I went here this Saturday for a Band Called Catch show. I really enjoyed the layout of the bar. They had a nice stage with a seating area and the bar area. I really liked the bathrooms (is that weird?). They were clean and they were painted a really cool bluish green. Band Called Catch played a great show. Oh yeah, they sell cheetos. The bar tenders were great. Don't you forget it! read more

One of the best bars of its type, anywhere! The staff are wonderful, they support culture and live music more than most venues 4x's their size, and the crowd is always more literate and interesting than you would expect. Sort of an Old Town Ale House for the WP/Buck area. Only better! If you haven't seen the Model Citizens band, you are missing out on one of the greatest cultural landmarks the city has to offer. read more

A really great hole-in-the wall. Plenty of free street parking. The crowd is a bit mixed - older people with a mix of young hipsters. Strange but it works. My favorite part was the $5 pitchers of leinenkugel on Thursday nights and open mic! read more

My husband and I have started going to this show pretty regularly. We always have a good time and I promise that if you go you will laugh, maybe not the whole time, but at least part of the time, if not most of the time. It's from 7-9, so you can still go out after the show and not miss your whole saturday night. Get a cheap pitcher of beer and enjoy the show. It's a way better show than Cole's open mic, possibly because the comedian's perform longer than 3 minutes or possibly because the hosts are actually nice and funny and not just drunk d-bags. FYI: Try to sit near the front, because sometimes there are people talking during the show at the bard and what's the point of going to see stand up comedy if you can't see or hear the comedians. read more

No cover, a great stage & atmosphere to either jam or listen to others perform music. Fun people. Not pretentious at all. I like this place a lot. Good enough beer selection and check out the Thursday open mics! I saw a dog in here one time too. read more

Free entertainment is always good. (Although I'm not sure they pay their performers, which isn't cool) But the Gallery Cabaret is a nice neighborhood hangout, especially if you like live music or comedy. The Two Hour Comedy Hour on Saturday nights is always fun. They will have some great country swing and jazz bands play some nights. The open mic is much more tolerable since that creepy rat-tailed guy got fired. The beer is as warm as it's ever been, but whatever. The bartenders are nice! It's worth a visit, just make sure to tip the performers! read more

I came here for a birthday party last week. It was pretty nice! I mean, it's not spacious and I was standing in the walking aisle so I felt like huge jerk. But! The drinks be cheap, the open mic was fun (even though boo @ the mc), it was a good time. I don't know if it's a place I'd go out of my way to visit, but I certainly wont be unhappy if I find myself there again in the near future. Also, you can buy popcorn and other assorted treats. Delicious. read more

Somewhere between a dive bar and high concept art installation/performance piece. I love this bar, it has been an institution in my late night life. Sometimes the Gallery will be dead and semi awkward, sometimes you will muscle your way through a crowd and see a musical performance on the open mic that will make you cry. It's a real bar. I've learned so much and also forgotten so much here. I wouldn't bring a first date here, but I've for sure fallen in and out of love here. Please stop by, don't expect much and you may get everything. read more

I was searching through yelp to find a place to take my friend to dinner and i stumbled across the Gallery Cabaret reviews and though I must write a review for them...so here it goes. The Gallery Cabaret is a very welcoming place, and is a great place to check out local artwork whether it may be visual or audio. Kenny the owner usually always pops in sometime during the night and his own artwork is displayed above the bar. The regulars (which theres always a couple there) are probably what keep this bar alive since some nights are kind of sparse there, but i don't mind, it's nice to be able to go out somewhere and actually be able to talk and be heard. All in all it's a great place with lots of character, cheap beer, great art and music. read more

For two of us the bill was only $32 for drinking vodka tonics all night long. 5 stars for that. Live music, no cover. 5 stars for that. The old couple making out. - 5 stars for that. I won't hold the bar accountable though. read more

Top 5 Chicago bars! The old gentleman behind the bar rules....its dog friendly, or at least they were the last time I was there. NOT over flowing with hipsters from Michigan!!! Love the stage area!!! Heard some great music here in the past....The people here are down to talk but its not a meat market which is nice. I had a friends bday party here a few years back..and Ive taken prolly 6 other people here...never got a complaint! Great date spot, great cocktail alone spot, great go and forget about the world spot. thank you to who ever owns this little gem! read more

