The Library

I want to give this 4 stars because the atmosphere is definitely a speakeasy environment, however, this is essentially Gilt Bar just in a hidden, dark lounge. They serve the exact same food and drinks as upstairs. It’s a great option if you want a secluded, romantic environment, however, when I think of a speakeasy I think of really crazy/​creative drinks.
The process to reserve and get seated was very smooth and simple. Call to make a reservation (this is by reservation only), when you arrive at Gilt Bar, they lead you downstairs and get you seated. Overall it was a fine experience, but I was hoping for more of a focus on the drinks.

This has to be one of the coolest restaurant atmospheres in the city. It’s like a hidden underground library with great drinks and food — what more could you want? The drinks are very unique and tasty and the food menu from Gilt Bar is delicious. If you like Gilt Bar but want a quieter, cooler atmosphere, put your name in to sit downstairs (no reservations allowed) — you won’t be disappointed!

Beautiful venue! My wife and I arranged to take our wedding photos there and we couldn’t be happier. It was a very last-​minute event but it was a happy accident. The staff was incredible. So kind and helpful. We can’t wait to come back.

Cool spot, Service was quite bad, like I had to tip under 20% and I never do that. Reallly slow. Like 3 hours slow, no dessert.
Empty wine and cocktail glasses for 20 minutes+, salads came out and two people got their salad while one didn’t, same with entrée. That wouldn’t even happen at Denny’s.
I even asked for another drink and it never came. I mean, like it just never arrived. We left… It’s a shame because the cocktails are quite good.
Get it together guys! Dined on a Saturday at 7:00pm.

Intimate and beautiful, makes you feel like you are living in the 30’s. Love this spot. Hubby made reservations here for my birthday and we had a wonderful experience. Seem’s creepy when you go down, but once you are there, you get why it is a secret gem. The dimly lit tables, combined with excellent food, service and drinks makes this spot worth your while. Definitely a spot we will be returning and bringing out of towners. Would recommend to anyone that wants to experience something different and still receive /​taste the amazing food that Chicago has to offer.

Came here last weekend and it’s exactly what you would want from a speakeasy. Hidden doors, dark lighting, 20s vibe… I’m in love.
For drinks we had old fashioned’s, dirty martini’s and gin n soda water. The old fashioned’s were perfect.
For food we had the brussel sprouts (fire), the orechiette (fire), the Risotto (fire), the andouille sausage (decent) and the octopus (literally the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth).
We spent just north of $ 200, but it was well worth it.

Fantastic speakeasy below a very charming restaurant. You are guided downstairs through some kinda spooky basement and through a hidden door you are let into a fantastic sexy lounge.
My Lilly Rose Daisy cocktail was super delicious, not too sweet and very refreshing. Mmmm
The room itself is really romantic and classy at the same time. Beautiful books on shelves, comfortable red velvet sofas, dimmed lights, wonderfully lit bar.
Really great place!
We tried their gnocchi and spicy pork pasta, it was good, but not to die for. Cocktails is something to definitely try here!
Try to book in advance, as the bar area upstairs is small and the wait can be a bummer.

I went here on Saturday, and I concur with everyone else; Have a reservation, as it fills up quickly. It’s a beautifully intimate venue… I was facing a wall & still loved it! Also, the staff genuinely takes pride in their work. When ordering the octopus, I asked our server if it was fresh or frozen & he was quick to let me know it was «fresh frozen», which lead us to a discussion about it. He still sold me on it, and I’m happy he did. The chefs know what they’re doing. I’ll be back!

Not only is the place very cool, comfortable, and cozy but the staff was great. Food is amazing here and the so are the drinks. Sometimes the wait on the drinks is a little long. The mood it holds is so relaxing that chatting it up passes the time. Went here twice, first time with 2 other girls and last night with a bigger group.

Make a reservation!!! You would think «speak easy» you can just walk in, no you can’t. If you add your name to the walk in list they will say «it is a 1 hour wait,» but we waited 2 hours and never got in and eneded just having drinks at the bar upstairs.
Place looks cool, drinks were good upstairs and can only imagine they are great downstairs too. Looking forward to making reservations and actually getting to enjoy the whole thing.

Yes, I am definitely a fan. Make sure to ask for the library downstairs. It is a secret bar with a hidden entrance downstairs.
Ambience is great and the food is above satisfactory. Please do try the bone marrow. You will not regret it. I had one of the manhattans on the menu per server’s recommendation and it was great way to start the night. It is little dark and not quiet, but it is a great place to hang out with your friends for hours. I will totally go back.

This is my favorite date spot in the entire city! The décor is so cool and it feels so VIP to be led down to the hidden room in the quiet basement. The prices are a little up there but they allow you to bring a bottle in with you. The pork belly is probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten.

