My first time at a spot like this and hands down, Im coming back!They have 3 different venues, and each venue is unique. The atmosphere was happening and spectacular; we had such a good time!They have a good selection of drink and food options and the service was great.Regardless of who plays or performs, this place breaths, speaks and bounces entertainment and a good time!They have special springs in their dance floor that allow the party goers to safely party without allowing from the floor to collapse. If you are like me and have never been, youll soon find out! 😉A couple tips:1. Uber or walk as parking is literally not available.2. Make a reservation for their venues as they get extremely busy.3. Leave the stress and issue before opening the door and have a blast! 🥳
Service excellent, food amazing, music good and heartwarming. Atmosphere on a Thursday night in the dining room is very nice (highly recommend the charred lemon & garlic tenders, perfectly crispy and didn’t even dare to use the ranch they were already so tasty. Thanks to Osiris my server for the tip!)
Went to the House of Blues for the Sound of Summer concert. Ive been to the House of Blues before and never thought about reviewing it. Its a very good music venue, easily one of the best in the city. Ive never ordered food during a concert before, so I got the brisket sliders. They were pretty good, a little bit drier than I would like but had good flavor. If I knew I could order that quality of food at the House of Blues for concerts before, I would have been there more often lol.
The House of Blues restaurant is a sensory haven where flavors, music, and laughter intertwine, creating an unforgettable night out. Starting with drinks, the restaurant not only offered a diverse menu but also set the stage for a musical journey. Live blues melodies enriched the atmosphere, turning our dining experience into a soulful escapade.Transitioning to another floor, the venue seamlessly transformed into a comedy haven. For a mere $15, the stand-up comedy event unfolded over two hours, infusing the space with uproarious laughter. The dynamic shift from blues to comedy highlighted the venues versatility, showcasing its commitment to providing diverse and entertaining experiences under one roof.
Bonkers, absolutely wild place and really good late night food all in one building.A quiet Friday night and had some great food in the restaurant then we sneaked upstairs to catch the end encore of a fantastic concert by Badfish-Sublime and they were fabulous! Just wish we’d known about it sooner and caught more of the show…!
0 | probably the absolute worst venue I have ever seen a live show. the front of venue staff was highly disorganized. they were guiding me improperly to figure out how to get ticket upgrades, then when I encountered someone they were starting upgrades for a slightly elevated view @ $225. I paid $150 for the ticket. the upstairs private sections were over $300. it was absolutely overpriced but unfortunately necessary to see the show properly. I went to see Victoria Monet who is amazing, but sadly over half the room had an obstructed view or simply couldn’t see over one another. I have no clue how they packed folks in such a small place, it felt like there was code violation. every five seconds when I was trying to see by standing on a step I was asked to move. servers are blocked in trying to assist people in the $225 VIP section, and the whole room was frustrated by the lack of ability to move around. if you were close, there was absolutely no shuffling through the crowd. I made it up the stairs and immediately was blocked in because people were spilling at the seams on every section of the floor. I’ve been to countless concerts but never encountered this level of poor direction, orchestration, problem-solving, and planning. I will likely never consider a concert at this venue again unless it’s VIP. but if VIP is the cost it was tonight, I would not go, it’s not fair to pay to see a show you paid to attend. VIP is nothing but a guaranteed seat and an average view.
Way too crowded. Not easy to get around. Sound was good. Great show. Back in the 90s I had a conversation with a girl that worked at the original House of blues and she told me never to go because it was just bad juju. The voodoo stuff was all crazy down there. My friend who I was supposed to go with committed suicide after I got the tickets and when we left the show I saw the guy who passed when he was on the ground getting chest compressions. I actually had a conversation with him about 15 minutes earlier at the bar. Very surreal experience. Of the employees that work there were absolutely fantastic though from the people at the door to the bartenders to security. Everybody was really nice and definitely good at what they do.
Our conference party at the House of Blues was an unforgettable experience! The venues vibrant atmosphere and unique decor created the perfect backdrop for our event. From the spacious layout to the attentive staff, everything was top-notch. The live music added a fantastic touch, keeping the energy high throughout the evening. Whether youre hosting a corporate event or a private celebration, the House of Blues delivers an exceptional blend of ambiance, service, and entertainment. Highly recommended!
Chicagos House of Blues was a unique experience. I thought it would be just another dive bar music venue, but it was so much more. The ambience was kind of macabre and reminded me of a witches tabern we visited in Scotland. The ground floor was general admission standing room only but the stage was easily visible from every spot. There were multiple balconies with standing room only and reserve seating. The 3rd had a nice private club with a well thought out menu and the 4th floor had a lounge. We enjoyed sitting in the lounge while waiting for the show to start. Overall it was a unique and incredible experience. I highly recommend seeing a show here if you can.
Honestly, I thought that the venue was great. While I did not have any of the food at the venue, what I saw people have seemed to be pretty good. The application of the lights was really nice and brought a lot to the show. The sound quality at least next to the stage was really good, though I imagine that the sound quality in the balconies is pretty good.
