I love that it's still around, but this is the worst venue in Chicago for seeing a crowded show. If you're not in the front 25 or 30%, and under the balcony overhang or in the back, this place is the worst! If they elevated the stage 2 feet it would solve a lot of visual problems read more

I would give this place a 0 if i could. I wasn't let in because I had a hydration pack. A lollapalooza aftershow, where lollapalooza DOES allow hydration packs, doesn't allow hydration packs inside. Don't be an aftershow venue if you don't have the same policies as the actual show. This cost me an extra $65 for a show i couldn't attend. I'm so pissed. Don't come here for lollapalooza aftershows. read more

Unless you are in the first few rows or 6'3+, you aren't going to see much. Floors are all flat or nominal angle.

I suspect I will be coming here more in the future, as this theatre is known for attracting foreign talent for concerts. I was able to attend the Psychic Fever First U.S. Tour in 2025, and this was one of their most notable concerts. The venue was nice and good for what we needed, and the seating was plentiful for different tier seating. We had our tickets for the standing area, and I was good with that because we all started dancing as the show went on. I liked the decor of the place, and the bathrooms worked as well as expected, but there weren't as many stalls for the girls' side. Just go before the event, and you will be okay! 4 stars cause I heard about audio issues when the performance was going, but the band stayed professional. read more

This is my second concert here and I actually like this theater. One there is metered street parking galore so my if I cant find parking self is going home doesn't have an issue. It's an older theater bathrooms are located downstairs. Im a good height so standing floor for general admission is worth it. Make sure you get there early if you want a good spot in line for GA floor. There's also a seated balcony if you prefer. Merch lines are in the hallway and can get kind of cramped. But overall acoustics and everything are great for a concert there. read more

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This place looks run down and the sound was atrocious. We went for a hokus pokus drag show and one of the queens sang opera. She got frustrated with the feedback and just took the entire mic off. The lights were out of whack. There's paint/wallpaper coming off the walls. We will avoid this venue if possible read more

Saw the queen zara!!! I lined up at 10 am and the security was really nice although there was one bitch in a beanie who was rude to everyone and literally so annoying. But it was worth it and lining up was super easy and efficient !!! Overall a 4/5 just bc of this one lady. I asked her if I could give Zara a gift and she said "I don't know if she would want that..." like r u deadass- read more

The Riviera Theater - Zara larsson - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was my first time seeing a show at the Riviera Theater and I had such a great time! I went to go see Wave to Earth (they were so good!!) and I had no issues going in. It was hailing/pouring rain the day of and they got us in pretty quickly! The line for merch was super long, but it didn't take long at all to get the items we wanted. Parking can be a bit tricky in this area, however, we were able to find free street parking in a neighborhood during peak hours (an hour before the show and 30mins after doors had already opened). There are some paid parking lots as well around the theater for easier parking! read more

The Riviera Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really really liked this venue. I was here for a Tori Kelly concert and I loved it. It is definitely a smaller venue but if you got a seat in the balcony (which I did), this is a golden ticket because you have a great view no matter where you sit. The theater definitely was dated but I think it added to the charm of the building. As soon as you walked in, you are greeted by various pictures on the walls of different acts and then a nice long bar that had a variety of drinks. I do want to add that this venue was great with prior to doors opening that they had given a bracelet to those who were 21 and order and wanted to drink and ya girl wanted to drink so it was nice to get that outta the way. The ushers were nice as they escorted you to your seat. The security was easy and not too much to fuss about as you passed through a metal detector. I would highly suggest to look at the website and see what size purse you could come in with and what items are allowed and not allowed as it makes going through the security process a lot easier. The ladies that served our drinks was quick, fast and efficient. The kind gentleman who hooked me up with TK merchandise was awesome, he was fast and had great customer service. Tori Kelly was an absolute beast on stage. She saaaang and her concert was so much fun! My bf got me these tickets and he gets 3948494849 gold stars for a job well done because not only did I sing my little TK heart out but I danced until I couldn't dance anymore. Also, her pre show playlist is fire! Bringing it back to the old school and the overall experience was definitely a dream come true!! Overall, besides parking which sucks all around, I would definitely come back. Also!! Definitely use a parking app or take public transportation when coming to this venue, it'll save you some money and some stress when it comes to parking. read more

