We had the pleasure of participating in the Raw Artists Arise art show. The venue is amazing. The Metro is on the top and it has two stories and Smart Bar in the basement. Great bartenders, amazing techno and house music. It’s located right next door to Wrigley Field. We had such a great experience! Can’t wait to go back

Very fun neighborhood bar, friendly people, affordable drinks, fun stuff and owners. Great atmosphere and great place to come and have a drink without having to wait a really long time for service.

Outstanding performance by Missio, Blacklillac, SWELLS... My first time here and I will never forget it.

This was the worst night of my life. I had gone to see the Wallows perform there. The Metro is much to small for the crowd that was brought in. There was probably 1000+ people in a 300 person max venue. I was pushed, grabbed, had my hair pulled, alcohol spilled on me, etc. I passed out, my friends were sobbing and having panic attacks. The people around me were in pain and suffering from heat exhaustion. An extremely intoxicated adult kept pushing my friends and I to try and get to the front (we were at around the second row from the stage), and I told him to stop, politely and professionally. He apologized and to make up for it, he ask to buy us drinks. We are all 16 and I told him we are underage. He then started yelling at us, blaming US for going to the Metro in the first place because its only 18+ when this was an all ages show. I had to get security multiple times and he was eventually taken out. When the Wallows came on, everyone was so packed together, nobody was allowed any movement, and everyone who wasnt part of the pushing and harassment issue were in immense pain. I love the Wallows, the people around me love the Wallows, my friends love them. However, around half way into the show, we were forced to push our way past to leave the venue. Its now a day after and Im extremely sick, my body is more exhausted than it has been, and Im generally miserable. I cant believe that I wasnt able to enjoy my time because of rowdy, drunk, full grown ADULTS, over crowding, and just straight up abuse. We payed 120$ for these tickets, just to have to leave part way through. Extremely disappointed in everyone involved for not acting on what monstrosities occurred during the show. The Metro employees need to recognize these issues. This was not an underground punk rock show. My friends and I, young teenagers had a chance of a lifetime stripped from any chance of being remembered as positive.

It’s a good concept that’s executed alright. Good drinks and super pricey

One of the last venues in Chicago for house music doesnt provide water for free after a $15 cover.Doesnt feel right to me even though the music is pure. Unfortunate this is a prominent venue for artists to create experiences. Could be so much better

I used to come here for Queen on Sunday nights almost every Sunday when I lived in the Midwest and I always was having a great time! The staff here are super friendly and always make sure partygoers can feel safe and still have fun. Some of the circuit boy cliques that come here on Sundays aren’t always the friendliest but the crowd is very diverse and friendly most of the time. Its a great place to make friends here and you’ll have great time. If you don’t know what Queen is, it is a Sunday night circuit party that goes til 4 AM and you get a huge mix of people. You get the shirtless circuit boys of course but you also get interesting people with creativity like drag queens, club kids dressed very chic and coutoure, some straight couples come in (they’re gay friendly too), and etc. This place is a great opportunity to have fun if you have been working all weekend and haven’t had time to go go out. I will definitely be coming back here for when I visit Chicago over holiday breaks.

Management of this bar is nowhere near up to the talent of the dj. After being accused of doing something that I did not do, I was kicked out while waiting for my friends in the bathroom. After paying a hefty entrance fee, I would expect service of an establishment to be somewhat reasonable but they wouldnt even let me go find my friend before trying to rush me out of the club.

On a Friday night in Wrigley it was hard to find seats, but that goes without saying. Staff was definitely fast, professional, and the crowd was pretty decent. Not too loud. Late night food across the street

Had a great time dancing there, fun place and the DJs are always amazing, but I lost my card there and have had a helluva time trying to contact them through any medium. Living so far away makes getting back a hassle. Wish they were more attentive to messages or calls.

