Game Room

My father came into town for a hot minute and I thought this would be a great place to take him. Not only for the amazing architecture, but to challenge eachother in a game of pool. I grew up learning from him and then got to the point where I could win from time to time. I had been there before, but never on a Friday night! We arrive and there were a couple of ladies at the entrance of whom I asked, «Do you know how we can reserve a table?» They replied by telling me we could get on the list and that it would be about 20 minutes. A gentleman then suggested we could have a seat in the Circle Room while we wait and he would come get us once the table was ready. He then escorted us to the Circle Room, upon which we were offered a free glass of champagne, as they were celebrating their first year in business. Sure enough, within 20 minutes, the gent approaches us and lets us know our table is ready. We only had 30 minutes to play, but we couldn’t have been more impressed with the service that was provided to us. I will definitely be back and I can’t wait to show all of my friends this amazing find!

A great hidden spot, located on the 2^nd floor and you’d need to zig-​zag a liitle bit, but it is very worth it!
Checked it out on a week day and it was not crowded at all, with plenty pool, checker, bocci and other things to play and do.
Decent drinks, but not the most amazing.

I’ve been to numerous cocktail bars in Chicago where price is greater than quality. This is not one of those bars. Solid liquor selection and delicious house list. All of the games are free, and as we were here on a Monday starting at 4, we were able to play a variety of games throughout the time we were here without waiting. The service was exceptional. Patience, our server, was friendly, attentive, and accommodating. My husband’s and my opinion of a place is very much swayed by the quality of service, and she is a great extension of the wonderful things this place offers through ambience, delicious libations, and entertainment. We will definitely be back. With friends.

Game room is actually filled with games; pool, fusbol, washer game LOL. During the weekends it can get really packed and hard to reserve games. Non-​peak days, games are open to everyone. Drinks are okay, theyre on the strong alcohol side in most drinks. Definitely a chill atmosphere in the day, louder during the evenings.

Hip, swanky, and almost exclusive feeling pool hall. Other various games such as foosball, shuffleboard, chess. Not to mention home to one of the top 3 best old fashions in the city… and it’s on tap. Total hidden gem. The perfect place to socialize, play, and/​or mingle.

Located on the second floor in the Chicago Athletic Association right across the North End of Crown Fountain. So when you see the North tower, you know you should get ready to enter the building. The Game Room is pretty neat, dark, and loud, very gothic like. Later on, I found out the theme of the building is «Gothic like» which made sense because the entire second floor was dark. There wasn’t a single window in the game room.
There is a waitlist for all the games so it’s a bummer if you have to wait 45min-​1hr. It liked that I didn’t have to wait 10 minutes just to get water at the bar. I’m so use to being neglected at bars because no one wants to serve the water boy. Probably my favorite part was making a trip up to the 13^th floor to the terrace. On Saturday night, expect to wait in a long line just to get up there. It dies down around midnight when the terrace closes (inside is still open until 2−3AM).
I think the Game Room is more of an «end of the day» thing where you come here to chill after a long day in Chicago… specifically State St, Millennium park, museums etc etc. This is a nice hangout spot with your friends but by no means should you drive 30 – 40 minutes and pay $ 20 for parking just to play pool here.

Nice restoration work and free (?) plentiful pools tables, shuffleboards, and a full indoor sand boules court…
–1 star for playing way too loud eclectic music, kills vibe
–1 star unskilled bartenders who are aloof, short, and uninspired. Like they were slinging college-​grade shots to the admittedly hipster infested collegiate clientele.
And $ 17 for a 2 ounce Woodford Reserve mint julep?! Really? Even at the Four Seasons…

My scale:
5 Stars: I recommend this without any exceptions. I will come back (more than once) and bring friends!
4 Stars: I recommend this under certain circumstances. Worth going, but ONE thing was off.
3 Stars: I was ok, but in a city like Chicago you can find better places. I wouldn’t come back.
2 Stars: Disappointed. I wouldn’t come back, even if it was the last place in Chicago.
1 Star: Don’t go here! Rip-​off, Tourist-​trap, dangerous, or something like this. Please close this place.
Worth going to. Good location (considering that there are almost no great bars in the loop), good interior design, good drinks and some fun games — for free. Pool, shuffle board, poker tables …
it is also the entrance to the Milk Room. And that one is really worth going to :-)

I jokingly suggested bar hopping because of all the bars in the same building, my friend and boyfriend took it seriously. This was our second place to hit from that joke.
They have board games, shuffle boards and other things going on while you chill with your drink. When I was here it was super packed and we didn’t play with any of the games. There’s also a signup list for the games so look out for that if you really, really wanted to play.
Drinks here aren’t too bad. This place is near the lobby area so it’s easy to get to.

