The Empty Bottle Reviews

Diviest of dive bars with great character, awesome people and amazing bands. Beware the bands always seem to come on late.

Absolutely one of my favorite places to see a live venue in the city of Chicago. The sound system is amazing. No matter what night you are there is always packed with a good crowd.

I went through and saw earthless with my brother and it was amazing.

I've listened to live music here before and enjoyed the excellent service at the bar. Book club was attended by fun interesting people. Enjoyed welcoming spirit of group and was invited back. Across the street found an organic food store. Great afternoon all around

Gun`s n Roses pinball Machine - at one time, or ?still? Very good, Also good? Going? :-) :-) :-) :-)

One of the best bars for music that I have ever been too. All kinds

Classic Chicago dive. I live it! This is where I go to get my metal fix! Beer is good and cheap, shots too. Besides the music, come in for a craft show, they host some really cool artists and artisans. Keep it up guys, I'll be coming back often.

It was 11pm and kind of Dirty inside and out. Lots of Security.

Great venue. The staff can be a bit short with you if you're not on the ball, but it's stressful to run shows, so I don't really hold it against them. The beer and shots are well priced. Try the mystery shot - it's probably going to be gross, but sometimes that's what you need. Check out the Busy Beaver Button Co vending machine and nab some locally made pins!

Warning: this venue gets LOUD. Luckily, they sell earplugs. You're definitely going to want them. Otherwise, a heavy show will leave you deaf by the end of the night.

Really hit and miss bands/musical acts. Easy parking. Cash only bar. ATM is janky... Takes forever to actually work. Asked for old fashioned, and ended up with something that wasn't an old fashion.There is a slot operated pool table. There are bathrooms. More of a 2 star place. Skip it unless your really into music

Staff was attentive and friendly. I really liked that there was a room to not hear the opening acts. Crocheted weiner briefs should be standard bar decor everywhere.

It s a hole in the wall favorite for intimate shows with best music acts in all of Chicago!!

Cash only, gritty, and eclectic. It's got a pool table, photo booth, and stage.

I'm torn on this place. I really wish they did a better job with volume leveling, and not just going for blow your face off loud. I couldn't hear any lyrics and it is pretty difficult going to sleep when your ears are ringing. This place is that loud. On the other hand, its has an awesome atmosphere, very underground feel, band posters all over the place, it's great.

Very alternative place. Nice to have a beer and enjoy some rock! There is also a pool table to enjoy.

I happened to visit Empty Bottle on a Monday and lucky me there was no cover.

Show started around 8:45-9ish and I got to see 3 diff bands play. Each one had their own style.. the beginning one playing almost hypnotic music with an epilepsy inducing light show. I really liked it!! The last one had fog machine, cool theatrics, transporting in a way.

Space is limited and it doesn't stay as empty as it's name suggests so I advice coming around 9. Moreover, you'd want to enjoy all the bands, for you never know which new fav you might discover.

Drinks are super cheap, I think I got a whiskey drink for $4. Only cash tho. ATM inside.

Overall, super hipster joint, don't go on the looks from outside building & watch out for the baby doll head wall. Lol

Great venue with great music and awesome sound. Cash Only but great prices

Honky-tonk Happy Hour every Friday with the Hoyle Brothers.

Simply one of the Chicago music scene's most beloved venues. So many legendary shows!

A Chicago institution. My favorite venue in the city. No bad spots to stand!

Been seeing shows at Empty Bottle since they opened

First time being there nice place to go and hear live music

Dive bar with decent bands. No cover honky tonk was fun on a Sunday. Eclectic interior and crowd. The bartenders were about as friendly as an ornery porcupine but they did their jobs.

sunset rollercoaster babay! did need this boogie nite

Definitely a unique zone, had a strong smell of updog throughout...

Great dive bar and music venue. Was pleasantly surprised at the acoustics and the stage. You can see everything.

Soul night is some of the most fun I've had. Fun times. Great dancefloor, music , and people.

Awesome venue; I came here for Soul Night and immediately fell in love. Cool design, large dance floor, inexpensive drinks, and great lighting (strange but hey its true).

