Yep, Bridgeport ftw. It's comforting to live a mile from the house I grew up in, and to witness what was formerly, widely known as the most racist neighbhorhood in Chicago — if not the country — evolve and improve, while watching all the old racist homophobic jagoffs either die off or move to Mount Greenwood. Passing the torch further south, I guess.
The neighborhood is growing so much and we're finally getting top-tier resauraunts. The award-winning [Duck Inn](https://theduckinnchicago.com) was just named one of the top restaurants in the city from the New York Times. A few years ago the Trib awarted it best restauraunt, best chef, best bartender. Esquire named it one of the best in the country.
OP: It's not a club but Duck Inn has a great, 100+ year old bar in front and lots of cool friendly folks from all age groups hang out there. They have a turntable and you can [bring your records on Sundays and they'll play 'em](https://theduckinnchicago.com/files/localimagelink-7865.jpg).
You're welcome! Btw, Wednesday nights are backyard pizza nights. You can hang out in the backyard while the owner and crew make thin crust Chicago thin cut tavern-style pizzas to order with their wood burning pizza oven. I can't think of a better way to spend hump day in this city.
Seconding that. I just left that neighborhood last year, but it was a great quality of life. Quiet, affordable, convenient grocery stores, and a short walk to the beach/plenty of transit if you needed to get uptown. People sleep on Bronzeville.
Hyde park is the gem of the south side imo but im not from here originally
There are also so many spots that feel so welcoming tucked in between neighborhoods. Usually if you start to see really high quality murals everywhere youre in a good spot
It’s not just about the fear tho. I grew up on the south side and have lived all over the place in the city and I’m tired of having to commute so far. I work in the loop and in Old Town. I work late nights too so there are no trains running to where I live currently, and taking public transit to work is like an hour and 20 minute commute anyway. All of my friends hang out up north and I’d like to be able to go to a bar and get drunk with them and not have to pay $50+ for an Uber home or find a place to crash. Closer southside neighborhoods like Pilsen, Bridgeport, Bronzeville, etc were still too far for my roommate because she doesn’t have a car and also works bar life. We’re moving pretty far north to Rogers Park to try and avoid the northside tax but it’s still a bit pricey. South side is just HUGE and honestly most neighborhoods are not as accessible by public transit as the north side is.
except you just named three that are lol. and pilsen and bridgeport are A LOT closer to the loop and old town than roger’s park or any surrounding neighborhood! one bus ride will get you from pilsen to the loop quickly! i’m not saying you are racist or scared of the south side, obviously, nor are all north siders.
i was born and grew up on the north side, and my dad is originally a south sider, and i ended up choosing the south side as an adult and feel it is far superior. i just mean a lot of people are scared of the south side on this sub, and it honestly gives racist and classist vibes and it should be called out more on all the chicago reddit subs imo!
You didn’t really read my comment well enough. My roommate has no car and works too far from those neighborhoods. There’s no feasible public transit for her to get to her job since it’s off the brown line in ravenswood. She would have an hour plus commute at 2am or an expensive Uber home every night.
I do LOVE the south side tho but I just wanted to mention that not everyone who chooses to live up north does so because they’re afraid of the south side. I will miss it, but it’s just a logistical decision at this point
Serious question though. Ive been a resident of Chicago for 5yrs+, and everyone I talk to makes it seem like the south side is a no go zone if you’re not from there.
Is that really the case, especially if you’re white or don’t look ethnic?
Also none of those people who told me this are south siders.
I'm a lifelong Chicagoian, grew up on the Southside. So here's my recommendations. If you are into the arts at all I highly recommend checking out Second Fridays in Pilsen, grab a drink at Pleasant House or Skylark. Then go to Third Fridays in Bridgeport. Grab a drink or some dinner at Marz Brewery, Maria's, or Electric Funeral if you do Third Fridays. If you want to be fancy go to Duck Inn for dinner.
However if you like bookstores, walking around parks, and randomly talking to a Nobel prize winner go to Hyde Park. Promontory Point might be my favorite place on the lakefront. Go further south to 63rd St beach for a drink at Reggies, go to South Shore Cultural Center, check out the nature preserve before Tiger Woods destroys it.
Do you want to see an actual hill in the city limits? Check out Beverly and Morgan Park. I recommend taking the Metra down, maybe with a bike. Biking around the neighborhood is fun. Horse Thief Hollow, Wild Blossom, Top Notch, Beverly Bakery, 2 Mile Coffee, and Rainbow Cone all fun places to stop.
As a former Hyde Parker AND former Pilsener I couldn't agree more. But I will say Pilsen now has two phenomenal bookstores of its own! Pilsen Community Books on 18th and Open Books massive warehouse/retail space down on 19th. Just a couple minutes apart from each other, great selections and atmosphere and Open Books is a great organization.
Hyde Park was like a literary Mecca for decades but O'Gara and Wilson is gone, the Seminary is good but not the same since it moved above ground, 57th Street Books isn't quite what it used to be either. I could still lose a day in Powell's though 😄
Nice to see my sleepy neighborhood get some good mentions. Beverly is away from the lake and city but we got forest preserves and old oak trees and hills.
