Beauty Bar is a fantastic place to hang out, drink, people watch, and get your nails done. Every night is completely different, so research the events that night before you go or you could possibly be disappointed. I would like to address a couple of the one star reviewers... 1. Beauty Bar is a bar, not a nail salon. You are NOT going to get a full manicure. It is illegal to have a salon license and a tavern license in the same space, therefore, the nail techs are limited to only a few manicure procedures. Also, as a licensed cosmetologist, let me remind you that in the state of illinois it is illegal to clip cuticles in any nail salon! ...and they all do it. The tools being used at this Beauty Bar ARE cleaned with alcohol and the files are anti-fungal/anti-bacterial. If you think your nail tech at your regular salon is cleaning their files and buffers between each client, don't, cause usually they're not. 2. Anyone that complains about having to pay $10 for a mini mani and a martini is an asshole. It's difficult to get a martini in this city for under $10 and at Beauty Bar it's only $8....basically, your manicure is $2. 3. If you're nice to the staff, they'll be nice to you. I've tried it and it works! Amazing. 4. It really isn't "dirty". The floor in there wouldn't be wet and gross if it weren't for people having fun and dancing with drinks in their hands. I mean, clearly you've never been to the Mutiny if you think BeautyBar is dirty... Beauty Bar is freaking great!! In fact, I'm going this evening to get my nails polished, while I polish off a drink! read more

Beauty is very different from anything out there. It's a good time, great tunes, meeting people. 1.) The decor is fantastic, very retro with a modern edge. It's very soothing in my book. 2.) The music is bumpin, ( tho I think they could find a better 'dj' who doesn't play the same songs every hour and a half, just cause that gets really old ). 3.) They have great deals on drinks if you show up early. Sure no one will be there at 9 pm, but free old style is free old style. 4.) Great prices, they aren't over priced, and purely strong and delicious. I would like to say, to all the people who didn't google what beauty bar is when they bought that coupon, that is YOUR fault. Why would you just get it without doing your research first? This isn't a spa, this is a BAR. Ofcourse its not gonna be the best ever, but usually by that time you get your nails done you are drunk, usually like everyone else. I don't get why none of you got that memo, or decided to go on a limb. Beauty Bar is for people who wanna dance, have fun, not spend a lot of money, and meet new people. What is not to like about that? read more

My best friend was visiting from out of town and since we are both dancing enthusiasts, we followed a tip to try out Beauty Bar. We went on a Friday night and missed the manicure special ($15 for a manicure and martini) by about 30 minutes, but we had such a good time, it didn't affect our experience! The atmosphere was fun and lively - there is a room decorated with salon equipment on one wall, with the bar on the opposite side; there is a room with a disco ball farther back, where most of the dancing was happening. People were dancing in both rooms and we were impressed with the classy vibe of the place. The DJ played funky beats and I think it was the most fun I've had dancing to music I didn't know. We loved it so much that we returned the following night! Strangely, the demographic was COMPLETELY different, but awesomely, the night was equally as fun! In addition to the fun-loving vibe, the drinks were very affordable (we left spending $15 each). I would recommend this place if you're looking for a unique and upbeat dancing experience. read more

Beauty bar's a great addition to the otherwise lame, cookie-cutter nightlife scene in Chicago. Having been more than a few times, here are the things I love about Beauty Bar: 1.) Obviously the martinis and manicures; who cares if you have to wait while a friend gets theirs done- this is a BAR, the manicures are the cherry on top. If you want a group manicure- GO TO A NAIL SALON (sorry but I'm bothered by how confused people seem to be when they realize they're in a bar...) 2.) The rockin decor makes me feel all '50s classy. 3.) The drinks are always strong but delicious. 4.) The photo booth offers brief amusement should I find myself a little tipsy. 5.) The bartenders are super cool and easy to talk to. If it's busy, they may not be as talkative but then again, they're there to serve drinks... 6.) The prices are beyond reasonable. I can go there before payday and not worry about having to count my drinks (though I probably should anyway). 7.) Music's generally awesome; I've danced more at beauty bar than I have at some of the more popular "danceclubs". Beauty Bar's at the very least worth one visit and in my book, worthy of becoming a classy girls (or guys) regular spots. read more