Great venue for a concert. Love being able to find all the acts I enjoy coming through Chicago. If youre an old person like me and want to sit down for shows the VIP seating options are perfect. VIP staff is incredibly helpful and responsive. Highly recommend reserving your seats in advance. Game changer when you want to see all the bands at a show and not have to worry about saving your spot when you have to go to the bathroom or get a drink.
I saw the TesseracT show there October 10th. The venue is very visually appealing, has an easy floor plan in order to find things like the bar and restrooms, and has great parking and a lovely outdoor view.The issue I had was that the sound quality was absolutely abysmal. All that I could hear was low to low mid range. There was no clarity in the vocals, guitars, not even the drum cymbals were clear. Im in charge of production at my church, so I do have an understanding of what good sound is. Im not saying I would do better, but I do expect better sound out of a venue that is known for live music performances.On a positive note, the lights were some of the best that I have seen live in a long time! They really elevated the performance of the band.Fix the sound and this will be a 5 start review.
Saturday night in Chicago. Hmmm. What to do? Wait, I know! The House of Blues for some live music with our “Brothers” Jake and Elwood! 🕴️😎While the Blues may not have been born in Chicago, it sure has found a home here. Although this “House” offers a concert venue upstairs, our focus was on the downstairs portion that features live music in a more intimate setting (and includes a full restaurant with a Southern-inspired menu).During our visit we had the good fortune of listening to a band that is no stranger to the Chicago Blues scene, the “Windy City Rev Ups.” @windycityrevups are multiple award winners including “Best Blues Band” and have performed at this “House” on more than 600 occasions (including this evening, which just happened to be the birthday of the band’s singer-songwriter Rich “Rev” 🥳🎂).This “House” is not open 365, so be sure to check their schedule before setting out.We secured our downstairs seating early in the evening (and without a reservation), but if you arrive after dinner, and without a reservation, you should be prepared to wait for a table.Although the acoustics are good, we found that as the restaurant filled it became difficult to hear the performers when they addressed the audience in between sets (apparently not everyone came for the music).Come for the live music, or come to commiserate with the Blues legends that appear to be listening from just over your shoulder, just come.And that’s…Henry’s Take.#chicagobluesscene
The security guards are super prejudice!, we went to metal show.. and anyone that knows the nature of these shows knows ppl do get rowdy, but never in a reckless way, the security (African American) singled us out (Hispanic) and watched us the whole time which ruined the experience, and show in my opinion! This venue was terrible for that reason! Totally ruined the show and made us feel uncomfortable! They need to hire better security with diversity training because this is Chicago we don’t just cater to one race or ethnicity!
Went to go see one of my favorite artist, Adekunle Gold last Friday and it was very surreal. I enjoyed the experience. I love the security at House of Blues felt very safe. However, since it is standing venue only unless you pay extra for the VIP seating, feet will hurt lol. And I think some of the prices for drinks and food should be alittle lower but the bartender was super nice. Overall, I would definitely come back for another concert 🤍
A personal fave music venue of mine! the decor is very interesting and the sound is incredible. A very intimate music venue. The security guards are also very helpful and patient with you even in the sold out shows (especially the women identifying guards).People with disabilities: this is a standing room only space, though seats are on the side of the main floor and top floor.
Fun place for concerts. Small so if you’re not into being packed like a sausage, you won’t like it here. They have snacks that are decent and a lot of drink options. Prices could be even $1 cheaper and I’m sure they’d still make a killing. But who doesn’t complain or would love not paying an arm and a leg for drinks…?Parking is expensive so use a park app or be ready to pay downtown prices.The ambiance in general is good and the time we went the bartenders were nice and fast.
Not a lot of floor space, but theres two levels of balconies for VIPs. It is prime location in river north chicago. Definitely recommend one of their themed raves or parties. Bars are all around the main dance floor, pretty pricey, but thats expected considering the location. Coat check and restrooms are in the back, pretty decent room back there.
We purchased the VIP tickets which allowed us access to the lounge area and seating on the balcony. Our bartender/server was amazing. This was for the jawbreaker concert. Met some new friends there. I loved the experience. I’m so happy we were able to get reserved seating on the balcony because the main floor was so crowded. The woman who helped us get the vip was so great. I wish I had her name. Thank you house of blues for a great experience.
11.15.23 Skinny Puppy Final Tour, Venue, was good for this show. VIP PASS Upgrade was a plus. Highly recommended for a better view and access to VIP Bar, little waiting. The sound was good, and everyone had a good time. Only drawback was the Murder that happened 30 feet from entrance of the House of Blues at 11:30pm as people were leaving the venue.
They dont let you take vape in. I had to leave it outside and it got taken. If we dont smoke them inside, we should be able to bring them in and leave them in a purse or pocket. Low life took mine that was left outside or it got thrown away. No cash. They want us to be a slave to a card. Overpriced drinks. If you want to see an artist, choose a different venue.
