The best looking redhead in the city

Many from the city call this one of their favorite “regular" late night stops. Suburbanites, too, will make this one of their must go locations while coming downtown, and even tourists from out of town often make it a point to stop here.

Having said all that? There are still many local folks, right here in the heart of the city, not aware of one of Chicago’s most iconic entertainment places. 

 If you don’t know about it? You really should.

Here’s what to do: Head towards Ontario Street near State Street and find the famous sign with the alluring Redhead winking right at you (your first hint you’re in for a good time), then walk down the stairs in what looks at first like an entrance to a haunted house.  If it is your first time visiting, you might be thinking to yourself as you walk down these steps, “maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

But then…open the doors and voila! The fun begins!

Welcome to the Redhead Piano Bar. One of Chicago’s finest entertainment spots—a grand tradition in Chicago since 1993. Piano bar fun at its absolute best.

The place literally reeks of old school class and charm. It has a beautiful center bar, surrounding tables to sit and enjoy, a large back room and even recently added a walk-in humidor with over 150 cigar selections. The star of the show, though, is the Piano, which sits in the front corner, and is surrounded by eight seats for those who really want the best in an up close and personal piano bar experience.

The music reverberates nightly. The various piano bar entertainers/specialists (all of them good—not a bad apple in the bunch) are well trained professionals—upbeat, have fun with the crowd, good singers, talented musicians, take requests upon a moment’s notice, and have what seems like an endless array of playlist possibilities that they are able to perform.

Music is played in two sets, one from 7:30 till 11:00, the other from 11:00 till 3:30 am (4 am on Saturday nights), and they do this every single night of the week.  What happens with the atmosphere in the late night hours (say 1:00 till 3:30)?   I can only guess, because it is way past the bedtime of this not-so-gently aging writer.

But I can tell you that the energy level and crowd picks up as the evening goes along.  Think of it like a snowball rolling off a mountain headed downhill, small at first, but gathering steam quickly as it rolls along.  So goes the night at the Redhead Piano Bar.

You get there early, say at 7:15, 7:30 and the crowd as Billy Joel might put it, “is just rolling in''.  Kind of mellow and reserved in the beginning, but that only lasts for a while.  Slowly the bar starts to fill.  One by one, two by two, then larger groups— all ready to embark on a night of drinking, friends, and great music.

It is not long before the crowd starts getting into it and the place starts to rock. The early mellow atmosphere morphing now into an energetic collective fun.  With the drinks flowing and music playing, there is almost a shared sense of camaraderie as many in the bar sing along with the popular songs, and you can almost feel everyone swaying back and forth in unison with the music.

In short, if you are a fan of piano bars, this is the place for you.

 A couple reminders for those that are “Redhead Uninitiated”. First, this is not a place for food, so make sure to eat before coming. The best you might be able to finagle is a tray of peanuts and snacks— and that only if you are lucky. 2nd, be prepared to stand, as it does get crowded and sometimes seating, especially in the main area near the music can be a bit hard to come by.

 Finally, drinks or no drinks, don’t come to this fine Chicago bar to cause trouble. There are always a couple of large and outwardly not-so-friendly bouncers on hand to keep things under control. These gentlemen smile about as often as Chicago sports teams win championships.  So, consider yourself forewarned.

All in all, I give a five star plus rating for the Redhead Piano Bar! And it has been that way for many, many years.

Also, it should be noted, as I was writing this unofficial review, I had Billy Joel’s Piano Man song playing in my ear buds. Perfect accompaniment and still one of the best songs ever, right?