Darkroom
Categories: Bars, Art Galleries [Edit]
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village2210 W Chicago Ave
(between Leavitt St & Oakley Blvd)
Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 276-1411
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Music: DJ
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: Yes
43 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
"I don't know if I can express to everyone my love for this place. If I were to close my eyes and invision my ideal corner, neighborhood…" read more »
67 Reviews for Darkroom
This place is really comfortable with reasonable drinks and prices, good sound, air conditioning and ample space. It's decor really reminds me of the Twin Peaks black lodge and it supports local artists making it have amazing photography both ingrained in the bar and on the walls. It could easily end up being a 4 or 5 star place if it could consistently book good bands. I was hoping that it would book better bands after The Note stopped but so far I don't see it.
Ya know the first time I went here i was worried it was gonna be a posh bar- From the outside it looks like a nightclub. But when you get inside and see the dark ambient red glow it feels less like uber tight Moonshine and more of a dive thats gone modern. Sounds like a strange statement to make right, but I guess thats just how i perceive it.
Strange art work on the walls, friendly bartenders... I've been to many shows here and its always comfortable. A bit of mix of clientele, from the posh to the trixie to the trendy hipsters and to the helmet-less fixie's. I'm not quite sure which category i fit into but I probably fall into the latter two categories. But your bound to be mystified by the range of people who grace this bar- its much more interesting to have a mixture of people- it's far more entertaining than a bunch of stuck-up hipsters. Where's the fun in that? Yeah.
Ya know I've never actually frequented the Dark Room when there wasn't a live band, so I'm not quite sure what thats like. But I've never had a dull moment there. They also have a pretty descent patio for you smokers out there, so don't fret.
Nice place for a couple drinks and a show.
I have to preface this by saying I've only been once, on the last Friday of the month. Reading other reviews, it seems like that might be important information.
The dj was really, really great. My friends were already here and dancing, and they managed to almost immediately get me on the floor. This is a near impossibility (ok I took a shot of tequila and shotgunned a beer first, I'm not gonna lie).
They were playing, um, I guess you might call it like recent indie dance rock or something, and new wave stuff, most songs were very danceable. I would definitely recommend last Fridays.
One of the best things about Darkroom is also one of the things I like least: the varying music genre themed nights. I do think it's cool and important to showcase a variety of different musical genres and cater to a wide audience, but I personally don't care to go hear reggae or hip-hop, so that leaves at least several nights a week at Darkroom that are not options for me. Saying that, I still love this bar! The nights that do feature music I'm into are always so much fun.
The size of the venue is perfect- not a small place but not too big. I like the "bar in the round" so there's plenty of space to order drinks and people watch and the rest of the seating (booths/tables) is comfy and well-placed.
I've seen scores of great bands- local and touring- play here. The volume tends to be louder than necessary (and I'm not too old or unused to live gigs!) but as long as I have earplugs with, it's ok.
One of Chicago's best club nights is PANIC! and it's held here the last Friday of every month. Tons of fun Britpop/80's music and a dancing crowd with a good attitude.
Motherhood has kept me from going out as much as I used to. But when I do go out, I hit Darkroom. The vibe is peace, the music is good (see DJ Lego for House music!), the dancefloor is always packed, and you're not surrounded by the annoying I-just-turned-21-let's get wasted-crowd. If anyone remembers Shelter or BigWig...Darkroom has that same flavor. Yes, they change venues (raggae one night, hiphop another night) but that's what is so great about this place. Just check their website's calendar or else you'll find yourself paying $10 to listen to Euro all night. Eeek!
This place confuses me. I have been there on many occasions and it is always unpredictable. Really it is hit or miss. I have paid to see bands here and I find it strange that Darkroom does not pull in a crowd for gigs. Maybe it is because the stage is small and the sound can be overpowering. So from now on I will spend my band moola somewhere else.
On certain nights this place can get crowded. Panic! nights pull in a crowd and they do have some decent Dj's there. The bar staff are awesome, very friendly, other than that, there is not much to report because there is not that much going on. I hope it changes. The bar and location is really nice. This place needs a marketing overhaul. :O(
Come on the first Saturday of the month for their reggae /dancehall night .Think its $5 cover ,drinks are resonable ,and the crowd is always fun .Place gets pretty packed as the night goes on and everyones usually on the dance floor grinding to the beat (not too many wallflowers this night )
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THINGS I WANT BACK
-My $8 cover charge
-The sense of hearing in my left ear
-The 2 hours of my life I spent attempting to dance to incessant THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP bass.
