While it may be a hipster haven and scenester Shangri-La, cheap drinks, an intimate space and generally good times keep me coming back. Granted, there are a handful of people who show up dressed like they are about to appear in a PSA titled "The Hipster & You" but on most nights the place seems to be balanced with a generous amount of people who would watch that PSA and have a good laugh. And yeah, the seating is sparse and people who are lucky enough to snag a booth tend to camp there for the entire night, but what decent bar isn't like that? More than anything, Rainbo has a quality that lets the crowd control the scene unlike any other bar I know. If a bunch of leather clad bikers rolled into the Green Mill it would still be a jazz bar, if a bunch of businessmen clad in Southwick suits swung by Delilah's it would still be a punk bar, and if a bunch of hipsters showed up to Paddy Long's they would undoubtedly get some stares, but the bags would continue to fly and talk about the Big 10 would carry on. But I've never been to a bar that lets the vibe of the majority dictate the night for everyone else to the degree it does at Rainbo. Perhaps it's the relatively small space that does this. The fact that there's really no place in the bar that isn't in direct line of sight to everyone else there. Or perhaps the mix of squares and those with intentions to freak them out occasionally comes cataclysmically out of balance. Whatever it is it never really bothers me as I'm a pretty adaptable guy. I suppose it also helps that there are a handful of other bars just around the corner. I once talked to a girl here and conversation moved effortlessly from the Far Side to dinosaurs to famous assassinations. She was amazing and all things considered I probably should've proposed to her on the spot. I once talked to another girl here who opened conversation with, "So... say something to impress me." She was wretched and all things considered I probably should've spit in her drink. Those two encounters pretty much sum up Rainbo. This is a good place to go if... you don't mind standing to talk to either the most interesting or most pretentious person you've ever met. read more

My friend and I stopped in here on a lazy Sunday night. I was kinda intrigued by the retro-esque decor - vinyl booths and leather bar stools. We ordered a miller lite and gin and tonic, respectively. "That'll be $5.25," the bartender said, handing me my gin and tonic. I gave this awesome bartender a $10 bill and waited for him to ask my friend for money, too. But, he never asked her for any money. What? $5.25 for TWO drinks? Holy wow. I drank a ton of gin and tonics for under $20. This place is so recession-friendly! And, that photobooth looked super fun. Lots of people were piling in it throughout the night. The only things that was questionable were the bathrooms, but for incredibly cheap drinks, I'll deal. Cash only! read more

I have no problems with the bar itself or the booze served within. Heck, 10 - 15 years ago I used to drink at this place every night, literally. Nice bar, full of cheap booze, photo booth that generally operates, comfy booths, great ladies room. Nope, the reason I only give it two stars is because it has been overrun by Chads, Trixies and would be hipsters, all of whom hail from the suburbs/Indiana and have turned Wicker Park into Lincoln Park West. They love this place because it looks so shady -ooooh, look at me drink at this dive bar, wooh, I'm living in the big city now. Again, nice bar, I just can't drink around vapid d-bags like this, I really can't. Sorry. read more

People, people - to be complaining about the crowd of hipsters (or semi-hipsters, or wannabe-hipsters) at a Ukr Village bar is completely ridiculous. That's like going to Barleycorn and being surprised to see 17-year old girls in short skirts. Just b/c a place isn't really your "scene" doesn't mean it deserves a bad review! (Okay well maybe Barleycorn deserves 1-star reviews; that wasn't the best example, haha). But let's just try to be fair! Okay enough of my ranting. Rainbo rules, because the drinks are cheap, the music is awesome, they've got a photobooth (sadly it was out of order last night, though), and the people-watching is fantastic. Avoid the $2 PBR and splurge on a $2.50 bottle of Rolling Rock ;) Come early to get a booth because it gets packed pretty early on the weekends. read more

