Open List Home > Chicago, IL > bars grills & pubs > The Sidetrack
Free Freight on orders over $250. Huge selection, great pricing.
Custom gourmet baskets & bottles. Gift wrapped with a message card.
The polished metal facade gives way to a dark, warm interior lit by wall sconces and video screens. There's a room here for every mood, from the dimly lit front and back areas to the sunny, loft-like "glass...
citysearch.com - expert review - 06/16/2004
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
This bar is freaking huge! I love the interior - very fresh and classy. The drinks are not bad as well. It's a fantastic place to chill. Apparently there's a rooftop deck. I gotta check it out next…
yelp.com - user review - 06/16/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Where else can I dance to "America" & sing along to "White Boys"? Sidetracks. That's where.
yelp.com - user review - 05/28/2008
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
My opinion of Sidetrack keeps changing... The first few times I was there, I really enjoyed it. The space is amazing: it's really gigantic, with at least four different rooms, each of which has it's…
yelp.com - user review - 05/22/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Love Sidetrack! It's my favorite gay bar because I can even bring my straight guy friends and they don't feel uncomfortable! Huge and gorgeous! And Thursday comedy night is great for after work with…
yelp.com - user review - 05/16/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is the ONLY place to go! The guys are hot and the music is awesome! I moved here from Georgia and we didn't have ANYTHING like this place. Its clean and modern and the people working are really…
yelp.com - user review - 05/15/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
The only problem I have w/ this place is that every time I go here I get sooo frustrated that all I can do is look and not touch...and it proves me right once again that ALL the good-looking guys…
yelp.com - user review - 05/15/2008
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
I asked if they had a cover one night and they informed me that they never have a cover. Which is a bit unusual for a bar bigger than a broom closet in Boys Town. When I went in I discovered that it…
yelp.com - user review - 05/05/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I recently had my first night "out" in Boystown (oh, ha, let the stupid gay jokes from suburban Kansas girl begin). To break me in, my friends took me to Sidetrack, and I'm looking forward to many…
yelp.com - user review - 05/04/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This place is awesome. And their slushy drinks are to die for. For some reason, I am always stumbling out of here. Their drinks must be killer. I only order the slushies and I usually get the purple…
yelp.com - user review - 04/26/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I enjoy pretty much everything about this bar. The layout is great and spacious. The drinks are fantastically strong (I mean why bother with weak drinks?), and the music makes me want to bust a move.…
yelp.com - user review - 04/23/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Maybe I'm biased because my boi-friend Big John (the tall, hot one) works the door here... but if I'm gonna bother with the whole Boystown scene, I may as well come here, because I can usually get a…
yelp.com - user review - 04/21/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetrack is fun. Cheap drinks, good staff (they weren't assy, unlike some clubs I've been to), and it's very pretty inside for the casualness. Maybe it's because my last few club experiences were…
yelp.com - user review - 04/20/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
This evening I met my friend at Sidetrack for show tune night! So much fun....I think every bar needs a show tune night! A little grease, rent, & some judy garland...doesn't get much better than that!…
yelp.com - user review - 04/20/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
One of my favorite bars. Don't go out drinking very much, so when I do I want to make sure that it's a place that is welcoming, enjoyable atmosphere, and reasonable priced. You will get all of that…
yelp.com - user review - 04/17/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
This place is HUGE! A casual bar/club with a very diverse mix of people. I'm not sure if I actually had a drink here... I might have already had a few too many to have one more!
yelp.com - user review - 04/13/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
There's a broken heart for every queer at Sidetrack... The first time I came here, a couple of decades ago, it was Showtune night. As I walked in the door, a clip from "Oklahoma" was playing, and the…
yelp.com - user review - 04/13/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
The size alone is impressive, and they've done a great job making the place look nice. (Thank God they took down the Greco-Roman themed stuff they had up last year--it just didn't go with the sleek…
yelp.com - user review - 04/02/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
by far the best gay bar in Chicago!!!
yelp.com - user review - 03/28/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I'm a straight girl, but this is one of my favorite clubs in Boystown! The bartenders are friendly, the crowd is fun and the music is great. One of my friends spilled his drink all over the bar in a…
yelp.com - user review - 03/25/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
What a fun club! While Dennis and I were in Chicago two summers ago, we hit up Boy's Town and visited this club.
yelp.com - user review - 03/23/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Contrary to what other people might have said, I find this bar to be pretty accepting of different weights/body sizes. I myself am currently forty pounds overweight (but working on it), and aside…
yelp.com - user review - 03/20/2008
Full Review »
1.0 of 5 stars.