Going back? Not a chance.
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Darkroom is such a strange place. Sometimes there is cover, sometimes there is not. Sometimes the crowd is ethnic, sometimes it's goth. Sometimes drinks cost $8, sometimes they cost $10.
You get the picture....everytime you go you are taking a gamble, but I've always had fun there.
Sorta surprised I haven't banged out a review for Darkroom yet considering one of my favorite pictures of all time was a result of a great night here.
I usually only head to Darkroom to see a band I like and not usually just on an off night for cocktails which is kinda a shame. I love the vibe of this place... the huge square bar in the middle of the room means you can get a drink quickly at any angle. The staff is unpretentious and there is lots of room to bust a move and get your air guitar noticed by the hot bassist on stage.
I assume on a non-performance night this place would be really chill (aka dead) but I could be totally wrong. Check out the line-up and get to know some of your local Chicago musical talent... or it's also a great place to host a party for a large group with really reasonable pricing and ample seating for your crew. The name doesn't lie, Darkroom is moody and dark but that doesn't mean you can rock your baggy sweatpants or Reebok's with the strap; skinny jeans, fedoras and chucks appear to be the protocol.
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I went here recently for an album release party- Radius Neigborhod Suicide--go get it! Anyway the decor is nice but the staff needs some help. Drop the attitude dude we just came to party..BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO1 to them. Maybe its better on other nights.
My rating for Darkroom would be a 4 if the music was more solid more often. I know it's not entirely their fault, but when I consider 1 song of every 5 to be danceable, I get kind of frustrated. Yeah, yeah de gustibus non est disputandum, but I prefer to side with Kant on the question of whether people can legitimately differ regarding questions of taste, or if taste is a universal judgment (which is nevertheless not determined completely by the object itself). Bland music is not moving.
The club itself is very nice, and I like the vague photography theme they have. The dance floor is serviceable and it doesn't usually get too crowded. The patio outside is nice, and would be better if drunk people could wrap their heads around the idea that Darkroom has to accommodate it's neighbors.
Prices at the bar aren't great, but aren't horrible, and the selection is perfectly fine for most people. I've found the bar staff to be pretty attentive.
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Ugh. Another generic rock 'n roll "lounge" type of club. What nice things can I say about this place? Hmmm... well, it's big and if you go there on an off night there's ample seating for a large group. It's relatively clean too. They occasionally have good DJ's and musical acts. They have a patio, but it only seems to be open on certain occasions.
That said, I'll never go back since the last time I was there the people working the door were so attitudinal and unpleasant. Seriously, Darkroom staff, you aren't working the door at Studio 54 circa 1980. Let's be real, people. You work at a bar, in Chicago, in Ukrainian Village. No one is impressed, and there are a bajillion other clubs or bars just like this one in town. Also, one door guy was wearing a ball cap that looked like it came from Baby Gap. POOR! Don't bother with this place.
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Was here on a Saturday night for a birthday party.
The bar had a pretty good deal for it... no cover and $1 off drinks.
The music was alright and it didnt get crowded until about 11ish.
After 11, it sucked trying to get a drink at the bar...
loved the atmosphere..
and plan on checking it out on a weekday to see how it is..
I like the darkness, hence the name. I would go out during the day if I wanted to see drunk people dancing in full light (lalapalooza?). I digress.
I appreciate the seating and the slide show that showcased all of the people who had been there the week before. I had fun dancing. I don't remember paying a cover to get in, but its hardly worth paying money at the door. Overall I've found it to be one of the least irritating hipster dance party bars, that's not saying much, but its something.
I'm guessing if you go here its not really a planned thing, more like a getting dragged by a friend thing so at least you know there is nothing shockingly bad or exciting awaiting you.
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Darkroom is pretty ok. Its nice and big, so even when crowded, there is breathing space. As a music venue or dance venue it is ok. Prices for beer are normally high, but they usually have a $3 special, so it does't slip into insanity. Hope you like the color red. Lots of booths for sitting, lots of space for standing and dancing. Filled with the hipsteratti, but its not terrible. Cover can be suprisingly high, but service is decent. More of a clubby atmosphere than a normal dive or bar or pub in this neighborhood. Parking is usually pretty easy.