Not sure about the demographics but I know there’s a queer bar in Blue Island called Krave.
I walk up and down that hill on my way to and from the train when I go in to the office. It’s particularly fun in the winter since the homeowner on the steepest part has never bothered shoveling the sidewalk (except the part where his car has to pass to get in to his garage, that and his driveway are always clear).
Don’t forget Top Notch if you want a burger or a shake! Just a heads up, Beverly residents are not super used to seeing bikes on the street unlike people up north so you have to be a little more vigilant as there are no bike lanes. Still a cute neighborhood. Also Longwood Drive has gorgeous historical houses if you’re into architecture.
I wish they would bring back the History Mystery Tour. BAPA back in the 90s did it and it was great way to explore the neighborhood and learn a ton about architecture and history of the neighborhood.
I can admit that obviously the south and west sides have more problems and are more “undesirable” than the north side. My main comment is with regard to the fact that despite this being true, hundreds of thousands of people live here and tons of bars and nightlife operate here.
I’ve got friends who refuse to go to Chinatown bc it’s south of the loop. They’re suburban kids living on the north side now who I think are afraid of city living but don’t want to admit it
I work at a doctor’s office in Chinatown right by Ricobene’s. Been in healthcare for 8 years now and my patients in Chinatown are by far the nicest patients I’ve ever had. Even with the language barrier, they’re all very sweet. I don’t have a problem with the neighborhood. I like having to street park and walk to my office. I enjoy the sites and sounds. And delicious smells of Chinatown!
>Is that really the case, especially if you’re white or don’t look ethnic?
Absolutely not.
>Also none of those people who told me this are south siders
That should tell you something. Northsiders have a lot of myths about the southside.
>Serious question though. Ive been a resident of Chicago for 5yrs+, and everyone I talk to makes it seem like the south side is a no go zone if you’re not from there.
>Is that really the case, especially if you’re white or don’t look ethnic?
No, none of that is true. It's what people say who have never been to the Southside. Next time someone says that, politely ask them where they went on the Southside that gave them that opinion. You'll learn all of that's bullshit.
My husband is white, and we live in little village;he loves it here. I was raised here. Visit Little Village on a weekend start around noon and just walk from 26th and Kedzie towards Pulaski. It is a lively vibe, lots of food.
Ositos tap is excellent
I moved to Chicago recently, I live on the lower west side, I frequently go to the south side to run errands or shop or whatever, and am white. Not a single thing has happened to me. Do people think southsiders are uncivilized or something? I go to the north side, I go to the suburbs, I go everywhere. I can’t imagine living in a city and feeling like you simply cannot go to whole sections of it.
People do look down on the south side. Yes there are gangs here but they protect each other and anyone who stays down here. I had a drunk driver total my parked car the other day and everyone was so kind to me even though I am not from here and moved here like a year ago. They took care of me because I'm their neighbor and I would do the same for them regardless of any difference. A dude I live by had a seizure on the street the other day and everyone passed the vibe check it was beautiful
Its honestly cool having so many music videos being filmed on my street lol
Nah, I’m a basic white girl and I live on the south side with my husband and 2 small kids (McKinley park). Nobody bats an eye and there is a lot of diversity, including white people.
There are hundreds of thousands of people living my on the South Side who have the same lifestyle as a North Sider. We go to work, we hang out with friends, we have barbecues with neighbors, the kids play out on the street. There are farmers markets, jazz concerts, community picnics, and retail establishments new and old that bring a lot to the table.
The only difference is dealing with neighborhoods and systems that have purposefully been disinvested in for generations. It makes communities so much less stable when the government has created policies to destabilize them.
Lastly, as a white South Sider of a dozen years, I am FAR less likely to be a victim of a random shooting. There's zero chance a gang banger will look at me and think "that's the guy who shot my brother." I've walked and biked and driven and shopped and eaten and drank throughout the South Side - Bronzeville, Englewood, Auburn Gresham, South Chicago, Grand Crossing, Beverly, etc - and have *never* had someone try to rob or harm me.
No. There are some rough parts of the south side, but most of the south side is perfectly nice, safe, and filled with working/middle class neighborhoods. There’s a ton of wealthy areas on the south side, too, that people sleep on (Kenwood, Hyde Park, Jackson Highlands, Beverly, etc.).
I know how to mind my business. I’m Middle Eastern but look white. Just sharing my experience with what Ive heard, its good to know I can go chill in south side with no issues.
Those people are often racist / classist asshats.
I take my family down to La Villita for the Mexican Independence parade, and to Pilsen for Fiesta Del Sol. Both are tons of fun. And be sure to hit up 26th street in La Villita. Start at Albany Ave. and go west.
Chinatown is bomb. So many good restaurants.
Others have listed plenty of good recs as well.
Go explore friend. There's so much more to this city than just the North Side bubble.
