(Kari's Rating 8.5/10) Stopped in for a quick drink before dinner before Gus' Sip N Dip. We didn't have much time, but it was of course dead as it was 7 PM on a Monday. I ordered the lemon drop martini and it came with a beautiful sugar rim and a curly lemon slice which made the drink look very aesthetically pleasing. It is relatively loud because it is a semi-karaoke bar. The bartender was really sweet and made our drink relatively strong. I loved coming here when it's super busy for a happy hour or a late night piano session. read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Lemon drop martini! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I so love dueling piano bars! I got there at 7 on a Thursday to grab food and front row seats. Be warned music started an hour later. I didn't get to enjoy as much music as I wanted as I had a boat tour to get to but I went back after. Totally different vibe! Really was slow, chill, later was insanely packed after 10, standing room only. Great vibes though still. The grilled chicken sandwich was good, came with fries alright they were a bit overdone. Loved the char and soft texture of the bread. I might go with pretzel or nachos next time. Great menu options! Servi e staff were running and seemed stressed fun the moment they opened. Definitely working very hard. Would have loved to see them smiling and having fun too. Well definitely be back when I'm in town. read more

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August 7th 2026 , the person wearing a yellow jersey (probably banana Savanah) sucked ahhhh he was so mean and rude. Everyone else slayed so hard and put their all in, but the one dude playing that day was just an awful person, he did play good but his attitude ruined everything, I can't base my whole review off of him because the concept of the place is great but he ruined it all and sucked so I won't be back which is disappointing. read more

10/10 amazing time. All of the musicians are extremely talented. They all switched between playing piano, drums, bass and guitar in addition to singing. And they played for hours!! The mix of music makes it fun for everyone - Get Low, Come on Eileen, Pink Pony Club, Billie Jean, Como La Flor. My friend said she didn't realize she was coming to a concert. The food is good but the drinks are a little weak, still good though. Howl at the Moon is great for all ages. You will definitely enjoy it. read more

Howl at the Moon is a lot of fun with live music and dueling pianos. With a couple bars scattered around, it is easy to get a drink pretty quickly. The prices are about what you would expect for a bar in River North. The only real downside is that River North is starting to have security issues, especially late at night. One of my friends was robbed right after he left the bar and it's not the first time I've heard of that happening. I just wonder if there is a better way for Howl at the Moon to ensure the safety of its patrons. read more

BEWARE: Cover Charge ... these clowns charge a $12 cover charge for the privilege of buying their overpriced drinks and tipping their piano players. NOPE, we walked out. read more

I ended up getting a free party. I wanted to get more people, but it was a Saturday night in mid May and lots of concerts going on in the city and lots of things going on so it is what it is. Ended up being my wife and I. We both had nonalcoholic drinks and they had a very good selection of NA Drinks which is good for people who can't or don't drink. The food was excellent. We both shared a soft pretzel and I had the hotdog that had steak on it, which was really filling. My wife had a burger which she thought was good. We also had a nice spot at the front with the window open so that we could still somewhat have a conversation and watch the Savannah Bananas on the TV. I guess the only thing I really didn't particularly care for was the fact that you had to pay for song requests. But we really didn't stay that long into the songs anyway. read more

The live band they had lastnight was amazing! (5/2/26). I havent been here in years, its still the same

Outstanding. Great music and entertainment. Went way out of their way to please, I wish I could give 6 stars. Best time I had on my visit to Chicago read more

The bar - and the band. Not just two pianos but bass drums and guitar. The musicians were fabulous, and the one female band member sang like Whitney Houston, banged the keys like no one's business, and was one heck of a drummer, bass player and harmonica player! Such a good time! Bring the team and get some after-work bonding time in - this place is fantastic! Too much fun....set a double alarm in the morning and pop those two Advil before bed! read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - There is an ME in TEAM! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A bar near the corner of grand station. Grabbed a drink for happy hour here, the atmosphere is good, not many people here at 7. Staff are friendly. read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I stopped by Howl at the Moon twice during my trip to Chicago. All the performers are very very talented and they play all the different instruments and sang very well. I'm always very amazed by the talent level here. The first night I was here is wasn't as busy because it was a random Tuesday night. But when I got here or Thursday night, the place was a good amount of people having a blast. The restrooms are far from the main floor. I heard that the women's restroom is two floors up and the men's restroom was downstairs. There are pens and request slips at each table. Write down the songs you want to request in put it on the piano with a tip and the performers will hopefully it got to your song.I'm not sure at what point they charge recover but when I got here Thursday night I was a little bit later and I did have to pay a cover charge. Overall this was a very lively and fun environment and lots of people are singing along with the performers. read more

I went in to watch the house band. They were phenomenal. The environment was exciting enough to want to dance without putting any pressure to. The "moon me" was cute but weak and really sugary. The shots were smaller than we thought they'd be. Drinks felt cheap, but the music was fantastic. read more

