This bar tends to have good music but their customer service is absolute crap. My brother forgot his ID when he didn't close out his tab & called to see if they had it. They said they did, so he went to go get it. When he got there, a woman refused to give it to him & even went so far as to cuss him out for simply asking for his ID back. After a lot of arguing & blatant disrespect from Scarlet's side, they finally gave it back to him. This place is absolute trash. read more

Based off other reviews this seems to be a pattern. The employees are incredibly disrespectful and discriminating. I would give the place zero stars if possible. I saw a male bouncer forcefully and aggressively remove a female customer, physically shoving her out of the doors, when she was not sloppy, drunk, or disrespectful by any means. It's disgusting to witness a male physically push a female. To add to that, they also treated me disrespectfully, physically removing me from the bar when I was already peacefully exiting. I respectfully made sure that I was off to the side of the crowd walking towards the exit during the drag performance. A bouncer came up behind me and put his hands around me escorting me out. By no means was that necessary. He was friendlier than the other male bouncer that I saw shoving the woman but Scarlet in general seems to not exactly be LGBTQ friendly. It seems like based off other reviews the establishment is not friendly, welcoming, or inclusive of women. read more

Stopped in for one beer to check this place out. Scarlet is nothing to rave over but it seems to be a good place to start the night out....meet the rest of your crew, grab a beer and listen to the DJ spin some Kaskade mixes. read more

I absolutely love, love, love this bar! the staff is extremely friendly and the drinks are priced right and are NOT weak unlike mini bar ( god i hate that bar). The music is always great, cant go wrong with todays top 40 and techno. non of the R&B crap. if i wanted that i would go hang out downtown or wrigleyville with the breeders. i want dance dance dance! I adore the new decor. it feels very posh but not over done. I feel relaxed there. There are some nights and occasions where it is wall to wall people and hard to walk around but what do you expect from a popular bar. kudos to scarlet! you have my hard earned cash for when i need a good night drinks! read more

I hadn't been here since they re-opened, but was looking for a fun place to take my girl for drinks and maybe a little dancing. Michael at the back bar was great - may have gotten me smashed on the strongest g&t of my life, but great. Not saying it's totally mixed, but there were other girls there too and felt very comfortable. And we could dance! probably left before the party really got started, but good music and people were moving. so - no cover, good drinks, great music....we'll be back! read more

Been here a few times. It's a great place to go if you are already a little typsy and you want to dance. There is a line sometimes and it's a tiny place so it gets crowded fast! However, the bartenders are cute and their drinks are very strong. Great place to go! read more

I have a love hate relationship with this place. I love the music and the bartenders but hate when it gets so crowded, but I always have a good time here read more

for great, unadulterated drunk flailing and decent drinks with cute dudes. $5 cover on saturday that comes with a fireball shot ain't bad at all hahaha. only thing is, and i'm nitpicking, would be that i wish they would mix up the genres a bit more read more

I walked into a haze of smoke machine fog, music blaring, a free fireball shot after paying cover and a crowded dance floor. My kind of party. Music was on point all night. The bartenders are super friendly and actually give off a personality aside from just pouring drinks. The crowd wasn't pretentious like I'm used to. I'd definitely come back here next time in Chicago read more

We heard the music was great .. walked by waited I nine we didn't mind.. they let us in for free the cops and bouncer were sweet ....but there were two guys wanting to fight me and my friend who was a girl .. we walked in and they kept trying to follow us .. so we walked all the way to the back and they still look followed us and they tried to fight us yet we get kicked .. but the promoter and bouncer outside wanted us to stay to get them out but at that point we were over it.... and we weren't trying to be apart of that mess with two drunk gay idiots who clearly shouldn't have been let in. read more

This is boystown's best kept secret dive. It's not like Scarlet has the most unique set up, music, decor, etc...but it's the people that make this place so great. The bartenders are always very nice (both their personalities and to look at). The crowd tends to be friendly. Good staff, decent drink specials... We always have a good time dancing at Scarlet. read more

The bartenders and door guys are great. It's my favorite Boystown bar because unless you're there on an off day, then there will be a crowd and it will be dancing. That can be an issue (my friends make jokes about how our tombstone will read "He died as he lived: Crushed in a corner in Scarlet..." Okay, we're not very funny, but it does get really crowded), but if you wait about ten minutes when it's really bad it will empty out a little and you can carry on. Good music, good people, and cheap drinks, particularly on Thursday. What's not to love? read more

Great music one of the only places in boystown that you don't have to listen to techno ALL NIGHT LONG! YOU ACTUALLY CAN DANCE TO THEIR MUSIC! Probably why their doors are not closing like the rest. Music makes a club! Or kills it! read more

