I came here on St. Patrick's Day with a couple of guy friends. It was packed when we walked through. Probably helped that there was free cover! The space is quite small compared to other clubs like Roscoe's or Hydrate. The bartender in the back was feeling the music and dancing along which was cute. He gave us a free drink for rooting him on. Haha. The music is more top 40s, which I don't really care about. I think that if I wanted something more low-key and intimate, I would pick this place. read more

So called "lesbian bar"... there was a misunderstanding with the bartender. We apologized but the bartender was incredibly rude and pushed us out of the bar for no reason, and when we tried to talk to him he was even worse. He was power tripping and pushed us out of the location despite us trying to reason with him. For one of the few "lesbian bars", I was surrounded by gay men who were pushing and shoving us at any given chance. There was one stall in the only bathroom that I waited in line for at least 20 minutes. Sad excuse for a gay bar and even worse excuse for one of the only lesbian bars in Chicago. Good music, but if you're trying to have to a good time, try somewhere else. read more

I've previously had a good time here, but let's be real. This is clearly the dive bar of Boystown. It's super small and crowded. The drinks are cheap af. That's the attraction. I stopped by here on a Wednesday night, most recently. It was a dud. We ended up going to Sidetrack, which was packed. Also no cover, but the drinks were almost double. Even so, it was worth it for the show and the crowd. read more

Great taste in music! I had so much fun here, the drinks were great, and bartenders were friendly. I hope yo come back here soon!

I liked the ambiance of this place. People seemed quite friendly. The space was small enough where you can mingle with other people. The DJ was awesome. He was playing hit after hit. I came here on a Thursday night. They had $5 40oz beer specials. Seriously, can you really beat that? I think that is great. It looks like there are many other drink specials during the week as well. read more

Scarlet has risen from the ashes. Well designed space, adorable bartenders and the boozy specials that only Boystown can deliver. Went in here for a lightly attended Yelp Gay Night and had lots of fun. Okay, it was just John B. and me and Mesum and Dane and a few other cute guys who's name I can't remember (forgive me!) yapping the night away and downing the Long Island Iced Tea specials. It was really funny to see people suckin' on paper bag covered fawdies, another of the specials - that always amuses. I walked in at 8 PM and it was absolutely dead, but picked up quickly without ever becoming oppressively crowded. This was a Thursday, though, what I call the New Friday. My only bitch was that around 10 PM, someone came by and took away our chairs at the bar. Hey! Time to go! Policy is policy, but it really wasn't crowded enough to really need the extra space. All that said, sure, I'd come back. It's a cute place, love the dishy bartenders, and a very friendly vibe. read more

I've been here a few times and while it isn't quite my favorite bar yet, it has a good ambiance and all around good energy to it. My first time going was during Market Days and it was packed. Tried the new UV vodka drinks - which were not bad. Bartenders were pretty cool. Second time around my friend and I went on a Friday night (the night LiLo was released from jail - haha!) and it was kinda empty - but the bartenders were having fun all dragged out like Lindsey. Anyway, I think I'd enjoy it more if there was just more room! read more

Oh Scarlet. I genuinely used to love going to Scarlet but they're unfortunately at a bit of a problem with their own success at the moment. The music is always good. The staff is super friendly and super fun. The themes and events they have are always interesting and they get people in the door! I love everything about the place, except the crowd. When there are other options in the area Scarlet is usually the very last resort, and only a place to go when out of town people are visiting. And, usually then, we're in there for about five minutes, if that before we head out. They also used to not charge a cover, ever, and now that they do on the weekends it becomes even less likely for me to want to go there (though you get a "free" shot of Fireball for the cover price). read more

