The Drifter

Speakeasy private events and parties in River North

River North
Up to 40 guests

Cancellation policy
Free cancellations for 48 hours after booking, unless the booking is within 48 hours of the event.

About The Drifter

The Drifter is a basement speakeasy bar in River North, Chicago, that hosts private parties, corporate events and wedding ceremonies for up to 40 guests. Planners choose it for a small cocktail party in a room that ran as a speakeasy during Prohibition, with a tarot-card cocktail menu and live variety acts on its own stage.

The event space is The Drifter itself: one basement room under the Green Door Tavern, which the venue offers as private dining and event space for parties, corporate events and special occasions. The Green Door Tavern's wedding packages hold ceremonies of up to 40 guests here, with the reception upstairs in the tavern. The room has a long bar on one side, banquettes and tables on the other, and a small stage at the back.

Drinks come from a rotating cocktail list drawn from more than 100 recipes printed on tarot cards, plus a spirits list, draft beer, wine and a non-alcoholic cocktail. Food is shareable small bites such as bacon-wrapped dates, cheese curds and sliders. The room is dim and velvet-lined with string lights, and from Wednesday to Saturday, 7pm to midnight, short burlesque, magic and music acts take the stage about every 45 minutes.

Private events are arranged with The Drifter's team, and wedding ceremonies are planned with the Green Door Tavern wedding team, which offers a tour and consultation. The bar is 21 and over with a smart-casual dress code, outside cakes are not allowed, and the basement is not wheelchair accessible. It is two blocks from the CTA Brown Line stop at Chicago and Wells, with no parking validation.

Planning your event

A private event at The Drifter takes place in a single basement speakeasy room under the Green Door Tavern in River North. The venue hosts private parties, corporate events and special occasions, and wedding ceremonies of up to 40 guests are planned together with the Green Door Tavern, with the reception upstairs.

Vibe: A dim, velvet-lined Prohibition-era speakeasy with string lights, vintage decor and a small stage for burlesque, magic and music acts. Choose Chicago calls it cozy, hushed and full of nooks and crannies.
Space layout: One basement room with a long bar along one side, banquettes and tables along the other, and a small stage at the back. Guests enter through the Green Door Tavern's main door and go down the stairs.
Private events: The venue offers private dining and event space for parties, corporate events and special occasions, arranged with The Drifter's team. Wedding ceremonies in The Drifter are paired with a reception in the Green Door Tavern upstairs, and the Green Door wedding team offers a tour and consultation.
Food & drinks: Cocktails come from a nightly rotating list drawn from more than 100 tarot-card recipes, alongside a spirits list with a reserve vault selection, draft beer, wine and a non-alcoholic cocktail. Food is small, shareable bites such as deviled eggs, cheese curds, chickpeas, sliders and bacon-wrapped dates.
Group size: The Green Door Tavern wedding packages place ceremonies of up to 40 guests in The Drifter.

Spaces

1 space, smallest first. Prices are starting rates before taxes and fees.

The Drifter
The Prohibition-era basement speakeasy under the Green Door Tavern, suited to small private parties, cocktail receptions and wedding ceremonies.
Up to 40 · Private
40max
Private

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What this venue offers

Location

676-8 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654

Good to know

21 and over only.
Smart-casual dress code.
Outside cakes are not allowed.
Not wheelchair accessible because of the basement location.
A per-person cover charge is added to the bill during regular service.
No flash photography or phone flashlights during shows.