We traveled up to see Caravan Palace here (first time at this venue) and were blown away by how cool it is.We ate at the restaurant prior, and our waitress was the highlight of the entire dining experience. I unfortunately have a -20 spice tolerance so I was only really able to enjoy the French fries (they were really good though for what thats worth) and load up on hurricane drinks.The venue has this cursed white dog painting on stage left by the bar that I REALLY wish I would have gotten a picture of. The entire place is filled with rad art and history. We enjoyed the show and the venue as a whole! Hope to be back!
Recently went for the David Kushner concert and had a blast! Super small venue and we were packed like sardines lol but it was a very nice atmosphere overall.Took off one star because they really need a better process for the merch. Bathrooms were right next to the merch area, so people were constantly trying to squeeze through where the line was forming to leave.
Historic theater in Chicago with really cool decor. We came to see half alive and Tessa Violet and really enjoyed their shows. The doors did not open at the time specified on the tickets, but otherwise the venue and artists were great. There is not a lot of space on the main floor, so try to arrive early to your show if you can.
Definitely the coolest bar Ive ever been. Decor is feckin phenomenal. Music amazing. The best and the greatest is Nat behind the bar. Pumping out the best cocktails youll ever taste. True professional. Not to take away from the rest of the staff as they are the best.
Staff is polite but very on the nose with rules.Situation: came for Skinny Puppy, needed ADA accommodation, which they provided, but... the door staff didnt issue us drinking wristbands, said the Ada badge was enough. Tell that to the bartenders, please, because of my companions had to hoof it downstairs to get them when bartenders had problems identifying Wisconsin drivers licenses.Not great.Also, no way to contact the guy in charge to help us get to the freight elevator to leave, so we got caught in the crush on the stairs when everyone started leaving ( were slow, dig?)I appreciate the effort they put into offering it, but please get the staff on board with the execution.
Awesome lights along with the shows, went to see lsd and the search for god, horse jumper of love, and panchiko and had the best time of my life. Will say its a very packed and could barely move but i mean its a concert sooo i shouldve expected it. Very nice and loud and the lights were just so pretty. Will definately go again
I really dislike this venue. Drinks (beer) are extremely overpriced. The venue is narrow with limited visibility outside the main floor. The people attempted to sell upgrades are obnoxious. Theres absolutely nowhere to sit unless you pay for a seating upgrade.On the plus side, the restrooms and staff are on the nicer side of Chicago venues this size.
Great overall venue to watch concerts but seriously House of Blues, $40 for valet parking, $25 per person to jump to the front of the line and $50 per person for a table seat?Stop gouging your customers with these outrageous prices!What a way to leave a great venue disgusted by the greed inside of it.
One of the best jazz clubs in Chicago. Went on a Wednesday evening and ended up being there for 3 hours. Their bands were that good. Funky mojo daddy were out of this world. Highly recommend visiting here when in the windy city. It is am experience and a treat to the eyes and ears. Bar has many choices and you can order dinner too.
Rudest and most aggressive security I’ve ever witnessed. Yelled in an artists face for trying to get a few more pictures with fans…Knocked someone’s phone out of their hand in the process. Also, the security who are supposed to hand out wristbands for 21+ were sitting on the side of the building saying and doing nothing. Nobody in front of us or a few behind us were given our wristband so we had to go back down to get it. Then the security started blaming us for “not seeing them.” No, we saw you. Pretty sure you’re the ones who are supposed to be handing out the wristbands and making sure everyone knows what you’re there for, but sure. We just didn’t see you. Maybe this venue should get some new employees who want to give their guests a better experience and allow fans time to buy merch and enjoy themselves. Instead of giving attitude and yelling at guests for just trying to enjoy themselves.
Its cool they serve food and have renatble phone chargers.But the venue layout makes it really hard to move through the crowd to get to the mosh pits. Also, drinks are very expensive. Also, no reentry OR smoking section sucks.Though to be fair, theres not a spot in the venue where you cant see well.
Good! Worth a try, I probably won’t go back because there are just so many places to try in Chicago. I will say - hats off for their Mojitos- wow! They were the best I’ve ever had. And, the jambalaya was great too. The service was good, our guy was training so were expected a bit of an hiccup. The food selection coeliac is not fantastic but you will find somethings. The entertainment was ok, not my kind of blues but I was happy enough to be in the audience.
I went to a Northlane concert here and they were spectacular. My only problem was some of the absolute horrible security guards there. This was one of my first ever concerts, and I was treated horribly by the security guards. I was in the back of the line, and I thought this man was selling presale tickets at the back. This person wasnt wearing any kind of uniform to indicate that he was a security guard at all. I had thought he asked if I wanted tickets and I kindly said, No thank you. He then became furious because I had thought he was selling tickets and started swearing at me and my girlfriend left and right. The other two security guards there did nothing to calm him down or to deescalate the situation. This is appalling for someone going to their first concert and to be berated at by their workers for no reason what so ever. I dont think Ill ever be coming back here again if they treat their customers this horribly.
