Thalia Hall

Thalia Hall is my favorite venue in the world. The acoustics are great for all types of music (I’ve seen doom metal, country, indie rock, punk; all sounded great) but what’s really important here is all of the things they do that most venues don’t:
1. The staff is incredibly friendly, from bartenders to security to everyone else. They treat you with respect.
2. There is abundant free water everywhere.
3. They don’t oversell. I’ve been to several sold out shows here and I never get that same gross, cramped feeling I get at other venues.
4. They typically sell the balcony and floor as separate sections. This means that the balcony can remain a chill-​out section for those who don’t want to do the whole floor thing.
the Punch Bowl is also a fantastic place to grab drinks before or after a show. I haven’t been to Dusek’s yet, but I hear good things.

I’m headed there for the first time tonight, but my impression is already 5-​star for this: checking the FAQ’s, I didn’t see any information about the availability of a coat check. I emailed the contact link, not really expecting to hear back… but I did, and they do; so FYI: «Yes we typically do when the weather warrants it and it costs $ 3»
Now that I’m old, I appreciate having somewhere to put my and prefer a more comfortable experience seeing a show (versus being in the mosh pit in the 90s). But I *really* appreciate customer service and getting a response.

This is a great venue. It’s a perfect location for north & south siders also. Right off the hwy. It’s a bigger size venue that has known musicians and comedians. The sound is great, there isn’t a bad spot in the room, and the location is excellent. Parking can be a little tricky, but hey… welcome to Chicago, right?
Another bonus to this place is the variety of smaller bars connected to Thalia Hall. You have as few choices of where you could enjoy dinner and drinks, before or after the show. They even have a room for private parties, and a diverse crowd. I’m a fan!

Wow, what a great venue! My husband and I went to The Sword with Royal Thunder show last weekend, and had an AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING time! We both want to go back to Thalia Hall as soon as we can!
After living in Austin, Texas for 10 years I’ve seen my fair share of music venues, and Thalia Hall is one of the best I’ve been to in a very long time. The sight lines are great, the selection and prices for drinks are reasonable (and I never had to wait in an insane line either), and the ladies bathrooms actually have toilet paper! On top of it all, they seem to have a reasonable idea of how many people «sold out» should really be… Meaning, you can get close to the bands without having to spoon with strangers (unless you’re into that kind of thing.)
Overall, if you hear that a band you like is playing Thalia Hall, JUMP ON THOSE TICKETS! You’re sure to have an awesome night!

I am a fan of Thalia Hall. I prefer going to concerts in smaller venues anyway, and it’s great having a good music venue on the South Side of Chicago for once!
I’ve been to a few indie concerts the last couple of years, and I can say, each experience has been good and organized.
I was just there last night for Dave Chappelle. Thank God we got the scoop from people we know that attended earlier shows on what to expect. We went to the 9pm show. They told us to get in line EARLY because they only had 5 rows of seating on the floor, and if you couldn’t get a seat, expect to stand the entire time. Sure enough, we got in line just after 7pm and the line already reached the entrance to Dusek’s. The staff split the line where I was towards the entrance to Belli’s. The entire time, we were chatting with the valet dudes and the people behind us in line. It was a cool vibe. The staff soon prepared the crowd to get our ID’s out as they were going to give us all wrist bands, again, explaining our party had to be with us in order to get wristbands. All of that went really smooth. Finally after over 2 hours in line, we went in and managed to get seats where we saw Dave Chappelle a mere few feet away!
The hall itself is very pretty and it’s clean. But most importantly, and what surprised me the most, was that the acoustics are pretty damn good. There’s no muffling, terrible sounds whenever bands play.
They have a full bar inside. It’s general admission, so you kind of have to go in there expecting you’ll be standing the entire time. Sure there’s balcony seating, and a couple random couches in there, depending how early you get there.
Overall, it was a very organized experience. My two main gripes from last night: first, everything took SOOOOOO long to start. It was a 9pm show, but they didn’t let the crowds come in until after 9pm, and the first comedian didn’t get on stage until 10:30pm. I understand they were trying to get people from the previous show out, perhaps clean the venue, stock the bar, etc. I was just exhausted by the time the show started and I was home a little after 1am. I’m too old for a 1am bedtime on a Monday :(And also, I did NOT appreciate that most of the women’s toilets upstairs did not have toilet paper! It wasn’t even 10pm when I first went. I think they forgot to stock the bathrooms between shows. Not cool.
I’m not gonna lie, even though it was a super long night at Thalia Hall, it was totally worth it for Dave Chappelle. Great job Thalia Hall!