I went here for the first time tonight and I was pleasantly surprised. A bit different from the ol' Sonotheque that used to reside here. DJ booth moved towards the back and now there's a whole dance room. Good tunes too! Oh. And they offer free manicures if you buy a $10 martini. Not a bad deal if I do say myself! According to the maincurist they will do this until it seems like a bad idea. Why not, right?! They PBRs are $2...which almost makes up for the $5 cover. Not a bad place. Interesting crowd. I've been to Beauty Bar's in Vegas and Austin so I gotta say it's 'bout time they added one to Chicago. Good location. Plenty of hipsters to fill the joint. I love the vintage hair-dryers and old timey silhouette art on the walls. I might very well be back! read more

Shame, I used to love this place and recommend it to lots of friends, but one terrible night can really make a person do a 180. Extremely rude bouncers, a long and bureaucratic ID process (why??), no explanations for any policies, and then when we tried to call in and speak to a manager, we instead got this woman who gave me so much attitude I had to scrape it off my shoes later. "Uh, hello, it's a Saturday night, we're like, really busy? Can you call back tomorrow or something?" "No, I'd like to speak to your manager please, tonight." "Well like, he's at the bar right now, so..." Sorry Beauty Bar, I will never set foot in you again. Shame, because a lot of my friends perform at Salonathon here, which I'm now unable to attend because I don't want to support you. Terrible! read more

Great thematic place. It's all 70s-early 2000s music, they have disco balls, and glitter galore! Their drink menu is unique and service is quick. This is definitely a place to go if you want to dance and let loose. This is also a great place to go to in costume year round. At times I felt like I was at a wedding or prom because of the set up, but all in all I had a good time. I highly recommend this places for a birthday or bachelorette party. read more

Like, ohmagah, a place where I can dance, have my picture taken, have a martini, and get my nails did? Like, totally for sure! It sounds strange and girly, and it is, but it's also pretty cool, and definitely not TOO girly (there are plenty of dudes here getting drinks and their mack on). I didn't think I would dig this place, but every time I've been, I had a great time. I think the reason why it works is because there's space for everything. There's the separate area for manicures near the entrance, a photo area, a good-sized bar, a back room to bust a move, and plenty of open space to mingle, two-step, or just nod your head if you're way too cool for all that. It's a bar, but there's room to dance. But it's not a club. But it kinda is. But I don't know. Just go there, you'll figure it out. Beauty Bar totally has all the makings of a hipster hotspot, but without the pretentiousness. I've never actually gotten a manicure here, but I do know that the "beauty" part of Beauty Bar brings in enough ladies to keep the ratio pretty fair. The music is decent and they have a lot of good acts come through throughout the year also. So if you want somewhere to go this weekend after you get your toes done up and wantchyo fingernail's matchin' (because they don't do pedis, sorry), head to Beauty Bar and grab a seat. read more

I went to Beauty Bar for the Die Tonight event, and that's probably the only reason I ever will. Between the incredibly warm rooms and overactive smoke machine, I felt like I'd walked into a Tijuana rave. And the overpriced, weak drinks didn't help, especially when I emptied my pocket money at the cash-only bar and had to use the ATM. What did help was an incredibly cute crowd (yes, I love little hipster girls and boys. The club kind, not the earthy kind), lots of energy and a Glitter Guts photo setup. Also, arriving early meant no cover, which certainly helped. Having the 24-hour Chicago bus stop just outside the door doesn't hurt, either. read more

Went to the Beauty Bar last Saturday.... I had an amazing time (and yes there is a but coming later, not a big one but it's coming) . My friend and I got there around 11:45pm. Finding parking on the street wasn't too bad and there wasn't much of a line at the door. I was extremely happy there was no dreadful separate gender lines you normally see at hip-hop joints that force ladies to wait on their guy friends for what seems like long enough to do a cavity search. Speaking of searching,, there wasn't much of that either, just a simple open your bag, a glance and you're free to go. Cover was 5 dollars and you're allowed to leave for air or w/e (makes sure you get your hand stamped first) and come back in. We get in and it's crowded, diverse crowd and great music to dance to. Literally didn't stop dancing. Now for the BUT, my friend and I were experiencing some difficulty getting service at the bar. We waited and although we had been standing there longer than others the bar tenders would look at us and pretend they didn't see us and walk away. The drinks weren't even good. So not worth $12 and a rude wait. Whatever you do DON'T get the cloud nine drink. So not what it sounds like. Tastes like a weird mix of cotton candy and garlic yeck! My suggestion, drink before you come. read more