Ugh, I wish I could give a higher rating but so many little annoying things add up. First, day of show I call and ask what the seat prices are. I bought 1 on main floor for 125. I had asked if there were some seats on the rail next to the stage. I was told no but when I arrive, there are seats there available. Plus they were selling seats for 75. Why was I charged 50 extra. Plus my seat was NOT on the main floor but on the elevated seating area behind the sound/mixer section, not to mention my table is behind another table so my view is really obscured. Also, as far as the restaurant goes the hostess said I could sit at the bar or rail across from the bar and a waiter would come. After 20 minutes and several employees looking right at me, nobody came. I had to go ask for a menu and then after deciding what I wanted, I had to go find another employee to give my order to. Security was nice. The decor is great. The food is average but priced high. The beer is expensive as is at every music venue. I left my credit card with the waiter, I came back 5 minutes after I left and asked an employee about it at the door. He said if I left it, they put it in a safe and I have to get it the next day. I left like 5 minutes before that and the employee would not go check to see if it was in fact locked in the safe till tomorrow. Ill never buy a seat over the phone again, as they are misleading were the seats are and charge extra for them. Tesla was awesome. The pics were taken at the restaurant and some when I was walking around. The last pic was at my seat and you can see the empty table in front that will be full when the people who reserved it show up and the mixer/sound station. Very disappointing and I feel cheated.
An incredibly gorgeous and elegant venue it is beautiful inside and out. It looks very large from the outside and is neatly nestled right in the heart of the loop right next to the river in downtown chicago. Getting inside is a pain in the butt and once you do the lobby is very small. You are immediately LED upstairs to the stage floor area. General admission stage area is very small for such a large high-profile venue. It is a very close quarters crowd space. Expect high levels of Engagement all throughout the show.
Last minute visit for the Gimme Gimme Disco show and a super fun crowd made for a late fun night! Ended up in one of the perches high above.Then dropped back in the next night for some classic rock n roll from Dorothy who crushed it with support from Joyous Wof and Classless Act who were also amazing.
First off, this venue is epic, just absolutely gorgeous and clean. Secondly, I had a small issue, got dizzy and passed out. The manager and staff took GREAT care of me!! So understanding and even put me in a free seat so I wouldnt miss the show. Who does that?? Wonderful people, thats who!! Thank you folks, so seriously. Beyond gracious!!
First time at HOB. Staff were great; very friendly and helpful. We had a group of 11, so the food took a little time, but it was fine. I ordered the brisket, which came with slaw, pickles, jalapeno corn bread, and beans. It all tasted good, but it wasnt really anything special compared to other places with good brisket, which made the price seem a bit high. Otherwise, I had a great time. (It was my birthday, and they did bring me a cookie and ice cream in a skillet.)
Great place for shows. I love the venueIve seen Larry June & Ari Lennox there. Drinks are expensive. $20 for a double shot of Hennessy and Pepsi.Gets crowded and very tight in there. Standing venue. People do NOT perform at the time the ticket says. So don’t be right on time like me. His ticket said 530 & he came out at 8pm. Aris said 6 and it started about 730.
I was extremely lucky to have seen Gracie Abrams here for both nights in Chicago on her Good Riddance tour. Gracie was just everything and her fans were all fantastic!I am writing this review to say that the staff of House of Blue Chicago was just great. They organized our line split the different levels of ticket options. They frequently gave us water in the pit. And they were also really quick to help someone get out of the pit.The venue is pretty but the staff are the shining stars here.
For a House of Blues, there is very little blues. I had been there for 2 hours and heard 6 songs. Long breaks between the short concerts. I was traveling alone and was hoping for some entertainment during dinner. After 2 hours I was sent away because of the time slot. Terrible experience. The cocktails were good though
The place is very nice! I attended the Rick Astley Concert . We found convenient garage parking right across the street. This is a standing room concert location. The architecture in the building is very pleasing. Many bars through out the concert hall.The sound and light show was amazing. I really enjoyed my concert experience!
One of the best concert experiences Ive ever had. Couldnt believe how lucky I was that Sir Sly (and as a bonus Joywave) was playing in a smaller venue like House of Blues. I mean, whhhat?!? Really theres not a bad spot in the place. Staff was really nice and the show was AMAZING! Both bands sounded just like their recordings. Ill definitely be back.
I dont think Ive ever been to a place that had a worse design for actually seeing the band. I am 64 and I came about a half hour early and couldnt find a view where I was seeing more than half the band. Come very early or skip it.You can pay an extra $100 - $200 bucks for a seat with an actual view of the stage (actual tickets were $50 ish, so an extra three times the cost of the ticket). Hurry with those too, because they sell out fast once people realize its impossible to see the stage.I wont be coming back unless someone Im dying to see comes to town, at which point Ill realize the tickets are actually $150 bucks more than the face value.
