Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: coffee (23) drinks (18) great (14) good (12) staff (10) service (9) friendly (9) nice (9) spot (8) cocktail (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Kenneth 2 years ago on Google • 42 reviews
    A Speakeasy with major vibes. The entrance brought us through a hotel and at the back of the building was the opening to this huge lounge, perfectly dim lighting and split leveled in the back of this room you enter the bar area, where it’s lit up with candles, is cozy and has a unique style that is so interesting. Our server Caesar was so polite and served us drinks lit on fire. If your looking for something very very different in style, classy, and even a bit secretive this is that.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alejandra G. 1 year ago on Google
    What an amazing place. Cocktails are amazing and so it’s the atmosphere. The low light and music will make your experience here so great.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 David W. 3 months ago on Google • 727 reviews New
    The drink I had was excellent! The flavors blended together perfectly. The service was absolutely terrible for a place of this caliber. Waited over 15 minutes for a server to come over, ordered drinks and was advised that they were doing last call in 15 minutes at 11:30 (posted closing time was 1am). Server asked us if we wanted to close or run a tab. We left it open, another woman brought it back closed out at 1130 and told us it was too late to order anything else. The 2nd server was also missing a front tooth and seemed to be high on drugs or something. Questionable at best
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kai D. 1 year ago on Google • 114 reviews
    A hip, eclectic cafe! Broken Shaker is one of the most uniquely decorated spaces I’ve come across here in Chicago. There’s lots of nooks and crannies to find to comfortably read, chat, or get some work done. The exterior is pretty nondescript so I almost missed it. Glad I didn’t!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tony D. 9 months ago on Google • 174 reviews
    We went on a Tuesday night. Both bartenders were very friendly, knew their cocktails, and made one special that hit the spot! There was a group having a good/loud time in the bar area, so we retreated to the cozy/comfortable lounge, and the server there was super nice/fun!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Shaan S. 4 years ago on Google • 437 reviews
    Very mixed feelings about this place. On one hand, the space itself is really beautiful and comforting. The drinks were strong and delicious as well. All in all, I imagine it would be a great spot to go with a group of friends on a late night or for happy hour. On the other, service was not particularly friendly, and the Georgian cheese platter was pretty one note. If I were to return, I'd probably skip the food and just hang by the bar.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tony F. 1 year ago on Google • 139 reviews
    Has to be the warmest and coziest vibe I've been to in a long while. They don't just have bartenders, they have mixologist! Excellent drinks. They use real lemons and egg whites for their whiskey sours. The old fashioned was also perfection. Menu is simple and the food is exceptional for what some would consider "bar food". We had the wings, flatbread pizza, sliders and fries. Staff are all warm and welcoming and the music was spot on. But the ambiance is the real reason to go here if you want a chill, romantic and cozy environment. Just go check it out.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Olivia P. 1 year ago on Google • 7 reviews
    Bathrooms stink and are dirty and grimy as heck... and service is terrible. When you reserve a spot and pay $16 a cocktail, you should be attended to.. Anthony was great but ended his shift as we walked in. Server actually forgot to put in our cocktails at one point. There are plenty of other places in the city you can pay much less, get better service, have cleaner restrooms, and tastier cocktails. So disappointing for our friends birthday We were literally ignored for the first 20 minutes of our visit.... we had a reservation. DJ also sucks so much. Sorry, but you're in the heart of Chicago. Pay someone who is better than your sons friends on his college weekend gig... also now we've been waiting over 20 minutes for our check... this place sucks. And I never leave bad reviews.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Zinaida K. 6 years ago on Google
    I had very high expectations about this place, which were not the reality. They are doing the roasting themselves, which is usually a good sign, but the cup I had there was very mediocre. The variety is not great, it is either espresso-based drink, or filter coffee or chemex, but chemex is only available as a huge portion. The girl on the counter was anything, but friendly, could not give any information about the beans they had. And the mug I god was broken with a broken saucer. I may assume it can be a part of the ambiance in some very certain cases, but this cafe is a part of a nice historic hotel, which is not a squat or something like that. Will not go back any time soon.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Petia O. 2 years ago on Google
    Ambiance is perfect for a cozy quiet drink, or a romantic cocktail. A great escape from busy Michigan avenue. The service was great, and servers extremely attentive but not disturbing conversation or pushing extra orders.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Adriana Niva Schlosberg S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great experience. This bar was exactly what my group was looking for. Low light, good music that's not so loud you can't talk, nice atmosphere with comfortable couches big enough for larger groups. The service was excellent and friendly and everyone liked their drinks. I'd definitely go here again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Illiana F. 1 year ago on Google • 86 reviews
    The ambiance here is like “your grandpa’s basement” meets “hipster paradise.” Interesting music. The staff are very laid back and nice. I am holding back one star (really more like half a star) because I felt like the price was a little bit high for the teeny tiny coupe glass of (delicious) cocktail I received. I am saying this in comparison to neighboring venues. However, it won’t stop me from returning. It’s just not a place I’d come for more than 1-2 drinks.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Faith 1 year ago on Google • 347 reviews
    Awesome drinks and really relaxing, chill vibe. They have some good food too. Cheese curds were delicious. This place is my new fav!