This place is just awful. It's been overrun with petulant, preening dumbasses for at least the past 10 years, probably longer, and the service has never been anything more than surly and condescending. Let's be clear, though: the crowd here is not awful because they dress a certain way, or are on the make, or listen to certain kinds of music. I drink with those people at plenty of other bars in the neighborhood - Club Foot, Goldstar, Phyllis', Zakopane, Innertown, et-miserably-cetera - and they're fine, really. Nor is it the many hypocrisies and inconsistencies of commodified Bohemia on display. Nor even the overwhelming reek of the privileged slumming it lumpen-style. No, it's just that Rainbo, for whatever reason, is a giant lens of suck that magnifies all the worst tendencies of the once-and-future-suburban doucheoisie. Really, it's the flip side of a Gold Coast or Lincoln Park bar: same people, same attitude, just different consumption patterns and cheaper drinks. I have seen rats in the bar on more than one occasion, and that was pretty cool. So if your idea of a good time is getting drunk in a bar packed with soulless douche-bots, and you think that books, art, film, and music are lifestyle accessories, then this is the place for you. read more

omfg. I will never go back to this place. I ended up here after chasing a friend of my husband's across town. We suggested Carol's... they ended up at Rainbo Room. This place is really just a room, filled with hipsters. There is a DJ playing loud "trendy" music but no dance floor and by the end of the night this place is packing with people yelling at each other in an attempt to have conversations about how cool they are, or music no one has heard about probably. I mean, at least the drinks aren't overpriced? read more

Next time you bait and switch a guy from 2 ipas(9 bucks), pour him 2 pbrs(4 bucks) and then charge him 9 bucks, then TRY AND DO IT AGAIN, maybe don't yell at the customer for telling you about it. That makes you an a-hole and a cheat. Sorry if you're having money issues but that's actually illegal. After 8 years of patronage, I won't be back. read more

A group of girlfriends and I came over after a play a month or so ago, so we weren't rowdy and the place was packed. We were allowed to come in and buy a drink at 1:20. Not even two minutes later the bartender was yelling at all the patrons that it was "last call and get the fuck out!" I asked if we could finish the drinks we paid for and he said "fuck no, I wanna go home." Maybe it's a schtick, but it wasn't cute. So a bar that supposedly closes at 2 closed at 1:30 and we all had to throw our drinks away. I had no idea why he let us buy them and tip him if he wasn't even going to give us time to drink them, This place sucks. read more

This place can blow me. Every time I go in there, everyone stops what they're doing and gives me the evil eye. The bartenders are complete assholes if you're not wearing painted-on jeans and have a stupid haircut. I'm not a frat boy, but I'm not a hipster either, and I still got treated like they wiped me out of their ass. The only good thing about this place is the cheap drinks. read more

I have an aversion to the "name tag" syndrome that goes on in this town....Chads....Trixes........Hipsters...wtf ever.....To me a hipster is just someone that wears very tight clothes and doesn't do much in the way of personal hygiene or works really hard to appear that way in public. Nor do I think most are regularly employed as they seem to come out late and stay out even later at odd times of the week, but I digress...... Rainbo Club is a cool little dive bar......yes, this IS a dive bar. The décor looks like dudes from the Cheech and Chong era slapped stuff on the walls to a pre-war bar....all the while saying, "Dude...that is righteous man............." Lighting is dim at best...perhaps that is what is needed when you are trying to get laid with a person that looks like they lack as much personal hygiene than you do, but whatever the case, it is a dingy dimly lit bar that serves up a cheap drink with funky music. There appears to be a stage behind the bar, which is just a guess on my part. There is also photo booth which works and the bartender was quick to take my order, so though the look and feel is something to be desired in the end I really like this dive bar. read more

False advertising for some of my friends, but a pretty decent dive bar nonetheless. Despite the name and the fact that there's always mostly dudes inside, Rainbo Club is a hundred percent a hipster hang. Not the glorious gay bar one would think it would be. It's dimly lit, drinks are cheap, and there's several entertainment features such as pinball and a photo booth. They only take cash and the staff is a little snooty, but that's kinda what you'd expect from a place that pretty much pours PBR for free. They rotate some local artwork on the walls which is cool, and you're almost always guaranteed to see an awesome ironic shirt or some sweet facial hair on one of the customers. Overall it's a pretty entertaining experience and the drinks are cheap. That's good enough to make me a fan. read more

After visiting Small Bar, my friend recommended we check out Rainbo Club which is around the corner. While finishing up a smoke outside the Club, we were approached by a Dude asking "Is this a gay bar?". I assumed he thought this because of the bar's name and I responded with "I've never been here before so I don't know." The Dude proceeded to walk over to the bar, peek in the door, and walk away saying "Hmmm, I better not risk it." Wow, Douchebaggery at it's best. What are you "risking" buddy? Getting drunk, making out with another guy, and acting on the reason why you're such a homophobic fool to begin with? Methinks so. Rainbo Club is not a gay bar, it's not a straight bar - it's a bar. A bar that serves $2 PBRs on a Friday night, which, in my opinion is all that should matter in this economy. They have a good selection of other beers as well. Great music with a fun, eclectic atmosphere. I will definitely be returning soon. read more