This is a must do while in Chicago! Make a reservation and have some food and beverages. The entertainment is off the hook! We will go back many more times! read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Easy to find! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends and I celebrated a friend's birthday at Howl at the Moon, and we had a great time! We reserved a space ahead of time for our group of 25 which worked out well since it's a busy spot. The happy hour drinks menu, available from 6-9 PM, was amazing. The prices were super affordable and felt like such a great deal! The best part about this bar is the live music. The singers and musicians were awesome, and the performances made the night really fun. You can even request songs by sending a Venmo tip, though not all requests get played. The food was okay--we just ordered a few sides. Overall, I really enjoyed the performances and the upbeat vibe. I would definitely recommend this place to occasionally hangout with friends or celebrate with a large party. read more

I've been to Howl at the Moon a handful of times over the years and it's a pretty good time if you let it happen. It's a loud and crowded dueling pianos bar in River North, so wedge yourself into a spot and enjoy the people watching while having a beer or two. read more

Gahh this was one of the highlights of our Chicago trip. This place was super fun and energetic. High energy all around. I've never been to a piano bar other than on a cruise, so this was new to me. But boy was it a time. The bouncers and bartenders were phenomenal. Of course the pianist and backup singers were very talented and engaged well with the crowd. It's always fun being in a new place where no one knows you. read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Shots all around!! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you like deuling piano bars, this is the place for you! So much fun, energizing, lots of engagement from the performers and the crowd. Fun decorations at this place and even a couple TVs in the back for the sports fan who would prefer to watch the game instead. More like a full onstage band with guitar and drums to back up the pianos. Customer requests welcome. Good for large groups. Generally a cover but worth it! read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Who doesn't love a good dueling piano night. I came here because they were supposed to be doing a 2000's night. Well that sort of didn't happen. Of course there was some old foggies in there requesting Margaritaville. No hate but I was really pumped for the 2000's tunes. I understand the musicians got to make their money...so it's all good. I did get to hear a rendition of Umbrella by Rihanna and they did a good job. I didn't reserve a table and will do that in the future. We were able to find a non-reserved table in the back. Not the best of views but we could see the band. However, the sound projected forward so sometimes hard to hear the lyrics of the songs. Overall the musicians were talented but I didn't really hear anything that blew me away. I would would love to come back and see how they handle rap and hip-hop. Most songs were pop and golden oldies (60's, 70s and 80s). On this occasion they did have shot specials and other happy hour deals. We tried the jello shots and they were good and strong (surprisingly). This is definitely a fun vibe so check it out when you wanna try something new!!! read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - $5 Jello Shot - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lively spot if you're looking for a fun night out with friends. The live music and high-energy vibe make it more than just a typical bar. It can get pretty busy and loud, which is part of the appeal if you're in the mood for nightlife, though that might not be ideal for a quiet conversation. Overall, it's a good choice for a celebratory night or casual outing with a group. read more

I went in there with some friends because one of them won a party for her birthday. We were tipping the singers well for song requests. The guys were so judgmental over any song requested. The girl singers were great and friendly but one male specifically was so rude and acted like everything was an inconvenience and like he was better than everyone there. Very not fun and will never come back. read more

We ordered cocktail and other drinks. It's great and service is fast. Ambiance is great for date night and friends get together read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Dueling piano - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pros: + Free cover if you check in on Yelp! + Great live band - dualing Pianos + Reasonable Happy Hour - but you have to book this reservation in advance Cons: - Pressure to order the second you walk in for a drink - The band asks that all song requests be Venmo'd to them. It seems a little tacky to me. Of course I want to tip them, but this just seemed a little off IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC read more

Howl at the moon is our favorite bar !! We visit from CA and when we are in Chicago we always make it back to Howl at the Moon - great drinks . Music . Staff & environment. We visited on a Saturday night 10/19 at around 10pm - perfect time to arrive because a line starts to form at about midnight Rebecca was our bartender and went above and beyond remembering our drink order and making sure our glass was always full Thank you howl at the moon for giving us an amazing experience per usual... will be back whenever were in town read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Casamigos with a Pineapple back + Tito's with slash of club - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's hilarious that some of the bad reviews complain that it's loud inside. I'm not sure what else you'd expect going to place that has live music. Anyway, went here with my son -- our first father/son bar experience since he turned 21. We had a blast! The band playing this evening was so talented, with every member taking turns playing all the instruments and singing. The drink prices were what you'd wxpect for downtown Chicago, and there was a $12 cover, which I expected on a Friday night. We didn't taste any food, but did have a couple jello shots for $5/each. Took me back to my college days. Overall just a great experience with great service and an incredible band. read more