Smart bar, dumb bouncers.While accompanying a friend for her uber to the exit, I was taken and brought out for literally no reason. After asking the two bouncers outside and receiving no answer, I insisted and they called other two bouncers, including the one who brought me out. Again I asked for an explanation, always trying to be the kindest possible even if they didn’t deserved it, but they had no better reason than “we decided so”. They perfectly understood that they’re were totally wrong, but not to admit that, they started inventing one excuse after another. First, my pupils were too large and I was “intoxicated”, then after I passed their “tests” with the torch they changed reason, over and over again.Log story short, 50 minutes of discussion, 4 bouncers, and they weren’t able to provide a reasonable answer.I’m so upset to give this place one star because it is my favorite place in Chicago. The music is the best and the ambience is great. Not to mention the sound system, amazing. So 5 star to the place. So sad how dumbness can ruin an evening.

Great music, nicer staff.

Great music, nice people, even nicer staff, cheap drinks, interesting layout

This club claims to have all gender washrooms, but they are 75% urinals. Get rid of all the urinals and put toilets in stalls in their place would make the washroom truly a gender..My girlfriend and I ended up sharing the only stall in the room of urinals in the washroom and then got kicked out for sharing.Speaking of which, staff need to be clearer in identifying themselves and not do things like demand the stall be opened while someone is peeing in there and then throw people out for not knowing who they are or complying with their unreasonable orders.My girlfriend felt violated, and as a transgender woman, I felt further marginalized. The staff laughed at my friend when she was in distress after we were escorted out without so much as a word about what alleged infraction occurred.This business needs to do more work in order to be a place of Pride. I was a visitor to this city, my friend is from here. Neither of us will return again.

This is the place to go if you feel lonely. me and Sarah enjoed it all the way up and back . nice drinks, strong lol

Smells and feels like a basement. doorman was rude to other customers as well made me cringe...probably wont go back

Legendary Chicago bar and nightclub! Awesome venue for live music. Personally have seen too many bands and dj sets over the past 35 years, to count

Very good service! Thanks, guys!

It was Saturday night and I just found out that Smartbar was among the best Nightclubs in the City.But, It was beyond the level of expectation.MUSIC - The DJ was repeating the beats.No electronic and No proper beats.DANCE FLOOR - People were just standing on the dance floor waiting for a song to be played which never happened.Some young crowd just left the venue after paying $15!! on entry.SOUND QTY - Pretty Good but needs more BASS!!I think the Crowd needs a Good MUSIC not a repetitive sequence of INSTRUMENTS played on a console.If WE are spending one night of our week to ENJOY then there should be an ENERGY! MUSIC! And PARTY!People should Smile, dance and enjoy their time.Even the DJ playing at the Booth was not even enjoying the MUSIC he was playing. Thats how bad it WAS!

Probably the sickest underground club in Chicago for 30+ yrs now... This is a legendary spot for 90s rave kids ...

The most OG spot in Chicago house music other than the warehouse

Ive been here and to the DNA pizza at least twice and its always been awesome. They have themed nights so if its not relevant I dont go. After dancing the night away, I always go over ot the pizza lounge next door. Sometimes I even go there for late night grubs when I dont go to Bootie SF for the night.

This place has some sick shows most weekends- the bouncers are nice and the bathrooms are gender neutral. The drinks are priced regularly, the dance floor can get crowded but the space is large.

I’ve never paid SO much cover for such TERRIBLE music

It’s ok. Mostly because google won’t let me edit my one star review and I’m scared of that.

20dollars admission fee. And most of drinks are 7.There was NO dress code. But was cool and nice atmosphere. .. bartender was cool.. hmm...dance floor was so dark so i couldnt see anything and narrow..

Always a pleasure to go to Smart Bar awesome sound system and there weekly Sunday Queen Night is great!

Love the sound in this place

Not very lively and gave us so much trouble getting in. Bouncers were condescending and sexist.

Best consistent Sunday night nightlife you can find! Cheap cover, cheap drinks, awesome eccentric crowd, respectful and smart security, and amazing Chicago house music on some of the best speakers in the city. Not to be missed!!!