Rotating "art." One time I went in and someone had printed out the MITB record cover on a shitty dot matrix printer on multicolor paper. If that isn't indicative of a hipster haven I don't know WHAT is. This place is always packed. If you like being seen and don't mind the fact that you'll be seen with social lepers, this is your bar. Its NOT a dive bar. Its like an overvarnished piece of used furniture. Shiny, infinitely recycled, useful, but it still looks ugly. Sometimes there are even europeans who drink here. I don't mean people from particular countries in europe, I mean people who identify as "european." What the fuck. read more

Upon entering the establishment, I noticed very dim lighting and the very crowded space. The crowd wasn't very friendly; someone stepped on my shoe and didn't bother to apologize, I got a little annoyed but I let the incident slide and proceeded to the bar to order a drink. I make my way to the bar and then get the bartender's attention and then I realize that the bartenders seriously need to get off their rag. It was crowded and loud while I was ordering a drink. Which means the bartender could not hear me very well and asked me to speak up. I spoke up. I ordered my drink loud and clear, and then, he got pissed because he assumed I was shouting at him. He gave me the death glare. Turned around and got me my drink. He slams the drink on the counter. I hand him money, then turns to the register, gets the change and he slams my change on the counter as well. I am typically a good tipper, but unfortunately I had no desire to be generous after the bad experience. I'm willing to give them a second chance, hopefully it is better than the first. read more

Here's the thing, I love a good dive bar as much as the next guy; I also get that bartenders aren't always straight outta Cheers. But Captain Paranoid (or Kurt...if that is indeed your real name) you, sir, can suck it. We went here for a drink or two after dinner, a good friend is in town for work and loves "old timey/old man" bars...I thought Rainbo would be perfect! WRONGO!! Cheap drinks - yep, cool atmosphere - sure,why not...and then with literally a flick of the wrist, the whole evening went down the toilet. I was telling a story and very much ACCIDENTLY knocked over my beer. I tried to help clean it up, got some paper towels was moving some of the empty display bottles in front of me, and Kurt yelled and then lectured me on being 12. Like I purposefully decided to spill my Pilsner. All 3 of us tried apologizing several times...to no avail. We were then told that "our 'elitist' type didn't belong there and that maybe we should go". Are you effing kidding me?!?!? So, we did...taking back our tips. (I know, I know...that's a jerk move, but I would never warrant such behavior...except in this case) Sad thing is, we only had A drink! I see Kurt at the Wicker Park Dog Park all the time, next time I see him, I might have to train my dog to pee on his shoe. Save your money...find another dive bar...clearly, Kurt and the rest of Rainbo aren't interested in it. read more

Despite what some of the other reviews say(and what bar doesn't have a more annoying crowd that goes in on Friday/Saturday nights, vs. other nights?), I always was a fan. Nice and cheap, the decor inside is cool, and it's fun to visit a bar that's been featured in a movie before(High Fidelity). Also a plus that it isn't as douchey and annoying, as a lot of the other nearby bars on Division. *looks at Easy Cocktail Bar, 50/50, etc* Finally, it's a non-issue to me if a bar lacks a TV. Did I miss the Lite Brite sign they always had up inside here on my last visit, or is it still hanging inside here? Either way(will double check for that, next time I visit), cheers for Rainbo still being around. Sad that gentrification and changing trends have slowly taken away other neighborhood bars in this area, and in different parts of the city(i.e. Club Foot, Hungry Brain). This is more like 3.5 stars to me(minorly preferred Hungry Brain, for reasons such as I liked their staff slightly better, & that they had a smoking patio), but I'll round up to 4 to counter the negative reviews. side rant: disappointing Yelp still doesn't let you do half star reviews, when Untappd(beer app) recently began to allow for quarter star reviews. at least allow half star reviews, please Yelp? read more

