I've been here a couple times and it's been ok at best. Everytime I go with some friends it's always really dark upon entering, I'm not sure if that's the vibe they're going for or not. The drinks aren't badly priced, but sometimes it could get a bit packed and a bit messy in there. Last time there was a massive line for the men's room and the floors were sticky from the waiting line for the men's room all through to the tables you can sit down at. Other than that, every other night there has been interesting. There was this woman who would ask men to buy her a drink, and she would flirt with them, but the bartender said she's bad news...plus she wasn't attractive either...which is why I'm surprised she had so many drinks! What would make this get 5 stars would be a cleaner location. read more

Pros: fun shuffleboard and $2.50 PBR cans Cons: kind of weird vibes, not many people inside. Not sure I would come back. read more

Vast amount of beers on tap, shot gun style bar. Live music was a nice touch. Only complaint is that it gets a little too loud during live performances if you're just trying to come in and hang out with friends. read more

Great service! Pac Man is too cool. this place is always a good time.

I love this place. I deduct one star for the tiny and unsanitary ladie's room, but what should I expect, right? I like their beach/tiki bar theme in the back. It gives it that extra flare for cheesy yet not tacky people like me. Good bands on the weekends. Fun crowd. There's a pool table and some arcade games near the back as well. I always have a good time here. Very chiil and not pricey. Go here! read more

Nicks is pretty great... cheap booze, fair bartenders, bar games and a jukebox. Fridays and Saturdays they have live music, which can be hit or miss, but is usually a fun time. -1 star for the bro crowd that comes in later in the evening. I know it's not your fault, Nick's, but having some vertically-striped-shirt-wearing-ex-state-school-frat-boy-in-a-man's-body grab my ass as I'm walking by with 4 PBRs while saying "hey girrrrrl!" kinda gets my agro side all riled up... You just made me spill my $2 beer, dick. Go home to Lincoln Park. read more

Came here for an evening out with my husband's co workers. The shuffle board was really fun. Other than that it was average.

Megan L was not only an upstanding waitress- she was most understanding and kind to all patrons- she was soo much fun but executed all drink orders of the group I was in. Any establishment would be honored to have her represent her bar. Thank you Megan for being you! read more

A very decent if unspectacular bar. Live music is a plus. Unpretentious, with a bit of a mixed bag of patrons. I'd go back.

This has been my favorite Wicker Park nightlife place since I've been back in Chicago. If you go to Nick's alone and don't come home with a fine piece of ass then you need to learn to get yourself some game! read more

This was a very cool spot. Stopped by with a friend on a Saturday night and we hung out in the back room (too cold for the patio to be open). Not too loud, crowd seemed pretty cool, no problem getting served in a timely manner. I wasn't paying for drinks so I'm not sure how much it cost. I would recommend making a visit and will definitely returning, especially when it gets warm out again! read more

So I work weird hours and don't get done until midnight-1am. And one of the few places nearby that can accommodate my hours is Nick's. So I may be a bit biased, but at least when I go, this place has to be the most non-pretentious place I've ever been to. Everytime I go in, I see a completely different crowd. A true melting pot. Prices are definitely reasonable for beer/shots. Prob wouldn't get an apple-tini, but that's not the type of place that nick's is. Pool table, jukebox, and a Baywatch pinball machine round out the decor. Overall a chill place to grab a drink, relax with friends, or get wasted without worrying about anything else. Minus 1 star for being a bit too dark and delayed bar service. read more

Just a cool place with good drinks. No one has a bad night at Nicks. Wonderful place with wonderful people.