Been there as a rock star driver, the parking is under the building, its a pure dump! Forget about taking a clean bus down in this rat infested mud put. At the very least they could have put gravel down at this point, lord knows theyve made enuf money. You have to park your bus next to a grease trap so it smells, which even tho you have shore power, your roof airs still suck in that nasty smell, the dead rats next to the engine bay as i did my pretrip was a nice touch. All the dirt and mud on the inside of my million dollar bus is always a treat to come back to and start your day with. Theres just barely enuf room down there for a couple buses. Im sure they treat the bands fine, ive never heard them complain, but this parking situation is absolutely unnessesary. Do better House Of Blues.
A truly unique experience and venue for avid music goers. The history of the building alone is worth the visit. Beautifully designed and great acoustics make for a memorable concert experience. The only drawback is there arent many seating options available. Its an open floor concept so the only seats are box seats in the balcony and a few bar chairs surrounding the outer edges of the main floor. But thats a minor issue. The food served here is also very good and reasonably priced. Highly recommend attending the House of Blues for a concert!
Incredible place. only part i didnt like much was the feeling of the floor moving but it was a concert with quite a big crowd, so its to be expected.
The House of Blues is definitely a good place to go. It is not only extremely educational considering some of the facts posted around the building, but it is also quite an interesting and artistic building. The food is definitely not bad as well. It is over priced in some aspects which I will get to, but it is still quite good. We ordered jambalaya and added shrimp which doesnt automatically come with it which is odd considering every jambalaya I have ever eaten has shrimp already in it. The bowl of jambalaya is $18 by itself and you get around 2 cups full. If you want to add shrimp you pay additional of $6 for 4 shrimp which are the 16/20 size. The jambalaya was ultimately well made with good spice to it. I dont think 4 shrimp at $6 is fair priced but the jambalaya was still good. The grilled salmon that was originally ordered doesnt come with any starch which we thought it did, so we ordered sweet potato French fries which are good. The salmon was still raw in the middle after taking a bite and it had an off taste to it so we sent it back after talking to the waitress. We then ordered the grilled mahi sandwich which was very good. The only downside and disappointment to the food was that there was a bone in a piece of chicken, there was a fairly large piece of bay leaf left in the jambalaya which is horrible to bite into, and the 4 shrimp with the tails still on were not priced accordingly and should have had the tail removed. The ice tea was good as well. We decided against a dessert at this meal. All in all, House of Blues was worth going to and definitely worth visiting if you are in Chicago for a visit.
Easily one of the better more realized venues Ive been to. Loved the ornamentation throughout the entire complex, the very easy going attitude of the staff, the prompt wait staff, great selection in the gift shop. Went and saw Yam Haus and Blue October and definitely look forward to future trips to the House of Blues!
It was OK. Been to other HOB venues, which were more enjoyable. This venue is small. COVER CHARGES $10 PER PERSON!!!! In addition to ridiculous cover charge, overpriced and miniscule drink menu. Food was typical HOB. Music/band was just ok. Definitely NOT WORTHY OF A COVER CHARGE!!
So ridiculously overpriced & terrible terrible service, i made reservations an hour and half before a show, we didnt get greeted until 7:45 and didnt get our food until 8:15. our show was at 8:30. they werent even busy, Ive served before he should have at least come to check on us once or twice.
Went on December 16th to see Hot Mulligan. They were great but this isnt about them haha.Very interesting building. Old. Plenty of parking downtown. Staff was very courteous and professional. The security handled the crowdsurfers super well. Bathrooms were very clean given how many people were packed into this place. That would be my only complaint is that it isnt particularly large, and it was pretty packed in there. The only physical seating I think is up inside the opera boxes.Overall good experience.
It goes without saying that House of Blues, Chicago is an American icon. The whole ambience lends itself to the feeling that you are within the embodiment of decades of great music and art. Added to that, the service was top notch. From front door to behind the bar, and everything in between was professional, friendly, courteous. The only thing that undermines all the positives is that the food is just absolutely terrible and way overpriced. We had a group dinner/event that was exceptional in everyway except the terrible food.
Whenever I visit Chicago, I stop by the House of Blues for a shrimp poboy sandwich. Youre not in New Orleans, but usually its a good sandwich. Not sure if rising food prices or the effects of COVID prompted the restaurant to cut the sandwich in half. I didnt cry foul over the cost. Food costs and I understand that. Everyone is paying more for food. It was the fact that I paid a full-sandwich price and received half a sandwich. It was laughable. Ill get my fix when I return to New Orleans.
Ive heard many stories about the House of Blues and my first experience there was awesome! I saw Starset and the whole venue was rocking. Several bars were there for convenience and you could even get food which always dont seem to be an option when going to a concert. There are two floors and each offered a good view of the event. Obviously the earlier you got in the better so you could stand by the railing but I was behind a couple standing at the railing and still saw everything. There a couple parking garages just a few blocks away from the venue which makes parking easy because parking in Chicago can be a real pain. Overall, a very positive experience and I cant wait to go back.
The Grogans opened for Ocean Alley. They have a laid back feel with a range of genres. Le Fangz was my favorite; laid back to high energy. They didn’t play Lemon to My Lime; limited time-slot. This band deserves further airplay. They are very down to Earth off stage as they are on. Had the pleasure of sharing a brief conversation; grateful. There is rise to this Aussie music invasion. The Grogans are fun and reggae surfer chill. Amazing show.
