My friend and I recently stayed at the Chicago Athletic Authority, and every few hours, we walked through the Game Room. It was over March Madness, so there were always men or women's games on the televisions. Besides being a happening place, there was also decent food. Upon our check-in, we even received complimentary bubbles as a welcome drink in the Game Room. For one of our dinners, we decided to enjoy some Game Room food while I taught my friend how to play chess. We ordered a delicious dish of WSC Cheese Sticks (made with Wisconsin brick cheese and marinara). We then each ordered the Chicken Caesar Wrap, consisting of crispy chicken, romaine lettuce, parmigiano Reggiano, and house chips. We both upgraded our chips to French fries. I thought the food was good (not excellent but not bland like other reviews stated). The best part of the experience is the vibe in the space. There were also protests in the area earlier in the day so many of the non-hotel guests in the Game Room were from that (as we could tell from the signs they had with them). Even if you go to the Game Room website (https://www.gameroomchi.com), you're in for some fun just getting into the website. On their website are upcoming events (like karaoke), details on booking private events, menus, and more. They serve their all day menu from 11 AM to close daily. Their hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 11 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 1 AM (kitchen closes at 11 PM), and Sunday from 11 AM to 9 PM. There is also Happy Hour on weekdays from 3 PM to 5 PM, which include $10 wings, Old Style combos, and half off pitchers. While there were more exciting places to be in Chicago, for a hotel guest or someone in the area, this was a fun place to hang out, grab a bite, play some board games, and watch some games on TV. Certainly recommend it! read more

Game Room - Chicken Caesar Wrap with Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

A very nice place, very lowkey, chill vibe, I really enjoyed the drinks. Service was a lil slow for a slow Friday, not much of a crowd yet servers barely came around. Sat down for like 10 mins before someone came to give us a menu, Water came out quickly. Food is not good, it's so bland. I wouldn't order the wings or burger again, maybe try something else or legit only get drinks . I would recommend going for drinks, elsewhere for food! There is sooo much better food out here read more

See all

This bar area is so cozy within the hotel. You can shoot pool or watch current sports on the tv's. Or head straight over to the bar. They were super helpful with great service since we also ordered quite a few shots for friends. Buttermilk fried chicken strips and Nachos supreme for food. Goodness I would go back for the chicken strips. Hot and fresh! Also had two Pentalty kicks which were good and an old fashioned! read more

See all

Beautiful space! Lively vibe. Games and couches. Worth coming here to see how fun is done. Don't expect much in the form of service or food quality. Ordered the Milwaukee pretzel, which isn't available anymore replaced by Wisconsin cheese sticks which needed some work. Four fried sticks with bland marinara and a white sauce of some kind that I couldn't identify. Ordered the old fashion as suggested by the in room video. Small glass, clear ice but not a full cocktail. Disappointing. Service was slow. Pay as you order even if sitting down and thinking you might stay. Had to sign the bill twice and close out when I had just come in and sat down and decide on your tip when the only service received was inputting the order. read more

See all

Solid place. The high note here is definitely the ambiance. The decor is lovely, the lighting is casual, and there's lots of fun activities from games to a Photo Booth. The location is also fantastic for visitors, being in the historic hotel and not far off from CloudGate (the bean). The service was generally fast, although the bar seemed to get a bit backed up even before there was a crowd. The food in general was decent, I would say that the appetizers/sharables were big winners while the entrees left a bit to be desired. Overall though a good place. read more

Game Room - Cheese sticks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Our group came here last night for drinks and pool after dinner. Venue and entire building are historic, upscale, and very comfortable. Lots of comfortable sitting areas to just hang out. Only two pool tables, so we waited awhile for one to open up. Friendly service too. Quite the hike to the bathrooms. They do close promptly and ask everyone to leave when they're ready for you to, even if you're in the middle of a game. I get it. Had we been better, we would've been done long before. Ha! read more

The ambience was very nice and plenty of seats with built-in checker tables and plenty of games to keep you entertained. The drinks were good and the Nashville sliders were really tasty. The only problem is, we ordered a plate of shareable fries and it took over 30 minutes to come out. We had to ask three different waiters where our fries were and finally somebody listened and brought it out. I think they forgot because they had a large catered event. read more