One of my worst nightmares ever. Talk about the height of shallowness insecurity rolled into one well-bronzed, heavily perfumed ball of goo.
yelp.com - user review - 03/17/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetrack pretty much has running a bar down to a science. I don't think I have ever had a bad time there, and I have been going there since it was a one-room bar. With few exceptions, they hire…
yelp.com - user review - 03/12/2008
Full Review »
This is the best bar Ive every been too. The bartenders are great, the space is really cool and very clean. Job well done. I LOVE CHICAGO
citysearch.com - user review - 03/11/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Apart from the coat check line that was a little too long, and rather slow, this hot spot was my fourth and favorite bar of the night with David S. and Andy F. Sidetrack is massive with multiple…
yelp.com - user review - 03/10/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
As I began thinking what to write for Sidetrack I glanced to the previous reviews and noticed someone mentioned it being the cleanest bar they've been to. They are right. Sidetrack is always pristine.…
yelp.com - user review - 03/08/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I love Sidetrack. Everytime I wander in the haven of cute boys, I am pleasantly surprised by the music, the delightful bartenders and of course the multitude of people to play with.
yelp.com - user review - 02/25/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is where I always start a Boystown night out. The bar staff is friendly, the place is HUGE and it caters to a somewhat older, more sophisticated clientele. If you're from out of town and want a…
yelp.com - user review - 01/07/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This bar in my mind sets the benchmark for every bar in the country! If you want a VERY nice comfortable cutting edge nightspot, this is your venue. Gay, Straight, Male, Female, your gonna be…
yelp.com - user review - 01/07/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Where else can a girl go where all the men are drop dead gorgeous, perfect bodies (some even without shirts) tells you how amazingly fabulous you are? I have not had so many compliments in one night…
yelp.com - user review - 12/12/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I'm a straight chick, but man do I love Sidetrack. Myself and a ton of friends went here the day after my 21st for Musical Theatre Mondays and it was the biggest blast I've had in a long, long time.…
yelp.com - user review - 12/09/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I'm digging the no smoking bar on the side. It also helps that the bartender Jason is the hottest man I've ever seen in my entire life so far this week. WOOOOOOOOF!!!!!! He had Poochie's tail…
yelp.com - user review - 11/28/2007
Full Review »
Sidetrack has really grown up. The bar is huge nowadays and many of the bartenders have been there for what seems like forever. For good reason...they're probably the friendliest group of bartenders at any gay...
citysearch.com - user review - 11/24/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Not really into bars/clubs but can make an exception for Sidetrack. When I'm in the mood to be surround by tons of people, and enjoy tasty slurpee-esque drinks, I will visit Sidetrack. The non smoking…
yelp.com - user review - 11/10/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Love it. Esp. on showtunes nights. They have Jose Cuervo Black, which very few are carrying so far and I love. The atmosphere is beautiful esp on a crisp night to sit outside. I leave before the…
yelp.com - user review - 11/09/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Loved it! The place is huge; you can be surrounded by a crowd if you want or find a less-traveled spot where you can laugh at the crazy videos and chat. I was really impressed with the bar staff;…
yelp.com - user review - 11/05/2007
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
Too many people. Don't get me wrong, they are friendly, but there are too many of them. I mean, I understand that it IS a club and all, but still... One extra star for good music , no cover, and…
yelp.com - user review - 10/29/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Huge place. Staff was great, one guy took me up to the top outdoor patio (even though it was closed and no he wasn't hitting on me). I went several nights and it's clearly the place for the well…
yelp.com - user review - 10/29/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I always have a nice time when I come to Sidetrack. The doormen are usually pretty nice which I like (Ok, I admit it, I have a semi-crush on one of the doormen) and the space is so cool! The decks…
yelp.com - user review - 10/18/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Sorry straight boys. Sidetrack is prettier than a thousand of your lame straight bars. And the pretty boys tell me I'm fabulous. And somehow drinks are cheaper too.
