Barrelman's Room - Downers Grove

Barrelman's Room is my place on a Friday or Saturday night if I want delicious cocktails and cozy ambience so I can talk to my friends who listen to each other. It is usually quite easy to get a table, the staff is helpful with recommendations and I love the secret feeling of it. I recommend it to anyone who wants a night without a long line or wait. You will not be disappointed!

This is supposed to be a cocktail bar. They don’t have large ice cubes and ran out of key agreements at 8pm on a Friday.....need to work on ordering and be ready for a Friday night.

Loved the set up! Food and drinks were outstanding as well.

Great concept; an unexpected cozy speakeasy serving interesting drinks and snacks. I love that this place is kind of down an alley of downtown DG. An unassuming hidden gem, almost a bit of a throwback to a mini spaghetti western saloon. However, it is attached to a big Irish (American) bar, but this can be avoided entirely by using the side entrance. The beer tap list while great does not seem to rotate frequently enough. Visits two weeks apart were insufficient to see any noticeable change. Food menu while good is rather limited to meat oriented appetizers. It would be nice to see more diverse and robust options available. Aside from those minor grievances, it's really a terrific alternative venue for those of us that wish to be comfortable in a cozy, welcoming space and I'd definitely recommend trying it out. Lastly, the ever present bar man is excellent, professional and efficient.

However, as soon as we stepped inside, we were greeted by loud, club-style music. In a whisky bar? And with holiday tunes playing just weeks before Christmas, it felt out of place. Additionally, the numerous TVs in such a compact space seemed unnecessary. On a positive note, the whisky selection is extensive and varied, as one would expect, although some of my choices were out of stock. However, the menu has some glaring typos (like "Higland Park" instead of "Highland Park"), and it's crucial for the owners to know the distinction between "whiskey" and "whisky." The former refers to spirits from Ireland or America, while the latter is from Scotland—a detail that should definitely be highlighted on the menu. The menu itself is straightforward, which is a plus, but could really benefit from some classic food pairings. Items like pub mix, a cheese platter, or even chocolate would complement the whisky and bourbon offerings nicely. Overall, Barrelman’s has a solid foundation, but it feels like the essentials are being overlooked in the pursuit of a concept. If they fine-tuned their approach, it could become a remarkable destination. However, for true whisky enthusiasts, Barrelman’s doesn't fully deliver on its promise just yet.