Very spacious! It feels like a rich person's play room. Not too packed on weekend afternoons if you want to play pool (billiards) or see what other kinds of games they have. You could bring a pretty big sized group here. It feels like a college recreation room only much nicer. They have fancier food than college fare and it's a little pricey. A great place to relax and have fun over a beer or two with lunch. Lots of servers keeping an eye on you wherever you are. You have to open a tab to start an order so bring your plastic! It's a nice enough spot for taking pictures together so bring the gang here for a group photo. Nice place for small reunions. read more

This is one of my favorite spots in Chicago!!!!! It's kind of like an upscale game room, not your typical arcade. Best part is all the games are free!! The food and drinks were SO GOOD. The pretzel is a must & I thought the fish tacos were incredible. The fish inside was fried, but it was super lightly breaded & still easy on the stomach. The pretzel is HUGE and can definitely be shared. The drinks I had were great too. Loved that they had good cocktail options like an espresso martini and dirty martini. I don't believe they take reservations, it's first come first serve. If you aren't able to get a table there's plenty of room to get a drink at the bar & stand around. I had a large group with me on a Saturday afternoon & we all fit great with lots of room to walk around. Can't wait to go back!!!!! read more

See all

I've been coming to this place a few times a year for the past five years or so. It's a nice spot to meet after work, and the decor and vibes are on point. However, the service is very slow from what I've experienced. I wouldn't even try to order food here because of that. read more

Fun atmosphere, great cocktails and extraordinary service from Elizabeth. I recommend the double smash burger and Bloody Mary

The service provided by Sam was top-notch - he was very attentive and suggested some amazing options, all of which turned out to be delicious! The food was cooked to perfection and the drinks were superb. Although we didn't get the opportunity to play pool, we still enjoyed the nice ambiance. It would be a good idea for the venue to add more table games to accommodate the high number of customers. In conclusion, we had a fantastic experience and would definitely suggest this place to others. If you can choose your server, go for Sam without hesitation - he was truly exceptional! read more

I've been to the Game Room a number of times, for events, or just to hang out. It's got a great vibe with lots of wood and dark colors. The drinks are solid and fairly priced for the location and building. The food is simply excellent, and the executive chef is Kaleena Bliss has been on Top Chef and Chopped. So you're getting some serious good food here. The service is pretty good, though it can be slow when the place is busy. They do take reservations and signups for the pool tables and bar shuffleboard tables, so make sure you do that. And yes they have other games as well. Definitely go check this place out! read more

My favorite bar in all of Chicago. And I've been to two. I love this place because it is dark and cavernous and classy, yet unpretentious, making it perfect for groups, families, co-workers, and even date night. They have shuffleboard and pool tables (either they were free or we tricked them) plus skeeball and foosball (unsure of cost, if any). I loved the food best of all, and they had the kitchen open around 10pm on a weeknight. We ordered the $9 Big Soft Milwaukee Pretzel with cheese sauce and honey mustard seeds (as seen on "Somebody Feed Phil") and it did not disappoint- it had a touch of French Toastness. And, I don't know if I was just hot and starving, but the $10 Greektown Veggie Gyro (house seitan, tzatziki sauce, zaatra, tomato on pita) was the best non-pizza-popcorn-hot dog thing I ate in Chicago. Stop at the private vent on the way to the bathroom for a blast of AC if theymain room is too hot. read more

Game Room - Private Vent for a blast of AC (on way to bathrooms) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Came here in between train ride from Norte Dame and our flight out O'Hare. It was a fun location. My family and I started with the just okay wings and I had the incredible Chicago hot dog. It was my first time and definitely worth it. read more

Came on a Friday afternoon for lunch and had a good time! The vibe is fun and casual, very different from the hotel it's situated in. Not busy at all. We were able to get a spot at the bar. Food was DELICIOUS. We ordered the smash burger and the polish dog. The smash burger was perfection. The hot dog bun had a bit of mold on it. We didn't notice until about halfway through since it was that good haha. However we still notified the staff and they were super kind about it and took care of us. Drinks were also good. We had the old fashioned and the court vision. read more

