Continental Lounge

Owners created a mind-blowing experience , the vibe, the bartenders & their customer accommodating skills , price was right, atmosphere was amazing. Owners know how to make any lounge magical. Wow ! indisputable 5 stars & then some...

I’ve been to bars all over the country and in Europe. The security guard was more rude, confusing and disrespectful than anything I’ve previously experienced in any hospitality experience. This was after we (4 adults) had spent over 65 dollars & were on our way to buy another round. We made no annoyance or disturbance towards the patrons nor employees (we were 4 of the 9 patrons). she was so rude. we all closed our tabs immediately in refusal to spend another cent at this establishment. I would recommend you take your money to a bar/lounge that values your patronage. This is an absolutely 0/10 and I will never return and will tell everybody I know to avoid it. The bartender was the only thing holding the roof up.

Represents the last bastion of authentic, neighborhood bars. This is how you kick it old school. As a 27-year bartender who has worked everything from dives to fine dining, this is my hospitality heart. Modern ‘mixologists’ could learn a few things, here. Cheers!

We came here for a Wedding After Party. Everything was cool and it was a great choice for the night. Staff was great, place was cool, drinks were good - could've done better at pool, but that's my fault. Would go again!

Rock bar straight out of a movie scene. Here you will find cheap beer shot combo in a darkly lit vintage setting steps away from an industrial area. Come for the beer stay beacuase it's the only bar still open. Humboldts gem.

Great late night bar. Has a punk vibe as well. 2 floors , 2nd floor has billiards. Prices are decent . Open late til 4am.

A good bar to go to late at night mixed crowd... Not a fan of the beer prices though but hey the staff is very attentive I'll give them credit for that and security is always respectful I been there twice now!! ❤

Fun place & I liked the dark vibe. Also has an old school photo booth 😉

So, come here on a Weds or Tuesday night. If you come on a Friday or Saturday, it's gonna be a lot of 23 year old kids with Motörhead shirts complaining about how Chicago is changing. Add a line for the bathroom, or people doing lines, whatever your move is. On an off night, this place rules.

Came in for the Chicago handshake passport challenge, stayed for the chill vibes. Quiet night but we are early to this late night bar.

Came here last Sunday with a friend. Around 3 am I set down my wallet on the bar and less than a minute later it had disappeared. I asked the bartender if their manager was working and if they would be able to review the tapes, my request was denied and I was told to leave my contact info and they would contact their manager about the issue. I've been in twice since then and have been given some odd excuse each time and have left my contact info an ADDITIONAL two times and have not heard from this manager yet. This wallet had a large sum of money and other personal belongings inside of it. All I am asking for is to be contacted by someone in a position to release this security footage, and they are not even able to do that for me.

a great place to drink late night. dont park bikes outside without security in them...plates get snatched there all the time...cars are at risk also...its a good bar just make sure your plates are hard as hell to steal...no food service is what you would expect at a place like this... can get a bit rowdy...nothing different from any late night bar...good people for the most part... secure your plates. lock doors set alarms.... otherwise its fine

This place acts like it's the greatest although it's busy they can't make a drink till they're about to call last call. The upstairs used to be cool but peoples don't know how to play pool. You can find the good stuff but be prepared to be ripped cuz the little dime baggers who think they're hot shit. Well they know you came here late at night so of course but they are still gonna screw you over as much as joggers would.

Great drinks and ambiance! Decor is very nostalgic and intriguing. Try the wittekerke beer!

Been going here for since Chicago opened back up, the people who come are pretty cool. But the Bartenders are SHIT, they are rude and treat you like shit if they dont feel like you tipped them enough. two of the bartenders (Chris &Greg) literally told my friend this "She's a bad tipper and she ask's for too much". We ORDER A SHOT AND A PBR. door guys are cool but there bartenders have a chip on their shoulders. they have pool and games upstairs only one games works and they only have one pool cue. The only thing that would make this place worth going to is that its a 4am bar, but the shitty bar service makes that not even worth it. Go down the street to the other 4am bar.

Late night dive bar open till 4 am more a kids place dark and candle light just a dive

Drunken hipsters crowding on a dancefloor the size of a postage stamp, while they to make out with girls that are thinking "he looks pretty good for an off-night", elbow to elbow, getting beer baths with each bump. I'm getting too old for this. And all that was before 1am! Okay, service was pretty good for being so crowded, cheers, bartender! But next time we're out, kick this ass for a man, and tell me to go home. Thank you for being a friend!

