I was here around midnight with friends (2 dudes 2 chicks total) all straight. No resistance no bad vibes but no one would talk to us. It's a lesbian bar. The drinks were small and not that strong. I tipped well but it's just not a place I would go to again. Lots of gay women and men, me and my buddy were only straight guys except 1 other guy who was making out with a female in the corner. Lot of cat calls by the females towards other female. Music was okay, bar tender was friendly. It was fine just not my cup of tea. read more

My fav. place in all boystown. I am there usually from like 5pm-10pm, so I cant say much for the late late night crowd. Bartenders are some nice ladies and alway, always welcoming. I would like to see more advertising and things like games/contests/events. read more

The Closet is a very small, woman owned and operated gay dive bar in Lakeview. Not much to the inside but a few TVs playing videos geared toward lesbians, video games along the back wall, and a small ""u" shaped bar to belly up to. The bathrooms are a bit dirty and they actually have to put signs on the doors reminding people that "only one person is allowed in the bathroom at a time". The drink prices are moderate but they do not take credit cards so shame on them. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners and chatting one afternoon over a few drinks. She described this bar as being a staple on Broadway. Having been there over 20+ years and enduring the many changes and prejudices in the neighborhood, this is a little piece of Lakeview history. Compared to all the other gay/lesbian/trans-whatever (how does one keep track?) this is my favorite. I like feeling comfortable and relaxed as opposed to the other gay bars where I feel the need to delouse due to the sleazy atmosphere. I was at Berlin a week prior and there was this guy who kept taking his shirt off at the bar. Hello!!! Try adding a little class to your life! This type of weird shit is what gives gay bars a bad name. The bar serves drinks till 4:00am, dancing is encouraged (I know from experience), and the bartenders are great if you go when Christina is tending bar. There were a lot of single men and woman in there so I can imagine that this is a good pick up joint. Other reviews mention big old mean woman at the door or in the joint making everyone else uncomfortable. I'm sure that issue exists as woman have a natural tendency to hate other woman for no apparent reason at all, but don't let that stop you from enjoying yourself. Door people are there for two reasons-1) to keep out the undesirables and 2) to make sure the bar does not go over capacity for fire code reasons. Many times a door guy/girl is rude because in their life this is the only time they have some authority or get respect. Let them have the power trip and move on. You're there to spend money and have fun with your friends, they have to stand in a doorway all night. I would recommend visiting The Closet after hours to get a few last drinks before the sun comes up. Just please, keep the shirts on till you get home. read more

With a name like The Closet....this place should be so much cooler. Too small, too boring. One time they wouldn't let my friend in and and the other time they had a shitty drink selection....hardly any beers. Yeah, my bubble was busted. read more

I love this place. My dog Walter enjoy his Sunday visits to get lots of loving from patrons and staff He loves Rose and Lisa the most. I enjoy my Bloody Mary and Walter loves the free ice cubes. If my dog loves it that should tell you how nice the people at at this place read more

The Closet - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Probably one of my favorite late night spots to go to. The staff is always awesome. Karyn is hands down my favorite bartender & Tasha is amazing. Love it here. read more

A reliable bar to visit. The staff run a tight ship, but are friendly and keep the place fun and safe. Cash only bar!

Went here for a Saturday evening drink about 9:45 pm. Probably about 30 or so people in the bar at the time. Not really all that busy. My partner and I went to the bar to order a drink. One of the staff asked us for our id's while my partner asked the bartender what drinks were on tap. She listed the beers while I was engaged with the other Staff member showing my I'd. I then asked the bartender what bottled beer was available, she became very agitated, threw her hands in the air and refued to give me a list. At first appearance she seemed to have been drinking as she was all over the place. We finally got our drinks and went to hang out by the window and sit down. A little while later I went to the bar for a second drink. The same rude and apparently drunk bartender ignored me for about five minutes. It was so noticeable that the patron next to me even acknowledged how rude she was being. The bartender came up to a person next to me. He was nice enough to point to me and say that I was waiting longer. The bartender through up her arms and walked away to the other side of the bar and began dancing. I guess my money wasn't good enough for her or that I wasn't a woman. I was thoroughly apoplectic about the situation as I did nothing wrong but try to order my second beer of the night. In either case, if the closet continues to condone such horrible bahvior, it's a sad day for our community. Mgmt of this place needs to get their house in order. The only bright side was that I saw the regular evening bartender outside as we left, explained the situation to her and she had to apologize for the other bartenders horrific behavior. read more

