Kingston Mines

Kingston Mines in Chicago is the place to be when the bats come out. This joint swings well into the wee hours, perfect for a night owl like me.I know good music when I hear it. Rico McFarlane had me air-guitaring in front of the stage like a rockstar.I investigated docs kitchen. Lets just say the fried food aroma called to me like the bat signal. The vintage post office box wall caught my eye. It appears to be original - further detective work was needed.This place has got it all: killer tunes, delicious eats, and a healthy dose of history. Its no wonder Kingston Mines is a Chicago institution. Whether youre a blues aficionado or just looking for a good time, this place wont disappoint. Crime never sleeps. Neither does the blues!

Iconic venue in the heart of Lincoln Park. Kingston Mines is a musical institution in the city of Chicago and is a must visit for any tourist in the city or any native who wants to enjoy some beautiful jazz music. One of the best spots in the neighborhood on any night out.

Awesome live music! 2 stages, as one gets done, the other starts. Back and forth all night!. Lots of dancing!!!! Catfish was excellent!

Kinda okay. Dance floor small and way overcrowded. Not allowed to dance in aisle. $20 entry per person. Owner screams in microphone to introduce band. Same band we saw last time. Same dude dressed in suit and hat that stands on dance floor right in front of band. Will probably seek out another venue next time.

Great night out with amazing live music. Will definitely return next time Im in town.

What and experience....my first time to this awesome bar and music venue. An amazing show and two stages of fun!!!

Уютное атмосферное место, живая музыка, много посадочных мест и два зала со сценами. Довольно разнообразное меню, хорошая кухня.Остались довольны посещением этого заведения! Рекомендую!(Translated by Google)A cozy atmospheric place, live music, plenty of seats and two halls with stages. Quite a varied menu, good cuisine.We were pleased with our visit to this establishment! I recommend!

A must visit if you like blues music. This place has great Cajun food, a wide variety of cocktails and great service staff. We were blown away by how much fun this place was! Highly recommend to anyone living in or visiting Chicago!

Amazing place for live blues and good beer. They have a broad selection of beers, the place is huge and the hot dogs are surprisingly great. We arrived at 7:30 and suddenly it was 12:30! We had such a great time with good friends. 10/10 recommend !!

Blues are always great and the atmosphere is lively! Food is fine, fries are good but the beignets are more campfire donuts (classic Pillsbury biscuit tube flavor) and the cornbread is too sweet. Stick around for a great show and drinks!

This is one of my favorite bars on the planet. I’ve traveled to more than 50 countries. I love the blues. I love barbecue. I love staying up late. There is some fantastic musical talent here and the open mic is a blast. Can’t recommend enough. Get the T-shirt too.

A MUST. So much fun seeing several artists between the two rooms. Food was on point. Tickets in advance is the move. I loved the engagement I felt and the ease of exiting when it was time to leave. Summer, an off-duty was especially helpful giving me the lay of the land. Happy birthday/birthday month, Summer!

Strongly suggested: a great venue for blues and rock gigs. Two independent areas, one concert stage each: when one band ends, the other one start in the side area. This is amazing, you may spend good time there since 8 pm till late night by attending the show of many bands. Love this. Tickets at the counter, 20 bucks (cash is faster). Drink: you may ask the servers. There is a cuisine in common to both spaces, go there and pay for typical pub food (good quality for good price).

This place is great! I really liked how the tables are arranged in levels so even if you are in the back you can see the scenario. The singers are amazing and you can dance!

Great place to grab some blue music while enjoying a really good meal. We ordered the 2 I’ve wings set and it was truly filling and worth the price. The wings have so much flavor and the are truly big. We ordered the BBQ wings and the Buffalo.

Great Blues bar. A classic that hasn’t changed in decades. The music is great, the club is grungy and the crowd is diverse. All good and worth the cover to hear some great music. The food looked good too. Gotta check it out in Chicago.

By far one of the most amazing jazz experiences Ive ever had! The dueling jazz rooms was quite remarkable. To see some local legends perform and it drove what they do was great. I also loved the downhome food feel and the rusticness of this jazz joint.