yelp.com - user review - 10/16/2007
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetrack is hands-down Chicago's biggest and most popular gay bar. The space is huge, but it is split into five or six different areas, providing a scene for whatever mood you're in. The dimly lit…
yelp.com - user review - 10/16/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I'm sooo bummed that I missed Showtune Night. On Sundays until 9, they play musicals on the tvs and people scream at the tvs and sing along. After 9 on Sundays it's retro night. Sidetrack is…
yelp.com - user review - 10/08/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
We love love this bar!!! The gorgeous gay bar in Chicago!!!! Don't you think? :) We've been here many times and always fun . They have a lot of cute, hot and handsome bartenders in the boystown.…
yelp.com - user review - 09/13/2007
Full Review »
Sidetracks is one of the most beautiful bars I've ever seen. The metal and woodwork are just great! They offer several rooms for different feels. I noticed a lot of comments about an older crowd and pricey...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/06/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This has got to be one of the greatest bars on the Boystown strip. Went there the other night, for (strangely) the FIRST TIME! I loved it. Over the top, stylish, well done, clean. And the crowd - why…
yelp.com - user review - 08/26/2007
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
This bar is a huge mess, but there doesn't seem to be a better alternative. I liked the rooftop deck, but I hated the immense line to get inside.
yelp.com - user review - 08/12/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
daddies and clean bathrooms, what more do you want?
yelp.com - user review - 08/09/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I went here for my 21st, and it was definitely the best choice to go to for both that milestone and for my first gay bar ever! Good eye candy, nice bartenders, and I LOVE the frozen drinks. The…
yelp.com - user review - 08/01/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
There's nothing quite like Showtune Night at Sidetrack (Sundays and Mondays). That in itself warrants five stars. There's something strangely surreal (and entertaining) about watching hundreds of…
yelp.com - user review - 07/31/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
fun atmosphere meeting up with friends during pride
yelp.com - user review - 07/26/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
What a fun and cool place. Friendly people, not too loud, selection of atmospheres whether you want to talk, get to know newbies, dance, lounge-it, etc. sighhhhh, if only heterosexual Americans…
yelp.com - user review - 07/25/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
My best friend brought me here the other night, and oh! the showtunes. We sipped on tasty drinks and enjoyed the sing-along. RENT's "La Vie Boheme" came on, and I don't think I've ever heard such an…
yelp.com - user review - 07/18/2007
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
It's been years since I've been to Sidetracks but some friends of mine and I stopped in here last Wednesday after an improv show we went to across the street. Need to make more of an effort to go to…
yelp.com - user review - 07/17/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetracks is my favorite bar in the whole wide world!! My friends and I always start the night out here. My favorite parts...
yelp.com - user review - 07/12/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Where the boys are and there are many boys. Sidetrack is great. It is not pretentious as many gay bars try to be. Sidetrack has many faces. It is a video bar first. Then it is a lounge, neighborhood…
yelp.com - user review - 07/10/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Love this bar. Especially the upstairs patio. great on Friday and Saturday night after 9:00 pm when the showtunes aren't playing. yes, I do not like showtunes, however Sunday nights after 9:00 when…
yelp.com - user review - 06/15/2007
Full Review »
2.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetrack is probably a great place, but it just makes me feel really ugly every time I go there. Maybe it's because my straight friends get hit on while I'm buying drinks at the bar.
