Elbo Room

Lakeview, Chicago –

Although named for its location at the corner nook of three intersecting streets, Elbo Room could just as easily refer to what is not available inside, considering the crowds that pack in for the venue’s live music offerings seven nights a week.

Beat up booths line the industrial gray brick walls on the ground floor, including one with an arcade classic built right into the table that ensures a round of beer often devolves into an extended tournament of Ms. Pac-Man till the wee hours.

Those who want a trip down memory lane can grab a spot at the bar, illuminated by bright red floodlights and decorated mostly by photographs of the rowdy patrons who have passed through since the venue’s early days in the 1980s.

Once the music starts, the rockers, hipsters, reggae buffs, and jazz lovers make their way to the small stage in the cocktail lounge, or head down a poster-plastered stairwell to the basement main stage, where the floor swarms with a diverse bunch of dedicated fans as varied as the music.

Vinyl couches and booths scattered around a second bar provide shadowy hideouts for couples and friends looking to escape the sweaty revelry, though most of the music lovers prefer to elbow their way into the fray in front of the stage.

A great place to get a taste of the city’s incredible music scene, Elbo Room is a prime choice for music buffs, whether they want to chill out to some quieter tunes or rock out to the blasting beats of a band.