I had a good time there, my first time with my cousin it was her birthday, and we all celebrated, I may go back Im not sure yet, good atmosphere, great music, great food, I wish I had friends in my life that I can go with. We went on a rainy day but I still had a good time.

Had a really good time but left with a negative experience. I just left the place and found out my card had been charged several times. I put my credit card behind the bar and ran a tab for the night. I was charged once at $129 but got several other unrecognizable charges throughout the night.

If your visiting Chicago this place is rich in history & visiting is a mustBring cash for tipping musicians!!$20 cover (there are discounts for student/military etc.)7pm - 3:30am live musicTwo rooms where the sets alternate throughout the nightEar plugs at the shop if neededMerchandise available on site for purchase - lots of different optionsExtensive cocktail menu with good drinks. Bar foodAll of it is really good but just a bit priceyWorth the experience

Absolutely the worst blues bar I have ever been in!!! Nothing but drunken young “privileged “people causing chaos. What really bothered me was when one of them had so many beers he threw up all over the place he was clearly wasted and was escorted out just to be let back in by security. His brother begged them to let him back in. Like one said they come in already drunk and belligerent not even interested in listening to the music just looking to start trouble. The place was overly crowded with room to barely walk! Being said ITS A BIG NO FOR ME TEAM BUDDY GUYS FOREVER!!

Amazing bar! We were lucky to see two amazing blues bands! The bar is great with reasonable prices! The student tickets are $15 and on Thursdays are free! You are welcome to dance if you like to and there are several performances back to back. Definitely a must especially if you are visiting Chicago!

Amazing night with the best bands! Visit Chicago? You GOT 2 visit Kingston Mines. Great atmosphere, great drinks, great people, greater bands! Loved every minute inside there

So crowed in one room creates friction. There were no clear paths anywhere. Not like it use to be. Music is fantastic but the lack of crowd control needs attention.

Where else can you stay out until the wee hours, see two bands play multiple, back to back, alternating sets, and rub elbows with Chicagos Blues royalty? Its nothing fancy, but you go there for the music, right? Didnt get to sample the food offerings, but they looked and smelled great. If youre a Blues fan, this is a must stop when you visit Chicago. Enjoy!

Love this place. Crowded and hot but still a great time. The band shift from one room to the other so you can see a different act every hour or so. Prices were pretty reasonable and the cover on the night we went was 20 bucks. It was a great deal for the quality of the music!

This aint your average music venue, folks. Were talking about a Chicago legend, a blues institution thats been pulsating with soul since 1968! Two stages pump out the good stuff, from rising stars to icons like Joanna Connor herself.But the musics just the first sip of the magic. Need a cold one to quench your thirst while the rhythms sizzle? Theyve got you covered with a killer selection of beers, both boozy and non-boozy. Want something a little smoother? My heart did a tap dance when I saw they had my beloved Vanilla Vodka! Trust me, finding that aint easy.

One of my favourite places in Chicago! Always amazing and lively performances and the entire atmosphere is incredibly welcoming. Super affordable drinks and yummy food, always my go-to for a good chill night!

Wings and Music. Its as simple as that. I highly recommend making a night out, as theres usually a ticket cover to come in. But trust me, its worth it to spend some time here and try the wings. The music is top notch and whether its packed or light, the ambiance is always well worth coming to.

We had a great time on Thursday night! Amazing music, very good food and nice and attentive staff. Definitely a must see.

Got to see Joe Doyle, amazing! And Omar Coleman!

Ive wanted to check out one of Chicagos Blues clubs for a long time and my friend brought me to Kingston Mines to really get the full experience. We got there not long after the doors opened and were able to get good seats near the stage in the first room. We got to enjoy several local artists along with some cold beer and great atmosphere. There was a $20 per person cover and its a good idea to bring some extra cash to tip the band. If youre in Chicago and a live music fan go check out Kingston Mines.

