On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Bars, Arts & Entertainment
Neighborhood: BucktownFollow the Gallery Cabaret on Twitter for realtime drink specials, enterainment schedule and special events!
Western (Blue O'Hare)
Mon-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
February 20 @ 8pm
Loading...
You know that feeling of dread you have on Sunday nights? That 'OMG! How is the weekend over already? Ugh.' feeling? Yeah, we all have it - don't lie. Well, lately, my friends and I have discovered that nothing completes a Sunday night more than a chill night at a random dive bar. (And, to be fair, 'dive' does not have a negative connotation in my eyes. If anything, it means a laid-back bar, that's cheap with no hint of pretentiousness.)
Destination last night?
Gallery Cabaret!
+Open Mic Night
+$5 pitchers of beer
+Free food! Like, chicken, rice, twinkies, chips, what?
+Lovely, adorable bartenders
+Homey feel (Seriously, like you're in someone's living room.)
+Great mix of a crowd (Young, old, hipster, yuppie, biker)
Best part? The bar introduced us to 'Red Stag'. I was intrigued by the bottle as I never saw it before. I asked the bartender what it was and he said it was flavored bourbon. Black cherry bourbon, to be exact. I was in love - and proceeded to order up 5 shots. At $4 each! Amazing.
So...dive bars on Sunday nights? The absolute best.
I actually met Jenise R. Here and I think she's talking definitly not my cup of tea.
The bartender was flustered but he was rude. My first time there I ask whats on draft and he barks at me to read the sign.
I didn't order a drink and waited for my friends to finish theirs and we left.
I've been here twice. Once it was a jazz night on Tuesday which was super chill. They had $10 blue moon pitchers and free Italian beefs :)
I went back yesterday (Sunday) pitchers were $5 leinenkugel pitchers and free food again. It was open night mic. It was really crowded. The bartender needed help because he was flustered. Poor guy.
It's an interesting mix of folks. I don't mind the place but it's not everyones cup of tea.
I really will never find a better place to go on a Sunday night, free dinner, cheap beer (good beer), and open mic. The bartenders are so friendly. This place can get crowded but the bartenders manage it well. The patrons are really social, I have had many conversations with strangers at the bar. The people that come here just seem to be good folk. Nothing better than having a few beers and listening to live music.
Ok, so I dont like bars. I dont get the whole concept of sitting around in some dimly lit space for hours (or days) at a time drinking liquor you could buy for a 1/3 of the price at Binny's. My one and only bar that I could honestly say I enjoyed up until this point was the California Clipper, but that was to go for the bands more than the bar part.
And now I have a bar I can honestly say I would go to regularly whenever I find myself in the area.
NOT ONLY is it a bar, but it is a mini art museum, old school gin joint, and jazz appreciation society. Who would have thought I was going to walk out of there with not one, but two jazz artists to fall in love with? Oh and the owner is really cool about telling you anything you want to know about the music, as well as some of the artwork on the wall that he did himself personally.
Very cool, rockin place. I will definitely be back.
The Gallery Cabaret was like taking a walk back into the late 60's. There are paintings and photographs from a variety of different artist's donning the walls. The place is a bit run down, but it actually adds to the Aura of the place. They offered Leinenkugal drafts for two bucks, and the owner could not have been nicer to us. Kenny really made us feel at home in his wonderful bar.
The music that they played was wonderful. It was a mix of Jazz and Blues from the 50's and early 60's. All that I needed was a Cigar and Martini, to give it a vintage vibe. But the day's of lighting up a good Cigar inside are long over.
I have a feeling that if I lived in the area, I would be a regular here. It would be a great bar to call home.
Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome!
Im Cabaret, Au Cabaret, To Cabaret!
I love the Gallery Cabaret. Not only are their fabulous drink specials during the week, Live music every night, and awesome bartenders. I was extremely happy to introduce my friends to a great neighborhood bar in my own little corner of Chicago. But I am still waiting for the evening when Liza Minnelli will entertain us at the Gallery Cabaret!