  • 4/5 Tammy O. 2 years ago on Google
    Enjoyed the bar and friendly service, had a few local beers my friend enjoyed cocktails. The lounge is a good place for a clandestine meeting, dark amber lighting. Accessible rest-area, stairs leading to bar.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Ryan M. C. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow. Terrible service. Made a reservation, called to confirm. They gave the reservation away anyway. Waited it out in the bar hopeful for a seat. Watched as multiple new comers were seated without a wait! Did try two cocktails at the bar. Unimaginative and not memorable sweet tiki junk. There are MUCH better bars next door! Seek your libation elsewhere.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 P G. 2 years ago on Google
    Have stopped in here several times over the years. It is inside the Freehand and the bar area is small and cozy, but there is seating in an open area downstairs. The drinks are creative and fun and the bartenders are very good. It is often crowded, usually loud and some of the crowd can be loud and annoying (the hotel tends to attract young tech-ish people). But the drinks and decent prices keep it a fun spot. Always have a daily special that is interesting.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 George P. 2 years ago on Google
    The Broken Shaker is one of my favorite spots in Chicago, its unfortunate that Covid had caused the prices to go up but the bar is still great with cool inventive drink ideas. It's a lowkey mixology bar great for a date.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Veronica L. 2 years ago on Google
    This place has an awesome vibe. The bartenders know how to make a good cocktail. We ordered standard daquiris (no ice is standard) and really enjoyed them. I recommend ordering directly at the bar. Great place for a date.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Meagan B. 2 years ago on Google
    Great staff, great drinks. Most important, the atmosphere is on another level. The aesthetic and decore is unique and interesting. I'm looking around like I'm at a museum. My favorite part is that it's smells like old books. ❤️
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bhawani S. 2 years ago on Google
    Literally THE best place for drinks in Chicago! Roger, JT, and Cesar make THE best drinks!!! I met my best friend there! It's one of the most fun and lively places to be in Chicago! Definitely a MUST GO ❤️
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ivelisse L. 2 years ago on Google
    What a great find!!! Each cocktail was eclectic, flavorful, and masterful. Each cocktail was $15-$16, but worth the unique flavors and experience. The atmosphere was also unique. Loved it. Dark, moody, and intimate. I'm coming back
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Rick L. 6 years ago on Google
    Cafe Integral was our choice for breakfast on one of two mornings we spent in Chicago. We were overall disappointed. It starts with the menu. If you’re a person with a special diet of any kind (vegetarian, gluten free), or maybe just someone who checks out restaurant menus to help make a choice about where to go, then you rely on online menus being up to date. (Putting aside for the moment restaurants whose menus change frequently or who at least bother to state the menu online is just a sample of what they offer.) Cafe Integral’s menu in person was different than what appeared online…the main difference being fewer choices. When asked about this, the staff informed us they recently had “scaled back” their menu. Okay, so please also scale it back online so we can make an informed choice about whether to give you a shot. I had the Pour Over coffee (as any good brunch loving citizen of the morning should.) It wasn’t bad but would have liked it bolder rather than smoother. I also ordered the Breakfast sandwich without meat. (You have a choice of sourdough or bagel…I picked sourdough. For vegetarians avocado is an option instead of meat which is nice. (Except I don’t really like avocado that much so I opted to not have it. The 2-year cheddar it comes with is cooked in with the eggs which unfortunately had the effect of it not being noticeable visually or by taste. I had to ask the server if they had forgotten the cheese because it was really a non-presence. Also, the omelet eggs were over fried My wife liked the sunny side eggs and greens she ordered. (Assembled from the “Sides & Extras” Menu.) She thought it was perfectly fine but nothing amazing. We would have loved to try the Yucca Hash that was listed on the online menu and looked pretty amazing by description, but was, unfortunately a victim of the “scaling back” of their menu. Our impression of the staff also wasn’t so great…not a particularly friendly bunch. The first person we encountered when we walked in told us in a kind of not-so-happy-to-see-us manner that we should order then sit. Later the person who brought our food seemed visibly inconvenienced by the lack of space on the table where she had to put our order. She also seemed like I was interrupting her when I later asked where the bathroom was. It just seems basic that staff at service oriented businesses should go out of their way to be friendly and welcoming…especially in the morning when your interactions with other human beings can set the tone for your whole day. Overall all of our experience here was disappointing.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 CarefullyPlated 1 year ago on Google • 190 reviews
    The Broken Shaker is a vibe. It's adorable and nothing else really matters. But I'll go on anyway, the music is nice, and the food and drinks are decent. The Broken Shaker is a tiki bar themed bar inside thr now Freehand Hotel, formerly Tokyo Hotel. The name of the drinks are fun and a conversation in themselves. Food was pretty good. I ordered chardonnay with tomato soup and grilled cheese.

