No Vacancy

No Vacancy is an elevated dive bar on Wells Street in River North, Chicago, that hosts birthday parties, corporate events and watch parties in its 64-seat space. It pairs a sports bar setup with shareable bar food, specialty cocktails and a serious wine and beer list, which suits groups who want to catch a game without a plain sports bar.

The room is a single 64-seat bar space with a custom bar, a mix of high-top and other seating, and lots of TVs. Patterned wallpaper, exposed brick and Edison bulb chandeliers under a pressed tin ceiling give it a moody, polished feel. In warmer weather a 22-seat sidewalk patio adds room outside.

For a group, the food works well shared: much of the menu is designed for the table, from birria egg rolls and steak sliders to wings and pretzel-crusted chicken tenders. The bar pours specialty cocktails, wines from a private collection and a wide range of beer styles, and there is a happy hour menu. Brunch adds bottomless mimosas and bloodies with a two hour limit. NFL Sunday Ticket and Bears football are on the screens in season, and the room stays lively without getting too loud, which suits after-work happy hours.

Private events are planned with the venue's team, who follow up once they have the date, start and end time, type of event and guest count. Event types it lists include birthdays, cocktail receptions, corporate lunches, rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, engagements, showers and sporting events. The kitchen stays open until 11pm every evening, and there is metered street parking nearby plus a garage a block and a half south on Wells.