Scarlet is everything you would expect from a bar in Boystown! I was first introduced to Scarlet the first weekend that I moved to Lakeview by a random group of drunken strangers. They told my group of friends that this was the place to be and I thank them to this day for introducing me to this place. My first visit was during the weekend of the 4th of July so the whole place was booming with excitement. love visiting Scarlet because there is always a good story that comes out of a visit. Unlike many places that I've visited in the surrounding area everyone seems to genuinely enjoy themselves. The DJ is always playing the best dancing music from today's artist or artist from the 90s. The DJ never fails to take the crowd back to the boy band era which makes the crowd go nuts. I one thing I love the most about Scarlet is that they also seem to have the same local rapper that performs during random moments throughout the night. Every time the person performs the crowd is so into whatever they are rapping about. There are a couple of things that prevents Scarlet from being 5 stars. The biggest thing that brings down their rating is the fact that they only have two bathrooms (one male and one female) and the bathrooms are always disgusting no matter the time of night. The second biggest thing is that overdue it with the smoke machine. I'm not sure if they are trying to slowing chock us with the smoke or make the place look more packed but sometimes you can barely see an arm length in front of you. Overall I love Scarlet because I know every time I visit it will be a good time! read more

Skip this place. It's a dry bar. Server was lame. All our drinks were mostly sprite. Learn how to make a lemon drop!! Nice music tho.

I don't normally check out gay bars but this one was pretty hopping early on a Friday night so my friends and I decided to stop in. The music was bumping, the DJ was grreat, and they even had a deal on Absolut vodka pitchers ($10 and you're set!). The dance floor is quite small, so you're constantly getting bumped into. However, I'd return here because it really is a good place to dance! read more

If your visiting from out of town DO NOT COME HERE!!! My husband and I have been wanting to venture in boys town and wanted to come for Gaga night and the bouncer didn't account our out of state ID's. (5/15/22) read more

By far best music and dance place for me. Bartenders are nice and cute. I liked the environment how clean it was...good job. Had a good time here. read more

I wanted to leave a good review to say thanks so much to the amazing bartender who returned a drunk girls debit card last night! I am so grateful you got that back to me! So much love for Scarlet staff for that. read more

I went to Scarlet for the first time last night. Soon after leaving, I realized someone had stolen my wallet. My wallet was inside my purse which was zippered shut. I reported it to the bartender and left. About an hour later the bar called me and told me my wallet was turned in however it was completely empty. My drivers license, debit card, credit card, health insurance card, triple A card, car insurance, social security card, and $20 cash was gone. Someone completely cleared my wallet out. Very disappointing and sad. I will definitely not be returning. read more

Always hit up Scarlet when other places in Boystown disappoint. Makes me wonder why I don't just plan to come here in the first place? Everyone is dancing, drinking and having an amazing time. Sexy, fun vibe and totally affordable drinks. PLUS if you are interested in women, this is one of the few places you'll find that has gay women. Some other places, if you can even find a girl, she's just lost her bachelorette party group and will be insulted you thought she could be a lesbian LOL. If you get overwhelmed easily, it is dark, narrow, crowded and loud. Makes for a perfect dance-it-out or dance-floor-makeout place but don't plan to chat or sit down! read more

If it were possible to give 0 stars, I would. Actually, negative stars... I would. I have never in my life been treated with such disrespect. I was in Friday, not my first time, with a group of about 10 people. Went outside to smoke, and when I tried to come back in the door men tried telling me there was no way I just came from inside. So we stand in line with our other friends, only to have the "owner" not let us in, because he didn't believe that I had been standing I line. So I walked to the owner, to try to explain the situation and HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOD and that I couldn't get in. I was disgusted with his attitude, and the way he handled the situation. I then had the security guard literally physically assault me. I weigh 95 lbs, and had perfect hand prints on my arms that turned into BRUISES. There is a difference between protecting your business, and taking advantage of a power position. I hope more than anything that they read this and DON'T treat future customers like dirt. That's how your business closes. I will never be going back, which sucks because it was my favorite bar. Ps- physical assault should be a last resort, not a first. Pss- Sorry I'm not sorry I had to resort to notifying the public of the disgusting way you treat your customers, but your voicemail box is full, and the cell phone that you have listed as your business number is always turned off. read more