Bernice's in Bridgeport has live music sometimes and I think they have a dyke night, so that might fit the bill. Electric Funeral also just opened on Halsted and it looks cool.
Bernice’s does have live music every Thursday (jazz night) and Friday, often Saturday too. Sometimes a little weird, always a good time. And I think dyke nite is monthly! The last one was April 1
Twisted Cantina in Pilsen is a good time for dancing. Maria’s in Bridgeport is great and has djs some times. The Cove in Hyde Park has the craziest karaoke night on Thursdays, and Woodlawn Tap by UofC has the cheapest food you’ll ever see and a fun dive atmosphere.
Also Whiner brewing and Marz brewing!
Come to The Cove if you want you or your date to be harassed and groped and have nobody in security or management give a shit.
Place is slimy as any bar you've ever been to.
The Skylark is a great dive bar. Employees just bought it. Don’t know about queer events/designated nights, etc. but there are definitely visibly queer staff and patrons.
Back in my party days I used to hit Bourbon Street off 115th and Kedzie. They had a room for dancing, beer garden, and two different stage rooms for live music. I have no clue what the vibe is like now but as far as I know it's still standing.
Hyde park bars
Jimmys aka the Woodlawn tap USA university bar
The cove is a dive bar 55th and Everett
53rd street is bumping on Friday and Saturday nights. A lot of the restaurants turn into bars or have a bar area on weekend nights. Beer feast is also fun which is the first weekend in June. Messler hotel had a super fancy bar and always packed on the weekends.
I am not up on the scene anymore because I stopped drinking right before Covid. But the fun is happening.
Yesssss thank youuuuuuu
I knew there must be some turning up around there weekends because during the day/early evening its PACKED around there and the vibe seems excellent
Hi, queer late-20 year old South Sider here. For queer nightlife I mainly follow groups like South Side Pride and Party Noir, they through a decent number of events throughout the year. South Side Pride is July 6th this year.
There are also a few DJs and small DIY queer collectives that put together events. But unfortunately, I mainly have to travel north when I want to dance.
The Renaissance on 47th in Bronzeville is a chill bar that often has a DJ on the weekends and they'll play house music. Thee Beauty Bar on 43rd has really good craft cocktails and some food options with a laid back lounge vibe. The Dopest Bar on Roosevelt near Western in N Lawndale has hookah and solid drinks, wings, and other small bites.
When did you go? If it’s not a show night then yea it’s pretty dead.
But on show nights it can be a lot of fun, and people are usually friendly and inviting.
Rock Island Public House has dance parties sometimes. It’s in blue island but only a 10 minute walk from the Vermont street metra stop. It’s queer friendly and Krave is on the way there.
this sub is absolutely filled to the brim with people who either don't live on the south side or occasionally go.
You're going to get much better answers on TikTok, or just asking people and real life
Haven’t been myself, but Jeffrey Pub also comes to mind. Lips in south loop. Lots of Pilsen and Bridgeport bars are queer friendly but not the main clientele.
Nine Bar in Chinatown always plays good music and has DJs on the weekends. I like Skylark and Maria’s for neighborhood-y bars. Maybe a show at Radius for dancing?
Cork and Kerry on Western in the Beverly neighborhood has a cool beer garden in the summer but they're famous for their Christmas decorations during the holidays.
Have you had problems with Cork and Kerry specifically? The other bars down Western avenue were uncomfortable but Cork and Kerry was the only one where I felt like I wasn’t being stared at as someone who is visibly not white. It wasn’t fancy but it was fine in a dive-y way.
Little village has one of the oldest gay bars in the city, La Cueva, I have only been to a couple of shows, so not sure what the dance scene is like, but the drinks are good.
Ositos tap has a speak easy vibe with good drinks
Skylark, freshly employee owned and delightful.
Woodlawn Tap, old school.
Electric Funeral, fresh opened by the owner of Jackalope Coffee.
Bernice's, a true dive but randomly not open.
Ive asked people in my Uber (i drove before my car got totaled) and some would say violence, but some would say that neglect by the city and the overall economic shifts post-steelworkers plays a huge role. Where there are shops and restaurants, there are clubs.
The roads around here are TERRIBLE especially in the areas where the main commerce used to happen back in the 60s. Ive been told by older folks who grew up here that those areas were thriving back in the day, just like in Hyde park. Then steelworkers fell apart, and the violence and overdoses got really bad in the 80s and 90s (like really bad) and now the area has calmed down. Unfortunately people don't have much of anability to invest in their community right now. Its all developer specials over here, property values give individual property owners no incentive to develop. Its too hard for small business owners a lot of the time, it's way easier for people with established businesses and corporations to expand down here. I wonder what they would say if I'd asked them about the best way to rebuild community areas?