Deep and dark music in the basement. Great Soundsystem, crowd normally has good vibes and always some kind of a cheap drink special to keep you going. Just know that all bathrooms are unisex so just suck it up and get used to it.

Its so Chicago here. Love this place.

Funktion one sound system, great bar, great vibe and safe for all who are open minded.

One and only place, Great service!

Don’t say you’re open till 4 when you’re not

I saw the MC5 here. They have some great shows that no one else has and when they do you got to go. Ive also seen the Ramones and Pere Ubu that was a long time ago

Best dance floor in the city.

Loved this place, madhouse of fun

The kindest people work there. I have anxiety and was treated with the utmost respect of them understanding my conditions. Wish everyone was like this when Im able to get out. Highly recommend

Security falsely accused us of having done “hard drugs all night” despite us actually having just arrived there and then proceeded to kick us out. All of our attempts to reason with them failed as they continued to spout out lies and ignore our complaints. Don’t go here, the staff can’t be reasoned with.

Always great music. Fantastic sound system (Funktion One). No frills. Bar. Music. Space to dance. Just how I like it.

Great music, great DJs, great sound, but... they change the guy at doors.Now there is a completely unprofessional guy that spend his miserable life trying to impose the authority with his body. You will recognize him since he is the tallest one and the only guy that speak allowed. Usually the people that are at the smart are very relaxed and are there just to listen some good music. I have never seen an hubbub there. But this guy suffers of attention-seeking behavior. He is very irritating since you can see that he is excited to exercise his mania of grander.Im so disappointed since Smart Bar used to be a very nice place to go with relaxed people and good music..but I will never never go again until this guy is there. I want to have fun, not deal with the problems of the people.

Went to see the KONGOS play there - it was such a great venue! The security staff was so nice and drinks were great. Definitely worth stopping by for some good music and entertainment!

Shouts out to QUEEN for being the radiant beacon of light that Chicago needs. The barn rules, and every other club in boystown drools (in comparison, u do u).Lucy is a deity, the residents turn it out every week, staff is lovely. 10/10

Cool spot that attracts some amazing talent from all across the globe. Youll be happy to meet some interesting and chilled out people here!

This is our favorite sushi restaurant! Highest quality fish and traditional sushi I have ever had. But watch out- its a little pricey (and addicting!).

By far the worst venue in Chicago. I already disliked this venue but the Battles show this Friday was awful. They forced me to check my empty bag. I went out to lock up a friends bike and the guy threatens to kick me out if I come back in smelling like smoke. When I do try to get back in the bouncer seriously used an earpiece to relay the front desk. It was like a prison! Security harassed the pretty tame crowd throughout the show. They treat their customers like cattle and criminals. If I can help it Ill never go there again. Bands need to realize there are much better medium sized venues to play at that treat people with respect. Truly horrible.

I dont normally go to clubs, but thought this place was great! I went to Smart Bar to see James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem who was performing a DJ set there. The cover was reasonable for such a big name. The dance floor was full but not packed, and we had a great view since its a smaller place. I saw someone else describe this place as a come as you are dance club, and that is exactly how I would also describe it. It wasnt pretentious or flashy. Really enjoyed it and would go back.

QUEENS night on Sundays is the best with EDM and variety of creative humans in various ages and sizes (LOL...Queens can be super tall). Unisex Lounge is the place to hang out with plenty of seats, lights, and intelligent conversations. Say hello to the fabulous host and star (on posters), LADY JOJO.

Came to this place because it has amazing reviews but I dont know how. The unisex bathrooms are really uncomfortable. It was pitch black and music was trying to be EDM but was really slow and nobody could dance. Theres hardly any girls and being one of the few really attracts a lot of awful guys. We were harassed and stalked all night. Drinks are way overpriced. The security people were really nice though.

