Dorothy

Dorothy is one of the coolest queer bars I’ve been to. It’s eclectic, fun, and welcoming to all. We had a great time chatting with the bartenders and other folks. I would absolutely recommend you take some time to visit!

How welcoming! Great bartender, who took such good care of us. Karaoke host was encouraging and positive. This place is serving affirming vibes, fun, community feels. Good Photo Booth. Check out the little bookshelf where you can donate queer books for our fellow folks to borrow and pursue. Also yummy drink menu. I’m gonna come earlier next time to score one of the cozy nooks for seating.

Great bar for friends of Dorothy even if you dont drink enjoy a nice non-alcoholic drink in a posh yet warm and friendly atmosphere. Its got that nice chill laid back 70s glam vibe. I also recommend coming on a themed night. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed going to watch the premier of the reboot of The L-Word!

Super cute bar with really nice bartenders and a very nice bouncer out front that helped me and my friend find the place when we passed by it (it’s easy to miss). I don’t know if it was busy or I’m just easily ignored but it can take a minute to get drinks. Any slight annoyances were totally worth it for the awesome music and comforting environment! Overall 5/5 I’m in love with the place 💕

I cannot recommend this place enough! Great service, delicious drinks including mocktails, lots of comfy seating and mood lighting, and overall very inclusive and safe. We came for Sapphic Karaoke and had a great time!

I almost don’t want to leave a good review, because this feels like an unimaginably great hidden gem, but it’s just incredible. Extremely queer friendly, super nice staff, phenomenal music (that was a bit too loud, my only complaint), strong drinks that are also good, neutral bathrooms, and impeccable decor fusing the 70’s with art deco elements including swag lights (and a tension lamp!), disco balls, waterfall shapes, TOGO sofas, and that sweet, sweet rusty shade of orange velvet. The glassware is beautiful too, and every element down to the bathroom sink handles was considered. Just don’t invite anyone you don’t like. This space deserves to keep the good vibe.

Went for a silent reading night, cute atmosphere. Drinks were good and strong.

This is a cool spot. The atmosphere is very chill and lay back. However, I had my phone in my pocket that I just was looking at and the next minute it was gone. So I told the bartender someone just picked pocketed me and took my phone. She says, is this it? Yes, it was. She said someone turned it in and that doesnt happen around there. Really? Im going to take a guess that it was the person reading a book at the bar that was asking me to sit closer to them. She/he disappeared pretty fast. Lucky my phone was locked so they couldnt do anything with it which is why they returned it. Also, the second time I ordered the same drink, she upcharged by $5. When I asked her about it, she said she made a mistake and would charge me the correct amount so I didnt sign the receipt. However, when I checked my CC acct the next day. She charged me the upcharged amount. $5 more.

Incredibly welcoming environment. So many comfy places to sit! Drinks are deliiiiish. Always spend an evening at Dorothy’s when I’m in town!

Such a great bar. It has a beautiful 70s vibe, it’s a mostly female atmosphere, there are many craft cocktails and nonalcoholic cocktails available.

This is a hidden gem! Great cocktails, beers and non alcohol options. Not many lesbian bars left in the US, absolutely love that this one exists and is thriving. Friendly bar staff, welcoming environment and groovy couches to sit on and make friends in this happy queer space.

Stopped by here before dinner and was pleasantly surprised by their happy hour! One of the best deals in the city.Their bartenders are unmatched. SO talented and friendly. I had a couple of their Christmas cocktails and they were out of this world! Some of the best Ive ever hard.

Best lesbian bar in town. Great cocktails. Immaculate vibes.

We went for their re-reopening weekend and it was incredible. Great drinks, reasonably priced, such a good DJ. The atmosphere was divine. All of the furniture and decor is so perfectly 70s. Everyone working there was so friendly! Don’t forget to bring your vaccine card, they do check it at the door. If I lived in Chicago I’d be here every single weekend. I wish I could go back! Impeccable queer vibes. The photo booth is great too!

Was kicked out of this bar and it wasn’t because of my behavior. I was sober and had to be there for maybe 5 mins just standing there. Apparently if another patron is friends with the staff they’re cool with kicking out whoever they want for no reason. This isn’t a safe space for anyone outside of their inner circle. Go to Nobody’s Darling instead where it’s a safe space for everyone.

