Lonie Walker's Underground Wonder Bar Reviews

Pretty cool pub with live music, cocktails are bad but it is the music that you should come to and not for the drinks

Asked for a glass of chardonnay and the glass had blood outside of the glass. Waiter looked at me like i was crazy when i showed it to him like he clearly couldn't see it.

Depressing. Maybe we just went at the wrong time but everything about this bar was below average or bad. Poorly decorated, very poor drink selection, dull and depressing atmosphere. The only plus about the situation is if a good band was playing but other than that - awful. Oh, and there was a cover charge as well.

Owner is very stubborn and unwilling to make changes that would save the business.

Smallish music venue, but acts are pretty good and cocktails are decent. Convenient location also!

Charged $15 for cover, no where to sit and the place smelled horrible.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. I have been going there since the late 90s. And it never gets old. It is seriously my favorite bar on earth. The (LIVE) music is always awesome. Especially Lonnie Walkers Big Bad Ass Company Band. There are a few guys on horns...there are 2 percussion sections--and sometimes 3 even. There is a bass guitar-and sometimes a bass cello, a guitar, a grand piano,and tambourines and shakers. AND they JAM! Funky bluesy jammy acid jazzy I dont even know how to describe it. But there is no other place in Chicago that dishes up live music like this. The sound system is fantastic too. And yes, there is usually some dancing going on too! The drinks are decent. And the crowd is fun and eclectic. I have never had a bad time there. Always ALWAYS a blast! OH--and did I mention the snacks?? I finally got around to trying the vegan ruben sandwich last night...it was SOO good-I swear I would not have known it wasnt corned beef if no one told me. Like the best vegan sandwich Ive had...is at a late night bar in Chicago --Who knew?? oh, and we also had the mexican layered dip and that also hit the spot (at 3am)! Warning--spicy. Seriously people--if you have not ever been to the little gem--get over there!! (I recommend after 11pm on a weekend so you can catch Lonnies band--but again--it is ALWAYS a great time. All the music is fantastic there.

Expensive drinks, but came here with a Groupon that helped cut the price down. A steady stream of music and performers made this a cool place to chill out and sip on cocktails. Would go back, but for a happy hour of sorts.

The band selection is just perfect and the atmosphere is sooooo cool. Definietely worth coming

The name embodies everything right about the Underground Wonder Bar. I love River North and am in love with the free spirit, unconventional atmosphere and awesome music that lives in this establishment... Definitely worth stopping by when you're around the area, especially after midnight when it REALLY heats up!

It was definitely an interesting place to visit. The band was very good but the cover charge seemed a bit high.

We stayed at the hotel across the street so this place was very convenient.
We walked over and asked what time they closed, they told us 4am! Lol
They also wanted to charge us $5 to get in, i said no thanks we'll be back later....
We tried the place on the next block which was chill.
After we had 2 drinks there we decided to go back to the underground.
All of a sudden they didn't have a cover charge.

Friendly bartenders
Awesome band.
It's an original bar, apparently there's a hand full of bars that are allowed to stay open until 4am if they had a liquor license before a certain date. This place has history.

Jazz
Drinks
Friendly staff
Descent drink prices
Excellent location, if you are staying around there.
Located next to food! Also open late!

Watch for Lonie on John Taffer's "Bar Rescue" program. She is a narcissistic idiot totally devoid of talent. .

Pretty awesome place for late nite psycho jams, wish they had better bands for earlier shows (ie before 10 PM). they are not going to stay in business until they serve beer for less than $7 and the bartenders actually take your orders.

Crazy expensive and poor service. 3 of us went in and after we paid cover and got just three drinks we spent $60. It was too loud upstairs and the band was bad. Maybe its just not my type of music however the prices are outrageous.

Very expensive with rude bar staff. Don't go downstairs unless you are of the right colour.

Didn't have our 1st, second or 3rd selection of alcoholic beverages. What the what? Gave us food menus then said kitchen is closed. They did however let us order pizza from dominoes and have it delivered so I'm adding a star for cool and flexible points! The jazz band however...5 stars!

