SafeHouse and Escape House offer covert ops in Chicago
Cue the “Mission: Impossible” music.
The mystery of international espionage has been an obsession of lay people for years, but now there’s a way even we common folk can feel like James Bond. SafeHouse and Escape House are two new attractions in Chicago, which provide a series of interactive special missions that give a glimpse into a world normally reserved for film, television and novels.
The SafeHouse restaurant and bar has been the talk of the town for months now, particularly for anyone who has driven 90 minutes over the past 50 years to visit the original destination in Milwaukee, which opened in 1966 at the peak of the ColdWar. One of the differences in Chicago is that parent company The Marcus Corporation ( owners of the adjacent AC Hotel) had extra real estate and opted to add the clue- solving activity EscapeHouse, increasing the anticipation. The Chicago location is ripe with incredible artifacts of the era, such as a piece of the Berlin Wall, a flight deck from an original WWII spy plane that was donated by the pilot and replica machine guns from the estate of John Wayne— plus all the movie memorabilia you might expect, including a deceptive centerfold of Daniel Craig in the ladies’ room.
After attending a preview event, both seem to be living up to the hype. The caveat of the originality, however, means they are also destined to be major tourist traps, begging the question of how much locals will get to actually enjoy it. Because EscapeHouse requires a minimum of four and up to 10 people ( you can also buy a solo ticket and be paired with strangers), families are marketed to with expeditions that allow kids. So, your best bet is to go on weekdays and during off hours. EscapeHouse operates daily from 10 a. m. to 9 p. m. and SafeHouse will be open daily until 2 a. m. ( 3 a. m. on Saturdays). They can be enjoyed separately, but it’s ideal to do them together for the full experience.
Our group of eight started with Escape House on the “easier” of two missions: saving the White House from an impending missile attack. The other option tests your abilities “to break through a high- tech spy lair,” but neither is an easy task. We were stuck in a replica of the Oval Office ( designed by the architect behind Universal Studio’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) for 60 intense minutes, together figuring out where clues were placed, and then how to actually solve them.
Some special effects add to the drama, though there are no scare tactics like the “Trapped in a Room with a Zombie” offered by local competitor Room Escape Adventures. This boded well for problem- solving with less distraction. The best part of EscapeHouse, though, is it allows for the eye- opening discovery of just how controlling, savvy or forfeiting your friends are in this kind of situation. Fortunately, we got out with eight minutes to spare.
After, we headed to SafeHouse, though gaining access to this refuge also had its tricks. First you have to be able to find the entrance, but here’s a clue: There is a cover business known as International Exports Ltd. If you don’t know the password, you are then put in a holding room where “Agent M” grills you to ensure you are friendly spies. The staff never breaks character.
The massive basement restaurant is split into various sections, all designed by Chicago’s award- winning The Gettys Group in partnership with SafeHouse’s parent company, The Marcus Corporation.