Not bad... The Drinks were super cheap which was a definite plus. open mic night was cool too, a couple of the artists broke it down. All in all, I had a good time but nothing to write home about. The doorman could have been more attentive of who's going in an out for smoke breaks. it's slightly annoying when he cards me again but lets the girl I'm with go right in because as he says, "he always remembers beautiful girls" I mean come on dude, sure you got a job to do, but what if that was my wife? Turns out she's not even my girlfriend or anything but dude, seriously? He doesn't know that.... I mean yeah... I pay more attention to girls too but I wouldn't say something like that to a stranger and his female companion.... Dude gave me the scumbag vibe... ferreal, ferreal.
otherwise...Cheap drinks, laid back atmosphere... I'll probably be back, but I'll show more leg and cleavage next time.
Whenever I find myself.at Gallery Cabaret, needless to say it was never the plan. But I never have anything less than an amazing time. Whether open-mic or or some random band, I find myself cheering for the underdog. Because at Cabaret we are all underdogs and it feels so so good.
Kenny is the bomb!
The old-school bartender/owner of this local neighborhood joint makes a great old fashioned as he gabs about his professional training and life in Vegas before settling down in Chicago. "Chicago's better cause I don't spend all the money that I earn," he told me once. Also, his from-scratch Bloody Mary's are punched with enough spices to make your nose pleasantly tingle. The beer menu is decent with Guinness and Leinenkugle taps, among others.
The casual vibe to the Cabaret is enlivened by artwork spread on its walls. The fact that there's never a cover is also great, provided that there's usually a healthy dose of musical talent. My first night there, a band did covers of the Stones and Hendrix that almost made me feel like I was listening to the originals. All of it free.
Sunday nights feature neighborhood gatherings for open mic and free food. That's right, free food. Featuring brats, potato salad one night. Kenny and usually friendly people make Cabaret a wonderful spot for your weekly communal get-together.
Just make sure that if you get an Old Fashioned, the master makes it. Some of the other bartenders seem to be challenged in that department.
Though not as big a staple in my life as with others, Gallery has always been good to me.
Thursday night is the night. It's the night of nights. There is: $4 pitchers of Leinenkugel (YES), hipsters (double YES) and sweet open mic music (triple YES - score!).
It's tiny, cramped and full of an eclectic mix of people. The bartenders are great and the owner is awesome.
This is really all you need to know - go now and be merry.
What do you say to a place that has been as good to you as GalCab has been to all of us? Thursday is by far the best night to come here. I started coming with some friends who have an even more impressive history with the bar about a year and a half ago. I went religiously for over a year, then I started snowing. I haven't been in a while but it's always the same and excellent when I do manage to drag my ass down there in this weather.
I really loved everything about this place the first time I came. Kevin is hilarious, Kenny is my hero and I have a huge crush on Johnny. The drinks are amazing: $4 pitchers, cheap everything else, an amazing glass of glogg or hot buttered rum, it doesn't get any better. Seriously, I know the glogg is scary but try it and you'll be hooked. You can have them make you a pizza or popcorn, there's really just nothing else to ask for.
The open mic is really amazing. I'm going to be brutely honest, not everyone is good. But if they're not good, they're good for a laugh (after you leave, of course, let's not be rude). The regulars are fantastic, I could listen to CJ sing Waitin for the Elevator and Green Growing Things forever. Plus, if you hang out by the door no one expects you to listen anyway.
Last, the people. First of all I have to say, of course I love the kinds of people here, on some thursdays it's pretty much all of my friends and me. The old guys are great because they want to talk to you but they aren't creepy weirdo bar guys. It's awesome, really, really awesome. It's a lot of hipsters sometimes, but whatevs. I've seen a handful of tools every now and then but they usually don't come back. Pretty much everyone is nice and things are pleasant.
I recently danced in a giant box of mac & cheese costume to a band playing a song called "Mac & Cheese" here. (picture proof) I then tried to barter the costume from the band and got up to offering them $55.27. They declined. I kept drinking.
Good times. Live music. Booth seating available on a Saturday. Cheap pitchers. I'll be back.
I like Gal Cab. The owner, Kenny, is like your grandpa that loves to party.