For once the most recent show I attended was not over sold, but usually its ridiculous. Drinks are very expensive as well. Redeeming plus is the sound is fantastic
This was my first time and I loved it! The venue is quaint and nostalgic. My partner is wheelchair bound and they did everything they could to accommodate us and more! We also participated in the VIP room which was a great upgrade for just a little more! I wouldn’t recommend any of the fancy cocktails and just go with what you know. We also had a brunch the next day with the band and the food was phenomenal! The place could be a little more ADA friendly but the staff went out of their way to accommodate!
Attended my first show at the HOB this past Tuesday; I was skeptical at first because I was taking three teenagers. I talked to HOB manager, Joe, and he was very helpful. I decided to do the whole experience at the HOB: Tickets, Dinner and Box Seats (VIP).The entire experience was great! Starting from security, hostess, waitress, seats and show.I highly suggest everyone to do the same. Made dinner reso for 530 (show was at 7), from the moment we arrived everyone was helpful. There was a looooong line for the show and security immediately asked “Hey gentleman, are you here for the show?” we said we had a dinner reso and he guided us towards the restaurant. Everyone inside gave us a friendly welcoming (which is already a big plus in my book). We got there around 530ish… Waited about 2 minutes for our table, and by 545/550 we already had our drinks and appetizers. By 630 we were already wrapping up our dinner. Price was decent about $90 dollars for four people (appetizer, soft drinks and meal).Met the manager while we waited for dinner, Joe – great friendly guy. He guided us towards elevator to get access to our private box (110). There we were friendly greeted all the way to our box and waitress came around about 3 times. Not sure if we could have had meals up there. If so, next time I’ll just eat at the box.Another big plus on my book is the bathrooms… shockingly for a place heavily trafficated by people, they were really clean.Overall, outstanding customer services throughout all the HOB, great seats if you’re in a box. I’m sure young people would enjoy the floor level too, me personally, I’d stick to a box or the book a chair on second balcony, those seats also seemed great.
Great music, great atmosphere. Service was wonderful and prompt.A few tips:1) Dont get the nachos, theyre not very good.2) Make a reservation if youre trying to get a table at the restaurant, otherwise youll be waiting for a while.3) Above the restaurant is a dance hall which makes the entire building shake. Be prepared as its a bit disorienting.
Went here for a charity event. Had a great time. The food was good for bar food. Had a very tasty Taco. Yhe mac and cheese was also pretty good. The sliders had just the right amount of BBQ sauce.The house band playing was energetic, entertaining and enjoyable to watch or dance to. They kept going and was interacting with the crowd.I suggest valet parking. Much easier to use and worth the money than to find a parking space and walk.Went shopping in the gift shop. The items are reasonably priced for a tourist who is visiting. Plus we received a free mug because we spent a certain amount and a reusable bag.If you are ever in Chicago, take visit to the store, the restaurant or stay and see an event. You wont be disappointed.
While in Chicago the House of Blues Is a great place to have dinner. It was within walking distance from our hotel. They had Live music while you enjoy your dinner. Staff was very helpful with recommendations on what to eat and drink. Food and drink were delicious. Great customer service. Will stop by again on our next trip to Chicago.
Went to see the Dayglow concert on 10/28. The venue was clean and the decor is timeless. Dayglow was awesome to experience, Sloan came across as a really down to earth guy. He interacted with the audience several times, taking selfies with the audiences phones and borrowing some shades that were handed to him during the performance. Tickets were really affordable for GA and I hope to see him soon in the future.
Shoulder to shoulder with a couple hundred of your new best friends. You have to arrive early to get a decent spot as this is majority SRO. There are tvs if you cant see, but does that not defeat the purpose of attending an event? There were no fire lanes at this sold out show except thru the seated bar area. And it was the only place security was policing where people were standing besides access to the vip boxes. Numerous people couldnt figure out the venue to leave, merch wasnt in a convenient area. Not enough signage for exits, restrooms, or directions to merch. Parking is a joke. Either you overpay to park close or you park further away and get turned around because the closest garage (block walk) isnt well signed either.
The venue is artsy and beautiful with awesome acoustics. I enjoyed it very much.Just a heads up, vaping devices arent allowed and if your purse is bigger than your hand or not see-through/clear youll have to pay a $4 coat check fee(only cash) and leave it at the entrance. Luckily I had cash and it wasnt a big deal.
I went to House of Blues for their Epic High concert, and it was literally the best show I have ever been too. The venue was nice, the sound was amazing, and their show epik. Furthermore, I got the Pass the Line which came with a dining voucher. It was worth it. I got the Shrimp Poboy and Buffalo wings, and it was some of tastiest wings I ever ate. I hope Epik High returns to this venue, and I look forward to coming to more shows held here.
