Bottom Lounge is the perfect choice for couples looking for a full-service Chicago venue just outside of downtown. Their in-house food was delicious, and the bartenders made sure no big line ever formed at the bar. The patio was also key, as we had a nice day in October that allowed us to utilize the outdoor patio for guests to take a breather. Natalie, the event coordinator, has been executing weddings there for over 14 years, and her experience shows. She knows how to run the show to a tee, and we were very grateful to have her in charge of everything so we could just enjoy the day. Natalie went above and beyond to help decorate the space and make sure everything looked perfect. We had some unique DIY stuff, and she was super flexible with all our requests. Definitely the most laid-back event planner I've ever met! On the day of, we love the way Natalie built time into the schedule for us to take a moment to ourselves -- which is key when the wedding seems to go by so quickly! I can't recommend this venue enough!! read more

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We loved having our wedding at Bottom Lounge! Natalie was amazing throughout the entire process and made the day so smooth and the venue absolutly beautiful! The staff and Natalie are all super sweet and so helpful throughout the wedding process and the day of. The food was also super yummy and the drinks were great! We loved being able to get married at a concert venue we love and couldn't recommend it enough! read more

Natalie was incredibly helpful, quick and kind. We hosted a nonprofit fundraiser at Bottom Lounge and it is a gorgeous venue. They were super helpful and willing to make minor adjustments on the day, which is crucial! We highly recommend the event space. The food was also a huge hit with our guests! read more

Bottom Lounge is a great space and steal for a wedding in Chicago! We had our cocktail hour on the patio and the reception for 161 guest inside. The upstairs has a loft like feel which I loved. You can choose to keep some pinball machines if you'd like. We tucked them in the corner for the kids and my husband. They do all the catering in house and give you a menu to choose from but the chef works with you to have whatever you desire! We tried a ton of stuff in 2 tastings. We chose family style which worked out great. They only do family style or buffet. Everyone loved the bar! Very well stocked and my husband loved all the different craft beers offered. The staff was great and Natalie, the event planner was great! Most of the early planning was done through email which was fine with me. She was able to do all the rentals as well, which was great because it was less stress on me to deal with. They have a small parking lot and free street parking. There was a concert downstairs the night of my wedding, which really worried me. But I didn't notice at all! You could not hear the concert during the reception. The el does run right in front of Bottom Lounge but I did not notice the train at all! Our wedding was perfect and Bottom Lounge was the perfect venue! read more

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Ambiance is nice. Good drink selection. Food was a let down. Asian salad tasted like it was from a bag- welted and brown. Tater tots were WAY too salted. Kind of disappointed. On the plus side, the chicken wings were good. read more

I cannot sing the praises of Natalie and The Bottom Lounge staff enough. Once we decided on the Volcano Room for our wedding venue everything was smooth sailing. We were looking for a venue that was unique and allowed us to express our own personality, while comfortably hosting our 150 guests - oh and we wanted amazing food, a wide selection of alcohol, multiple spaces to socialize, be in the city and with an affordable price tag. With a list like that we thought we would need to sacrifice one of our preferences, but not with The Bottom Lounge. It exceeded all of our expectations. Natalie is the heart and soul of the special events operation. She got to know us so well and brought so many amazing, wonderful ideas to the table that completely made our wedding. When she says that she will do anything you need, she is not kidding. There was not a single request that she was not open to accommodating and in fact often took my ideas and brought an even better idea to the table. She helped us create our dream wedding - and it was fun! By the time our wedding arrived, I felt so comfortable and reassured by Natalie and the staff at Bottom Lounge that I was able to relax and enjoy the day. The food was amazing, the staff was fantastic and provided amazing service, and everything ran like clockwork. Our guests had a blast and we got so many compliments on the venue (the weather was perfect and we took full advantage of the lounge area outside) and all the personal touches (flip flops for guests, doggie bags/boxes to take home on the way out to name a few). I took a LONG time to find my wedding venue and it was well worth the wait - Bottom Lounge was the perfect wedding venue. read more

