If you're looking for a great night out in River North, Redhead Piano Bar is always a solid choice. Kaleen Dolan and Michelle have this place moving like a well oiled machine between the music and keeping drinks moving! It has that classic Chicago piano bar feel -- lively but comfortable, energetic without being overwhelming. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the fun atmosphere. The lighting, the music, and the mix of people all come together to create a really welcoming vibe. The staff truly adds to the experience. Everyone is friendly and attentive, and you never feel overlooked. A special shoutout to Michelle, who goes above and beyond to make sure guests are taken care of. She's warm, professional, and genuinely makes you feel welcome, which makes a big difference on a busy night. Of course, the highlight is the live music. The performers are incredibly talented and know how to read the room, keeping the energy up while still creating moments where you can sit back and enjoy the music. Kaleen Dolan is especially impressive -- an amazing musician with a great voice and presence. She connects with the crowd effortlessly and makes every set feel personal and engaging. Whether you're out with friends, on a date, or just stopping in for a drink and some live music, Redhead Piano Bar consistently delivers a fun, memorable experience. Take it from the #1 Steve - this place is TOP SHELF fun!! read more

Awesome experience, even if a little spendy. I'd recommend reserving a table - but that hits you with a $150 minimum spend and an auto 20% gratuity. They do not serve food - so your group (if smaller like ours of three) is in for several cocktails/beers. Overall - worth it and an absolute blast. Wish the seating provided direct views of the piano but the TV on the wall was sufficient. All our requests were played and the singer was fantastic! read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Terrible service, rude employees, worst music. Why anyone would want to frequent this place is beyond me.

This place is so fun. This was our third year in a row and we always have the best time. The pianist is amazing and she is so fun but when she leaves at 11:30 the entire vibe changes. The mood goes down and everyone leaves. Which is ok but just plan on being on a high high and then crashing. it gets really crowded. Good times though. Highly recommend! read more

My friends and I went to Chicago for a girls' trip and discovered Redhead our first night. Kaleen Dolan was playing piano that night and was so amazing that we kept going back all weekend! Her energy is amazing and she is so interactive with the crowd. We were all in awe of how talented she is at singing (absolutely anything!) and playing the piano!! read more

So much fun!! I was visiting Chicago and we happened to pass by and decided to check it out. The pianist was so talented and played a good variety of music, both old-school and newer, but all sing-along-able. The bar was busy but not too packed with room enough to stand and sing along. I loved how cozy and welcoming this bar felt and will definitely be coming back. read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Outside - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had such a fun night at Redhead Piano Bar! We came around 7:20 on a weeknight and were able to grab seats close to the piano since it was still pretty empty, perfect timing. It definitely started filling up later in the evening, so getting there early paid off. If you're not seated at the bar, you get table service, which was great. Our server was super sweet and attentive the whole night. Mike was on the piano and brought so much fun energy to the room. He sounded great and was open to requests if you left a tip. We'd read mixed things online about a dress code, but there didn't seem to be one when we went. Maybe it's stricter on weekends? Either way, we felt comfortable. The mixed drinks were all $16. They weren't fancy or craft-style, more basic and very strong. No extra touches like a cherry in the whiskey sour or espresso beans in the martini. All in all, a memorable night with lots of singing, dancing, and great vibes. We'd definitely come back! read more

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We loved our time here sitting at the VIP table and enjoying the great music, people, and drinks. The true star of it all for us though was Maddi. Everything about our experience with her was nothing short of incredible. These days sometimes it feels like the world forgets how to take care of people. We need more Maddi's in the world. We enjoyed our first night so much that we had to come back the next and do it all over again. Thank you Maddi ... You're a gem. read more

