Part of the Gay Chicago Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Chicago, Illinois
A gritty Boystown leather bar with themed kink and fetish nights.
Cell Block is Northalsted's leather and Levi's bar, and the only dedicated leather and fetish bar on the Halsted strip. It opened in 1996 in the former Loading Dock space at 3702 N. Halsted, and it's been a fixture of Chicago's kink and leather community since. The front bar runs with no dress code and draws a broad neighborhood gay crowd for cheap drinks, darts, and pool; the back bar, open on Friday and Saturday nights, keeps a strict leather dress code for a more serious play crowd. Various groups meet here regularly, and it leans into themed nights rather than chasing a general dance-club crowd. If you're into leather, gear, or fetish culture, or just curious and respectful of the room, it's the anchor for that scene in the neighborhood. Read the dress code before you go so you know which bar you're walking into.
Have feedback on this description? Let us knowDrag brunches, circuit nights & every party worth knowing in Chicago — in your inbox every week.
$41
$89
$508
$35
$35
$90
$169
$163
Experiences powered by Viator
Get the full experience — check in, follow this venue, and connect with the community.
Your complete guide to LGBTQ+ Chicago — the best gay bars, annual events, neighborhoods, hotels, and things to do in the Windy City.
Robbie S.
Everything you need for Chicago's Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade — the route, the costume contest, the Northalsted bars that go all out, and where to stay that's gay.
Robbie S.
Parvati Shallow's Survivor brunch, Queen! celebrates Lucy's birthday, and G.E.M. turns five at Jackhammer — plus 92 ways to fill your weekend.
Robbie S.
A citywide guide to the best gay bars and clubs in Chicago — Northalsted's neon-lit video bars, Andersonville's laid-back locals, historic South Side spots and everything between.
Robbie S.
Laid-back patios, karaoke, and the least pretentious crowd in the city — here's where Chicago's bears, cubs, and otters actually hang out, night by night.
Robbie S.
From cruise bars in Rogers Park to the Chicago Eagle, here's every corner of Chicago's leather and kink scene — the birthplace of IML.
Robbie S.