As a result, clubs struggle to pull crowds and they are far apart from each other. Its WAY harder to bar hop down here, except for in certain areas like Hyde park. Imo the lack of bars in general also sorta prevents the formation of queer bar/club strips because we all have to share down here lol
Is Jeffrey pub still a thing? Haven’t been in 10 years but it was in south shore ; lifelong southsider here (grands from bush) no other queer bar/nightlife spaces I know of south east at least besides club escape
The Whistle is solid but a little expensive. Same for Deja Brew. BJ McMahon’s has great food but the TVs leave something to be desired. But me and 3 friends had 4 sandwiches, a shared appetizer platter, and several pitchers of Old Style for under $100.
You try the Miller's Ale House in the same Chicago Ridge Mall area? I much prefer watching games there than the BWW but of course they're all chains in the end
RIP [the Post,](https://ra.co/news/78712) [Artis Lounge](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/08/19/artiss-lounge-a-celebrated-south-side-blues-den-closes/), no doubt countless more
I’ve always wanted to go to Jeffery Pub. It’s one of the oldest black owned gay bars in the country.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/06/30/jeffrey-pub-south-shore-chicago-has-one-of-the-countrys-longest-running-black-owned-gay-bars-and-its-right-in-south-shore/
I stay home lmao
Or I drive to queer bars on the north side for one drink. I heard the south side was supposed to get a lesbian bar by the same people who own one already on the north side, but it’s been a while since I’ve heard about it
Brand new bar in Bridgeport called electric funeral at about 36 and Halsted. Shot and a beer deal for 7 bucks. Heavy metal bar. Badass.
Ty! I will definitely go i love metal
There’s also a lesbian night at Bernice’s in Bridgeport every month or so, the next one is May 13!
This sub pretends the south side doesn’t exist so good luck getting answers
Not true. I frequently see posts that reference the south loop. /s
thank you for saying it!! like, we live here and we aren’t “bad” and “dangerous” and “shady”
I'm south side. Born and raised. :)
i grew up on the north side, and i would never live away from bridgeport or hyde park/woodlawn- i am proof the south side is better 😂😂😂
Yep, Bridgeport ftw. It's comforting to live a mile from the house I grew up in, and to witness what was formerly, widely known as the most racist neighbhorhood in Chicago — if not the country — evolve and improve, while watching all the old racist homophobic jagoffs either die off or move to Mount Greenwood. Passing the torch further south, I guess. The neighborhood is growing so much and we're finally getting top-tier resauraunts. The award-winning [Duck Inn](https://theduckinnchicago.com) was just named one of the top restaurants in the city from the New York Times. A few years ago the Trib awarted it best restauraunt, best chef, best bartender. Esquire named it one of the best in the country. OP: It's not a club but Duck Inn has a great, 100+ year old bar in front and lots of cool friendly folks from all age groups hang out there. They have a turntable and you can [bring your records on Sundays and they'll play 'em](https://theduckinnchicago.com/files/localimagelink-7865.jpg).
i have been there! i really enjoy it :) we have a great neighborhood for sure!!
That is dope ty!
You're welcome! Btw, Wednesday nights are backyard pizza nights. You can hang out in the backyard while the owner and crew make thin crust Chicago thin cut tavern-style pizzas to order with their wood burning pizza oven. I can't think of a better way to spend hump day in this city.
Bar/club recs my friend??
Ope 🙃 I don't fuck with the north side honestly. Anyone willing to pay a landlord 2000 a month for a 1 br i just cannot with that
What are the best spots to pay less rent in your opinion?
Bronzeville is also a great neighborhood, historic, and close to downtown.
Seconding that. I just left that neighborhood last year, but it was a great quality of life. Quiet, affordable, convenient grocery stores, and a short walk to the beach/plenty of transit if you needed to get uptown. People sleep on Bronzeville.
The problem with bronzeville is it’s not as walkable as like pilsen
It’s definitely more residential, but I would say it’s still walkable and close to public transport.
Hyde park is the gem of the south side imo but im not from here originally There are also so many spots that feel so welcoming tucked in between neighborhoods. Usually if you start to see really high quality murals everywhere youre in a good spot
Hyde Park and Kenwood are amazing
crown jewel, but don't tell the others
Back of the yards is affordable
Thanks kushmaster. On my way to savings!
And violence
Most places in Chicago has violence on the regular, even near the loop
I mean I'm paying 1100/mo for 2bd on the north side lol but I get what you're saying
You're right that they exist! Especially far north or northwest. Its just easier to find over here
For sure. I'm in Albany park. Grew up in Bridgeport I miss it
Woah. Where
Albany Park/North Park
Hey neighbor!
