Discover
ListSpecials Board Dish GemsChicago's BestEvents
Read
The ScoopGuides FindsStoriesPodcasts
By Day
MondayTuesday WednesdayThursday FridaySaturday Sunday
By Deal Type
Happy HourBrunch Full Directory
Neighborhoods
Wicker ParkRiver North Logan SquareLincoln Park All Areas
Account
My ProfileBusiness Dashboard My AccountSponsor Your Business

Sign In

Sign in to upvote deals and save your favorite spots.

or
or use your phone

View Full Business Page →
Home / Businesses / Empty Bottle

Empty Bottle

Iconic/NotableUkrainian Village · Bar / Live Music Venue Community-sourced, unverified
📍 1035 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Empty Bottle has anchored Ukrainian Village's independent music scene for 25-plus years, per its own site's milestone callout, and it won the Chicago Reader's Best Dive Bar in the 2025 Best of Chicago poll for sticking to exactly that identity the whole time.

$
Chicago Reader's Best Dive Bar (2025) — 25+ years of independent live music, historically with free Monday shows

It's owned by 16' on Center, the same hospitality group behind the now-closed Revival Food Hall, and it's built its reputation on a steady diet of touring and local acts rather than any one gimmick — historically including free Monday-night shows that turned the slowest night of the week into one of its most reliable draws.

All shows are 21+, and the vibe stays unpretentious enough that 'dive bar' remains the honest, earned description a quarter-century in.

📸 See more of Empty Bottle

Specials at Empty Bottle

(1)

Empty Bottle

Iconic/Notable
Chicago Reader's Best Dive Bar (2025)
Ukrainian VillageCommunity

Hours

Daily~5pm-2am (sources conflict
including the official site itself)
🥡 Takeout unconfirmed

Amenities & accessibility

❔Takeout: unverified
❔Wheelchair access: unverified

Location

🧭 Apple Maps 📍 Google Maps

Photos

No photos yet — be the first to add one.

Have a photo from a recent visit? — customers and business owners both welcome.

Know about a deal here that's not listed? Add it below — we'll verify and publish it.

to suggest a special.

Think Empty Bottle deserves Iconic/Notable or Super Gem status? Tell us why.

to nominate a gem.

Keep exploring

Nearby
Full Directory
Explore
Happy Hour
Own or manage Empty Bottle? Claim this listing to verify your hours and add real photos.

Know a Chicago gem we're missing?

Tell us about a can't-miss special, a hidden spot, or a dish worth the drive — a father and son read every nomination.

Nominate a Gem →

See a deal here we're missing?

Menu prices change, happy hours shift — if something's out of date, tell us in 30 seconds. We verify and publish it.

Add a Special ↓
An editorial collage of Chicago foods from The Bear: Italian beef, deep dish, a hot dog, and a growling purple bear
📰 The Scoop

The Bear Ate Chicago

Every restaurant, dive, diner, bakery, and beef stand that made its way onto the show — plus an interactive map of every stop.

Read the Story →
Chicago's Best — ranked pizza, burgers, BBQ, and more
🏆 Chicago's Best

Pizza, Burgers, BBQ & More — Ranked

The Chicago Specials Score: member votes plus our own editorial judgment, updated as new spots earn their place.

See the Rankings →
Chicago Events — festivals, parades, concerts and more, curated month by month
📅 Events

Festivals, Parades & Concerts — All Year Long

Every real, verified Chicago event worth planning around — browse month by month, from this weekend to next summer.

See What's On →