I began frequenting The Continental years ago when I lived a block away. I never had any issues with the staff. I've taken friends from out of state there with no issues. They thought it was cool that tamale and torta guys came in to sell their food. I've never been kicked out or talked to or handled in a negative way. I even met my husband (a regular) at 2 am at The Continental. I also had my small wedding reception there along with other patrons and had zero issues. Years later, knowing the staff personally, if anything negative happened it was because the patron was very drunk, belligerent, obnoxious or creepy. I've seen them ban men that were touching women inappropriately. I've seen them deny overly intoxicated people from coming in. I've seen them kick people out for doing drugs or writing all over the walls in the bathroom. They're all honest, hard working people that have low tolerance for bull****. Work in the industry and tell me how you feel about drunk people after that. If you don't like "hipsters" then don't come because they hate douchebags like you. If you need to be in bed by 4 am. don't move into a condo or apartment right next to a bar. Obnoxious drunks are usually loud drunks. :)

Wow what a great time. I was in town with friends from Chicago, and they took us here late night. I ended up staying until 3:30am... we were downstairs and upstairs, had an absolute blast. The booths are cozy and the overall atmosphere is very welcoming.

Security (tall gentleman with beard)... ! Profiled me and a colleague and we're asked to leave with no reason or explanation. Very disappointed. Fast forward, now they've posted a BLM message out front.

I've been going to this bar for 12 years and it's a great neighborhood staple and a great 4am bar. The security and personal there really take it seriously if an asshole is messing with people and throw them out. What I love about this place is that it is BS-free. So anyone complaining is clearly in the wrong place and looking for a Wicker Park vibe, LOL.

A 4am dive bar that pretty much closes at 3:30am. I'm not a huge fan of being yelled at for 30 minutes, but if that's what you're into... They have ciders, they have a food truck parked outside. I'd give this place four stars, but they were playing some Rob Zombie movie that made me want to vomit.

This place got my blood flowing if you know what I mean. it just makes you feel some type away man. Wait now they're shaking their heads now OK

Pretentious. The people who go here, and those who service them, are very certain they're the coolest around. I don't get it. It's a peculiar version of try-hard. It's the "dress poorly and drink sht beer on draft" crowd. No thanks lol

Not sure if I can give this a fair assessment yet, since I have only been here twice (one time leaving with someone 5 mins after I walked in the place) This is basically an after hours pickup joint (nothing wrong with that at times). The first time I walked in here it must have been Cowboy night, because everyone was looking like JR Ewing from the show Dallas. It was quite a funny looking crowd and my buddy did not feel comfortable after seeing all the cowboy attire! We stayed for a while and got a good laugh. I might give this place another chance, but I will probably have to consume a lot of alcohol before it even crosses my mind again

I've never been here but my friend left his phone there and they used it to post a Facebook status telling his friends that the phone was there and to pick it up when they opened that day and for that they get five stars and one long sentence with no punctuation.

When you're out and you've been drinking and that little voice in your head says, "Continental? That sounds like a great idea!" Don't listen to that little voice, in fact make sure that voice boogies out of your head. The Continental is never a great idea.