Game Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fun spot for good bar food. Located around the corner from the hotel check-in this large restaurant/bar serves breakfast and lunch/dinner. There is couch seating in the main room as well as a bar, games, and a large TV. Feels like a large basement in the best non pretentious way. Staff are very friendly. Brewed me a pot of decaf coffee when I asked in passing. Enjoyed the chicken sandwich, gyro, and fries. read more

Game Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a fun place to grab lunch and play some games on a cold windy day! Mikesha's service was excellent!

My girlfriends and I visited Game Room on late Friday night to enjoy good cocktails and enjoy shuffleboard and snooker. My friend and I ordered Ally-Too which is a mezcal based drink and another friend ordered LIIT. The drinks were a bit sweet but overall they were good. Since we entered late, most of the gaming spots were blocked, however, we were able to play at least one game of pool with another group. The space is very spacious and has good seating/ standing arrangements. We did not try any food so cannot comment on that. I will definitely be back to enjoy game night with friends in the near future! They also have bocce ball and I'm excited to play the game! read more

See all

A gem of a spot for drinks and games nestled right into the heart of Downtown Chicago -- we stopped in after some shopping on Magnificent Mile and it's a short walk from The Bean. The space itself is in the Chicago Athletic Association building and I was seriously obsessed with the architecture and design of the whole place. We were able to get a table very quickly for a larger party and could order with a server or at the bar. They have a wide selection of beers and cocktails, and I had one of each and liked both of my drinks! They have a ton of classic games including arcade basketball, bocce ball, billiards, shuffleboard, and more -- I wish I was kidding when I say that I spent close to an hour playing Skee Ball with friends. Fair warning that the pool tables are imbalanced, but otherwise all of the games were functional, free, and fun -- it's a great way to spend a chill afternoon. read more

Game Room - Cocktail and Beer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We popped in when passing by as we were bopping around downtown on Christmas day. This spontaneous stop was an excellent call. I had never been in the building and truly appreciate the gorgeous interior. This is in the Chicago Athletic Association Building (1893), which is now a hotel of the same name. The Game Room is on the second floor. It is adjacent to the Drawing Room, which is technically part of the hotel lobby, but it is so expansive that it doesn't feel like part of the reception area. Visitors can take drinks from the Game Room to the Drawing Room. This is what we did, as the cold day made the gorgeous fireplaces even more appealing. Also, worth noting, the Game Room itself is rather dark, especially compared to the Drawing Room. They had football on, so it's certainly a swanky place to catch a game. We did not dine in or partake in any of the neat games in the Game Room. They feature billiards, shuffleboard and a built-in bocce bay. There are also checkers and chess tables. We appreciated a good craft beer list and genuinely enjoyed sipping our libations in such a stunning historic setting. They were not over-decorated for the holidays but did have a gorgeous tree. I loved the subtleness of the holiday decor. I think this makes it a great spot to meet friends for some holiday cheer. I will definitely be taking visitors here, as it is one of so many great Chicago spots that showcase how gorgeous our city is behind closed doors and how we have done an exceptional job maintaining historic spaces. As stated, we did visit on Christmas day, but they did close early, so if you plan a holiday stop, check hours in advance. read more

See all

The Game Room is located in the Chicago Athletic Association hotel, which is a historic, formerly-private club that is now a beautifully restored hotel open to the public. We stopped in to grab lunch before we went to the Art Institute of Chicago, and were immediately impressed with the beautiful building. The Game Room itself is a really cool spot. It's dark and moody, and you can play the games that they have throughout the room. We shared the fried chicken sandwich with fries. The fries were delicious - crispy and well seasoned. The chicken sandwich wasn't great. I also couldn't tell if the chicken was undercooked because it was so dark in there. I would definitely return for a drink and to hang out, and I would recommend experiencing this spot! read more