I saw Kim Dracula. Great Venue. Fun safe environment. Reasonably priced show. Close parking and lots of other things near by to eat and do for fun.
Buyer beware... if you spend the money on vip seats you are not getting into the concert. You will also need to buy a GA ticket.On top of that, the night of the event the staff was not prepared- we got there entered where we were told was then told to go wait outside in the other line and they would separate us later. Got there and was quickly brought back in the door we just walked out of and told to go to the ticket box- went there was sent to another Podium to check in. Had to wait another 15 mins past opening as they were trying to get the music in the bar started the bar staff was busier talking to other staff or on their phones. At opening there was no soap in one bathroom. At the end of the night- no toilet paper in the other... over all not impressed with the venue but the concert itself was good.
Nice vibe, and the food is delicious. Beware of the waiters, including entrees to your meal without telling you its a separate price.
Fantastic place! The main hall upstairs is spacious and cozy at the same time. Intimate but big.The whole space is decorated in very interesting ways, which is entertainment on top of the show you will see. And there are two floors so it never feels too crowded.There are stairs to go up but they also have an elevator.Great experience and really cool place.
I absolutely loved the band that I saw (shoutout to Drew Holcomb!) - this has nothing to do with them!House of Blues Chicago was a little bit of a let down for me! I think the staff at HoB and/or the rules for VIP seating at HoB are displeasing. If VIP seating is unavailable due to someone reserving seating ahead of time, not allowing people in those seats is completely understandable. There were several seats not reserved for this show, and the staff at HoB would push through the crowd to tell people they were not allowed to sit in the seats. Why cant people sit down if the seats were not reserved ahead of time? This is not good customer service and makes a poor experience.I have been to several theater venues that offer VIP seating upon reservation, and then the rest of the seats are, rightfully, first-come-first-served. House of Blues could certainly do better in this way and gain audience satisfaction! If selling VIP tickets is important for HoB, I would suggest upgrading marketing and lowering your prices for seating.$150 for a seat in a theater is ridiculous! I paid $200 for a floor ticket (pre-sale) to watch Harry Styles play a sold out arena. HoB would have made more money to sell those seats for $25/each day of show, instead of kicking people out of seats and telling them they have to pay $150 (in the middle of a performance). Please do better House of Blues!
Like idk what they are doing to the menu but I order blackened salmon with corn n whatever supposed to have been good but they brought me corn soup and burnt gumbo. I took my salmon out of the corn soup and put salmon into my salad .. I’m very upset , I should’ve just had it taken back but I hate doing that . I took a picture trying to see how I can upload it
Had a great evening there ! The singer was able to create a nice atmosphere with songs and jokes, making the customers participate here and there.The cocktails can be expensive but there is a decent selection, the food is great there and match the rest of the experience.I had the half-rack bbq ribs and my friend tried the macaroni&cheese and both were awesome
Awesome venue with great bartenders. Can get very packed and crowded if the show is sold out.
Very cool looking place! Funky folk art covering the walls, Blues Brothers memorabilia, gift shop, lots of bars, and great sound throughout the venue. First time here and I thought the place was great. All staff was VERY friendly and kept things in order when the crowd/line got out of hand. Very impressed! Loved it. Saw Miyavi.
The restaurant was great (especially the ribs and the live blues show), however, the communication for the event happening in the adjacent hall was terrible. My wife bought tickets thinking it was a live Taylor Swift concert, but it was just a DJ playing songs.
Cool place to grab a bite to eat, while listening to local musicians. Great beer selection and a lot of specialty cocktails. The concert hall upstairs holds over a 1,000 people, but it feels like a smaller venue. Great sound system to support all the different styles of music who play there. Limited beer and drink menu in the concert hall, but small food bites are available of you get munchy during the show.
The venue is great, the band Dirty Loop was awesome, staff very nice. Standing for the entire concert and ticket pricing, not so good.
Great venue to see a concert. The main stage area is a fairly intimate setting to see artist up close. Balcony general admission arent bad, its usually not as crowded upstairs so likely wont have ppl in front of you.Drinks are pricey but to be expected, the tall boys are size of two beers though so not too bad.
This was my first time there!! The bartenders were on point!! Great service every where!!! I will definitely be going back!!
The restaurant has good drinks and the best blackened salmon that I have ever had. It was very tasty and my friends and I were able to cut the line for the concert because we spent over $25 per person at dinner. The house of blues itself as a concert venue is a little crowded when you stand on the main floor, plus it gets a little hot but you get what you pay for. I would go back.
We were seated quickly even arriving 10 minutes early for our reservation with a great view of the stage. The food was fantastic. The spicy cream sauce covered shrimp and grits was worth breaking my diet for and a side of greens was a bit salty but bacony with flavorful seasoning. The smoked chicken and brisket my husband ordered was just as tasty and satisfying. Great creamy not too sweet coleslaw on the side. The atmosphere here is loud when musicians are playing, but that is expected. The decor is so interesting and colorful. It is like an eclectic art museum itself.