I *really* hope this place burns to the ground. I only went once, but I can tell you that I will NEVER go anywhere near this place again. Aside from the fact that this place is full of superficial dorks, there is a bouncer there who deserves to have his teeth knocked out. I have a medical condition that I really don't like explaining to strangers. Unfortunately, the door guy forced me to and then continued to humiliate me. I spent a night bar hopping with a few friends of mine. The Continental was our final stop. I was feeling perfectly healthy all evening, so I didn't see why I couldn't handle going to one more place. About 30 minutes or so after sitting in this horribly crowded place, I started to feel very lightheaded and a bit sick. I had about 2 alcoholic drinks the whole night, and it had been 3 hours since my last one. I didn't know why I started feeling so ill, but I thought that if I just stepped outside and got some fresh air, I'd be okay. I stood outside for about 5-10 minutes. I then felt a horrible pain in my stomach, and realized that I needed to get to the bathroom ASAP. I started walking back inside, unaware of their rule against in/out priveledges. Not wanting to disclose my medical condition to a complete stranger, I asked the bouncer very nicely if I could please go back and just grab my stuff and my friends and go, because I wasn't feeling very well. I even offered to let him hang on to my drivers license. He wasn't buying it. The pain kept getting worse, I could barely stand up, and I was petrified of having an accident. I told him through tears in my eyes that I was in a lot of pain, I had a serious medical condition, and I needed to use the bathroom immediately. He told me he really didn't give a shit. I was humiliated. The pain eventually got so bad, that I was curled up in the fetal position in the middle of the sidewalk, sobbing. He kept making references to the crazy drunk lady, and had most of the people standing in line laugh at my "overly dramatic scene". I guess I should have tried to keep my cool instead of responding to this insane cruelty by screaming at the guy and the chick in line who was making snide comments to me, but it really was one of the most traumatic events of my life. I wanted to kill someone. I ended up having to call the cops, who drove me to an emergency room so I could use a bathroom. They dropped me off back at the bar where my husband had showed up to pick me up. I held nothing back with the police. I told them I had a temper and that I called this guy every name in the book after he humiliated me and put me in such a painful, dangerous situation, but even the cops agreed that this guy should lose his job. I did try to get in touch with the owner, but I had no luck. I really hope that this place burns to the ground, and I hope for nothing but the worst to happen to the asshole who was working the door that night.

I feel like I need to wash my eyes with soap and water. Or maybe bleach! I've said it before, but I'll say it again: the Continental is Chicago's late-night makeout capital. No place is safe-- not the booths, not the bar, and certainly not the restrooms! Restraint, people. Your car is just steps away. Teehee. I guess it's a bit comical, though. But I'm still diggin' on the music here. Bring on the totally extra covers by bands like The Cars and other good music circa 1995 and prior. I mean, does anyone ever tire of hearing Ozzy and the gang's 'Crazy Train' at 4 am (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTsvwBkVdKw)? I think not.

On any given Friday or Saturday night: 9pm: me: Are you doing anything tonight? roommate: No, just hanging out. you? me: Just hanging out. 11pm: roommate: I'm kind of bored. me: Yea, me too.. **awkward silence...** roommate: We could always go down to the continental later me: Maybe...that place is trouble roommate: Yea, you're right. 1am: me: You dressed? roommate: Yea, let's do it. me: One drink. roommate: One drink **BLUR** 5am: me: Should we close our tab? roommate: What about that guy over there. he's been looking at me. me: But he's been making out with him roommate: Let's go next morning: roommate: Let's never do that again me: Is that the guy from the bar in your room? roommate: Yea, he came home with us in the cab. me: Oh. And the cycle continues... Big props to Nasli for keeping our glasses full !!

I used to work mere blocks from here and it made a nice after work drink spot. It's pretty small and dead at the time work would let out so we we're able to walk in and pretty much own the bar. I mean, there'd be a few (1-2) regulars and every once in a while a guy begging for money but the lone bartender kept it all under control and made a pretty nice cocktail. I can't say that I'd venture out here for anything more than an after work cocktail but I am curious to see the kind of crowd on a weekend. If the rumors of MGMT playing are true... I'd be in, at least for scientific purposes. See you soon, perhaps?