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The Struts and Barns Courtney, what a show! The bands and the crowd really brought their A game tonight! Barns' crowd surf came right by me, I still had a drink in my hand because I was milking a one and done, so I had to put my cup in my teeth and grab a leg , when you see the white boots in the vid I had a leg . Luke from The Struts had a fun crowd sing from within the crowd and was literally standing in front of me at one point. The Riv continues to be a pleasant place to see a show and a good option to get close to your faves. They are working on the bathrooms, there was some construction evident on this date, whether the final product yields a better result is still TBD at this point. \m/ read more

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Love this historical theatre and Uptown gem. Arrive early. It can be hard to find your seats (small font, the seats seem extra close together as though the theatre was built at a time when people were smaller). It seems both like they need to hire more people and that the line management is stellar - a long line at security will move quickly. Bathrooms are downstairs and there are tons of them. If you need parking look to Weiss Memorial Hospital's garage. It's a 10 minute walk and will always have spaces at a decent price. read more

Not ideal for GA. In my experience, they actually ran into capacity issues and couldn't let us into the floor. I recommend purchasing balcony tickets or getting there SUPER early to secure a view worth staying for. Overall, the concert sound quality was fine. Though, I prefer over venues to the Riviera. read more

The Riviera Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'd never been to the Riviera Theater before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd read multiple reviews about the theater before the show and became slightly concerned about what I might encounter there. The reviews I read talked about the ongoing renovations, lack of air conditioning, overcrowding, rude staff, etc. I pushed all that aside and bought tickets anyway because I really wanted to see Tori Kelly. It turns out that all my fears were unfounded. The renovations appeared to have been completed, and the AC worked just fine. In fact, I found it somewhat chilly in the balcony area. The bathrooms were clean, and it had obviously recently remodeled. The security and venue personnel were all pleasant and helpful. We entered and exited the building without incident. My seats were in the rear balcony, Row Q, seat 9-10. The seats are on the aisle, which was amazing. There are only four seats in front of those seats because the rows below our seats are short. (Rows N&O are adjacent to a staircase) Two really tall couples sat in front of us obstructing our view, so we moved a few rows behind row Q. Luckily, the balcony seats weren't sold out. I ended up watching the show in Row T seat 101, which was a fantastic view because there wasn't anyone directly in front of me. The sound was okay. I couldn't understand some of the things Tori said when she spoke, but I heard her okay when she sang. The acoustics could have probably been better, but overall, I have no complaints. I enjoyed the show and would return to the venue. It ended up being a great experience. read more

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JAMES JAMES JAMES JAMES JAMES!!!! Got to see my all-time favorite band last night at the beautiful Riviera Theater and it was spectacular start to finish. Was able to score discounted parking about 5 blocks way, just $10, and it was a quick walk to the theater where there was absolutely NO WAIT to enter. Through Security in a flash! And we were able to find a perfect spot about 20 feet away from the stage in the General Admission area. I believe the event was over-sold as it was literally wall-to-wall people, which made moving around a challenge, so we just stayed put until the end. Bathrooms are newly remodeled and quite clean, like a sleek metal airport bathroom. Bar staff , security team, and merch table staff were awesome, so cool and friendly. The sound, lights, and video were brilliantly managed. The space is stunning, a vintage theatre feel but clean and well-maintained. When we left, there was a lovely couple selling tamales and sodas for just $3 each from a table on the sidewalk, perfect ending to a great night. I loved every minute and can't wait to return for another show. read more

The Riviera Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Standard "old theater." We were in town for a show, and it's pretty normal for these old classic spaces around the US. Bathrooms were fine, just know that they are all the way in the basement. Yes, if it's GA admission you'll want to get in line early before the doors open, but again that's standard, they won't let you into the theater before the doors open haha. I do think that the balcony should be sold by the seat, and leave GA for the floor, it's weird they don't do that, or didn't for our show. I read the reviews before we traveled, and everyone agreed that balcony is the way to go- we got in line two hours early and grabbed seats two rows back from the railing. They were PERFECT. There's a decent number of restaurants nearby if you can spare someone from your party to walk and pick up dinner. (The Mexican restaurant across the street is very good.). Finding a restroom nearby is harder. read more

The Riviera Theater - View of the stage from balcony front center - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The bathrooms are absolutely repulsive. Put a little bit of money into the place for crying out loud. It's fun to see a show there but god help you if you have to go to the can. Pro Tip: grab seats upstairs in the balcony. Downstairs can get super crowded. read more

The Riviera Theater - Backstage at the Riviera - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Experience was fine. Was not there for a concert. My kid performed so did nit have to deal with crowd and concession lines like you do in a concert. Build still beautiful and historic. read more