I went here on Monday night with some girlfriends to enjoy the Gilt City deal of 2 cocktails and a manicure for $15. Normally, you can get a martini and a manicure for $10. It's a pretty sweet deal! There was no one else at the bar when we were there so it was nice to have the place to ourselves and get some personal attention from Ella (?) the new bartender. I ordered both a French Martini, which was simply outstanding, and a Platinum Blonde Martini, which is one of the house specialties. It had Svedka vodka and pineapple juice. Also had a splash of cayenne pepper. The manicure wasn't the greatest I've ever received but I know it's just for novelty. And to tell you the truth, the color is still hanging on strong so it's not half bad! I wish I could have been able to experience Sonotheque before it closed down. But I would come back to Beauty Bar for a crazy DJ set sometime! read more

Went with a friend using a Google Offers deal: $9 for a mani and two martinis. There is only one manicurist working at any given time, but I will say the girl who I had was SUPER fast. I think she did 3 girls in half an hour. While I wouldn't consider this a manicure (it's basically a polish change - no soaking of the hands, no pushing back of the cuticles, etc...), for $9, it was a decent deal. They have a $10 mani+one martini deal daily. We called to make an appointment, but it really doesn't matter bc there's only one girl so it's basically first come, first serve. If you're just looking to grab a couple drinks after work, you might as well come here and get your polish changed while you're at it. *They don't do pedicures. *If you're looking for a fancy scmancy salon - this isn't the right place. *I can see this being a fun place for a bachelorette party or something. read more

I guess there's going to be two types of people reviewing Beauty Bar: those who were fans of the former Sonotheque and those who have no idea what Sonotheque was. I fall into the first category. The layout is somewhat different and I think it's an improvement space wise. Now I know the Sono had things arranged in a certain way to make sure that the music sounded good no matter where you were standing but most people wouldn't notice that. In the main area you know have stools and old school beauty chairs next to small coffee tables. As soon as you walk in the front you can get a manicure and a martini for $10 or so I've heard. The coat check is $1 but the room is extremely small and they were no longer accepting coats later in the night even though the place wasn't even close to being packed. They need a bigger coat check room. Now there is a seperate dance floor area where all the old Sonotheque speakers have been relocated. At first I liked this but as the place started to get more crowded you realized that the dance floor had NO ventilation whatsoever. If you've been to the Hideout on a Dance Party night you'll know what I'm talking about. But at least the Hideout has windows you can open. There is no remedy for Beauty Bar. It gets hot and stinky around midnight and later. Real hot and stinky. Besides all of that the drinks are fairly priced and they have a pretty long bar so ordering a drink is never a problem. All in all I liked Beauty Bar. They did a great job making something unique out of the old space. Just don't try to compare it to Sonotheque because you can't. Let this place stand on its own. read more

After spending a couple nights at Beauty Bar, I'm still on the fence of liking it or indifference toward the franchise bar that replaced Sonotheque. To save you time, I'll give you the short version: the music was pretty good, the space was alright, and the drinks were alright. A solid three-star place. For the literary, feel free to read on and critique my poor writing. Opening night (for the public) I took a good look around to discover I'd been transported in time and space to Miami circa 1955. I expected to see Marty McFly and Doc Brown rolling up in a delorean, but alas they were in Hill Valley fixing the time-space continuum... The glittered and textured walls reflect the dim light from the ceiling lights onto a very spacious lounge area, punctuated by a long and stocked bar on the east wall and salon-style hair-dryer chairs on the west wall. Further on there is a dividing wall, separating you from a moderate sized dance floor. For those with weak constitutions when sober or drunk, be wary of this room, as vertigo can be expected during times when the crowd is thin, and the odor-prone were abundant when the place was packed. I expect the dance floor packed far more often than empty, because the management has tapped some of the better DJ talent in Chicago to spin. A couple issues developed over the course of my second evening that were characteristic of a bar that just opened: the staff didn't have it's act together, and the patrons sucked. With time I have great expectations of the staff, as they made tasty drinks with ease; however, the prices of drinks varied over the course of the night - even with the same bartender. As for the patrons, the obvious explanation is that the bar has just opened, and this generally attracts the good along with the bad. Prayerfully, the bad will eventually drift to the next hot-spot and leave the good to call Beauty Bar home. In the meantime, how about a couple suggestions: 1) If you feel the need to fight someone, consider talking about your differences with the other person. If the urge to fight persists, call them out (literally), thus saving the patrons inside and the employees a lot of drama. If they choose not to follow you outside, you own them for the rest of the night, and if they do follow you outside, you got what you wanted, a fight. 2) While water is a precious resource most places, we pay something like a penny a gallon for it. Use this cheap resource and soap to wash yourself regularly. Body odor, while natural, is offensive to everyone around you, even if they don't tell you. On the off-chance that you can not find 5 minutes a day for hygiene, consider deodorant or STAYING OFF THE DANCE FLOOR WHERE YOUR SWEAT AND MOVEMENT AMPLIFY AND DISPERSE THE ODOR!!!!!!!!!! read more

