The scant few moments we spent in the main bar were perfectly nice, but the backroom was absolutely the selling point for me, personally. Really, really cool place that garners an awesome crowd. It was especially great because, as a trans man, I often feel alienated from these parts of my community, but everyone was totally chill and respectful, not to mention a lottttt of fun ;) I will absolutely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Zach McHardy
Not your typical gay bar, Cell Block caters more towards those of us in the bdsm/leather community. Drinks are decently priced and the staff are very friendly. The back bar area is lots of adult fun but up front you also have darts and pool. If I lived in town, this would be my regular hangout for sure.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Dave Buga-ay
Cell Block is that girl if you’re looking for a safe space to let loose, dance, and get a little fiecy (you know the vibe 😉). The energy here is unmatched and I’ve met amazing people every time, and the bartenders always keep the drinks flowing. Special shoutout to Andrew at clothes check and security for being so kind and making the whole experience feel extra welcoming.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marc G
Small, expensive, not good. $20 cover.
Atmosphere: 1
Kristofer Littleton
The best part of boystown. Cheaper drinks and fun in the back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jesse Ford
Visited during Chicago Pride weekend with some local friends who were showing me around. We tried to pop into Cell Block, but as we entered we were met by a large man in a harness who, rather than speaking, opted for a silent performance art piece involving sausage-fingered gestures toward the exit.
I politely explained I was visiting from the UK, didn’t remember to carry my physical ID on me (because I haven’t needed it to enter a bar for well over a decade), and asked if a photo ID would do. Not a word — just another Jabba-style finger wave toward the door.
I get it — rules are rules — but there's a difference between enforcing them and acting like a bouncer in a silent film. Especially when another bar nearby, doing the exact same checks, had no issue looking at my photo ID, asking my year of birth, and actually using their words like a normal human being.
Shame really — the bar might’ve been great, but I wouldn’t know.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Emmanuel Hernandez
There's no food but definitely a great vibe with nice people but there's an angry troll bartender in the back bar that needs to get a reality check but other then that mess every thing is great!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
K
don't go here if you're a woman they will be veryyyy snippy with you. Thought they would be welcoming to everyone, guess not
Service: 1
Jeremy McChesney
i had a good night. however not to management the back bathroom floor was terribly slippery & i fell hard & hurt my knee tonight!
Great gay bar. Darts, pool, porn, great DJ’s. Cool place to have a few beers with the boys. VERY adult.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Darian Harvey
The bartender charged my card an extra 10 dollars as a tip wen I left the bar and I had already given them a cash tip I would not use my card here there committing fraud and I will be reporting them to the better business bureau
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Blau Panda
I always have a nice time here! The back bar is my fovorite... don't bother if it's not open; only because the 'front bar only' guys are very clicky... but in back, everybody is friendly and good... i'm coming from milwaukee, and the gay scene in milwaukee is one of the most Toxic in the whole of the united states... i stopped going out to the gay bars in milwaukee because their attitude here is very immature and hateful... if you are not the exact same as them; a clone, then you will be 100% ostracized... but at Cell Block i am treated like a hunan being... i was just there on saturday, and it felt so good to be talked to, and looked at, and interacted with... i forgot what that was like here in wisconsin hell... thank you cell block for being what you are... 🤗
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Joe Lannan
Bartenders are cool. Clientele is diverse. Something for everyone. Front is chill, welcoming, and plenty to do. Back is fun and worth the visit at least once. More if it’s your thing!
No couches
The scant few moments we spent in the main bar were perfectly nice, but the backroom was absolutely the selling point for me, personally. Really, really cool place that garners an awesome crowd. It was especially great because, as a trans man, I often feel alienated from these parts of my community, but everyone was totally chill and respectful, not to mention a lottttt of fun ;) I will absolutely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Not your typical gay bar, Cell Block caters more towards those of us in the bdsm/leather community. Drinks are decently priced and the staff are very friendly. The back bar area is lots of adult fun but up front you also have darts and pool. If I lived in town, this would be my regular hangout for sure.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Cell Block is that girl if you’re looking for a safe space to let loose, dance, and get a little fiecy (you know the vibe 😉). The energy here is unmatched and I’ve met amazing people every time, and the bartenders always keep the drinks flowing. Special shoutout to Andrew at clothes check and security for being so kind and making the whole experience feel extra welcoming.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Small, expensive, not good. $20 cover.
Atmosphere: 1
The best part of boystown. Cheaper drinks and fun in the back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Visited during Chicago Pride weekend with some local friends who were showing me around. We tried to pop into Cell Block, but as we entered we were met by a large man in a harness who, rather than speaking, opted for a silent performance art piece involving sausage-fingered gestures toward the exit.
I politely explained I was visiting from the UK, didn’t remember to carry my physical ID on me (because I haven’t needed it to enter a bar for well over a decade), and asked if a photo ID would do. Not a word — just another Jabba-style finger wave toward the door.
I get it — rules are rules — but there's a difference between enforcing them and acting like a bouncer in a silent film. Especially when another bar nearby, doing the exact same checks, had no issue looking at my photo ID, asking my year of birth, and actually using their words like a normal human being.
Shame really — the bar might’ve been great, but I wouldn’t know.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
There's no food but definitely a great vibe with nice people but there's an angry troll bartender in the back bar that needs to get a reality check but other then that mess every thing is great!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
don't go here if you're a woman they will be veryyyy snippy with you. Thought they would be welcoming to everyone, guess not
Service: 1
i had a good night. however not to management the back bathroom floor was terribly slippery & i fell hard & hurt my knee tonight!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Great gay bar. Darts, pool, porn, great DJ’s. Cool place to have a few beers with the boys. VERY adult.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
The bartender charged my card an extra 10 dollars as a tip wen I left the bar and I had already given them a cash tip I would not use my card here there committing fraud and I will be reporting them to the better business bureau
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I always have a nice time here! The back bar is my fovorite... don't bother if it's not open; only because the 'front bar only' guys are very clicky... but in back, everybody is friendly and good...
i'm coming from milwaukee, and the gay scene in milwaukee is one of the most Toxic in the whole of the united states... i stopped going out to the gay bars in milwaukee because their attitude here is very immature and hateful... if you are not the exact same as them; a clone, then you will be 100% ostracized... but at Cell Block i am treated like a hunan being... i was just there on saturday, and it felt so good to be talked to, and looked at, and interacted with... i forgot what that was like here in wisconsin hell...
thank you cell block for being what you are... 🤗
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Bartenders are cool. Clientele is diverse. Something for everyone. Front is chill, welcoming, and plenty to do. Back is fun and worth the visit at least once. More if it’s your thing!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rude staff, weak drinks, avoid at all cost!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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