yelp.com - user review - 06/03/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Does anyone remember when SideTrack was just the one small storefront on a Halsted Street strip that was mostly gritty and run-down? You've come a long way baby! For the record, I don't hate straight…
yelp.com - user review - 05/22/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
The grand-daddy of them all. You might not be conscious if you go to Sidetrack and don't have a good time. Now that it's summer I can already taste my grape slushy on the rooftop deck. And since…
yelp.com - user review - 05/22/2007
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
When invited to Sidetrack, I was a bit nervous - not because I'm straight, but because I'm used to losing $60 on drinks at a gay bar. My first drink, a generous rum and Diet Coke, ran $4.50. In a safe,…
yelp.com - user review - 05/13/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
My friend is just big ol' whore so he loves this place. Music was good. But the smoking kills but they do have a smoke free part which is good. Got a seat and loved the view of the boys. And for the…
yelp.com - user review - 05/11/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Nice bar. Really like it. Of all the places I went, when barhopping, this one had the best looking men too bad for me they're mostly gay. Though I just found it funny, that everyone was watching all…
yelp.com - user review - 05/02/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Fantastic bar, classy atmosphere, friendly staff. But too many straight chicks who think it's their playground, or a great spot to have a bridal party. This world-class gay bar is being trashed by…
yelp.com - user review - 05/01/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetrack how I miss you so. You were the first bar I went to as an out gay man.
yelp.com - user review - 04/14/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is my favorite bar to start the night out... you can even end up staying the night and have a good time even if you forget to leave. I forget a lot! Owners and staff are all very cool for the…
yelp.com - user review - 04/13/2007
Full Review »
Everything is perfect. size: huge..... cover: none.... crowd: everyone. So much fun it might make a straight man gay!
citysearch.com - user review - 04/02/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is like the gay candy store and it's all you can eat. Plenty 'o themed rooms to keep most everyone satisfied and there's really never a dull moment here. Cute staff and cute clients...even better…
yelp.com - user review - 03/29/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Best gay bar in town. BEST. The people are super friendly, the drinks are strong and the decor is ridiculously amazing. The rooftop patio is off the chain as well.
yelp.com - user review - 03/15/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Fun. They played "Fergalicious" and I couldn't have asked for more. Will most likely be back with friends.
yelp.com - user review - 02/23/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Great place to hang with friends and meet new ones! No dance floor is my only scuff with this place. But its right on the strip so just go somewhere else to dance. Normal drink prices. Normal one shot…
yelp.com - user review - 02/16/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I ended up at Sidetrack during Northalsted Market Days and realized it is the nicest bar! There are a bunch of different areas in the bar and even when it is packed it doesn't seem like it. It was a…
yelp.com - user review - 01/24/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetrack is an awesome choice for a fun chill with friend. Many young generation. Awesome!!!
yelp.com - user review - 12/05/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Oh how I miss you - especially on Sundays after a few slushy drinks and showtunes that i now know all the words to but have never really seen....if only i can pack you up and move you to san…
yelp.com - user review - 11/30/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetrack was the first gay bar I ever stepped foot into. I was catering a special event there and thought it was a very nice looking space. A few years later, I wound up there socially, and have…
yelp.com - user review - 11/17/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I love going to Show Tunes!! I mean... come on... how can you NOT like hanging out with hundreds of gorgeous, friendly, fun men singing show tunes?!?! Throw in half a dozen of your friends and a…
yelp.com - user review - 11/14/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I'm normally a dive bar homo, and cringe every time I see the clubs in Boystown, Chelsea, Castro, or West Hollywood, but something about Sidetrack sets it apart. I've always enjoyed my visits there.…
yelp.com - user review - 11/13/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
There's a little something for everyone here.... Most of the (gay) bars in Chicago have a very specific demographic, but I know of many types of people who can enjoy Sidetrack... which says a lot! i…
yelp.com - user review - 11/13/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
This place is amazing. Not only are the drinks $4-6, but when I went back the next day to get my debit card I left behind, they gave me a drink and thanked me for coming back to get my card! Gotta…
yelp.com - user review - 11/13/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I've only been once, but wow, how much fun to go with your total playa of a friend and watch him squirm every time he sees one of his exes?We spent the evening (during the gay games) dodging ex after…
yelp.com - user review - 10/17/2006
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
Gorgeous space, nice staff. Could be better if they added newer videos to the mix.
