It's hard to describe the joy I experienced at Kingston Mines…read more First, the staff could not have been any friendlier. They found us perfect seats, tended to us all night long, and were just generally lovely people all around. The venue is so perfect for enjoying a fabulous night of music. We just sat there and soaked in ambience and let the music just flow over us. The food needs to be picked up in the back but it's a well organized production and everything that we ate there was just right. I cannot wait to get back to Kingston Mines. I may just go there every night when I'm back in town.

Kingston Mines is a legendary blues club in Chicago. In my 9 years living in that city I'd estimate…read moreI went there no less than 40 times. It's just that good! In a city with hundreds of options for nightlife and entertainment, people just want to be repeat customers there. The talent is awesome. Mike Wheeler Band is definitely at the top, Mike slays on the slide guitar -- check him out! You meet fun people there, they draw a good crowd of quality individuals. Can't wait come back next time I'm in Chicago again!

I love this jazz club! Established in 1947, it's the oldest jazz club in Chicago and the second…read moreoldest in the country. As soon as I walked in, I could feel I was somewhere truly special. The dark lighting and swanky vibe creates a lovely ambiance. A variety of seating options, including sofas. Attentive service and excellent cocktails and mocktails. The musicians are incredible!

This place has a magical feel IF you're into jazz. If you aren't a jazz lover, you just may become…read moreone here. Well, I love jazz and it's a great place to be. I came here for the first time knowing my grandparents started coming here in the 50's for date night jazz. This place was founded in 1947 and you can see they've preserved this place to keep that same feel with all the greats from the past... Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Lonnie Liston Smith, Hugh Masekela, Dexter Gordon, etc. (those are my favorites!). I saw the Kyle Swan Quartet. They were absolutely amazing. You see young and seasoned musicians that are so talented. I usually go to Birdland in NYC but this place, Jazz Showcase, is better to me because it feels more welcoming and like home here versus a production at a theater. We interact with the artists here-- well, they interact with us and make us feel like we are at home and like we are supposed to be there with them, not a performance transaction. $25+ for a show and booking online was a breeze. It's comfortable here, chairs are good and there's sofas in reserved areas but the whole seating area has a great view of the stage no matter where you're sitting. The staff seems gracious and kind of everyone who visits and genuinely wants you to have a great time. They see very selective in their talent that performs here... but why wouldn't they when they've been here for so long and had the best artists perform here?! I came the night that The only downside that may be for some people is they don't have food... only drinks. Me personally, I ate before and don't come for food, I come for the jazz... but they've got beer, cocktails, and other spirits. Macallan and Laphroaig for those who need a good whiskey. Come here if you're ready to relax and listen to great jazz with artists who know their craft. I'm coming back with friends... or even alone. Yeah, it's cool like that. ***Side note: the GPS may take you to the Main Street and you may not see the sign right away and actually have to turn the corner on Plymouth and walk down that side street to get to the end of the block (where the dead end/no outlet is).

We went to Winter's Jazz Club for a Sinatra show, and it was a great time. It's a super cool jazz…read moreclub, and everything that night was set up beautifully, the production, lighting, seating. The set itself was great and really fit the space. I ordered the Blackberry Jam Session, which was great and easy to drink. Service was magnificent throughout the night. Overall, the vibe was excellent, and it felt like a really cool spot. Definitely a great place to catch live jazz and enjoy a drink.

THE SHOW -- 5/5 stars! We saw Bryan Eng's show and it was…read morephenomenal. The vibes are great and 1.5 hours of jazz passed by so quickly. A great place to experience amazing musical talent! Great place to go for a date night! THE DRINKS -- 3/5 stars There is a $10 min per person during the shows. Both of the drinks we got were quite sour and don't think I'd get either again. Of the two, I liked the blackberry jam session cocktail more than the French 77. There's no food in the menu so eat before or after

We had a great time at Andy's Jazz Club! We didn't eat, but we had a few drinks and the cocktails…read morewere really good. The music was fantastic, and the ambiance made the whole experience feel very special and authentically Chicago. The service was good, and it's definitely a great place to enjoy live jazz and have a few drinks. I would have loved to see a little more variety in the performance, like a saxophone or a vocalist, but overall, we really enjoyed the experience. Definitely a great spot for a night of jazz, drinks, and a nice atmosphere!

