Liars Club is exactly what you'd imagine a punk dive bar should be: gritty, raw, and loud. From the chicken wire around the lights to the posters on the walls, it's everything a hole in the wall club should be. It's small, loud, and sweaty in the best way with an energy that perfectly matches the scene. Plus there's a TON of KISS memorabilia all over the place which is cool. We did have an issue with a VIP/chair upgrade we paid for; staff told us it didn't exist, which wasn't great. Thankfully, the artist reached out afterward to make things right, which we really appreciated. They stayed open late even though the schedule ran long, making sure all of us had a chance to grab merch and a selfie. That extra effort was really cool of them and made the night even better. It was a great night with a great crowd. read more

See all

Awesome place with big history. Awesome cocktail and bar staff Awesome music and atmosphere read more

Liar's Club - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Liar's Club is an absolute gem for nightlife lovers! The vibrant atmosphere coupled with quirky decor sets the perfect stage for a fun night out. The drink selection is incredible, and the bartenders really know their craft. You'll find a mix of people, from locals to travelers, all enjoying the laid-back vibe. It's just the right spot for a chill evening with friends or a lively night of laughter and stories. Plus, the occasional live music adds to the charm. Highly reco read more

Came for a concert. Jeremy was doing great behind the bar. Ask him for a Long Island with pineapple juice. It's pretty good. Will be coming back read more

Liar's Club - CatTag Music. Getting ready to perform. - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not remotely my scene, but I went to support BFF's BF. If you like local music that sounds like it emanates from a garage, why not go to this one, where they charge you a cover. read more

See all

Great show and overall experience if you're looking for authentic punk rock. The crowd is way older and mild than expected, but the bands go hard. read more

It was a little loud but out meetup group attended this event. I would recommend it for casual events and kareoke! read more

See all

Really cool spot. You wouldn't even think it's a functioning bar from the outside, but when you walk in, you're greeted with a really neat ambience. It reminds me of the salty platoon from SpongeBob but with an incredibly friendly staff. The music they have is great. Super cool bar- 10/10 recommend read more

Fantastic punk rock dive bar. I highly recommend. Cool employees. Great service and prices and really great bands. A Chicago must for anyone into punk rock. read more

This is a proper, punk dive. It has the music, it has the atmosphere and it has the appropriate amount of KISS memorabilia.

Super solid place !!! Great sound system and super friendly staff Only down side not super cheap and odd location But a def must checkout if you like punk music and nice people read more

Liar's Club - Stage - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

PEGBOY 09 13 13 Why Liars Club still rules with 5 stars. It does not get better than this joint. How can a place that looks dirty and scary and tough be so . . . fun, and at the heart of it - friendly? The bartenders GET the "always be charming to chicks" rule. The music is GREAT! The bathrooms are CLEAN! The stage is DIRTY! The patrons are dressed in LEATHER! The way it should be! The guys can mosh all they want, and I can squeeze over to the side, not participate in that, and not get my glasses knocked off, and we can ALL enjoy being pummeled with the power chords of kick ass live punk rawk. BRING YOUR EAR PLUGS. I could do without the influx of suburbanites on weekends, but that is not the bar's fault. Plus, they have a great logo and always have. read more

It's a fun punk dive bar. I mean that in the most sincere way as I love dive bars. Salt of the earth patrons who are friendly and welcoming. It's not some big corporate bar, it's a neighborhood spot with good music and great drinks. Almost as good as Exit Chicago (RIP). read more

Awesome bar. Great bands and terrific staff. Place is on the dark side but stage and room in front of stage is ample.

I do not know what its like to come here every day or every weekend. I heard this was a pretty good spot. I dont have a full beard, am not a hippy. This pretty much is a biker bar. The door guy was a few shekels short of a ham sandwich, all his oars were not in the water. Told me its a $5 cover. Gave him $20 gave me 4 $5's back. Not sure what noise was playing. This was 2 weeks ago on Saturday Night. Looked like it was duck dynasty night or whatever night it was when the average guy is 280 lbs and has a long beard. I will try it again and bring some friends this time. If there was punk rock karaoke i would come back on that night because that could be fun read more

The 5-star rating is for the time I went to see some bands at the Liar's Club a few months before all the lockdown nonsense started in Chicago. I was excited to see that they had opened back up, so I bought a ticket online, then found out they had started requiring medical information checks at the door, and masks inside, so I cancelled. I'm curious to know whether or not these restrictions have affected the size of their crowds. read more