Went to Thalia Hall last weekend for Dave Chappelle stand up. Dave was amazing, but Thalia Hall was really really bad.
Showed up at 515 because the ticket confirmation email said that will-​call opens for ticket pick-​up at 530. When I arrived there was already a line around the block, but no big deal. When the line finally starts moving I ultimately get to the front. Instead of an actual «will-​call» window there are people handing out wrist bands — aka tickets. I was then told that I am not able to obtain my wrist bands/​admission tickets without my entire party being present. Well this would have been tremendous information to share in THE TICKET PURCHASE EMAIL CONFIRMATION!
What a joke. I planned to arrive as early as possible to grab my tickets so that when my friend arrived we would not have to wait and just enter with our tickets. WRONG — instead I get to the front of the line, stand there for 30 minutes and then have to get my wrist bands. Additionally, once you’re in the venue there is extremely limited seating. For a venue that holds 800 there were approximately 200 seats. WHO THE HELL WANTS TO STAND TO LISTEN TO COMEDY!!! Are you on crack? Try standing for over 2 hours and see how your feet and back feel afterwards.
It should also be noted that a week prior to the show I went to the Hall’s website for more information. Not getting all of my questions answered from the FAQ section it says to email them for any additional questions. I do and get ZERO response.
I hate this venue and will never return, even if a show is free.

Dave Chappell was awesome, just wish there were more seats! The floor is way to hard to stand on for a couple of hours!

One of the better venues I have been too. There seems to be a consistent theme of quality around the owners of these sister venues, both Space/​Evanston and Thalia Hall/​Pilsen. Thalia hall is more like a theme park with new adventures at every turn. No less than three über cool hangs, 2 up, one down. All serve food, menus differ slightly. Great date night option or hanging with friends. Thalia is first come first serve so you may need to bar hang until a spot opens. We managed to get lucky in the Tack room and enjoyed the vibe. We hung at the bar until a spot opened up at the piano and I do mean literally at the piano which was adorned with a wicked cool candelabra that has seen many a candle burn down. The menu is an interesting mix but think foo foo gastro. We opted for the stuffed pretzel and crab dip. Both were OK imo, but if I had it to do over again I would have probably opted for the sausage sandwich that actually looked like it had some merit. As for beverages, foo foo featured mix, foo foo beer, wine, and gotta love it, $ 3 Schlitz tall boy for cheap bastards like me ;) It’s winter in Chicago so you will find the coat check downstairs on your way to the privies. Never got over sidewalk chalk art as a kid? Go crazy in the loo, with chalk and blackboards to express your own personal porcelain inspiration.
The most interesting aspect about this venue is that there is a full size multi level concert hall above you and you do not even realize it. Not a peep from upstairs can be heard. When you go upstairs to see the show, you have your choice of main level or balcony. I personally found the balcony fantastic what with quick bar access, easy restroom access for the ladies, and plenty of room to get my groove on. There is an ATM on the stair case, and a coat check next to the merch room (cash only). Rumor has it that residents of the apartments in the same building as Thalia get free access to shows as a perk.

My new favorite music venue in Chicago. Yes I know that Metro, The Riv, The Vic, and the rest of the Chicago music venue are staples to the music scene and should remained untouched. It’s tradition after all and all of those places have character. I appreciate that, but cleaning/​face lifting those venues really isn’t a bad idea. A bit less sticky and an upgraded drink menu will make the experience better. Thalia Hall is an amazing renovated space that still maintains an old Chicago vibe. I love small intimate venues like this, such a great way to see music. I would come here for any show… yes, even Bob Saget. Be careful, because Thalia Hall will change your music experience.

I love this venue so much. I’ve come here a handful of times now and have had great experiences.
Staff is great! Seriously. Honestly, the highlight of my concert attending year has got to be when the male bouncer complimented my nails while searching through my purse.
Whaaaaaaaaaaatttt!
Last night they had «grab bag beer» for $ 4, which was pretty amusing.
Their draft cider was GARBAGE. I was surprised it wasn’t vandermill like they have downstairs. I wish I had a natty ice.
I’ve made jokes that the women’s bathrooms are upstairs because of the patriarchy throwing more obstacles our way… but really I think it’s to make it more spacious.
Driving through Pilsen and seeing all these beautiful murals, I secretly wish one would be drawn on the walls of this place. Such a blank canvas.

What a surprise. This is a beautifully restored concert hall/​venue with great acoustics. You can dance on the ground floor and upper levels or pay more for the balcony seats. The place flows really well and it feels comfortable to move around. The newly installed, clean bathrooms is a plus.
There’s a full bar with a range of price options. Skip the lukewarm hot dogs they’re selling and go downstairs to the restaurant (Dusek’s) to grab a bite to eat before the show.

For my project management project, we partnered with Pilsen Yoga Tribe to host an event. Every Sunday, this group teaches free yoga for 75 minutes. The venue was elegant, vintage and comforting. We just downward dog in the middle of the hall. The venue is connected to a restaurant on the main floor, you can grab brunch before you go to the place.