Went her for a concert and the venue is historic, but could be better maintained. Its old charm is not charming. I am not a fan of concerts where the main floor is standing only. It is hard to see the artist because the floor is the same level. Proof of covid vaccine was required , but it is dependant on the artist. There is a large bar area, and price is $10 per can of beer or cider. Parking can be challenging since it is street parking. The actual concert was very good, but the venue needs updating. read more

Layout of the venue is pretty bad in GA so its pretty hard to get a view of the stage except unless you're near the front. The worst is like the upper middle GA area right below the balcony. The floor is all the same level so basically no one can see anything unless you're at the front. I'm 6 feet tall and I barely got to see the performers on stage. If its a popular performer and at capacity, its packed like sardines and feels very overcrowded. Sound stage: Vocal sound staging is kind of bad. I could barely hear the singers. I was in the front middle of the upper GA area, which it should be the best place to hear a balanced audio mix from the PA system...but all the singers sounded pretty muffled. If I didn't know the lyrics to the songs, I wouldn't be able to make out what they were singing to be honest. read more

Loved seeing Fletcher at The Riviera Theatre last night! The concert was amazing, but the theatre could definitely use some TLC. This was my first show here, and with the proximity to the Aragon Ballroom, I was expecting the venue to be more aligned with it. I'm usually fine with GA standing room venues, but the stage at The Riviera is almost on a downslope, so if you are towards the back there's a good chance you aren't seeing much. Luckily, we had tickets on the balcony which comes with seats and much clearer views of the stage. This is definitely the way to go if you're coming to The Riviera and don't want to deal with being crammed around a bunch of strangers and unable to return to your spot if you want to go grab a drink or use the restroom. On the plus side, there were plenty of bars throughout the space, so no crazy waits for a beverage. I'll definitely come back here to support artists I love, it just isn't my favorite venue in Chicago. The charm is there, just needs a deep cleaning! read more

Never had issue in this theater weather in seat or GA section, plenty of good vantage points from the GA section. Good sound system. Last night we were in the nosebleed section and easy to hear the sound and sound was clear. It is an old venue but it is great!! read more

The Riviera Theater - Drunk couple 1/31/25 at Guster concert who would not be quiet, just kept talking....I don't think they realized they were at a concert. - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was worried after reading the other reviews, but can't say I agree with the harsh criticism. The theater is beautiful. The acoustics are great. This theater was built when they didn't have big sound systems, so it was designed for great sound. I'm 5'2" so I did line up 2 hours early so I could be up front and see. The security was seamless. Yes, there were lines at the merch tables and the bars, but nothing that you had to wait more than 5 minutes for. I would definitely see a show there again. read more

Decent concert venue with clear view of stage, general admission floor area with standing room only. There is as mezzanine seating on the upper level with plenty of sections for those not interested in standing amongst crowd. Bars on each level but drinks are scarce (no red wine and a double shot of cognac was severely underpoured & overcharged... however the facility is super dated and in need of a complete facelift. Also only 1 restroom when check is located on the bottom level so good luck if your up top. C'mon Riviera give the people what we deserve for our dollaz. ~Christy read more

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Overcrowded, not clean, and a nightmare to get in or out of. Good luck waiting on a Uber home! It took us forever just to get out of the venue because of how many people were packed inside. The bathrooms were not clean, either. I didn't have an issue with not being able to see the artist but I guess that was due to having a balcony seat? The show was great and I will always support my favorite artists, no matter the venue. read more

The Riviera Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Listen, I love the Riv for the Chicago icon that it is. I love it for the history, the nostalgic feel you get when you walk into the place. The dim lights, the balcony seats (they are comfy!!!), the location. It all feels like I'm 22 again - alot tipsy, swaying the night away on the main floor while sucking on Bud Lights. But this lovely theater needs an update. It needs the current owner or a new developer to put some time and money into it (plaster, paint, a good thourough cleaning, bathrooms). We don't need it modernized, just cleaner! The staff was awesome when we were there for a show last week, bartenders are friendly and security is legit. read more

What a cool venue. They let us in a little early, which was great due to the rainstorm. Exiting was a little slow as everyone stopped under the covered area right outside the door read more

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Venue was sufficient but very old and very poorly maintained. The bathrooms were the worst I've ever used in Chicago I felt like I wasn't in America. And this is a business! The show was good but I think the concert goers and neighborhood deserve a bit better from the venue! read more

