Really impressed with this bars accommodations during Covid pandemic. They temperature check, hand sanitizers, require masks, seat you at personal tables and require you to stay at them and not socialize with other tables on patio and serve you with mask directly to table to avoid bar and maintain social distance. The drinks are good and strong. The music and ambiance are fun even in the eeriness of the social distancing. Bar stops serving drinks at 11p but they give you plenty of notice. I felt safe and comfortable at all times. Boys town is doing it right! You still gotta live. read more

Went there during the day during Sapphic Saturday and LOVED IT. The drinks were pricey compared to home but SO YUMMY and strong! The staff was kind and gave you the most of your drink. It has such a fun layout, loved the patio and the rooftop. So many other gay women it was amazing read more

Sidetrack - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

rude staff/bathroom attendants before even 5 minutes in the bathroom could pass. felt dehumanized in the process of using the restroom. good music and kind bartenders though. read more

Great time with friends. It was Monday so it was musical Monday. All Broadway music. We didn't mind we came for the vibes and the drinks.

I was going to write this review months ago but I got Sidetracked. Or should I say Backtracked. It was some kind of track anyway. The guy, or rather several guys, that I met here, kept me, sort of, well, busy, this whole time. I've lost Sidetrack of time. But now it's finally time to post it. This is certainly the gay bar to end all gay bars. I can see why it has such great reviews. It's free to get in and the place is absolutely huge with about nine or ten different rooms packed full of very sexy guys. I have to say Chicago guys - I mean I was in here for a couple of hours and I got a lot of comments, like you know the kind that you would get if people wanted to have sex with you, however I did not get a single guy who offered to buy me a drink or who asked to start a conversation with me or something. Maybe I didn't look as decent as I thought I did. I was dancing and that was nice. There's some cute girls in here too. The music is pretty awesome. They played really great stuff on the big screens along with the music videos which look more like pornography these days. Especially Swalla Jason Derulo and anything (such as that) with Nicki Minaj in it. The funniest part was when Beyonce came on. And every single person in the club knew every single word of the obscure Beyonce song. And it wasn't even one that I recognized. I consider myself very knowledgeable about music but this is not a song I'd heard and every person in the club knew every word. That's when you get the feeling you walked into somebody else's party. But it's a party I enjoyed, and it's free - you can't argue with free, you just can't. Five stars, hands down. read more

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The service is phenomenal here, bar tender's skilled and friendly and the music is great! You do not feel excluded by staff here even if you're one of the few ladies at the gay bar! Seriously beautiful spacious bar to get lost or found in!! read more

Very cool place. Friendly service. Cheap drinks. The video bars are very cool. The crowd is also very diverse.

Whenever I'm in Chicago, I always make sure I stop in Sidetracks bar at least once, and I'm not even a huge bar guy, but there is something about this place that I just love. Each night has a special night, but I think Sunday is the most famous as it's Show tunes Sunday. Funny, I don't really even like show tunes, but it's just a really fun day there. It's one of those events that just brings people together and everyone is singing along and having a good time. Oh, and there is no cover too. What's not to love about that? What I love about Sidetracks is the size of it. I don't like going into tiny bars, this multi level has plenty of room for you to walk around and not constantly bump into people. The patrons and the staff always are friendly (for the most part). The rooftop deck is my absolute favorite part of the bar. There is a huge projection screen on the wall playing videos/music/movies. Drinks are typically pretty strong so that's a plus too, right? read more

Side track is one of my favorite bars in boys town. However I'm deducting a couple of stars because of my experience last night for the first time ever at sidetrack I had a rude bartender. I greeted him said happy Halloween then asked him if he knew any Halloween themed cocktails which btw I was going to tip him really well on if he could help me out. He just looked me dead in the eye and said no! I said oh okay and ordered a lemon drop. I wanted a martini and he just gave me a shot of a lemon drop and I couldn't taste any liquor in it and he looked miserable making it. He also didn't tell me my total before grabbing my card. I was just curious today if I was crazy or being ridiculous for asking if they had a Halloween themed drink so I looked up the menu so I would know what to order next time. To my surprise they actually did have a Halloween cocktail on their menu. He probably just didn't want to make it for me. Oh well.. now I know to look up their menu ahead of time. Just sucks cause I was bragging about this place to my friends and then we ended up leaving cause he made us feel super unwelcome. read more