Went here for the first time last night. Many more fags than dykes. Bartenders were on point and poured heavy handed cocktails. $5 Tanqueray and tonics. Bathrooms got nastier as the night progressed, but really what bar bathroom doesn't. Personally, I wouldn't call it a hole in the wall nasty little gay bar - I"ve been to some much smaller and much more dirty. Typical gay bar music - Cher, Christina, Madonna, etc w/ corresponding videos. I wouldn't make a night of this place, but I'd go again for a drink or two. Get there before 1:30 or you'll be waiting in a line to get in. read more

This place is great to meet people, guys & girls! Yes, the staff aren't very nice at first but once you get to know them they are sweethearts! This is one of the only packed 5 am gay bars around! I just love the music videos they play! Parking in the area sucks! read more

Bartenders are soooooo nice and down to earth. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming as soon as you sit down and grab a drink. Since I have been going here all the usuals have become my friend and that's an amazing feeling . read more

The Closet - a man and two women posing for a picture - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Don't waste your time or $$$. The dark lighting hides the crude and scum on the walls, floor and bar. It's scary ! I may over look that if the wait staff would say hello or smile, but they do not. I got the impression you had to have a "secret password" to get into the club. There are tons of great places within 2-3 blocks that are fun and welcoming. I was told the owner's have not changed a thing in 25 years - well it shows. Maybe they should change the owners. I had a good time there once, but I think the staff has changed because the last time I stopped, I waited 10 minutes to get a beer while the bar-tender sat at the other end of the bar and talked to the only other 2 patrons. I swear, I felt invisable. read more

This was my first visit. I'm in town from Arizona for Cubs games. It's easy to find, nice neighborhood. We were waited on shortly after stepping up to the bar. We felt welcomed and the place was comfortable with noise level not overbearing. I would go back. read more

Fun, affordable bar! Nice, friendly staff. Great vibe.

This is a cute, homey little place with a lot of regulars. It's pretty quiet unless you go late at night or during an event. Staff is nice.

good place to grab a drink and play some darts...otherwise, it's nothing special. there were a lot of guys on the night i went but a fair amount of ladies. We had a good time though, nothing to whoop about... read more

I go here a lot but mostly for the laid back attitude, music and friendly staff. It's cash only and their drinks aren't huge or great and their tap beer selection is no bueno. But it's a great spot with lots of friendly people. read more

i ended up here really late saturday night with my fiance and a few of her girlfriends. dont mean to generalize but there was a really weird vibe and most of the people that passed by us seemed bothered by one thing or another. we stopped in once before a few months back and it was a lot more enjoyable. it could have been that it was nearly 3am and nothing good happens after midnight?!?!? i have only been to a handful of gay bars over the years but most of the time its somewhat enjoyable. sat night was a different story......it seemed every guy that came near us either stood on top of us or had something rude to say. i overheard this thing called "missed connections" which was very disturbing. i checked it out on craigs list and its flat out wrong. read more

Was visiting from Baltimore with a friend.... decided to check this place out. regretted that decision instantly. holy $hit, it was a FML / prison bitch type of moment. we quickly walked to next bar on the list, which was sidetracks. much better. I'd rather pay $5 for a beer than sit in the cramped dungeon that is 'the closet'. read more

Hold the phone! I was a regular (every day and every night) at the Closet way back in the early 70's. This was back before Rosie and Judy owned it, and Andy owned it. It's great to see that it just ain't changed much!! lol I'm wondering just who of the "regulars" are still there! 30 years is a life time ago, but hey, you're only as old as you feel. Is Wally still there? Is Mitch still there? Are Norma and Dee still there? It would be interesting if any of you know the names of some of the old regulars. I'll be coming there around the end of this month (Jan-09) and plan to stop in the Closet. We had a WONDERFUL crowd there back then, and I totally missed everyone when I left and came back to Texas. I hung out with Wally and Helen. Karen G was one of the bartenders, and she was fantastic!(not the same Karen you people talk about) Folks, they had only 1 bathroom back then, 2 pinball machines, and the bar was in the middle - a circular bar, and Andy had clothes hanging all over the ceiling and walls. What a place! At any rate, I can't wait to get back and look and see how it's changed...or shall I say NOT changed?? read more