The Riviera Theater - The marquee for the venue - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Oh man this place is bad. I'm tall, and I still could not see aaaaanything from the GA floor area (why are the performers down in, like, a trough??) One bathroom for the whole place and once you finally get through the always-present, long-as-shit line, it's so gross! See pics. And I'm not picky! But I may have contracted some type of VD in that bathroom. You guys - go to Thalia Hall, Lincoln Hall, Old Town School of Folk Music or even House of Blues. Or Metro! Go to Metro! All are so much better. read more

The Riviera Theater - The Horror - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was nice to finally be able or to have an inexcusable reason to revisit as a patron, dj, musician and fan this iconic Chicago legendary venue. (For Example) The first time 'The Beastie Boys' played Chicago it was here at the "Riviera Theatre" I was back in Chicago for a good grip of numerous reason's. It was great to joint to gig at here in Chi. read more

Ahhhh what a tough review. This theater is great and comfortable, but, the layout is awful. They have so many spots reserved for VIP, yet, I've never seen VIP purchase options. So that means you can't get in the front pit so you'll have to stand at the huge really lit bar and not see the artist because of the same leveled floor. Then, if you go upstairs, they close off the front three rows and have to climb up to maybe find a seat. Long story short - get there early or get a shitty view. Plus - bar service is fast. Drink (even beer) come at around $10 a pop. read more

Listen, it genuinely pains me to give any business associated with the arts fewer than 5 stars. But boy howdy, this place sucks. The bathrooms are a filthy pit from hell and most stalls lack toilet paper. Moreover, there is no ventilation and it gets incredibly hot. Not cool for a concert with lots of young people where several people fainted and many had to leave early. read more

The Riviera Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ambience great. Old theatre but great seats anywhere. All staff were kind and welcoming.

Had to leave the Tove Lo concert early. Tove Lo was amazing. The drunk people slamming into me and knocking me onto the floor were the problem. Then when we left after an hour and a half because I was hurt, the worker yelled at me for coming out of the railing because I was getting to safety. Seriously? All the dangerous drunks and you yell at the person trying to get to safety because your venue is dangerous? Sell tickets for different levels or something. This is ridiculous and chaos. This place doesn't care about people. It doesn't care about the performer. It cares about making money. read more

The theatre was decreped and falling apart. We saw a rock concert and as they were playing pieces of paint were falling off the ceiling! You have to go into the basement to use the bathroom, which was barely functioning. The only good thing about the theatre were the staff. Also that it didn't burn down with us inside! 2/10 would not recommend. read more

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The place was awesome for a small concert venue. Seating is only on the upper level. Lower level is general admission. Great ambience! Only downfall are the Drinks they can be pricy. read more

The Riviera Theater - Maldita Vecindad concert - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great atmosphere, general admission tickets are good on upper level to be able to see more, ladies restroom was very nice & clean. Parking lot nearby was convenient. Would definitely return to see Midland!! read more

I went to the Riviera theatre to see Mac DeMarco. The show was excellent. The theatre needs some repair work. I've been going to the Riv for years to see bands. Particularly I would love to see the bathrooms updated. Parking is also a bit tricky. The Aargon Ballroom is nearby and I think the two compete for limited street parking. The bartenders were very sweet and helpful and the drinks were a good price. I really hope they don't sell out to Live Nation because the prices will sky rocket. All in all not a bad experience tickets prices are still pretty decent too and they get some pretty good acts. read more

I love this size of venue. I love the gal who works at the box office/list area. I love the bartenders. But the security dude always sitting on the front right of the stage is incredibly rude and sexist. I am always uncomfortable and dread going to this venue as a result. If you attend and are standing near the front, I'd recommend staying on left side. He's chatted with his friends instead of handing out water to dehydrated fans and has consistently been disrespectful to myself and the other women nearby every time I've attended. Even the other employees have mentioned how problematic he is and sympathized with us. Riviera, please do something about his behavior. read more

What a dump! Use the toilet before you go to the Riviera. There's about three toilets in the whole place. If you want to see the band you'll need to wait in line til the doors open and make a dash for the front. Otherwise, only buy balcony tickets because you can't see the stage from the back of the main floor. This place is a total rat infested shithole that needs to be torn down. read more

The building needs tremendous upgrades, but some of the artist they showcase are great. It wouldn't hurt either if parking was easy to find as well. read more

The Riviera Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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