WOW!!! I LOVE THIS BAR!!!! A NEW AND AWESOME EXPERIENCE EVERY TIME I GO THERE!!!

Fun place. Prices for drinks were high but very strong so one drink goes a long way! All the ladies restroom stalls were out of order except one so the wait was too long to go... The energy was great once the band started playing. Good time overall!

Jason Andean lookin' bartender has an adorable dog. Service was excellent!

Drink prices before 9pm were great for downtown!! Saw a few comedians performing downstairs and there was a stage upstairs. Couldn't tell if it was amateure or not but live performance regardless upstairs. Have to go again

This is a place that most will love and a handful will hate. The music is amazing and different. Unlike anything you've ever heard live. In my opinion Lonie is ECCENTRIC and a genius while other's might think she's a bit nuts. I would rate this spot as one of the most unique, inclusive and one of my all time favorites. A true musical gem that stands out in a world full of plastic, manufactured and cookie cutter / more-of-the-same venues. Keep it Rocking Underground Wonder Bar :)

Not worth it. I was in Chicago a while back and I didn t enjoy it at all. Positive comments must be coming from family and friends. I ll never go back.

Since I'm from Hamburg, Germay, I frequently see cool and comfortable bars and clubs, but this one for sure is one of my new hotspots whenever I'll come to the loop. Nice place with a friendly service.

Drinks didn't taste anything like they should , bartender looked like he had not showered in a couple of days ...yuck!

Lonnie is crazy, music was less than par. The obviously didn't listen to John

Watching Bar Rescue with the wonder bar. After seeing the owner i wouldnt step foot in this place she phycho. Shes horriable.

"Never a dull moment" describes this place perfectly. Everytime I have been I have always walked out wanting to come back so much more, each time I have not known who is playing and I am always pleasantly surprised. It takes me back to what a jazz bar in Chicago might have been back in the day. Service is also impecable.

Unpretentious coffee house and wine bar. Friendly staff. The new chairs are more safe and more comfortable than the previous ones. I've been coming here since the week they opened, over fifteen years ago.

It sucks, service, the Reggae guy could only strum 3 cords,10 dollars for a person cover, really. THEN YOU get to go down stairs, I thought I had to be high, to watch the stupid light show, and weird music, my daughter didn't even know the music. $40.00 dollars later plus one round of drinks, we were out of there. It was April 30th, it stuck, I like the show Bar rescue, but those people didn't listen to John what so ever, won't go Back

The star of only for the music... Got a drink with a pube in it tonight, politely asked our bar tender, "Max", for another drink with trying to keep discrete, he rolls his eyes and goes behind the bar... I then ask for a refund due to his response after purchasing a prior drink and leaving a 20%tip, and he continues to react rudely, and slaps my receipt on the counter... I approach him afterwards about his behavior and that I was trying to just get a drink without a pube and not make a big deal, and why he had to have such an attitude... His response... "Because I don't like you!"
Ha! If I were the owner, I wouldn't want rude bar tenders in my bar...

The tromboner alone is enough of a reason to come here (pun intended). But for real; the Bad Ass Company Band is phenomenal. The trombone player astounded me. After seeng several shows from Austin, TX to NYC I have never heard a trombone player rock like this guy. Keep it up. Cool place. Cover was a little surprising but as long as it goes to the band it's well worth it.

A little dive in the basement of a building that always has some good tunes coming out at all hours of the night. Good for drinks and if you want solid music. If you are in the area it's a good place to stop in for a drink.

The server barely came by to check in on us, and when she did she forgot our orders that we ordered previously. Additionally, many of the items we asked for they were out of stock.

After watching Bar Rescue I wouldn t want to walk in here. She needs to grow up and needs a haircut. The 70 s have been gone for 40 years. I mean Jon Taffer gave you a amazing opportunity for your bar. But instead you took the bar sign down?? Clear bar is so much more than underground wonder bar..!!!