This past weekend, during Pridefest, my girlfriend and I came into town to visit friends and celebrate a great weekend with people like ourselves. When we got into town, we met our friends at Scarlet. I have been there several times before and have not had any issues, but this weekend we had a terrible experience that unfortunately ruined the fun and sense of community that we were looking for. My girlfriend and I had been at the bar about 2 hours and had ordered 3 drinks each. On the 4th visit to the bar, my girlfriend ordered us each another drink, got the receipt, and paid left a 20+% tip, same as the previous 3 times. After a second, before even walking away from the bar, my girlfriend decided that it was time for a Redbull and asked the bartender for a can. She paid the price of the Redbull and handed the receipt to the bartender. After noticing that she did not leave a tip for the Redbull, he said something to the bouncer and then turned back to my girlfriend and said "you didn't tip me, have fun tonight b****" and the bouncer came over and kicked us out, saying my girlfriend had had too much to drink and was stumbling around. This was beyond upsetting considering neither of us were anywhere near the point of having too much to drink, but we had to leave the bar and our friends. Thankfully our friends chose to leave too, disgusted and confused as well. Everyone knows what goes on at clubs and how much alcohol and other things people consume, especially during Pride when all guards are down and the main goal is fun and celebration...we were nowhere close to as intoxicated as other people in the bar. I was mad, my girlfriend was frustrated and embarrassed that she was kicked out unjustly. This was totally wrong, and I went back to the front door to speak with someone. I spoke to a bouncer who said that they were actually trying to kick out the girl behind us, not my girlfriend. Ok, well that did not make sense knowing about the nasty comment the bartender made to my girlfriend. Then a manger came over and confirmed that it was my girlfriend that was supposed to be kicked out and it was because she had too much to drink and was stumbling. HA! I was honestly in disbelief. The manager was so rude and based off of his behavior alone, I would never go back. I explained to him that we had had 3 drinks over 2 hours, no one was stumbling (in fact my girlfriend did not miss a step of the Baby One More Time choreography). I told him I felt sad that this was happening when we had come from out of town to visit our friends for a weekend that is supposed to be inclusive. The line and the wait were extremely long and I told the manager that I believe the entire encounter occurred as an attempt to remove women from the bar to allow more men in. I'll never go back and I hope that the parties involved feel ashamed for their behavior during such an important weekend. Actually, I might go back to hand the bartender the 50 cent tip he is owed and that he ruined my night for. read more

Yess haveing a date night with the wify and just our luck a drag queen show Heyyy Heyy 2019 looking awesome

I like things that are more than one thing. Scarlet is ostentatious, but it's also dive-y. Great music, (usually) fun crowd, best bar staff in town. read more

I don't go out to bars very often... but I enjoyed Scarlet. The dj really tapped into and enhanced the mood.

The bartenders are super friendly the only problem is that it is super crowded no room to dance and people are constantly bumping into you mostly drunks read more

I really got a bad first impression of this bar and I won't be going back. I came here for a birthday party for a friend and upon entering I definitely was liking the music. It was current and older music nicely combined but that was the only good part of my experience. The crowd this place attracts was young and rude. I love boystown and I frequent the bars but I had never been in a place where people purposely push you around and have no regard for other people's well being. At some point I felt like I was in a mosh pit. When I went to use the bathroom, that destroyed all possibility of me ever going back. The bathroom was disgusting, but then again I wasn't surprised because of the patrons that this place obviously attracts. No soap! No hand soap! Eww!!!!! I will not come back again. The beauty of boystown is that there are many other better establishments that I would rather give my money to. The awesome music could not save this place. Thank you but no thank you. read more

Greg the bartender is completely heartless. I asked for a tap water, and was told that they only sell bottled water - at a very high price. I had paid a cover, and was ordering a bar drink to go with my tap water. For Greg, this wasn't enough, he was very insistent that in his bar, people pay for water. I will never come back. read more

Asshole door guy. He checked my purse but no one else's in my group. I felt picked out and I don't like that. Never returning again, even if you get a free shot when entering. read more

Will keep it short. First visit here, after reopening due to the fire. $8 for an extremely weak vodka tonic. The glass was 90% ice ... maybe 3 oz of liquid at most. You want to make customers happy, make a better first impression after your reopening than this. Won't be going back. read more

Such a terrible venue! Always too hot, too packed, and too dark. Not to mention the completely unattractive guy with purple hair that thinks he should hop on the bar shirtless all the time! Talk about the literal definition of butterface, but even with his abs, his face can not make up for it! Terrible place! Just keep walking past, don't get drug into this place. Oh and not to mention there's about a 90% chance you'll get pickpocketed here, so you won't have fun and will have to end your night early cause you've been robbed! read more

I waited in the line for 30 minutes while it poured rain and sleet in near freezing weather. I got inside and the bar was not even close to being full. You made me wait in the freezing rain so you can have the appearance of a line. Never will I ever spend a dime in this bar. read more

One of the best bars in Boystown!! On Sundays they have $12 buckets of champagne and a great DJ!! Super fun place!

i like scarlet, it's a little less flashy than some of the other places in Btown. the drinks are strong and i always have an interesting time when i go here. read more

This place is awesome :) I love great music and a full house. Wish it was bigger and had a second ladies stall.. besides that Scarlet is one of my favorite places ever to go! read more

I would give zero stars to this place If I could , this fat, bald "security" guy wouldn't let me alone. It was closing hours and he kept pushing me physically and yelling at me to get out . When I Kept insisting to please stop! He kept pushing even more. I understand it's closing ours but when your business is small and there's only one main entrance And exit it can get congested. : they play good music / drinks are ok. Other than that because of the fat bald guy " security" I won't be going back . How rude to treat a paying Costumer like that. read more

Best music in Boystown. K-Neal is a god. And the crowd is always fun.

