Not since Manhandler closed, has Chicago had a gay bar with as much of a cliched name as Cell Block. This is not a bar to bring your female friends who want a "fun night" out in Boystown - nor anyone who is not ready to be somewhat emotionally scarred by hardcore porn on the TVs and older men dressed in varying degrees of leather. This "leather" bar sits ominously on Halsted Street, with its darkened window and a sign made of letters that looks like they were purchased at the local True Value. Inside the bar is dark, dank and not that welcoming. I've only been a couple of times, but each time there haven't been more than 10-15 people in the entire place. They have a dartboard, which is one of the only reasons I would ever patronize this place, and it's usually pretty inexpensive for beers. You would love this bar if you're an older, gay man (45+) who likes to wear leather chaps and lurk in a dark corner. All others - there are many other places for beer that are much more fun and not as creepy. read more

This is one if my favorite spots in boystown. If you want to go to a bar with your friends and just have a chill night out this is the spot. We play darts and pool and it's the perfect spot for that. The drinks are inexpensive and the bartenders are great. They do there best to make you feel welcome! If you are looking for a packed bar and a place to meet a lot of new faces this is not the bar for you. Look past the smell and have a blast! read more

Cell block is a great neighborhood bar. Its a little place where you can go get a few drinks with out breaking the piggy bank. The staff is always friendly and ready to offer you a refill. There is no dance floor but that doesn't stop the crowd from dancing to a good tune once in a while. If you're looking to grab a few beers with out all the over the top glitz then Cell block is just right for you. read more

I gave Cell Block a try but it was just dead. By that, I mean while there was a large handful of people there, there was no energy. It was like a mindless circulating swarm of herring. I've gone back on a couple occasions and it seems they never changed the fish. The same faces all circulating. Kinda creepy, if you ask me. A redeeming point was that I got more free drinks by bouncing my pecs for the bartender. :) read more

First of all, with regard to what the reviewer Andy G. said about this not being a bar to bring your female friends to--no kidding. But is that the standard by which you judge gay bars? It's a *leather* bar, a *bear* bar, for god's sake! Of course it's going to be a little rough and ominous. As far as the porn, it only plays in the backroom, which is only open on weekends. The backroom is an old-school backroom--darkness, porn, groping, et cetera. It's much less shocking than it used to be (and the way some other bars' backrooms still are) with a cross for chaining a person and whipping him, and a bathtub for watersports. That said, I'm not into leather and don't get into the backroom action. I like going here on Sunday afternoons and sometimes stopping in for a cheap beer at night. The clientle tends to include people who are older, but it's usually a really varied crowd, including all ages and lots of different types of guys. If you're like Andy G. I recommend you stick to your twink bars and stay away from scary, icky places like the Cell Block. But if you like a down-to-earth scene, friendly bartenders, and the chance to see something different you might want to stop in. read more

I'm not one to write a review, but I'm really upset with my experience at the Cell Block. Myself, my wife and 3 friends went at 3pm Sunday, April 29th. We were on a 2 bus trip to Wrigley field and left the game to go bar hop. YES, we knew what side of town we were in before anyone asks. We sat down and I asked Sam where all the people were. (Bar was empty) His response was " Well the gays and lesbians we cater to, must not be here yet" ..in a nasty tone. We stayed for one cocktail and remained happy the entire visit, but his demeanor was that of a straight hater the entire time. This is the exact attitude the LGBT community is protesting against, and we got a huge dish of hate where we least expected it. Sad really. We just wanted a cocktail and to have a good time. I hope you read this Sam, and be a little nicer to ALL customers in the future. read more

SO, I'm a girl and straight and I do bring my girl friends to this bar. Yeah, it's dark and gloomy and there's gay men wearing leather sitting on bar stools....SO? What would one expect from a place named Cell Block? I like this place, except after I drank my drink pretty quickly (we were just getting started) the bartender said "Did you spill that?" No, fuck face I drank it the way men drink their drinks. read more

The bartender was super cool to my friends and I the other night. After the Cubs won game 7, we finally made our way out of the Wrigley mayhem, and ended up walking in to Cell Block just at last call. However, the bartender poured us up a celebratory shot, even though we only had $4 cash (cash-only)!! I thought it was super cool of him and really appreciate it. Good people. Go Cubs! read more

Great service. Good people. Hit or miss with crowds but is a good neighborhood bar. Mark, Marty and Greg are the best.

I love this bar. I wish it were a little more popular...not sure why it isn't, but that won't keep me away! Friday and Saturday nights are the best when Mark is bartending! He's my favorite bartender in Chicago! read more

Im becoming more or a Monday night regular here and I must say I HATE BARS, CROWDS and LOUD MUSIC... Its nice you can have a conversation and play pool and darts and have a few reasonably priced drinks which have a good amount of booze in them. Very friendly bar staff and a fun clientele... read more

Honestlly had reservations about going into cell blcok. This bar always gets a bad wrap as being creepy and discusting. I actually found it to be quite the opposite. First off the people at the bar (at least on weeknights) were all friendly and actually had some class and kept there hands to themselves. The drinks here actually have booze in them unlike over at other bars on the street. The bar tenders are cool and the atmosphere was very laid back. I found this to be a great bar to go and chill with friends because we could actually hang out, play wii or darts and not have to deal with the divas at the other bars on the street. All in all a fun night out and worth a shot or maybe a few shots!!! read more

Go when MARK is working - FUCK THE YUM FUCK! I am giving it a 4 - they loose 1 star due to the smell

I don't go out very often, but I find it impossible not to have a great time here. If you don't like the big crowds and attitude further down the street, this place is a pleasant change. read more

My friends and I stopped for one drink (shot!) and this was a small bar that I could have spent more than the five minutes I spent there.