The security was pompous and just completely rude. I will never go here again! They had no answers for me when they decided that I couldnt enter the venue because I attempted to toss an empty bottle OUTSIDE, before checking in and before I entered. There was a fat guy in particular who wanted to feel like he was doing some great security work but was just unreasonable. I shouldve known better than to allow this venue to take my money. Once again, do not go here if you dont want to be mistreated or scammed by a wannabe security team.

Im not into techno music. Searched for best clubs in Chicago and this was one of the first ones apparently but not for me.

Definitely the Guggenheim of house music!!!!

My favorite club in the city. It lacks much of the pretentiousness and meat market feeling that many other clubs in the city have. Devoid of any bottle service foolishness and the crowd that brings, smartbar patrons seem to be there for the music. The funktion one sound system is unsurpassed and shakes the floor when used right. Drinks are not cheap but its a nightclub so no surprise there. The photo booth is a nice way to create a memorable moment.

Where to start? This place used to be amazing but honestly has gone quite a bit downhill nowadays... The bouncers are absolute a**holes and are about as pretentious as it gets. I have been coming here for like 2 years prior and have never gotten turned away and now they are extremely selective about who they let in. Hey I am just trying to enjoy your overpriced drinks and look at the beautiful fake women at your establishment, let me in. The music is just ok and seriously has gone downhill as well as the last time I got in I was disappointed. Also, a couple of times I went last when there was a cover charge the guy at the door said it was super busy.. You walk in and there are like 10 people there; definitely going downhill I hope they change a lot of things about this place, and they get 2 stars because it used to be an awesome place.

Nice place. As usual the guy/girl ratio is of balance as in most clubs. The music is repetitive yet danceable, and the better acts come out later into the night.

I can see how this place might be fun on a normal day, but their New Years Eve party was chaotic and frustrating. I got the impression it was their first time running that kind of event.Preordering tickets, we still waited an hour in zero degree weather to get in. The line divided into people who had tickets and people who didnt have tickets - the person in our group who didnt have a ticket got in faster AND cheaper. Thats right - the tickets preordered were $42.50 after fees. If you bought your ticket at the door it was $40.Coat check filled up instantly. If I had to estimate Id say 1/2 the people there were able to check their coats at the door. Normally not a huge deal, but again this was NYE and we were in zero degree weather, so theres no way we could have come without a coat. We ended up piling them on the floor and it added a certain amount of stress to the night to keep an eye on them when we were on the dance floor.Exiting the place, they were yelling at people for stepping over the rope at the door, but literally the only other option was to walk through the line of people getting in. It seems like something that should have been thought of ahead of timeWe had fun in spite of this, so 2 stars instead of 1 for that.

Great place for good EDM and house music and one of the best places to go dancing in the city. Keep in mind: if you need water while there, for some reason they don’t offer cups of tap water, you have to buy bottled water.

Non pretentious, different from the clubs with douchy vip bottle service type of vibe. The sound system is excellent. People go here to enjoy the music and to dance. Pretty simple.

Metro is the classic, intimate music venue upstairs (proper stage, floor space with an upstairs balcony) and SmartBar is the underground bar/nightclub downstairs. Both local and big name bands come through Metro, while bar and dance nights go on downstairs, including the notable party Queen, on Sundays.

OMG this place is absolutely amazing! Everyone dances and the the music is so mesmerizing. I could dance there for every. And the cover it pretty decent!

Discriminatory problematic staff. Don’t support this venue!

Oh man the Hispanic possibly Native American guy that works there is Sooooo good at doing sound. My friend is a drummer that played in a local band there - (he has a terrible sounding kit). I dont know how he did it, but everything was so punchy and clear! Amazing work!Also, the monitor guy that works there is super nice! I met him at the Gman bar after the show and he really impressed my sister.

Nice place, music could be better and yes they are open Sundays.

Best place to go out dancing. Friendly security. Gender neutral washrooms. Zero tolerance for harrassment, homophobia, trans phobia and the best sound and music.

Excellent sound system; Queen is one of my favorite queer dance partiesof All Time

My favorite place to go to for underground house and techno. Very chill atmosohere, no dress code. If you are looking to go clubbing, Id recommend trying a place like The Mid, Enclave, Board Room, etc.