Sidetrack - Wicked cocktail - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Although we didn't go to the rooftop bar, this place is big with different bars and different areas. Located in the heart of boystown in Chicago, the place can get packed with men of all ages and sizes. Music can be hit or miss depending on the night and time you go so it really depends on your tastes. A trip to Chicago and boystown is not complete without coming here for at least one drink. Great for people watching too by the way read more

Sidetrack is a staple in the Chicago LGBT nightlife scene as it provides a great atmosphere to be social in some areas of the bar, while also providing spaces to dance and let loose. The place is popular and there's usually a line to get in on the weekends (no cover, though), so keep that in mind. Feedback to ownership: please make Apple Pay -- or contactless payments -- more accessible in your bar. This will go a long way for lost cards and not having to hand off your card to various hands all night long. read more

If this joint was BYOB, I would still give it fours stars. Was here on Nov. 8th for their annual wine tasting fundraiser for Illinois Equality. I simply love the layout of the place...bar space everywhere. First time there I wandering from room to room, for some reason Poe's The Masque of the Red Death. Not because it had a dark feel, but moving from each room I had a feeling that each room had a personality. Crowd is always friendly and mostly cute. For the tasting, Sidetrack put out a lovely spread of noshy things. I got there at 6:30 pm, so was not able to get photos of the food before the masses got into it. The tasting was for charity, so that was good enough for me as there were not a lot of wines that I would drink (some sparklings, so my focus was on that). Plenty of reds, if that is your thing. The only problem with the tasting is you get folks who do not move from the table after they have gotten their taste. I get wanting to discuss the virtues of a good wine, but this was the Gallo table. Keep it moving cause there is nothing to see or taste, it's Gallo. Otherwise, this is a great space for events or just to hang out. Bartenders are cute and friendly. Some of the older customers are lovely. Great accessories and shoes to set off their frocks :-) read more

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Without a doubt -- a must visit anytime you're in the area. Sidetrack has it all, regardless of what you're looking for in a bar: - Musicals on TV to sing along to if you're craving a group karaoke experience - Beautiful outdoor patio if you want to enjoy a nice summer evening outside - Frozen drinks :) -- the most I've seen anywhere - Awesome drink selection, of everything from craft beer to wine to any type of liquor you can think of - Tons of special events, which are all well executed - Spacious interior, you really never feel crowded when you're in here. This is probably one of the few bars where you can easily lounge around and feel relaxed. - Upscale vibe but reasonable prices. - Awesome dance area. But with taller ceilings, reasonable volume levels, and not excessively crowded. Once again, definitely a must visit anytime you're in the area. Great to visit alone or with a group of friends. read more

ANNA is amazing. She's is kind, hard working, and never hesitates to talk to the patrons.Give her a raise because she makes everyone feel at home and cared for. We love her. read more

I'm sympathetic to the struggle of trying to make money 1) in Chicago; and, 2) during a pandemic, but $15 for a 12 ounce (8 ounce?) solo cup with some alcohol is very unreasonable. $15 for one drink ... Bouncer didn't check our ID. Server only came over once (to take our orders) in 45 minutes. I don't remember it being like this pre-covid. It's a shame. read more

S/O to Ana for being amazing and helping my partner find the perfect drink!!!! Love the atmosphere!! read more

Sidetrack - a drink and a drink on a bar counter - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I want to start off this review by saying, if you live in Chicago and you haven't been to Sidetrack, you need to make a visit. Ordinarily, Sidetrack is an amazing place with 7 (really 6) different bar settings that has an option for everyone. Take in the sun on a nice day on their roof deck while drinking a froze. Sing along to your favorite showtimes three days a week. Watch some of the best drag performances in the City and even catch episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race. Most importantly, hang out with friends, new and old, at an establishment that is truly welcoming to people from all walks of life. During Covid, Sidetrack really is the gold standard when it comes to safety, and it is noticeable from the moment you stand in line. Staff is frequently checking to make sure groups are socially distant on the sidewalk. Sidetrack was the FIRST, to take temperatures at the door, consistently collect names and phone numbers for contact tracing, and solve complex issues of how to provide outdoor seating, in compliance with City and State requirements so that patrons could continue to enjoy their experience without skipping a beat. Sidetrack cares. They care about us, they care about their staff. They asked members of the community to donate to an employee support/relief fund and provided the value of the contribution back to us in gift cards, including $25 free if you gave $100 or more. This wasn't required of them by an ordinance, they just did it because they are good people. Having been a consistent presence at Sidetrack, beginning with the first day they were able to re-open, I have had the pleasure of connecting with the staff as they are serving tables and the familial aspect is evident in anyone you meet. They all work hard to support each other and it clearly shows that they care about making the guest experience the best on the strip. I've read through some of the previous reviews and am happy to see so many 5-star reviews, mainly because the accolades are well-deserved. To those who gave lower ratings, its befuddling that your experience represent such a significant outlier compared with the other reviews (both on and off Yelp). Sure, sometimes a drink is going to be made incorrectly, and sure, sometimes there's a ground swell of new tables and, especially with the learning curve on serving tables, you may have to wait a bit for drinks. I think we can all be better at being forgiving and supporting and, as such, I propose two solves to your particular problem. Order 2 drinks at a time, something I'm really good at, or find a manager/supervisor and respectively ask them to help. I assure you that whatever issue(s) you had, you can resolve them with some kindness. I can't wait to resume 'normal' times, but whether its normal times or Covid times, know that you CAN ALWAYS HAVE a GOOD TIME, at Sidetrack! Signing my name to this review, so that you know its a real review. Best Regards - Chris Algera read more