Back in the summer of 2006 during Lollapalooza weekend, a friend texted me to go to the Darkroom. When I arrived, here is the encounter I had:
*bouncer w/ scary tribal tattoos on his face checks my id*
-ok, that'll be 20 dollars.
-20 dollars?! what's going on tonight?
-secret machines
-...oh, well in that case! *hands him $20*
for a smaller bar they produce a good sound, something that is uber important for a music fan like me. a good memory i have of that weekend. i've seen a couple shows there, and i find it cool that they fix up their usual lounge area into a "stage" area
usually when i go to darkroom its for panic! the last friday of the month. i am the panic princess. if you look at their flickr page, you'll see lots of pictures of me. its spacious and its set up evenly. their back patio is nice. i like the way the bar is set up in the round, but sometimes its hard to get the bartender's attention, even if there is two of them. my main reason why i'm knocking off a star is because the drinks are too expensive. i don't understand why well drinks cost $6. its not even $6 downtown.
to be honest, if it wasn't for panic, i wouldn't go to darkroom. but i still appreciate that its there.
I can't tell if there's an inordinate number of attractive people in this bar regularly or if it's just so goddamned DARK i can't tell what ugly looks like. Either way, nice mix of people, blemishes disappear in red light and there's room for folks to gyrate and flail and stomp and otherwise "dance."
Oh, and once i got to watch a chubby man in ridiculous yellow galoshes chat up what appeared to be an eleven year old girl in a vintage cocktail dress (but was probably just one of those extra skinny hipsters). Even without the whiskey, it would have made me smile a lot.
I prefer my bars a little more dingy, but i really can't complain.
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"Take me out tonight / Where there's music and there's people / And they're young and alive"
Darkroom did not disappoint. The bar is dark; the crowd is attractive, and the red lighting offers a rather chic ambiance without the pretension. I really liked the photography theme. There's plentiful seating, which means you won't have a hard time finding a place to plop down when you need a break from dancing. Get there before 11 to avoid that annoying cover charge. Drinks are reasonably priced and well mixed. I was surprised at how easy it was to get a drink even though it was crowded. Maybe I got lucky...*
Panic! nights offer up the perfect mix of brit-pop, new wave, and flashbacks to keep the crowd moving. Come on, a bar that spins The Smiths, Beatles, Interpol, and New Order! If Pogo is DJing, the music is going to be good. Guaranteed. If he isn't, it's more of a mixed bag.
*EDIT: I realize that I'd been lucky in the first few visits to Darkroom. Getting the attention of the indifferent bartendress is difficult, and tests my patience. Also, the beer prices seem to change depending on which bartender you get it from. LAME. I'm much more likely to show up already schnockered.
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Tonight was the prob. the 8th time we've been to Darkroom and each time it's been pleasently different. (the vibe, not the actual space) While the music always changes, its always solid. Tonight was a great band Two Loons for Tea. Low key for a low key Sunday night. Darkroom has average photos, prices a tad too high, decent selection on said beers and it does seem there's reg. some hot folks in there - the lighting?.......
Small and waaaay too dark for my taste. I go on Sundays because I like to be involved in the local music scene...not because I'm gasping for air when I'm getting dressed, saying "Oh, I can't wait - I can't wait to get there". Not even in the least. With that being said - I hope you all can make it on January 13! LOL.
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I have a few close friends who frequent the Darkroom, but last night was my first time there. I went specifically for a show put on by Highwheel Records - Walking Bicycles, the Arks, and Bang!Bang! (They were awesome, by the way), and I was pleasantly surprised by the venue and the staff.
They had pretty decent drink specials & prices ($2.50 for a 312 and $5 for a rum and coke) and the bartender made sure my drink was consistently replenished. They have a really chill vibe - lots of plush booths and plenty of chairs around the centrally-located bar. It really is a great venue for live music & I bet it would be a lot of fun with a DJ too.
They get 4 stars instead of 5 because they would not let me in at 7:55pm when the doors opened at 8. I was the only person there and I had to wait out in the cold. Oh well! I definitely will go back sometime.
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This place annoys me!
Maybe it's the DJs who just can't get a transition down, who insist on overplayed mashups and last year's top 10 alternative remixes (yuck).
Maybe it's the price of drinks? The cover at the door to see an empty room? Maybe it's the staff, who really don't want to be there.
I don't get it...it's a great room that can use a management/event makeover. I'd love to be here if they had better shows, DJs, a more even ratio of women to men, and if they gave a girl a break with the prices!