Live music. Drinks. No cover charge? Yes, please! It's definitely not a place for romantic dates but certainly great for first fun dates to play pool and listen to some awesome music to dance to. We went here for a friend's birthday party and it definitely put me in a good, happy, frolicking mood. Not a cocktail place, more like pub type of a deal. Plus the drinks are pretty inexpensive. I had rum and coke all night, $6 a piece. Service was great too. Quick, to the point, and on top of it. I had a great time here! Easy to find, great for groups, plenty of street parking and didn't have to deal with the Wicker Park snobbery - it's all for just a good time. read more

Awesome bar. I went on a Saturday night and there was a live band playing great blues music. Pretty crowded but there was lots of space out back. read more

Came by last night after calling several places in search of a bar without a kitchen that my friend and I could go to after ordering Piece Out in lieu of sitting in Wicker Park like hobos. Nick's to the rescue! We ate our pizza, enjoyed the people watching, and had a couple beers. Thanks for being cool about it! read more

NBG is great for a chill night out. I'm a big fan of the $5 special and their other drinks are appropriately priced as well. The space is a little small for live music so when that's going on I don't stick around too long, but Tuesday night trivia is always fun! read more

Great prices and variety on drinks, live music, no cover, the most attractive staff I've ever seen.

This is an awesome bar if you can find parking if you drive. No cover on the weekends. Saturday the had a live jazz band in the front. The bar is very long w/ high ceilings. Nick's Has a great pool table & 9 beers on tap. My boyfriend loved that part. They also had this great large room in back w/ tables to sit & chill. Nice to be able to carry on a conversation with friends while at a bar. Vibe was casual & laid back and they were open late. Drawback no munchies but there was this late night taco place less than a block away. Service was great & prices didn't blow you away. Thumbs up! read more

I have been going to nicks for over a decade now and there is no other place I would rather be for a great time in Chicago. From the moment you walk in, you are welcomed by courteous door staff, waitresses and bar tenders. Whether its a week day or week end. Drink prices are reasonable and there is never a cover. Even on the week end's when they offer some of the best live music in the city. read more

Kinda nasty, & why would you settle for that when there are easily 5 or 6 other, better, cleaner places on the same street. Live country/Johnny Cash-cover band when I went. I liked the music, just not something I would do everyday. read more

They have great live music a couple nights a week and pretty decent prices, can't really go wrong, I've had nothing but good experiences here and will definitely be back. read more

This bar is packed often and other night I finally saw it when it was not. It is a nice looking bar with a shuffleboard and pool table in the back. A decent selection of beer and friendly crowd makes this place a cool spot. There is plenty of room in the back but most people seem to handg in froint bar area. A pretty good bar that has to be good in the cut throat competative bar scene in this neighborhood. read more

One of my faves. Free live bands, pool tables...and if you are over 40 years old one of the few places left on Milwaukee where you will not feel like the oldest person in the place. The bar draws a wide range of ages to the bar. You will find young women and lots of Cougars at this bar on a Friday or Saturday night!! The music is always good with a lot of Blues and Soul acts, many I have never heard of which is cool. Never had any problems with the barstaff or bouncers and I have been coming here for 20+years. read more

Whoever was bartending last night was the absolute worst. I usually only come here on weekdays when it's not so crowded, so I expected to wait a little to get a drink. But I didn't expect to be looked in the eye by both bartenders numerous times and be blatantly ignored while people who just walked up to the bar get served immediately. It was $22 for a beer and a rum and coke, and they took the glasses away before we were even halfway through them. The music was really good, but the service leaves much to be desired. read more

Ladies. Be aware! I was waiting in line and I saw a bouncer beat up a girl outside of the establishment. She kept screaming don't touch me and he shoved her against the car outside and apparently broker her finger. My friends and I left after we saw what happened. No matter how drunk she may have been, my principle is you can't just hit chicks! read more

I like this place! Gets a little crazy at times but overall I enjoy it. I usually go on Sundays for their super cheap bottle selection. Three bucks had me drinking a lot of Red Stripe! I like the back patio and interesting characters there. read more

My sister leaned into the bar to clarify her drink order with the bartender and he proceeded to push her back. We asked to speak to the manager as he could have simply asked her to move back. The manager came out and she insisted that he didn't mean to do that, she just came close to knocking stuff over. Basically condoning what he did because she got too close. When I asked her why he couldn't have asked her just to move back she kept saying he didn't mean too she was just too close. That is an excuse not a reason why he should have pushed her. So if you prefer not to get assaulted you should probably not go to this bar. read more