The drinks are cheap and there are beer specials every night except Fridays and Saturdays. You can usually find a lot of the same hare-brained people there, all of whom usually leave you wondering, was that even real?, when you leave. That's why I like it there. I can't get enough of the lunacy.
Some of the live music and stand up comedy are a little left field but that usually makes for a good conversation starter. There is a large selection of beers and the mixed drinks are strong. They rotate artists' work to display throughout the place which gives you something new to look forward to seeing if you haven't been there in a few weeks. The place is small but you can usually find a comfortable place to let it all hang out. I have made a lot of friends here.
Unless you go there a lot like me and become friends with the regulars, you probably won't experience the same madness I have. You will, however, still have a good time with an amusing crowd.
Oh, and free food Sundays. Enough said. See you there!
Some friends of mine are in a reggae band and chose Gallery Cabaret as the spot to make their debut. Knowing how quiet Tuesday night open mics are, I kind of felt sorry for them since I thought it would be how most bands are, as they are supplying a good chunk of the people and I would know everyone there.
When I got to Gallery Cabaret, I was adequately surprised because there were lots of bands playing that night, the bar was shoulder to shoulder packed and Gallery Cabaret had turned a full one hundred and eighty degrees from the quietness and emptiness of open mic night.
The bands were good and they probably would have made a good chunk of coin charging cover, but the bar was nice enough to let everyone in for free. Beers, cocktails, shots were all cheap and consumed with great rapidity.
It was a melange of Northwest Side meets hipsters meets yuppy, or something like that. A good mix of different socioeconomic groups, but limited ethnic diversity in the crowd that night. Gallery Cabaret is located by Arturo's on Western Ave., so I found the proximity to public transportation and late nigh food to be a grand positive as well.
Went on a Tuesday night for blues open mic night / jam session. The music was lively and was a… Read more »
This place has a great special on Thursday nights: pitchers of $4 Leinenkugel to share with a lot of friends.
The best day to come though, is Sunday, when they serve free food!!
This place is extremely eclectic, young and older alike, hipster and hippy -- it's all over the map, and I really like that. The artwork is unique, they do support local artists.. and the owner is so sweet.
The music is all over the map too, but it can be really good some nights -- other nights, you may just want to have a beer and leave on account of a crumby loud singer.
Note: the owner loves old jazz and plays it frequently. yum.
I feel strange in the open mic atmosphere. It's just intense and crazy and emotional and I can't talk to my friends as loud as I'd like to....that's where the $4-5 pitchers come in. You won't need to speak because there is too much to drink. And after a few pints, you won't hear the open mic kids anyway.
Bonus points for being so damn close to Arturo's Tacos.
Best way to start/end the week period. Its a room full of your best friends and drunk uncles and grammar school crushes, and you didn't even ask for it to be written that way. Think Cheers...all this place is is Nostalgia, cheap beer too! But its the people you fall in love. Best staff also.
I went here this Saturday for a Band Called Catch show. I really enjoyed the layout of the bar. They had a nice stage with a seating area and the bar area. I really liked the bathrooms (is that weird?). They were clean and they were painted a really cool bluish green. Band Called Catch played a great show. Oh yeah, they sell cheetos.
The bar tenders were great. Don't you forget it!
I've been here a couple of times and it's fine. I'd say it's pretty unremarkable. I went for an open mic and had entirely too many beers. The open mic talents were all over the map. Several were really good though.
I remember thinking there wasn' t enough light and that the drink specials were great.
I came here for a birthday party last week.
It was pretty nice!
I mean, it's not spacious and I was standing in the walking aisle so I felt like huge jerk.
But!
The drinks be cheap, the open mic was fun (even though boo @ the mc), it was a good time. I don't know if it's a place I'd go out of my way to visit, but I certainly wont be unhappy if I find myself there again in the near future.
Also, you can buy popcorn and other assorted treats. Delicious.
