Second Story Bar in Chicago

I always stop in here for a (strong) drink when I am visiting the city. The people are friendly and unpretentious and it’s a great, small, cozy place to just take a break and relax for a while and meet some nice guys.

Lived in Chicago for two years down town and was so happy to find this bar. I'm a layed back blue collar raised BM and the Gentry wasn't my speed glad to see the bar is still there.

Spent about 20 mins here and totally hated it. I tried talking with the bartender and only got grunts and side-looks. Still can't believe I tipped. The place itself is a claustrophobic nightmare. Head on over to Sidetrack or Progress bar for a great night. Much better, in my opinion.

A friend recommended this bar several years ago and I went to see what it was all about. That first visit wasn't the best. The bar was extremely crowded (at 5pm on a Tuesday!!) and no one spoke to me. When I visited Chicago again a few months later I decided to give it another try. What a difference! I got there earlier and secured a seat right at the bar and made sure I was a part of conversations. It was amazing! I love an old-style bar like this where people actually want to talk! I now make this place the first thing I do on every trip to Chicago! I get into town, drop off my bags at the hotel/airbnb and head right for the Second Story bar! It's a great way to begin ANY vacation in the Windy City! I will be there in a few weeks and can't wait to be back there!!

The place is fun and the music are good, unfortunately the bar tender is rude and looks high or something. Me and my friends decide to give it a “second chance” yesterday but at the end it was frustrating wait 20 min for a beer because the bartender it was in a bad mood. I asked for the manager but the other employees couldn’t reach it.

Great place! Wonderful staff and the customers were great too! Will definitely come back again!

Intimate, lively, busy. It's a small, historic bar! Be ready for a little bit of a wait, it's worth it.

Probably the friendliest environment I've been in at a Gay bar Happy Hour in a very long time. Glad I found you guys.

Let's be honest, this place is a very small dive... and it's great! I have never felt so welcome or found a warmer community.

The tiny bar had a great atmosphere and strong drinks!

Glad I visited this little bar. It was very friendly and not pretentious. I felt welcomed by both the staff and patrons.

Found this place on a fluke during a visit this last weekend. Not in the club scene and just wanted a place to have a drink. Was a great bar, friendly staff and patrons. Cash only so that is the biggest draw back but there is an ATM on the way up the stairs. A little hard to find but that adds to the charm. I will go back on future visits to Chicago.

It’s kind of a dive but the drinks are affordable and strong! Lots of visitors from out of town and great for the 25 and up crowd. CASH ONLY but you can walk half a block east to 7-Eleven to use the ATM there.

Always a good reception. A- Holes don't stay long. Lots of comerady, guys don't stand for S**t. You're either nice to your neighbor or you're sitting by yourself drowning in you own sorrow.

Great little hole in the wall - but don't blink when you walk by, you'll miss a great time

Nice small dive gay bar. Cash only :/ Mostly a lot of visitors from out of town that are staying nearby downtown.

This place is a small (official capacity 36), sort of old-style bar. There's dirty red carpeting leading from the street to the bar, which indeed occupies space on the "second story" of a building. As others note, there's no pretentiousness here. The crowd was maybe 75% mid-30s and up and maybe 75% white. Despite the perhaps-relatively-high percentage it just felt as though there was a good mix of guys there (and maybe two women). There are a couple of video monitors with music and videos from a period of many years playing. The drinks are good. What else can I say?

Their doorman could benefit from some serious customer service training. Place was packed and people seemed to be having fun but we couldn't get over the tone he set. We turned around to leave and received a hand in the air, roll of the head and snide comment on our way out.

We are Stright. This bar is Awesome. May me feel right at home. Nice atmosphere. Funny Bartender.

Great gay dive bar just off of Michigan Avenue. Good drinks with great bartenders. They will take care of you.This is a cash only establishment.

It is small and i guess it's a bit of a dive but if you just want to grab a quick drink with a friend away from the crowds before you part and venture out for the nght it fits the bill.

Small neighborhood tavern. Always great drinks at a fair price

Not so friendly as I was hoping. I asked for a vodka and sprite and a very rude waiter answered 'we don't have that drink'. What's that about? Very sbruot. I then then into ask if they served Vodla, yes, and something like Sprite? To which he answered 7UP or ginger beer. He was clearly bothered about something. Shame as it's the only gay bar in the area and my first experience of a gay bar in Chicago. No need to come back here anytime soon. Bye Second Rated Bar.

Chill, laid back, private setting. Can get crowded sometimes, otherwise very chill

It's a cool bar but I felt some masculine-only vibe. Doesn't felt like a place where being sissy would be welcome. But it could have been only my own impression.

