Spybar

Oh man, let me tell you about my unforgettable experience on January 1st, 2023! It was hands down the best night of my life! I stepped into the venue and was immediately swept away by the infectious beats of House music. I danced the night away, completely lost in the rhythm, and before I knew it, I was invited to an after-party because of the energy I was radiating!

As I grooved on the dance floor, I connected with strangers who became instant friends. We swapped hats and sunglasses, mirroring each other’s dance moves in a spontaneous display of camaraderie. Coming all the way from LA to Chicago, I never expected to have such an incredible dance experience. What amazed me the most was the genuine enthusiasm of the people there; everyone was there to dance and have a blast!

And here’s a fun tidbit: did you know that the owner of the bar was actually part of the House scene and even featured in the documentary, “I Was There When House Took Over the World”? How cool is that? So, as someone who experienced the magic firsthand, I wholeheartedly recommend this bar to anyone looking for a night filled with music, energy, and unforgettable memories!

Easy entry. No line. $4 for coat check. Restrooms were very clean with an attendant. Bartenders super quick and efficient. Drinks are at least 30% cheaper then any other night club around especially soundbar that is across the street. Not too spacious but it never got overly crowded. Nice thing is they have seating outside of the vip area that is for everyone so you could rest your feet or back at anytime. They also have a merchandise booth. And security does their job at keeping everyone safe. One complaint would be the sound system. The bass was not adjusted so it was not really pleasant. Thankfully they fixed it a bit but it was still problematic.

Great club, as a Smartbar regular, this would make a great backup in case the DJ sucked there, though some more garbage cans would be nice, I’m used to seeing a good (somewhat) lit locations there, here, I just found one, and it got me confused and worried a bit. Everything was great overall but not quite perfect.

Some things I do like VS Smartbar aside from the inclusion of Knob Creek Bourbon (my favorite alcohol when mixed with diet coke) is a full serviced restroom, as well as great audio quality throughout the club, whoever said that this club was too loud clearly doesn’t know Chicago house lmao. I do love the 20% gratuity tip automatically added to my checks. It makes it easier to mathematically calculate the bartender’s performance.

The music was outstanding this night as I’m reviewing now. My heart was unlocked with the constant stream of sexy drums being aired out of the speakers, standing in front of the loudest part of the club outside of directly listening through the speakers, my body felt numb from the DJs performance throughout the morning, all in all, a fantastic experience with a few quirks, but otherwise excellent.

I’ve been pretty much to all EDM places in Chicago and Spybar will always be my fav. The sound system is the best so far. It is so good your entire body bounces and you can listen the music 2 blocks away 😂
I love the fact they give opportunity to local artists but they also bring international artists. Both are amazing. It neverrr disappoints. I’m from Latinoamerica and struggle finding places that close late and this goes until 4/5 am.
I’ve been solo and had the best time. Compared to other clubs, people are so nice and inviting. They dance with you and the djs vibe with you.

Sweet little underground venue, lines were nonexistent when I arrived at 11:30 or so. This was the only club I went to the two nights I was in Chicago, and I was not disappointed. Bouncers expedited the entry process without any issue. Bartender was nice, recognized me and greeted me on my second night there. Water is $5 per bottle, but I do recall seeing someone get his empty glass filled with tap water and ice free of charge. They also have the comfiest sofa to chill at which does not require booking a table and yet still has a great view of the dance floor / DJ booth. Additionally, worth noting is a nice old man who attends the bathroom sink and squirts soap in your hands, who then provides you with a paper towel. Finally, ventilation and cooling are adequate; there are several spots on the dance floor where conditioned air blows down from above, but if you need, there’s also a fan in the back with a lot more space to chill. However, of note is their no-reentry policy, regardless, there is a cordoned off outdoor zone immediately outside the venue in which you can chill and reenter from I think.