Sometimes you walk into a place and think to yourself "REALLY!!! I CAN'T BELIVE THIS PLACE EXISTS!!!". It is amazing and breathtaking, with all the feel of your grandpa's basement hideaway if he had picked up painting later in life as a hobby. I can't believe the specials, they are totally crazy and awesome, you almost feel bad ordering them because you know they aren't making any money off them. One of the best dives with an odd character that you can't quite define.
on its best night we listen to good loud music, drink free drinks, and watch old drunks.
dare i say this is the most consistently eclectic bar ive been to in chicago? perhaps...
always the same bartenders, always friendly, always something going on.
ive never seen a cabaret here before though... hmmm
Well, this is my number one dive bar. Yes its a dive, but man does it got some character and characters;)
This small but intimate venue attracts the hippies and hipsters of the bucktown/wicker park patrons. However, my band has played here and even my parents who are suburbanites were able to come and sit and enjoy music comfortably. Its really welcoming for everyone. Not too dark and always a friendly bartender although if it gets crowded don't expect to get served to quickly.
Thursdays and Sundays are open mic nights. Sundays with open mic they bring in FREE yeah you read it right FREE food for the patrons and musicians in the world that are too darn broke to make some good home cookin'. There is usually a special on pitchers there for $5 leinies.
So a pitcher of beer and free meal all for $5! You can't get that anywhere else in the city. And you get to see all the best and worst up and coming songtresses of the chicago scene including myself on occasion. Usually only happens when I don't work early or don't have to work on a monday.... so next holiday I'll see ya'll there.
Not a bad place, but it really depends on the music. I've been here a few times, but the most recent had an unfortunate band that were actually meowing on stage. The art is definitely something to check out, ranging from fun and curious, to disgusting and disturbing. The bar is normal, nothing out of the ordinary to report. If you want some free live music that could possibly include meowing, this place is for you..
For the past few years it's been harder and harder to find a decent bar in Wicker Park/Bucktown. Even Town Hall Pub and Rainbo, hell Club Foot, can be full of pretentious assholes, spoiled hipsters, and yuppies having a 'crazy' night away from the baby.
But if there is one bar that welcomes the fun, the carefree, the down to earth, the musically talented and those who like to drink on the cheap, it's Gallery Cabaret.
I mean, $4 for a full size pitcher of Leine's on Thursday nights? WHAT!
The old man behind the bar didn't even card us until after we already had a whole pitcher (between two, of age, people.)
The crowd is the most eclectic, in a good way, crowd I've ever seen. From hippies, old drunk men, local after-work suit and ties, to hipsters and beyond.
The music, especially the open mic's, are not only hilarious, but you'll find many the talented folk.
The service is average, but the faces are friendly and if you come in along, you won't be talking to yourself, that's for sure.
I haven't been here in a few months but I hope not much has changed.
Except maybe more awesome and talented folks.
One of the best bars of its type, anywhere!
The staff are wonderful, they support culture and live music more than most venues 4x's their size, and the crowd is always more literate and interesting than you would expect.
Sort of an Old Town Ale House for the WP/Buck area. Only better!
If you haven't seen the Model Citizens band, you are missing out on one of the greatest cultural landmarks the city has to offer.
This bar makes me want to grab a harmonica and write a soulful ditty about how the yuppies are raising rents in Bucktown.
There's a ton of reasons why this bar is awesome: first and foremost being the over-use of those black dry-erase boards with ridiculous colors markered on them. And black lights! The whole place has a vaguely 1970s roller rink vibe to it. And I mean that in the best way possible.
The blues act gettin' down the night I was there was super-awesome. Gritty, pure Chicago blues that you wouldn't expect to hear on the north side. And the fact it's in a hidden-away little bar makes it so much more authentic than some neon and flashing lights place with the word "blues" in it.
The drink specials, as Erik mentioned below, are awesome. You can't beat the Leinie for that price. The glogg and pizza sounds pretty good too. Kenny, the old bartender, is pretty awesome.
But the real draw for me, besides the kick-ass blues music, is the diversity. The photos on the wall are Afro-centric and there are patrons of all colors here to hang out and hear good music. So if you're looking to get away from the all-white, generic yuppie taverns, this place is much more up your alley.
They should keep their eye on the frat boy fucktards that wander in here super wasted. But this IS Bucktown, so I guess bitching about the yuppie onslaught would be SO 2001.
