Roscoe's
Chicago, IL 60657-2425
Phone: (773) 281-3355
- Cross Street:
- Roscoe Avenue
- Directions:
- El: Red or Brown Line to Belmont; bus: 8, 22, 77 or 156
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 3pm-2am, Fri 2pm-2am, Sat 1pm-3am, Sun 1pm-2am
Editorial Review for Roscoe's – by J.P. Anderson
The Scene
The bar is divvied up into four distinct areas: The front bar serves as a comfortable spot for chatting, flirting and watching videos, while the side bar has a more languid vibe. Men ogle each other and gyrate to house tunes on the back dance floor, while there's always a game in the adjacent pool room. The pleasant, cruisy outdoor cafe serves burgers, bratwurst, chicken sandwiches and corn dogs.
The Draw
Roscoe's plays a high-energy mix of dance videos from the likes of Britney Spears, 'NSync, Madonna and whoever else 12-year-olds and gay men are listening to. The bar loves to experiment with high-maintenance drinks, such as chocolate martinis with lush liquers and powered rims, and sometimes features specials like a free hors d'oeuvres buffet. The crowd ranges from gym rats in athletic gear to slim gay men in their 20s and 30s wearing tight clothes.
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Insider Tips
When to GoRoscoe's hosts a wet boxers contest at midnight on the last Thursday of each month.
User Reviews for Roscoe's
04/24/2008 Posted by BeetleMan
Everything you hear about this bar is true...both positive and negative. It is a fun bar if you tend to skew younger and are from the suburbs. I don't understand why that phenomenon occurs, but it is true. It can be fun if you want to go with your (younger) friends and shoot some pool or dance. As with bars that attract that age demographic, they do tend to overcharge for drinks, not to mention a cover (a cover!!!) on weekends. I frequented Roscoe's 10 years ago when I lived in the burbs, and immediately found myself repulsed by it as soon as I moved to the city. $5.25 for a mixed drink in a small plastic cup is unacceptable. A cover charge to simply enter the bar on the weekends (when none of their neighbooring competitiors do so) is unacceptable. They have a dance floor, but are by no means a dance "club". The bar is poorly layed out, doesn't appear to have been updated in decades, and has a stifling ventilation system. On crowded nights, you will find yourself pushing your way toward the back/middle part of the bar (before you enter the dance floor) to stand under the ceiling fan...or invoking the ultimate option and simply leaving. The above are not bitter, catty musings, but informed observations from a Chicago native who has frequented many estabilshments. I'm merely offering some advice for improvement to a Chicago mainstay that needs a little work.
Pros: Nice Sidewalk Cafe
Cons: Bar Layout, Prices, Atmosphere
11/24/2007 Posted by gychii
Roscoe's defines the epicenter of gay Chicago, being located at Roscoe & Halsted (that epicenter is migrating in recent years, however). The bar boasts some of the hottest tenders in the area, while still being friendly too. They don't pour the greatest however, but beauty before brains ;-) j/k guys. Roscoe's is probably best outside of the late night times. It's especially fun Sunday afternoons in the summer.
Pros: Good for post-softball hotness
Cons: Getting to feel a bit decrepit