STINKY. Literally. I have never walked into a bar that smelled so much like unwashed butt. It's so bad, you won't even go nose blind to it, and any time someone moves and the air stirs, you get hit with it. Reading other reviews, sounds like it's been an issue for a while. The service was good, so there's no hate to the people working there. The drinks were SO bad though. I am not picky about cocktails and this espresso martini literally made my whole table gag. The artist at the piano was great though; hopefully she gets a gig somewhere better. read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Espresso martini - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sorry! No pictures. We were vacationing in Chicago when the big redhead sign caught our attention. We LOVE piano bars. You walk in, find your seat, and enjoy the night. The selection of drinks is pretty good. Happy hour features cocktails that are a few bucks cheaper than normal. You can order from the menu or ask for your own favorite cocktail. Wine too. Plenty of spirits. The pianist performing on our night is apparently a regular. He was a lot of fun and interacted with the crowd awesomely! He knows his music. Our only gripe is that you may not know how much a tip is expected when you request a song. The guy would publicly say how much was tipped and who tipped it. That was uncomfortable to hear. The staff was friendly. You can sit up close and enjoy the music or sit toward the back and have a private conversation. read more

Everybody's best friends. It's almost like a cheers place drinks are awesome. We're living our best life. read more

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Dive-y. The smell of stale water really hits you as soon as you step in. The pianist was great but it was very loud in there and her voice was already pretty high pitched so it felt rather piercing. The service was good. Staff was very busy (even on a Tuesday at 9pm) and very kind - tip them well! There was a well utilized cigar patio out back too so that is nice if you like that kind of thing read more

I've been visiting the redhead piano bar for a very long time.. still love the piano to the side.. High energy especially with Kaleen Dolan.. she can play such a range of music she gets everyone in the crowd participating.. and that's what makes a piano bar special.. I've been known to drive into downtown Chicago just to visit in here kaleen ... nothing picks you up like The atmosphere of a crowd singing to every.. tune read more

What a fun place to listen to great music. It definitely has a dive bar feel, but the might we went the piano player Rachel Brumfield was doing a fantastic job playing all kinds of requests (you can either leave money and a note or do request on Venmo @pianorequests ). It is definitely very crowded. By a miracle, we were able to find a table and they had TV screen so that you could see Rachel. Service is very slow. When the waitress comes by, be ready to order (they have QR code with menu). Drinks are fine, but you should mainly go for the music. One odd/annoying thing is that the men's room is small and has kind of an aggressive attendant. Maybe they put him in there to dissuade people from using it read more

Redhead Piano Bar - TV for those in back - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The is a low key spot that has a bar with seating and a few tables placed around. I came here with some friends that wanted to smoke some cigars. So, we went to the bar's cigar smoking area, even though I do not smoke. It is an enclosed area, with an outdoor feel. I know its weird. It gets rather smokey in there as you would imagine. They have a television that has a live feed of the bar's piano performer and they also have music playing in the area. They have reasonable prices for Chicago and offer a Happy Hour, Monday through Thursdays from 7 to 9 PM. The restaurant has a selection of cigars if you plan on smoking and a small selection of signature cocktails. The inside of the joint is dimly lit, adding to the chill/laid back vibe. The server was very friendly and attentive. One thing to note, this is a credit card only establishment, which was not a problem for me because that is what I mostly use anyway. read more

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Musty and smells like sewage. Rude bartender only allowing one drink. Wouldn't allow me to purchase 3 drinks for my friends. Wouldn't allow me to start a tab. Another bartender allowed it. Now sure what the issue was. Great performer. Otherwise had a blast! read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My perfect Chicago night out includes dinner at the Chicago Chophouse and a stroll down to the Redhead piano bar. This place always delivers on the fun. They even added a cigar "lounge" which is just a small balcony on the side of the building but I'm a sucker for a cigar after a nice steak dinner. read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in for a few drinks after dinner...We had such a great time! Great singing! Met Troy the host who did an amazing job keeping us all safe and was great to talk to. One of our favorite places! Thank you! read more