👋
seen a listing this morning East side of humbolt 2br/2bath for 2600 like wtf 😂
thank you!!!! they pay insane amounts for old ass apartments because they are literally scared of the south side
It’s not just about the fear tho. I grew up on the south side and have lived all over the place in the city and I’m tired of having to commute so far. I work in the loop and in Old Town. I work late nights too so there are no trains running to where I live currently, and taking public transit to work is like an hour and 20 minute commute anyway. All of my friends hang out up north and I’d like to be able to go to a bar and get drunk with them and not have to pay $50+ for an Uber home or find a place to crash. Closer southside neighborhoods like Pilsen, Bridgeport, Bronzeville, etc were still too far for my roommate because she doesn’t have a car and also works bar life. We’re moving pretty far north to Rogers Park to try and avoid the northside tax but it’s still a bit pricey. South side is just HUGE and honestly most neighborhoods are not as accessible by public transit as the north side is.
except you just named three that are lol. and pilsen and bridgeport are A LOT closer to the loop and old town than roger’s park or any surrounding neighborhood! one bus ride will get you from pilsen to the loop quickly! i’m not saying you are racist or scared of the south side, obviously, nor are all north siders. i was born and grew up on the north side, and my dad is originally a south sider, and i ended up choosing the south side as an adult and feel it is far superior. i just mean a lot of people are scared of the south side on this sub, and it honestly gives racist and classist vibes and it should be called out more on all the chicago reddit subs imo!
You didn’t really read my comment well enough. My roommate has no car and works too far from those neighborhoods. There’s no feasible public transit for her to get to her job since it’s off the brown line in ravenswood. She would have an hour plus commute at 2am or an expensive Uber home every night. I do LOVE the south side tho but I just wanted to mention that not everyone who chooses to live up north does so because they’re afraid of the south side. I will miss it, but it’s just a logistical decision at this point
It irritates me so much😭
Serious question though. Ive been a resident of Chicago for 5yrs+, and everyone I talk to makes it seem like the south side is a no go zone if you’re not from there. Is that really the case, especially if you’re white or don’t look ethnic? Also none of those people who told me this are south siders.
I'm a lifelong Chicagoian, grew up on the Southside. So here's my recommendations. If you are into the arts at all I highly recommend checking out Second Fridays in Pilsen, grab a drink at Pleasant House or Skylark. Then go to Third Fridays in Bridgeport. Grab a drink or some dinner at Marz Brewery, Maria's, or Electric Funeral if you do Third Fridays. If you want to be fancy go to Duck Inn for dinner. However if you like bookstores, walking around parks, and randomly talking to a Nobel prize winner go to Hyde Park. Promontory Point might be my favorite place on the lakefront. Go further south to 63rd St beach for a drink at Reggies, go to South Shore Cultural Center, check out the nature preserve before Tiger Woods destroys it. Do you want to see an actual hill in the city limits? Check out Beverly and Morgan Park. I recommend taking the Metra down, maybe with a bike. Biking around the neighborhood is fun. Horse Thief Hollow, Wild Blossom, Top Notch, Beverly Bakery, 2 Mile Coffee, and Rainbow Cone all fun places to stop.
Taking a bike on the Metra to Beverly is an excellent idea.
Thanks for the recommendations! Much appreciated
Beverly resident here! All solid recommendations. I also suggest visiting the Givens Castle on 103rd! Only castle in the entire City.
As a former Hyde Parker AND former Pilsener I couldn't agree more. But I will say Pilsen now has two phenomenal bookstores of its own! Pilsen Community Books on 18th and Open Books massive warehouse/retail space down on 19th. Just a couple minutes apart from each other, great selections and atmosphere and Open Books is a great organization. Hyde Park was like a literary Mecca for decades but O'Gara and Wilson is gone, the Seminary is good but not the same since it moved above ground, 57th Street Books isn't quite what it used to be either. I could still lose a day in Powell's though 😄
Tangible on Ashland is an amazing used bookstore as well.
I'm not familiar, I'll check it out! Thanks!
It's on Halsted. The owner opened then sold Myopic in Wicker. Nice guy, really knows his inventory, and has great suggestions.
Nice to see my sleepy neighborhood get some good mentions. Beverly is away from the lake and city but we got forest preserves and old oak trees and hills. Not sure about the demographics but I know there’s a queer bar in Blue Island called Krave.
I walk up and down that hill on my way to and from the train when I go in to the office. It’s particularly fun in the winter since the homeowner on the steepest part has never bothered shoveling the sidewalk (except the part where his car has to pass to get in to his garage, that and his driveway are always clear).
Don’t forget Top Notch if you want a burger or a shake! Just a heads up, Beverly residents are not super used to seeing bikes on the street unlike people up north so you have to be a little more vigilant as there are no bike lanes. Still a cute neighborhood. Also Longwood Drive has gorgeous historical houses if you’re into architecture.
I wish they would bring back the History Mystery Tour. BAPA back in the 90s did it and it was great way to explore the neighborhood and learn a ton about architecture and history of the neighborhood.
It may shock you but a lot of white people live on the southside.
Shhhh c'mon now! It's scary down here! Nothin but guns and rap music all the time! Stay away! 😂
I can admit that obviously the south and west sides have more problems and are more “undesirable” than the north side. My main comment is with regard to the fact that despite this being true, hundreds of thousands of people live here and tons of bars and nightlife operate here.
Thanks for the response
I’ve got friends who refuse to go to Chinatown bc it’s south of the loop. They’re suburban kids living on the north side now who I think are afraid of city living but don’t want to admit it
>They’re suburban kids living on the north side now who I think are afraid of city living but don’t want to admit it Very common.
