Pretty awesome bar @ Steppenwolf Theater! I get a chance to come here quite often as I am a member of the Steppenwolf Associates and we sometimes grab a drink or two here afters shows and meetings. Awesome service here from the men and women behind the bar. They definitely know how to whip up good manhattans and old fashioned drinks. The make a pretty good hot toddy as well! You will also see people here on laptops, students from Depaul studying with coffee and patrons waiting on a Steppenwolf show. Very cozy place to meet up with friends and grabbing a drink or few! read more

I ordered a curry Chicken salad sandwich at the coffee bar. It tasted like it was made last week and left in the refrigerator the whole time. I couldn't eat more than a few bites. Sooo disappointing. read more

Service was a joke-- "superiority" vibes from the tenders. Who wants to spend money to be ignored in an empty bar and be made to feel like a "that drink is so last year" when you order it... spend your money in a place where people care and don't have their noses in the phones doom scrolling on the clock read more

Great drinks that aren't too expensive, especially for theatre prices. The bartenders are hilarious, friendly and efficient. read more

See all

I would definitely recommend this place. It's a great location and walkable to other restaurants. They have both coffee and alcohol, need I say more. I enjoyed the matcha latte and there's plenty of seating. Cool vibe and I would come back ! read more

See all

The Cosmos and Renaissance are TO DIE FOR! Amazing vibes, amazing service, so happy to stumble on this place! read more

Front Bar - two cocktails on a wooden table - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool bar connected to a theater on Halstead. Solid vibes with decent prices. Great cocktails and servers were really nice. Cozy vibes but can get crowded during intermissions if you're not there for a show. read more

A super chic and trendy bar attached to Steppenwolf Theatre, with a wide range of affordable cocktails and a variety of ingredients. I ordered something that wasn't on the menu and they were able to make it. My friends really enjoyed their sparkling water on tap, too! I love that this place is simultaneously a coffee shop and bar-- everyone can get whatever they're in the mood for! Spots like this are all over Italy, and it's the kind of life I want in Chicago too. I just wish there was more seating! We were hanging out here for a while and not a single spot opened up. Best for a quick drink, not a reliable place to spend an extended amount of time. read more

Good bar with nice drinks. Seating is fairly limited and it's a strange venue with the theater right there. Amazing intermission / pre-theater bar, but a little lacking as a bar outside of those customers. read more

I have frequented Front Bar on multiple occasions (I live down the street), mostly to get some late night work done with a cup of tea. More recently though, on Friday 1/11 my friends and I came to see a show at Steppenwolf and we decided to come early to enjoy some drinks and appetizers at Front Bar. We ordered a cocktail and a glass of wine, a hummus plate, cheeseboard, and a sausage, goat cheese and pear flatbread. We were taken care of by a nice woman who was working behind the bar, and quickly after we finished our first drinks, we started waiting for a refill. We had about 30 minutes before the show was starting. Now, trying to get service at Front Bar was our biggest and most frustrating issue. I understand the bartenders will tend to older patrons first, it is polite. But we ended up waiting (with our credit card out, making eye contact with both the male bartenders working that night) for 25 minutes until we ran out of time and had to leave. Over TWENTY FIVE minutes waiting for a drink to bring into the show is unheard of (I've been to plenty of busy and more-crowded bars, and there were 3 of them working behind the bar). The bartenders were very aware of how long we were waiting, but it seemed they did not care, and kept tending to people who were just walking up to the bar, or they were even just wiping down the counters and taking away empty glasses instead of asking us what we needed or if we had been helped. We were so frustrated that we almost started laughing at how comical the situation was. We actually decided to just completely stop our conversation, stare at the bartenders and see how long it took for them to finally come over. That didn't seem to even work. The two male bartenders weren't even tending to anyone while we had our cards out waiting to grab our last drink. After almost 30 minutes, we ended up having to leave to see the show or we were going to miss it. Unfortunately my friend still had her card open, so we had to rudely and embarrassingly scream across the bar if we could 'PLEASE close our tab'. It still took him 5 minutes as one of them begrudgingly printed our receipt and threw it on the bar. We ended up going to the bar in the theater for our drinks before the show, because clearly Front Bar was having an off night. It's a shame because the food was decent, and the cocktail was good too. But we felt that we were inconveniencing the bartenders just by looking for a drink. Honestly, we concluded that it may be our age (we are in our late twenty's), or maybe they just didn't feel like helping us that day. Either way- even though the food was good and I always have a great conversation with interesting people I meet at this cafe/bar, AND the show was great- at Front Bar we felt clearly unwelcomed and awkward, that none of us will be back. read more

Front Bar - great drink, but not great service. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