Ended up at Nicks late Wednesday night and was suprised to see it so crowded! (Not 'bad crowded'... 'fun crowded') Beers and drinks were very cheap and they even have a pool table and shuffleboard! Will be back next Wednesday for sure! read more

DO NOT come play with the hipsters if sober by this hour :| LIke always, Nicks is packed. Never a pleasurable experience. I've never walked out of there with some chick spilling her blue, fruity drink on me, or seeing a frat boy drop his glass and watch it smash on the floor, and turn back to his drunk friends telling his drunk story. Maybe karma dropped it for him since he was already 4000 sheets to the wind. Customers are so inconsiderate, and the poor bartenders get to deal with sloppy seconds of the 2:00 bars, who are settling for sloppy seconds to take home for the night. SMH. Don't worry about doing your hair cute, or putting together an outfit. It'll all go unnoticed and get ruined. Nicks is a nightmare. Always has been, always will be. I'm embarrassed to say I frequented the Upton one when I lived over there a few times too many. I'd say it's claim to fame is that it's the only place you can get an STD walking to the bathroom. Don't go. Ever. read more

Now I thought silverlake cha cha lounge was bad. First bar in Chicago and this is the impression I get. We go in and it's not very welcoming, I ask "what do you recommend? First time here. " White bald guy with a plaid blue and white shirt says with the most I don't care about my life I'm not very happy just leave me alone tone of voice: "I don't know" barely even pronouncing these words. Shrugs and walks away. These hipsters beat out LA's for the most snobby ones. Good job Nick's beer garden. Also bald guy *naming him Matthew* you need a hug and a therapy session. Never have I experienced this in any other major city nor state. Not even Vegas. Good job Matthew. Have a nice day. Btw we walked out after that......strange experience. read more

If you enjoy one bar tender for 40 people... this place is for you! Would you prefer to wait 20 minutes for a drink order to be ignored? Stop in and drink a mini out of your pocket and say hi. read more

CAUTION: make eye contact with the wrong employee in the men's restroom and you'll get yourself booted out immediately. Apparently peeing in public makes him very uncomfortable. read more

It gets three because 4 am bars start at 5 and get stripped of stars for whatever have you. clientele is all over the place, white black, brown, asian, retarded, so on and so on. The line to get in nick's after 2am is too funny. Paying to get into Nick's is sort of like paying your girlfriend to go out with you, desperate!! A good time can be had by all because the great equalizer is in play, alcohol. By the way I would never rate a 4am bar less than 3 stars, just not possible. read more

Gross. I hate beer, and I got dragged here and had to drink vodka lemonades. It was gross inside

The only reason we went here was because it's open past 2am. There was a line outside too---if I wasn't with a friend I haven't seen in forever, I would've been annoyed by that. This place had crappy beer and a terrible women's bathroom. Good thing I was drunk and didn't really know where I was or I would've left. read more

this is my favorite after-hours bar in the area. the tiki bar in the back is a good time. like all late night spots, it can get a bit crowded and date rape-y, but if it's between nick's and estelle's, i'm always choosing nick's. read more

We've found a place where polar bears can be relocated in Chicago! Nick's beer garden or nick's arctic circle? We were hanging out on the back patio and the heaters turned off. 50 degree weather so it wasn't the end of the world, but I asked the bartender inside and she said it was "on a timer" and if I wanted to I could "talk to the manager". Half hour later and we still have no heat. Way to save on your electric bill dudes. read more

Total dive bar but a lot of fun! The bartender, Megan, was great. She knew all of our names immediately and was very helpful.

I always review businesses relative to what they are. So no I am not stacking this against craft cocktail lounges. For a neighborhood "dive" bar Nick's delivers. Yes stools are ripped, floors are scuffed up and the bathroom smells like piss. But honestly I come to expect that at a bar like this. But their drinks are cheap and bartenders are friendly on pours. Staff is always super cool especially the older guy who works the bar, security can be a miss at times. They have shuffleboard and pool to play as well as some pinball. You want to crush some pints and pay some pool, then come over to Nick's. read more