Aliveone

I see you, Aliveone. You hidden gem, you!
When I first walked into this place, it just seemed like a cool dive bar. Complete with a jukebox, an excellent selection of craft beers, a pool table and a friendly staff, I was liking the vibe. But then my friends and I headed to the back room… let me tell you, it’s a whole other world back there! The front room is divey and the back room is like a mini club! There is another bar in the back, with a dj and dance floor. What?! This room is cozy — not too big, not too small. And they have couches, lamps and small end tables to give it a homey, «next door» feel. Now the first night I went there, the music was questionable… I heard a lot of 70’s and it was just a bit weird for me. But I like to give decent places another chance. I went on a Friday night and the music was AWESOME. They played all old school hip hop and dance music. We’re talking some 80’s/90’s and early 2000’s. Think Run DMC, R Kelly, Blackstreet, Dr Dre, etc. It’s like any twentysomething’s guilty pleasure music. And after a few drinks, we were all over that dance floor! The DJ was cool too. He took requests and played them right away.
My go-​to drink is usually the Three Floyds Robert the Bruce, but they ran out the last time I was there. So I took the bartender’s suggestion and got an Oskar Blues Old Chub. FANTASTIC. If you like a rich, chocolatey, malty taste, GET THAT DRINK. I had a great time at Aliveone. I will be back again on a Friday night!

Awesome bar for Friday or Saturday night. The front of the bar is good for hanging out and talking. The back room has a 2^nd bar and a dance floor. Good times, good times.

Seriously cool bar and music venue. Awesome building. Drinks are reasonable and specials are good. Music is always 5star and free. Overall good crowd that goes there. Staff is always cool and nice.

god, i adore this place. this was the first bar i’ve gone to as a regular for many reasons. $ 2 tuesdays, amazing craft beers on tap, and free funk thursdays. i miss when the heard used to have residency here, but low spark has been a great replacement.
the music here is always great, the décor also makes the atmosphere amazing.
EDIT: i forgot to mention how amazing the DJ that plays on tuesdays is… motown, funk, old r&b and a disco balls calls for THE most fun dance party you’ll have all week

Aliveone was my first dive bar experience in Chicago, and I had a great time with the locals. The front room has tables along with wall, seats along the bar, and a pool table in the back of the room. Some girl offered me a seat at the bar just because I was «so pretty»… even the girls are incredibly nice here! The reasonably priced drinks, which are not watered down, make the place even better.
The back room secretly hordes all the fun music… where you can dance dance dance to the hippity hop.

Laid back, friendly atmosphere and quite a bit of seating if you just want a chill night. Good drinking music. Head to the back room for live music.

I have been going to AliveOne for over 2 years now. It used to be my go to spot, unfortunately the old DJ is no longer there. What used to be a packed room full of young people dancing has now turned into 10 people texting listening to mediocre music with 1 or 2 people dancing. I requested some hip hop in an attempt to liven up the night, the DJ told me she does not have a any hip hop vinyl with her. OK yes vinyl is cool or whatever but a DJs job is to play music that matches the crowd not to impress hipsters with their vinyl collection.

I have had some one the best times at this bar. The back played 90s hip hop and was packed every Friday/​Saturday night. Unfortunately, the past two times I have gone the DJ’s are not self aware enough to realize that their record collection is destroying this place. You would think that if the vast majority of people are on their phones that the music would be changed up.
Please bring back the old dj and stop playing your vinyl that you only care about…

If you want to go out and listen to Top 40 radio hip hop and pop, there’s a line out the door at Paris Club waiting for you. But if you want to hear a DJ who scours the record bins for awesome tracks to create the perfect vibe for a Friday night, the back room of Aliveone is the place to be. It’s got good drinks, reasonable prices, an unpretentious scene and just the right tunes for a perfect weekend dance party. So glad I finally checked this place out. That DJ is quickly becoming one of my favorites in the city. I’ll be hitting up Friday nights here again… and again.

I went here this past Friday and had a great time. I was expecting Hip Hop because they use to have Hip Hop Friday’s with Nick Castle. They recently changed Dj’s. And really like the change. It was a fantastic mix of everything! I danced all night! Also, the bartender are great and drink are averagely priced. BEST of all it’s a FREE dance party!

Used to love coming here for some underground hip hop music and was very surprised and disappointed with my last visit. As stated in another post, the DJ was completely unprofessional. He was caught making out with someone under his booth when we approached him asking to play hip hop. When we finally got his attention he asked why he would change the music if people were dancing. We turned around and counted five people dancing and he said he didn’t care. He did not change the music, but continued to play all the music at the request of his hipster make out buddy.
There were plenty of people coming in disappointed and expressing their expectations of hip hop music (as advertised) but nothing changed.
We would’ve stayed but between the unprofessional DJ and rude bar tender, we will not return.

In essence, it’s a hipster, dead-​head dive bar, reeking of rich mahogany and aged scotch… and I freaking love it! Low-​key, laid back, friendly atmosphere… relaxing, easy drinking tunes… and cocktails and craft beers highlighting Chicago’s home brewers and skilled baristas. Our bartenders were attentive, and crafted a few house cocktails including my fave, the Hunter S. Thompson (basically a Caipirinha). Plenty of local draft and bottled brews, including Lagunitas, Two Brothers, Revolution, Great Lakes, Goose Island, etc. Great place to stop and unwind after the hustle and bustle one may encounter at the nearby Half Shell. Certainly will be recommended to friends checking out the Lincoln Park area.

Came here with friends on a Friday not long ago, expecting hip-​hop in the back room and was extremely disappointed. We asked the bartender what happened to the hip-​hop and that DJ, and got a very short and rude response. The new DJ wasn’t any more polite. We went back to his booth to ask the same question (we were genuinely curious as to what happened), and found him making out with someone. Very professional.
That said, the music wasn’t necessarily bad, just not what we were expecting/​wanting what night.

5 stars all the way!!! Aliveone is my husband and my favorite bar (one of our top 3). Blends great music, chill and good vibes, a little bit college-​y but nothing too bro-​ey. Just an all around good time.

This bar is great. Very chill environment. Plus the back room has a dj on the weekends.
When we went it was a funk dj.

Back room used to be the best thing in Lincoln Park. Then they got rid of the hip-​hop. No reason for my friends and me to come back anymore. :(Even the bar staff seemed to be upset with this.

I found this place online while planning my husbands birthday party. it seemed like his style– lots of beer options, juke box, pool, theme all about live music, kind of a dark cool living room feel in the back. We worked out reservations via email. the night of, everything was spot on. the service was quick, the open bar drinks weren’t watered down. around 11 the back room turns into a huge dance party.
all good things. I will be back.

I totally dig this place. Its really my kind of a dive bar with great music and awesome people overall. The tap selection was great and the overall vibe in the bar was very relaxed. I totally dig this place. Came here on a Tuesday night and it was a great time. I will most certainly be back as it is one of my favorites that I have visited in the city.

I went here with the Chicago Getaway Hostel as some sort of night out on Tuesday and had a blast. They have 2 dollar drinks on Tuesday.
The venue has a good vibe and has a dance floor in the back. I enjoyed the DJ Ryan gac who was playing. Some funky music. They also have a pool table that you can play for 4 quarters. Overall, very fun and interesting people to meet.

I was told to go to the back room for hip hop. The dj did not disappoint. It was hip hop but in a cool not average way. His old school plus new school mixed were great and unique. Don’t let the look when you walk into the bar turn you around. The front of the bar is absent diversity and has the feel of a big city college bar but the back room is where it’s at.