We wanted to go to hear music at a dueling piano bar Howl at the Moon was near our hotel. It is easy to see the pianos due to the floor levels. We were waited on very quickly. We really enjoyed the sing along vibe and the musicians. read more

Such a fun spot! I love piano bars and live music. Helps to know pretty much every song they play lol read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute fun environment for a little entertainment after dinner. The talent was great and so we're the bartenders. We stuck with beer and high noon's because yeah it's a bar and I know what I'm getting in a bottle. If you're looking for a fun song along after dinner definite give them a try read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First of all, the disco ball .... Love that! Secondly, the live music and dueling pianos is absolutely incredible. The vibes are there for sure. Constantly good music being played and the dance floor is packed. The drinks are pretty standard taste wise and price wise. If you check in on yelp the $10 cover charge is waived :). Only note is wish they had more restrooms. read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Akia took care of our entire table. It was so busy but she was so attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. We were a party of 15 but that didnt phase her. She still provided great service and made sure everyone was having a great time. read more

I had soooo much fun at their Friday night happy hour! The band was so good, catered to all kinds of music from country to rock to r&b to the classics! You were able to make song suggestions and they played every thing we asked for! The drinks were good and strong especially for the happy hour price! Our hostess was very nice and attentive even when it started to get a little crowded. The food was average but it hit the spot when you're drinking. :) Can't wait to attend another happy hour! read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is Hella fun! In town on vacation from San Francisco and was looking for something fun to do on a Saturday night. A little bit of a line before we got in but it moved quick $12 cover but what's $12 nowadays lol. The club was packed, but the line for the bar went quickly and the drinks were good. The band was incredible! They were taking requests and playing awesome covers all night long 60s 70s 80s 90s all the way up to today. Everyone in the club was hyped & singing along. I'll definitely be back next time. I'm in town. read more

*Forgot to post this review 9 months ago!!* Honestly one of the most fun nights I've had in a loooooong time. I used to be a huge "going out/clubbing" person, but lately, it's been harder to find places that have a good crowd as good music. This was the first time I ever visited Howl at the Moon, and it's definitely on my list of places to return in the future. We arrived around 10/10:30pm, and got in without waiting. Our group was lucky enough to snag one of the remaining tables on the main floor. Was it packed? Yup. Were we kinda right in the traffic danger zone? Yup. These things were honestly no issue though because almost everyone was extremely courteous and would apologize whenever they bumped into our table or got squished too close to me. Manners go a long way, and having a crowd that's still mindful of space even while obviously many drinks in can make or break a night sometimes. The music was way better than I expected, I was shocked at how many songs the band knew. Our server was SUPER attentive! This was from when we went almost a year ago, but I remember her checking in on us CONSTANTLY despite barely being able to squeeze through the crowd with trays of drinks! You gotta be a different type of person to be able to handle a place like this, but we never had empty cups and never had to wait long to order more or grab the check! read more

My wife's drink is vodka soda. She ordered a double vodka soda. It tasted like a watered down drink. I'm a veteran drinker and agreed. We informed the waiter about our concern and he had the bartender add an additional shot. The drink still tasted water down. Be aware of mixed drinks. My advice is to order a drink neat or in the rocks. read more

Had a wonderful group event here last night. The service was great. A lot of great food and unlimited drinks. I was most excited about the holiday interior decorations and those lights were so beautiful and put you in a good mood. Try Sex on the Beach if you can! read more

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Went for drinks during the happy hour party 6-9pm. Drinks were given fast, and the bartenders were extremely friendly. Fun little place to start the night off at. Great vibe. read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Happy hour - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This bar was amazing!!! Don't miss out! We reserved a table for happy hour for a friend's birthday and got prime seating, fast service, and reasonably priced drinks from roughly 6 to midnight. The band was absolutely off the charts! There are dueling pianos, but also vocalists, bass players, drums, guitar -- all live! I was blown away at how talented the band was. I requested a few songs (and sent over a $5 tip) and both were played. You can send song requests by Venmo, but there are also little slips of paper and tiny pencils scattered around the bar where you can write down requests for free. This is a live music bar so it's loud. That's all part of the fun though! Would highly recommend this place for group nights out (birthdays, girls night out, Halloween, etc). read more

My wife and the girls love this place. But who doesn't love a good dueling piano bar?

Came here for st patty's day weekend and I wish i found this place sooner. We had coupons for free admission (also if you do the Yelp check in, it's free admission) and they served $5 green beer. The music was amazing! I just loved how they played live music on the piano and I just happened to know every single song. Would definitely give this place a try. It's a 10/10 vibe :) read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The night vibes are pretty sweet!! The drinks are also not crazily priced which I found to be nice since a lot of the places nearby weren't so nicely priced. There were musicians on stage playing piano while the crowd sang along! If you're in town check this place out! read more

Howl at the Moon Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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