I would like to preface this review with 2 things. 1. I have been in the service industry for over 13 years, and Manage a bar myself. 2. I really am not the biggest fan of YELP! I try to only use it's powers for good, because I get it. However, this seems to be the only vehicle to possibly contact this place. I've called quite a few times, with no answer, and have not been able to find an e-mail address. So, my room mate and I live right down the street from the Continental. Up until last week, I would say we were on our way to becoming pretty good regulars for their establishment. We've both been in the service industry for a long time,we spend a lot of money, we tip well, and are typically very behaved when liquor is involved. It had even reached the point that we knew the bartenders names when we went in, etc. You get the idea. Recently, we had a friend in town from L.A. (also a service industry gal) and she is the worlds biggest Cubs fan, so Wednesday July 10, we went to the Cubs night game. After the game, we decided to go to the Continental, because we both adore the place (or did at the time) and it's close to home. Yes, we had been drinking. No, we were not out of line or over served. We were having a good time, I stuck my ID to my forehead, just being goofy, when we were walking in the door. The door man (who has been delightful to us in the past) Immediately informed me that, and I quote, "That sh*t might fly in Wrigley, but it doesn't f*cking fly around here. Give me that." Ok dude, I get it, we're obviously in Cubs gear, so that makes us stupid, clearly. Maybe you're having a bad night. Whatever. Clearly we weren't in that bad of shape, because he let our group in, but he wasn't happy about our jovial tone, or our cubs gear, apparently. We proceed to order a $75 round, and the bartender was delightful, as per usual. We were sitting at a booth, chatting....you know, doing what you do at a bar. I will admit, I was playing with the candle. I always do it. I know it's annoying, and I shouldn't, but I forget sometimes. Instead of just asking me not to, or being polite about it, the door man came up and grabbed the candle and said, "I'm gonna take this, since you can't f*cking handle it. I have to clean this sh*t up." After this, we decided that it was clearly time for us to leave. We obviously weren't welcome, so we left. I cleaned up any mess that I left behind on account of the candle (My most sincere apologies for that) and we headed for the door. On our way out, we apologized to this guy, told him we cleaned up our mess, and that it would behoove him to not be so judgmental. Up until this point, we had not cursed once at him. He proceeded to follow us out the door, basically screaming at us, telling us how horrible we are. Things got heated at this moment, and I'm sure words were said by both parties (again, my apologies). I asked him what his name was, and he simply said, "You must not have gotten it." Which to me is an indication that he was clearly in the wrong. A gal standing outside told us his name was Nick. He proceeded to yell at us as we crossed the street. I've read some of the other reviews, and it seems that we aren't the only people that have had encounters with an unhappy bouncer. The door person is the first face you see when you enter a bar, (or any establishment for that matter) and is therefore representative of what lies therein. I have NEVER been treated like this, in all of my life. The long and short of it is, live and let live. I I'm sorry that I won't be back. I really am. I really did enjoy The Continental. I just wanted to let whoever may be in charge know, that this is how people are being treated upon entering your establishment. I know that if I found out that one of my employees was treating people this way, I'd want to know, so I could bid them adieu.

Hilarious bathroom graffiti. Questionable bathroom stall locks. Everyone making out, all the time. Everyone also having a dance party, all the time. Some guy dressed like he fell out of a combination vampire movie/renaissance festival. Some guy dancing his heart out to A-Ha's "Take On Me" with some girl who has half her head shaved. Some weird 30-something getting handsy while admitting that he "doesn't know how to pick up women." That weird 30's something's friend yelling that either his dog or his mother died the other day, and refusing to clarify which one it was. The Continental is weird, you guys. But you can walk there when The Clipper closes. (Just be aware that they WILL kick you out at 3:30am sharp.)

I love this place. It has the fun party vibe of the pre-rehabbed Danny's with the cozy sense of community (without exclusion) of the old school Estelle's (sans the junkies, of course.) Reasonably priced drinks, a great staff and kick-ass music rounds out the scene. the only thing that could make this place any more perfect is if they built an extension to the building to house a pool table!

Its like an ongoing house party at 3am... completely different from last time I was here (but that was middle of winter). People aren't shy here, one look or one smile and they come right up to you and talk to you.... might be due to alcohol courage. I came here the weekend of Pride and there were people already dressed in their pride gear at 3am here. Cool vibe if you dont want to sit down and want to wait too long for a drink, not cool if you want a chill place. I'm somewhere in the middle....

I'm surprised this bar has any reviews. Because to review the Continental is to admit that you've been to the Continental. But a solid three stars for its dazzling collection of brokedown douche-bots and drunk-wads. Which of course I have noticed only in passing as I walked or biked by on my way somewhere decidedly else.

The security inside are so many I mean it's a bar I'm from the industry and it's was an awful night for my friend and I. I wish that I was able to put zero but I'am not able to. Go home or somewhere else guys.

Oh, we are so edgy and out of the way. Look - Train tracks and factories! Look how cool we are. Oh and our bartender, he has long hair, a 'stache AND a cowboy hat. Rock n roll. Totally unimpressed. However, I liked the decor and appreciated the cheap domestic bottles. I did take issue with the "to see and be s[cene]" vibe. These days, its just not my thing. I would never bother going here on a weekend for after-hours. I'll stick to Nick's or some other hokey 5am bar. Yeah, the Continental was that bad. 5/21/07 UPDATE: Ohmygod I went on a Saturday night and I actually had fun - one star becomes three. The DJ was sweet - lots of 50s & 60s pop - I was impressed.