Scarlet - :/ almost a week later, the leftover bruises from the doorman when I tried to get BACK in the bar - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Let's see ... Assless chaps, flagrant handjobs, phallic ballons with whipped cream jizz, bathroom beauty tips, 90:10 alcohol-ratio cocktails, more assless chaps, three trannies and a ten minute conversation with a stripper dosed in Burberry cologne with a penchant for tugging on his cock while chatting you up. Yeah, I'd live here. read more

I stopped in with a favorite Yelper for a short rock-star visit on a Sunday night to wish a new friend a happy birthday. DJ Psycho Bitch was laying down some fab tunes, so I grabbed a drink and let the music move me. I couldn't help it! My partner-in-crime for the evening directed us here and pointed out that one of my favorite bartenders was stashed away at the back bar! If the evening's Yelp rock-star tour wasn't enough, that bonus made my night even better! As it turns out, this place is quite the hidden gem and full of treasures. Snap! I stepped through a thick set of curtains and into a David Lynch dream. Enter the red-hot lair! A smaller back bar greeted me and led me into a more intimate setting away from the bustling dance music. A long, cozy-looking couch just begged for me to come back in again with a hottie to do a full inspection. Talk about ambiance! As I exited back into the main bar, I expected to find a giant and a dancing midget speaking in a mysterious language. Almost. There was a nearly naked dancing man dressed in a white g-string at the front of the bar. Although I don't know if this is a regular occurrence, I made a mental note to come back again with my pals that would thoroughly appreciate dancing boys. I should point out that by his shoes alone, I think my girlies may have a better shot. Though, I'm not one to judge. The other bartenders were serving up drink specials, mostly involving vodka. The regular prices are a little high, but nothing more than I would expect for the area. Scarlet, I don't give a damn what you have in store for me on my next visit. Be assured, I'll find myself on a path that points me back here again. read more

Awww Scarlet, why you do me like that? As you may know if you're in the know, last year Scarlet suffered a disastrous fire. The bar didn't sustain a lot of fire damage, but apparently it was soaked to the skin. Now there are plenty of spots on Halsted that could use a good scrubbing down, but Scarlet was still fairly young and healthy at the time. Scarlet closed. Last fall, Scarlet reopened, and in its honor I hosted a little event. All was going well. The bartenders were fun, if a little fetusy, and the drink specials were fabulous. $5 mini-pitchers of Long Islands, served with a glass or a straw, and 5 buck 40s, served in a paper bag. Decent music and plenty of seating. We bellied up to the bar. Until 10ish, when the bar stools began to disappear. First the empty ones, and then the ones we were using. While we were using them. The shaved head little barbacktress was very nice about it all. She recognized that we had been there for the past two hours when NO ONE else had been at the bar, and told us that of course, they weren't telling us we had to go. Still, it was our cue to go. Here's the thing. The bar was not that full, and there was no sign that it was going to get that much fuller. That said, there are three or four tables opposite the bar that were allowed to keep their chairs. At any time during the previous two hours, one of the staff could have said, "Just so you know, at 10 o'clock we clear the stools from the bar. So if you want to relocate to a table, you should do that now." We would gladly have moved -- and would have gladly have kept drinking and tipping for a couple more hours. Instead, they lost a half dozen patrons. Silly. Despite the policy, Scarlet is still a fun place to hang out. Though the bar lost some of its personality in the fire. A lot of the decor that made it seem like something between a speakeasy and a bordello is gone, replaced by the standard exposed brick and wood. Still, people seem to take their clothes off here all the time, which is a definite draw. There's a good chance that I'll be back to Scarlet and end up knocking it up a star or two. Though as more and more of my friends enter Recovery, any trip to Boystown becomes questionable. read more

I brought a bunch of people with me here and we got people dancing. Nobody was dancing when we got there. Some friends and I went outside to have a cigarette and some of the group was allowed back in while three of us weren't. The doorman told us they had people "monitoring" us and we specifically didn't buy any drinks. True, not all of us bought drinks but a couple of us including me did. Then he told me Id have to buy$100 dollars worth of booze if i wanted to get back in and that we were all "rolling". He spewed a variety of excuses and insulting accusations. We got their business going and then were thrown out. I wouldn't recommend this place for a good time. read more

