The Walk In opened in 2016 as a craft cocktail bar behind Red Star Liquor & Deli on Milwaukee Avenue. Guests still find it the same way: through the walk-in cooler. In 2017, bar manager Phillip Smith gave it the mantra it still lives by, Friendly as F*ck.
After a remodel in 2026, owner Esam Hani describes the new space as “more loungey” and intimate, “but still real simple.” Interior designer Jason Clark put the room together, and local artist Jeanette Margaret hand-painted the walls. Mid-century pop art, vintage speakers, exposed brick, and brass railings fill a building that’s more than 100 years old. When the garage doors roll up, Milwaukee Avenue becomes part of the room.
The menu takes familiar classics in new directions, alongside beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options. Come for happy hour, or stay late on Friday and Saturday when DJs take over.