If you like a comfortable corner bar, Gallery Cabaret is the place to be. The booze is cheap, and the people are friendly. I had been looking for an open mic for a few weeks, and I stumbled across the Gallery on an open mic review site. I showed up, and I immediately felt comfortable. The acts run the gamut, from the stand up comedians, to singer song writer types, to old hippies, to aspiring rock stars. The host, Garrett, is a riot, and the bar staff is pretty friendly. If that isn't enough, $5 pitchers of beer and the proximity to the Western stop on the blue line should make anyone want to check it out. read more

I came here only for the free food, and I found none! No just kidding. When can I get free food. I am serious? What time exactly? I have lived in Chicago off and on for almost 20 years now but have never been to this place so I had to go check it out when a friend suggested I come out for an open mike. I had to get up early the next day but I decided to show up and at least have a drink. I had several drinks and watched a good number of bands. Free entry. No cover. Very cool stage and a fun painting behind the stage. I entered in and found a place packed to the gills with hipsters and oldsters and found myself really liking the layout and interior of this place. The prices for drinks were not as cheap as some seemed to indicate - mostly average for the area - but yes, they did have cheap pitchers of crappy beer. I went for mixed drinks and skipped the yellow beer, and paid nearly as much as the $6 pitcher every time I had a second or third or fourth. Solid prices, for solid drinks, but not cheap. Hey, nothing is cheap these days. The bartenders were older guys and they were all pretty cool, and the MC for the open mike was hilarious! Just a super fun, and very funny guy. He really made the night a hit in my book. The music went from good, to totally embarrassing, to great in the case of one performer. Every kid under 30 seems to be in a band these days, and many should get a day job and give up the music dream even if your girlfriend or boyfriend or mom thinks you are great - you are not. But, what the heck, open mikes for music, poetry, and whatnot, are great fun. You might see someone on the way up who knows? Most likely you will see a pile of acts where someone should tell them to sell that guitar! I love open mikes. Fun time, fun staff, some good and bad music, no free food, and overall a good night out. Seriously, when do I have to show up for free food? read more

Not only is this my favorite bar, but I bought property in the neighborhood just to be near to the place (among other reasons). This is truly the bar of this musician/teacher/awkward chick's dreams. I love the open mics (especially Sunday nights!) where some old favorites and newbs scramble their way onto the packed list to play a few tunes or tell a few jokes. I always see new faces, but there are a lot of regulars. Kenny, the owner and bartender many nights, is a fabulous one for stories. He worked in Vegas during the rule of the Rat Pack and has a lot of crazy stories about seeing them and others live. This place has a heart and a lot of warmth. Of course, the art displayed is more often tacky than not, but that is part of the charm. Kenny and everyone at the Gallery have really worked to create a welcoming and accepting environment. I will always return there and I will forever miss it when I am not there...especially on Sunday nights. read more

Crank up the Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre and other random 90's rap songs as you stare at awkward mismatched pictures of green naked women, someone's mother, an abstract Einstein picture and some 60's flower child pictures behind the bar. Oh dive bars, I love you. We came here to see Schadenfreude, a comedy/music show. It's a tiny place, so come early for a seat. Grab some free food in the front and stay a while. It feels like you are in someone's grandmother's basement and everyone here is really laid back and cool. Yuppies need not apply. read more

I went back and there was live jazz. $10 leine pitcher... service was good. she was really sweet, I'm happy i gave this place a second shot. read more

I have to be honest - I didn't know what to expect of this place....it is in a neighborhood I don't really frequent and is very unassuming from the outside, but overall, I found it to be the perfect dive bar! Good music while we were there, friendly staff, cheap prices, interesting art on the walls. Although I don't know if I would go out of my way to go back here on my own, I will definitely check it out again when a group of pals are going! read more

Musicians: It's a fun place to play, even if the place is half-full. There are no mics for drums. There is no drum monitor. But if you have the equipment you need to perform well, you should be fine. The house will pay for all $3 drinks (at least that's what they told me) after you have performed. It's a small bar. Bring some exciting and different music for people to hear, and you will be well received. read more

This bar is pretty cool. It's definitely a dive bar with really interesting art on the walls. The bartender is really attentive and super nice to all his customers. He was really funny and entertaining at the comments and conversations he had with the people sitting along the bar. I was there on a Friday night for the 7-9 open mic comedy hour. The place was pretty crowded but mostly of performers. I would suggest trying to find a seat closer to the stage because it can get quite loud if you sit in the back by the door. It was tough to hear the comedians but the ones I could hear were pretty funny. It's a fun place to check out for some cheap drinks and free entertainment. read more