Was here for reggae night (first Saturday of month) - DJ Slacky spinning. Mostly folks in their 20s and 30s, pretty laid back vibe, hard to find street parking, no valet, call ahead or check their website for cover.
What I liked: great music, small pseudo-dance floor, diverse crowd (blacks, whites, hispanics, a few Asians), plenty seating (get there early -11pm?), crowded enough that you didn't feel like it's a lame spot, but not so crowded that you have to SQUEEZE to get around.
What I didn't like: EXPENSIVE drinks ($10 for an apple martini!), bad bartender service - you almost have to do jumping jacks to get their attention
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At last an unpretentious bar with music, dance floor, reasonably priced drinks and a photography theme to boot!
There's always an interesting variety of people here. Depending on what night you go the crowd will be completely different making this a great place to just people watch.
The only thing that keep this place down is the service. When it gets crowded it very hard to get your drink order in.
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Decent. They have a sizeable dance floor that just never lives up to it's potential. Honestly, everytime I come here there's plenty of people and the music is do-able but no one dances. Blah. Not worth coming here if there's a cover. Really.
The booths are nice though and I dig any place that's really dark. It means I don't have to stress out when my eye makeup looks like it was applied mid-seizure - which, let's face it, it usually does.
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One of my bros dragged me to this place cause he knows one of the guys scratching during the open table or what ever its called this past Wednesday night. The place has this dim red lighting going on. The crowd was primarily djs waiting for their turn on the tables to show case their stuff. Not many women which is the case at most hardcore hip hop joints. The ratio must have been 10guys to 1girl. Drinks were not badly priced, 312 Goose Island for $4. It was more of a chill relaxed atmosphere which is an ok way to spend hump day (Wednesday). I can think of a lot of better things to do. There was a lot of seating areas in the place, tables, couches, bar stools, lounge area. It was not packed at all.
I'd like to see how it is on the weekends. The rating would probably go up on the weekeds.
Worst service of any bar I've ever been to.. Seriously, consider buying two drinks at a time here or investing in a flask otherwise you'll be hungover by the time you order your second drink. Beta Theta night is pretty good but otherwise steer clear of this schizeplatz
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I wish I came here more often! I've come here only a handful of times... to watch my freind's band... The atmosphere is great... the bartenders are cool and attentive.. .well, I was wearing a low cut shirt... which the guy next to me commented on... so maybe that's why...
there's no dress code which allows a wide spectrum of people in... and that's cool to me. you can be dancing with someone who's dressed to be on the runway, and then turn around and dance with someone who looks like they just left the gym. I find it refreshing... as long as the gym rat is wearing deodorant!
Drinks are cheap too.
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I went on a kinda' slow, reggae-themed night.
My immediate thought: The actual bar is perfect for a busy night.
I haven't seen that much counter space since I broke into the giant-counter store in Counterville on Humungous Counter Planet. I imagine a decent bar staff could keep a roomful drunk without the crazy lines you find at most clubs.
I'm eager to go back for Panic! and see the bar in its proper form.
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Otonohana has organized several events at this space and every time they have been hugely successful, and in large part due to the staff at Darkroom. Everyone who works there has proved time and time again to be so generous, helpful, and supportive.
The booking guy is awesome and has let us now 3 times come in, take over the space, hang crazy installations of snapshot photography, bring in bands, DJ's, etc...and after every event he seems as greatful to us as we are to him..which is really a great feeling.
The bartenders are always super helpful and even the door guy rules, and is exceptional at his job.
Also, I think they have an awesome sound system, as every band that we have had play and every band I have heard here on other nights sounds really awesome! I think more cool bands should play here because it's a great space and laid out so comfortably.
Cheers to Darkroom!!!
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I came here to meet up with friends and have to admit that I had no idea where I was going or really how I got there. We walked into a very dark bar packed bar where we saw the following - a VERY tall man dressed as Jesus with a christmas light wreath, a short white jewish rapper on the open mic (who was actually VERY VERY good) and a man in a window display case-like enclosure cutting people's hair. These are the kind of places that liven up an evening with immediate discussion topics and lots of people watching. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, or not, you should get lost here.
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The thing I like most about Darkroom is that it doesn't tailor to one specific crowd. On any given night you will see a very nice mix of different people from all walks of life enjoying the music (House and then some) under the direction of the rotating guest DJs.