Beauty Bar - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place has the best drinks and music in town PLUS you can get a manicure while here. Such a fun idea! Can't lose!

This place is awesome! I've been here a bunch of times and always have so much fun. It's the perfect mix of a bar/lounge and dance club. Plus it's all glittery inside! It's waaayy more enjoyable than a lot of other much more expensive downtown clubs and has much better atmosphere and decor. Best part = you can get your nails painted! It's only $10 for a fancy martini drink and nails polished. Reading some of the other reviews on here I am shocked at how weird people are about this. #1. No way I would want to get a full-set or cuticle-cut "real" manicure at a bar = super gross. The novelty of having your nails painted while you're hanging out and drinking is PERFECT. #2. $10 for a super strong drink AND getting your nails painted is cheap!! I don't know what world you're living in if you don't think that is a DEAL! Sure, there may be other places with some slightly cheaper drinks, but guaranteed it's some skanky dive bar, not a super cute club you want to dance in. As for the person who reviewed that it was boring because it was dead when her & her friends got there BEFORE 9 PM. Seriously? It's not a sports bar, it's a club. I live in this neighborhood so I've gone there after work AND on super busy nights = AFTER 9 PM. That is one thing I actually really like about this place, they're open early, you have the option of getting your nails done and having a nice relaxing drink after work, OR you can go later night and it's a whole different type of party. Also, I've never had a bad service experience here. I've gone to some other clubs in Chicago where I've had to wait forever for a drink. Places where I've felt like I was in L.A. and had to tip just to get service- not the other way around. Beauty Bar is great, even when it's packed I've never had to wait very long for a drink. All in all, I'd have to say this is my favorite place to go out in Chicago. read more

Ok, ok, ok....so went here on a poggled deal. $15 for two martinis and a mani...sounds like a great deal. The bar...well its pretty dark and definitely seems like something out of the original Hairspray movie. I was looking for Ricky Lake in this joint. Its DARK in the whole place...I was like...is this open??? So we got the poggled deal BUT it looks like every day they have a $10 deal for a martini and a mani. Also, you can substitute beer or wine for the drink too, which is nice. Anyway, they have a decent selection of martinis. Most of them are sweet...which I am not a fan of. I got the dirty..it was too dirty, I should have told him light on the dirty. They have heavy pours on the wine. The bartender was nice enough and explained everything to us. We were the only people in the place so it was weird. We then headed over to the mani station...one girl sitting in the dark...basically. HA! They have a decent collection of colors...probably around 60-70ish...all ranges of colors, most have glitter in them. The mani...its really just a polish change at best....she basically files your nails and then slaps some paint on them...no base coat, no top coat. Its pretty minimal so I wouldnt necessarily call it a manicure....that is a far stretch. Overall, I probably wont go back to Beauty Bar just because I can BYOB to my normal nail salon and get a real mani or a no chip. Its a cheap deal, but really its gimmicky. I think if you are looking for something kind of different and fun, it wouldnt be the end of the world to check it out. I dont think it would be that good for groups because there is only one girl doing the manis...or polish changes.... read more

Though I've never done it, I still like the idea of a martini and a manicure for $10. I like the decor and I love that there's a photo booth. Otherwise, *shrug*... just another place I don't really care to go to, all too often. Takes too long to get served a tiny, weak mixed drink that costs probably twice as much as it should. And it's not really a good place for socializing. Dancing, yes. Talking? Go somewhere else. read more