The Gallery has come a long way in the last ten years. It was once a pathetic place that reminded me something of the Island of Lost Toys for crushed aspiring '70s rocker wanna-bes. It was a place where if something even vaguely resembling a woman walked in, every head would turn as if catching a whiff of a freshly baked Thanksgiving Turkey after weeks of starvation. The crowd was pretty rigid due to the fact that most newcomers were alienated pretty quickly, which I enjoyed because most of the newcomers were third wave gentrifiers looking for and not finding something that appealed to their suburban/fratboy tastes.
All that negativity aside, I still loved it. If you've had your fill of the more popular scenes for a while, it can be refreshing to hang out with a bunch of socially stunted weirdos and artists, and some of my favorite people there to this day are people that I imagine were waiting outside the door the day the bar opened.
In recent years, some remarkable improvements have happened, however:
* The music is getting good, sometimes DAMN good. If the situation continues to improve, I imagine they may one day be thought of as the "Single Door" of Bucktown. One of the biggest draws is "Brian O'Hearn and the Model Citizens," a motley collection of brass musicians from local symphonies that get together here on the last Monday of every month to play big band tunes and a lot of wacky drinking tunes of their own creation. It should be noted that this is not a big bar. It's truly a remarkable experience to see 16+ guys wailing out these tunes while crammed into the back of a small bar.
* It took a while, but a few years back the management finally came around and started kicking out the truly crazy people and homeless guys who would crash out in the seats. The crowd scene is now more yuppie-friendly but most of those types are sucked into a nearby "pub" before they find the Gallery. Also, the folks who really appreciate the Gallery are mostly a diverse bunch of locals many of whom aren't failed musicians. The new crowd has managed to incorporate what I once loved only without all of the irritating factors. There are still few total jagoff regulars that come here, but they aren't too hard to spot and avoid.
* Women are now actually hanging out here regularly.
* The beer selection is vastly improved and they have one of the most incredible drink specials in town. They've got four pint pitchers of Leinenkugel at $5 on Sundays, $4 on Thursdays and a generous $7 regularly. If you want a cheap place to have a few beers with some buddies that won't break your bank, the gallery is it. The only food is chips and frozen pizzas.
* There is now live music every night. This is less of an improvement for me. Sometimes I just want to drink and chill out and while the music is definitely much improved, there are a few old acts I've heard enough times to make my ears bleed. Still, there is a lot of fresh blood at the open mic nights and some of it is superb.
* They renovated the place. Uh... yeah, you have to see it to believe it. It's not beat up anymore but they still left no doubt that this is one of Chicago's finest dive bars.
The modern Gallery is definitely one of chicago's best kept secrets. Also, there are still a lot of broke musicians so if you're tipping a buck a drink or 2-3 per pitcher, the staff will start treating you like a God as long as you're not a jerk.
Here's a fun fact: The Smashing Pumpkins used to play here back when they were little more than a desperate garage band. Nowadays it's actually starting to look like a good place for new acts to get some exposure.
The "Gallery" component of the name isn't just for sounding cool. They actually display new stuff from local artists on the walls every month.
For two of us the bill was only $32 for drinking vodka tonics all night long. 5 stars for that.
Live music, no cover. 5 stars for that.
The old couple making out. - 5 stars for that. I won't hold the bar accountable though.
Best dive bar i have ever been to in chicago.
The owner kenny and his son are bad-ass!
I love the cheap ass prices and the daily specials!
Not one bad thing I can say about this joint but the guys bathroom does suck and there is no private stall which i hate when you have to take care of things lol! now with no smoking I can hang out there all the time and never have a hangover from the smoke lol. The music is fun and decent. Most importantly is behind my house and the owners let me bring my own bottle of crown royal and chanrge me $3.00 a drink which is great when i need a crown and ginger ale! The art is always changing and for sale on the walls. They also have free food on sundays! (revise: now a hipster bar so if you see a bunch of skinny legged pants from boys and girls turn around and try again another day).
Why did it take me so long to step into this place?