We had a really good time here. The band was really good. It's a nice place to relax and listen to live music with a drink or two.

This place was umm weird. The owner is crazy, and on drugs. .....yikes!

A club in a basement that considers itself cool and the place to be seen. Sleek lounge chairs, DJs, women server staff and tough guy bouncers.

This place is exactly what I imagine Old Chicago to be- a quaint little jazz club with stiff drinks and great entertainment. The food, not so much. Come here to drink and stay a little longer to see the singer/band, or come here to see the band and stay here a little longer to drink. Great people.

Tao ! Wow beautiful place to take your date.The place is awesome. Great service and Great atmosphere. I will be back.

No talent Lonie the only reason we went was to see what if it was like what we saw on bar rescue. Absolutely a waste of time. It sucked will never go back ever again

House band, Lonie walker and her bad ass company ban play the worst jazz music ever. Sad experience.

I wish there was an "underground" place like this back home. Awesome place to catch some great jamming.....

It's a slap in the face to Taffer, it's just a matter of time before it's closed

Great late night live music spot! They get it jumping up in here! Drinks are affordable for the neighborhood. Never know who you might bump into here either. A Chicago local treasure. Open late..

It's soooo happening there that it's too much for my old ears sometimes but I love this place. Always great service and drinks. A must if you are from out of town. Crazy fun!

God awful all around . Was there the other day and what a waste of time and money.

The Underground WonderBar is officially closed down. (unfortunately) I've had a lot of great times when I visited the place over the years.

Great bar to have a few drinks, a little pricey bit that is probably because it is in downtown chicago

This was a very nice laid-back place. I hate to see it going out of business. The people are very connected and loving.

A very eclectic group of blues,R&B, and jazz musicians so worth walking into, you won't believe how lRe it is when you leave. We met the owner LonI Walker who plays piano and sings with an awesome house band!! She solidifies what the chicago music scene has always been and continues to be.
We've scene so many new acts and old acts here that if live music is you're scene you'll be amongst family.

I came here after a business trip, had two drinks and I literally paid for three drinks, had I been at another bar...I see why Chicago is going down the drain...either way, I would not recommend.

The bathrooms were terrible. Only one of 3 stalls worked and the one that worked didnt have a light. The sink was out of order, they offered hand sanitizer.

This is the one bar that I go to every time I visit Chicago. It is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall jazz club that perfectly captures what Chicago is all about.

Interesting place that stays open til 5 am with live music in a friendly atmosphere. One of my Chi-town favorites. Strong drinks, no cover. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Local favorite featuring live music and cocktails in a casual setting. Open late.

Went here with friends great place. I used uber code: nglsr to get here for free!!

Been here for a couple of times now. The first time I visited here because of live music. I saw reviews in yelp and it said they play really good live music and I am happy I found one good place.

First of all they have $10 cover charge and its reasonable compared to other nearby bars and quality of music. Its the place of Lonie Walker and her Big Bad Ass Company Band. They are fabulous, just awesome. One you have heard them you gotta love them. They guy in saxophone and bass guitar are really awesome. Once I heard african tribal music there and it was mind blowing. Rock, Jazz, Blues, Soul you wouldn't miss anything.

The only problem is the space is too little to accommodate many people, you might have to stand while enjoying music. You can sketch if you manage to sit, they provide crayons and papers for you to give your imaginations a color. You can join the music too, Lonie sometimes distributes some musical instruments to the crowd if you want to contribute to the live music. So the point is, you won't get bored, I bet.

Please visit them if you are in Chicago.

Not thrilled people using coupons for strong over priced drinks

I don't like anything about it. Lonnie needs a haircut and to act her age. The 70's have been gone 40 years ago

Just watched bar rescue... Lonnie is a total wack job... I feel bad for her son... Best think he could do is put her in an assisted living surroundings so she can play with her crayons...

This is like an artist playground. Cool laid back atmosphere where musicians,comedians, singers, and poets come and jam it out on open mic. Lots of love from everyone here. Drinks are great too.