Pretty good sound quality (although its a tad bit too loud), and I like how the walls are covered with posters of different artists.

Live music rules! Yet another cheap place to get you music heard! Plus a great eaterie next door. Small and volume is always the drummers fault! Does every drummer have to slam it like John Bonham?
This kind of place is why Chicago can grow and support some great bands!

I get the punk aesthetic of grunge and disrepair. It's not for me, but I can appreciate it.

Sound is decent, drinks are over priced and security is a joke. But not too bad a place for a show.

A cute hip little venue. Great beer and music, and I was surprised by how clean the bathroom was.

Small venue to see live music. Good beer and a shot deals every day. Cash only

A great venue, wonderful atmosphere and pricing, couldn't ask for much more. I look forward to the next time I can go back. Also great bands and beers. I'm not sure who ran the audio, but the Ryley Walker show (12/18) had to be one of the best mixes I've heard in a while.

I had a special event that was held on Saturday, and the staff of The Empty Bottle was amazing!! The atmosphere was awesome, the music kicked a $$, and my nite was everything I imagined it would be... and the manager Erica is the best!! I will definitely think of The Empty Bottle for any of my future events!!

With a ton of character and always offering good talent, it's one of my favorite venues in the city.

So hip it hurts. The mystery shot was... an experience. Would come back!

Good sound, easy to get to, arcades up front for when you get bored with the acts you aren't there to see.

A good place to go deaf and pick someone up with herpes.

What's there to write? This is a staple of the Chicago music scene, from up-and-comers to established bands. Reasonably priced drinks and zero pretension.

Everyone was nice i hated street parking but not bad

Great vibe in this dive bar. Lots of history on the walls. Cheap drinks but cash only. Great stage and awesome bands.

As my first review, The Empty Bottle holds a special place in my heart. Given that I live around the corner from this venue I have been here about 25 times and I highly recommend seeing a show here!

Try one of their beer & whiskey specials or a Shiner Bock. Ladies, be warned there are no mirrors in the bathroom. Oh, and wear heels because if the show is sold out you might end up in the back.

They also have other community events held there during the day - from garage sales' to craft fairs - all with a great vibe.

One of my favorite bars & music venues in Chicago! The staff is always super friendly, the drink prices are really reasonable, and some of the best indie acts stop here. Love that it doubles as a rad dive bar and is serving up some of the best pizza in Chicago.
Worth noting - they now accept credit cards.

Best alternative club in town, hands down. Don't miss the honky tonk happy hour on Fridays. National acts as well as local. Eclectic as it gets.

The staff is generally pretty nice, but the this is a divey music bar at its finest. Cities need establishments like The Bottle to keep a growing music scene. Punk/electronic/indie pop/jammy jazz/ and good old rock and roll all feel at home here. Their tagline, 'music.friendly.dancing' pretty much sums it up. Daily drink specials, centering on shots of cheap booze and PBR/Old Style keep it affordable. Wear earplugs so you don't go deaf.

I happened to visit Empty Bottle on a Monday and lucky me there was no cover.

Show started around 8:45-9ish and I got to see 3 diff bands play. Each one had their own style.. the beginning one playing almost hypnotic music with an epilepsy inducing light show. I really liked it!! The last one had fog machine, cool theatrics, transporting in a way.

Space is limited and it doesn't stay as empty as it's name suggests so I advice coming around 9. Moreover, you'd want to enjoy all the bands, for you never know which new fav you might discover.

Drinks are super cheap, I think I got a whiskey drink for $4. Only cash tho. ATM inside.

Overall, super hipster joint, don't go on the looks from outside building & watch out for the baby doll head wall. Lol

Fun, dive-ey rock bar. Cash only at the bar but the ATM fee isn't sky high. Sound is really only good in a few spots, if you're at a packed show be prepared to drown in subwoofer thump (not the good kind) if you don't stake out a good spot.

Small, not a great drink selection. Shows are ok for seeing new bands, can get really crowded

Posters for days on the walls in there. Great small concert venue.

They said the show would start at 9 pm. But nothing happened until 10:30 pm (NO warm up). Super poor experience. Please instruct more carefully.