Best bang for your buck. And Zach behind the bar will make your Wednesday and Friday nights amazing. Watch out for the stairs!

I've been here several times when visiting Chicago over the years. This time, I was very disappointed. Through the years, I've had great experiences at Second Story. Based on that, I took two of my girlfriends there for their first gay bar experience. The bartender was great and poured a good drink. There was an employee, however, who was quite ride to me and my friends.

Cash only. Fun time.

Been to this place many times. I took some straight family members with me after dinner last night. Bartender pretty much ignored us. I tipped way too much and he was still ignoring us. Left after two drinks. Would have stayed all night! Every other time the bartenders were great!. Not last night!

Cute little bar with great atmosphere. Cash only with friendly staff. Went with my girlfriend so everyone is welcome!

Would have received 5 stars, except for the self-styled "bouncer" who made no effort to identify himself before launching into a tirade about how he should never be ignored again. Don't worry, I won't be back. Despite the great service and very friendly patrons and bartender.

This was the worst experience of Chicago. We came here upbeat for one of my friends and the staff was absolutely brutal, nasty and rude. Don’t ever go here, the bar was fine but the staff was unbelievably rude and low class. Pathetic.

This is my favorite bars in Chicago. It is right off Michigan Ave. It is a dive bar but the owner, staff and people are very friendly. If you enjoy smaller more intimate settings. I highly recommend this place!

Love it.... low key get away. Great friendly atmosphere

A little bar tucked up on the second floor of a walk-up building on Ohio Street. Lively crowd, fun bartenders and really well crafted drinks. Great place to stop by after work for a little libation and good conversation.

We are out of towners. We arrive and are greeted by all the staff. Dakota was so friendly, he even bought us a shot for our anniversary. Would highly recommend this cozy hole in the wall!!

We stop in here whenever we're in Chicago. It's small, friendly and a lot of fun. We always leave with a buzz and a smile.

Visited this tiny drinking spot with a friend who goes regularly and swears by this place. I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere. This alternative LBGT bar is super cozy and friendly. There is no other bar in this area pouring drinks like this place at a below market price. I wish I could keep this little place to myself but that wouldn't be fair to the owners of Second Story. Go spend your money here and dance like no one is watching.

This cute little dive bar is the perfect place to sneak away in the middle of one if America’s biggest cities. The space can only hold about 40 people but it has cheap drinks and is right off Michigan Ave. If I lived in Chicago I would visit it often.

Relatively cheap gay bar. Having to go up a flight of stairs to enter makes it seem like a speakeasy -- very exciting!

Most unwelcoming bar I've ever been too, and I'm from NY. Walking in it looked closed, I asked the bartender several times if he was closing until a girl mockingly repeated me then he answered "I guess not" they had no red bull for mixers (no energy drinks) the drink I ordered tasted awful, I gave it to my friend to drink and he gagged (pretty sure it was cheap vodka in the Absolute bottle) when my friend complained, the bartender acted like he was underage and I was buying him drinks!!!!!! We are both in our mid 30s!!! Then we decided to just leave because the vibe was awful, on the way out the bartender called my friend TPain. Stay classy Second Story. BTW my bedroom is bigger than your musty, broke down bar. I would never recommend this place.

I have always had a good time here. And it's quaint enough so you can actually talk and get to know people. I love this place. The staff is always nice and because it's downtown, you get to meet people from all over. And i feel their prices for drinks aren't ridiculous.

My favorite bar, great bartenders, great staff, great, powerful drinks!!! Many really nice and gregarious patrons!!!

Strong drinks! Tiny bar but so much fun! Nice people :)

Almost certain I was drugged here. Not by the bartenders but by a patron. Watch your drinks!

This place is very cool: it looks like it was frozen in carbonite right after Han Solo, and only recently thawed, revealing an intact 1970's decor. It is very small though: I was here with a large group, and it was already crowded.

If you're looking for quick a place to meet up friends in the city this hole in the wall has it. On the second floor you'll find a small space that can get quite packed. Everyone is fun. From the retail queens to the executives, you never know who you'll meet. Definitely stay if Zach is bartending. CASH ONLY.

Nothing fancy but convenient. Friendly place steps away from the busy Miracle Mile. Relaxed and unpretentious.

Friendly local bar. Stiff drinks. Unbeatable prices. Swing by while visiting the Mag mile. It's like a gay CHEERS.Be sure to bring your drinking money. Cash only and there is no ATM. But it's worth the trip to check it out.

Wow. A neat little place. Had no idea what was in store as we walked up the stairs. Really cozy bar with a nice mix of patrons.