Late Bar is one o the few places that can turn any bad night around, or make a good night even better; and it's also one of the few places I really feel like dancing regardless of my current level of intoxication. I really don't mind the cash only aspect of the bar as I tend to do more dancing than drinking. read more

Dance magic dance. This place is my go to dance spot in the city. Why? Because its hip, fun, plays great music, and is not in the least bit pretentious. I love grabbing a Keir Royal or one of their other jaw dropping sceptically drinks and kicking up my feet on the dance floor without a care in the world. The best part of this bar is the clientele- a hodgepodge of society that all plays well together. You have Rockabillies, Goths, Hipsters, Otaku types, individuals who lived the 80's and still do, and the rest of us. I had my birthday here last year and I have a diverse group of friends who all loved this spot. The video presentation on the big screen is always a riot. Sometimes they have a photog who drags you out on the street to snap your pic under the Late Bar sign and you walk away feeling like a celebrity. Everyone is there to have a good time, and that is exactly what you do. read more

A good place for the older rock and roll punk crowd in Chicago. I remember when this was an odd sports bar back when my GF lived over on Central Park. Popped in for a punk reunion night and the place was packed to the gills with people from 21-70 years old. It was packed but folks were friendly. The servers and owners were working hard but were as nice as can be. I thought the prices for drinks were a little high, but overall not bad. I knew they hosted mix-tape meltdown and since they are a 4 am bar you might find that at 2 am this is a place you want to check out. I used to go here to hide from my mean GF, but when I went back I was happy with the place. Very small. Much smaller than I thought it was since it seemed so big when it was that crummy worn out sports bar. read more

Soul music and non-alcoholic beer? Fuck yeah, Late Bar. The place is super cute, the crowd is super chill, and it is open until 4-5am. What more can a little punk rock lady ask for? read more

This place was fun. I went on a night when they had a burlesque show. The girls were in the medium range for skill and looks. The music seemed to be in the rockabilly zone. The drinks were priced reasonably. read more

I really don't have too much to say about Late Bar which is why it's taken me a while to put a review together. Mind you 3 stars isn't an insult but rather a neutral opinion. Reasonably priced drinks Dark, chill atmosphere DJ takes requests on 80's night (when I went) Music videos play along on TV's over bar etc. Dance floor, flashy atmosphere that seems to be almost disassociated with the bar. Sort of loud all over the place, but like a concert you get used to it. It's a bit cramped in my opinion by the bar area The bathrooms are easily accessible (and clean) And that's about it really. Late Bar. Drink Great, Even Late. read more

Love, love, LOVE this bar!! Wonderful to see Dave and Kristine with their own bar after all these years and what they bring to the table is outstanding. The bartenders and booze selection are kickass, the music is amazing and the atmosphere rocks. I know, only one ladies room: can't fault them for that. It's an old school corner bar. Right next to all night public transportation makes it easy for those of us without a car or not wanting to drive after a night of drinking. We try to make it out there as much as we can, but working full-time jobs and being part-time students while living in Rogers Park makes it difficult to frequent Late Bar as much as we would like to. We tend to reserve Late Bar for special occasions and when we do, the occasion is made just that more special. read more

Shit drinks, bad vibes. All 6 of us left due to the terrible service. They seems to have a good dj event going on via FB, but it was totally bogus. If you are looking for a good time, pass this place. Door man was a total idiot as well. read more

I LOVE Planet Earth on Saturday nights. Made for us Gen Xers, who remember the arrival of MTV, life before the VCR and the microwave. My only gripe is the limited liquor selection. Nothing I ever want to drink is at the bar, so I end up drinking soda or 7&7. I blame the liquor distributors! read more