From the security team, to the bar and kitchen staff and of course the musicians; this place is only as good as it’s people. Thanks for helping us to feel part of this rocking community.

This place is the epitome of old-school cool. The staff is incredible and the music is world class. Go on a Saturday night, theyre open until 5am. Absolutely worth the price of admission. This place is a must-see if you want to experience Chicago.

Other than the mean white woman with the curly blonde hair and glasses who was incredibly rude while checking our IDs (she threw my ID back at me and was refusing to talk to me after), this place was definitely worth the visit. We enjoyed the blues music! Rico was fantastic and so full of love. The whole vibe and ambiance of this place was also magical. A lot of different age groups spending it in one place. It was really good. I even got a shirt from here! Without that interaction with that rude white woman, this place is a solid 10/5.

Only late night juke joint in Chicago. Vibe is good, music is great. You can catch up-and-coming musicians and legends all the same night.

Amazing food and service! Had a great time with their two different stages. Definitely get there early so youre not waiting in line!

My wife and I have avoided this place since forever, knowing that it was a corny joint where DePaul kids and Napervillians get white girl wasted and listen to the whitest blues known to man (except for the occasional legit act). So, when a friend from Toronto visited and insisted we catch a set, we begrudgingly complied and braced for garbage. And, without fail, Kingston Mines delivered on the suck. Horrible bartender girls who insisted on credit cards and messed up our order, drunk patrons who pushed and shoved and brayed like donkeys at the stage with synchronized hip gyrations, and a bunch of surprise charges on my card even though I only signed one bill and ordered drinks to a single tab. Bravo, thanks for confirmation that this place still sucks, never again.

Such a fun blues bar that really gives you the Chicago experience! The bands are fantastic and bring a great energy to the bar! The staff is very friendly and willing to you grab you things while you sit and enjoy the performances which is really nice! The cover charge is $20 by the way but definitely worth the experience!

This place have a soul! This is one of my top 5 favorite place in that world, thanks for the security guy and all the people working here for having us with so much good energy. Its was so cool!

Terrible experience. We were overcharged for drinks, and when asked for the reason , stuff was extremely rude, and told us that they charged us top shelf liquor for mixed drink. They admitted later of making a mistake, but still asked security to kick us out, even though we paid for drinks and were not allowed to drink it.

This is one of the coolest bars Ive ever been to. The live music doesnt stop because two bands alternate playing on 2 stages all night until very late. This place is usually jam packed and is a great spot. I definitely recommend it.

Original blues club. Two corcert stages going alternates. Full of happy people of all ages dancing. Two bars. Felt like a real Chicago experience. Not to miss. Cover charge was $15 for a Friday night. The place was pretty packed from 9 pm on.

Great time. The bands are amazing and fun. The crowd is there to dance and have fun. They serve American food (the wait is quite long). They have a long list of beers.

With two band stands playing near continously in different rooms, this long established gem offers great music, plenty of room to dance,.space to converse with whoever may be in your company (benefit of dual rooms), and reasonably priced drinks with a decent spirits section. Good for solo adventures, dates, group outings, or celebrations. Open late.

Personally, not my vibe. If you like to drink at a table with too many empty drinks of peoples past, in a place that looks like a big orange bar, with loud blues music playing in a different room that no one seems to be in and not know who or where you can order some sweet potato fries from, this place is for you.

Great music, love the emcee! Better than average bar food and drinks

First time I’ve been to a Blues Club and it was quite an experience. Great music, good people and good vibes. Its crazy because there are 2 bands that play every night 365 days a year and it is the oldest, continuously operating blues club in Chicago. Would come here again for sure!

Super nice historical place, great atmosphere both from clientele and from the staff. When we visited the music was very nice. They have a small shop, I even got a t-shirt as a memoir token from what was the best night out in Chicago for me. The staff has a very polite manner of showing you around the tipping culture despite the loud environment. I would definitely go back to this place.