Come here all the time for comedy shows and it's a really fun place! I'm happy places like this exist, the world needs more bars that open their door to all and serve entertainment and beers for the low. Good people and a great atmosphere. I love Gal Cab read more

I like Gal Cab. The owner, Kenny, is like your grandpa that loves to party. The drinks are cheap and there are beer specials every night except Fridays and Saturdays. You can usually find a lot of the same hare-brained people there, all of whom usually leave you wondering, was that even real?, when you leave. That's why I like it there. I can't get enough of the lunacy. Some of the live music and stand up comedy are a little left field but that usually makes for a good conversation starter. There is a large selection of beers and the mixed drinks are strong. They rotate artists' work to display throughout the place which gives you something new to look forward to seeing if you haven't been there in a few weeks. The place is small but you can usually find a comfortable place to let it all hang out. I have made a lot of friends here. Unless you go there a lot like me and become friends with the regulars, you probably won't experience the same madness I have. You will, however, still have a good time with an amusing crowd. Oh, and free food Sundays. Enough said. See you there! read more

They have a touch tunes jukebox which is an automatic no-no, especially if you're a dive. After awhile I crumbled and went ahead and paid a dollar to listen to the Supremes off the digital music vortex. It is extremely cozy though, when we first got there it was only some older dudes sitting at the bar, they were very friendly and chatted with us for a bit. Oh, and they dug "Baby Love." But after awhile a lot of people started to show up for a concert (it seems like a pretty awful place to have a show) and the crowd got unbearable so we left. I like this place a lot, I guess I'm nostalgic. I'd probably only come here in the early evening from now on. read more

Oh so great neighborhood bar. Smooth jazz, good beer. Laid back and easy to blend into! Really enjoyed it. read more

The Gallery Cabaret - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My new favorite bar. Great open mic on Thursdays with really impressive talent and $4 pitchers. I was desperately looking for some place that felt this much like home, and I knew from the first few minutes inside I had found it. Cheap beer, good music, friendly interesting staff. What more could I possibly want? Garrett is my new best friend. read more

Very cool live music menu. They have a nice rotating draft list for a dive bar and the main barstaff was very good. The owner seemed to get in her way behind the bar, but props to him for working until 80 years old. He's running a cool venue and I respect that A little cramped but overall I really liked the live music daily and the fact that you can bring your own food to the bar and enjoy a nice brew, live music, and good food from the various great places in the area. The high end beers were around $6-7 and the low end ranged from $2-4, with pitchers available. read more

This place has a great special on Thursday nights: pitchers of $4 Leinenkugel to share with a lot of friends. The best day to come though, is Sunday, when they serve free food!! This place is extremely eclectic, young and older alike, hipster and hippy -- it's all over the map, and I really like that. The artwork is unique, they do support local artists.. and the owner is so sweet. The music is all over the map too, but it can be really good some nights -- other nights, you may just want to have a beer and leave on account of a crumby loud singer. Note: the owner loves old jazz and plays it frequently. yum. read more

The Gallery Cabaret is what I imagine the old, cool, arty Bucktown and Wicker Park used to be. Go for an open mic night (Thursday or Sunday) and everyone knows one another and they want to know you too. Hoping a good Yelp review doesn't ruin that. :) read more

Dive bar, for sure. The night we were there it was an open mic night, but it was kind of deserted. Which was a little sad. You had to pay after the purchase of each drink, which was kind of lame. Maybe we looked like the type who would bolt....I don't know. But we couldn't start a tab. 10 buck credit card minimum. They didn't have grapefruit juice to make my greyhound, so I settled for a cranberry/vodka. It was fine. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to go back here. It was OK for what it was, though. read more

This is one of my favorite spots for comedy in Chicago! Great neighborhood-y vibe. They do free weekly comedy that is just as good as stand up you would pay for. They also do some music shows. Cheap drinks. You can bring your dog in! Each comedy show they let audience members put their name in a hat if they want a minute on stage to give a shot at stand up. Could be a cool way to get yourself out there! Come here with friends. Good service read more

Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome! Im Cabaret, Au Cabaret, To Cabaret! I love the Gallery Cabaret. Not only are their fabulous drink specials during the week, Live music every night, and awesome bartenders. I was extremely happy to introduce my friends to a great neighborhood bar in my own little corner of Chicago. But I am still waiting for the evening when Liza Minnelli will entertain us at the Gallery Cabaret! read more

I've been here a couple of times and it's fine. I'd say it's pretty unremarkable. I went for an open mic and had entirely too many beers. The open mic talents were all over the map. Several were really good though. I remember thinking there wasn' t enough light and that the drink specials were great. read more

I've been here twice. Once it was a jazz night on Tuesday which was super chill. They had $10 blue moon pitchers and free Italian beefs :) I went back yesterday (Sunday) pitchers were $5 leinenkugel pitchers and free food again. It was open night mic. It was really crowded. The bartender needed help because he was flustered. Poor guy. It's an interesting mix of folks. I don't mind the place but it's not everyones cup of tea. read more

I really will never find a better place to go on a Sunday night, free dinner, cheap beer (good beer), and open mic. The bartenders are so friendly. This place can get crowded but the bartenders manage it well. The patrons are really social, I have had many conversations with strangers at the bar. The people that come here just seem to be good folk. Nothing better than having a few beers and listening to live music. read more

The Gallery Cabaret - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday. Dimly lit, small, local dive bar with friendly staff and lots of beer options. Comedy night followed by a band - funny peeps and rocking peeps. Super casual place. Street parking wasn't an issue early in the night. read more

I'll be real with you Chicago: This is a good show. Trey (the host) is new to Chicago but he's at just about every open mic that he can get his hands on. He books the cream of the crop from the Chicago stand-up scene as well as talented out of towners. It's usually pretty packed get there early and leave a five dollar donation if you like the show. Okay, I'll see you in hell, Yelpers. read more

I only post reviews if I really love the place, and here I am. There's always something happening here and the drinks are cold and cheap. It's dive bar heaven. Enjoy yo self. read more

Great neighborhood bar, great open mic, delicious Leinenkugel's Original fresh on tap...not much more to ask from a neighborhood corner bar. Thursday open mic is really good and Saturday comedy hour is pretty funny too. I will definitely be back. read more

I've recently discovered a small neighborhood bar. Thanks to a friend introduction to this place, it has become a weekely ritual. Besides having such a friendly atmosphere , the patrons are also very nice and the regulars welcomed me with open arms. The art that is displayed on the walk is for sale and support local artists. So every week there is always something new to look at. (I'm hoping to buy it someday) The open mic again allows anyone to get up on stage and sing or you get laughs from the comedians or just grab an instrument and show off your skills. Everyone is truely entertaining. The best part is the free buffet. The food is AWESOME! Scotty (the cook) puts out a spread that keeps everyone bellies full. So grab a $5.00 pitcher of beer and hangout at this great low key place. Perfect for a Sunday nite. read more

Kenny is the bomb! The old-school bartender/owner of this local neighborhood joint makes a great old fashioned as he gabs about his professional training and life in Vegas before settling down in Chicago. "Chicago's better cause I don't spend all the money that I earn," he told me once. Also, his from-scratch Bloody Mary's are punched with enough spices to make your nose pleasantly tingle. The beer menu is decent with Guinness and Leinenkugle taps, among others. The casual vibe to the Cabaret is enlivened by artwork spread on its walls. The fact that there's never a cover is also great, provided that there's usually a healthy dose of musical talent. My first night there, a band did covers of the Stones and Hendrix that almost made me feel like I was listening to the originals. All of it free. Sunday nights feature neighborhood gatherings for open mic and free food. That's right, free food. Featuring brats, potato salad one night. Kenny and usually friendly people make Cabaret a wonderful spot for your weekly communal get-together. Just make sure that if you get an Old Fashioned, the master makes it. Some of the other bartenders seem to be challenged in that department. read more

The place rocks because its simple - Music and Free Entry to hear many locals, as well as touring acts showcase their talents. Don't go in thinking it will be like entering the Chicago Theater or the Cubby Bear (Chicago has plenty of those types of places). The Gallery is more of an relax and just chill with local music type of place. Has the more bar/lounge feel because of how laid back the atmosphere is after you grab a drink. The open mic on Thursdays' I believe is the longest running in Chicago. Head out there and check it out. read more