Bootleggers

never again will i step foot into this establishment. the security guard that’s at the door is very unprofessional & racist. i, an african american woman with my degree in psychology, was not able to enter this establishment because i wear my hair in its natural state & the color of my skin. one should never judge a book by its cover. this establishment has definitely lost a customer!

My girlfriend and I were in for New Years Day from Minnesota, and we stumbled into bootleggers. Fairly friendly staff who welcomed us at the door (unlike the creepy night club up the block that begged us with free drinks and cover), but the female bartender was especially good. I wish I got her name. I accidentally spilled my drink and she replaced it no charge without hesitation. $ 3 SoCo specials tasted great and although it was a really slow night being New Year’s Day, I would recommend what I experienced.

Went here Saturday night ⁸⁄₂₄ at 6:30 pm and they were apparently closed. No signs, no clue.

The VERY worst service I have ever received from a bartender… EVER!
She would not serve us after being at the bar for over 10 min when they went that busy (I feel that it was a race issue), was extremely rude when we did get service to the point where I felt compelled to call the manager over to complain.
Though the management was apologetic, we were not compensated in any way for our horrible experience.
I will never support this establishment with my patronage ever again!

Really cool place! Kinda stumbled into this place this past Tuesday night. They had a tap take over with Dogfish Head and free wings. Beer was great and they had flights so you could try 4 different ones. Wings were good to amd I guess the sauces was made fron one of the beers. Staff was nice. We had a server named Nichole and she was great. My firends girlfriend ordered a Mason jar drink that was called a salty watermelon. She said it was unbelievable and it had chunks of fresh fruit in it. Nichole told us that they have Founders next week amd we’ll definitely coming back. Nice to see a craft beer slection on Division st.

My friend took me here for my birthday, but it was ok, but it got to be a bit much when the music was way too loud and seeing how the dance floor was in the middle of the room where people including the wait staff was coming and going. Not to mention that the drinks were $ 4. My friend and I had glasses of coke and they were watered down because they put too much ice in it. The waitress asked me if I wanted a fresh drink and I declined because it seems as if they don’t know what the meaning of light ice is and fixing a drink so it tastes right not watered completely down. Then it seems like the older crowd needed to retire the club deal a long time ago because a group of people that were in their 40s and 50s were getting it on like they were celebrating the departure of their last kid going off to college. I’m all for having fun with your respective home slices, but seriously when did it ever occur to people that the club lifestyle should be a done deal at 30. The music was so loud you couldn’t hear anyone talk let alone having a conversation. I like good music, but if you’re going to play music keep the volume to a level where people can actually hear each other talk. Plus I also didnt like how the waitress took too long to bring my change after ordering drinks and I don’t like that. It should not take 10 minutes to bring change for an order of drinks it’s not like I started a tab. I only would do that if it’s a place I like coming to and know the drinks are worth paying for. This is the second worst place next to McFadden’s around the corner. I think there are better places on Rush Street to go to than this place per se. Wait staff and bouncers were nice I give them that, but the drinks was not happening that night… sorry.

For starters this bar always has a sketchy crowd but that may be normal for Division Street bars.
The bar tender Sarah was nice at first. When I went to close my tab I was CHARGED FOR A DRINK I DIDN’T ORDER then she accused my friend of ordering it. My friend was with me the entire night and even IF so why would you put it on MY tab?!
She claimed it would take too long to get her manager to refund me so she just gave me the drink… but I PAID FOR IT so that didn’t help much maybe we should have been offered comp shots or SOMETHING. A guy standing next to me at the bar was also overcharged!
PLUS I was told the drinks I ordered were $ 5 because of some drink special but was charged $ 6. Not a big difference but STILL!
NEVER AGAIN! This never happens in Wrigley or Wicker Park.

This is a solid bar. I have fun every time I come and the service is good. I am writing this while and the bar and found out that its becoming a country bar. Not normally my jam but I think people should know that if they are looking for a country bar, this will do the trick.

My favorite bar on division. The music is always pretty good and the drinks are always tasty! The girls behind the bar are friendly and sweet. I love in the area so it’s my hood bar of choice and always delivers a good time when needed!!! Dana and Rose are the best, tip them well boys and girls!!!

Just gone with a couple of people to grab some drinks, was pretty good, pretty spacious and had some good music. Definitely a decent place to go hang out if you are looking for a less crowded club in the area.