Game Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Brought another group the The Game Room on a Thursday at 5:30. We found a Hightop table and had a great time. This time, there were no waiters that came and served us, so we ordered food and drinks at the bar and they brought the food to our table. I enjoyed the Bramble cocktail. We got several orders of fries, cheese curds, and hummus for the table. I also ordered the burger and it was pretty good! Fair value for the price for sure. read more

See all

Stumbled upon this place to escape the cold and was pleasantly surprised at what we found. Cozy game room vibes with tons of different game options and TVs to watch sports. Happy hour deals were a steal, half priced pitchers and quality bar bites. This place is a gem! read more

One of my go-to spots in the city whenever I'm visiting. Located right across from Millenium Park, this is the perfect place to hang out, cool off, share some snacks and drinks with friends. They have some games also to keep you entertained. Such a classic spot and I love how it's somewhat hidden so it can be super chill and also can be busy. read more

See all

While on a stay at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel we killed some time by stopping in the Game Room for a quick snack and complimentary drink. It was a Saturday afternoon and it was busy. A very large space with ample seating, bar seating, and games throughout. We sat at the bar and due to the busy nature of the restaurant it took a while for the bartender to greet us but once he did he was quick and thorough. Ordered two beers and a basket of fries and scooped out the games while we waited. Typical bar feel but the energy was amazing. People enjoying drinks and nostalgic games. We loved the foosball table. It was great burning off energy here and the laid back feel of the bar was refreshing. read more

Game Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place was once my favorite bars in the city. In a beautiful historic building with gothic style woodwork and impeccable design throughout. This past year it has changed a great deal moving from slow jazz that matches the atmosphere to dance/club music. A pop a shot machine from your local Chucky Cheese was thrown in as well. What was once a time capsule of a bar years ago is no more. read more

Game Room - Pop a shot in a classic cocktail bar is wild. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Felt like I traveled back to the late 1800s The entire floor is breathtaking!! Make sure to climb the original 1893 staircase from the first floor. read more

See all

Been to multiple events here, always had a great time with good drinks and food. Some quick points: #For organizers in the fall/winter periods please see if a coat check service can be setup. #For attendees you can prebook parking across the street underneath Grant Park at the Millennium Garage with apps like SpotHero and save some $$ The bathrooms are a little tricky going down some stairs and then at the end of a balcony towards the right. read more

I didn't try to the food, but the games, the vibes, and the beer were all flowing. Super laidback place and an excellent way to escape through summer heat for a few hours. We ended up stumbling on it one day and came back for the next three. read more

Very kind staff. The food was excellent. Drinks decent. I plan to come back. Laid back atmosphere made this an excellent experience. read more

Game Room - Pretzel Burger and fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place is a gem! We went with a trio and found plenty of seating. Our server was over right away to get us some great local beer. The decor in this place is amazing! It has a great vintage feel. I encourage you explore the hotel too as it's equally impressive visually. The games were well maintained and clean. We had a great time playing pool and shuffleboards read more

See all

This is a place to grab a few drinks and grab an appetizer. RJ the bartender recommended a good IPA and made really good mixed drinks.

Ambiance and service are the two best attributes of this place. Set on the second floor of the Chicago Athletic Center, this room is filled with various games in a setting that is relaxed comfortable. The service was quick and attentive for a bar. The cheesesticks were overpriced. The drink selection was only average. I should be thankful they had one double IPA on tap. The old fashioned could have been made better. Their hot wings were very good. read more