This bar should be the definition of life well lived.Should be the definition of Love, Joy and Blues.Kingston Mines should be in the World Hall of Fame.Im feeling like a privileged human being for set foot on such a wonderful place, full of wonderful people and fill with love and peaceful minds that only blues can provide.Lovely place in an iconic avenue, and an experience that ill never forget ❤️

Beautiful place, I went and listened to some blues and then some country, perfect place to come any night of the week for great live music. Not to be underestimated are the bartenders, they know how to make all the classics, the old fashioned and Manhattan I had were both delicious. Elevate your music experience!

A stalwart champion of the blues. Funky bar on halstead. 2 stages alternating bands. Good selection of booze and beer. Fair service. Can take a bit to get served or refilled, mb was a staff member short that night. Prices werent that bad, especially for a live music joint of its reputation.

One of the most amazing music experience Ive ever had! Good snacks, great boose, excellent music! If you wanna experience some good blues music, you have to go there.

Great place to get authentic Chicago blues music. This place was electrifying, people dancing and drinking. You can spend few hours here after dinner to loosen up, get some drinks and chill out. I highly recommend this club.

The oldest & largest continuously running Blues Bar really lived up to its legacy. The rustic bar vibes and exceptionally talented musicians!

It was great. The atmosphere was nice. Live blues good food and good. I will definitely be going back again soon.

If youre cool bumping elbows with strangers for the night, this is one of the coolest places in Chicago for blues & cocktails! The staff is incredibly friendly, too. Highly recommend.

This establishment is explicitly and aggressively anti- queer.A friend of mine (who happens to be trans) got asked for her ID by security when trying to go to the bathroom last night. We asked and there was no complaint, this wasnt a patron making a stink, this was a member of their security team deciding to target my friend because she could have lost her job if she didnt. We talked to the owner and its policy there for security to check IDs if they think somebody might be in the wrong bathroom because there have been complaints in the past. We were there for about 3 hours before this happened celebrating my friends birthday and not a single one of us saw anybody else getting carded to use the bathroom.I most certainly will never come back and Im disgusted I mistakenly patronized such an awful anti- lgbt q+ place.

Amazing music and fabulous bar tenders and wait staff. Well worth the $20 cover charge.

What a great place! I would give 6 stars if possible!As a Blues amateur, this is a place you just cant miss for Chicago blues nights! Really great bands all night long til late, on 2 scenes. A unique atmosphere! We spent an amazing night and met some really friendly people to share drink with too! Hope to come back one day :-)

A Blues stop to close the night1AM, the show at Buddy Guys Legend ended and the place had to close. We still had some energy to enjoy Chicago’s night. So came the tip from the manager: do you guys want blues until morning? Let’s go to Kingston mines. So there we go!The place has two stages, and two bands take turns playing till 4AM.A place where people from other Blues houses go at dawn. This definitely means something.Young people, casual environment, lot of people dancing and hanging around. This is a place to be in your list if you really want to know Chicago’s Blues.

Great music, specially on saturday and friday. Moderate drink prices. Great atmosphere. People all ages should feel good inside.On my last visit had some issue with young man from staff at late night hours, but manager fixed it and all went well.Will be back asap!

Nice place for blues. Vibrant and good acoustics.The server messed up our order. We ordered a Johnnie Walker Black label and he served some terrible whiskey insisting it is JB Black.

Terrible experience... They push me out of club as I was blocking,, garbage bin??? Where in the world guests are blocking garbage bin?? It has been terrible experience and staff was unpleasant. Even though I tried to ask for manager I was pushed out as a piece of garbage as they were claiming I was blocking!!! Unbelievable experience, Ive been all over Europe and never experienced this!!!

It is an authentic blues place. With the two stages, there is always a band playing. It is always crowded and there is a good atmosphere. Blues all night, since it closes at 5am.

Went Sunday night July 2. My second time here & just beautiful. I danced all night long. The musicians r great. My cheese sticks were good but not hot enough. No tissue in womens bathroom & bathroom stall floor was wet & nasty. Definitely gotta have someone keep it clean. Overall service was great. Will go back in future & bring others

I meant to leave at 11pm (had a flight to catch the next day) and was there until 3am! A perfect place to witness the blues of Chicago and with great food and drink too! Staff are friendly, atmosphere is electric. If youre looking for a real Chicago experience look no further.