Lovely spot for jazz. The customer service was amazing from start to finish. Everyone was genuinely…read morekind, from the moment you walk in and pay the cover charge to the server who went out of their way to make you feel comfortable and stayed very attentive throughout the night. The music itself was also really good and felt like the main focus of the whole experience. If you are solo, there are not always the best views of the stage depending on where you sit, but it still felt worth it because the performance is strong enough that you stay engaged no matter where you are seated. They ask that conversation volume be kept to a minimum for the performers. The food was decent and a little pricey, but for the overall experience it felt worth spending a bit more. Between the atmosphere, service, and music, it added to the night rather than taking away from it. Overall the combination of great customer service, good energy, and the location near the riverfront made it a really enjoyable experience! I was also able to walk from my accommodation to the venue and back, and it felt safe and easy to navigate.

Come for Thursday night jazz! We arrived early for a solo guitarist who took requests and played…read morethem on the spot--it was incredibly impressive. We stayed through the final act, a full band that had the place packed, with everyone dancing and enjoying the lively atmosphere. We also loved that servers came around to take drink orders, so you didn't have to keep getting up to go to the bar. I'd definitely recommend coming early to grab a seat and staying for the whole night. But get food before, they do not sell food. We had an early dinner out before coming. Regardless, we've never experienced a place quite like this and had such a fabulous evening!

How anyone could rank this amazing preserved piece of Chicago history below 4 or 5 stars is beyond…read moreme. Seriously ... this was the best thing I did while visiting Chicago. It took 20 minutes and $25 each way to Uber there from my hotel in downtown Chicago, as it is 6 miles away. However, totally worth it. Yes ... it's cash only. That's a bit of a bummer. I'd rather pay a surcharge than trust the sketchy little ATM in the bar. Yes ... It's 'lived in'. I wouldn't call it dirty as much as it is worn. To me, this was part of the charm. It's been around since the 1920's and probably looks very similar to how it did in the 1940's. Dark, dingy and fun. Most of the mafia in Chicago didn't hang out downtown. This area is where their HQ was and where most of them congregated in the same way NY's mafia hung out in Bensonhurst instead of Manhattan. The area has a lot of vintage architecture and history, despite being a little more run down and 'authentic' than the more touristy downtown. I went on a Friday around 3:30 p.m. Already, the back seating area was full of people, however there were a few bar seats left in the front. An hour later, it was packed. They start charging a $20 (cash only) cover at 7 p.m. for the live band. Before that was a jazz organist, who was pretty good and a master at working the crowd. They have draft beer ($6 - $10) ... bottled beer ... and booze. My Old Fashioned was made with muddled orange and cherries and only cost $12. A gin and tonic was $9. It can be tough to get a drink because the one bartender works the entire bar. Nice guy though. Don't come here expecting anything other than a dive bar ... there is nothing modern about this place. However, it has one of the best vintage vibes I've honestly ever encountered in a jazz bar. Don't miss out on seeing this bar and hearing some music, even if it means having to Uber or drive. It will be worth the trip. There aren't many places around like this anymore.

I always wanted to come and visit The Legendary Buddy Guy's for a night of Jazz. This particular…read morenight Toronzo Cannon was getting married at Buddy Guy's & after will be performing. I got there early to get a good seat close to the stage. It was a packed out night. Grown Vibes and some of the best performances. I enjoyed the atmosphere and show. The flip side is the service & food sucked. The server Katarzyna was rude and unprofessional. I understand it was crowded that night and service was slow. It was the attitude and demeanor and rudeness. The staff also seemed to be unorganized and unprepared on that night. I ordered the fish and chip and it was greasy and very salty. I did enjoy the performance of Toronzo. But, disappointed with the service and food.