An add on to the Steppenwolf Theatre, there is hope to make a truly great bar and meeting place. Slightly disorganized with no table service, there are plenty of artensial cocktails and an odd mix of bottled/canned beer. Minimal food menu consisting of basic tapas and heat and serve flatbreads. Definitely a space for artists and ticket holders alike. Like any type of wine, Front Bar, needs to find it's legs. Stay tuned. read more

Picked this place kind of on a whim - and score, they have a robust enough coffee and tea menu for the non-alcohol drinkers among us. Apparently there are some. I know, I was surprised too. We arrived right as a show at the Steppenwolf was letting out, so just know that this place gets busy, and people sort of plunk down and don't leave for a while. Which is fine. There's scattered seating throughout, and I appreciate that when I was sitting cross-legged with my shoes on the couch to face my friend, no one asked me not to. There are gender neutral bathrooms. This is the first I've seen, so I think they're incredibly progressive. Bravo. I will admit though, that it was a little unexpected when a man walked out of a stall as I was re-adjusting the ladies, but there are much worse things in the world. We each got some tea (don't need caffeine past 7pm, because, hello, I'm in my 30s), and it was really lovely. It's a great stretch of Halsted. Would totally be back for cocktails. Also. The rainbow cake. read more

Front Bar - Rainbow cake, son. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was visiting Chicago for the weekend with my husband. I had a day to myself so I wandered around Chi-town on a gorgeous Sunday (sadly, this was on the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and the 1st one I was out of NYC for - so I was feeling a bit blue/sad about not being there and decided to walk around the city to get my mind off things - I used to work there up until 9/11 happened, so this day is always very somber for me.). Stumbled across this lounge totally by accident. I was 1st drawn in by the sign saying there were plenty of power outlets and to come on in. I had been walking for awhile and was a bit parched, plus my phone battery was going down slowly, so I took the opportunity to take a little break. Loved it here!! I had just eaten not too long before so I wasn't too hungry, but I did have 3 cocktails while here (I had 2 Balm in Gilead cocktails-SO frickin good, and 1 Picasso At the Lapin Agile-which was also quite good). Things to know: - They have power outlets under the bar at every seat by the bar! Can't beat that! - There is a coffee bar when you 1st walk in, so you can grab coffee to go. - Bar is to the left from main entrance. - All staff I came across (bartender, coffee bar server, and I think a manager) were all very nice and friendly. - There are seats, tables, all around. - They have gender-neutral bathrooms. - They are owned by the Steppenwolf Theater next door and sometimes during performances, guests needing a break during intermission or pre- or post-show can stop in here for a drink or nibbles. - The bar is new-ish, having just opened in June. read more

Front Bar - Delicious Balm in Gilead cocktail - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Had my eye on this place because it's newish, close to home, and looked cool from the outside. My husband and I randomly stopped in (didn't have theater tickets) for a drink and weren't impressed. The interior is pretty hip and there were some fun food options (rainbow cake from Goddess & Baker!) but the service was subpar. Even though there were at most 5 ppl at the entire bar it was an effort every single time to get another drink...for example, waving at the staff, "excuse me", making eye contact...the 3 men behind the bar we're preoccupied with cleaning things, stocking beer, etc. The fun part was getting sprayed in the face by the glass washer thingy. The bartender apologized in a cheeky way and thought it was funny since he's new and it happens each night. Maybe someday he'll figure it out - bring your raincoat just in case it takes him some time (I think it might). They also have co-ed bathrooms which was uncomfortable. Nothing like having to put the toilet seat down to pee while the dude in the stall next to you let's one rip. They restrooms were clean though. I'd stop back in for coffee or baked goods but won't likely be venturing beyond that. read more

I never knew that Front Bar existed until a friend suggested meeting for a drink here! Front Bar is attached to Steppenwolf Theater, and serves patrons of the theater and anyone else who stops in for a drink or a small bite. The atmosphere is cozy, with couches and leather chairs situated along the perimeter of the room, and a bar in the middle. The drink menu isn't overly extensive, but there are good wine and beer selections, as well as a few unique cocktails. I had a glass of the Sauvignon Blanc from the wine menu, and was happy with both the pour and the price of my drink. There is a small food menu with bites, but I wouldn't suggest coming here for a full meal. The most poignant aspect of Front Bar are the bathrooms. The bathrooms are completely gender neutral stalls, which threw me off at first. However, it is amazing to see this bar, and the theater, embracing the identities of their patrons and catering to the needs of everyone. I was unbelievably impressed by this commitment to complete gender neutral bathrooms. Overall, I had a great time at Front Bar and look forward to returning! read more

Came here on a Friday night with a few friends. We really liked the ambiance and at a later part in the night they were playing old school hip hop, which we were really jamming out to. The cocktails took a little longer to receive but all were delicious! I personally ordered the solstice (gin) and the porch swing (vodka). I would recommend the vodka with cucumber cocktail. Unfortunately the coffee machine was down when we came so I can't comment on that, but it's a great place to hang whether you are seeing a show at Steppenwolf or want a laid back environment with a group of friends. read more

