Speakeasy · Downstairs at 12 Bell Alley
Pour slowly. Stay late.
Sixty-four seats, low light, live jazz and a back bar of 120 rare spirits. Find the green door, knock twice, and leave the rest of the city upstairs.
64
Seats — no standing room
120+
Rare & vintage spirits
Thu–Sat
Live jazz from 9pm
2am
Last call on weekends
Behind the bookcase
A bar built for conversation
The Velvet Ledger occupies the old counting room of a 1920s bank — vault door and all. We kept the brass, the leather and the hush, then added a bar team obsessed with balance, dilution and ice.
No TVs, no shouting over the music, no rush. Just very good drinks, made one at a time.
1926
The vault door still works
9
House-made syrups & tinctures
The menu
Stirred, shaken & smoked
Our list changes with the seasons. Every drink can be made with zero proof.
Signatures
The Ledger
$18
Rye, amaro, smoked maple, orange oils
Velvet Underground
$17
Mezcal, blackberry, lime, ginger
Gold Standard
$17
Bourbon, honey, saffron, lemon
Midnight Garden
$16
Gin, elderflower, cucumber, tonic
Classics & pours
Barrel-aged Negroni
$16
Rested 8 weeks in oak
Vesper
$17
Gin, vodka, Lillet, lemon twist
Old Fashioned
$15
Your choice of bourbon or rye
Rare pour flight
$45
Three ½ oz pours, curated nightly
Zero-proof versions of every signature for $11. Bar snacks served until midnight.
Barrel-aged Negroni ◆ Live jazz Thu–Sat ◆ Smoked Old Fashioned ◆ 120 rare spirits ◆ Knock twice ◆ Barrel-aged Negroni ◆ Live jazz Thu–Sat ◆ Smoked Old Fashioned ◆ 120 rare spirits ◆ Knock twice
This week downstairs
Music & nights
Music starts at 9pm. Booth bookings recommended Thursday through Saturday.
Tuesday
Industry Night
Half-price classics for hospitality staff
Walk-ins
Wednesday
Whisky Ledger
Guided flight with our spirits curator
$45 · 7pm
Thursday
The Ellis Moore Trio
Piano, upright bass & brushes
Live · 9pm
Friday
Velvet Vocals
Torch songs & standards with Nina Hart
Live · 9pm
Saturday
Late Set Swing
Five-piece band until last call
Live · 10pm
Private hire
Take a room, or the bar
Birthdays, client nights, rehearsal dinners. Our events team plans the drinks list with you.
Up to 24 guests
The Vault Room
A private room behind the original 1926 vault door, with its own bartender and a custom menu.
6–16 guests · $85 pp
Cocktail masterclass
Ninety minutes behind the bar learning to stir, shake and garnish three classics — then drinking them.
A great drink should taste like it was made just for you — because it was.
Theo Marchetti
Head bartender & co-founder
Before you knock
Do you take walk-ins?
Yes — the bar seats are always first come, first served. Booths can be reserved up to 30 days ahead.
Is there a dress code?
Smart casual. No sportswear or flip-flops — just look like you made a little effort.
How do I find you?
Head down the stairs at 12 Bell Alley and look for the green door beside the bookshop. Knock twice.
Can you host a private event?
The Vault Room hosts up to 24 guests and full buyouts take up to 90. Use the form and our events team will reply within a day.
Reservations
Hold a booth
Booths seat 2–8 and are held for 15 minutes past your booking time.
Find the green door
12 Bell Alley, Chicago
Open
Tue–Sat from 6pm
Call