I went to this bar. First impression, it looked very updated and clean. However, I did not like the vibe and was not a fan of the enforcement of the dress code that had different interpretations to different staff. I hung around for about 30 minutes and then left. I ended up going to "Cell Block" in boystown, and now that place was amazing, and what I was hoping to get from Jackhammer. Overall, I wouldn't visit this establishment again.

This isn’t an inclusive/safe space. Their fetish theme and enforcement of it is based any individual, random employees discretion. The door man will let you in and after you’re there and comfortable, someone will approach you and tell you it’s not enough even though you’re practically naked. I was duped into thinking this bar was accepting of everyone and everyone’s fetish. Don’t do the same. In response to the owner: Thanks for responding but I won’t be emailing as I’d like for anyone looking at reviews to take this into consideration as there are multiple options to consider when looking for a bar to express themselves (and spend money at). You’re correct, the dress code rules are posted in a lot of places. I didn’t imply that I wasn’t aware of your rules. As for random employees discretion- what do you call it when the Hole guard takes a look at the singlet you are wearing, allows you to go downstairs, you undress and get comfortable and then are approached by a random employee and based on this employees discretion you are asked to leave? How’s that not a random employees discretion? They weren’t my bartender. They weren’t the Hole guard. In the rules that you assume I haven’t read it states that it’s up to the Hole guards discretion. It’s embarrassing, it’s not necessary and the message wasn’t delivered in a respectful way. I understand why you have a dress code and why it’s to keep the area exclusive and prevent the “gawkers” as you put it in a different response. I actually appreciate that rule. You can trust that when I wear a singlet I am not there to gawk. I am there to be part of a community and I’m there to feel safe. This experience changed that and I won’t trust myself or my friends with the whatever environment you think you’ve created.

Some may disagree, but maybe the long wait was worth it. The improvements to this bar are pretty incredible. Feels like the old Jackhammer, but shiny and new. Some may miss the grime, but I sort of love the new vibe. The place was thriving and busy last night which made it fun and energetic and downstairs was a blast.

Great little bar. We are a couple 29/30 year old. Don’t think it gets busy at all upstairs, but downstairs is a lot of fun with one huge sex room with a wide mix of people!

Great bar with great people! The upstairs offers a standard bar with music and a stage for shows on select days. Affordable drinks and friendly bartenders. The Hole, downstairs has theme nights on select days and make sure you know the theme before going if you want to go downstairs. The Hole has another bar as well as many other fetish areas. The only rule is to ask before you touch or insert into someone. It's a very fun environment, NOT FOR THE LIGHTHEARTED, EASILY OFFENDED, UPTIGHT, OR NONSEXUAL PEOPLE. OPEN MIND REQUIRED AND NO JUDGEMENT ZONE.

I called just to politely ask about my lost debit card, to get someone who was overall rude. I get the place is busy but coming at me a customer simply cause I'm trying to call which took multiple calls to find out about my debit card with sass and unneeded attitude is not a way to promote business. Won't be spending my money there again anytime soon.

It’s a big space but it gets very slippery so you have to be extremely careful walking around. The events are usually okay. Drinks are so-so decently priced, like going to any other gay club in Chicago. The monthly make out party is the event to attend here free Jell-O shots and fun DJ/hosts.

You know that one suburban friend that renovates his house and thinks he’s on top of the world? That’s the feel you get from this place First, it’s in a sketchy area, I wouldn’t walk around alone late at night. Second, I attended what was supposed to be a big party, Friday 10 pm and you could count the people by hand. The one guard was so rude that I couldn’t believe - does he need tips? Coz I doubt he gets many. As many other people said, go to cell block, it’s on a very safe street in the heart of boystown, always a good service, cheap drinks and immediate fun in the back room. Jackhammer is a joke, they’ll never see my money again

Great music, friendly staff. Dance floors upstairs and downstairs on weekends. Theme nights downstairs, dress code like leather or underwear parties. Beware of pickpockets! One of my favourite no attitude clubs, younger and more polished than Touche’ next door (although most go for a drink to start at Touche’ and then head over to Jackhammer...).

my first time at this bar was last weekend 8/5/16 the upstairs is nice and does not get busy until midnight. the upstairs bartenders were not very friendly or engaging in conversation even though i was only one of 5 guys in the bar… but I did get there at 10 pm . The downstairs bar is wild and fun clothes check for those that want to be wearing a jockstrap and boots or leather or nothing!! The bartenders down there were super friendly and way hotter (more what you expect from a leather bar) they were wearing jocks and boots etc the upstairs staff just had on shorts and tshirts which i thought was not appropriate attire for a leather bar. Drinks are strong and the type of Men that come there are very friendly and fun. There is a sling , which i was in and had loads of fun with some hot men (thanks guys). there is a group shower room for the WS guys and some dark cubby hole areas for other activities. Its open until 4am so take a nap and don't arrive until midnight have fun I sure did !!!

Unique bar on Chicago's far north side catering to the fetish community. The bar consists of an upstairs, with a dance floor and bar in the front, and a back section with pool tables and a second bar, as well as a basement with a dress code. The bar is connected to the leather store next door and you can go between them during certain hours. The upstairs is a fairly regular bar, though they do sometimes host live music events, while the downstairs is more a hands on fetish destination. Unfortunately the bar has had issues of late with the City and keeps closing and reopening due to ongoing issues.