I've been here a couple of times and I think the newest installment to the Beauty Bar franchise is still trying to find its identity. The music was alright but not spectacular and the crowd was very mixed - and not in a good way. Ed Hardy meatheads and eccentric hipsters. Trixies and rockabilly guys and gals. The staff are cordial but I wouldnt say friendly. And it bothers me when bars have the entire length of the bar lined with stools because it makes it difficult and awkward to order a drink. And the drink selection is decent and I dont think the prices are all that bad ($10 martini and a manicure yall) but I'm sober again by the time my order is actually taken. Dance floor is cute and the retro beauty chairs are super neat. The bathrooms are adequate (barely) and the remodel from Sonotheque was done very nicely. I might come back at some point but I'm not in a rush to do so. read more

I was hoping that their Wednesday New Wave night would be awesome, but the place was empty and the people who attempted to come in and have a drink were driven out by the insanely bad-loud ear shredding volume coming from the speakers. Turn it down a bit maybe, until there are actually bodies in the space? When my friends went to smoke a cigarette the one other guy in the bar came and tried to holler. It was too loud to even tell him to get lost nicely. I had to pantomime. We literally finished our drinks in the front corner near the coat rack, to get away from the speakers. Who the hell is promoting this junk? I was expecting at least a small "promotion" crowd. Maybe their eardrums burst and they had to go to the emergency room, I don't know. Seems like it could have been something good. read more

Tuesday night: 7pm: "Dating in the city" personal stories read aloud by locals. They're pretty funny. 10pm: Atmosphere and crowd completely changes as the dj comes on and plays oldies hip hop and reggae. Venue isn't huge but it's big enough for a Tuesday night. Drink specials included $5 Patron XO shots. Remy girls were passing out free shots. read more

I love this bar. The drinks are delicious and made with a care and expertise by bartenders who can make tailored suggestions and use high quality booze. The girls who paint nails ( they paint, buff, file, but nothing else) are nice and contribute to conversation appropriately. They are young and can tell you a good local deal, keep you laughing, bar hopping and always keep you coming back. Beyond that they paint nails well. And let's not forget they have some great specials and theme nights. I have been to everything from non fiction readings to 90s night, 80s night which have all been all well put together and engaging. Overall this is a solid addition to the neighborhood read more

A group of us came here early for a quick girls outing. It's kind of a shabby chic look (emphasis on shabby) but cute. We had made reservations for our spots and waited in the entry area for about 10 minutes without anyone checking in with us. In the end, we just walked in and no one questioned us/helped us. The bartender was nice, but the nail techs seemed pretty impersonal and cold (literally and figuratively--they had coats on and heaters going). I'm pretty particular about where I get my manicures and decided this wasn't really for me, so I can't comment on the quality. It's a unique spot, so I'd probably come back, but I don't think it's making it into my regular rotation. read more

As we were walking from Flo's we wanted to hang out a bit. Beauty Bar just happened to right there. In looking at the name, we were not sure what to expect. After going in, very interesting setup. Per the name, Beauty Bar, there were manicurist when you first walk in actually doing nails. With the purchase of a martini, you could get your nails done for an extra 2 bucks. Then after getting to the bar portion, the seating area on the opposite wall was designed like a salon. There were the old school hairdryers, retro furniture, pictures of classic hairstyles and colors. Very interesting. Then to the rear, there was a small dance area. I would give the bar more stars for design and overall look but the music and ppl didn't do it for me. The dj was ok but nothing played really wanted to make me dance. Being that I had a horrible drink at Flo's, I only had a bottled water at this place. Probably would not go back. read more

Beauty salon meets bar. This lounge setup is very funky, and lively. Every weekend there are themed parties, which adds interesting entertainment. Went for a bday on an Indie's night, and they offered up $10 manicures (Loved the neat work, but more color selection would be better) with the purchase of any Martini. The bar was long and sleek, with the bartenders being quick, and efficient. The drinks were all great: '57 Chevy: 4.5 Velvet (something... I can't remember): 4.5 Pomadour (martini): 5 Crowd: 3 (very funky/edgy, Wicker-Park and San Fran-types). Fun, just not my preferred setting. Ambiance/decor: 3.5 Would find myself back here strictly for friends' parties... read more