It was great as always, everything we visit Chicago. We have to come check them out. Everyone one makes you feel at welcomed ❤️

Great spot for live blues. We saw 3 bands on 2 stages. Open till 4 with music until 3:30AM.

It is one of the best live blues music venues in Chicagoland. Huge place with bars and food station. Two stages for large blues groups. Everyone visiting Chicago should stop at.

Amazing amazing amazing!!! My very first time to the city and I came straight from the airport. Live music till 330am with liquor pouring the whole time. Joanna Connor was on fire with the guitar

The music is fantastic, the musicians are gifted, and the atmosphere is fun!! If you love blues, this is a must-go place. If you dont love blues you havent been listening to the right music, and need to come here too!

Great joint. Cool experience for a traveler. Place was packed. Fun time.

This place is awesome!!! Amazing music great vibes, and awesome food. If you are in Chicago, you should come here. I am in town from Boston, and this place is amazing

Very unique and interesting layout with great vibe. The music can run all night long thanks to the stages in two separate rooms. Both rooms have dancing floors, where you can show off your skills and interact with the performers!

My FAVORITE bar in Chicago!!! I love EVERYONE that works there!!! I love the music!!! Jo Connor makes me SPEECHLESS!!! Amazing food!!! OK...Im done...!!!

I would give this place six stars if I could. Always great music, and the atmosphere is the same. Food and drinks are exceptional not to mention that theyre open till 4am. Highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to check out some good blues.

Definitely one of my favorite blues clubs in Chicago! They stay open late and ways have incredible talent. Come for the good times, great energy, live music and drink deals 🎶🎵

Great music and atmosphere here. Head down to this place to really get into the Chicago blues music scene.

Really get great energy and great music!

Lots of fun. Great vibe. Didnt order food but from what I saw it looked good

Nice place, nothing too special for me. Didnt add anything to my trip. Everyone predrinks and is super wasted by the time they show up here. We were sober and drank while here so maybe thats why we didnt have much fun? I dont know, but I wouldnt necessarily recommend this place to anyone, music was good, but nothing out of this world..

Love love love love love!!!! Brilliant just brilliant! Best part of Chicago visit! A must to do in Chicago.

I would have spend all my nights in Chicago in Kingston Mines if possible. Amazing place and shows there if you love Blues music !

At first glance, a $12 cover may seem like a lot. But when you get inside it is worth it! With a wide selection of beers and liquor, and an even wider selection of amazing vocal ranges, it is the perfect mix for a fun night out.Great to bring a date to for some one on one time, or a double date to show off how fun you are as a couple. Heck you could even make it a (insert gender here)s night and go as a group!Specializing in Jazz and Blues this bar has a lot of soul. You wont get enough of those sultry voices and true to heart lyrics.In short. This is NOT the place to go if you want to bar hop. This is where you go until 4am and you love every minute of it!

If you are into real good loud blues, you will have two bands to choose from. Service is good, but the music is even better. Come for a good time chill relax no dress code necessary

This was my first time I Kingston Mines. They had incredible music! This is a blues bar so there’s nothing fancy about it. Having said that, the people are super friendly, the music was incredible, and there was plenty of liquor! The prices of the liquor were very high but I felt the overall value was worth it. I’d love to come back here

This place has a good vibe. I went alone and had a good time. Will be going back with friends

Seriously fabulous blues bar. Cover was about $12 on a Sunday night, but the music is pumping and its a spacious bar. You are not right on top of each other. We went two nights in a row. Prices are fair, its not in a really touristy of Chicago, but it is busy. Would highly recommend.

Great music & cocktails, but check your bill! They tried to charge me $21 for my $15 cocktail and the manager was reluctant to correct it even though the menu clearly said $15.

All sorts of fun! Great space inside with two stages and plenty of seating. Solid food and plenty of booze options. Just a fantastic spot, loved it!