Whenever I'm in Chicago my one mandatory visit is Liar's Club. My aunt, Wrigleyville, and any other interesting places have to wait. Friendly staff, easy going vibe, usually excellent music and live bands are all part of Liar's Club hold on me. Can't wait to get back there. read more

Every so often I meet a friend out at Liar's Club and have a great time! It's the kind of place that's haunted by punks that have been going there for 15 years, and it really hasn't changed much since then. It's dark, loud, and the beer is flowing like wine! Liar's has a good selection of beers on tap and the bartenders are super nice and quick with a refill! I've come here when bands have played here before, but I don't think it's a regular thing. Saturday was 80's night and the back room has a dance floor. The DJ was cranking out vintage Prince, PYT-era MJ, and the dance floor was never empty! But what makes Liar's fun is also their biggest detriment: wasted people. The clientele is usually pretty punk, but on 80's night there were way too many drunken biffs and muffys bumping me, spilling their beers, and this girl ran into me like Matt Forte trying to score on a Fourth-and-Goal, trying to catch up to her friend. I then nailed a guy in the jaw with my shoulder because of it. I'm lucky he saw her drunk ass and didn't kick mine! At that point, it was time to go. I'm sure in six months I'll be saying "Hey, what are you doing next Saturday?! 80's Night!!" read more

What do the following artists/songs have in common: Digital Underground, Tom Petty, Estelle, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Lady GaGa, New Order, Michael Jackson, Blur They can all be heard coming out of the DJ booth at Liar's Club, at least on a Saturday night. It was a little unexpected since the booth features a carboard cutout of KISS. When I walked in the place was pretty empty, making me less than thrilled about having to pay a $5 cover; I hate cover, but I was part of a group and had no veto power. The music was going, but there were only three people on the dancefloor, including a one-man dance party (OMDP). Seriously, OMDP was a hoot when he wasn't playing some serious air guitar or stunning us with his "unique" dance moves, he was making bedroom eyes at the disco ball. We snagged the table right off the dancefloor, got some drinks, and waited for the music to inspire us. Pretty soon people slowly, but surely started trickling onto the dancefloor. Before I knew it the place was bumpin with an eclectic crowd to go with the eclectic playlist: * Hipsters - check * Yuppies - check * Drunk Cubs fans macking on the dancefloor - check * Suburban ladies out on the town - check * Susan Boyle doppelgänger rocking out to Slam by Onyx - check* Reportedly this place is a scary punk bar and maybe that's true, but if that's what you're looking for you'd be sorely disappointed rolling in here late on a Saturday night. There is an upstairs part of the place I didn't see, maybe that has a different vibe. The only real negative about this place (aside from cover) is the ladies room. It's in dire need of a plumber; when I got there the sink was clogged, nearly overflowing. By the time I left the toilet had thrown in the towel too. Bottom line: I'd come back preferably before cover kicks in to grab some drinks and shake my booty. * Yes, you know the song: "SLAM! duuh duuh duuh duuh duuh duuh Let the boys be boys!" read more

Liar's Club is a destination venue with character and I've never had a problem getting a cab at 2am. Street parking is also easy compared to other areas of the city. The facade looks very boring but step inside this narrow battle cruiser, check your coat upstairs and get a few drinks. Once you're lightly toasted and dancing with your friends and the DJ plays Blondie, then Billy Idol and then Beastie Boys, you'll discover what it's really all about. read more

great bar. love the music blasting in here. they also have live music and bands. for a dive bar it doesnt smell like a nasty toilet - which is awesome. the tshirts are very cool too. decent selection of craft beer, but the prices are amazing. fun staff, plenty of room to sit, and the overall dark and creepy atmosphere is right up my alley. would come back here all the way from jersey in a heartbeat! read more

I deducted a star because they're cash only, and the sound system (live music amps) is entirely too loud sometimes; yet sometimes fine...very hit or miss. Otherwise, nothing to complain about. The staff is incredibly nice, as are the people. Oh, they should expand the women's bathroom, but it's clean. It's a punk bar, people. Period. read more