I am so, so, SO disappointed with this bar. I've been coming here for years. After moving and not visiting for a couple years, I was so happy to be back in a familiar place. I'd bought a couple drinks and was dancing with friends, until I got thirsty; it a warm and tight space, so it doesn't take much to need to rehydrate. When I asked for a glass of water (with no ice), I was told it would $3. Guys, I'm not cheap and could easily pay the $3, but COME ON! I've been to every kind of bar, from dives to your über ritzy, and I have never been charged for tap water. What frustrates me most is that on a Saturday night, folks in the gay community could have alcohol and/or many other things in their system. For an establishment that is supposed to serve the community that has embraced it, it should treat its patrons with decency. Worse yet, the bartender was very curt in his response and then downright rude when I questioned the new policy. Then, to top it all off, the manager was just as rude. Apparently a top-down change needs to take place. I will not waste my money in a place that chooses to treat me as a nameless credit card, and I encourage you to do the same. read more

Good for start! The newest bar in BT. Nice atmosphere and good to chill or romance with someone !! . The owner is very nice and friendly / Thanks ! read more

Scarlet - a group of people standing in line at a bar - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice place besides the dripping pipe juices. Came here on a Saturday night. The music and environment were excellent and I had a really fun time dancing. Drinks were O.K. I'd suggest drinking heavily before entering. Cold water was dripping off the ceiling pipes over the dance floor. I didn't like it. The dripping became more frequent as the night progressed. Why. read more

I was a big fan of Gentry on Halsted, and I want to like Scarlet. (really I do) But by changing the look of the place, some how they changed the comfortable feeling that they had before. The staff is still amazing, you'll have to look long and hard to find a bar staff that is as friendly as these guys. I guess you could describe the new decor as trendy. It's a lot of wood and a lot of red. (sorry a lot of scarlet) The remodeling they did has made much better use of the space that they have and it still has that new smell. (paint and varnish) I still enjoy the place, mostly because of the staff but I'm disappointed that the cozy feel they had before is gone AND that they don't carry Effen Vodka anymore. Note: While proof-reading I realized I used the following phrases while reviewing a gay bar: "long and hard" and "a lot of wood". My apologies, it was purely accidental. read more

Scarlet is the newest addition to the nightlife options on Halsted Street, and the tenant of the former Gentry piano bar. The owners have done a lot to the interior to upgrade it to a nice upscale lounge/bar. One of my friends bartends here, so I've already been several times. They are planning a full opening around Dec. 7. As the name might suggest, the interior features scarlet hues and some nice decor. At the back bar there's very cool stained glass flanking the bar and low tables. They have some cool TVs that double as mirrors when they're not on and a DJ after 10 or so on the weekends and the bar is non-smoking (for the last month you can smoke indoors in the city.) Overall, it's a good addition and a much needed upgrade from the former space. It's nothing new or different for the Chicago gay bar scene, but a nice place to stop in. The crowd is definitely more of the S&M (stand and model) crowd that likes to think they just walked off an A&F catalog page...not my type of thing, but if you're into it - you've hit the jackpot. They do a lot of martinis and mixed drinks, so the beer selection is lacking, but I still find plenty to drink whenever I go. read more

I came out to scarlet a couple weeks ago and had a blast, however, trying to get a drink was nearly impossible unless you have a penis. It was to the point that the man next to me noticed my group of girls being obviously ignored and ended up getting the attention of the bartender within two seconds (we had been trying and ignored for at least 5min) and he was kind enough to even purchase that for us as well. Other than that though the music and vibes were great. A bit smaller so just stay on the top right corner of the place where the fan is if you can and you'll be good! Ouuu also their pitchers are SO good. Unfortunately I can't quite remember the name of the specific one we had but it tasted like kool-aid yum. read more