I was surprised with how much I loved Front Bar as a coffee shop. The coffee was tasty (personally ordered the latte with oat milk) and the location was perfect for working during the day. Lots of seating and table space with the perfect chill background music. Will be coming back for another weekend study session and espresso. read more

Hipster haven with a full bar, delicious coffee, and friendly and knowledgeable barkeeps. Reasonable prices and a great spot to people watch, whether you're catching a show or not! read more

I love the atmosphere here-- it's a coffee shop by day and bar by night, and it's fantastic that Steppenwolf now has a place to hang out before shows. However, as much as I love the coffeeshop/bar itself, I have to say that they completely butchered my cup of coffee. They brew La Colombe here, so I was pretty excited-- La Colombe is easily one of my favorite roasters. Obviously, I wasn't expecting coffee the level of a La Colombe coffee shop, but I was super disappointed to find the coffee had a burnt, almost ashy taste. Perhaps I came on an off day and had a bad batch; I'll probably give this place another shot, but I was quite disappointed by my first visit, especially because everything else about this place is great. read more

My wife and I were going to see The Christians at Steppenwolf Theater. Their website lists a variety of Michelin Starred restaurants within walking distances, with entrees at $25+ a pop, and on top of theater tickets that was a non-starter, and it was cold out, so we decided to give Front Bar a shot, since you can enter through the Steppenwolf lobby. The space is dimly lit (probably "romantic"), and darkly styled. There are various tables and couches to sit at. The space is anchored by a cubic bar in the center, with hanging open shelves above the bar filled with booze. We weren't feeling like couch-dinner (we do enough of that at home), so we sidled up to the bar, and were quickly given menus. We each ordered a slice of pizza, the smoked whitefish spread, and a drink. I got the Oswaldo, and my wife ordered the Miss Ruby. Our drinks were made within minutes, and pretty tasty, though I think my wife came out a little ahead with her drink (I should always ordered rye-based drinks: I like rye). The whitefish spread and the pizza followed shortly. The pizza was kind of meh. Institutional squares on dense but not particularly flavorful dough, with little topping. I don't expect a made-to-order single slices, but the impression I got was that the pizza had been made much earlier in the day, then over-toasted to heat up and serve. The mushrooms on my pizza and the red pepper on my wife's pizza were sadly shriveled and a little crispy; I suspect it would have been much better if it weren't over-cooked. As we finished the whitefish, we got two more drinks. I had the Violet, because for some reason I was going against the grain and not getting brown-liquor-based drinks. It has nice kick, and some subtlety, because our bartender didn't go to heavily on the lemon. My wife saw someone else get a good looking Old Fashioned, and ordered one herself. I'm not sure if they were Luxardo cherries, but they certainly weren't the cheap-o sundae-topping maraschino cherries. The cherry can really make or break the old fashioned. When we got close to showtime, our bartender put our drinks in plastic cups, so we could enjoy them at the show, so that's also a nice perk. The pizza would generally be enough to sink a venue in my estimation, but it's a ton cheaper than nearby offerings, the whitefish spread was ample and tasty, the drinks were interesting and strong, plus we had great service, and the convenience can't be beat if you're going to a show at Steppenwolf. If you're into people-watching, this is also clearly a popular first-date spot. Since we like going to the theater, I'm sure we'll be back to Front Bar, but we'll know to take a pass on the pizza. read more

How did I miss that this was here? I had no idea until I had a few minutes before a show in the theater, I'm used to finding nothing to eat quickly for several blocks around. Suddenly I'm enjoying a quickly heated tasty hasty pizza slice and drink in a sleek shiny bar with theater geeks! This is precious, it is open both before and after shows as a local neighborhood bar as well. Perfect, just what we needed read more

This place is beautiful. Such a good little hidden gem. It's got a real cozy library feel. I ordered espresso and a cocktail. Both were delicious. read more

This may just be my new favorite place to study. For the venue itself, there really isn't a lot of seating. Though I didn't find this to be a problem when we arrived around 1 pm. Actually, my sister and I were the only two people in the place (with the exception of some old dude reading the paper). And you know what that means- it was super quiet. Perfect to get some work done. The coffee bar brews La Colombe coffee and also offers a good variety of tea. They had some snacks and things too, including these really delicious pizza flatbreads. We tried the roasted red pepper and goat cheese one, and it did not disappoint. As it got later in the day, more people started to funnel in, some for drinks at the extensive bar that draws your attention in the middle of the room. Yeah, it's one of those places. Coffee to get you started, booze to keep you going. The noise level remained at a minimal level despite the increase in patrons. Front Bar has my vote! read more