Been wanting to check this place out for a while. Cash only? No problem...but don't be a jerk about it. I'm literally trying to give you money for a shitty drink. I won't be back until I become a hipster and wear more black...maybe then I will be "accepted" into whatever scene this place is considered. Dive is not the right category. read more

Absolute and total classic. Great staff. Owner is a whirlwind of nice

This is based on the bartender not knowing how to make any drinks. He literally said this is a shot and beer bar, no cocktails. Wtf, you have the ingredients to make them so just do it you lazy sob read more

"What neighborhood are we in?" "... shit, I don't know." "No, seriously. Where are we?" "No, seriously. I don't know. We're off the map. I don't even know what street we're on." [six beers and a whiskey later] "DOES THAT GUY HAVE A HUNCHBACK?" "YES!" "LET'S SHOOT POOL!" "WHY IS YOUR HAND IN MY PANTS?" "ARE WE AT DELILAH'S?" "I DON'T KNOW!" If you want to sit in the dark watching drunks dance or maybe armwrestle a man with a pentagram tattoo on his head, Liar's Club is here for you. It's basically Delilah's but not in Lincoln Park. Or maybe it is. No one could figure that out. Regardless, the beer's cheap, the decor is tits and the drunks have a spot to stomp, flail, grind and whatever else constitutes dancing in this, the post-ballroom era. Also, having the sink/mirror in the toilet stall of the men's room is actually a first for me. You can really primp in peace, which is crazy important if you want to look your best for the girl with the lazy eye and the half-sleeve you plan on taking home later. I like Delilah's a lot. Liar's Club. Whatever. read more

Expectation: This is going to be a great dive bar I can frequent...a lot. A place where the women's bathroom has been out of service for as long as you've been old enough to drink, and inside the only working bathroom there's roughly an inch of standing "water." For you Illini, I'm referring to the Illini Inn -the epitome of a dive bar, where frequent goers get drinks on the house and you can play your favorite 90s tune at a whim by using the handy-dandy jukebox. Reality: This isn't a dive. It has to be a newly discovered meth house that only welcomes hipsters, meth addicts and those who do not bathe. Expectation: I will be able to go to the bar and get a drink. Reality: Perhaps it was my un-hipster disguise that perplexed them so much so that they did not want to serve me or my friend at the bar. The bartender clearly looked at us, looked away, looked at us flailing our arms and walked to the other side. I guess I shouldn't have left my large-rimmed glasses (with actual lenses) at home. Expectation: There's karaoke. We can sing a song. Reality: "We have a set playlist and feel like there's enough songs for the night. Sorry guys, you cannot sing an 80s rock power ballad like Poison's 'Every Rose Has It's Thorn. We'd rather hear the 20th version of "Feels Like The First Time." Expectation: Let's dance along to the songs in the MIDDLE of the dance floor. Reality: "Hey, we have shitty tables and this is a shitty bar. Can you not pound your fist on the table?" Hey jackass, I'm actually not by a table so I'm frankly not aware of how that could even happen, unless this is an inception-like experience in which case I'd really like to wake up now. All in all, it's difficult to explain the kind of disappointment I faced in even entering this dive bar. If I could use a series of GIFS to express my disgust for last night's experience, I would. Coming from someone who has frequented establishments like Rudys' in New York where the booths are made of duct tape and you never question the hot dogs because they're free, the Illini Inn in Champaign where I've stayed up until 4 a.m. just chattin' with some strangers, and this one bar on a beach on some island in Brazil that wasn't even open, I'm real disappointed, and it feels like the first time I was discriminated against for not being hipster-y enough for a bar. read more

I hate dance clubs--hate 'em--but I love to dance. I'm not twenty-something anymore so the 'see and be seen' clubs just don't do it for me. More often than not, if I am dancing in a bar it is because I have had one too many vodka/tonics and my girlfriends and I think it would be a good idea. It never is. I mean, picture it--two or three thirty-something women 'dropping it like its hot' in the middle of a divey pub. People stare. Not. Good. My visit to Liars Club on a recent Saturday night was the perfect marriage of dive bar and dance club. The back of the bar boasts a super crappy and uneven dance floor perfect for gettin' down without the usual dance club pretension. I felt like I was dancing at a friend's basement party--people just getting sweaty and having fun. Oh--and yes, Naked Guy was there and he laid it all out. I had no idea this guy puts on regular appearances, no wonder everyone was acting like a fully naked man dancing in a bar was normal. Nice. I had a blast and left with sweat-soaked hair and sore feet--a perfect night dancing with some friends. I *almost* felt twenty-something again! read more