UPDATE: I came here again to bring an out-​of-​towner and had a much better experience. The server was professional, the music was great, the patrons weren’t obnoxious. I wasn’t particularly hungry that night so I just ordered the caesar salad and was pleasantly surprised that they put just as much quality into their salads as their entrees.
A totally separate note, but I also want to point out that inevitably this Prohibition/​20s aesthetic will become boring (I actually think it’s already on its way out), but I’ll still patron this place because the décor is just too gorgeous and it strikes me as being timeless rather than kitchy.

The library at Gilt is the perfect date spot. Dark and romantic lite only by candlelight. Killer drink menu and top notch food.
Must try:
–ribeye
–truffle spaghetti (actually the best dish I have had in awhile!)
Kudos to the boy who took me here!

This place killed it. Our bartender, a delightfully cheery blond woman, made us both custom drinks that were pitch perfect (one was a daisy something, the other was a cucumber drink with vodka). The truffle pasta was delicious. The atmosphere was dark and friendly — perfect for a date or to have a long conversation with a friend. I would definitely come back regularly, especially if I knew we’d have the same bartender.

My company held a private event here last week and it was incredible. The service, drinks, food and staff are all outstanding. We held our event in the Library, which is a secluded room underground. The décor of the room is very old school and beautiful and it has a speakeasy-​like vibe to it. It was intimate and the candles and music and all added the perfect touch.
I would like to give a shoutout to our wonderful staff – Jeanie, whom I coordinated the whole event with. She was a pleasure to work with and the event went off seamlessly.
I have to give major props to the bartender and my personal superhero, Klause. When I booked this room two months in advance, I had no idea that our event would happen to fall on the Stanley Cup Game 1 night and that the Blackhawks would be in the playoffs. To my dismay, there were no TVs in this whole venue. But I was able to ship a projector to myself in Chicago and bring it to the bar where we streamed the game. Apparently anyone could set up this project, «it’s that simple.» NOT! The projector was broken and complicated, but Klause came to the rescue and managed to get the whole thing up and running flawlessly. And the Blackhawks won.
I would also like to thank Casey and Alex.
If you are looking for a beautiful and unique spot to hold a private event then this is your place.
Also, the truffle pasta is out of this world.

We absolutely loved this place. It has all the advantages of the food from the Gilt Bar upstairs, but without the noise.
I’m surprised they don’t bill this as a speakeasy, because it has that atmosphere: a twisting passageway downstair to find the almost hidden door, and lighting that takes a few minutes to adjust to. Candles on book shelves provide part of the illumination, and the fancy bar at one end looks like it’s straight out of the 20s.
We tried a large portion of the menu, and loved everything except perhaps the bone marrow and the rib eye. Mussels were a standout.
Of course with this theming there are cocktails, and many fine choices among them. I’m not a fan of sweet drinks, so I was delighted to discover many bitter ingredients available, and even finished with an Amaro Nonino.
Service was friendly and helpful. I wish the Library was open every night, instead of just three nights a week. It’s the perfect oasis away from the clamor upstairs!

With all of the awesome reviews I was rather disappointed here, but nothing to do with the food or drink. Service was just unbelievably slow. I arrived at 6:00 and was probably the 6^th person in here, but I wasn’t able to get a drink until almost 6:25. No idea what was going on or why but the next two rounds seemed to take equally as long.
The other important stuff:
–The“craft” drink list is short, but they do have tons of spirits and will make standard drinks like martinis etc.
–The appetizers were super tasty, the brie and raspberry jam was awesome
–The décor/​ambiance is ideal for a date (quiet and just dark enough)
–The staff was incredibly nice (when I could find them!)
I’d be back to see if it was just an off night for sure, if nothing else, just for the appetizers.
Note: You have to enter through Gilt. Ask at the front and they’ll take you downstairs! Be sure to get a reservation if you’re going on the weekend.

On the recommendation of a friend, I made a reservation at The Library (which is only open Thursday through Saturday). Upon entering Gilt Bar, our party of two was led downstairs into a smaller, quieter, and more intimate space than upstairs. The décor lent itself to an old-​fashioned and classy ambiance, with dark wood, printed wallpaper, books and decanters on the shelves, and red velvet booths. The lights were very dim, such that I needed the candle or cell phone light to read the menu.
Speaking of the menu, it’s the same as upstairs. For food, we had the steak tartare, charred octopus, and shaved sprouts salad; and for drinks, we had the Paloma, Lillet Rose, Sazerac, and Lion’s Tail. All the food and drinks we had were fantastic, as was the service. The Library is definitely worth at least one visit!

A very sensual place lined with red velvet booths and lighting that’ll make anyone better looking. A reco for date night with someone you’re into.
On GNO we came here for birthday cocktails before dinner on Friday night. We were lucky to score a table down here almost right away (vs. hitting up the bar upstairs). We had drinks and some fantastic Toast appetizers — burrata (sp?) and foie gras — to satisfy our hunger pains. Leave your carb counter at home.
We had a wonderful server/​bartender who whipped up some really smooth cocktails for us.
Gotta head back here. I love the space!