Front Bar is everything I would want in my dream cafe. The space, which is attached to Steppenwolf Theatre, is completely gorgeous, with gentle lighting, floor to ceiling windows, and a classy central bar. There's versatile seating, including bar stools, couches, comfy chairs, and long work tables, and the couple of times I've been, the music has been a great mix of artists, some familiar and some new. Though I don't drink, the bar looks well stocked, and I've heard the bartender chatting with customers to make recommendations. The coffee is delicious, and the baristas have consistently done a great job. The only food I've tried is their Sicilian-style pizza, which is a generous portion of high quality. The staff are super friendly and were kind enough to bring my order to me. And on top of all this, the bar has incredibly flexible hours, making it just as great for studying as for meeting up with friends. The only downside is that they book a number of private events, so I've arrived before to find that they're unavailable for the evening. Since the place is pretty new, I imagine their traffic will increase quite a bit once Steppenwolf's season kicks into high gear. Still, I have nothing but excellent things to say about this place. I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. I highly recommend it! read more

I was walking down the lane when we came across this place. I just had met an old friend after years and reallly wanted to talk to her.. I do not live in this neighborhood but I reallly want to go back there again. This place is amazing even though its pretty new. I didnot know what to drink and our bartender came forward to help us decide..I told him that I wanted to drink a gin based cocktail that was sweet. My friend wanted Mai Tai.. I was amased at the taste. Also the price were astonishing esp for the signature cocktail he made for me.. My husband had to work so he only drank cappuchino and he told me that he liked it.. I cant wait to go back again..Its the whole package read more

Cool spot! Very low key on a Tuesday evening, just stopped in for a cocktail. Drinks were unique, well made, and very reasonably priced. If you're looking for a chill spot before a show or just to grab a drink and chat, this is the place! read more

Love finding a place in Chicago that serves both coffee and drinks! It's cozy and well styled, and I love the kindness of everyone who works there! read more

Hot spot. Took a lovely lady here for tea date when it was too late for coffee and we were watching calories during wedding season. It may have been the company that made it all the better but this mid century modern cafe bar hybrid is a hidden gem in the neighborhood. A quick glance around the room and it's clear to see that this place was well thought out. Every single aspect screams style and sophistication. Adjacent to the theater, this craft cocktail bar/cafe is a killer date spot or just for a change of pace. read more

Awesome atmosphere. Went here for an event and the lobby for the Steppenwolf Theater spills into the Front Bar. Great place with great drinks. read more

Went to Front Bar after a play at Steppenwolf. The bartenders were super friendly and the drinks were cool. We got to watch and try one of the new drinks they were creating. I hope they name it after me lol. I wish I was there earlier for the food but I will be back to try it. They also serve coffee and sweets. read more

Great place to chill, grab a cup of joe or a fancy coffee. Staff is also quite friendly.

The place you are looking for to sit in soft chair, work and have great cappuccino. Might be busy during evenings , but wonderful spot during daylight . read more

Charming and lovely bar cafe next to Steppenwolf. Stopped in for an iced tea in the late morning. Delicious peach tea served by very friendly staff. Lots of comfortable seating. read more

Love this coffee shop that turns into a bar at night! Excellent coffee and delicious scones!! Such a great spot in Lincoln Park to come enjoy a good book and coffee. The WiFi is free and speedy and there are plenty of cozy seats available'n read more

My wife and I have been here twice, both times after attending a Steppenwolf play. I'm a 58 year old white man who felt that I was way not cool enough for this pretentious bar. Too bad because the space is awesome but the feel was cliquey. The bartender was pretentious and actors were trashing audience members for comments they made during the post performance discussion. read more

Such a cute place! Love the bar menu and the service is always good! Defiantly will recommend it this place if you visit Chicago!

Loved this place! I was looking for a bar that wasn't too loud or crowded on a Friday night to get some work done on my laptop. Found a great spot at the bar, which is a table but connected to the bar. It was a chill vibe in there and the staff seemed very friendly. It's connected to the theater so after the show everyone came over after which was cool. Definitely will be my go to spot for a nice spot to go to when I just wanna get work done or relax by myself. Definitely a great spot to meet someone for a date also. read more

This place is such a nice coffee shop to be productive at. The cappuccino was incredibly frothy and interior is swanky without exceedingly expensive prices. Highly recommend. read more

This is my new go-to place to get some work done. It's nice to have the option of coffee and alcohol depending on my mood, and food to keep me going for a few hours. It gets pretty busy an hour before shows, but otherwise it's pretty calm and relaxing. read more

Perfect Iced Coffee, Perfect Lemon Poppyseed Muffin, Perfect barista that worked the morning of 4/1. I could also attribute my tip to Buffy the Vampire Slayer over X Files... Which made me happy. Nice decor and fitting for large groups! Wifi and self serve sparkling! Now, time to get some work done. read more