God, this place sucks. There is no draft beer - strike 1. The layout is absolute crap - strike 2. It's WAY too loud - strike 3. I don't know why they even bother having shows here. The stage is all the way at the back of the space and there is barely any room in front of it to actually watch the band. It feels like you are in someone's living room. What makes it even worse is that the bathrooms are right there by the stage, so if you are hanging out in the front of the bar and need to go to the bathroom, you have to fight your way through a crapload of people and wait essentially right in front of the stage to get in to take a piss. It's just weird. Oh, and at 9 p.m. last night (a Friday and about one hour after they opened) there was already no toilet paper in the ladies room. Ugh. I don't mean to sound like an old lady, but the music is just too loud here. It's one thing if there is a band playing, but even the music they play between bands is just too loud. You can barely talk to anyone. I was literally hoarse when I left. I didn't give this place 1 star only because the bartenders are actually really great. Despite the bar being absolutely packed, they do a really good job of getting to everyone quickly and making sure everyone gets helped. I give them 5 stars, but the bar gets a 2. Probably won't be coming back here. read more

I was psyched for my first trip to Liar's because I was already pretty drunk and ready to make the dancing happen. I had heard that despite the punk bar feel, there was a dj with a pretty awesome music selection on the weekends. But someone should have told me that the place was full of sloppy LP moms and dads in North Face fleece so that I could re-route my crew. I mean, if that was my scene I'd just post up at The Apartment or move to Wrigleyville. I'm hoping it was just an off night...demographic wise. The dive bar look and feel is spot on, and I keep hearing great things about the owners. But then, the dj wasn't great either. I love a diverse selection, but this was just spastic: Dr. Dre to George Michael to Michael Jackson to Huey Lewis. I was there to dance, not reminisce about the 'good ole days' with ma and pa. On a different night, with a different crowd, and a dj that put up more dance tracks, this place would be cool. I guess I just showed up on the wrong night? =/ read more

Welp, I was not expecting that when I walked through the door. Liar's Club looks like a straight up biker bar when you walk past it. Open up the rickety door and you'll find a bunch of 20- and 30-somethings bouncing happily and drunkly to such classic artists as Taylor Swift and Tupac. I'm not hating on this place. It's just...interesting. The bar itself is very dive-ish, which is fine. Everyone here seems to have a great time. The music is very loud, so plan on screaming to your friends all night. The bartenders are fine and the drinks are cheap and decent enough. This place is not really my usual scene, but if you want to dance and drink for cheap and not worry about talking much, this is the place for you. And remember, cash only. There's a Chase ATM down the block if you don't feel like paying the fees at the one in the bar. read more

Liars has moved into regular rotation for me. It's always a good time! The beer is cheap. The music downstairs is awesome, always a crazy mix of all my favorites. When I'm there I feel compelled to dance, even if I'm not in the mood. The people watching can't be beat and the crowd is usually quite fun. If you want a more chill, metal atmosphere - head upstairs. If you're lucky you'll get to catch a glimpse of Naked Guy on the dance floor :) read more

This is a great bar- not a punk bar, not a Trixie bar, but a bar owned and run by rock-n-rollers that's overrun by trixies on the weekend! If you lean more toward being a rock-n-roller, find the upstairs bar and hang out with the Kiss memorabilia and pool table. The music's alway a good mix- you won't get an Afghan Whigs fix in many other places... Downstairs you'll have good luck finding a trixie from DePaul out to drink a lot while dancing it up to a pretty great mix of dance-able music and looking for Mr. Right for the night. This place is GOLD! read more

When I walked in and saw the crowd that was at the bar I thought "This is my kind of place! Maybe I'll hear a hard rock song or two" Truth is this bar doesn't know what it is. After dance song after dance song, which is fine they DO have a dance floor afterall, a Slayer song came on. I was at the bar and literally saw 6 or 7 guys start bobbing their heads to it. I thought "FINALLY, something for the front half of the bar to enjoy!" Boy was I wrong. They cut off the song off 2 minutes in and got even poppier songs the rest of the night. "they always pull this shit" - guy at the bar. read more

