Chicago Eagle (Closed)

Editor's Review   If you're looking for a serious leather bar experience, the Eagle is the bar for you. One of the first leather bars in the country, and the home of the extremely popular International Mr. Leather contest and leather run held every Memorial day weekend, the Eagle can be found on N. Clark St, just south of Andersonville, one of Chicago's up and coming gay areas. The crowd is a mix of serious leathermen, bears, locals from the neighborhood, and people bar-hopping along the Clark St. bar strip. Open until 4am weeknights and 5am Saturday, the bar is busiest later at night as last call approaches for bars with earlier closing times.

The space is divided into a front and back bar. Dominated by a large, square bar in the center of the room, the front bar is open to all seven days a week. It is also where you'll find the pool table, with free pool on Wednesdays, and on Sunday evenings, the lights are dimmed and a movie is shown.

On Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the back bar is open, though there is a dress code in effect. It is smaller and more intimate then the front bar. With a small bar along one wall and a few bar stools along the opposite wall, the mostly open space works equally well for hanging out or getting to know someone better. Off to one side of the bar is where you'll find the Eagle's two pinball machines. Though the back bar is not technically open the rest of the week, the pinball machines are still accessible.