This was around the corner from Blackstone Hotel, Marriott…read moreAutograph Collection. They have good food so you can arrive before 7:30 and have dinner and enjoy live music. But for the main entertainer/event you have to pay for cover charge which is about $25 pp and so reasonable considering it starts at 8 and ended at 11 pm. We had dinner there and enjoyed Louisiana food. During break around 9 pm Buddy Guy, the living legend (pleasant surprise) sang the blues for about 30 minutes. The legend is 89 and he is so sharp, funny, and solid entertainer! Chicago is known for its jazz and blues and Buddy Guy is a must see/visit when in Chicago!

A hidden gem in Chicago for experiencing avant garde music, from jazz to experimental noise…read more Bar with excellent cocktails in front, music hall with high school gym vibes in back. Wheelchair accessible.

Even though we got there around 11 PM, the place was still filling up and the band was getting set…read moreup. This is for night owls. The bartender was very polite and calm. My Pimm's cup was excellent and I was happy to have a Pilsner Urquell for my second drink. The place is very casual yet hipster - esque.

Great intimate blues venue with street parking. A hidden gem, located on Armitage.....Think, dive…read morebar with live music. The bartenders and hostess were very friendly. We were meeting some people and since seating was limited, tables had to be reserved. We were all seated together, close to the stage at a table reserved for us. The bar was sufficient but they may or may not have your specific drink. But there were definitely enough adjacent choices to satisfy. They accepted all forms of payment, except checks........There was a sign that actually said it..........I thought it was funny. No food but you can have food delivered. The Stephen Hull experience was the show we attended. The show was phenomenal. We were sitting close to the stage, so the music may be too loud for some. There were people wearing earplugs but personally, I was fine without them. It was Stephen Hull's birthday, so staying consistent with that theme, he celebrated. We left at intermission but they live streamed the entire set on YouTube....Great time....We're looking forward to returning soon.

Rosa's is the GOAT of blues music in Chicago. There are so many phenomenal blues joints in that…read morecity, and I won't lie, I love each and every one of them. But Rosa's holds a special place in my heart. The vibe is just real. Authentic. People get up and dance with each other. Everyone there is a blues fan and wants to have a great time. I've met so many new friends here. I lived in Chicago for 9 years, and while I'm not there anymore, every single time I'm back visiting -- Rosa's is one of my go to stops I simply cannot miss. Love y'all!

I attended the CJH's Miles Davis 100th Birthday concert at the Kehrein Center. It was great, and…read morethe hall was packed. The combo consists of really outstanding musicians, several very well-known as solo acts.

Great philharmonic to hear while in the Windy City. True musical talent and wonderful jazz pieces…read morethe musicians played.

Immaculate vibes here, very dark and moody…read more Fantastic drinks, didn't try the food though. Lexy was amazing!

Beautifully designed space and amazing drinks…read more Reservations will be needed, be sure to plan this spot! We had a bit of difficulty at first finding this place which is part of the fun, but make your way down an alley and you'll find your new favorite tiki bar! We were seated promptly and with an Arrival time around 330 it was low lighting, chill ambiance music and everyone enjoying good conversation. Honestly great start! The server was knowledgeable and attentive, our drinks came quickly after our appetizer did The ceviche was fresh and we ate every bit of it, would have ordered more had we not had dinner plans! Drinks were certainly tasty and well balanced, always what you want from a tiki bar My only gripe was they seemed to keep increasing the music volume and allowed for more standing room which wasn't the vibe we were looking for, but that just might be what they convert to closer to dinner time. Perhaps would be better in the later hours as people still were trying to simply connect with eachother on a speaking level but that's just my perception. Overall wonderful spot, we will return when we want to bring friends from out of town to experience three dots and a dash!