Super cute decor, photo booth, door guy is a gem. The only drink I ordered was a Lust for Life and it was good. My one complaint is that the music is painfully loud, even in the restrooms. I am someone who has been going to riotous punk and emo shows for 15+ years without earplugs and the sound level of the (great) music in Dorothy was unbearable for me and my group.

This is a hidden gem in the 🏳️‍🌈 community. It’s always full of amazing and wonderful people who are so polite and friendly. Come with friends, come with your loved one or come alone, you’ll have a wonderful time regardless! ❤️

Absolutely adore this hidden gem. Amazing queer space. Atmosphere and couches are just lovely.

I both want to share about Dorothy here, and I want to keep it a close secret for my favorite people.If you’re queer or trans, this is a magical place, and you must get here asap if you are in Chicago.If you truly love queer and trans people, this is a magical place.If you fit neither of the above, steer clear.What can I say? The bespoke cocktails are to die for. The space is gorgeous. The events are fabulous. And the humans are an absolute treat. So fun to head upstairs for yummy food at Split-Rail too. It has it all. (Except more hours. Will be nice when they stay open later and more days.)

Long live lesbian bars~I came here for a sofar sounds show with my girlfriend to celebrate our 4th anniversary - it was our first time at Dorothy.The vibe here is cozy, sexy, as one of the artists described it, it’s giving San Junipero in the 70s.Bar tenders are cool, and the drinks are great. We each got a cocktail and a non alcoholic drink, the cocktails were great but the N/A options really wowed us, would definitely come back just for those.The show was great I’m glad that sofar had a women in pride themed show but I was annoyed by the straight couple in the front row talking, filming with their phone, loudly singing along through the show, and taking their shoes off…?? read the room, this space isn’t for you.Come to Dorothy! Whether you’re gay straight or anything in between (just don’t take your shoes off and make the whole thing about you)!

Amazing bar! Easy to miss so look for the security guard. Good drinks. Great atmosphere. Its a lesbian bar so as a queer dude Im not going to crowd their space by going too much but Ill deff be back eventually!

I am from out of town and came here at about 9 pm on a Saturday to meet up with some friends. I specifically chose this location because I was told that it is quiet, comfortable and a good place to come to chat; definitely NOT a club. This ended up being half true.First of all, it was super hard to find and I could tell that the person in the restaurant above was a little tired of telling people where to go (LOL). As we walked in, security yelled in our face about having IDs out which seemed unnecessary since we were right there and planned to need to show ID. It was very busy and SUPER loud to the point that we were basically yelling over each other trying to chat which was unpleasant and not what I was looking for. The music could have been turned down significantly. It was busy and took far longer than expected for drinks, but they got there eventually and tasted pretty good. The only other noteworthy point is that it was almost 80 degrees inside by the time we left (I know because it was so packed we were standing by the office and thermostat LOL). Really, we left because of the heat and the volume. Otherwise I could have hung out there all night. The decore is cool and the people seemed cool.. if I could hear them. It was also VERY cool to have a clearly lesbian/queer femme-centered space and I recommend giving it a try... perhaps at a different, less busy time.

Really nice bar and lovely bartenders. 70s theme with comfy chairs and couches for hangout space. Very cool local artist highlights and events weekly if you follow their Instagram account.

Dorothy is really trying to do something new by using a retro lounge style. I like the variety of programming here and the private feeling they achieve. However, I do wish they had more open hours and more dancing during events. Hopeful to see their growth!

Sat 7/30/22: We all LOVED this place.Great drinks. Reasonable prices. They charge an auto 20% service fee which is awesome. Even at their busiest, bartenders were really nice and accommodating to drink requests. Great music. Bring proof of vax. They check at the door. The space did get very warm- not much air circulation. Plenty of single occupancy bathrooms.

Where do I begin? The experience was so unpleasant I’m writing this review from the car outside the venue. If you’re looking for diversity, go anywhere else. They know their target audience: white queers. In a room full of at least 75 people, there were 4 people of color.The venue does require vaccinations but there is ZERO air circulating through the room. You knew this because of the smell of warm sweaty bodies fanning themselves with the drink menu. A drink menu that was affordable but lacked imagination. Because I couldn’t find anything that interested me on the drink menu, I ordered a very simple gin and tonic with lime and my partner ordered a ginger ale. A bartender (curly haired mohawk) that had previously ignored us after making eye contact made sure to follow about payment before our drinks were even made by another bartender (medium length dark hair).Now remember I ordered a gin and tonic with lime and a ginger ale… I was given what tasted like lime juice with tonic water and a glass of ginger beer…Brown, queer, looking for a friendly environment with a decently made drink? Find another bar.

