Smartbar

Smart Bar has always been the place where people go to dance. Low-posh venue where you won't be judged by your dusty Vans or less-than-solid twerk. Don't expect to get a cocktail, their bars are not stocked for anything above a basic mixed drink. Don't really bother to smile when ordering, it will rarely be reciprocated. Some DJs who open must feel they are not there to entertain you. They will spin their almost impossible to bear tracks until none buy a few sway side to side on the dancefloor. Note to DJs here: please read your audience. You will see and you will feel it when your music is good. Don't settle for dead looking faces, and lazy moves - do better!

With all that said - Smart Bar still deserves 4 stars. Why? Because their patrons refuse to give up and will keep on dancing! Smart Bar - we need you.

Since my original review was removed / censored - I'm providing a high level review of this establishment. I witnessed a sexual act on the dance floor at Queen! on Sunday 10/22 (in addition to rampant drug use). This was clearly "SA". As a globally recognized establishment and not some non regulated underground warehouse party. I bought a ticket and am a lifelong supporter of the house music scene for 30 years. I've never seen anything like what I did that evening!!!!!

I am sad that I no longer feel safe visiting this establishment. This venue used to be my favorite when I lived in the Chicago area 20 years ago and I'm disappointed that I'll miss out on many epic DJs in the future but when you experience trauma, you don't want to go through it again. Also, the gender neutral bathroom are filthy and smelled like poop. I shouldn't have to see bare asses in order to wash my hands and look in the mirror.

As others have stated the security at this establishment are rude to the max and they will steal your money.

We bought 10 tickets for a group of people attending Queen. One of our friends wasn't allowed in because he had eye drops - literally just eye drops because he was wearing colored contact lenses that get dried out easily. They told him to throw the eye drops away, which he did, and then after throwing the drops away and attempting to walk in the security guard literally pushed him physically in a very offensive and abusive way, and told him "No, go out!"

It was a group of 10 of us and obviously after our friend being denied entry for no reason, we asked for our money back. The bouncer rudely refused so we asked for a Manager. When the Manager came out, he was not helpful at all and refused to give us our money back and just told us we should "sell our tickets." I do understand they may have issues with people sneaking drugs in, but my friend first of all offered to pour the solution in his eye to prove there were no drugs, and secondly threw them away when asked, so there was no reason to deny him entry. We even asked them to call the police and let them test to prove there were no drugs of any kind, it was just a tiny bottle of eye drops. In total we spent over $200 and they refused to give us any compensation whatsoever.

As someone that attended Queen as well as well as other Smart Bar events for years, I will never go back because of the extremely rude security guards. I should mention my friend was Asian, and I do agree with others that for a supposedly LGBTQ+ establishment they treat people of color very rudely. While they may have stolen $200 from us, they lost way more than that because we would have easily spent way more than that if we had been allowed entry into the bar, not to mention the fact none of us will set foot inside in the venue again.

I'd strongly urge anyone looking for a good time to pick a different venue, unless you want to be falsely accused of having drugs and have your money stolen.

By far the greatest place to see a band in possibly the world. Everything on the planet changes but The Metro remains the same. I do not think anything has changed in thirty years I have been going there. The sound is amazing. The place is always packed. I just saw Rise Against there and the show was unbelievable. There is nothing like seeing a show at the Metro.

Security guards on a power tip or summm. so they gave me a tour of the place to see if I wanted to pay cover $$ I forgot I had a nooner in my pocket, the short guy said I gotta throw it out as we were about to it to go in.... so I took one sip and tossed as any normal person would .. he's like naw you're done talk gotta go lmfaoooo okay baby boy. Short man syndrome stopping them from getting money as I see from previous reviews too.

An actual SCAM. They took $20 per person as a cover charge on a Sunday night, then immediately kicked us out and refused to issue a refund. We paid over $100 for nothing. They said two members of our group were intoxicated, which apparently is why they felt justified in TAKING OUR MONEY FOR NOTHING BUT INSTANTLY AND RUDELY ESCORTING US OUT. They might as well have just mugged us. That would have been more pleasant than the hospitality we received from this establishment.

Trash service. Buy a ticket and still have to wait in line? Been in line for more than an hour. Metro needs to get it together.

Had one good time here. Ever since, it has been mid at best. Otherwise dont come if you're a woman they will assume ur messed up if youre even mildly drunk. Mind you this place has nothing exceptional about it.

Staff is not only incompetent but actively targets individuals who they deem not "the crowd" of the
bar. Was taken out of bar for no reason except a with no actual excuse that has nothing to do with me. Do yourself a favor and never attend a event here if you are above the age of 30. You will be targeted and discriminated against. This place deserves a 0 star but that's not possible . Not a safe space for queer individuals despite hosting queer events.

Smart Bar remains a true work horse for Chicago House music! This is the home of creative nights like Queen! On Sundays, and hosting internationally known DJ's till 5 AM!
Many people may be turned off by the predominantly House music vibe, but if you are a true dance music lover, you will fall in love with Smart Bar.
Keep in mind, you probably will never hear Maluma, Drake, or whatever other top 40 hit maker you hear at the suburban nightclubs (isn't that an oxymoron?) or the downtown megaclubs. Additionally, you probably won't find the suburban "Saturday night" Limo crew headed in hammered from the 'burbs, and you may have to actually be respectful toward other human beings of various beliefs. If you have an open mind and simply wanna dance without judgement, come on in.