Sidetrack is definitely the gold standard of Boystown. We went on a rainy Showtunes Sunday at about 6 pm and it was already super busy. I'm sure their patience gets tested as the day pushes on but the thing I noticed was how NICE everyone was there- from the door security to the bussers to the bartenders, everyone was friendly and cool! And trust me- I get it, I have seen more drunk women acting like fools in gay bars than I could possibly count but it's nice when the staff don't automatically assume you're like that. Sidetrack is so big that it's easy to move somewhere else if you want to sit somewhere lighter, darker, etc. It's not exactly going to be quiet anywhere but like hopefully you expect that going into a night club, right? There are screens everywhere playing the musical theater songs and there was a nice mix of classics and contemporary. We tried the pineapple Mai Tai slush and raspberry rose slush and the latter was definitely our favorite. I think they also had a grape and a cherry one that day. There's something so fun and silly about a boozy slush; I can never say no. I'm sure a Friday night or a drag show would be a different ballgame but Showtunes Sunday was for sure a hit. I will gladly pick Sidetrack when in Boystown. read more

I have been here a number of times, but the distance from home prohibits me from coming more often. I love the Monday Showtunes! I like the areas where the bar looks out the windows. They are friendly, have good drinks (careful with the slushies) at good prices. It's a fun atmosphere, even for us ' breeder girls'. I came for the fundraising Holiday party; drinks were super cheap, and there was good food. I think (correct me if I'm wrong) it's a good place for 'newbies' and 'veterans'. read more

Sidetrack - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tonight this place failed me. I have always had this place in my heart. On my way here my boyfriend had a medical emergency requiring simple assistance. The bar provided the bandages and alcohol pads to our gratefulness. Things turned when I aided my boyfriend in the bathroom and was promptly told to leave the entire establishment. I explained that I was simply aiding my boyfriend in his injury. We were thrown out while in the mist of bandaging the cut. Why? We were not hurting or disrupting anything. Our goal was to stop the bleeding, get a drink, and sing. The bar tender and patrons made us feel like mutants, less than, inconvenient when they had provided us with the aide of bandages and alcohol. read more

Had the best time there for Sunday Funday Show Tunes. The bartender Adrian was super friendly, nice to look at, and knew all the words to the songs. Look for him in the Cherry Bar and you won't be disappointed. read more

Loved this Gay Bar in Chicago. I came here with my husband and uncle during our vacation. It was very trendy and one of the best gay bars we have been to. It was clean and I loved the multi levels and different themed rooms. The drinks were reasonably priced as well. I will defiantly stop here every time I come to Chicago. My Uncle's Airbnb host recommended it from other bars and I thought it was the perfect way to spend our last night together. read more