This is the only 4 o'clock bar that I'll go to in the city---after hours it's not full of fools and sluts and the drink prices aren't too bad. Really my only gripe with this place are the wasted chain-smoking girls absently wielding their lit cigarettes, oblivious to the people standing around them. Last weekend I got burned by the same girl twice! Unfortunately word-of-mouth about this place has been spreading, and each night I drop in it seems more and more packed. Tried to meet up with some friends there this weekend and there was a line of about 20 people around the corner!

I can do the Continental pre-1:00 AM. Does that make me elderly? I mean I think you just hit a point in your life where 4:00 AM. bars aren't as fun as they used to be. I think being in a relationship has something to do with the lack of excitement, especially being married. Regardless, the Continental is a decent place - $3 for PBR/$4Lite/$5 for 312. The bathrooms have a lot to be desired (Hello - Soap? Towels? H1N1 going around out there!) but otherwise, its basically just fine. Not my first choice, heck not my 5th choice, but it will stand strong as my 16th.

Bathrooms are regularly without soap, so everyone there is passing around fecal residue on every glass and everyone and everything else they touch. Also, there is an employee there (yet another cliche beard intent on displaying his poorly maintained cheap tattoos) who makes a point of asserting his perpetually bad mood. I would have thought with unemployment as widespread as it is, a business would prefer to hire professionals; or at least employees who do not deliberately offend the customers. Good Bartenders. Good Music. Bad vibe.

Even though I detest the phrase 'it is what it is' the Continental is, in fact, what it is. A stripped down dark and dingy bar that's just a few blocks from the casa, one that stays open quite late, cool and styling bartendresses who are always up for a good chat and who will serve you up a serious Knob Creek Manhatten...pretty much what this place is. Love the giant print of the night train that's just above the bar, fits this place perfectly. Oh, sweet simplicity.

I made up my mind- I really like this bar, and not ONLY because it's a late night bar. I find myself coming here just to get a drink or two at any time... It's a good late night bar. Reasonably small corner space, that's nicely decorated interior is comfortable- perfect for a late night drink or two with friends. The lines down the street to get in reflect how small the place is as much as its popularity lately... So show up early to camp out your spot! Kinda reminds me of a smaller version of the original Blue Note on Armitage in a way...like a bar I'd like when I was in my early 20s. Probably no accident since Amy who tended bar at Borderline back then owns/runs this place now. Off the beaten path, good decor, nice boho type crowd, for now. With additional "research" I bumped my original review from 4 to 5 stars.

The Continental has grown on my for a few reasons. 1. You always can find a dance partner, and the music is tolerable. Finding room to dance is a different story. 2. People seem to hit The Continental when drunk and wanting to socialize. That's the idea behind bars, right? There are few cliques or walls. Just start talking to people. You might just find a lover. Which brings me to ... 3. Mistakes happen at/after The Continental. It's just known for it.

I first came here two years ago and that was before the smoking ban. The bar was literally a cloud and you were touched everywhere. This is the place to go to when you have failed to get laid before last call at the other bars. The music was awesome and the drinks (PBR, why would you buy anything else at a bar?) were cheap. A girl rubbed my shoulders in a last ditch effort to score some peen just as her friends were putting on their jackets and dragging her ass out. My immediate reaction was: maybe. I revisisted this place a couple of weekends ago with some friends and even though the smoke ban is now in effect, the place has not changed. FIVE STARS.