When will this city wake up and inspect these dumps? Nothing but dirty glasses, dirty hands on the bartenders (with attitude), and making drinks with those dirty hands???? Seriously? That same leechy person works on the weekends... walked by last weekend and noticed her... yuck read more

The bar is terrible. The bartenders are unprofessional. Spend your money elsewhere. You will just rub into locals who troll the bar... really a wonder how they stay in business. read more

The woman in charge was very rude. I was there not to drink but to make sure my friend who wanted to keep drinking got home safely, since o came with him also. I tried to explain that I've had enough to drink that night but she rudely told me if I didn't buy a drink that I had to get out. Now I was not rude to anyone or had any cruel intentions. In fact, I made friends with almost everyone close by. Honestly I'll never go back to that bar and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. There are definitely better places to spend a night. My advice is to never go here. read more

This place used to be fun. However their new bartenders are horribly rude. The African American woman who worked 6/25/2016 (the day before the Pride Parade) was absolutely a miserable person! The music (which was atrocious) was overbearing. I've dealt with her before when she has reprimanded gay men for being affectionate (not sexual or even kissing) all the while lesbians are making out at the bar. Karen and Adrian are the only two there worth the time anymore. (Really miss Allison!!) read more

After I read the other reviews I had to laugh to myself. As a native Chicagoian who frequented The Closet in her twenties back in the late 80's it was the same as they say it is now....I'm surprised they even let guys in nowadays. Back in my days we could never get our male friends through the door..gay or not. And it appears to be as it always was...A DIVE. Nothing seems to change there. I am surprised though to hear people are willing to wait in line to get into the place! There is NO WAY I would have done that. This bar is the only gay bar in the good ole USA that this dyke has felt uncomfortable in. I'm surprised to see the girls are still in business. It is a Chicago classic though, so one visit is necessary to get the full taste of Chicago gay night life. Just don't stay too long so you don't loose all your money or get kicked out. They were never the friendlist people in town. I only give them 2 stars because I am surprised to see they are still in business. They get credit for that. read more

this place absolutely cracks me up. it is a good time. i dont remember the circumstances in which we wondered in here, but the four of us were the only non-lesbians (which is totally fine with me) in the place and right in the middle of a round of drinks the bartender jumped over the bar, grabbed her ukulele and started singing a mraz (or train) song and everyone else erupted in chorus. i need to go a few more times to solidify my opinion but i mean, a bar is a bar. read more

Freakin, go on a Monday or Tuesday. The bartender pulls out a ukulele and it is insanely fun. Like, closing that bar down is one of the most fantastically fun things in the universe. read more

The door lady was so rude we did not even stay for a drink. She accused me of snatching my ID back from her, I made my apologies and tried to joke with her about it, but she continued to give me attitude. We obviously weren't welcome. read more

worst bar ever! i would rather stay home and drink needles than stop into this trash hole for my beverage of choice. first of all, the staff there is absolutely horrific. extremely rude and bitchy doesn't even begin to describe them. i've never been treated worse by people at an establishment as a paying customer who is basically keeping your dump in business. not to mention the complete lack of appreciation for the tips left for the personal bartenders wallet. In effect, you are paying your rent from my generosity, and what do i get in return? disrespect. seriously, if you hate your job THAT much, then QUIT! don't take your misery out on other people, ya sad sacks. it's just wrong. besides that, the clientele there sucks and has been getting worse. it's no longer a fun place to go when you want to relax and have a good time because the people there are so nasty and rude. also, it smells like urine in there. hope it gets a major revamp soon. a complete overhaul from the staff to the drinks to the interior to the clientele. that's the only way i'm *possibly* returning. read more