Well, I enjoyed the atmosphere.It is very chill and laid back. Plenty of space. The servers are kind and more than willing to get your drinks if you do not want to walk up to the bar. Very convenient. Pool, Shuffle Board all free. That surprised me. Just the pool tables alone.... Free you say. Don't mind if I do kind Sir. That's enough to make me stop in after taking the metro downtown before I meet up with friends. It's not a sports bar! I believe there are only 2 Televisions. I like that tho Where I am located the bar can turn into an extended living room with strangers. This is the place to really interact and enjoy someone's company. It is a Pretty chill spot. Or at least when my Brother and I was there. They do put on the Bears games. It was nice to engage with him and glance up every so often when the announcers get excited. I enjoyed my time with my brother. He doesn't drink anymore. I applaud him for that. Now to the UN WELCOMING AND RUDE UNDER MEDICATED BARTENDER. The Short bartender had a lot of artwork. I asked to just check it out as I have Artwork as well. He just gave me a dirty look as if I took his last lollipop. I shrugged the look and the un wavering attitude. There were 6 people in the entire bar. (How dare people come in here give me compliments and pay for stuff!) I forget how these city Boys can be when another Good looking Male with a wonderful sense of humor and can charm the pants off an angry Rhinoceros while charging his last dollar on a cupcake waltz in the room. Like I was competing with him. All I did was walk in and pay him a compliment. He ruined that. He Damn near shit his britches when I was buying beers and was tipping the other Male bartender $10. He was more than happy to be quick and polite. I told him politely, Your buddy already has it ready. He didn't obviously. it was my way of reeducating him on how he should speak to people while doing your JOB. I could have been a jerk and Carved him up verbally without profanity. Even his coworker/bartender rolled his eyes and served me promptly. (He is the taller one with people skills.) I myself have Bartended. Your money comes from your personality. Blowing off a male who usually tries to pick women in your establishment is foolish. We buy them drinks ya MoMo! You assumed I didn't have much money. You are not the best judge of character. Nor should you be judging Patrons as they pay your salary. Lions don't attack. We pace around watching the weak while they think they are safe to eat their dinner and we take it. (Just a reference) I am not a violent person but if he was talking to a woman at the bar I would have bought her a couple of drinks. Respectful witty funny conversation. Hopefully the imaginary Woman would be into the idea of having an enjoyable friendly conversation. I have been in rooms with Millionaires. I can blend in anywhere. Because I watch the room. I act accordingly. I put my elegance on conversations while making them laugh. It's all about the first impression. You never get the chance to make that up. Anywho, never judge anyone by their appearance. Besides (I was wearing about $400 worth of Gear. Not to mention my Gucci spectacles.) I was going to be walking around all day. I wanted to be comfortable. I didn't look like a bum. Jeans, T-shirt, a plain windbreaker and new shoes. The shoes were a bit loud but they matched my shirt. (Well they are about 4 years old but they still look brand new.) WOW, what a Rant. I'm more excited now than when it happened. Back to the Meat of this thread. I was respectful enough not to retort to his speedy disapproval. I don't look like I have the intelligence and verbal ability to calmly annihilate what he thought was a (personality) and re educate him on the proper way to treat a PAYING customer. I have a quick temper. (I have been working on that for some time. It is paying off in spades.) that can only handle Physical labor, pump gas in my vehicle while moseying on down to the local dive bar, spit on the floor and mash up peanut shells. I didn't get his name but after the ice cold greeting I believe the physical description will have to do. I came up to the city to hang out with my brother who I don't get to see very often. My brother is even smarter than I am. Don't tell him I said that. It will ruin Christmas. 4 stars for the establishment. I won't make the business suffer. They had everything. Napoleon the bartender read more

The ambiance is pretty dark. The food tasted like average bar food. Their drinks are pretty good. The bartenders were accommodating. I just asked for something sweet and they made me a really good drink! I like that they have a bunch of games and you sign up for it so it's not like you are fighting other people to play. The bocce ball area is really spacious. They have seating around it and a lot of standing room. We went for a work event and it was a really great place for that! read more

See all

Great service and a great atmosphere. Their burger was absolutely amazing. Will definitely be back

We visited Game Room on a Spring Tuesday evening and our group had a great time enjoying attentive service and quick kitchen. The bartenders were equally as speedy, and I found myself appreciative of next level service! The game room theme does not disappoint, and I was excited to visit Milk Room which is a stones throw away. Overall a great experience! read more

This is one of my favorite places. Great drinks GREAT pretzel (best in town easy) and cool vibe overall. Will absolutely return

Was enjoying the sunset at Cindy's Rooftop Bar and decided it was time to head out. On my way out, I heard some music playing and wandered my way into the Game Room. This hidden bar completely changed our date night. They had great DJs working some record turntables, and the games were a blast. Would highly recommend for a chill date night or nightcap spot. read more