For this past summer vacation I flew to Chicago to meet up with my dad and my sister. Chicago is one of my most favorite cities in the whole country so I was EXCITED!!! Our plan was to start off in Chicago and get as much stuff in as we could and then road trip it back up to NY where he lives. So naturally, I plan out places I want to eat, sites I wanna see and things I wanna do. On an AOL review page you can put in your interests and based off that it refers you places to visit. Suprise, suprise that I would be referred to the Continental. I found it quite amusing and I put it on my list to do. So, onto my adventure...I hopped in a cab by myself from our hotel and the ride was ok...it seemed to take longer than I expected so I questioned the cabby if he was trying to jip me. (I hate it when they do that to out-of-towners) I got there around 10:30pm and immediately walked into the DJ "spinning" Blood Stains by Agent Orange and I thought to myself this is going to be a BLAST. I camped up at the end of the bar and immediatly was served by this really nice bartender and then got hit on by some really lame drunk guy. Eventually, I moved to another seat and eventually that really nice bartender cut off that really drunk guy and they kicked him out. Around 11:45pm another lonely patron and I made friends and we took turns buying eachother my new favorite cheap beer Wittekerke (which you can buy at Trader Joe's for next to nothing) 12:30 rolls around and it starts to get busier, I was told that this was a 4 am bar and that it gets crazy busy after 2 am when all the other bars do last call. Well, next thing I know, I made another friend and this girl was AWESOME. She sat next to me ordered some shots and told me she was there to try and EFF the DJ. Long story short, she got too drunk and that never happend cus she called herself a cab home. SMART GIRL. I had a GREAT time by myself and totally enjoyed hanging out with the locals talking about Chicago and California. They had great music and the bartenders were fun and sassy. The best part was the cabs were lined up at the end of the night right outside the bar so I closed my tab, excused myself to my new friends, hopped in and went "home" I woke up the next day with carrot cake in my hair and on my pillow. Now you know that is a good night! I will definitly be back and always recommend this place to anyone I know visiting the Windy City.

I've gone pretty regularly when I lived in the area and never had the drama mentioned in the reviews??? In fact, it was always just me, my company, 2 or three others and the tender. Maybe it was the times that I went but regardless, you couldn't beat the price for the quality of alcohol you got there and the bartender was a real cool cat that could hold down a good conversation about 80's metal bands. You know what talking about 80's metal with a bar tender that actually appreciates 80's metal means don't you? That's right- alcohol Pro Bono. +1 more star for the bartender, metal and for the sake of average weighted star value- may it be a fairer representation of what this establishment has to offer the consumer. also, Rock and Roll FOREVER.

Waiting outside The Continental at 2:30am Girl: Hey that guy has an old Milwaukee Bucks Sweatshirt on Boy: Yeah, I am from Wisconsin Girl: Nice, I grew up in Green Bay Boy: No Way! So did I. Girl: Oh no, so what's your name? Boy: Well, what is your name? Girl: Courtney Clark. Boy: No fucking way, (laughing) I am Matt Hoeft Girl & Boy: Ahhhhhhhh fmbhjdgbhioya8 Ahhhhhhh (huge bear hug and jumping up & down) Girl: Oh my god, you are still adorable. Boy: Holy shit you guys this was my first kiss in grade school! Girl: I mean that was like 12 years ago...I cannot believe this. Rest of the line: ((cheers and relays the story throughout the line))

Yeah, the two times I have been here. I should have been sleeping by now and I should have stopped drinking hours ago. Maybe one day I'll change my rating....

I love a good dive bar and this one's a keeper. With selfie walls, good music, a cool bartender, and Guinness as an option, I can't complain. I think the bathroom door didn't close, so that was a miss, although who cares really. I don't know how it is at 4 am, but at 4 am, I don't know how much a person can reasonably expect.

A ok sums it up... Good beer selection and very chill... no sideways glances from the hipsters who obviously cooler then me... so I dig it... it's open late so that's a plus.. come with the right company and you'll close it down.. :)

I really don't like this bar. It's open very late. That's it: that's not just the single positive, that's about the only animating force I can imagine impelling a person to patronize this place. The location is sort of shitty. The crowd is much shittier. The space itself is pretty terrible, and--since it's one of *those* post-2:00am joints--there is usually never any space inside the space anyways. So: you travel somewhat out of your orbit, cram into a shitty space with shitty people to drink passable beer (or pay a bit too much for less-than-passable liquor selections), all for the otherwise-mild pleasure of an extra two hours of drinking outside of somebody's house. I've been several times; I've never felt good about the decision before, during, or afterwards. But it's one of *those* post-2:00am joints, so one ends up there, from time to time. The problem is: even in that context, it doesn't really rate favorably.