Is a fun gay bar that is different from the usual boystown bars. Has a chill area upstairs with reasonably priced drinks especially compared to other gay bars. The downstairs or as it's named "the hole" is where a lot of the fun is at and highly recommended going if you are a kinky person.

Despite claiming to be inclusionary, we were denied entry to the lower level. We read the rules and visited your website and facebook page before coming, to check the theme and for any events or rule changes. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. We've been here before the pandemic, and after, and are aware of the dress code policy. We brought friends from out of town, just to come to your bar, primarily to enjoy the lower level. There were four of us, two of which could have passed the code without undressing. We were going to use the coat check downstairs. There is no way to know what we had on under our winter clothes as it was below freezing outside. Also, underwear isn't a fetish? We were told it was the remodel that changed being able to let us in, which is not true, since we had no issues getting in previously. We were offered a coupon to go next-door and purchase gear. Like, what? So, we go ask them if they could explain what would get us in, and got a conflicting explanations (to the hole guard's, and their own) on why we couldn't enter your space, including "looking like a skinhead would get us in" and "getting in trouble with the city" and "because of covid" and "the policy is stupid" Like what?? If you are going to practice discrimination and try to gatekeep your own exclusive space, denying entry without an explanation that makes any sense, good luck with that business practice. Hopefully, others read this and don't waste their time trying to be "included". If you don't fit into their profile and look, you are not welcome here. (You're welcome for this feedback): Also, we had a small sling fanny pack and there was no mention of searching it or checking it as we entered until we were enjoying ourselves upstairs, only to be interrupted with the need to pay to check it? We were finishing our drinks and were heading downstairs(so we thought, only to be denied entry) where we planned to check the bag. Understand the need to search/check bags as everyone needs to be kept safe, but we made it all the way into your bar! What if we had something in the bag with bad intent? Figure that out. Hopefully, this review helps someone.

Fun bar with great deals of the day. And the downstairs has a dress code theme. Real friendly people down there.

This is my go-to gay bar in the neighborhood. I've been to several events, especially pup ones, and I've always been made to feel welcome. I've also never had trouble getting into the Hole when proper attire is required on the weekends. I never went to Jackhammer before it re-opened, but I'm glad it did. In my opinion, I prefer it to Cell Block (which was very loud and had a restroom that was wet on every surface and had no privacy) or Touché, which hosted a racist performance to prove it doesn't like PoC. Fun place overall, and I'm glad it's back.

I'm giving 4.5 STARS...you can only choose 4 or 5 when reviewing but there were a couple things that stopped me giving 5, and I feel halfway between 4 and 5 fits my experience. First: the positives... Friendly staff, loads of space (3 floors, 3 bars), outdoor area in back for those needing a smoke break or just some cool air and for me personally I love the layout, especially the Hole, with it's nooks and crannies and passages. All in all very sleek, stylish and relatively open flow between main floor and second floor. 2 bag check locations and lockers (which aren't available when bag check is open just FYI) is nice. The negatives...and these are minor but there were a couple of them on my visit. The clothes check was a little disorganized so took a while to find my bag, and when retrieved bag had been put on something wet...which is disconcerting when you feel wetness on you when you pull on your shirt. Negatives aside, had a lot of fun and will absolutely visit again. :)

Jackhammer is very much a choose-your-own-adventure bar in all of the best ways! This is an incredible spot for out-of-town visitors and regulars alike and you can pick what kind of night you want across the three levels of the club.

I was really excited to come here when they (finally)opened, but the management has made all my and my friends’ experiences awful. They make you wear gear to the hole (so too bad if you can’t afford a $200 harness) I am fortunate enough to have some gear, but it really ruins the night when your friend gets turned away because he can’t afford to buy gear next door. It never used to be so exclusive, and they’re making it into something it wasn’t. So many people were excited to go back after it being closed for years, and now they’re excluding those people that were big fans. The second time I went, my friend was denied entry because his license expired on his birthday. Like come on, why does it seem like you guys are trying to upset your once loyal customer base? I don’t think I’ll ever come here again, which is really disappointing knowing how excited I was for them to open. Until they stop being so exclusive, I will not be supporting their business. Edit: Not a good look that you guys don’t respond to any of your bad reviews.

This is not for your faint of heart if you cannot handle such fun and very open place to meet and greet queer folx to dance. Plus have a good drink to enjoy the music beating on your body with the sex toys store next door to shop for your fun nightcap!

Staff is very good and the pit is okay. Do wish, however, there was more TGNC-accepting patronage. Would recommend but unfortunately not if u aren’t a hypermasculine white (or a token of color) muscle bear

Yay! Glad it's back and looks amazing

Minimal changes upstairs after such a long closure. Be aware new management does not allow entry to the Hole unless you are in fetish gear. Change in policy. Formerly shirtless was acceptable. As someone who made frequent visits to the old Jackhammer this change was an unpleasant surprise. Not because it’s a bad policy. But because it was not mentioned on their website. Had it been an out-of-towner would know what to expect and come prepared or stay away

WE'RE SO BACK still being violated by the coat check hallway but it's back folks

Omg. More coat check please. Y’all ran out of space at 10pm 😱💀

Decent size bar, nice pours on drinks but I only gave it 3 because they a had a generic techo-house playlist with no DJ on a Saturday night. I mean i know dancing isn’t the primary thing people go there for but if you advertise a dance floor you should have a DJ on the weekend.