Went to a blues night here on vacation from the UK. Love the music, loved the vibe, got the t-shirt. Come here if you can!

Its a unique and iconic landmark of Chicago. A Blues Bar with the finest bands. There are two stages with two bands alternating and the crowd moving from one hall to the other. Its an unforgettable experience and I have always gone to Kingston Mines whenever I am in Chicago. An informal place. A must do!!!!

Awesome dive for live music. There is a $12 cover charge but the place is split in two so when one band ends, everyone rushes of to the other side to see the next act. TIP THE PERFORMERS!!!

Kingston Mines is a local hangout, definitely a must do when in Chicago if youre into blues. Atmosphere is 10/10. Bar is well stocked, food service in the back can be improved.

Super atmosphere… good life music… a bit slow waitering to be honest but very friendly 🙌🏼

Cool place. Like the 50/50 music rotation. 30-60 mins on then move for the next set. Back and forth most people move. If you like one group over the other then you can stay put.

This place is just amazing. I got to experience the feeling of watching two blues band perform. I must say the what one for me was the Mike Wheeler band, their bass player was breaking it down ... Even though the main one was Big Joe or something like that.It is one of those things you cannot easily describe with words, you just have to live it.

If youve never been, you simply must go. A great Blues venue in a fun part of Chicago. I love how they switch from one side to the other so you can always have a seat, as long as you are patient.

If there were more stars to give, I would add ten more. Great atmosphere, warm people, great music and just an all-around great place to hang out and hear some blues. They even have a great kichen and serve your food on nice dinnerware.

I took my wife to Kingston Mines and we had a ball. We havent been out as a couple in a while, so to say that this is a great start to date nights again is an understatement! We enjoyed both the bands on Nov. 24th. The staff was very accommodating. The food was excellent and all the people around us were just enjoying life. What a great group of people to hang with who enjoy community, good music and good libations. We will be back and I recommend that if you have the chance, check this place out. Its well worth it!

The music in Kingston Miles was great and the staff at the bar was very friendly. However, the service in the kitchen where you order food was really bad mainly because of the person taking orders (not friendly at all) - wrong person in a great place... Other than that all good.

Despite Friday and Saturday night, its always free of charge for students, which is amazing for the quality of music they offer. It looks like the perfect spot you would like to go to listen to very good blues besides a Margarita cocktail!

Great vibes. Sit and enjoy the music while sipping your drink and nibbling the food.

Such a wonderful place to hear outstanding music and enjoy yourself. The staff are super friendly and also keep everyone safe. Food is fantastic, and its easy and quick to get a drink. Youve just GOT TO GO if youre in Chicago.

Dysfunctional set up the way two stages work. If you’re not familiar, you go in this place and they herd you to one room with one stage where there is a performer playing. They play for about an hour, then you have to run to another room with another stage were you wait another half hour for a second performer to set up. Once they’re done playing, by the time you get routed back into the original room you were in, there are no seats available.Owners, if you even read this, why not have the second performer be set up and ready to go so that when the first performer is done.Also, for those who haven’t gone yet, save your money, the drinks are expensive, and the alcohol is sparse in them. Best advice is to order two drinks at first, as the servers are extremely slow at this place.Good luck if you go here!

You should definitely visit this pub if you are in Chicago. Live music performed by musical band.Happening crowd and lot of options to drink and enjoy!

I didn’t expect it to be this many white people but the music was great and good food was served in the middle of the night.

Amazing place!! This is where you can try a bit of how locals live and enjoy blues.Good drinks, excelent live music, cheap entrance, 2 stages... We had a great night!!

Travelling to Chicago? This is a must stop. Huge rooms full of all night blues. Incredible bands. Make sure to get there early on weekends. Its a packed house!

A 50 year old establishment where two sisters embrace it daily. Tucked on Halsted, this Blues bar, lounge, and restaurant gives you mouthwatering short ribs, signature and homemade drink gin and tonic, and a relaxing blues vibe and atmosphere.