I have a weird tolerate-hate relationship with this place. I live within a ten minute stumble--which often feels like days at 5:00am--so this is more or less the default after hours choice. It has become common place to translate, "Hey guys, let's go to The Continental" into "Hey guys, I'm shit housed, past the point of making rational decisions, and I've got a really bad idea that will make us feel like Kevin Costner in the first ten minutes of 'Dances With Wolves' all day tomorrow. How 'bout it, chums?" All in all, it's usually a really poor choice, but when you're drunk you aren't thinking about the consequences of your actions. Since I was here just last night, and I'm incredibly hungover at work, I'm going to break down the finer and lesser aspects of this place in bullet points. 1. The crowd is ridiculous. A mish-mash of people, from G-Thug to Hipster to some guy dressed to the nines as Brett Michaels. More often than not, it tends to be the UN of Bad Fashion. 2. The drugs that run through this place makes Colombia look like the Vatican. 3. The shitter has no seat, and the stall has no door. Nothing sobers you up quicker than swinging open the bathroom door only to be greeted by the sight of a wide-eyed dude perching above the toilet. 4. The beers are relatively cheap for being an after hours. I think on Tuesdays they have three dollar 312. I could be wrong on the day, but it's somewhere around there. 5. My brother and I, after horsing down a lot of whiskey, were given chocolate cake at the door, escorted across the street by the doorman and thrown in the back of a Paddy Wagon only to be driven home by the Chicago PD. My brother said "thank you" to the cops and the Continental employees by giving his best Wookie warrior call. If that's not hospitality, I don't know what is. 6. The DJs can be hit or miss. I've heard My Bloody Valentine, Pixies, and The Zombies one night, and then some Euro Trash beat factory the next. Inconsistent, but when it's on, it's on. 7. Weeknights are usually the best time to come if you don't want to deal with the weekend Hipster Brigade that arrive in an armada of taxis from Pilsen and Logan Square. The line blows, and if I want to be shoe horned into a ridiculously crowded space that would make a Fire Marshal poop his pants, I'll just bring a beer on the Brown Line at rush hour. 8. The Continental will teach you responsibility the hard way. It's pretty much par for the course to question your life decisions the next day.

I went here in the wee hours of the night with a friend and everything I heard about the place smelling like wet toilet paper was true. You walk in and the first thing you think of is, damn, is there a sewer leak somewhere. The place was packed in the post 2am glow and there were people mainly dancing with themselves in the tiny dance floor area. Now, most bars I have been to that are open past 2 tend to get more and more packed as you get deeper into the morning. There is a 20-something vibe to the place, and a hipster cold shoulder to it. OK, so why go? They are open. I have other 4 am and 5 am bars I like much more than this place to be sure, but there was one thing I found worth paying attention to. The bartender. She was an amazingly attractive Midwestern blond girl and I felt the need to create a bio for her. As we imagined our bartender coming in from some farm town in Iowa, Indiana, or Ohio and leaving behind a guy named Jake, we also wondered why we were here being mainly sober at 2:30 am, I realized, that other than perhaps the prettiest bartender in the West of West Town Humboldt Park area, there was little to keep us here not being all that drunk and not being 25. Perhaps it is better at 5 pm? Or perhaps at 5pm people are sober, and there is in fact raw sewage coming up through the floor boards? However, I always say something nice. If you are in the area, and in need of drink after two, why not?

All these poor reviews, I don't get what people are expecting. When it's 2am, you're in the neighborhood, and you don't feel like going home, the Continental is there for you with dimly lit arms for an embrace of cheap alcohol. In the winter and late at night during any season, it's an excellent place to wait for the 66 bus which stops literally right outside.

The Continental is alright. I have no major complaints and no major compliments. It is what it is: a bar that is open late and gives me a chance to continue slugging back beers like a frat boy on a Saturday night. It gets crowded the later it gets, but it really doesn't take a genius to figure that out. It's super hip, but at this point in the city, there really aren't many places that aren't super hip. I'm just trying to train myself to co-exist with people that shop exclusively at American Apparel and have anchor tattoos. At times it can be tough, but at others times it can be hilarious. Most people here are already wasted beyond belief, so it's good to sit back and watch people try to spit game at each other. Most of the girls here seem to have a general air about them that says, "I'm drunk and horny and I want to make out." This has led to my being involved in some humorous situations, but aren't said situations what bars are all about? I wouldn't start my night out here for any reason, but ending up here after the other bars are closing is fine in my book.

Pardon me for a moment while I give an extended analogy. I'm not terribly familiar with the band Good Charlotte. However, from what I know of them, they have one stereotypical punk-ish looking member. But they're so stereotypical looking, it also seems farcical. My retarded analogy may be relevant to the Continental because nearly everybody I saw there last night was so stereotypically hipster, it seemed to impossible that all these caricatures of people be in one place at one time. Truly baffling.