Classic concert venues on the west side of Chicago hosting internationally renowned acts to local performers. Very cool bar sitting at the back of the stage floor. A raised upper floor also allows more patrons to pack themselves in for a show. The bathroom graffiti and stickers are the best!
NicoleHerbert
We had a fun night of live music, good venue and atmosphere.
Fabian Perez
Easy to find, good side pizza front, great music. Got to enjoy Billy Joel Jr. perform for 90 minutes
Talia Reo
small and chill venue with fair drink prices. Love the free Mondays. Sound is quite good too.
Drew Stewart
My favorite bar, and my favorite music venue. Independently.
Alan Reyes
Get rid of the mosh police - completely unnecessary. Want to book punk shows? Ok, then let people have fun.
joseluis coria
The place I was looking for, nice vibe 😏
Joe Szymanski
The empty bottle is a good place to see a show.The service was good.Dribks are a bit expensive.If you are looking for a small intimate place I would definitely recommend.
Elisabeth Purkis
Had a blast watching Side Hug's album debut show: New Language. Great sounds, cool people, chill vibes.
Liv Shifflett
I have never experienced a venue with as many disrespectful patrons as the empty bottle, and lack of staff involvement surrounding that was just as— if not more disappointing. Couldn't even enjoy the show because the sheer volume of the people crowded around the bar was enough to drown out the performance. Again, incredibly disrespectful for people wanting to attend a show as well as the artists. big justice would give this place 0 big booms.
It's iconic for a good damn reason. Staff has always been kind and friendly. Sound is consistently good, and they have a decent NA selection!
elijahdprophet
Best venue in the city
Charles Nadolski
Dracula's Halloween Special 2025 at the Empty Bottle, featuring Sindy Vicious, More Ephemerol, Ronnie Stone, and Madeline Goldstein. The venue is cozy, and was decorated in a spooky analog horror vibe. Great, dramatic lighting that didn't try to blind you with lasers. The music was dark wave and synthpop, mixed in with some stand-up from Dracula and dance acts from Sindy Vicious.
Sophie Mason
It’s the kind of place where you can catch incredible up-and-coming bands one night and seasoned indie legends the next. The sound quality is excellent for such an intimate space, and the atmosphere is pure rock-and-roll — raw, unpolished, and full of energy. Drinks are affordable, the lighting sets the perfect underground vibe, and the crowd is always lively and diverse. It’s a place that celebrates real music and creativity without the pretension, making every show feel like a genuine Chicago experience.
Jake Embrey
Went for a gig and there was a measly performative (prepubescent?) guy managing the door, I saw him deny entry to a 30-year old tonight because his ID was expired. Thank god! I would hate to see the law broken, and even more, I would feel unsafe in the presence of someone not possessing physical identification. God bless you, hall monitor! Salut!
Classic concert venues on the west side of Chicago hosting internationally renowned acts to local performers. Very cool bar sitting at the back of the stage floor. A raised upper floor also allows more patrons to pack themselves in for a show. The bathroom graffiti and stickers are the best!
We had a fun night of live music, good venue and atmosphere.
Easy to find, good side pizza front, great music. Got to enjoy Billy Joel Jr. perform for 90 minutes
small and chill venue with fair drink prices. Love the free Mondays. Sound is quite good too.
My favorite bar, and my favorite music venue. Independently.
Get rid of the mosh police - completely unnecessary. Want to book punk shows? Ok, then let people have fun.
The place I was looking for, nice vibe 😏
The empty bottle is a good place to see a show.The service was good.Dribks are a bit expensive.If you are looking for a small intimate place I would definitely recommend.
Had a blast watching Side Hug's album debut show: New Language. Great sounds, cool people, chill vibes.
I have never experienced a venue with as many disrespectful patrons as the empty bottle, and lack of staff involvement surrounding that was just as— if not more disappointing. Couldn't even enjoy the show because the sheer volume of the people crowded around the bar was enough to drown out the performance. Again, incredibly disrespectful for people wanting to attend a show as well as the artists. big justice would give this place 0 big booms.
Restaurantji Recommends
It's iconic for a good damn reason. Staff has always been kind and friendly. Sound is consistently good, and they have a decent NA selection!
Best venue in the city
Dracula's Halloween Special 2025 at the Empty Bottle, featuring Sindy Vicious, More Ephemerol, Ronnie Stone, and Madeline Goldstein. The venue is cozy, and was decorated in a spooky analog horror vibe. Great, dramatic lighting that didn't try to blind you with lasers. The music was dark wave and synthpop, mixed in with some stand-up from Dracula and dance acts from Sindy Vicious.
It’s the kind of place where you can catch incredible up-and-coming bands one night and seasoned indie legends the next. The sound quality is excellent for such an intimate space, and the atmosphere is pure rock-and-roll — raw, unpolished, and full of energy. Drinks are affordable, the lighting sets the perfect underground vibe, and the crowd is always lively and diverse. It’s a place that celebrates real music and creativity without the pretension, making every show feel like a genuine Chicago experience.
Went for a gig and there was a measly performative (prepubescent?) guy managing the door, I saw him deny entry to a 30-year old tonight because his ID was expired. Thank god! I would hate to see the law broken, and even more, I would feel unsafe in the presence of someone not possessing physical identification. God bless you, hall monitor! Salut!
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