My friend John coaxed us to come out here the other night to see Magic Milk and have some beers, Free Beers that is...and free Pizza. I even got my nails did (after Steve convinced me with 2 drinks). Really cool atmosphere, the dance room is tight as hell. I ran around in circles for like 20 min chasing the mirror ball. Magic Milk was tight and the DJ was cool to. Bartender was nice as well. I will be back! read more

Tribe vs. De la Soul night. Good music for the first 2 hours but became much more clubby/poppy after midnight. I was hoping that the DJ would spin more old school the whole night rather than the first 2 hours. GREAT deal on drinks! $4 grey goose vodka/sodas blew my mind. Perhaps the bartender had a few too many and undercharged me. I liked how diverse the crowd was and that the hip hop heads came out for some good music. I only wished that the music had stayed Tribe v. De la Soul for the night. read more

Cheap drinks, great music, diverse crowd, and you'll do my nails while I sip on martini for $10? Sold! Beauty Bar is a great place for a fun night out with your friends. Plenty of room to dance and plenty of affordable drinks to sip on. I am not really sure I understand all the complaining on here about how people didn't get a PROPER manicure at a BAR. Um, you just paid $10 for a martini AND for someone to give you a "fun" manicure. Enough whining already. If you wanted a full-on salon experience manicure, please go back to the salon. Again, not sure if you noticed that it's a bar....called Beauty Bar? It has a beauty THEME. Those hair dryer chairs over there on the wall? They're just chairs, the dryers don't actually work. So lord help you if you think you just walked into a salon that also happens to serve drinks. It's a bar/club that happens to have tables set up to have a fun polish change. Also, please tell me anywhere else in the city where you can get a martini for 10 bucks and then get your nails did? No, I'll wait...go ahead. Themed music nights, yummy drinks that don't hurt my wallet, and newly painted nails=one happy girl. read more

The legend that is Beauty Bar had been mentioned to me a couple of times before I finally gave it a go--and at the perfect time: it was the "Another 90's Party," which meant my night was filled with drinks, a manicure, Brittney, TLC, and Spice Girls. What more could a girl ask for? The manicure deal is pretty solid--for $15 dollars you get a martini and mani. I got the "Bed Head" (tequila with pineapple and lime juice--which was strong enough, but not overwhelming) and just a basic manicure. Two gals were manning the manicure table, and churning them out pretty quickly. It's a bit no frills, but for what you pay, it's decent: just a quick file and buffer, with a couple coats and quick dry top coat. I was back on the floor dancing to Savage Garden in no time. Winter tips: They have a coat check for $4, but whether your turning your coat in or heading back to fetch it, expect a bit of a wait. Also, don't let the frigid temps outside trick you. If you go on a night where you plan to dance, you're better off dressing for the warmer days we all long for. I was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt and wasn't even in the back dancing room but it was still sweltering. I'm just going to go ahead and choose to believe this just means I sweated off the calories from that "Bed Head" drink. read more

I always wanted to try the place...I mean drinks and manicures...at the same time??? YES, PLEASE. It was Google Offers that finally pushed me to go. Beauty Bar's normal deal is $10 for a martini and a manicure, which is super inexpensive already, but there was a special on Google for $9 for a manicure and TWO martinis. I would have been absolutely nuts if I didn't take advantage! Because of my crazy work schedule, my friend and I could only go on a Monday. It ended up being a great night to do it since there were only and handful of people, thus no line for our manicures, no line to get in, and our drinks were made at lightning speed (I'd like to add that the drinks were strong and delicious, too.). Also, we were able to scope out the place for possible future girls nights out without getting sidetracked and knocked around by mounds of people. The vibe is very retro with the lighting, the glitter on the walls, the salon chairs, etc, which I actually enjoyed because of its difference. The music was mixed - a little hip hop, a little dance, a little house - but it was just a Monday, so nothing fantastic was expected. I will definitely be back on a Thursday or weekend night! read more

I loved the design concept of the place. Lots of glitter with some antique beauty salon accoutrements. The music was phenomenal. Giving me high school flashbacks. I had a double don Julio on the rocks and it was $22 bucks which I thought was steep but I could equally be miss remembering my levels of good tequila. Regardless we had a wonderful time and I enjoyed the mixed crowd of people. I definitely suggest earlier than later. We got there at 10pm and it was pretty busy, but when we started heading out at 12:45 it was beginning to get a bit crowded. I also always appreciate a good photo booth, which they had. read more