Very nice Lesbian Lounge with comfortable furniture and interesting events!

Ive been to very few places that have the energy that Dorothys has. A brilliantly designed queer space with excellent music, strong drinks, and even better people. One of my favorite places in Chicago 🖤

Wow! Really nice concept. Its a cross between a speak easy and velvety relaxation cloud. The drinks are on point. Its nestled next Split Rail and accessed via a nondescript door. Once you enter you are greeted with a variety of seating options. You can lounge with a group on the fun velvety couches, cozy up on a couch or post up at the bar. The drinks are craft and tasty. If you come bring a Polaroid to make memories that match the vibez.

Paid $70 to see the Burly-esque show -- could only see like 20% of the show due to a wall down the middle of the stage/room....very disappointing.Bartenders & other patrons were all very nice.

Was so excited to get another dyke bar in Chicago and took some friends from out of town. I love the drinks, its cute inside, lots of plush seating - BUT why does it close so dang early (midnight) and its only open a couple nights a week? Also the music was baaaaaad. Its like your middle aged gay uncles stereotypical playlist. Cher, Elton John. Etc. Please stay open later and reach out to local DJs to create rotating playlist or sets for you. Promise youll get nothing but good results.

A very cool and cozy lounge, my girlfriend and I were absolutely obsessed. Comfy couches, delicious cocktails, and excellent 60s-70s tunes, whats not to love?

Take a trip back in time to the 70’s Really cool retro lounge with a nice cocktail program. Dark and cozy with good music there’s is Plenty of seating areas and even oversized couches to lounge in and forget the modern world for a few hours

I live here now. I love everyone here. It’s a perfect space. The playlist was absolute fire last night. I am a friend of Dorothy forever and ever. amen.

Great drinks and even better atmosphere. Super friendly staff. Very welcoming environment. Feel so lucky to have this space nearby!

Really enjoyed coming here, bar tenders were cool and so was the owner! didnt even know it was the owner until after said it. she was really nice

Atmosphere was good but after 30 minutes of waiting for a drink it was obvious the bartenders didnt care who had been waiting they just serve whoever can catch their attention.

Delicious cocktails in an inviting atmosphere. The patrons are friendly, fun, and gorgeous.

Uhh yeah this place is way cool.

Music does not reflect the community. Local and rotating curated playlists that highlight queer artists would be more fitting

Best bar i’ve ever been to. new favorite spot. perfect vibes 1000000/10. thanks for existing!!!

Great drinks, atmosphere and staff!

An absolute must visit for all the queer ladies and their allies. A great evening and some very friendly staff.

My fav lesbian bar. Find Dorothy Downstairs on eventbrite to find a space for queer womxn in Chicago.

Such a cute bar. Will be going back here next time I’m in town

Really cute place, bartenders are super friendly

Secret spot with incredible cocktails and a 1920s speakeasy vibe. Cant wait to go back!

A great venue and fun lesbian bar.

Great drinks, friendly staff, and cozy!

Love this space.

Immaculate vibes. Talented Mixologists. A time.

Great tucked away spot with nice cocktails

My fav queer space in Chicago.

This establishment was full, no one was allowed to enter.

Love!!

This site is very delightful and helpful

Amazing atmosphere

One of my favorite bars in Chicago. Love that they have fantastic mocktails.

You walk in and think I want my living room to look just like this! Its chic and inviting and cozy, all in one.Dorothy is a lesbian bar, and I was told that lesbian bars historically dont do well. And yet, Dorothy feels like its on top of its game: exceptionally good drinks (and Mocktails), friendly staff, aspirational decor and fun events.I was there for the movie release of Broken Bone Bathtub- an immersive theatrical experience. People were walking in during the very last part of the Q&A, and the gal running that personally invited everyone in. She made sure to tell people entering its OK to come in, Welcome, bar is right over there! I thought that was so, for lack of a better word, nice. There was no rushing or roasting people because she had a mic.The bathrooms are clean. The parking outside is easy. Their hours are 6-11pm so youll be in bed by midnight if you make it a late night.Is this the way of the future? Reeeally great cocktails, reeeeeally great events, reeeeeally great feels? If so, this straight girl is coming to a lesbian bar near you;)

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