If you think this place is a dive bar, you haven't been to a fucking dive bar. That aside, it can be a fun place to do some drunken dancing. read more

I really cannot remember how many times I have been to Liar's Club. It is definitely a 'new' experience every SiNgLe time, which makes it an entertaining evening out. The drinks are reasonable, and the bartenders are knowledgeable. The decor is eclectic, and fascinating to gaze at through a vodka haze. The bartenders also belong on a "Who's Hip in Chicago" list. It isn't just their clothes, but their attitude and presence. This last time that I was in here was was by far the most memorable! I'm not sure if the theme was porn night, but there was a lot of nakedness. Muppet and old 70's porn was playing on the tele, AnD some random guy completely disrobed on the dance floor. He proceeded to dance with other patrons who were not appalled by his not so attractive nakedness. This made the whole scene rather entertaining. I kept asking myself where was the a**hole bouncer kicking him out.?! Instead he was just dancing butt a** naked for what seemed like 20minutes. Sooo I decided to take a picture of his butt, just to remember this night. I have to say that don't think this scene would not have lasted 2minutes in Wrigley. That guy would've been on the curb in 1.All in all..I know that I will be back to Liar's Club. You never know what to expect, and I'm all for the unexpected!! read more

I would definitely come back. The staff was very friendly and the drinks were reasonable. Very eclectic decor - lots of fez hats all over (fez lamps!), stuff game on the walls, bizarre pictures, etc. Very eclectic crowd of people - clubbers in their fancy clothes and high heels, yuppies, hipsters, punk rockers (mostly over 40), the tattoed and the old. Very fun group of people and a great place to go with your friends. We decided to come to this bar because it's a good place to dance without having to go to a shitty club like Soundbar or something stupid. They played a lot of good music (new wave, alternative, hip hop) we had a lot of fun hanging out at a table and dancing occasionally. My only two problems: $5 cover (99% of the time I refuse to pay a cover because there are so many other bars that will let you in for free - covers are just a rip off) and a really shitty bartender at the end of the night. The rest of the staff was super friendly, but the one guy working at the left side of the bar was a total douche. PBRs were $2.50 all night but, for some reason, he decided to charge me $4 for it. When I argued with him, he just told me to 'fuck off' and walked away to serve another customer. The bar was so packed that I didn't try to fight it... it would have been worthless on my part to stand around and wait to complain. I liked the rest of the experience, so I won't just give it an "A-OK" rating, but this really soured my night. read more

The first thing I will tell you is the drinks are dirt cheap and strong. (I'm not a big drinker but I know a strong drink when I taste one.) Usually when bars have drinks at 4 or 5 dollars a pop they load the cups with ice and water them down....Not Liars Club. You get your full drink at full impact. It's awesome... The place is CASH ONLY (there's a Chase up the street). Don't be confused when you pull up at night and your GPS says "arrived at destination" you look around and think maybe the GPS failed you because the only things around here are a empty lot and a abandoned building... that "abandoned building" is Liars Club. When you enter the place is shockingly nice albeit a little small but that doesn't become a problem until the dance floor gets packed... Which is another great thing, the people! The people that come here are awesome... it's a good mix of hipsters, regular club goers and hood folks. When I'm in the mood to save some cash, dance to music I love (hip hop, dance and mix) I always come to Liars Club. read more

wasn't horrible wasn't great.. it was like if a dive bar had a baby with a Trixie and a chad and then gave it up for adoption. gotta weird vibe from a guy.. then he tried to steal some of my friends coats... I would only come back here if a friend who's birthday it was and made a specific request.. read more

It's Saturday night. You want to dance but you have neither the patience nor the desire to deal with lines or some combination of bro dudes and dbags. Maybe you're too old for all that anyway. So what do you do? Impromptu party at your place? Do you just get plastered and go to Elm Street Liquors? No. You go to Liars Club. The crowd is a mix, the music is a mix and the drinks are consistently cheap. If you want something a little less rowdy go upstairs and enjoy the smaller (and more limited) bar, the Kiss memorabilia and the smaller (but in no way limiting) pool table. I've only been on a Saturday night but it never fails to entertain. So go that little bit out of the way to Liars Club. Have a cheap drink, dance to some Britney Spears followed up with Metallica and take silly pictures in the photo booth. But call me first, I want to go. read more