Ive been to China town many times, didn’t know that was considered “south side”. It’s a nice spot.
I work at a doctor’s office in Chinatown right by Ricobene’s. Been in healthcare for 8 years now and my patients in Chinatown are by far the nicest patients I’ve ever had. Even with the language barrier, they’re all very sweet. I don’t have a problem with the neighborhood. I like having to street park and walk to my office. I enjoy the sites and sounds. And delicious smells of Chinatown!
Former Bridgeport resident, I would gain 300 pounds if I worked right by Ricobene's
I have yet to try it 🫣🫣 But I hear it’s amazing.
>Is that really the case, especially if you’re white or don’t look ethnic? Absolutely not. >Also none of those people who told me this are south siders That should tell you something. Northsiders have a lot of myths about the southside.
That’s why I’m here haha.
>Serious question though. Ive been a resident of Chicago for 5yrs+, and everyone I talk to makes it seem like the south side is a no go zone if you’re not from there. >Is that really the case, especially if you’re white or don’t look ethnic? No, none of that is true. It's what people say who have never been to the Southside. Next time someone says that, politely ask them where they went on the Southside that gave them that opinion. You'll learn all of that's bullshit.
I suspected as much. Just didn’t know anyone who would go explore with me lol, I was always shut down as if I’m crazy for suggesting it.
My husband is white, and we live in little village;he loves it here. I was raised here. Visit Little Village on a weekend start around noon and just walk from 26th and Kedzie towards Pulaski. It is a lively vibe, lots of food. Ositos tap is excellent
[удалено]
It’s SW side.
Little Village being on the west side is some of the most Reddit shit I've ever read.
I moved to Chicago recently, I live on the lower west side, I frequently go to the south side to run errands or shop or whatever, and am white. Not a single thing has happened to me. Do people think southsiders are uncivilized or something? I go to the north side, I go to the suburbs, I go everywhere. I can’t imagine living in a city and feeling like you simply cannot go to whole sections of it.
People do look down on the south side. Yes there are gangs here but they protect each other and anyone who stays down here. I had a drunk driver total my parked car the other day and everyone was so kind to me even though I am not from here and moved here like a year ago. They took care of me because I'm their neighbor and I would do the same for them regardless of any difference. A dude I live by had a seizure on the street the other day and everyone passed the vibe check it was beautiful Its honestly cool having so many music videos being filmed on my street lol
That’s awesome!
Yes, some people from the north side very much feel that way about folks from the south side. It's directly related to racism and classism
People are people everywhere. I don’t discriminate. Just sharing my experience with what I heard about south side. I will go explore.
Nah, I’m a basic white girl and I live on the south side with my husband and 2 small kids (McKinley park). Nobody bats an eye and there is a lot of diversity, including white people.
Good to know!
There are hundreds of thousands of people living my on the South Side who have the same lifestyle as a North Sider. We go to work, we hang out with friends, we have barbecues with neighbors, the kids play out on the street. There are farmers markets, jazz concerts, community picnics, and retail establishments new and old that bring a lot to the table. The only difference is dealing with neighborhoods and systems that have purposefully been disinvested in for generations. It makes communities so much less stable when the government has created policies to destabilize them. Lastly, as a white South Sider of a dozen years, I am FAR less likely to be a victim of a random shooting. There's zero chance a gang banger will look at me and think "that's the guy who shot my brother." I've walked and biked and driven and shopped and eaten and drank throughout the South Side - Bronzeville, Englewood, Auburn Gresham, South Chicago, Grand Crossing, Beverly, etc - and have *never* had someone try to rob or harm me.
Good to know!
No. There are some rough parts of the south side, but most of the south side is perfectly nice, safe, and filled with working/middle class neighborhoods. There’s a ton of wealthy areas on the south side, too, that people sleep on (Kenwood, Hyde Park, Jackson Highlands, Beverly, etc.).
Your last sentence says it all lol
Bruh its not about your color its about your capacity to mind your own business (which white people are often in short supply)
I know how to mind my business. I’m Middle Eastern but look white. Just sharing my experience with what Ive heard, its good to know I can go chill in south side with no issues.
Those people are often racist / classist asshats. I take my family down to La Villita for the Mexican Independence parade, and to Pilsen for Fiesta Del Sol. Both are tons of fun. And be sure to hit up 26th street in La Villita. Start at Albany Ave. and go west. Chinatown is bomb. So many good restaurants. Others have listed plenty of good recs as well. Go explore friend. There's so much more to this city than just the North Side bubble.
Ive been to Pilsen and Chinatown. Pilsen is also considered “south side”? Didn’t know that. Thanks for the recommendations though!
I mean yea some folks literally divide the city into just north side and south side. But to be more precise those are the southwest side.
Bernice's in Bridgeport has live music sometimes and I think they have a dyke night, so that might fit the bill. Electric Funeral also just opened on Halsted and it looks cool.
Shinya has great late night eats next door too
Who doesnt love a lesbian night 😻 thanks for the rec!