One of my favorite places to go grab a cocktail. The service can be hit or miss, but the ambience is generally so chill, I didn’t even notice that it could be considered «boogie» until one of my friends mentioned it.
The service can be a hit or miss, and the drinks can certainly run up in price, but I’d spend an evening unwinding after work here anyday. Best of all, it’s in the loop so CHicago locals actually go here, and although you do get a few tourists here and there, it isn’t an overwhelming number like the hotel bars in River North can be.
My only complaint is that the restrooms are so inconveniently located — it’s quite a walk, especially after you knock a few back.

After visiting the game room for a second time, I have to up my review to 5 stars. Went with a group of coworkers for happy hour– initially it seemed super packed, but there’s enough hang out areas that it didn’t feel too crowded and we were able to find comfortable places to sit.
Service at the bar was slow (2^nd time experiencing this), but the floor staff is awesome. Special shout out to the floor manager, Pete! He served us personally and was totally committed to everyone having a good time.
Drinks and food (especially the fried pickles and beignets) were priced well for a place in the city. The wait time for shuffle board, pool, and foosball wasn’t bad at all, and they’re all free! Bocce ball was unfortunately booked, so will be back to give this game a try Made for a fun night out and quickly becoming my favorite place in the city. Tip: come here later in the night– it gets less crowded at around 10ish.

Amazing little hideaway from Chicago’s past. Fun games and old wooden classic room. They have a full sized bocci ball pit. Mimi shuffle board and pool tables. It’s in the second floor and tricky to find. Well worth it to have some fun in this gem!

Some co-​workers put together a happy hour outing and this was our destination. I did not know that this place existed as I had been to the rooftop (Cindy’s) this past summer and didn’t the the Athletic Association was about to come hard with these different spots inside of it… bravo!!! Pretty dark joint, but a cool, chill vibe going on.
We walked in and saw there were a few reserved tables so we got in where we fitted and took over an area for our group of 10 plus. We noticed some shuffleboard tables, pool tables, foosball and other games going on here which is cool for after work shenanigans. I also noticed the bar so I waltzed right over and grabbed an old fashioned or two… they made them just right! I would like to do this place a bit more and probably will.

Stopped in for a drink and just to see what the hell it was. The game and beer selection was good. It probably would have been 5 stars if the staff took more control of the LAN games they had in the center. Some games were blocked because of equipment they had brought. If it wasnt dj equipment and large cases i would have just moved them myself. one room was pretty large and empty while the other with the pinball machines was a cluster. FInd a place for them next time around.

I had a blast here the other night. I was not trying to meet people; I was just going to hang out a with a friend and catch up but this place blew me out of the water at how swanky and how down to earth it was at the same same time. This is Chicago’s answer to the movie «casablanca» if you ask me. it has got that special feel to it.
Say what you want about the CAA building (the outer façade-​an architechtural comment here if you will) but this lounge and pool place does not dissapoint.
The old fashioned was pretty good here. In fact you could have a roaring twenties retro party here and you would fit right in.
It is dark inside but that just adds to the mystique if you ask me.
This is a solid after work place. People are very chilled out. There was a lot of talent… and Im not just talking about the pool table.
The hamburgers are very tasty and so was some of the champagne that I tasted. I will be making this a regular spot to visit.
SO FUN
Mostly professionals who are between 25 and 45 if I can judge by the Saturday night crowd. What a awesome addition to Chicago. games, people watching, interacting, not a pretentious crowd at all.
The reminds me of a place I used to go to in Toronto called Spadina Ave Billiards minus not having a juke box.
Maybe if I can suggest something… playing some dance music on Saturday night and have a area to dance. It’s not like there is not any room :)

A swanky cocktail bar located on the second floor of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. Spacious area with plenty of seats and GAMES/​activities to keep you busy with your friends! Shuffle board, pool, checkers, chess etc, to choose from!
However, service was non-​existent even though you see plenty of servers walking around. You will definitely have to go to the bar to grab a drink and even then, you will possibly be ignored. And also, the drinks/​cocktails aren’t all that tasty.