I know- "One Star Review"...so some asshole (aka me) had one negative experience, and now I'm making it seem like that's the way the place is, for everyone and always. Not fair! Well, all I can say is, read on. I take no pleasure in slagging off Late Bar- in fact I wish it had been a different experience entirely Let me be as crystal clear as possible about my experience: I'm a 40 something guy who's been curious about Late Bar for awhile- an 80s late night club on west Belmont? Sounds a bit like Neo, but in a different part of town...maybe I should check it out (I thought, innocently enough.) Granted, it took me about three years to do so but- I'm old and lame, so, yadda yadda, etc. So upon walking in I'm immediately impressed: they have Skullsplitter on tap (never seen that on tap anywhere, ever). The bartenders are also friendly and cool. It's a younger crowd than I expected (20s) but as long as they are enjoying the music un-ironically, I'm perfectly cool with it. Everything is A-OK...until the DJ puts on "Sub Mission" by the Sex Pistols... Because we live in an era of abject idiocy, you can't just put on a song from the late 70s without having a mock-up, bogus "video" to accompany it. And I had the gall to point this out to the people around me. That's ultimately what got me 86'ed from "Late Bar".... While the idiotic black and white footage played (which the punters were given to believe was the actual "video" for the ""song" Sub Mission) I raised my hands in a two-fingered salute (the UK equivalent of the middle finger) to express my disdain for the utterly bogus pretense of a 1977 "video" that was thrown together years before actual promotional videos were made for songs. The kids loved it- lots of them joined in with the two-fingered salute, because they realized how inane the supposed "video" actually was. (Furthermore: who's side would Johnny Rotten be on? Mine, or the club owners? Um: no brainer there, but... deliberate further, if you must...) After that, guess what? I was cut off from the bar-- the bartender (somewhat sheepishly) allowed that I was not to be served another drink. I asked, point blank, if it was because I was too drunk. No, she admitted: It was because I made a rude British hand gesture during the Pistols "video." You can't make this shit up, kids. This is how lame "Late Bar" really is. What's hilarious and entirely apropos to me is that: This place really is an 100% accurate recreation of an actual 1980s dance club...in that, if you were at an "80s club" in the actual 1980s, and they played an actual Sex Pistols song, and you behaved like the Sex Pistols themselves...then you'd be thrown out immediately. I can't really explain it any more clearly than that...if you don't get it then...re-read what I wrote above? And do not patronize this phony craphole of a bar- they just want your dollahs, chumps. read more

2 couples (in our late 20s) out on a Friday night... We went to this bar based on positive yelp reviews. The bartender seemed very judemental. The music...well It flat out sucked. It was something like 80s punk no-name bands. Not even one-hit wonders, it was worse than that. The bartender told me the DJ does not play top 40s music. It was dead in there as well. Yelp lists it as a dance club but it was far from it. We will not be returning. read more

I love to go dancing, but I'm not in my 20's anymore...or my 30's. It's not so easy to find a place with a mix of age groups in a setting that doesn't make me feel like I reeeally shouldn't be there. Late Bar is one of those places. I was there on a Saturday night. Not packed, but enough people on the dance floor to keep it full and moving. The new wave music was right up my alley. Cocktails were surprisingly good. Was there with a group of 8 friends. Everyone had a blast. Will be back again soon! read more

Late Bar seems so promising- late hours, local, and cool aesthetic from outdoors. Make your way in and pay a cover, closest Chase ATM is past the blue line if you're trying to pass on their withdrawal fees. The drinks were overpriced- like Fulton Market/West Loop prices for hole-in-the wall bar quality drinks. Hard pass, especially if you're not in to that older punk/rock/alternative music. read more

Great dance floor and large screen for watching classic 80s dance videos. The VJ always rules. Imagine Delilah's with more of a velvet-goth feel. read more

The worst place in town. I bought $100 in drinks and they took them from me 30 min before closing as I guess they are lazy ungrateful hosts and wanted to close early. Never going to this place again. The only thing you can count on is that they would spit in your drink if they had a bad mood. And their restrooms are almost like urinating on the street... read more