Oddly enough this bar reminds me my childhood. When I got to spend some time with my grandpa (which was only a little) during a holiday or any visit really, we would meet him at a bar much like this one. He would sit me up on the bar and have the bartender get me a kiddy cocktail with extra cherries or at least I think it was a kiddy cocktail (I wonder why I never remember leaving the bar). The Rainbo Club is one big room, bar on one side with stools and the other side has small 4 person booths along the wall. Nothing fancy really, it's dark, it's got freaky artwork from local painters, drinks are moderately cheep, poor ventilation and dirty toilets... how could you not love this place. The crowds along with the bartenders are eclectic to say the least, no hipsters welcome here. It's not a bad place at all to grab a drink or two. read more

eh.. I spent my early 20's avoiding this place, even when friends insisted, I was convinced..mainly by others that this place was lame. In retrospect I believe I was the one being pretentious all those years. When it comes down to it..it's a place where friends of mine have been hanging out for over 10 years, and now when I hang out with friends there I don't give a shit about what's going on around me...at this point I know a bunch of the bartenders and ... dare i say.."get them" Maybe I'm one of the people that others think are a hipster..whatever, fine..I'm not their to convince anyone either way... If I want to go somewhere to mingle and shmooze there are other places I'd go. it's true there are a lot of stupid people in there, and sometimes it's no wonder some of the bartenders act less then gracious, after over 20 years of working there, they've seen it all. I will say though..Rainbo is not a place I go on weekends anymore. It's true, it's too crowded, and the reason I like hanging out there is because I can sit, chat with friends, get drunk on $15, take photos, and stumble home. On weekends, I'd rather head over to the J&M or something. read more

[This review takes place on a Friday night from about 10-12.] You guys all said this was hipster paradise. If Rainbo Club is paradise, hell is going to be way worse than we thought. I walked in and attempted to order a drink. Some guy pushed me out of the way and stepped on my foot before standing in front of me. I looked at him until he moved back. Now, this is not the bar's fault, but it speaks volumes about the clientele. The next encounter I had involved three guys standing next to the Silver Strike Machine (which we were standing in front of) attempting to have a loud, intentionally overheard conversation about how all the girls who think they're cool stand next to the arcade. Apparently, they don't realize that an arcade consists of many machines, not just one. So, back to the place itself. The bartender was okay. But the whole place is standing room with seating around the bar and around the perimeter. The fact that there was so much open space filled with standing people reminded me of those high school parties where we all just stood around packed into the garage. Except no one talks to anyone except the people they came with. When it was time to make my way to the ladies room, I was in for a real treat. The actual [single] stall smells like an old church bathroom. As soon as I walked in, some girl was dry heaving in the garbage can outside of the stall. There were also many just-21s present, many of whom who appeared to be overserved. Again, potentially not the bar's fault, but pretty disgusting overall. My friend and I eventually stood against the wall near this calendar poster of a bunch of photobooth pictures and started making up songs about the people in the photos. We had to make the best of a bad situation. (They were pretty good songs). People who like dive bars (as I do) will probably not be fans because it lacks many key elements that make dive bars rule, such as enough room to enjoy oneself as well as nice people to toil away one's free time with. I also think those looking for the hipster scene will be disappointed as most of the people were Urban Outfitters "vintage" ex Dave Matthews fans types. The door guys seemed nice though. That's why this place gets 2 stars instead of only 1. read more

1: I think the first time I was there, Christmas Eve, 2009, lead to what seemed as if the people there were THAT pissed that they had to work on Christmas Eve (you Christ lovers) then call off or admit to your sad excuse for a religion. You decided to single out a friend of mine (who was just having a good time like the rest of us) and kick him out, which lead to my friends leaving this sh*thole as well about 30 minutes before closing for doing nothing but buying drinks and having a good time. However, eventually, I let it slide. 2: Tonight, March 30(or 31st depending on your perspective), here I am, having a decent time and on the lights come. Cool, I get it, you want to leave. But when you acknowledge that we've met (small conversations and what not) AND your door guy remembers me from before (which is odd because I'm not a memorable gal), you decide to attempt to push us out. I get it, you want to leave. I've been there, worked your job, it sucks, but when someone (like myself) has an honest, interesting and curious question about why you set your clocks 10 minutes fast, why you push people out far too ahead of time and say "it's my job". No, it's not. And I loved your bit about "see you next time" and my reply of "no, you won't". Because, you won't. Again, stated, your DREAD haired DOOR/ DOUCHE BAG/BAR BACK friend ruined it. No, I won't see you again. And I will make sure that NONE of my friends or anyone I SPEAK to sets foot in this place. Get real and get a life. You're no one special, and I'm surprised I even wrote this review. I just hope no one spend their money, or more importantly, time on this waste of a bar. read more