  • 4/5 Michael A. P. 1 month ago on Google • 16 reviews New
    Interesting drinks (albeit all pretty sweet), decent quesadilla to share. Excellent lounging space. Music volume could definitely be turned down a couple notches.

  • 4/5 kaerimaseudeshita 2 years ago on Google
    I loved every bit of this coffee shop. The interiors are gorgeously stepped and staged while the coffee can hold itself with the best. Fine pottery cups add so much to the experience of having coffee and is a very thoughtful touch. The location cannot be better if you are looking for a cozy spot to have excellent coffee. Totally worth the visit.

  • 5/5 Alexandra C. 2 years ago on Google
    Lovely little hotel bar, inside the Berkshire room

  • 5/5 Kizzy M. 6 months ago on Google
    Such a cute bar and lounge. Sabrina was so very kind and made us a drink we had never heard of before. Absolutely nailed the flavors we like and we have a new favorite cocktail. She was so friendly and fun to chat with. Thanks :)

  • 5/5 Ryan M. 1 year ago on Google
    This an excellent spot to drop in for a well-made cocktail. Friendly and knowledgeable bar staff made us tasty modern cocktails and a few classics. Gorgeous room, and a small streetside patio.

  • 5/5 GrilledWaffle 1 year ago on Google
    Cozy bar with delicious drinks and food as well as pastries, All of the employee's were nice, respectful, and patient! A great place to hang around. The food in the images are the 3 mini burger sliders and the beverage is the non_alcoholic chemical X beverage.

  • 4/5 Moh H. 4 years ago on Google
    Pleasant ambiance, few seats. There are more seats in the back of the coffee shop; if your aim is to chill or chat, that should work. But it does not offer an environment to study.

  • 2/5 Yiyue L. 2 years ago on Google
    Good coffee but... Snobby batista:"no we don't carry lids"

  • 1/5 Hillary D. 2 years ago on Google
    Went here for coffee and a breakfast sandwich w sausage- the sandwich was ICE COLD - didn’t realize it until I had already gone back to the hotel. It was clearly frozen and not reheated properly. (The coffee was also very overfilled and spilled everywhere when I took off the lid). It was also around $20 for two coffees and sandwiches so prices are pretty high.

  • 5/5 Safah B. 3 years ago on Google
    The place is more than just a coffee shop. It has good coffee and pastries. The staff, the food, the place are all top class. Prices are reasonable as well. They offer a variety of delicious drinks on top of an already satisfying menu. The atmosphere is light and very conducive for productive tasks. Highly recommended!

  • 5/5 Jason M. 5 years ago on Google
    Great little cafe with excellent coffee and a friendly staff. An excellent place to sit back, read a book, maybe grab a bit of something to eat. I got a pour over. The roast was just a touch darker than I think it should have been, but it was an interesting coffee served in an interesting way. My partner got a cold brew, which she thought was good. Only complaint about the place was that the wait was long for such a simple order.

  • 4/5 Kenneth W. 2 years ago on Google
    Very fast, delicious coffee, patient/sweet employees. It's a very nice hidden gem for those wanting to stay in the city but also to get away from all the chaos.

  • 4/5 Kelley S. 2 years ago on Google
    I am so picky with my coffee. So for me to fall in love with a NEW coffee place amazes me. Their tiramisu latte is the best thing on this earth! Not only is their coffee amazing and their coffee shop so cute and uniquely decorated but they are the sweetest nicest people!

  • 5/5 Jeff K. 2 years ago on Google
    Love this place! More for espresso, I feel…. Inside the lobby of the FREEHAND. Very large space to eat drink and socialize. Friendly staff. Got a cortado and egg sandwich - and very impressed by the sandwich actually

  • 5/5 Karly H (Exploring the l. 2 years ago on Google
    Super cute place for cocktails and there kale salad was super good too!!! They even had a dj that was controlling the music!! Would recommend this place.

  • 5/5 Malcolm B. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice spot to go to and enjoy a great drink selection made by very well educated and knowledgeable bartenders. This is definitely a hidden gem of Chicago. Plus they have a photo booth to make a genuine souvenir for you and a special person.

  • 4/5 Gee 5 years ago on Google
    Delicious fresh coffee, multiple ways! Fresh pastries, no tea! Mexican mineral water.

  • 5/5 Stefan M. 4 years ago on Google
    Menu is short and simple, staff was nice. Lots of space to sit and chit chat or work on your laptop.

  • 5/5 Afshan 4 years ago on Google
    Simple, lovely, great people working and an amazing atmosphere when I visit. It's straightforward Nicaraguan coffee that tastes light no matter how you prepare it. I usually always have a mocha and their mocha is easy on the stomach, coffee flavor comes through with a hint of their own homemade chocolate. Worth trying for sure! Tip: they don't add whip cream or even have that option on their drinks. They are true to their coffee which I appreciate greatly.


Call (312) 940-3699 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Food at bar
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Happy hour food
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery

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