. It takes its name from the blueprint label for the tiny room beside the bathrooms; when the owners asked about the space, the architect said a former tenant had used it as an office, and the name stuck. Long one of Chicago's most exclusive hidden bars, it now seats about 21 and takes reservations directly through its own booking page, with private buyouts available for groups.
The story
When Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas were finalizing the layout for The Aviary at 955 West Fulton Market, they noticed a tiny box on the architect's blueprints right next to the basement restrooms labeled simply "office." The architect explained that the building's former tenant had used the nook for administrative paperwork. Instead of turning it into storage, they kept the blueprint's literal label and converted the 21-seat basement alcove into a secret speakeasy.
Upstairs at The Aviary, cocktail craft leans into liquid nitrogen, custom glassware, and molecular theatrics. Downstairs in The Office, the atmosphere flips to old-world warm leather and antique spirits. Glass cases along the walls hold hard-to-find "dusty bottle" vintage liquors—from 1940s Fernet and mid-century Campari to rare whiskeys from long-closed distilleries. Rather than flash, the bartenders focus on classic execution and tailored "dealer's choice" cocktails built entirely around your preferred flavor profile.
What it's like
Passing through the unmarked door puts you in a low-lit, intimate room that feels like breaking into an eccentric collector's private library. With only five seats at the metal bar and three small tables, the space fills up instantly, making a direct reservation essential. Skip looking for a long printed menu—talk directly to the bartender about what you like and let them build a custom drink, or pony up for a pour of a spirit bottled decades ago. Expect steep price points, upscale bar snacks like truffle grilled cheese, and a check that arrives handwritten and sealed with a red wax stamp.
The move: Book an Aviary cocktail tasting, then angle for a couple of seats downstairs in The Office for a rare spirits pour.
📍 Before you go Access is not guaranteed; book The Aviary first and ask, or reserve The Office privately by email. Tiny room, high price point.
- 📍 Fulton Market
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 955 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Blind Barber — Contrast the high-end vintage spirit splurge at The Office with a retro cocktail bar hidden behind a working Fulton Market barbershop.
- Booze Box — Swap plush leather chairs and rare vintage whiskeys for a dark Japanese basement bar hidden down a nearby West Loop alley.
- WNDR Museum — Pair an afternoon of interactive light-and-art installations with a late-night retreat into a quiet, hidden cocktail den.
Good to know
How do I get a seat at The Office?
You can reserve a spot directly online, or if you are already drinking upstairs at The Aviary, you can ask your bartender if any seats downstairs happen to be free.
How big is the bar?
It is extremely small, seating roughly 21 people total between five bar stools and three small tables.
How does drink ordering work at The Office?
While classic cocktails and vintage spirit pours are on hand, most guests order "dealer's choice" by telling the bartender their preferred spirits or flavor profiles and letting them craft a custom drink.
What should I know about the bill?
It is a high price point venue, and when you finish, your final tab is presented handwritten and sealed with a custom red wax stamp.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · exploretock.com · chicagomag.com · Wikipedia · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23