I'm a straight male, but I have a lot of gay and bi friends. Thus I go to a lot of gay bars when we go out. By this point, I have probably been to every gay bar in Chicago. Of course they all flow into their own trends, tendancies, and "regulars". This is the bar that would deffinitley be my favorite out of the good majority. They don't try to play into fads and that beautifuly generic little groove that has been worn into the ground for masses to follow. Given that sometimes loud music, screaming little kids, getting drunk, and then having strobe lights flashed in your face could lead to a fun night. But it is nice when you can go to a gay bar that understands the term "gay bar" doesn't mean drunken rave; It means it's a bar for gay people to hangout, drink, and meet like-minded individuals. read more

I want to like this bar. But the service sucks and the prices are sky high. This should be my neighborhood bar and yet the bartenders ignore me. No cover keeps it ryo one star. read more

Cell Block is Boystown's most tremendous underachiever: A gay bar that sits on the main Boystown strip, surrounded by other crowded, successful bars and restaurants...yet walk in on a Friday night and maybe you'll find 10 people. Why? Because its owners refuse to get up off their asses and market/update the bar one iota. Here's a list of problems: -Outdated decor and facilities. Bathrooms are disgusting, the floors are rickety, and even the beer coolers don't always function properly. The a/c in the front/main bar has been broken for years, which makes it oppressive in the summer! -Some horrible vomit/dead body smell that eminates more strongly on hot days. -Dark, dingy atmosphere Cell Block has one thing going for it. They do one bear night a month, called Furr Party, that draws a large, loyal crowd. DEAR OWNERS: Chicago doesn't have an official bear bar. Why not capitalize on this idea? Maybe give it a new bearish name, and shell out some paint and signage for the outside? Maybe invest in some paint, tiling inside the bar? Maybe shelling out a few hundred bucks for air conditioning? A couple hundred bucks for some new lighting? I would love it if I already owned a bar, strategically located in Boystown, with such a HUGE opportunity to make money! read more

Bartenders were nice. Bouncer selectively enforces the rules - at pride fest let 5 people leave with drinks but decided that my friend and I couldn't, hence the low rating. Definitely not up to health code, there was no soap in either bathroom read more

Ungodly awful smell. A mix of mildew and sewage. Fewer than 10 people here. Not coming back.

People who are looking for the Cellblock of years past 'The Leather Bar in Boystown' will be disappointed at first...then they will quickly realize that it is now one of the greatest neighborhood gay bars in Chicago. It's still got a fetish 'tint' but in reality it's just a great place to get a cheap beer, a good shot and amazing conversation with a great assortment of locals! Neighborhood folks, local industry from neighboring business, and people who just want a low key, relaxed place to kick back and chat it up. The staff is brilliant...You will be Facebook friends immediately. Love them all! Greg, Mark, Dustin, Kelly, Matt....the best crew in Boystown who know you by name...and by drink! Looking for a local bar to call home away from home ...Cellblock has got your name on it! read more

I went to the Cell Block because I wanted to try a different leather bar in Chicago. The staff and bartenders had so much attitude it was ridiculous. It was even more disappointing to find the manager Mike was the main source of turning their nose up on customers that were not regulars. I was completely ignored and had to ask several times for another beer, very bad service. I could understand if the place was packed but this was not the case. Avoid this place and only go there if you want the stereotypical gar bartender attitude. Perhaps this is why their business has declined! read more

Came in Friday around 5:00 for $4 drinks. Asked for Stoli. The bartender suggested Grey Goose and got special bottles from the back. Had four drinks. It was rot-gut; definitely not grey goose -- probably not even vodka. Met nice guys and had some fun. But won't be going back there anytime soon. The Friday $4 drinks is a scam or the bartender is an con. Which is it? read more

Good thing I didn't read the reviews before I went here, because if I did, I wouldn't have gone, since leather and bears are sooo not my scene. Besides, I was here on a Monday night with an old friend, and I am glad it wasn't another night, because the two of us - the tiny Vietnamese girl and the boyish gay Indian - would have stood out like two sore thumbs! We got our Blue Moon beers and parked ourselves on one of the high tables and caught up old times. The bar was sparsely populated, just a handful of people chatting with the bartender and other playing darts and pool. It was a perfect place for catching up. Though I do wish the screens wouldn't play videos of people jiggling their not-so-hot tushies ad nauseam. I did enjoy the music, though I don't think I'd heard any of it before, and the bartender was a doll, which is always a good thing! Not my hangout of choice but a nice spot nonetheless. read more