- Eclectic crowd: young, old, hippie, almost-preppy, normal, eccentric, etc...
- Awesome neighborhood bar with sweet beer specials (pints and PITCHERS!).
- GLOGG!!
- They'll make you lil' pizzas.
- Lots of stuff to read/stare at on the walls and on the bar.
- Live music pretty much every night.
I had a good time last night, until a group of really drunk Wrigleyville types decided to give me a wrong look. I made my bf nervous by opening my big mouth. Oops!
Anyways, hope those jerks aren't always around. People like that ruin a perfectly good place.
Maybe I love this place because it is a block away. Maybe I love it for the drink deals, or maybe I love it because it is an awesome bar with cool art on the walls and tons of awesome people that and there is a lot of live music
I was searching through yelp to find a place to take my friend to dinner and i stumbled across the Gallery Cabaret reviews and though I must write a review for them...so here it goes.
The Gallery Cabaret is a very welcoming place, and is a great place to check out local artwork whether it may be visual or audio. Kenny the owner usually always pops in sometime during the night and his own artwork is displayed above the bar. The regulars (which theres always a couple there) are probably what keep this bar alive since some nights are kind of sparse there, but i don't mind, it's nice to be able to go out somewhere and actually be able to talk and be heard.
All in all it's a great place with lots of character, cheap beer, great art and music.
The Gallery Cabaret is what I imagine the old, cool, arty Bucktown and Wicker Park used to be. Go for an open mic night (Thursday or Sunday) and everyone knows one another and they want to know you too.
Hoping a good Yelp review doesn't ruin that. :)
In a few words: friendly, quirky, fairly clean, and cheap. Also: somewhat small, so if it's a weekend just keep that in mind. Bonus: funky ladies' bathroom!
This is a classic corner bar that is much more than the dive-bar it appears to be. Don't let the outside features scare you off. Oddly enough, it's become a forum for rising artists to display paintings, drawings, and musical talent.
Visual art litters the walls and every time I go, there are new artists being featured. Plus, there's some kind of live talent every night. Jazz, blues, folk acts, improv comedy, you name it. The open-mic is on Thursdays and Sundays, and I've heard there's even free food on Sundays, but I've never seen it. Drink specials are great, especially during the Thursday open mic: $4 pitchers and $1.50 pints. Tuesdays offer $2 pints of Blue moon and $5 pitchers of Miller Lite.
I have to be honest - I didn't know what to expect of this place....it is in a neighborhood I don't really frequent and is very unassuming from the outside, but overall, I found it to be the perfect dive bar! Good music while we were there, friendly staff, cheap prices, interesting art on the walls.
Although I don't know if I would go out of my way to go back here on my own, I will definitely check it out again when a group of pals are going!
They have a touch tunes jukebox which is an automatic no-no, especially if you're a dive. After awhile I crumbled and went ahead and paid a dollar to listen to the Supremes off the digital music vortex.
It is extremely cozy though, when we first got there it was only some older dudes sitting at the bar, they were very friendly and chatted with us for a bit. Oh, and they dug "Baby Love."
But after awhile a lot of people started to show up for a concert (it seems like a pretty awful place to have a show) and the crowd got unbearable so we left.
I like this place a lot, I guess I'm nostalgic. I'd probably only come here in the early evening from now on.
Gallery Cabaret is Disneyland and Christmas combined.
I've never had a bad time here except for a few requisite brawls, including the time one dude glassed another guy in the face with a full mug and I almost got trampled in the resulting scuffle. Oh, wait, that was awesome. Bonus!
Johnny never forgets a face or a name. When it's slow, do yourself a favor and beg Kenny, the owner, to tell stories about "old Chicago" because he has a million of them, and they will all make you laugh until you cry.
If you come here enough, you will feel like part of a giant happy family.
I want to have my future wedding here.
Summer Wedding Dates Available
Neighborhood: Uptown
Daily specials
Neighborhood: Irving Park
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Restaurants
Places I've seen live shows! Including my fave,…
This will be an ongoing list of places that I like…
... if I went out the way I used to. Okay wait,…
A guide to the best Bucktown has to offer (that…