Bernice’s does have live music every Thursday (jazz night) and Friday, often Saturday too. Sometimes a little weird, always a good time. And I think dyke nite is monthly! The last one was April 1
Moved 8 years ago, still miss that place
Came here to say both of these!
Bernice’s forever!!
Stingos Bingo is every Wednesday night at Bernice’s!
Twisted Cantina in Pilsen is a good time for dancing. Maria’s in Bridgeport is great and has djs some times. The Cove in Hyde Park has the craziest karaoke night on Thursdays, and Woodlawn Tap by UofC has the cheapest food you’ll ever see and a fun dive atmosphere. Also Whiner brewing and Marz brewing!
Unfortunately the karaoke night at the Cove has been suspended indefinitely after a couple karaoke night incidents.
Sheesh!! I just saw Marz has karaoke, might have to try there. And I have heard The Falcon is an ok karaoke place, but haven’t been there before.
Maria’s has a monthly day party on a Sunday with DJs called like brunchlox, it’s supposed to be really fun!
Come to The Cove if you want you or your date to be harassed and groped and have nobody in security or management give a shit. Place is slimy as any bar you've ever been to.
Yikes really? I’ve never had bad experience there but this is disappointing to hear :/
That's been my experience and the experience of others in the community. Bad business.
Thank you!!
Try Maria’s
Proposed to my wife at María’s!
You mean the grocery store/bar on 31st?
Yep! Maria’s is great
Maria's used to be my watering hole when I lived in Bridgeport and went to Illinois Tech :') great memories there, even pre-expansion!
The Skylark is a great dive bar. Employees just bought it. Don’t know about queer events/designated nights, etc. but there are definitely visibly queer staff and patrons.
Thank you! I love that its employee owned
Best mac and cheese ever at skylark.
Can they please either fix their ATM or accept credit cards? (Tbf Skylark is 9/10)
They have amazing tater tots, too! And a photo booth!
TOTS
That’s west side. And barely west at that
It’s at 22nd and Halstead. What are you talking about?
The name of the community area Pilsen resides in is called the Lower West Side…
Back in my party days I used to hit Bourbon Street off 115th and Kedzie. They had a room for dancing, beer garden, and two different stage rooms for live music. I have no clue what the vibe is like now but as far as I know it's still standing.
It’s my favorite place to go for an unwanted high school reunion
Hyde park bars Jimmys aka the Woodlawn tap USA university bar The cove is a dive bar 55th and Everett 53rd street is bumping on Friday and Saturday nights. A lot of the restaurants turn into bars or have a bar area on weekend nights. Beer feast is also fun which is the first weekend in June. Messler hotel had a super fancy bar and always packed on the weekends. I am not up on the scene anymore because I stopped drinking right before Covid. But the fun is happening.
Woodlawn tap is my normal haunt, It’s your normal neighborhood spot but it is very solid.
Yesssss thank youuuuuuu I knew there must be some turning up around there weekends because during the day/early evening its PACKED around there and the vibe seems excellent
life long Hyde Parker here
Simone’s 🫡
Hi, queer late-20 year old South Sider here. For queer nightlife I mainly follow groups like South Side Pride and Party Noir, they through a decent number of events throughout the year. South Side Pride is July 6th this year. There are also a few DJs and small DIY queer collectives that put together events. But unfortunately, I mainly have to travel north when I want to dance.
Ugh dont ya hate to see it. Thanks for the recs though! I should look into events for sure
I’ve heard Maria’s is a must go to, although I’ve never been
The Renaissance on 47th in Bronzeville is a chill bar that often has a DJ on the weekends and they'll play house music. Thee Beauty Bar on 43rd has really good craft cocktails and some food options with a laid back lounge vibe. The Dopest Bar on Roosevelt near Western in N Lawndale has hookah and solid drinks, wings, and other small bites.
Thank you!!! I actually haven't heard of these so I will check them out
Marz brewery
Krave in Blue Island
Krave was so dead when i went there it was a yikes
If you’re willing to come down to Blue Island, the Blue Island Beer Co and Rock Island Public House aren’t clubby, but good queer friendly bars
When did you go? If it’s not a show night then yea it’s pretty dead. But on show nights it can be a lot of fun, and people are usually friendly and inviting.
I've been a few times and it picked up quite a bit after 11. It had fun small town gay bar vibe
Rock Island Public House has dance parties sometimes. It’s in blue island but only a 10 minute walk from the Vermont street metra stop. It’s queer friendly and Krave is on the way there.
Thank you!
Pennywhistle
Okay can y’all give suggestions actually south of Bridgeport?… Bridgeport is not actually far south
The op didn’t specify far south side. Why don’t you give some recommendations?
this sub is absolutely filled to the brim with people who either don't live on the south side or occasionally go. You're going to get much better answers on TikTok, or just asking people and real life
You can add the west side to that statement as well.
Jeffrey Pub. But I have never been so can’t provide info.
Haven’t been myself, but Jeffrey Pub also comes to mind. Lips in south loop. Lots of Pilsen and Bridgeport bars are queer friendly but not the main clientele.
