The Matchbox

This place is definitely small, or should I say narrow. I stopped in before happy hour though, so I was able to nab a seat. Right in front of the show too (where the bartender mixed up fine concoctions that had me at hello). It’s dark and a great place to come if you just don’t feel like dealing with the world or the hassle of a busy trendy bar. The cocktails are on point, and I did get checked for my ID. Kudos to the bartender for being on the right side of the law. The music brought me back to a time before I was 21… Portishead. I actually stayed longer because I felt like I was in a perfect time warp. A few creepers straggled in, but I kept to myself and then ordered a Please and Thank You. Rightful moniker too, I would have followed it with a «yes SIR, may I have another!!, «but it’s still mid day and I had to drive home. It tasted creamy and gingery. If I had to date a drink, it would be this one. Bourbon, brandy, apple pie shrub, demerara, lemon, and ginger beer. Topped with citrus peel, and the straw right through. I am for sure coming back, probably around the same time, as I’ve seen other Unilocalers having difficulty grabbing a seat later. #doyouevenmatchboxbro Yes, yes I do. btw, there are no «bros» here, thank the lord.

im visiting from california. on the night on 12÷13÷15 i came to this bar around 6pm-​7pm and the bartender was bluntly rude, giving me the most stalest answers back. visiting from another state and reading all the Unilocal reviews i expect some kind of customer service but it seemed like right as we walked in (being a group of asians) he had this attitude that could be handled with a ass whooping back home but i kept calm and continued to ask questions on what he did have, politely of course. after answering no to all my questions, i decided to leave. i wasnt greeted as i walked in or out. to the bartender working that night. go fuck yourself, you are a blight in the world. idk why this bar has good reviews. its fucking tiny! the walk-​way into the bar is no wider then ²⁄₁₂ ft wide. fuck this place.

it might be the smallest bar in the city, hardly anywhere to stand, tho i suppose if you can get a seat at the bar its ok, but still you gotta keep scooting up for people to walk by, but i suppose thats the charm, some good beers on tap, reasonably priced, tho i doubt id come back cuz its so small

This place has it all:
Small: Yup
Cheap Drink options: Check
Surly Bartender: Fo Sho
Gents who appear to be regulars looking at you funny because you wore a cardigan sweater: Indeed that happened.
Overall good time: You Bet Your A$$$

Love this place! Small and unpretentious. Good food and drinks. Love the outside patio.

Its a bit tight on the inside — hence the name, but what they lack in size they make up for in strength — of their cocktails. Generous pours at the watering hole, highlight are martinis and ice cold bottles of beer. I never pass by and don’t stop in for a taste here.

Great cocktails and strong drinks!
The place is SUPER narrow but definitely check this place out. The décor is fun and the bartenders are pretty nice. The booze selection is great!

Good ambiance, tight squeeze, and fruit flies in your drink. What more could you want from a Chicago strong hold.

We were told to come to the matchbox to experience real bar in Chicago. I think it’s the narrowest bar in the planet. It’s really cool though. You definitely get to know people around you. We tried a couple drinks there. The woodmans are really good and refreshing. They make the best margarita and old fashion. Totally recommend coming to this place.

Oh, Matchbox. If only you’d been five minutes closer to my apartment — then, I really would have been a regular.
This place is small (ok tiny, but everyone else’s review can hit this point), but it feels more comfortable than that (except when you’re skirting by five people to get to the bathroom). It looks like a dive, but it feels more like a no-​nonsense bar where you go for some drinks. It doesn’t have a specific time or occasion — it is there for whatever you may need. I don’t know how to explain it, but I just felt welcome here.
I’m not big into cocktails, but the cocktails here came in a reasonable end (all of the normal things) and a higher end (fancier drinks). I had something made with jelly and gin that was shaken up and it was delicious and I would get it a million more times.
Good beer selection too! Some interesting things, some normal ones, more or less reasonable prices.
When it comes to it, five star reviews are reserved for places that force me to give them. As a consumer, I really value feeling welcome and belonging — and I got that sort of calm, no-​nonsense vibe here.

Literally a hole in the wall. This place is tiny and made a little person like myself slightly claustrophobic. I truly wonder how grown men can sit elbow to elbow like sardines and have a good time. The alcohol probably helps…
Only one bartender that doesn’t seem too chipper. He seemed pretty shocked that we ordered straight shots and the concept of shot glasses also don’t exist in his world. He pretty much served us a half a glass of vodka each (equivalent to at least 2 shots). The shot in itself was also warm and did not go down smoothly. We also tried their Dark and Stormy which was AVERAGE and their banana daiquiri which was borderline undrinkable. Wouldn’t go back or recommend.

If we’re being honest… and as most know, I usually am. I was walking home from Binny’s in Lincoln Park and my bladder was starting to protest. I have been curious about this odd little Bar since I moved here last May. I get off the Blue Line right across the street when I am traveling for business and I always look across at it when waiting for Über to arrive. I decided to stop in and have a drink so I didn’t feel guilty about using the loo. What an awesome surprise! It’s shaped like a sliver of aged cheese with pressed tin ceiling and a brick outer wall. The spirits selection is impressive and they have a few decent craft beer choices. The wine selections look decent as well. I am guessing this place holds 30 – 40 people tops. The bartenders are super nice and last but not least the cocktails are the most reasonable priced I have found for the quality in Chicago. You should add this to your list of places to try in Chicago. Next time I fly home and get off the Blue Line stop at Chicago Ave., I think I will stop here for a wee nip before I summon Über

I’m still working my way around the area, but this is way up there with my favorites. It’s tiny, touting being «Chicago’s most intimate bar». That’s not a lie, it’s very little, like nine stools in a hallway, and it’s divey. But the beer selection was very good, they also made Old-​Fashions and other cocktails with great care. Silverpalm next door is amazing as well, I believe there owned by the same people.