yelp.com - user review - 10/10/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
went here for Sunday Show Tunes nite (they show movie musicals). Very fun Boystown bar and the boozie-slurpie drinks are yummy. :)
yelp.com - user review - 10/06/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I was here the Friday of Gay Games week. I was skeptical at first as normally the atmosphere of a place that large is bad. Would we be able to get in without a line? I needn't have worried as we…
yelp.com - user review - 10/06/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I love this bar!! I love the slushies. I love the huge layout. I love the friendly staff and patrons. I love the sing-a-long to showtunes nights. I love it all! What I like best about this bar…
yelp.com - user review - 10/05/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
A huge gay bar in the heart of Boystown. The rooftop deck is pretty sweet when the weather is nice. There's a bar that is half inside/half outside up there too. This place is really really big - two…
yelp.com - user review - 09/16/2006
Full Review »
Is one of the best gay bars in Chicago. The problem is that one of the Bartenders is very rude. I don't know his name because they don't have a name tags. Totally necesary!!!!! But I will come back with a lot...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/31/2006
Full Review »
On a Sunday afternoon this place was packed. It must be the place to meet. Even with crowds so thick that it was hard to navigate the multitude of bars made it easy to get a drink. The rooftop was the fastest....
citysearch.com - user review - 07/28/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Sidetrack's is an awesome choice for a fun chill evening. The crowd is very mixed concerning age and people and has numerous different types of bars to hang out in. The video bar and lounge up front…
yelp.com - user review - 07/17/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
As others have said, Sidetrack probably has the best layout, size-wise and scene-wise, of any of the bars on Halsted. You can really work the party, moving from space to space, enjoying the unique…
yelp.com - user review - 07/12/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Can't say enough good things about this place... easily one of my top five favorite gay bars. Drinks are good and the space is, yes, huge, but so well done. Nothing tacky. The theme nights are a lot…
yelp.com - user review - 07/05/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
This boystown bar is so much fun! I always get lots of attention being one of the only straight girls in this place and I love the sugar free alcoholic slushies! They also have one of the best…
yelp.com - user review - 04/24/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
by far my favorite bar in the heart of boystown. with an absolutely amazing space and great staff, sidetrack has more to offer than your usual gay watering hole.
yelp.com - user review - 03/28/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I go here just for the sugar free slushies! They are sooooo good!
yelp.com - user review - 03/28/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I really enjoy coming here in the summer, mainly for their huge patio on their roof! I am an addict for their sugar free slushies, and they are quite tasty in the summer time! Great music, great…
yelp.com - user review - 03/17/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
gorgeous space. any bar with a bunch of queens dancing and singing showtunes is fucking cool with me....
yelp.com - user review - 03/16/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Every big city has the mainstay gay bar, and this is it for Chicago. Sidetrack has the best physical space of any place in Chicago, with the best roof deck and even a smoke-free room for the health…
yelp.com - user review - 02/20/2006
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
This place is located in the heart of boystown and is HUGE! There are several smaller rooms and then a humungous one at the back with video screens. There are different themes to different nights.
yelp.com - user review - 12/02/2005
Full Review »
The best bar ever!!! The new lounge area is comfortable and very attractive with lighting that changes colors about every 15 mins. or so. The brand new rooftop deck is not to be missed!!! It boasts a new...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/05/2004
Full Review »
This is honestly the best gay bar in all of the US. No question! Try it, you will agree!
citysearch.com - user review - 02/14/2003
Full Review »
Not your average gay bar. Sidetrack in Chucago is like NOTHING you have been to. I've traveled the country and this place is the model for profesional gay men to visit. If you want sleeze, go to an Eagle, or...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/29/2002
Full Review »
This bar is not like a lot of the gay bars. You don't feel like you're in a meat market. Everyone that you meet is just there for a relaxing good time.
citysearch.com - user review - 11/26/2002
Full Review »
Definitely a fun bar with a big mix of people. The drinks are really good w/ enough liquor but highly priced. The crowd is fun loving all night pretty much that I've been, and they mix their weeknights with...
citysearch.com - user review - 11/21/2002
Full Review »
Since moving to Chicago in summer 2002, I have not missed a Monday nite.. The showtune nite is wonderful with a bar full of people singing our favorite songs. Thursday for comedy is a nice way to unwind after...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/08/2002
Full Review »
I lived in Chicago my whole life before moving away to MO. Just thinking of Sidetracks makes me totally homesick, and I make several trips back to Chgo with a stop to Sidetracks at the top of my to-do list !...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/09/2002