Overall really good. Vip area was kept clean and empty from people crossing the line. Everyone past the entrance wasamazing. When we walked in they were all rude and unhelpful but once we made it up to the lounge on the 4th floor the bartender was amazing. Helped us to our seats suggested food that we couldnt pass up ( Who what else thought of putting apples grilled cheese was incredible). The sound system was really good and everybody in the pak area to of charas very well well worth the money.
Nice venue but they need some better acts... service was great though!
Great venue. Acoustics are spectacular. Always enjoy going to a show here.
Last year I purchased a VIP Meet & Greet ticket to see my girl Tinashe, but I was cancelled due to covid.In July Tinashe announced she was going on tour, I purchased a VIP meet & greet ticket again, but arrived late & missed the meet & greet. I talked to her team selling her merch, they tell me to come back after the show, I ENJOYED HER PERFORMANCE, and met her after the show.
Of the 200+ shows Ive been to in the past 13 years, this was the absolute worst venue experience Ive ever had. We showed up at 7:40 for a 7pm doors/8pm show, and didnt get in until 8:30. The line was wrapped around the building and all the way down the bridge. It was also 33°/23° windchill, which made that wait even more unacceptable. We were finally at security/bag check when the opener was playing his last song. We flew across the country to see these two artists, and all we got for one of them was hearing his last song muffled from across the venue. Ive never experienced a more inefficient entry for a venue. They were clearly understaffed and unequipped for a sold out show. It was also literally sardines on the floor and balcony - there is no way they didnt oversell this event. This was an extremely frustrating and disappointing night, and I would have been better off not going.
Restaurant Review -Overall: Convenient place to grab a bite to eat and some drinks before a show.The good: Decently sized restaurant area with lots of seating, cool memorabilia, and live music (blues in our case, naturally). The menu covers a variety of options and the meal itself was really good. The BBQ bacon burger with sweet potato fries hit the spot.The not-so-good: Limited selection of beers, and several of the options they had were out. Our waitress was also painfully slow (from ordering, to refills, to just a long wait in general). The prices are also a tad much.Atmosphere:8/10Service: 6/10Food: 7/10
The legendary House of Blues in downtown Chicago holds its status for good reason.Amazing food, great and courteous staff, and a Foundation Room that you can waste your time relaxing in!! The VIP experience alone was far more than one could ask for!An amazing weekend at the House of Blues is all you need for a getaway trip!
Great music. Door staff entirely clueless about who was playing and gave terrible direction. Disgusting bathroom even for a music venue and had NO paper towels!
The stuff became extremely rude to me and my friends. I did not feel safe at this venue nor would I recommend it.
Although I wasnt able to actually listen to some blues, its still a must in Chicago. For two nights in a row we went there but the downstairs restaurant/pub was closed for private event - and there is where true soul music plays. We ended up in the 2nd floor concert area and where some really crappy indie music festival was playing. Beer was OK, pork ribs were great. Interior decoration was awesome and the souvenir shop is overpriced - but thats what you expect from a tourist place.
It was such a great intimate venue for a show. Loved it and all its character!!
Dinner at House of blues was awesome. The show by Best of the 90s was so much fun. The service was Superior. We were upgraded from the floor seating to a box and had our own attendant. I made a few trips into the Foundation Room where they had a blues band playing. I wish I had that much fun at every show.
Such a cool event to attend. This brunch was not only great tasting, but a fun overall experience. Our waiter, Trey did a great job of making sure we were fully enjoying our experience at the House of Blues and in Chicago in general. The music and energy throughout the morning/ afternoon was uplifting. Highly recommend.
House of Blues Chicago is by far, the best HoB I have beem to!The staff - exceptionally friendly and attentive.The food - nothing short of incredible.The Foundation Room - surreal and stunning.The music - well, what can I say? Nothing but the best.I CANNOT wait to return to Chicago again so I can visit the House of Blues.
Awesome job with my group of 96. It was the gastronomical highlight of the trip! Super nice staff.
Good parking, and had a little area where u could emergency park your car for couple minutes
Cool atmosphere. Specialty drinks were expensive but you only needed one so not too bad considering. The music was great and with that it’s a little loud (to be expected). We loved it though. Lots to look at. The food was pretty good as well. Service was ok. It was busy and things took awhile. Not unexpected. We would definitely come back!
Friendly environment and staff, but the food needs seasoning. I ordered the fries with brisket-tasteless. Also, they add a tip without telling you.
Fun, not the best music on our visit, but I will come back again
- Address:329 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
- Site:https://www.houseofblues.com/chicago
- Phone:+1 312-923-2000
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:Closed
- Wednesday:Closed
- Thursday:5–10 PM
- Friday:5 PM–12 AM
- Saturday:5 PM–12 AM
- Sunday:Closed
- On-site services:Yes
- Live performances:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible car park:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible seating:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet:Yes
- Bar on site:Yes
- Restaurant:Yes
- Toilets:Yes
- Debit cards:Yes
- NFC mobile payments:Yes
- Credit cards:Yes
- Valet parking:Yes
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