The Hideout

1354 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, USA

Address:	1354 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
Phone:	+1 773-227-4433
Site:	hideoutchicago.com
Rating:	4.6
Working:	5PM–2AM 5PM–2AM 4PM–2AM 4PM–2AM 4PM–2AM 7PM–3AM Closed

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 6

Chicago Bar Bracket

The Hideout is not a bar you’ll find on accident, nor is it one that you’ll accidentally forget. Our group ended up at The Hideout as part of the Chicago Bar Bracket - an NCAA tournament style bracket to find the best bar in Chicago. Without this endeavor I don’t think any of us would have ever stumbled upon this gem that this been in operation since the 1890’s. Yes, that even includes Prohibition, and no, they weren’t a speakeasy. Apparently they just kept operating as a bar as if Prohibition wasn’t even a thing. So Chicago. Once you figure out where the bar is, ignore it’s somewhat industrial neighborhood, and stop caring about the fact that it looks like an average tied house with an Old Style sign out front, you’ll find a damn good bar. The cocktails we had didn’t blow us away, but they did have a house cocktail which managed to get us a bit buzzed after one of them, the Wooden Leg: Rye, soda, lemon & bitters. Also, Lawrence, the bartender, in addition to being a good guy to chat with was also very knowledgeable about the beers on tap. I had already tried every one of them on previous occasions, but still enjoyed him giving us the rundown on the beers and it seemed like he was well suited to help someone find what they like. Unfortunately we weren’t there late enough for a show, but fortunately they had a pretty legit and relaxed patio with a couple of picnic tables. That was great because even though the inside was fine it might have been a hair too divey to hang out inside without a crowd there yet. Overall the bar was a great experience and very relaxed. The service was great & I even noticed the Bartender adjusting the volume of the music as he noticed our group is in more of a conversational mood. Definitely my sort of dive bar, and definitely worth going out of the way for. I’ll for sure make an effort to come back to the bar for a show - hopefully for the bartender’s band, The Lawrence Peters Outfit. As for how it fared in it’s Chicago Bar Bracket matchup against Delilah’s, unfortunately, The Hideout fell just short because Delilah’s bartenders made some killer cocktails.

John Carlee

Went to a show here last night (5/30/13) to see Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps. We took a couple buses from Lakeview with no problem - this place is definitely appropriately named. Getting off the 72 at North and Throop, you walk through an industrial park that is a bit sketchy when the sun is down. Though, this added to the mystique of the joint and helps give the name its meaning. As you walk up, you are greeted with a nice outdoor patio that is lively with what seemed like regulars - hipster/hippie types. The front bar area has a dive-y feel, very welcoming. My eyes went straight for the chalkboard beer menus - on tap they had: Gumballhead, Little Sumpin, Trumer Pils, Cross of Gold, Oberon, Bridgeport IPA maybe a few others. All draft beer was $5, a totally fair price for Chicago and other cans/bottles hover between $3-$6 depending on quality. Bar service was a little slow and snotty, but nothing to get up in arms about. As you order drinks, the double doors to the stage will open and close a few times, giving you a glimpse into whomever is on stage at the time. The separation of bar and stage is done very well and the music is not intrusive to the bar area. As you walk into the performance room, you are greeted with a wooden basement feel - Christmas lights on the ceiling, big swordfish and other marine life mounted on the walls, and a classy "The Hideout" sign just above the stage. You really cant beat the feel and drink prices here. I hope I have an excuse to come back!

Zach Stuckmann

The Hideout feels like a small summer camp rec hall converted into a hip speakeasy by night. I truly enjoyed this place, however the bar tab minimum was a pretty shocking $20. The bar, which was crowded, was the only pathway connecting their music room to the outside world, but this is not unique to The Hideout as this is a shared trait at similar locations like Coles Bar and Beat Kitchen. The location makes it feel like its not just called The Hideout, but that it actually is one sitting across from the parking lot of some of Chicagos garbage trucks, with the Chicago skyline lingering over it. Once the river of squirming customers pushed me downstream to the front doors I realized you could take your drinks outside to their front patio, which was pretty enjoyable despite it just being some tables set up on the sidewalk. The live music continues to play through two mounted speakers outside as well. The music room is dressed front to back with strings of lights and warm bulbs that act as the overhead lighting for most of the room. Contrary to a handful of Chicago music venues, which leave your ears shrieking in pain from the awful acoustics and sound EQ, this place had all of the bands sounding really wonderful (even if they were belting into the mics and thrashing their keyboards and guitars) and clear from any point in the room.

James Geiger

"Keep walking," my friend said, "Itll seem like youre going no where, but that means youre almost there." The Hideout is really in the middle of nowhere. That might turn some people off, but if thats a problem for you, then this bar is probably not your taste. An isolated little joint, The Hideout is a bar where your inner hipster will feel right at home . The crowd is very eclectic and not really your typical yuppie group that you might see just east of around Goose Island.The beer selection is not too shabby and the prices are deece. My biggest hangup was the fact that there was only 1 bartender working, so getting a drink took a while and you had to do the awkward "were you here first?" with the other people trying to get their order in. Heads up: There is a $10 minimum for card purchases, Side note: I went on bingo night, and the two announcers were better than even the best episodes of Portlandia. Seriously, I dont think I laughed that hard in a while.

Nick Obis

The Hideout is one of those intimate clubs that seems to always maintain its laid back, low key vibe, even for sold out, high profile shows. Its a perfect venue for singers like Kelly Hogan and Nora OConnor, but I love that they also get creative with, for instance, recent residency programs with International Contemporary Ensemble, Chicago Film Archives, and Theater Oobleck, or Robbie Fulks open-ended Monday night residency, where he tries out ideas like a tribute to Lou Reed with actor Michael Shannon. The draft beer menu is reliable and well-priced, the staff is friendly, the owners are wonderful, and theres something to check out -- music, comedy, spoken word -- every night of the week. A true Chicago gem.

John Schmitt

Love this joint. Id give it five stars if it was in just about any other Midwestern city, but Chicago is easily the best city in the Midwest for live music and music venues, and its easily in the top three cities in the whole country for such things. So, since The Hideout has so much excellent competition in Chicago, it only gets four stars, as venues like Metro, Lincoln Hall, Double Door, etc., get five stars. But this place has an awesome vibe. The atmosphere is excellent: tiny place with a cool front bar; the live room is in the back and is similar to the live rooms at Beat Kitchen & Schubas, albeit a bit smaller than those joints, but its a great place to see smaller bands as well as just to hang out.