Very cool gay bar in Boystown. It's not particularly big, but I really the loungey feel and atmosphere. This is definitely more upscale than some of the other places in the neighborhood, and this reflects in the drink prices (not very cheap), but I really enjoyed it. The crowd was good looking, the music was good, and the drinks pretty strong. I ordered one of the their specialty cocktails: the scarlet martini ($9 or so). It was pretty strong and I liked it (although I was not a huge fan of the faint vanilla taste). Definitely a place I could see myself coming back to a lot. read more

Scarlet - a bar with bottles of alcohol and a stained glass window - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Note: The only reason I did not give this place 4 or 5 stars is because I don't think it compares to Roscoe's, Sidetrack, Hydrate, etc. But that does not mean that I don't love it here! If I were to describe Scarlet to somebody, I would say "its like minibar, only better/worse, depending on how you look at it. Let's break it down: Better: -same amount space, but not as crowded as minibar/cocktail -two main rooms and a mini-dancfloor (main bar in front, dance area in the middle, lounge area in the back with another bar) -music is different in both rooms -(gasp) their bartenders do not look the same! There is one Asian/Filipino bartender in the back on Saturdays, and in the front there is a white and black guy. very refreshing! -cute shaved-headed (presumably) lesbian who waits on you at the tables -"boys gone wild video" playing in the backroom -cheap drinks -diverse crowd Worse: -not as packed/crowded (if you're looking for that) -not as attractive/fake as minibar -bartenders not as hott as other places -people don't dance on the "dancefloor" -outdoor area in back is never open (who knows why) Other interesting bits of information: --I went last Saturday (for the 3rd or 4th time) and Scarlet was celebrating Madonna's birthday, which meant: free cupcakes and "happy birthday madonna" shots, and a $5 "mini" pitcher of vodka lemonade. That drink alone, last me almost 2 hours, and I was sufficiently tipsy. --interestingly enough, there was a price difference in the drinks between the front bar and the back bar. My boyfriend ordered a dirty martini in the front for $9 and in the back for $6 (he said the one from the back was better). --standard drinks are $5 (vodka cran, rum and coke, gin and tonic, etc) and well worth it! --the long island is made using a "long island mix", so it wasn't as good. All in all, this place is a great spot to hit-up if you're looking for a low-key night, or as a nice warm-up before a crazy evening. Enjoy! read more

I feel like I should be wearing a scarlet letter upon my bosom as I enter this bar, because this place is raucous, daring, and yet so much fun! I've been here a few times and enjoy it every time I come! The most fun I had was surprisingly on a Sunday at 3 in the afternoon after a wonderful unlimited mimosa brunch close by. And boy, was the place pumping! Individual boxes of cereal placed throughout the bar added to the brunch ambiance (a couple which I admit I took home and a few I ate there). The lights were dimmed enough so that I felt like it was 10pm outside already. The DJ blasted beats that made you subconsciously move your hips as you talk to the person next to you. The crowd was a mixture of everyone (all types of beautiful boys and girls). Yeah, I'll come again! And, Yeah, I'll enjoy myself each time! No cover, nice crowd, places to sit up front, I'm in! read more

Some points to consider when considering going to the reopened Scarlet: - music is WAY too loud-- if I wanted crappy DJ gay techno, I'd go to Mini-Bar. - bartenders are STILL charging different prices for drinks depending on the customer (for me it was $8 vodka tonic, for my friend it was $9) - drinks are weak and over priced - the decor is really nice-- better than the old Scarlet, but clearly the ambiance does not match the decor. Make up your mind, Scarlet. - the clientele seem to be just as confused as the management. You have your typical twinks, your dressed up men, or your casual, scruffy lookin' dudes. All ages. Maybe this is a good thing. - I was there on a saturday night at 11pm and it was not crowded. Again, this place needs to hire a better DJ and lower the volume. read more

I would give Scarlet a 3.5 if I could mainly because it's so damn small. This place is always completely crowded and there's never any room to move around but I suppose that's Boystown for ya'. I'll be honest, I usually wind up here at the end of the night because there's never a cover even on Pride. I also have to add that their music selection is always wayyyyy better than Roscoe's. Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure their drink prices are good too, but I'm usually too drunk to remember... read more

Happy Hour is insane, Dollar Drinks (Yes, $1 for a full pour drink) from 8-9PM every night except Sunday's 2-3PM.