I love this place! A breath of fresh air from your standard Chicago bro- and hipster-bars! The crowd is eclectic in terms of age, style and sexuality. The dancefloor was packed. People smile as you pass them, are genuinely kind to one another, and everyone seems to respect other people as they follow their bliss. Cash only. read more

I came here this past Saturday night for a friend's birthday celebration. It's in an odd location for the bar but that didn't seem to hurt their business. There were people standing outside smoking as we approached the door. Upon entering, we found our companions right away and was amazed to see it packed. The bar opened at 9pm and we arrived around 10pm. The ambiance is great. A lot of artsy photos, blue lighting and TV screens playing old music videos. They had specials that evening and my husband had their Red Stag Cherry Coke or cherry flavored whiskey with coke. It was $4 and a nice size pour. My husband said it tasted like coke with grenadine. The good stuff! The bartender was fabulous! She looked like a pin-up girl and I think everyone in our party was crushing on her a little bit! Overall, great service and a cool place. The clientele is mixed and fun for people watching. We will be back! Oh, and this place is cash only! read more

Honestly, I've only been to opening night but what a nice night out it was. We arrived at 9pm and had no problems with getting in and seats - and oh lovely - no cover. The music ranged several genres, I'd say most prominent style was new wave that night which complimented the movie Liquid Sky playing in the background on a larger screen. Regulars from Neo and several from Holiday Club were very much present. Fans of Planet Earth represented. The bar itself comprises of front seating and a back area that is dedicated to a dance floor, raised dj booth, also several wall seats/stools on either side. There is one bathroom for men, one for women. Drinks are reasonable and plenty. Even on opening night the male bartender remembered me after two drinks, which saved time and was quite kindly. I plan on visiting on saturdays for new wave dancing and intend to check out other nights as well. Worth a stop to check out to see what's going on. read more

My favorite bar. The atmosphere, music, people and the drinks are all fucking amazing. The best part is that it's in my neighborhood

There are interesting reviews of this venue further down. As for me: I wasn't into 'clubbing' back in the 1980s. There were many taverns where I went, but they weren't dance clubs. I've never been a fan of trends. The clothes I have which speak "1980s", I've had since the 1980s. (Hey, my closet here has duds from the 1970s. Yes, I can still fit into them, and I do on rare occasions.) The two times I have been here has been not due to Dave, but to the guest DJs which seem to occur on Wednesday nights. Specifically, "Soul Rebel", and 'Gentleman' John Battles, both of whom I know from dancing on Chic-A-Go-Go, have been turned loose here. Soul Rebel angles toward no-wave and punk songs, but he's cognizant of what was their prototypes. 'Gentleman' John is a rockabilly enthusiast, and he enjoys digging deeply into the stacks of stuff from the mid-1950s (beyond Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" & Billy Lee Riley's "Flying Saucers Rock 'n Roll"). He also (as I have mentioned elsewhere on Yelp) does not consume demon alcohol. How he manages to make connections with tavern owners perplexes me {OK, not that much.}. This address has been a bar since before prohibition. It likely was a speakeasy during prohibition. It is dim. The vibe is black|purple. The beer list is distinctive. However, on Wednesday, the deal is a 12-oz. bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon for $2. If you want to play the crown game with your PBRs, tell your bartender that swiftly and often, as they're used to popping and chucking the crowns. I am not a beer snob. But some people more attuned to bridge and craft beers will admit that, if you get a recently-brewed cold bottle of PBR, it is the best mass-produced American lager. (It's brewed at the Miller plant in Milwaukee. Look just below the longneck, above the label height, for an understandable 'pull by' date. Pabst gives itself 90 days.) I didn't dance here. But that was due more to what was showing on the big-screen TV. 1950s & 1960s "rock 'n roll" "juvenile delinquency" movies are fascinating time capsules. And I was dumbfounded by what was gotten away with in late 1960s Mexican hooded wrestler movies. I'm usually up until 4 am anyhow. So it would be understandable for me to be here until the end. Don't ask me how the 3500 block of W. Belmont managed to get _two_ 4 AM liquor licenses. It just *did*. I'm giving Late Bar a soft four-star rating for its atmosphere, its willingness to delve into music not easily found elsewhere (even on satellite radio), and its beer prices. I am going to spend more nights here. Transit options: Woo hoo! The route #77 Belmont bus runs by here _all the time_, even at 3:56 am. You're only two blocks west of the Blue Line "L"'s Belmont station, which also runs all the time. That's the way to get here and back, people. (But to be complete, I shall mention the route #82 Kimball-Homan bus which runs north-south until around midnight.) (I've been mollified. In a tavern, unlogged in, I looked up a venue I had reviewed on Yelp, and my review appeared. Yay. And I apologize to Yelp.) read more

