Entry No. 3 — the Milwaukee file — filed under: haunted
Shaker's Cigar Bar & Hangman Tours
Housed in an 1894 building that operated as an Al Capone speakeasy and brothel, this dark establishment runs paranormal and true-crime tours through its cellar and former upstairs rooms where human bones were uncovered under the floorboards. The interior is filled with Victorian oddities, antique barware, and macabre relics from Milwaukee's criminal past.
The story
Before you step inside 422 S 2nd Street, understand that the mobsters and madams who built its reputation never really cleared out. Constructed in 1894, this Walker's Point brick structure operated during Prohibition as an Al Capone-linked speakeasy and brothel. It was the kind of joint where business was settled quietly in the cellar and trouble upstairs was dealt with by hiding the evidence under the building itself—a fact confirmed decades later when workers pulled up the upper floorboards and uncovered human bones.
Rather than scrubbing away the grime and history, the venue leaning heavily into its dark pedigree, operating as Shaker's Cigar Bar and the base for Hangman Tours. Downstairs, you'll find a massive 19th-century mahogany bar stocked with antique barware, Victorian oddities, and relics from Milwaukee's criminal past. Upstairs and below ground, tour guides lead small groups into the unvarnished corners of the building to break down true-crime histories and document paranormal occurrences.
What it's like
Step through the heavy front doors into a low-lit, smoke-tinged atmosphere where Victorian clutter and dark carved wood set the tone. The barroom smells of tobacco and aged spirits, populated by a mix of local cigar regulars and visitors waiting for their tour departure times. If you're sensitive to smoke, keep in mind this is an active cigar lounge. Book your ghost or true-crime tour well in advance—especially for late-night cellar slots—and grab a vintage craft cocktail at the mahogany bar while you wait for your group to head into the floorboard-prying history.
The move: Book a late-night ghost or true-crime tour of the cellar and upper floor, then share a vintage craft cocktail at the 19th-century mahogany bar.
- 📍 Walker's Point
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 422 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Don's TV & Repair — Walk five minutes south down 2nd Street to swap 1890s speakeasy ghosts for a secret retro diner hidden behind a wall of vintage CRT televisions.
- The Catacombs of Neto — Head half a mile north into the Third Ward to follow up Shaker's cellar history with an artistic basement sanctuary hidden inside the historic Marshall Building.
- National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum — Clear the heavy macabre atmosphere by walking two blocks to inspect over 10,000 bobbleheads housed in a dedicated Walker's Point collection.
Good to know
What kind of tours take place at Shaker's?
Hangman Tours runs guided paranormal, ghost, and true-crime tours that take you into the building's dark cellar and former upper-floor brothel rooms.
What is the history behind the human bones found here?
During renovations of the 1894 building—which previously served as a speakeasy and brothel during the Al Capone era—human remains were uncovered hidden beneath the upstairs floorboards.
Can you visit just for drinks without taking a tour?
Yes. The venue operates as a full-service cigar bar and lounge featuring a 19th-century mahogany bar, vintage craft cocktails, and antique decor.
Where in Milwaukee is Shaker's located?
It sits in the Walker's Point neighborhood at 422 S 2nd Street.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · travelwisconsin.com
last checked: 2026-07-21