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Hands down, our favorite bar that we visited while in Boystown. In fact, we liked it so much we came here for a pre-dinner drink, then stopped back for a nightcap as well. When we first came to Sidetrack on this Friday evening it was early, probably around 7:30, and we'd come here because we heard they had a rooftop bar. While Sidetrack seemed quiet from the outside, once we came through the entrance and had our IDs checked, we found a dark, multi-level space with a huge projection screen on one wall, FILLED with gays singing show tunes and TV theme songs! Lol. We went to the next room, which has a long, rectangular bar, cheery circus-themed decor and was brightly lit due to the large, curved glass skylight above. We had a seat at the bar, each ordered a beer and sang along with the show tunes which were also playing in this room, along with corresponding videos that were being shown on all the large screens around the bar area. Unfortunately the rooftop bar hadn't yet opened, but we were happy here nonetheless. When we returned later that night, Sidetrack was in club mode, with a DJ spinning in the larger muti-level room (which has a dance floor and large bar on the lower level and seating around the upper tier) and that music and related videos were playing in the adjacent bar as well. We were excited to check out the "rooftop bar" that a few people had recommended to us, but were a bit let down. It's not really a rooftop bar in the traditional sense, in that there's really no view from this place out onto the street in front or anything like that. It's got high walls all the way around it, so it really looks and feels more like an open air patio vs. what one might think of as a "rooftop bar". Bartenders were fast and friendly, drinks were reasonably priced with imported beers running $6 each before gratuity. The one unfortunate thing about this place is that it's difficult to judge how busy it is just by looking in from the street. Had we known how full it was and how much fun the crowd was having, even that early on a Friday evening, we'd have come here sooner. Lesson learned! Note that this place closes at 2 a.m. but there are bars within walking distance that are licensed to keep their doors open until 4. read more

As a person of color this is not a place I'd choose. The musics is clearly directed at a specific demographic, which works for the client. As a person of color who'd like to feel more included you should check out progress or even roscoes... read more

Always fantastic to come back here. It's a huge huge place with many bars and a roof deck. They have times where they play musicals clips, people didn't join in as much as they used to on the times I was there recently but like everything there will be good and bad nights. This is one of the best gay bars in the world I would say. They keep it nice with updates to the decor over the years. Massively recommended. read more

Some things change and others don't. I haven't been to Chicago in four years (mostly family visit out here in California or Vegas (where other family leaves). Weather is a factor as well as just time and distance. So I was out on a Friday night post dinner with friends who was visiting Chicago for the first time. I would have taken them here but I wasn't sure what they would expect. On the way, I got a ticket (driving my sister's jeep) and was thinking the rest of the night would be a washout. Parking is a premium in this area years ago and continues to be so. Luckily I found a spot that didn't require anything after 9 pm. So the bar across (R*****) is no longer the same. New places but old places (neighborhood bars still exists). I got in to Sidetrack which continues to expand it's spaces. I am aware of the second bar and the rooftop but the side area bar was something new. I would say it's a nice space and perfect mix of young, old, straight and gay. But mostly younger crowd in groups. I was by myself and basically had one drink and soda the rest of the night. I guess I am not built for late nights out anymore. I did enjoy observing the crowd. They had mini giveaways during the time I was there (not my style anymore even as a Yelper). I am coming back in Memorial Day weekend to Chicago, I believe this will be as crowded as it was this past Friday night. read more

My go to bar in Boystown. The atmosphere is always lively and fun. They offer several different areas throughout the bar to give you different vibes. I'm told that they change the theme of the bar yearly...no idea if that's true, but I could see it. Drinks can be strong and they are good prices which in Chicago can be hard to find. Most nights they have themed in regards to show tunes or 90s or something along those lines. They also have a great rooftop area that is open most nights (shuts down after midnight due to it being a residential area). Definitely should stop in and see this place for yourself! read more

The drinks! Oh my lad the drinks! They are delish the best drinks I've ever had this place is the place to go for some of the most innovate, delish drinks and a fun crowd read more

I have to say that of all the places we popped into this was my favorite one by far. So much so that we came here every night we were in the city. If you are looking for a place that is welcoming and accommodating to just about anyone out there, this is where you should go. This place literally has a bar for any possible mood you may be in. Want to just chill out, head upstairs. Want to feel like you are in a lodge, got you covered. Want to gather around the dining room table, as my friend put it, sure. Tons of space that you don't feel crowded, yet intimate enough that you don't mind being bumped. Reasonable drink prices, excellent and attentive bartenders, all around a great time. A great bonus, no cover. One thing that irked me was that when I was leaving I had lit a cigarette before stepping in the direction I was heading and man was there a doorman right one me telling to get away. Be cool, I know, I was already leaving. read more

A spectacular of a bar, always so much fun and love the different vibes in each room. But I do miss Little Mix Monday, was always a great time. BRING IT BACK! read more