Nice looking room. Kinda like if the Metro and Lincoln Hall had a kid, in the best possible way. Plenty of seating. Long bar with huge selection of booze. Flatscreen TVs and HUGE projection screen. Convenient access to patio deck for smoking and hanging out - also, out there you can totally hear the act on the main stage. Unfortunately this is also the access to the patio for people in the rest of the club, which can be annoying if you've got a private party kind of scene going on upstairs - nothing against my fellow patrons. Watch out for the wobbly tables. They've got those candles floating in some dodgy liquid, and they slosh all over the place when someone breathes heavy on the table. The bartenders seemed to be nice enough guys but were the slowest servers I've ever seen (and I've been in a lot of bars, on both sides of the taps). I wouldn't book the room, but I could see myself getting a drink there again. Probably just have the chance for one or two the whole night, though, unless the bar staff pick up the pace. * the third star is for their excellent lineup of pinball machines, including everyone's favorite, THE ADDAMS FAMILY. read more

I don't believe I am giving such a low star review. First off, I go to a LOT of shows and Bottom Lounge is by far in my top 3 venues to see bands. The sound system is great, the stage and lights are perfect. I just love it. Why the three stars? I REALLY want to give it a 1 star. My fiance and I got engaged about 3 months ago. When talking about where to have our wedding I begged for him to look at Bottom Lounge. Since he's a musician and I am in sorts, it was perfect to choose a music venue. We set up an appointment with Natalie and in a week we went to see the space. BEAUTIFUL! BREATH-TAKINGLY GORGEOUS! I knew that no venue would compare. I love the bar downstairs but once you go upstairs I almsot teared up thinking of my wedding there. The upstairs is beautiful and perfect for weddings. Very industrial and artsy. LOTS of light, brick walls, tons of windows where you can see the city. Oh wait...it can't get better...can it? Natalie took us outside and the outside patio/balcony was GORGEOUS. I could see myself saying my vows outside, looking at the city on the beautiful rooftop. And most importantly, my mom (Yes she means everything to me and I want her to love it) would LOVE sitting outside. So it was a no brainer...this was our venue. I told Natalie and we took a few weeks to discuss dates. My fiance joked we should get married 10/31/2015 (Halloween). Haha! I looked and it was available so we told Natalie to hold it. Now we aren't into Halloween or holidays. BUT, I am a non traditional bride. I have a lot of tattoos/piercings/colored hair, and planned on an extravagant Black wedding dress so it was perfect. A few weeks go by and my fiance and I got A LOT of planning done regardless that our wedding date was over a year away. We got colors, favors ideas, I planned on doing my own favors and flower arrangements. Looked at bridesmaid dresses and wedding cakes. Well Natalie tells us to meet with her to sign our contract. I ask do we need to bring a deposit. I explained that we are going to do fundraisers and events to come up with the money (we work hard for our money but don't have $14k in our bank accounts to just use in a second). She said no problem. Just come to discuss our contract. Meanwhile, I NEVER wanted a wedding planner. I HATE someone influencing me..I do better alone but she was respectful and helpful. BUT..I DO NOT like how she sends emails every 5-8 days when you ask questions. Kind of gets you scared that your wedding planner doesn't communicate. What if I need to ask her a question about codes, or lights, or whatever! Im not waiting a week. We get to our meeting. She explains things, then as we are ready to go she says, "So I need a credit card." For what??! "For the deposit." I explained that she told me in our emails don't worry about the deposit, come to sign the contract, We ask can we give you a few hundred. She says no, 1/2 of the room now. We don't have it (I start to get annoyed that she lied). She said don't worry, go home(I had a trip planned to see my mom in NY so we could discuss things), and come back and email her. While in NY. My mom did NOT like some of the things she said, wrote, or outlined. My mom said to send her an email with our ideas. My mom even offered me a good chunk of the deposit (which I cant see her being able to afford). My heart fluttered..maybe it's going to work out. Ummm no. Natalie emails us about two weeks AFTER and says a couple is interested in our date (BUT we signed a contract). I started to get upset so my fiance wrote to her about how much of a deposit she will take that day. It's been FOUR or FIVE weeks and NO email. So she gave my date away. I do not BELIEVE she would do that. I am so angry thinking about it right now. It's technically illegal what she did...and forget about how unprofessional. I wanted Volcano Room and Patio as my wedding venue...nothing else. Natalie's unprofessionalism really ruined that for me (perhaps her email skills and well as communication issues did as well). I do not think I will ever be back at Bottom Lounge as a venue now. Even if she contacted me about another date to choose from I would say no. I don't need my dreams and heart broken again. Thanks a lot. One-Very-Unhappy-Bride-To-Be. read more