I was here once and it was packed so tightly that we were pinned up against the bar and by the time we got out of the place there was actually a red mark across my lower rib cage from being molded to the bar. It was miserable and even though it was 20 degrees outside, it was about 110 inside. NG=not good. When I go out looking for fun with friends I try not to come away partially mutilated. Don't go unless you've already gotten ribs removed or like having your solar plexus forced nailed to the bar. read more

I don't pretend to be one of the originals of the neighborhood...but I sure do respect them. I am guilty of liking a lot of things that the originals of the neighborhood probably hate. I am guilty for paying too much for rent and too much for cocktails and probably allowing my behaviors to increase the prices for these originals. However, I truly appreciate this place. This is an original place that has seemed to stay true to its roots from the beginning. I love that amidst all of the trendy bars and restaurants on Division street, you can still walk in here and get a $2 PBR and sit on a bar stool that has been there for decades. It feels right....and it's good for all of us to do. There's something about a place that can stay in the neighborhood through all of the changes that it has seen, and I have mad respect for it. read more

This place is nothing all that special and I don't know that I've ever stayed for more than two rounds, but despite that, I really like it! Here are the pluses: 1) The room has character. Every time I'm in there, I find myself making up elaborate stories (in my head) about what the place was before it was Rainbo. The meeting house of a secret society? A burlesque speakeasy? A puppet play house? I'm sure the real answer is far less exciting, but making up stories about it is fun. 2) PHOTO BOOTH! Need I say more? 3) The Tamale Guy stops here. Mmm...tamales. 4) Lite Brite. 5) Changing artwork. 6) Pin ball. read more

I'm no pinball wizard, but I still like to play every time I go to Rainbo. Now that I don't pay for laundry, I have to use my quarters for something. This place is VERY laid back, and the 30s era bar gives the place a unique look. It's typically never too crowded, but there are enough people there to make things interesting. They have a better than average (ie - not just bud light) draft selection of around 8-10 beers. It is the perfect spot to sip the suds, talk with friends, and play a few arcade games. If you prefer trendy, upscale Lincoln Parkish bars that serve fancy mix drinks and aps, please avoid this spot - it will make everyone involved happier. read more

I've been here a few times. I have 3 big complaints about this place: 1) You might find it hard to get a drink here. Be prepared to get ignored unless you're a friend of the bartender on busy nights (all bars are like this, but it's very cliquey here). 2) No atmosphere. Yes, let's go get drunk in a big, bare room. I feel like I'm in the hipster equivalent of a Polish dance hall. Take a lesson from Innertown and decorate. 3) Filled with the type of pretentious jerks I try to stay away from, not rub asscheeks with. I like Shellac as much as the next guy, but Christ, this place is like a high school cafeteria. I just avoid this place like the plague. If you like cool, cheap bars in this area check out Innertown or Happy Village. Same music and cheap beer, none of the bullshit attitudes. read more

Keep in mind that coming here on a weekday is vastly different from coming here on a weekend. That said, I avoid this place like the plague Thursday-Saturday. It gets packed and sweaty on the weekends and the crowd is a mix of hipster and Wrigley. Also, it's pretty much impossible to find a place to sit down on the weekends. However, when I come here earlier in the week, it's a chill, low key dive bar to catch up with friends, listen to good tunes, and sip on cheap drinks. The bartenders are very attentive and the door guys are friendly. I love that there's new local artwork hanging on the walls each time I come, and I think the dive-y feel of the bar along with the beautiful vintage stage is lovely. Oh, and it's CASH ONLY! There's a Chase right on the corner and an ATM in the bar. read more

FINALLY. Someplace where I can talk about Julian Assange with my greenpeace bros thats NOT in my mom's basement. You've gotta know what you are getting into - this is where hipsters meet to breed, and if you're going, get ready for FULL plumage. But don't let me put you off, if I need to become the first self-proclaimed hipster to be able to say what I am about to say, then so be it (I am wearing argyle right now, b*tches!). This is thoroughly my favorite bar in the city. The drinks are cheap, people are easy to talk to, the bartenders are nice, the art on the walls consistently changes, and there's a photobooth. Conversations are interesting and because of this, I find myself here on weeknights and weekends. Now there are some sketchy folks here, as you would get at any dive bar. So women, take note of that, I've had a couple of creepers trying to join me and my friends. And this place was featured in High Fidelity. Whats up. read more