Best club music in chicago. not very expensive either. Come here on thursday for good deals on drinks.

Gosh I love this place. The sound system THUMPS the night I was there the drinks were absurdly cheap.Go here for varieties of music. No pretentious vibes here. Just great music, Midwest friendliness, and a swirling light floor to have fun to.

The venue was fabulous. Staff was courteous.

The bouncer has a god complex and is a serious racist. we paid $31 for each ticket, and could not go back into the bar only because the bouncer said no. No refund, no apology, no explanation, but he rather threatened us to call the police. Why do i need to be treated like trash?

Cool venue. The sound was pretty good except vocals are hard to hear if you are in the middle of the stage.

Great venue, extremely rude security. Had to go out to put more money in the meter. I very politely asked if I could I could do so. A fat security guy, in a very rude way, barked there was no reentry but let us go anyway. When I came back he swore at me. If you like paying for overpriced drinks and being treated rudely this is the place for you.

Nice venue but bring cash. They dont accept cards. Other than that, very nice.

Great club and music. Very relaxed place

Great club for electronic music. A little expensive if you ask me. Wish the djs were a little better.

Nice small venue. Saw Chevy Metal here. Could see the band no matter where I was.

My absolute favorite place to go out in Chi. The music is always on point and the crowd is always good vibes. Goes late night too!

I went on a Thrusday and it was almost empty. $10 ticket wasted

Fun place great shows... ask before you go downstairs if anyone is there!

The best dance venue in Chicago. The bass is booming, the crowd is active and into it. A sensory overload. A tad on the expensive side when it comes to drinks, but the ticket prices are inexpensive so it balances it out in the end.

A bit up tight but pretty with good drinks

Always have a good time! best neighborhood late night spot by far

Worst bar I’ve ever been to in my life I wish I could give it negative stars I wouldn’t take my worst enemy there terrible service and aggressive environment

Well where should i start if you want to have a good time with your with your friends and want to have a good birthday this is the place to go they play good music is good they play only hit songs check it out :-)

You paid 15 dollars to listen to the same music during the whole night. THE WORST DJ EVER! Not to mention, the place was empty, drinks are expensive and the staff (especially the cashier) wasnt friendly. I went there yesterday (01/24/14), and I regret going there. Dont waste your time, go somewhere else.

This is one of the better places to listen to electronic music in the city. The setting is more intimate than any super club, and usually the music is better, too. DJs here spin things meant for a more underground crowd, so youll hear minimal techno and deep house instead of club progressive and brostep. A lot of old warehouse party kids come here now that theyve grown up. Youre also much less likely to find Mac-tapper DJs here, which is a good thing.

Mind you I was standing right by the speaker so I may have just been deafened and dumb, but I really enjoyed the venue. If you come late you can still get close enough to the stage.

I love smartbar! the music is legit! and good prices too!

Great place to enjoy house music. Sundays QUEEN!

I went there to watch city and colour. The beer is over priced and it gets WAY too crowded. At least a 4th of the people there had no view! The way the inside is set up is designed poorly. Will avoid this place for shows in the future unless its just really cheap. Disappointed.

If youre not coming here to dance, you might as well go home. Im not sure that I was select it as a place to start the night, or even for the entirety of the night. But, after a few drinks and with you and your friends feeling good, this is a place to be.

Avoid on holidays, to many old people but a great party any other time

One of the best electronic dance music venues consistently for years.

The sound system is In. SANE. Great time!

The club ambience was nice but somehow music was bad and it was not attracting us to dance. They spoiled our evening.

Great place to hear a live DJ, and literally dance until you sweat.

Great bar to come and wait for the show to start at Metro.

Soulless generic EDM that only people who are drunk or high out of their minds would dance to. unwelcoming staff. napoleon complex manlet doorman.

Every time I come here, the line is unnecessarily long as if they are doing it for the looks. The actual bar is pretty cool though.