It's Saturday early evening of Pride weekend. I walk in and see four guys at the bar, no one in the "couch area" by the window, and a bartender. My first thought was, "ok, it's early but come on people... it's Pride weekend!" A few more people came in while we drank our drink (we only stayed for one) but it never approached "busy". It felt more like any Tuesday night of the week (not to diss Tuesdays!). I was underwhelmed to say the least. The only good thing was I was given a pretty set of rainbow beads from one of the men at the bar who was feeling generous (among other things, lol). In hindsight, I probably should have skipped the "what do I need to do to earn those beads" question. He told me. ;-) We left and headed to Sidetrack where we discovered, that's where everyone was! If you're looking for a nice little quiet bar, Scarlet might be your place. I'll give it another shot next time I'm in the area. I don't want to be too hard on them after one visit. read more

I've been about 3 times in the past year and I've had a blast every time. Great music, nice people, and decent drinks. But it get crowded and very hot by midnight, but fun as hell nonetheless read more

This place is a must on Thursday nights.... My friend lured me here with promises of $5 40 oz. and giant bowls of Cheetos. Well, he delivered. If you can stomach the B.O. stench, and the ridic crowd, its worth it. I heart the DJ, even if he is in gay porn? oh, the gay rumor mill.... I danced my ass off last time I went, and got called "party girl" all night by all the MO's. (yelp, don't flag me for saying MO's. K thx.) read more

I will be honest: I stumbled in here with a group of friends after drinking heavily beforehand at Southport Summerfest. I had an AMAZING lemon drop martini and made friends with a fabulous gay man with gigantic hair. I am not sure if he worked there or was just a regular. However, I was sandwich hump-danced between two obvious lesbians, which was a new experience. No problem with anyone in the gay community- just caught my drunk ass off guard. Otherwise, pretty run of the mill gay bar...but that could be the hazy memory talking. I'll update again when I go there with a clearer head. read more

Didn't know what to expect when I went here on a Sunday night before the President's day weekend. It's too small to be a dance club, but that's exactly what I saw. Very loud hip hop music was blasting. The dance area was very weird, some people stood around trying to talk over the ear splitting music, others were trying to dance. I'll stop in another time to see what the bar is like on a non holiday weekend. read more

Came here on A Sunday for Rihanna nite & it was packed cuz it was Memorial Day weekend. They said the AC was on but it sure didn't feel like it cuz we were hot! It's a small club so my boy & i moved all the way towards the back hoping there wouldn't be too many people back there. It was good for a while til somebody stanked up the bathroom & we couldn't stand the smell so up to the front we went. There was definitely more room to breathe by the door. Even though I liked the music there was no dj playing it in order to mix one song to the other. There were pauses in between each song so I thought that was kinda lame. There's a ton of Riri music and remixes of songs that a dj can work into each other so that would've been better. Stop bein cheap Scarlet management & get a real live dj to play her music so the music doesn't stop & keep the party goin!! read more

Had so much fun here for my friend's birthday. Yes there are a good number of clearly straight women here as other reviewers have commented (there was a bachelorette party when we went) but for good reason - you can dance like you don't care without some skeezy guy randomly coming up behind you and... well, you know the drill. But there were plenty of guys, and guys did outnumber girls from what I could tell. In case you're wondering about dress code (I always fret about dress code with new places)... I was there on a Sat night and I'd say most people were somewhat dressed up, but not EVERYONE was dressed up. So lots of skirts and dresses for the ladies, though I didn't feel out of place in skinny jeans. I also saw a few people in what I would describe as more "everyday clothes" and they didn't really seem out of place. This bar didn't feel too judgy. Definitely not "pretty people only." Yet it still felt like a great party scene and a good place to meet people if you're a gay guy. Sat. night was loud and packed by 11:00-ish. I have no idea what it's like other nights, but on Saturday night don't expect to be able to sit anywhere. Very high-energy scene! Bartender in the back was super friendly and provided great service! read more