This place is special. This is an enormous joint with multiple bars showing multiple things on many many screens. They play Disney music videos, show sport games and even show award shows. They have special boozy frozen slushees - GREAT value at just $7; consistent icyness and made quite strong. I came in on a Sunday early evening and this place was popping! Seems like there's never a dull night. Staff was friendly and the bar snacks they serve are a really nice touch. I'm excited to come back in the summer and check out the rooftop which was accessible but enclosed since I went in the end of January. read more

A bar that plays show tunes and everybody sings along while drinking? Heck yeah...sign me up! I was in Chicago visiting a friend over the weekend, and we stopped in for a quick drink before heading out to dinner. Walking in the door, RENT was on the TV and blasting out of the speakers and half the mouths of the people there. Yeah.. this is my kind of place. We bellied up to the bar, ordered our drinks, and headed to a prime people watching spot as RENT turned to Hairspray and the patrons did their best Ricki Lake impression, welcoming us to the 60's. As for the drinks - the first vodka tonic I had seemed a little heavier on the tonic than on the vodka. The second one, a double, was just right. I'll keep this in mind the next time I come. read more

One of my favorite gay bars in Chicago for sure! It's always poppin! The first time I visited was two years ago for Market Days and it's understandably wall to wall packed. It's huge, too, so it's quite the attraction on busy weekends like that. Having been back several times since, they have fun themed nights like showtunes, drag, and more. They have several bars where you can get a drink. Bartenders are always friendly and serve great pours. My favorite part is the upstairs patio in the summer. It's spacious and a great place to get some sun and catch up with friends. Love a good Sidetrack moment! read more

Partner got denied at the doors for "showing signs of intoxication", by a bouncer that had absolutely zero interaction with my partner. I repeatedly asked what signs he is talking about because at that point we did not have more than two drinks at a different bar. The bouncer could not answer the question, and let two of my other (more visibly drunk) friends walk right in. No consistency, and unfair treatment considering that there was absolutely no interaction between the bouncer and my partner. She was 4 steps behind me before he looked over and denied entry. Honestly, wouldn't expect anything more from a bar that has allowed a guy to whip out his d*ck in the middle of the dance floor with no repercussion read more

Several reviews I read said this place had it all, and I can see why. There are several different bars, rooms, and areas for you to find a spot, seat, or friend, and all are accommodating, welcoming, and not excessively crowded despite the amount of people. The space is really nice and mostly open, and I got a good vibe overall. Here's the only thing this place didn't have, and it happened to be heavily important to me (and I would assume many) - A DANCE FLOOR or at least a spot in the venue for dancing. It was so odd, and I thought this couldn't be the case and kept looking and looking at various points throughout our couple of hours there. Of course, there's music (and good music at that!) all around but most people are socializing and drinking, which are both great of course. But give me a space to work it out. Sadly, that's not here. There was no cover, which was unexpectedly nice. Drinks are extremely reasonable (~$22 for two drinks and two shots), particularly given its location and popularity, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Thus, this is clearly the best Pre-Game Bar I have ever been to - a good place to go to have a few and have some fun to kick off the night before heading somewhere else. If it had solid dancing, I'm not sure I would've gone anywhere else. read more

As a gay man I'm always looking for a great gay bar. This is one of the best in the world. I've been coming here for over 12 years now. If you haven't stopped in here yet, don't wait. Go today. read more

My friend's phone was stolen during the night, along with many others. The management didn't check bags of people walking out nor conduct an official investigation (since they scan ID's of everyone inside) when 10+ people complained of "lost phones". Incredibly unfortunate that a safe space for many is being ruined. read more

This is one place that you can honestly call "A Sausage Fest"!!! But seriously- as part of a straight couple, we felt totally comfortable and welcomed (unlike some places that I could name). Everyone is carded on coming in so don't take it personally. Nicely decorated and the rest rooms are kept clean and well stocked. We found it easy to get a drink (or two) in spite of the crowds & the coat check was very much appreciated. If you are curious what "Boystown" is all about, this might be a good place to start. read more

Sidetrack - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not only did I have a blast here on a random Wednesday night, I dropped my designer cardholder on the ground and someone actually returned it to the front great establishment overall !!!! read more

I've been going to Sidetrack since the late 90s. I've always thought of it as a safe haven. Tonight I brought a straight female friend there and we got kicked out. I brought her to the side bathroom. I was told that girls should only go to the girls' bathroom, despite the "girls'" bathroom being full of men. I told the employee that all bathrooms were for all people and we got escorted out. Why can men fill the "girls'" bathroom but girls cannot use the stall in the empty side bathroom? Very disappointed. Very sexist. read more