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There are a couple of things you need to figure out about this place to have a good time. That said, once you have a good idea of what you're in for, it's a pretty freaking good time. It's probably worth noting that I went here on a night that was a primarily lesbian-themed party. And while I'm probably a lot of things to a lot of people, I am not, in fact, a lesbian. At least on this particular night, despite the name of the venue, it was more club than bar. But hey, what's in a name, right? Turns out The Brown Elephant doesn't carry brown elephants either. Who knew? The music was pretty loud in the dance floor in back but more under control & conducive to conversation in the bar area (though still loud enough to remind you that you're at a club). Drinks were cheap & strong. Bartenders weren't much for words, but they were blasting out booze. Dude poured four bottles simultaneously for the guy next to me who got a long island. 80's movie cheese? Probably. Fastest I've ever seen one made? Yep. Get a few drinks in you & the place makes all the sense in the world. At least on this particular night? EVERYONE dances. On the dance floor & off, I lost & reconnected with my friends probably 20 times between dancing with (probably) gay guys, (obviously) gay girls, and at least one person who I'm not entirely sure of their sex (though they were really nice!). There's an old school, black & white photo booth that I wouldn't have remembered if i didn't find two strips from it in my pocket the next day. There are girls doing manicures up front for some reason. The entire interior is covered in glitter. It's completely ridiculous, which compels people to be completely ridiculous. That's a pretty damn fun night in my book. A flyer reported that Mayer Hawthorne would be playing there in a few weeks, so it's safe to assume that Beauty Bar can be very different things on different nights. And considering how different that is from what I stumbled into, I'm guessing it's worth checking the schedule of upcoming events before going there blindly. But as long as you're ok with the music being as loud as the walls that it's blasting out of, it's as good of a time as I've had in recent memory...or lack thereof. read more

Wasn't a huge fan. The $10 drink/manicure deal was the high point of the night. And that was about it. It was extremely crowded and very loud. So loud, I wound up texting my friend that was sitting next to me so I could be "heard". The staff left a lot to be desired. Most of the bartenders seemed very overwhelmed and a few were downright rude. Add that to a $5 cover. However, the most off putting part of the night was the bar patrons themselves. They gave off an air of unfriendliness and hostility that just sort of pervaded the whole bar. In the end, that's what drove us out. I'm hoping we just went on an off night. But I'd be very reluctant to go back. read more

We stopped at the Beauty Bar a couple weeks ago for the MJ v. Prince night. We were in Chicago for a Girls' Weekend Getaway, and this looked like a lot of fun when I saw it posted on Yelp Events. We loved every minute we were there. The girls keep telling me how much fun they had at the Beauty Bar, and didn't want it to end. The staff was pretty cool and very attentive. We ordered many, many shots. The bartenders put up with our shenanigans and never got rude. The prices were much more reasonable than I expected as well. The decor and layout was pretty cool. We could get crazy on the dance floor, or hang out in the bar area and still dance. A Prince impersonator graced us with his presence. If he regrets going out that night, it's because of us. We did not leave him alone. How could we? He looked exactly like Prince and we were drunk. The music was great! The atmosphere was great! The drinks were great! The girls and I can't wait for another trip to Chicago so we can go back to The Beauty Bar! read more

I went to Beauty Bar for a Syn Vodka sampling and DJ set event a friend was hosting. Beauty Bar is quite beautiful with it's fresh facade and newly furbished interior. This event was fun, the place a bit too awkward though, the vodka was mediocre, but the staff was fun and energetic. When you first walk in you see a cozy foyer with a hostess table and as you walk past that you see a mini nail salon station with three or four tables set up. Further in you see a beautiful bar on the east side of the room and on the west side a row of about twelve hair dryers (you know, the kind you sit in) with tables and chairs in the front of them. In the back was a cozy dance floor with disco ball and DJ station. To me the dance floor was a bit awkward because it's was closed off from the rest of the place (like a VIP room or something) and had benches situated around the walls of the room. This event was ok and introduced me to a new place and a new vodka. I feel the place is a great idea (a beauty salon and bar), but I felt it was a bit too awkward for my tastes. As for Syn Vodka, comparable to Smirnoff, I rather just buy Smirnoff and not spend the extra money for a cleaver vodka using a "Y" in the place of an "I". Thanks, but no thanks, Beauty Bar. read more