I'm glad to see after the debacle of Ohm's less than par run in trying to reign as king of the Wicker Park club scene that the crew from the boom boom room found a home at the Ukrainian Village watering hole. The whole layout of the bar/lounge/quasi-club (I wouldn't even consider it a club, think more of a lounge with a dancing area) is met by an island bar in the middle of the room with seating available throughout the sides of the venue.
My only complaint was that the bartender serving my friends and I didn't know how to make a Tokyo Tea so we settled for a Long Island (haven't had that in ages) which was a little weaker than I was used to. The good thing is the prices for brews aren't heavily taxed and the vibe of Darkroom is very unpretentious.
They do a great job of changing up the pace by booking some great local talent as well as acts from Ladytron (DJ set) to DJ Craze and Klever (coming June 27!). Every night they have different genres of music rotating covering a lot of ground from hip hop, reggae, new wave, afrobeat, downtempo, to classic rock. Plus most nights you can get in with no cover, always an upside in my book (another drink for you and a friend).
Street parking is usually accessible even on the weekends, but sometimes you have to make a few runs along the side streets to find parking. I just like the vibe that Darkroom generates and its always a good thing when people aren't just standing around shoegazing and rather enjoying themselves free on the dance floor. I'm looking forward to seeing Klever do his thing representing the ATL scene matched by Craze's turntable genius, catch me on the dance floor doing my thing.
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I had so much fun here! Good crowd, fantastic drinks and great music for dancing. Love the casual atmosphere and the bartenders are wonderful. Everyone comes here to just have a good time. Great for big groups.
However, there are a couple of sketchy guys that hang out here... ladies be careful!
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DarkRoom is one of the few places left that I know of where you can really get down and dance. This depends on the night and the DJ of course because sometimes you can go in here and it aint so pretty - but on the right night, with the right friends and the right amount of boos you too will be bustin out all kinds of high school musical dance moves!!
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Cool place! I have been here before, but it was my girlfriend's b-day and she wanted some dancing and a clubby atmosphere.
I know she is not a clubber girl and thought this place would be perfect. It was and our group had a great time! The DJ spun some cool stuff, the place was crowded but not too full and the drink prices were reasonable and poured nice and strong. I deleted a star for one reason: I was like a damn sauna in there! Lots of people were dancing, so I am sure that added at least 20 degrees.
All in all, I highly recommend. Just get there before 11pm to avoid a cover.
I liked this place. Eclectic crowd with similar music.
Part bar/part lounge/part club. For whatever reason, we went on a Friday and it was pretty dead well into the night. We ended up leaving to meet a very very drunk friend at a place we could barely decipher via drunken text messages.
I would like to go back with a bigger crowd and have a few more drinks so I'm able to get down on the dance floor with no inhibitions.
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I've only been here on Tuesdays for Thundergong, the reggae music night. There aren't usually more than 10-50 people and only 1 bartender. The room is set up weirdly with the bar, an oval, immediately in front of the entrance. There's seating around it and for the size of the room and the bar is small. The room has the feel of a dirty, highschool gothic, banquet room: a big square with a dancefloor, a stage, and booths along the painted black walls.
I have nothing to say of the service or drinks because they're entirely average.
The lightbox bar-counter is fun. The crescent shaped booths are fun. The 2 block walk home is fun. And when I'm feeling like I have to stoke the ever burning flame of reggae dancehall hippiedom that lives deep within me (not often)...I go here...and I make sure I'm nearly as stoned as the performers.
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The darkroom is a potentially great bar that kinda suffers from "random" syndrome. You never really know what you're in for, unless you have the schedule memorized. I sorta do cuz I live 3 blocks away, but if not, definitely check out what kind of night it's gonna be. Sundays are Reggae, and the "circuit" usually goes to Betty's or the Note afterwards. They have some good live bands, and I love, love, love the back patio in the summer. It's like a little hidden spot back there that makes me happy.
Overall, I like that's it's unpretentious and a good warm-up spot before going somewhere else. Plus, I'm really random myself, so maybe that's why it appeals to me?
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The atmosphere is so nice. They have so much art that goes w/ the place. They have burgundy walls w/ a glass oval bar. Inside the glass there's pictures. When I got there the place was somewhat empty w/ really good music pounding in the background. Even though there wasn't many people, there were still people dancing which I really liked. I hate going to places where people are afraid to dance.
By 11:00 the place was packed. The music got louder and DJ Luis Segura began to spin. It seemed like everyone was having a blast or maybe it was just me having a good buzz....
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