Went here with a friend from work for a drink. This place is pretty awesome. It is very dim, with great wood paneling and an incredible, original stage from the 1930's (my best guess?!). They painted it white unfortunately, I bet it was originally wood -- but it is still awesome. This is a serious hipster hangout however. We got there somewhat early since it was right after work so it was pretty empty. We were also wearing business attire. At first it was fine but then as more people started to get arrive I felt like we were getting weird looks. Clearly we were not wearing the right outfits. But our draft beers (that were not PBR thank goodness) were only $3.50 so I left happy. read more

Meh, simply not for me. A lesbian bar!? Nope, that actually would have been more fun.... All I saw were hipsters of all sexual orientations. 50's pin up girl hipsters, fat butt crack showing hipsters, tight-rolled-pants wearing hipsters... It was almost enough to make me crack my beer glass over my own head. I was insanely uncool dressed in my work clothes. My black dress pants, heals, and collared shirt were no match for the tattoos, crazy boots, and skirts over jeans. For the most part I felt I was looked at as though I was someone's mom, or a nark. "Everyone is looking at me weird," I grumbled under my breath. My boyfriend just looked at me perplexed by my newly unveiled insecurities. He ignored me, which was the perfect reaction to my moment of uncertainty. I don't get down with the hipsters, man. I don't really like music so much, books aren't my thing, and weird movies are my Ambien substitution. I get it, I define uncool by hipster standards... and I am okay with that. This place does have a great old U shaped bar which reminds me of an alter. I can get down with that. It has retro 50's style red vinyl booths along the side wall and a red vinyl couch. I was jealous of other patrons seating, I was forced to sit at the only table in the place, strategically located in the corner... where me, and my uncool aura, could be isolated. The bathroom is a trip, it reminds me of my grandmothers old two-flat in Cicero . It even has a table with flowers just outside the door. Overall, if I would have visited the Rainbo club after downing a couple drinks I would have been a-okay. Tired, crabby Jen simply doesn't do well with hipsters. If you are, or yearn to be, a cool west side hipster, the Rainbo club is where it's at. read more

Thank you for being my first 2 star rating. Dear Rainbo, I have known hipster dive clubs all over the US (especially hipster mecca Brookyln). I know that the bartender is suppose to be aloof and possibly (ok, IS) judging me. Especially if I'm a new face on the weekend. But seriously this is ridiculous. The bar is uncrowded and the bartender of the three, who isn't making a drink looks at me. I ask politely, " May I have Jameson on the rocks?" He pours it. I have my money in hand and when he comes back with the change, he throws it on the table and gives me the look of untold deaths. I wasn't flirting with him, nor was I drunk and obnoxious yet I could literally hear my paper change hit the bar. Your only redeeming factors were that you only charge $4 for Jameson and the door people were nice. And so you get 2 stars and maybe for the photobooth too. All in all, I won't be coming back here and I'm taking the 10 people I came with, with me. There are other hipster dive bars where the apathy of bartenders will be a warm welcome. (Un) Sincerely, Me P.S. Thanks for putting back the hater in me. Jerk. read more

This is the very first place I stepped foot in when I arrived in Chicago. It holds a precious charm for me because of that. I like that it has history, I like that it was a speakeasy, and I like that the bartenders are grumpy until you've known them for a decade. I like that it's small and you feel overjoyed to have a booth, I like that there is no TV or jukebox. I like that they have a turntable and they actually use it. I like that there is a stage you could imagine a burlesque dancer teasing you from. I like that sometimes musicians play secret shows there, and I really miss the weekly Isotope shows. I like that they show artist's work every month as a rotating gallery. I like that they make great calendars of the patron's photobooth pictures. I like that Rainbo has gotten me laid more than any other bar in town. I like Rainbo, and people who don't like Rainbo are haters, and haters can suck it. read more