Update: I was extremely drunk when I left the other review. Of all things after my crap treatment there, I get on Yelp...smh. But! I meant every slurred word! read more

Dave and Kristine really kicked butt on creating a new place for underground/retro club-goers. It's dark, purple, sleek and super clean. The staff are super friendly and the drinks are great (price and quality wise). It's right around the corner from my house and we're glad to have a place to kick back and enjoy a drink before heading home for the night. It's easy to get to from the Milwaukee, Belmont and Kimball buses and the Belmont/Kimball blue line. Cabs drive past regularly so catching one is never a problem. read more

This place is worth stopping in from time to time or if you haven't been there before just to try something different. However, the novelty of this place wears off pretty quick after just a few visits. It's definitely better on saturdays when the crowd is fuller and more diverse, and not just the pole up their ass regulars like most of the weekdays. The bartenders are pretty decent, but it's the main cast of regulars and their ridiculous lame ass cliques that totally brings this place down. If you want a more open, friendly, and upbeat type of diverse crowd that doesn't seem so stuck up in their own special little circle, you're much better off going to Alice's right around the corner from Late Bar. read more

This is probably my favorite bar in Chicago. I love the atmosphere: the friendliness (and good prices) of a dive bar, but with nicer decor. I always dance when I'm here, and I always seem to make new friends. Me and my friends agree, Late Bar is super fun. read more

I love Dave Roberts, and I love his bar. It's that easy. He plays the kind of music that I like to listen to, and often I'll come in, sit at the bar with some work, and feel more comfortable here than at any of the shitholes in my neighborhood. It's worth the journey to come and be around my friends. I never get bothered by weirdos, either. read more

This place rocks!! Dave is amazing and knows his music. Love watching music videos instead of sports on the tvs. I dance for hours and hours there. read more

I've only stopped in here for a quick one, and to check out the dance floor. After finding out that the owners will take absolutely no crap from special snowflakes (you know you are), I definitely plan on returning. Thinking of starting a list called "Bars Intolerant of Douchery" Huzzah! read more

I've been here before, and honestly haven't been impressed. But when I try to come see a friend and the door man tells me I've had enough and refuses me entry when I haven't even been drinking, F this place. I walked up, handed the doorman my ID and he refuses me entry because "I've had enough". When I ask him why he thinks this, he said he could hear it in my voice, the voice I didn't use to pull out my ID. I've heard too many stories from friends about being kicked out of this place for no reason and I now believe all of them. This place is not worth it and I'd recommend somewhere less high and mighty. read more

The last great place to go at 3 a.m. Super friendly. Good music. No cover. Decent drink prices. Great overall. So glad Dave is doing so well. read more

I would normally give this type of place 4 or even 5 stars, but it smelled so bad when I walked in. It was on a Saturday for 80's night. They were playing good music from the 80's and everyone seemed to be dancing or bopping their heads. I ordered my drinks very fast and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were some people that were very rude as they approached the bar if you're sitting down. It's like you're wallpaper or something that they can't say excuse me as they push you out of their way. The bartender served a girl a couple of shots and didn't even bother to wipe the bar down so I kept smelling the tequila for about 30 minutes until she finally decided to wipe it down. I will definitely try to go again at another time and give it a shot since I like the music so much. read more

