What a blast. Live music, a super cool bartender, lively atmosphere... great times!!! We happened…read moreupon this spot and it was a highlight of Chicago! Great night out.

When in Chicago, visiting a Jazz Bar is a must do! This is my first one ever. $15 cover charge &…read morecash only! I wasn't sure what I was expecting, and don't really have others to compare to but it was a nice experience! Vibes were good and drinks were decently priced. Would visit again if I am back in Chicago.

everything heres amazing. drinks, music, people, bartender. great experience overall, itll be worth…read moreyour time and money.

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).

Knowing that I was visiting the city, I wanted to experience a jazz concert. My Mom is confined to…read morea wheelchair and sometimes these gems are not ADA compliant. I spoke with Scott Stegman, the General Manager ahead of time and he was so accommodating and helpful. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the music, especially the saxophone Thank you for the great experience

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.

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.

Great spot to enjoy a night. Food was good too. We enjoyed…read morevisiting with others around us and it was just relaxing while filling our brains with jazz. I wished there was some swag to buy as my husband's name is Andy. But that's okay.

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.

Ever since I came back from a trip to NOLA a couple years ago (and subsequently moved to Chicago),…read moreI've been looking for a place like Green Mill. A spot where someone could walk in, maybe order a drink, and listen to some music without first opening Ticketmaster and shelling out half your paycheck to their junk fees. Some of their performances are free, and some have a reasonable cover of $10-20. There are also performances every night, sometimes even in the afternoon. The vibe inside is dimly lit and very old-timey. Even the bathroom had a bar of soap! I haven't seen a bar outside of a private residence! For sure, the vibe fits the history. Green Mill used to be a spot visited by Big Al himself. Yes, there are still connected tunnels used by the mob, no, you cannot see them. In terms of the bar, do not expect anything special. Their menu is limited to the beers, wines, and champagnes they have. They have spirits, but no cocktail menu - while they *might* be able to mix something simple like a Manhattan, be prepared for basic drinks along the lines of a gin & tonic. The service was fine, but a little abrupt. Not the best welcoming or inviting, but gruff and surly in a way that is probably cute to regulars, but less so to newcomers like myself. Final verdict: Green Mill is a place one comes for the music and the vibe and to get away from life for a little bit. It appears to be a third place for many regulars. It's worth giving a shot, as long as one is ready for an experience that's a little rough around the edges, arguably by design.

We had a great time, band was good, but the icing on the cake was Buddy Guy himself coming in to…read moreperform. We got to see the legend in action and he didn't disappoint!! Our waitress was attentive and refilled our drinks as necessary.

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.

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!