Branded Saloon

"This country western-themed bar is a casual neighborhood hangout with booth seating in the front and a performance space in the back where they host open mic nights and drag shows. But on a warm day in the summer, you’ll want to be seated at a table on their sidewalk patio, grooving to the bass-thumping beats blasting from their excellent speaker system. Downstairs is a basement area with a pool table that no one ever seems to be using (and you can also rent out the space for private parties). This place also serves some pretty decent bar food, like burgers and quesadillas." - rob anderson, matt clifton, nikko duren, neha talreja, bryan kim

"A respite for the urban cowboy, Branded Saloon feels like the kind of place where you’d see Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton or Burt Reynolds sharing a drink over laughs. This honky-tonk themed western bar has everything from steer horns, to taxidermy cattle wearing rainbow wigs, to carriage-wheel chandeliers. And like any true western watering hole, they’ve got a ton of bourbons, whiskeys, ryes and Miller Lights for you to take a swim with. A variety of live music, karaoke, poker and trivia nights can be found almost every night of the week in the back room, with a pool table downstairs just waiting for you to sink the 8 ball. Just be good to each other when you’re there—that portrait of John Wayne is watching you." - Aki Carpenter & Chris Huban

"My friends at the house of Switch n' Play do a drag show twice a month at a bar called Branded Saloon, which is in Prospect Heights. And it is the best drag show I've ever seen. I always tell people to check it out and they're completely hooked."

"This country western-themed, queer-friendly bar is a casual neighborhood hangout with booth seating in the front and a performance space in the back, where they host open mic nights and drag sets. Downstairs is a basement area with a pool table that no one ever seems to be using (and you can also rent out the space for private parties). This place also serves some pretty decent bar food, like burgers and quesadillas." - Matt Clifton