I cannot speak to the venue as a place to see music. I cannot speak to the venue as a place to have a wedding. However, as a place to stop in and have a drink---nope. We stopped here last night. It's clean and nice inside. Needed drinks and pub grub. Beer was beer--and no complaints there. However, I ordered a Ketel and tonic and it was the worst drink I have ever had. Thinking I just got a bad pour---I ordered a 2nd one. Not great. I tried for a 3rd--this time they accidentally gave me soda instead of tonic. That was ok--bc I drink Soda once in awhile--but it still tasted terrible. I had to complain. I asked for another splash of Vodka, still bad. Idk what to think about this drink....either uber conservative with their vodka---or it really wasn't Ketel---or bad/flat soda/tonic. Our food came. We ordered nachos, totchos (tots-nachos), and poutine. The nachos and totchos looked awful from the second it arrived. The cheese was possibly watered down canned cheese. Also, it was on the bottom of the dish---not even over the top of the food. The guac looked bright green--but I thought it was the lighting. Our server knew right away we weren't happy. He grabbed the nachos and totchos--sent it back to fix it. This time, we saw the cheese on the top---but honestly, this was garbage appetizer food. Sorry. The poutine was ok. Having just come from Canada--I know it could be much better. Maybe their entrees are better?? I really wanted to like this place. Our server was the only good thing about last night. He talked with us---and attentive. He got the crappy food off our bill and he did try to help me with that last drink. We gave him a nice tip....with the bill, then my husband left him more on the table, I hope he got it. . read more

I was looking for a place to hold a low-key wedding ceremony and reception, and the Volcano Room at the Bottom Lounge was perfect for me and my husband. The space itself is great. Big, open loft space, exposed brick on the exterior walls, nice wood dance floor, cool graffiti-style mural on the stairwell up to the room . You can get away with minimal decoration because the space already has so much character, but it can also easily be dressed in whatever style you'd want. There's lots of places to hang lights or paper decorations, plug in cords, etc. Good capacity - we had a little over 100 guests and 14 tables set up and it wasn't cramped. And you get exclusive use of the patio as well, which was nice for our guests who smoke and it was a great spot for photos with the Sears Tower in the background. Working with Natalie, the event coordinator, was a great experience. She's genuinely interested in making sure you get the kind of event you want within your budget. Some other places we checked out were too focused on the upsell, or didn't offer any flexibility with packages, timeframes, or room setups. Natalie offered lots of suggestions but didn't get pushy when we wanted to go a different route. She took care of our linen and table orders, had great suggestions for an officiant and photographer, and gave us lots of other great tips. What sealed the deal for us was that Natalie and her staff took care of all the set up. We made floor plans together and talked extensively about where the decorations and other necessities would go. But it was so great to not worry about any of that on the day of - I just got to walk in and marry my dude. Many of our guests had great things to say about the food - some even said it was the best they've ever had at a wedding. It's not the same bar food menu. The chef made eggplant parmesan, chicken with sundried tomato, and roast beef with shallots. Because of constraints with the size of the kitchen and since they're still operating the bar, restaurant, and concert venue downstairs during the event, they are not able to do individually plated dinners. But we opted for family-style, which worked well and our guests said they enjoyed. I think buffet style was an option as well. Pricing was very reasonable - about half of the rental fee price of other places we looked at like Greenhouse Loft and Bridgeport Arts Center. And it was great not to worry about separate contracts and payments for a caterer, liquor, table rentals, plates and flatware rentals, etc. Our one invoice paid to the Bottom Lounge took care of everything but flowers, officiant, photographer and DJ. We did hit a few snags - We knew that a band would get booked in the venue that night, but were surprised the show had a 5pm start time. Our ceremony started at 5pm too, so it was loud on the patio but only barely audible in the event space during our ceremony. Overall not a big deal, just one of the quirks of getting married at a rock club, but heads up to future wedding planners that this is the type of thing you might encounter. Also, we chose to do the ceremony in front of the DJ booth. Logistically it made the most sense with our floor plan, but it looks kind of crappy as a background in some of our photos like the first kiss. So I'd definitely suggest either a different spot for a ceremony or hanging a curtain down from the ceiling in front of the DJ booth. I think most couples that do the ceremony there get married on the patio, but then you have to contend with the weather or potentially a loud concert. Super happy we did our wedding here - our guests loved it and thanks to Natalie and her staff, we were able to relax and enjoy. This is by far the best option for a unique and fun Chicago wedding. read more