The singer was phenomenal (if you managed to hear them), but the venue was too crowded--you could barely move side to side. The bartenders have nasty attitudes and half ass their drinks. Overrated! read more

We had a disappointing experience here. My friends and I were at the bar. At one point, a staff member approached our one white friend and asked her if we were bothering her. Mind you we were the only minorities there. She immediately responded that we were her friends and that everything was fine. The assumption was uncomfortable and unnecessary. It made us feel singled out and unwelcome. I hope the staff reflects on how situations like this can come across and works toward creating a more inclusive environment for everyone. read more

Service was good, didn't drink much but the entertainment was good! Enjoyed the environment read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're looking for a piano bar in Chicago, give Redhead a look. The piano players are top notch, the drinks aren't expensive, and it's a good spot for mingling. My favorite aspect of the bar is the back room which allows cigar smoking. It's essentially an outdoor area that is covered with several couches and ashtrays. They even have a decently stocked humidor, so no need to bring anything but yourself. Any place in Chicago that serves drinks, has live music and has a cigar section will have me as a patron for life. The only drag here is it's not super big. Around 10pm pm a Friday/Saturday night, the place will be PACKED. there is some seating, but you need to arrive early for that. read more

A true Chicago/River North staple with the iconic redhead chick signage out front. Been here quite a few times over the years due to friends wanting to drop in due to its iconic nature and some friends are cigar smokers and want to smoke on their pretty cool cigar smoke laced patio. Place can get very crowded at night so beware as I've seen long lines after 11pm. Drinks are decent and staff works hard to make sure drinks are turned around fast. read more

I was introduced to Redhead Piano Bar during a friends birthday! I have never been so it was a awesome to experience a staple in the community. Pros: - The live music is fantastic! I love that you can submit songs to be played by the performer. - The vibe is so fun at Redhead Piano Bar. It is jam packed with people singing along to the music and dancing. It is the prefect place to visit if you don't want to dress casually and avoid the busy places in River North. Cons: - Our group was able to score a table near the back but the waitress was very pushy. My group hadn't originally planned to get a reserved table so we were all excited to be able to sit but previously ordered drinks from the bar. The waitress was trying to make sure we ordered from her and even when we reassured her that we would she almost kicked us from the table even though we had several people place orders prior. Overall, it was a fun time but I would opt to stand if I can avoid the pushy service. read more

I had a great night out with some girlfriends at the Redhead. The service was great, the entertainment was great, the ambiance was great, everything was great. If you're looking for a fun night out, Redhead is a great place to go. read more

I love coming here for the late night vibe. Been coming here for years and it's usually really fun. The piano player last night was so awful. Absolutely robbing people of their money. He would take requests $25 and up and announced who gave him what amount and say the highest bidder gets the next song. So classless. The bar itself is fine, but if you go and "Dario Radio" is playing don't tip him. Also saw someone Venmo him $50 for 30 seconds of a song. Just a total loser of a human. I normally never write reviews but wanted to give him a shout out for being a total sleaze. Also want to note that I'm not upset because he didn't play a song I wanted or something of that nature, but the experience itself was so bad and so hard to watch him literally rob people. So if you ever go hopefully it's the other piano player who actually knows how to play and treats others with respect (: read more

This is one of my favorite bars i've ever been to. The drinks were good, priced around $18, which isn't cheap but I don't mind paying if it's worth it. The people here were great, lots of people knew eachother, music was great, crowded in a good way, and dark. read more

Stopped here for the first time and it was a great experience. The pianist played old school music and even hip hop. The drinks were also really good. Although the place was crowded near the piano, the back was really spacious. I would definitely come back. read more

The Redhead Piano Bar in Chicago is an absolute blast -- what a vibe! Whether you're up dancing, singing along, or just relaxing by the piano with a beer in hand, the energy is infectious. The talented pianists know exactly how to keep the crowd engaged, playing everything from classic singalongs to unexpected hits that get everyone involved. I made best friends. lol read more