This is a great place to start your night off right or stay for a while on a weekday for an event. I was here last night for Ben Tanzer's book release party. He read from his new book, "You Can Make Him Like You," and had a whole panel of other really cool authors who read too, such as: Lindsay Hunter, author of "Daddy's" and Gina Fangello, author of "Slut Lullabies" and "My Sister's Continent." My only complaint was that I arrived too early. The invite said the night would begin at 7pm and when I showed up, I was the first one there. However, by 8:30pm when the reading started the place was pretty full, which was nice to see. My favorite thing about this place was that for $10 you can get a martini and a manacure! How cool is that? Gratuity wasn't included and it's cash only, but to me it was still a killer deal, and since it was Administrative Professionals Day, I thought why not treat myeself. Well treat myself I did to a platinum blonde martini which had malibu rum, orange juice, and cherry's at the bottom, with a splash of hot pepper. Sweet and sassy, the drink was excellent and the woman who did my manacure was punkalischious and we had a lot of fun talking while she painted my nails a neon orange with golden sparkles. All in all, I had a great time and am looking forward to going to more readings here in the future for sure. read more

My buddy and I had a fundraiser here. Decent drinks and very good prices especially if you are going to get a manicure. But prepare to wait in line! Of course that's not so bad if you have a drink with you. There were a lot of us so I think the bartender was annoyed and thus he wasn't very pleasant. I do really appreciate the theme of the old school hair salon turned bar but I think they could do more with it. read more

A little too hip for its own good, this place offers interesting (and strong) cocktails and decent dance music in a 70s salon atmosphere. Wait ... what? Yes, there are old fashioned hair-dryer chairs scattered around as seating, the cocktails have hair-salon-themed names, and they have a couple of ladies at the front offering polish changes (if you are ahead of the crowd). The crowd, by the way, is very West Town/Wicker Park hipster. Stylish glasses, raffish outfits, and a slight but palpable air of unaffected superiority. I felt a little overdressed in a sundress and flip flops. The music was a blend of remixed early-90s fare as well as typical danceable top-40 stuff. Bottom line: fun, laidback, no cover, and okay cocktail prices? I'll be back. read more

Being as it was the first warm night in awhile here, I figured going out on a Wednesday night wouldn't be that bad. After bar hopping, my friends and I ended up at Beauty Bar. Taking up residence where the old Sonotheque nightclub used to be, this place managed to get a few things right: 1. Got rid of the damn freakin' step. 2. Quirky retro decor that doesn't push the line of being tacky. 3. Board games surrounding the authentic hair dryer chairs and tables. 4. The main room is more open and hides the fact of it being a narrow space. Now, onto this things that were 'meh': 1. The awkward dance floor. It is all the way in the back and when you walk in there you either have to dance or stand on the side like at some high school dance. 2. I can deal with hipsters - know them, love them and drink with them. BUT this place is like the hipster elite crowd. No one looked friendly and you most likely would get scoffed at if you waltzed in there with any sort of un-ironic sportswear on instead of some overpriced Urban Outfitters romper. 3. The cover charge. Luckily, there wasn't a cover when I went, but I can't stand going out to a bar that has a cover when I will most likely drop a stupid amount of money at the establishment on booze. Overall, I might go back here if there is a particular dj I want to see, but the vibe just felt really pretentious and uncomfortable. read more

I just can't get enough. I started coming to Beauty Bar on Sunday nights for the 80's music and fell in love. I went back for more a few nights later and it was great. They have a wide variety of events so its a different vibe every night. You dan dance your ass of and be crazy or just sit at the bar and chill depending on the night. Being a girly girl I like the retro salon atmosphere, its a nice change from the normal dark, grimy, dive bars wicker park has to offer. Crystal chandeliers, sparkly paint and vintage salon pictures on the walls. You can even get a polish change and a martini,(reminder to all the haters: you are getting your nails done at a BAR not a salon) it's a pretty fabulous deal. The staff there is super nice, now that I have been back a few times they remember me and my friends and that means a lot to us repeat customers. Always good service here. Zach and Danny are usually there when I go, they are super fun, and always nice. Check it out and drink up they always have good deals! read more