I met some friends out for a mid week drink and have to say I think this is my favorite bar in the Chicago Athletic Assoc. Hotel. It has a laid back from trendy feel.
The fish tacos are great. Plenty of fish and not greasy at all. The 3 tacos were the perfect amount of food to go with my bubbles.
The DJ spinning in the background was a nice vibe as people played pool, shuffle board and many other entertaining games. Hence the name game room.
There is plenty of comfy seating at the bar and around the room.
I recommend this spot for a cute and casual date to break the ice and add a little activity to just the regular run of the mill meet up for a drink night.

Quite a good time for a wednesday. Enough people to keep you entertained and not too crowded for claustrophobia and long lines.
Good strong drinks on their specials. Full bar included.
Ordered an old fashioned and one of the other specialty drinks that was frozen and had fernet in it (can’t recall the name).
One of the best old fashions I’ve had. Easy to drink, very fragrant. The Fernet drink was a creeper and started to taste a bit bitter by the end but was enjoyable.
The game room had fooseball, pool tables, and a few other games to keep bar goers entertained. Have the hostess add you on the waiting list to get in on the games.
Beautiful interior, has an upscale feel to the regular bars that also have these games. People are dressed quite nice. No one was really wearing shorts or hats. Fun night.

The Game Room is a great addition to my workplace’s happy hour repertoire. There’s nothing like a little friendly competition. Particularly when my team kicks ass in bocce unexpectedly. Also unexpected was the sink bath my co-​worker and I had to give ourselves courtesy of the chalk bocce court. Note to self and all of you: Don’t wear all black if you’re playing bocce. Just don’t.
The atmosphere gives off an air of «rich mahogany and many leather bound books» and the space is pretty open with a bit of seating with tables but more attention given to the game spaces. Duh, it’s the game room.
The drinks were very tasty and on the cheaper end for downtown. Definitely cheaper than the offering’s on the rooftop and Cindy’s. We didn’t get food but I’ve never been disappointed by Land & Sea Dept. so I’m sure I’ll check it out in the future. The service at the bar was a little on the slow side as the crowd got larger. Clearly I understand cocktails take some time, but maybe one more bartender during the post-​work rush wouldn’t hurt. Everyone was very friendly though.
Helpful tips: There’s a time limit on games, don’t wear black to bocce, get the collins.

Another foiled attempt to go to Cindy’s, another great spot discovered in the failure. Seriously, what is with the line to that place, are they giving out free drinks up there? I eagerly await the day that the line for Cindy’s elevator is not backed up to somewhere out by the registration desk near Shake Shack. After wishing everyone in line a wonderful time growing old and dying before reaching the rooftop, I decided to hike up the staircase to the second floor Game Room, and was much happier for it.
The Game Room is located behind the registration desk, and the front lobby looks like Ron Burgundy decorated it; many leather-​bound books and smells of rich mahogany. The game room itself is a rather dim, wide open cavernous room, filled with a bocce court, shuffleboard tables, foosball tables, and chess/​checkers tables, as well as regular tables and couches for relaxing and eating. The bar is in the back, where you can get interesting and pretty-​good-​priced drinks, especially for Michigan Ave/​Loop area. I had a drink called the Frozen, which involved blackberry, gin, and herbs, and was really refreshing, especially considering I don’t even like gin, but couldn’t taste the telltale piney-​ness I dislike.
My only nitpick is that I wish it was clearer how to get a turn at the games. Once after starting to play on the bocce court that had been empty for at least 30 minutes, and once after waiting for a pool table, we were just as quickly told there were people waiting on a sign-​up list to play next. That’s all well and good, and we don’t want to take anyone’s turn, but none of us saw anything obviously posted or written anywhere about which games have sign-​up waiting lists with the staff, or which staff are in charge of signing up people for which games, etc.
We seemed to be able to just ask for a turn at shuffleboard, foosball, and checkers/​chess, from the other patrons without a waiting list, however, so I would really encourage the Game Room to make abundantly clear what the rules are for each area so I don’t waste 40 minutes waiting for «my turn,» only to be told by a staff appearing from the woodwork that it in fact isn’t, and now I don’t have time to wait out a 50-​person pool list I could have been nearing the top of already had I known. Put up a sign-​up chalkboard for the games that need it, or assign a staff member to oversee and stay at the game area to move the flow along, and this could be a 5-​star review!