If you don’t like the grit of this place, then this place just isn’t for you. This place is small, if you don’t get in, or if you are cramped… its always expected, don’t base your review on level of service, because… they don’t care. And neither should someone going to ‘the smallest bar in chicago’.
I believe that only a few places do certain things extremely well, and you should judge those places, based on those few things.
Get a margarita. Order the ½ ribs. Order the shrimp cocktail.
If you do this, you should expect to give a great review — Service is by bikers… so you shouldn’t rate just based on that (because its not bad… its just cold/​expected).
If you want warm service w/​great bartenders, go to the Silver Palm, which is basically the same place (upstairs). Then, and only then, should you order the fantastic fish tacos and many other their other great food options.

Can’t live without this lovely slice of heaven.
Best margaritas (according to CNN, second best in the country).
Awesome ambiance.
No bullshit.
Best bartenders.
Best food from sister restaurant, the Palm (try: veggie burger, fried, asparagus and ribs)
If you don’t agree, please don’t come back — I’ll happily hog your spot!

Went in ⁸⁄₁₅.
When I walked in I realized just how small this place is.
We weren’t sure if out door seating was seat yourself.
As I stood at the bar while the bartenders were figuring out what kind of shot they wanted to take I interrupted to ask.
Yes. Seat yourself and he said first come first serve?
We sat ourselves on a sticky, unbalanced table.
We waited about 5 minutes before we were greeted.
Where I had to ask if the table could be wiped down.
The menus were really sticky as well.
I went with the mule and my friends went with the gimlets.
The drinks were really delicious.
I really enjoyed sitting outside.
Our server seemed un interested in us, I felt like we had to flag her more than her actually popping in.
No small talk nothing. She’s a blonde with a pixie.
We ordered guacamole, calamari, and bruschett a,
All amazing.
We asked the server for a salad about 20 minutes after our apps, and she told us they already had last call.
(Which we weren’t told)
She then said she’d ask if the kitchen could throw a salad together, and literally never came back, until they closed the patio.
Even when closing the patio I felt like they were really rude.
Why would you bring me a full drink ten minutes before you close the patio, then say everyone has to drink up.
It was awkward.
Food and drinks really good.
Service. Pretty bad.
This could have been a 5 star.

It tries so hard to be cool, kitchy, and hip (ster), in one of the cool Chicagoan neighborhoods (it’s kinda cool). But, when have a place that is indeed the size of a matchbox, it’s impossible to go during any hours respectable to grab a drink. Fortunately, I was drinking when it was not indeed respectable, so rather enjoyed myself, but it was still almost impossible to find a seat.
It’s one of those places you have to try at least once, because of its trendy appeal, but it’d be hard to go regularly if every time you might not actually get to stay.

When you are entertaining out of town friends, you try and provide them with the best Chicago experience, even if their idea of «going out» involves Bud Light and horseshoes (oh them Nevada folks). After dining at one of my favorites– Ada Street– I looked for a bar to continue the evening, as uncomfortable as it already was.
How I would describe Matchbox (besides the aforementioned tiny): In one of the many, MANY OK Cupid quizzes, there’s one that asks what a perfect first date would be: a really divey bar, a nice restaurant or a day at the beach (there might be one more choice but I can’t remember). Matchbox is an oxymoron– an upscale divey bar.
If you judge a book by it’s cover, you will be sorely disappointed when you miss out on stellar drinks (try the margarita), a decent bottle beer selection, a pretty extensive choice of liquors, and the caveat of «no red bull, no Jäger.» (praise Jesus for that one). Yes, it’s cozy, but if you’re on a date, what better way to see how the night is going to turn out than being squished up against someone (unless, like me, the person you are with is completely uninterested in you).
I will mention that I found one of the bartenders to be friendlier than the other, which would bum me out if I came here alone but otherwise wasn’t a big deal.
Definitely this place is bookmarked for good.

I had always enjoyed my trips to the Matchbox: terrific cocktails, affordable prices, «intimate» setting. Ask me a couple weeks ago, I would have had nothing but praise for this bar.
I recently went with some friends, and after my latest experience I will never, ever return. We were sitting at the end of the bar having drinks and some pizza. (Normally you can order in from the hotel restaurant next door, but since the place was temporarily closed, the bartender recommended the pizza joint across the street.) I hadn’t paid much mind to the folks next to us until one of the guys left, returning a few minutes later with an unmarked white box. The contents of this box? Several hunks of raw meat. Which he proceeded to remove from the box, place on the bar, and cut into smaller pieces for his friends.
Did the bartenders ask him to stop? Did it ever occur to them that raw meat on a bar is a pretty significant health hazard? Of course not: the guy was cutting the meat into pieces for the bartender. Admittedly I can be a little bit sensitive about things I find icky, but I rather think that raw meat on the bar can reasonably be considered unacceptable for a certified public eating and drinking establishment. I am never going back to this bar and I sincerely hope that they get shut down.

This place is about as spacious as a hallway and the service on the patio is questionable, but boy do they have a quality old fashioned. They are not skimpy on the good cherries here either.
Despite the cramped quarters, those old fashioneds will bring me back here for sure. Maybe I’ll even try the mysterious gin and jam next time.