Surly sons of bitches. I didn't realize they let you build a bar that serves more snark than beer and let you still call it a bar. Having worked in a bar for 2 years I can appreciate a sarcastic smart ass bartender as much as the next guy, but the bartenders here are outright horrible hateful skinny little hipster elitists. You cannot order a drink without getting some serious stink-eye from them, not to mention it usually takes a good half hour to catch any of their attention. It can be tolerated if you can wait 30 minutes while the jerkoff bartender dolls out drinks to customers in order of hipster magnitude, but otherwise I'd rather go to Inner Town Pub or Happy Village. All in all, the beer selection is unimpressive, the service is god awful, and the bar itself isn't any more interesting than any other hole of a bar. The bartenders are not cool. Do not go here if you want to have any semblance of a good night. read more

Of the 2343 times I've been here, the best is when I went and wore my Wu Tang shirt. When the Wu actually DID come on the sound system, I was the target of many booze soaked ice cubes. Good times. I think I should have just danced on the bar Coyote Ugly style. read more

The bartender lectured me about how it was inappropriate to lift my bottle to indicate that I needed another beer of the same kind. It was weird, unexpected, and uncomfortable. For a bar of that small size, at that early time of the evening, with two bartenders, and with most of the seats empty, I shouldn't have even had the chance to do that if they were doing their job. In what feels increasingly typical of hipster bars, the service people seem to have an overinflated sense of self-importance, enjoying the position more as a symbol of some kind of imagined, special social status, rather than the basic function that it is. It's in exactly this kind of place that you are reminded of that mentality where the bartender believes that it's a privilege for you to be served by them, not the other way round. If you come here, there is a certain way you must look and certain rules that you must follow so as not to upset the sensitive servicepeople. I like to drink in a place where I can be casual. This place is merely disguised as such a place. I will make it a point not to return here and also to discourage others from going in the first place so these smug twats can continue to wax their mustaches and compliment each others' ironic t-shirts in the corner. read more

I had the opportunity to visit Chicago again... and I thought I'd bring my wife over to Rainbo Club, as I'd originally had a good experience. It's a cool little bar. This update is specifically for the bartender who was working on Thursday, September 24th. My advice: Lighten up, Francis. Life is not that bad. You can be nice to paying customers. Making people feel unwelcome is not good business, especially when you only have a handful of people in the bar. Still like the bar interior - but you guys need to rethink how you engage with customers. read more

This is where I go to be judged! Extra star for having a pinball machine. read more

I have mixed feelings about Rainbo. I've had great times here, but it's also the most cliquey and standoffish, as the unofficial hangout for the indie cognoscenti, who are mainly a bunch of pricks. That sort of social status bs is moot if you bring your own set of friends, but if you're looking to meet people, you need to be super aggressive and have a thick skin. The bartenders are often local rock luminaries, and are usually friendly enough. Drinks are not that cheap, jukebox should be amazing given the snobfactor, but isn't quite there. read more

Rainbo Club - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went here on my first night out in Chicago. I just moved here from Seattle and was looking for a bar that had good music, affordable beer, and wasn't trendy or modern. We read in my guide book that this was John Cusack's favorite bar, so my boyfriend and I decided to check it out. It was exactly what we were looking for. Yeah, we had to stand cause there weren't any tables left, but it was a crowded weekend. I couldn't believe it when I got onto yelp and saw, well, what everyone else had said. Wow. I didn't feel like this place was pretentious at all, so I guess that says something about me. If we were doing our reviews based on the crowd, I'd probably give the Chip Inn 2 stars, but I don't think that's fair. So let's all try to be fair to the Rainbo Club. read more

I like how everyone who loves/likes this place has some sort of disclaimer in their review. This place is cheap. The photobooth is rad. I generally like the people who hangout here. I like the bartenders and door guys. Just like any other bar, I go prepared to stand on the weekends. They always have fresh flowers in the ladie's room. I always have and I probably always will (especially since the smoking ban) hang out at the Rainbo. disclaimer: just kidding read more

It reeked of hipster B.O. in here. I don't think hipsters believe in deodorant. ALL of the girls here were ugly. Some of them I could barely tell were girls. Some of them might've been a little cute if they had showered and maybe plucked their hairy eyebrows a bit (I don't ask for much). A lot of silly hats, skinny leg jeans, and stupid beards. (no, the beards weren't on the girls) Still, this place was packed late on a Thursday night (I think it was 2AM) when all the other bars in the area were completely empty. I have no idea why everyone decided to come here - but that must make this place cool in some regards. They probably have some kind of hipster beacon or something. The missile command kept me occupied for a few minutes. read more