I am not one to leave reviews on a regular basis. Aside from being an excellent venue for intimate shows with great sound quality. The staff is the best I have encountered at any music theater in all of Chicago.
I was there recently with my girlfriend who fainted due to a medical issue. The staff was so accommodating and sincere that it threw me off. Several staff members were over concerned and check in on us to make sure we were okay. We were originally in the pit, however, due to the heat they kindly gave us seating on the balcony. After which they checked on us again to see if there was anything they can do.
I have seen a lot of shows and encountered venue staff and often times found them to be rude and insensitive. I truly do commend the Thalia hall staff and their hospitality.
If you get the chance to see an artist that you like here, you should!

Crazy nice venue. This is like Metro done right. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good sweaty rock club, but not all of the time.
It’s clean, the staff is very friendly. Great acoustics and sight lines. All kinds of fancy booze to cheap domestics.
I would be up for another visit anytime.

I went here last night for the Barback Games. When you enter in the door, you wouldn’t expect there to be a large dance floor and stage hidden in the back.
Very cute place. The Barback games were extremely fun to watch. They were short staffed on bartenders, but I didn’t even mind because the few that they had in handled their cool and made some good drinks (some of which were premade at the beginning of the night, ok. But I still enjoyed them!)
I definitely want to come back to dance and to dine in! What a fun little gem.

I unfortunately have yet to catch an actual concert at Thalia Hall, but it’s an entertainment priority! I have been here several times, however, for various pop-​up events and markets such as last night’s Sauced Takes Thalia, and love the space! It’s very cool that Thalia Hall hosts so many community events when bands aren’t onstage — free neighborhood yoga, community Easter Egg Hunt, artisan markets, and so on! First off, Dusek’s on the main level is BOMB for brunch, haven’t been yet for dinner but would imagine it’s just as good. Punch House in the basement definitely has the 70’s hipster living room vibe. And the owners have now added the Tack Room, a weekend piano bar offshoot of Dusek’s, so the whole building is a fun stop!
Upstairs from Dusek’s, Thalia Hall itself still has the old opera house look inside, but thankfully the bathrooms have been updated! There are bars on the stage level and balcony level for drinks. The acoustics even from the DJ & speaker system for events sounds awesome, so I can’t wait to see a live band. Thalia Hall actually manages to get some pretty well-​known names to roll through here; I noticed Passion Pit & Edward Sharpe both playing shows here recently, and Gogol Bordello and the Dandy Warhols will be coming in the next few months. The lineup definitely skews more towards the indie/​rock vibe, so you probably won’t be seeing T-​Swift here anytime soon. I’ve never had a problem with any staff — ID checkers/​bouncers, bartenders; we all know event staff in a crowd can have an attitude, but it’s been far from the case here, gladly. Show tickets I’ve seen can run anywhere from free to about $ 40 depending on the artist, pretty reasonable for the venue location and amenities. The balcony has super comfy chairs and where I would probably prefer to see a show from (I’m very short, so GA crowds holding up cell phones are my archnemesis).
Overall, Thalia Hall is a neighborhood gem, and I 100% recommend anything happening inside!

Pretty good venue to catch a concert.
I had no idea that it was attached to Duseks which has really good food.
I got a chance to see one of my favorite groups of all time, The Geto Boys recently.
They put on a helluva good show for a solid 1.5 hours doing all of their awesome hits like Mind Playing Tricks on Me, Damn It Feels Good To Be a Gangsta and Mind of a Lunatic in addition to many others.
Sound system was awesome and the full bar in the back was very necessary and accessible. Bartenders turned around drinks pretty quick and were pretty cool peeps. Mainly standing space and has balcony seats which will cost additional $. Hopefully they keep this place clean and not nasty and run down like some older venues are/​were (Congress Theater/​The Metro)
Next time I come to a show here I will have dinner and drinks @ Duseks and roll on upstairs afterwards.

Stellar. Another great music venue for Chicago. I love this historical building, refurbished beautifully architecturally and acoustically.
You can mill around on the first level, or chill out in theater seating up in the balcony. This place is the Metro of the south side, and that is high praise. Don’t hesitate to try this one, it’s a great addition. WELL DONE!

I knew of Thalia when it first opened, and despite several trips to Duseks, it just never made my music venue radar. It has now. Outstanding venue, excellent sound system, easy access bar, great peeps and interesting breadth of music performers and genres.
If you want to know anything about eating meat in the city of Chicago, ask any of the security dudes hanging on the staircase, especially the BBQ master with the hat!

I can’t believe it took me so long to finally attend a show here. Thalia Hall is not in the vicinity of most Chicago venues-​but worth the trek down to the south side. It’s been awhile since I had my body patted down, and purse checked but no big deal. Entry was quick and painless. Bathrooms were easy as pie to find, plenty of bar stations so you can wet your whistle; free water also!
No matter where I stood I had an excellent view of the bands playing on stage, and the sound was great. Had the pleasure of seeing Swervedriver here last night for Levitation Chicago.
If you aren’t into standing for prolonged periods of time they offer balcony seating (costs a little more than general admission I believe).
All in all I had a great experience and look forward to witnessing more live shows here.