The Franklin Room

Semi-private dining and full buyouts in River North

River North
Up to 100 guests
3 spaces

About The Franklin Room

The Franklin Room is an underground whiskey tavern in River North, Chicago, hosting private and semi-private events for up to 100 guests. It suits a birthday party, corporate event or cocktail party that wants a dark, intimate room with serious whiskey and cocktails.

Groups can book three options. The back dining area is set up for semi-private dinners of up to 30 guests. The front bar area hosts semi-private cocktail parties of up to 30. A full restaurant buyout gives a private event the whole space for up to 100 guests.

The room sits below street level on Franklin Street, with wood paneling, tufted banquettes, ornate ceiling panels and lit cabinets of bottles behind the bar. The kitchen serves modern American tavern food, from bar snacks and shared appetizers to mains like short rib and steak. The bar is built around crafted cocktails and a curated whiskey list, with wine and beer.

Planning starts with the date, guest count, type of event and whether the group wants food from the kitchen. The restaurant opens at 5 PM Tuesday to Saturday and is closed Sunday and Monday.

Best for

Semi-private group dinners
Cocktail receptions
Whiskey-focused gatherings
Full restaurant buyouts
Birthday parties
Corporate events
Cocktail parties
Private dinners

Planning your event

The Franklin Room hosts private and semi-private events in its underground tavern in River North. A group picks the back dining area for a seated dinner, the front bar area for a cocktail party, or a full buyout, then plans the date, guest count and food with the venue.

Vibe: Dim and warm, below street level, with wood paneling, tufted banquettes, ornate ceilings and backlit shelves of spirits.
Space layout: One underground floor. The front bar area is set up for cocktail-style receptions and the back dining area for semi-private seated dinners. A buyout opens the whole restaurant to one group.
Private events: Semi-private dining in the back and cocktail parties in the front bar area each take up to 30 guests. A full restaurant buyout is private and takes up to 100. The venue asks for the event type, date, guest count and whether catering is needed when planning starts.
Food & drinks: Groups can have food from the modern American tavern menu: bar snacks such as short rib skewers, appetizers like bourbon miso mussels, and mains including seabass and steak. The bar focuses on crafted cocktails and a curated whiskey list, with wine and beer.
Group size: Up to 30 guests in the back dining area or the front bar area; up to 100 for a full restaurant buyout.

Spaces

3 spaces, smallest first. Prices are starting rates before taxes and fees.

Back Dining Area
A semi-private dining area for seated group dinners, birthday dinners and corporate meals of up to 30 guests.
Up to 30 · Semi-private
30max
Semi-private
Front Bar Area
A semi-private bar area for cocktail parties and receptions of up to 30 guests.
Up to 30 · Semi-private
30max
Semi-private
Full Restaurant Buy-Out
The whole underground restaurant, booked privately for parties and corporate events of up to 100 guests.
Up to 100 · Private
100max
Private

What this venue offers

Cocktail Reception

Craft Cocktails

Food

Full Bar

Great Cocktails

Private Dining Spaces

Good for: birthday, company party, corporate, dinner party

The Franklin Room

About The Franklin Room

Best for

Planning your event

Spaces

Back Dining Area

Front Bar Area

Full Restaurant Buy-Out

Reviews

What this venue offers

Location

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