The Empty Bottle

Such a unique place, phenomenal atmosphere. Live bands, great staff and a pool table.

What more could you ask for?

Even had an old style Photo Booth!
How cool.

I'm a local musician. Been playing in Chicago for ten years, and I've played here a handful of times.

I used to think it was a privilege to play this popular venue. It's somewhat of a rite of passage for local musicians. That being said, it's perceived importance it's likely the cause for its current issues.

For all its notoriety and charm, the staff itself can be extremely toxic. I wouldn't dismiss the entire staff in good faith, but certain bartenders and sound technicians are outright bullies. We've been subjected to sexual harassment and cyber bullying for over a year now. This abuse has gone unchecked and has been ignored by the venue and staff at large.

I want people to be careful when they pass through. This is, in no way, a safe space.

A co-worker told me about the Empty Bottle so I came to see a show by Pillow Queens. They were great, but their opening was not. Anyways, cool local space. Enough room for everywhere. If I weren't so tired, I would've enjoyed myself more. Would definitely come back for drinks.

The only thing that got me was... well, I don't know if this is because of the band playing or not... the lack of diversity in the crowd.

great spot to see music- good food and booze/ you might even get a sculpy dragon- yeah yea

Love the vintage atmosphere of this bar, plus awesome live music (Death Valley Girls)

Bring ear plugs for the concert. Awesome venue if you're there for the artists.

I've heard of this place for years but didn't go to my first event here until last week. Went to see Lomelda perform. It was a good show. It's the kind of a venue where most people stand and sway. Temperature of the room was good too. They don't accept cards for payment but have some ATMs. Glad I pregamed the show at the EZ inn up the street. Bathroom is nothing pretty. It's divey but it's very much the aesthetic/ vibe of the place.

I had a lot of fun here, but there's always so many roaches in the girls bathroom. They're hoarding in clusters and scatter whenever someone closes the stall. It's honestly HORRIFIC!

Great bar - went on a night they had a live show with Scientists reviewing their current research projects - WAY more interesting than I expected! Also have great / different beers on tap.

I saw the Spits there and the show was great, but I truly feel that it is the responsibility of the proprietor to disclose that they have an aggressive zero tolerance policy against stage diving because they claim they aren't a "punk" bar. Well you were certainly punk enough to collect all that money from a sold out show. These people were like the terminator picking off young enthusiastic attendees for simply diving from a low two foot stage. One poor fella was thrown out after just one infraction while his friends and ride, and most importantly, his jacket was inside. The staff was too busy being hyper vigilant to even care that someone who paid good money to enjoy a night of punk rock only to be ejected into the cold streets of Chicago without even letting him take his coat. It's not posted anywhere that they even have this arbitrary policy, they just enforce it without explanation. So if you're going to see a PUNK show at a not punk bar, as this place claims, don't EVER, for the love of dog even think of stage diving because you might freeze to death outside with no jacket and no ride home.