It’s hard for a Division St. bar to stay on my list of acceptable places to visit, but Bootleggers has remained. It gets crowded and rowdy, but the service stays pretty good. If you want a loud night out, I recommend Bootleggers.

Very divey place on Division St.
I gave it an extra star because I’ve actually had some good experiences in the place and it does have some historical significance.
Gets divier the later it gets, too… and very overcrowded.
Worth a look, but don’t plan to hang around too late.

Bootleggers is the biggest little club on Division Street, with the «World’s Smallest Beer Garden» — a table of one in the summertime. Once the site of an original speakeasy during prohibition, it’s still a fantastic place to get a classic cocktail and party until the morning. An all request DJ spins favorites and gets everyone on the dance floor or even on the bar top! You can play pool, cup pong or even life-​sized Jenga. This place also has great daily events to keep you busy every night of the week.

Just fair… depends on what night you go.

The music was great but it is just so packed in there! Unless you get in there early expect to be bumped every second.
I’m pretty sure that wasn’t Captain Morgan in the Captain bottle– either watered down or an off brand.

There were several drink specials when I went, not that much of a variety of alcohol compared to other places. I can’t complain though, they had a fair number of Three Olives vodka so I didn’t particularly mind.
However, it was kind of annoying and confusing when I ordered a Tom Collins and they didn’t have the alcohol necessary to make it in the front of the house so I had to wait a good 20 minutes for my drink. The bartender also didn’t know how to make it I think because she kept looking up the directions for it.
When the drinks actually do come out, they’re really good and you can’t taste the alcohol as much despite it being fairly strong. They also have free tortilla chips you can omnomnom on!
Despite the confusion, the bartenders are very attentive and very nice. The crowd seemed minimal, but friendly. It’s a good place to sit down and talk to your friends. Music was very Top 40s (Starships, Call Me Maybe, International Love, Where Have You Been, etc.)

Lost my phone here (think it was stolen). Instead of helping me, the staff threw me out. It was a Wednesday night, not busy.
My friend did pick up some skank that night so it’s got that going for it?

This, I would argue is probably the best bar near Rush and Division.
The main area is kept clean (unlike the floors at Shenannigans which can get downright oil slick slippery), the DJ plays a great mix of Top 40 tunes, asks for, takes, and plays requests! AMAZING! There are even mirrors along the dance floor that allow you to watch yourself while you rock out.
And the mirrors actually don’t look cheesy.
Impressive.
There is also a pool table toward the back… I think. Or maybe its just a table to play beer pong on. Whatever, there are giant Jenga blocks in the front of the bar on a low wood table near the entrance that I find way more entertaining. :)
Drinks specials are available, otherwise you will pay the regular high tab that you normally would while drinking out.
Here’s to watching yourself jam to Britney and sip an Amaretto Sour while juking your best friend at the same time. Salud!

I’ve been here twice now. Once on a Friday night and once on Saturday before St. Patty’s.
Friday night, it was decently fun. They have beer pong in the back, if that’s your style. Plays your poppy dance music for those interested in dancing. The servers there are all really sweet and were extra nice to my roommate and I on St. Patty’s Saturday. Probably because we were the only people not wasted at 4pm!
Both times I’ve been it has been a little more crowded then I would prefer. I would possibly go here again, but not on my own volition.

I have been coming here every now and then for 2 years now when I want to go somewhere after most of the clubs/​bars shut it down at 2AM. Usually a girl at the door standing behind a tub of beer and ice when you first walk in. They usually have pretty cheap drink specials as well. The service here can be somtimes hit or miss. They have the girls walking around offering shots in the tubes and sometimes if you say no they look at you as if the want to knock you over the head with the tray.
Pretty loose crowd here on most Saturday evenings, if you know what I mean. A lot of the guys here are really just here to pick-​up something for the evening and to be honest most of them are complete scumbags. My buddy was talking to one girl and as soon as he turned to me to make a comment about something, this guy standing right behind him starts asking the girl to leave with him for the evening!
The bathroom here always seem to have an issue. The last couple of times I have been here, the closer you get to the back of the bar near the bathroom, it smells like someone took a dump and the toilet exploded!
Decent place to hit up after a night of clubbing when you are not ready to head home at 2AM.