Kaleen Dolan Your voice is incredibly powerful, with a beautiful tone that really captivated the audience We have a blast every time we're there Your performance was incredibly moving, and I could feel the passion you put into every note. Catch you this weekend. Peace and love read more

I'm torn on this because when I was here in 2023, I absolutely loved it. We were here this past weekend, and it was so crowded. They took out the bar stools that surrounded the bar. And I'm sure that was to accommodate more people, but it kind of changed the quaint vibe of the bar. The piano player was fantastic, and it was easy to get a song request in. The bartenders were working hard to accommodate a lot of people. I think it has gotten so popular that it's just a different vibe. read more

THE BEST TIME!!!! This Piano bar was so fun! We got in most of our requests before the bar became packed. Everyone was dancing and singing along! Full bar, but note that they do not take cash! The piano player was fantastic, she played every song that came her way! What a great voice as well! I will be back again and again!!! read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We arrived around 8:30pm and there was plenty of space at the tables though it got more crowded and louder as the night went on. Seating is a first come first serve basis. read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Outside sign - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love a piano bar. Good drinks but definitely gets super crowded. Great music though and bartenders are nice read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can't believe how many times I have passed by this place and never stopped in. So glad I finally did. Recommended by a friend to hang out with colleagues from out of town. Full bar, dimly lit, except for the red light beaming on the piano players singing all the tunes we know and love, by request. Small tables and chairs lined the walls. The Waitress told us to sit where we liked and if interested in cigars let her know. That's all I needed to hear. There is a small humidor room a a small collection of premium cigars and a patio out back to smoke your own stogies. After a few music selection request, we moved to the patio for cigars and cocktails. Manhattans, Old Fashions and Expresso Martinis were the choices for the evening, paired with Liga Privada #9, Bolivar Belicoso and Plasencia 149. We arrived around 8pm with only a few customers present, by the time we left at midnight, it was a packed house, on a weeknight. What a great time. See you when I come back read more

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I had been here a few times in my past when visiting Chicago. We went here after a great dinner and luckily found a seat in the back. Later we got a great break and got seats right at the piano and just had the best time. Jillie the pianist was super fun and amazingly talented with both her piano playing and her voice for singing and making musical instrument sounds. We tipped her very well and got a fair amount of songs played that we requested. The wait staff was great. We had Molly at the bar and she was attentive and sweet which is hard to do with the bar getting so crowded as it always seems to do. It was a memory for our books for sure and we thank everyone who made it so fun. The sing along songs were like right out of a movie - including of course Sweet Caroline. There was one dude who seemed to be drunk and overly enamored with the piano player who was constantly calling out here name and overly praising her telling her how much he loved her. So that was very odd and we guess that he is a regular as she did not seem phased. Again - We had the best experience! Thank you so much! read more

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We had THE BEST night. We were there for hours. Not a restaurant so eat before you go. Old-school Chicago. You will meet an entire new set of friends! Nicest crowd I've been in. Amazing service and music! Bring ear protection (I had Loops so I could still converse). Get ready to let loose- when was the last time you did that? read more

Redhead Piano Bar - Exterior - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Natalie is the sweetest bartender . She is attentive and sweet I went to the bathroom and she kept an eye on my belongings :)

It smells like farts so bad in here. Literally couldn't even stay for the piano artist because the fart smell was so bad, I had to leave. Consuming. I dont know.. I'd recommend air freshers or literally anything. It's like a condensed hot box. read more

Redhead piano is a typical neighborhood piano bar that you would casually go to on a weekend after drinks. We did just that! The atmosphere was fun. The pianist was taking in requests and we requested for a wide range of songs. He put his own twist on the songs, which was interesting. The service does need a bit of work though. It took a long time for us to get our beers. The ambience is very dated, I am not a fan! But overall, it's a nice casual place to end the night after a long night of drinking or dining out with your friends. read more

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