My friend left Scarlett and they did not let her back in. She did not even start drinking!!! Just because she is a midget, with a higher pitch voice, that looks young with heels, they did not let her back in!! They assumed she was fucked up!! She did not even start drinking!!!! Her phone was dead and THEY DID NOT CARE!!!!! How dare you leave a smaller lady by herself!!!!!!! I cannot believe there shitty hospitality!! THE FUCKEN WORSE PART WAS WE WERE THERE FOR VIP FOR MY OTHER FRIENDS BDAY!!!!!! Shitty a** service! read more

Not only the best gay bar in the city, but also the best bar in the WORLD!

Great place to make a stop while you're at boystown. The smokey effect looks so nice. Drinks weren't very strong so I wouldn't make this the first stop on the list. read more

$5 mini pitchers of booze = 5 stars, minus 1 star for all the farts I smelled last Thursday night.

Love the vibe. The people are pretty nice, and I got a stoli for $4 on a Wednesday. The DJ was playing crazy mashups that we all loved. I've been many a night at this locale, and will definitely be back -- a much more interesting place to spend time than standing around at Sidetracks (with an "s"). read more

I hadn't been to Scarlet before. Me and one of my BFFs decided to go after going to a friend's birthday party on the Gold Coast. We went on a whim and didn't know what to expect. Thursday night is "Frat night" and there were plenty of games of beer pong and flip cup happening around us. The crowd was happening and the bartender was cute! He gave me a free drink since I was celebrating my birthday. The drinks were pretty cheap. I spent $20 including tip on three drinks including a Long Island Iced Tea. Music was hot and the crowd was pretty cute and young. This certainly is going to be my go-to spot on a Thursday night in Boystown! read more

SO MUCH fun. I went here to celebrate my birthday. Plenty of hotties throughout the place. The music bumping pretty hard which is why my friends and I decided to go in. I literally danced there for about 3 hours, it was crazy. A bit packed, but I guess that adds to the comfy feel of the place. I would give it a five star, but the drinks are a little to pricey for my taste, I mean $5 for a cranberry/vodka shot, way too much. But other than that I am so glad I went!!! read more

This place is a gem. It's not like Roscoe's, Charlie's or the other dance clubs. You'll hear music crossing 20 years all mixed together. It's small and can be a tight squeeze at times but this is one of the bars that you can probably be in New York, LA etc and people will know about it. Whereas other clubs might be more like a Big Box store, Scarlet is more like a boutique where you go because it's something special. Having traveled to other cities I can attest that people visiting Chicago might yawn at most of the bars but they will remember Scarlet. read more

Let's be real. If you are young and looking to get drunk for relatively cheap, listen to some of the best music, and dance. Go here. Staff is awesome. It's packed all weekend long and there's a reason for that read more

best gay bar in chicago so far...had good bartenders who are trained well...unlike mini bar..... only issue is walking through the dance floor...but ben with the mullet was cool and so was his pretty blonde bartender co worker...def recommend this bar :) read more

I've been going to bars in Boys Town for years. I've never really cared for Scarlet, simply based on how jam packed and crowded it is (it's long a long narrow hallway) but I haven't been opposed to grabbing a quick drink when out with friends at their location from time to time. However, after last night, I'll never go back. Long story short, a bartender was dancing on the bar. He was trying to get the attrition of a few patrons, but nobody was really having it or interested (or they were too consumed in what they were doing). I'm unsure if this deflated his ego as he danced in his underwear on the bar or what the issue was, but he proceeds to jump off the bar. As he jumps off the bar, he has a full vodka drink in his hand and throws it in my direction. The drink lands all over my friends and I, as my drink (not cheap either) falls to the floor as well. I proceeded to try and confront the bartender as to what his issue was and why he would do that. What did he do? He smirked and proceeded to work. I asked MULTIPLE employees where their manager was and not one could point me to someone of authority. As I was leaving, I asked the door worker for assistance. A "security manager" came outside to talk to me and stated "that bartender js one of the managers" but could not point me in the direction of anyone else. He couldn't even tell me the owners names nor the name of the bartender. I've been in the customer service industry for 10+yrs - and there's absolutely no reason when customers are spending good money to enjoy your establishment that they get treated with such disrespect. The rest of my night was ruined, money wasted, clothes stained from the mixer used in the drink and wet. I'd highly advise spending your money at a place where they understand how to treat their customers. Now, I understand "one bad seed can ruin things for the bunch" but when not even ONE employee offered to guide me in the right direction, refund my drink costs / cover, or try to remedy the situation? That speaks volumes. A vast majority of us work hard for our money. Spend it at a place that values you not degrades you. read more