Bottom Lounge Wedding & Event Venue - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Volcano Room is a really, really cool space for an event. Has very urban feel, would fit a pretty good size party, and is probably pretty adaptable for whatever you might need. The deck is big, with a good view of the skyline. But, it's pretty raw, just a deck - would definitely need some decorating for a party. Bathrooms are nice too! However, the person who is in charge of parties here was pretty unhelpful. I contacted him and he was curt in emails. I set up a time to go see the space, and he didn't make it. That's not such a big deal, but he didn't let anyone else at the venue know he was expecting someone or that he wasn't going to be there. So, we just poked around the room on our own. Afterward, I was never contacted by him again, no explanation and no follow-up. Doesn't inspire confidence. Tons of potential here, but I would give them time to get it together a little more for the private party side. To be fair, they just opened and I don't think there have been many private events here yet, so maybe it's just a rough start. read more

We could not have had a more pleasant experience than choosing the Bottom Lounge as our wedding/reception venue. Upon researching other venues, the cost is a steal comparatively and for someone who adamantly did not want a wedding planner, Natalie provided the perfect amount of comfort and advice without being imposing. Our wants and needs were fairly simple, and the venue really went above and beyond to provide special moments that made our day even more wonderful! I strongly recommend using the outside patio (even with the train - people understand) as it provides such a beautiful background and place for guests to mingle later in the evening. Food was perfect and plentiful, sound was amazing, and the whole staff (bartenders, wait staff, security) could not have been more awesome. Thanks so much for making our day the best. Seriously. read more

The upstairs area of the new Bottom Lounge - Volcano Room, is separate from the Bottom Lounge and upon seeing it...I must say I was impressed! I know the Bottom Lounge itself has a bit of a hard edge for an event such as a wedding or shower...but this upstairs space is fantastic. The square footage is immense (warehouse big) and the ceilings are lofted giving it a bright and airy feel during the day. What really knocks this space out of the park though is the roof deck. It is also enormous and gives guests plenty of space to enjoy the weather in Chicago during the valuable 6 month "I must enjoy the outdoors while I can" window. The event planner was extremely knowledgeable and very easy to work with (especially since this is a brand new space). Also, the bathrooms were big and very nice (girl thing...I know). Volcano Room offers the same top of the line beer and liquor as Bottom Lounge, but they do have flexibility regarding the menu if buffalo wings and nachos don't quite fit the ambiance of your event. This is a definite contender if you are planning a large scale event...check this space out! read more

We had our wedding here on October 10th. We did the ceremony here as well as the reception, and everything was absolutely wonderful! A few little things went wrong, but I think only we noticed them. Overall, the wedding looked great, the food was so, SO good, the bartenders and all other staff were great, we were able to utilize the awesome deck for pictures and most of our cocktail hour, and we were able to make the wedding so personal and fun. I was so not into planning a wedding. It was stressful. My husband and I are not traditional people, we wanted things to be unique and laid back...and this was the perfect place for that. It is expensive, because all weddings are expensive! Compared to other places we looked in the city, it's actually way lower and more things come with the room. Plus you basically get a day-of coordinator which if hired separately can cost around $2,500! We are so happy with the way our wedding turned out. We got so many compliments and people raved about the food. If you love the city, and want a unique, fun wedding experience, definitely check this place out. I'm so glad we did!! read more

I am having an event at the Volcano Room in October and everything has been great so far! Kent, the events person has been extremely responsive to all my calls and emails. The room and balcony are really unique...very urban. I am really looking forward to it and will update my post after the event. read more

I went to the Volcano Room & Patio at Bottom Lounge for Sunday Brunch. I was impressed. Dino the bartender is just the coolest. We never had to wait for a drink, even when his hands were full of other customers. The patio is very nice, clean and roomy. The food was good. The Breakfast burrito is worth the money. Not only does it taste great but is it was huge. If your hungover and starving this is the way to go. If your a girl and don't want to look like a pig in front of your dude, take half home and eat it when the he is gone. Otherwise, dig in. The Volcano room is a giant space and cool. Don't let the vacant street (plenty O'parking) and dark front windows scare you away. It is very chill, friendly and great views of Downtown. read more