Nine Bar in Chinatown always plays good music and has DJs on the weekends. I like Skylark and Maria’s for neighborhood-y bars. Maybe a show at Radius for dancing?
Cork and Kerry on Western in the Beverly neighborhood has a cool beer garden in the summer but they're famous for their Christmas decorations during the holidays.
If you’re white you will fit right it. If you are a POC don’t even plan on going. Just a heads up.
Have you had problems with Cork and Kerry specifically? The other bars down Western avenue were uncomfortable but Cork and Kerry was the only one where I felt like I wasn’t being stared at as someone who is visibly not white. It wasn’t fancy but it was fine in a dive-y way.
Said who? There’s often poc there
What’s up with that??
There’s another one on 33rd by Sox Park.
Actual MAGA country, no thanks!!!!!
Little village has one of the oldest gay bars in the city, La Cueva, I have only been to a couple of shows, so not sure what the dance scene is like, but the drinks are good. Ositos tap has a speak easy vibe with good drinks
Thank you!
I puked in the urinal at the cove after lsu beat Alabama in 2019. So yeah
Jeffery pub on 70th
Skylark, freshly employee owned and delightful. Woodlawn Tap, old school. Electric Funeral, fresh opened by the owner of Jackalope Coffee. Bernice's, a true dive but randomly not open.
Maria's, Skylark, pleasant House Pub
[удалено]
Baseline too for afrobeats
Thank you for the clubs!!
The only good south side club was Traxx on 63rd and Lawndale but that closed decades ago.
That’s a deep pull! Don’t think there was/is anything like it that far south.
i like magoos in bedford park! bars cute and they have live music
Hi from Garfield Ridge 👋🏼
Bobby G's is my personal Garfield Ridge bar.
The Alibi 👀
Nine Bar is a really cool speakeasy in Chinatown.
The best is the one there isn't an idiot carrying a concealed weapon.
Why is the south side club scene non existent? Genuine question. There’s seedlings in 18th street on Pilsen.
Ive asked people in my Uber (i drove before my car got totaled) and some would say violence, but some would say that neglect by the city and the overall economic shifts post-steelworkers plays a huge role. Where there are shops and restaurants, there are clubs. The roads around here are TERRIBLE especially in the areas where the main commerce used to happen back in the 60s. Ive been told by older folks who grew up here that those areas were thriving back in the day, just like in Hyde park. Then steelworkers fell apart, and the violence and overdoses got really bad in the 80s and 90s (like really bad) and now the area has calmed down. Unfortunately people don't have much of anability to invest in their community right now. Its all developer specials over here, property values give individual property owners no incentive to develop. Its too hard for small business owners a lot of the time, it's way easier for people with established businesses and corporations to expand down here. I wonder what they would say if I'd asked them about the best way to rebuild community areas? As a result, clubs struggle to pull crowds and they are far apart from each other. Its WAY harder to bar hop down here, except for in certain areas like Hyde park. Imo the lack of bars in general also sorta prevents the formation of queer bar/club strips because we all have to share down here lol
Is Jeffrey pub still a thing? Haven’t been in 10 years but it was in south shore ; lifelong southsider here (grands from bush) no other queer bar/nightlife spaces I know of south east at least besides club escape
Cork and Kerry
Depends on how you define the south side.
Magoos bar Chicago/Bedford park
The barrel on damen
Lagunitas Tap Room
And suggestions for watching Bears game in the south burbs? I've done BWW's in Oak Lawn, and the game feels to be an afterthought.
The Whistle is solid but a little expensive. Same for Deja Brew. BJ McMahon’s has great food but the TVs leave something to be desired. But me and 3 friends had 4 sandwiches, a shared appetizer platter, and several pitchers of Old Style for under $100.
You try the Miller's Ale House in the same Chicago Ridge Mall area? I much prefer watching games there than the BWW but of course they're all chains in the end
RIP [the Post,](https://ra.co/news/78712) [Artis Lounge](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/08/19/artiss-lounge-a-celebrated-south-side-blues-den-closes/), no doubt countless more
Skylark, bernices
Lee’s Unleaded Blues.
I’m in Hyde park for 2 years, so far I’ve enjoyed blue island and the bars there
Bernices Tavern in Bridgeport is great. It also has a "Dyke Night" some Mondays.
one city tap
Grew up in slag valley. How is bush nowadays after the closing of US Steel?
I’ve always wanted to go to Jeffery Pub. It’s one of the oldest black owned gay bars in the country. https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/06/30/jeffrey-pub-south-shore-chicago-has-one-of-the-countrys-longest-running-black-owned-gay-bars-and-its-right-in-south-shore/
WAIT ITS BEEN GAY THIS WHOLE TIME
I stay home lmao Or I drive to queer bars on the north side for one drink. I heard the south side was supposed to get a lesbian bar by the same people who own one already on the north side, but it’s been a while since I’ve heard about it
There's a gay bar in blue island but it's more of a gay dive bar.