Entry No. 12 — the Milwaukee file — filed under: speakeasy
Shanghai
Hidden inside Black Cat Alley behind the historic Oriental Theatre, this intimate cocktail lounge—once a restaurant cleaning closet—is accessed by ringing a call box at a discreet metal gate.
The story
Before this square footage opened as a bar in 2019, it was quite literally a restaurant janitorial closet tucked behind the historic Oriental Theatre. You won't find a sign or a street-facing window on Farwell Avenue. Instead, you have to slip into Black Cat Alley, locate an unpretentious metal gate, and press the call box to ask for entry.
Inside, the tight footprint works to its advantage. The room is dark and minimal, built around a serious bar program that prioritizes custom craft mixology and traditional absinthe service complete with cold-water drip fountains. Even with its conspiratorial feel, the room maintains neighborhood ties: order a signature Shanghai Fog and a dollar from your drink goes directly to Milwaukee Film, the non-profit running the cinema next door.
What it's like
Finding the gate in the alley at night feels like trespassing until the call box crackles and the latch clicks open. Inside, it’s dim, candlelit, and noticeably small, so seating disappears quickly. The atmosphere is quiet and hyper-focused on drinks rather than loud music. If you drop in on a busy night when tables are booked, staff will strictly enforce a two-hour seating limit—so visit on a weeknight if you want to take your time over absinthe.
The move: Navigate through the mural-covered alley, ring the call box at the metal gate, and order traditional absinthe service at the candlelit bar.
- 📍 Lower East Side
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2238 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Black Cat Alley — Shanghai’s secret entrance opens directly into this mural corridor, making the open-air gallery your mandatory entry walk.
- Foundation Tiki Bar — Swap an intimate, candlelit alley lounge on the East Side for a dense, hand-carved tiki sanctuary less than a mile away in Riverwest.
- Hot Spell Sauna — Pair an outdoor wood-fired sauna session and cold lake plunge at McKinley Marina with absinthe service tucked away down Farwell Avenue.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance?
Walk into Black Cat Alley behind the Oriental Theatre, find the metal gate, and ring the call box so staff can buzz you inside.
Is there a time limit on tables?
Yes. Because the space is so small, staff enforce a two-hour table limit when there are reservations waiting behind you.
What is the drink specialty?
The bar specializes in craft cocktails and traditional slow-drip absinthe service, as well as the Shanghai Fog cocktail.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · urbanmilwaukee.com · onmilwaukee.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21