The staff has been rude so many times that I'm never going back. Citing the law incorrectly to three lawyers. Just over it. There's enough trendy bars around Chicago that are cheaper and friendlier. read more

It's an alright bar. I liked it. The dj and music videos is fun. They played a lot of old goth music and a mix of dark favorites with videos to match. There were a lot of songs I had forgotten and others I had totally missed so it was like finding something unique again for the first time. Friendly staff and the drinks you'd expect. read more

The bartender Amy is a sweetheart, and she does the bar well. However, the metal music at the end of the night is scary and doesn't fit the vibe. I'm sure if they play more chill music, people would enjoy their conversations and not feel like they have to yell across the table. read more

I would like to complain about the discriminatory behavior I received. I am not from the United States originally thus I do not have a US state ID. I also will not carry my passport around and tempt the risk losing it - I feel it is unnecessary as my foreign ID has always worked and I have never received a complaint. I even provided not only my state issued ID but also my drivers license. I think the behavior I had the misfortune of being privy to was completely rude, racist and unprofessional. I hope the managers of this establishment come across this review and take the extremely necessary action to change the way this business operates regarding this issue. read more

This joint is perfect! It's got cool music--not the new autotuned crap, not what some corporation considers nostalgic, but real DJs with a real passion for awesome music spinning stuff you know you love to hear, that will keep you on the dance floor all night. It's got great, cheap drinks made and delivered by cool bartenders. It's got such a cool personality. It's the kind of bar where you would love to be a regular! read more

After reading about people kicked out below I was surprised to witness the same thing late Saturday night (2/21) except this time it was DJ/Owner Dave Roberts doing the honors - he actually ran down from his DJ booth, accosted someone on the floor, went to the bar and grabbed a bottle, cocked it back and then came back towards this same person but was thankfully restrained by his own staff. To say that my friends and I were aghast at this berserk behavior is an understatement (why didn't he just direct his bouncers to take care of the unpleasant business at hand?). I admit I did not see what the offending person did that required the threat of being bludgeoned - maybe he requested a song (a big no-no here; Dave knows best). BTW: I have no connection to the three yelpers giving a 1 star, apparently thrown out for a "dance-off", whatever that is (is that like those "Bring It On" cheerleading movies? lol) For my own experience, I did dance to a string of good songs but whenever others hear a song they don't like, they just stop on the dance floor and start talking - and they can do that because the sound level is still too low (with awful quality as well). Its awkward to be dancing next to people just yacking - not to mention the odd assortment of (local?) gawkers who just camp out by the dance floor for some reason. Then when you happen to face the rest of the bar you are blinded by the light of this too-low movie projector. Just an overall terrible design of the dance floor space. I hate to say it, but to borrow a phrase from the New Age kooks, this place has "negative energy." read more

This bouncer wouldn't let us in because we were "over-served"but it was actually our first bar of the night and we were sober so fuck this place. read more

Well, well, how things change. I am now hitting up late bar once a month and I love it there. The atmosphere is dark and inviting, great selection of whiskey, and getting new micro's in there all the time. I would NOW definitely recommend it. read more

A large group of our friends met here after a birthday dinner. I found it comfortable moderately priced and a good neutral place for our group which ranged from late twenties to mid forties. Everyone had a good time and some of us stayed 'till 4am (they closed at 5). The bar seemed to get a second wind around 3am. read more

Not my scene. Weird setup. Weird vibe. Crowd was thin. Had to get cash out the ATM. Ah. Beer was just ok. IDK... I needed something a little more lively. Best part about Late Bar was being there with Amy - who kept saying "These lights are trippin me out!!!" LMAO read more