Funky Buddha Lounge

Terrible place - would never go back there again. They played weird techno music with people dressed like MTV moon men...it was strange. Of course, everyone made a move to the "hip hop" area which quickly became way overcrowded as they people were definitely hip-hop heavy. Further, the bouncer to the hip-hop room pushed my girlfriend for no reason and kept giving me attitude when I told him to stop. Otherwise, the music was ridiculously loud and I could barely talk to any of my friends. Lastly, the drinks were watered down unless you asked for a "strong" one. I would not recommend this place for any sort of party and will not be going back. Pros: Didn't have to wait too long for the bathroom Cons: Watery drinks, too crowded, too loud, terrible music, etc more

Diverse crowd. Bomb music. Always poppin'. Great dance floor. This place is off the hook. BONUS: The bartenders are fantastic. We got a drink that was patron and Ty Ku liqueur. The bottle lights up. Legit. Go here for a fun night. more

as a first timer, I loved it and will always come back. the staff is incredible and the crowd is hot! Pros: Example: best croissants in town Cons: What are the drawbacks? more

Good club but what ever you do do not thrust there valet service we went for new years and the valet guy broke in my trunk and stole purses and other items that were inside the car he was the only one with acces to my keys and my trunk not a good price for trying to have fun Pros: good music Cons: valet guys are thives more

Yah i have frequently come here on thursday nights, DRINK before you go in, overpriced alcohol for water down drinks. Never been there on the weekend, only on thursday, which plays hip hop reggae. Come with a large group of friends that likes to dance. THE door people act like youre going into a club that is for the elite famous which is also a downer. Pros: MUSIC Cons: LIQUOR SERVICE more

DO NOT BELEAVE THE "GET IN FREE BEFOR 11:00 STORY I WHENT TO FUNKY LAST WEEK AND I WAS THERE AT 10:35 THE GIRL AT THE DOOR WITH THE BIG HAIR THAT YOU PAY WAS LIKE 20$ SO I SAID TO HER IT'S FREE BEFOR 11:00 RIGHT SHE GOT VERY NASTY WITH ME AND WAS LIKE NO! IT'S NOT IT'S 20$ SO BEING THAT I WAS ALREADY THERE I DESIDED TO JUST PAY THE 20$ THEN WHEN I GOT INSIDE THE DRINKS WHERE 8$ THAT WAS NOT BAD BUT IT WAS SO WATERED DOWN IT WAS A VODCA AND JUICE BUT I THINK THAT IT WAS VO,WATER,WATER,WATER AND JUICE.SO IF THATS WHAT YOU LIKE HAVE FUN ON THE UP SDE THE DJ JAMES ALL NIGHT LONG THAT WAS THE ONLY THING FUN.OH YEAH AND THE MEN WHERE FINE. more

I have been going to the Funky Buddha for about 4 months now. I must admit that if it wasnt for the security at the door making everyone in line feel comfortable and safe due to the line being long. I would have turned around and gone somewhere else. I think the gentlemans name was Bass. He was very very professional with making sure that the line moved swiftly and safely. I was very impressed with how well he handled the people in the VIP line. No matter what day of week I go. The staff is very friendly and courteous. The music is always BLAZING HOT!!! Fundky Buddha lounge is the place to be for a night out on the town!!! My personal opinion, The door staff is the first impression of a nightclub.....Funky Buddha's door staff is the BOMB!!! Pros: Front door staff Cons: dance floor too small more

i recently moved to chicago from atlanta and have been looking for a "go to" spot for the weekends....well, i have finally found it at the funky buddah lounge. i went for the first time this past saturday. i was apprehensive as i walked to the door because of the large line and was expecting attitude, however i was greeted very warmly and made to feel very comfortable. one door employee, i believe his name was bass, made it a point to make me feel welcomed and even invited me to come back. i really appreciated this because i am from the south and really don't get that warm feeling from too many people in chicago. my experience got even better as i went inside the club. the music was amazing, folk were beautiful, and i greatly enjoyed myself. i will mos def be back at the buddah next saturday....and hopefully i'll see that same cute door guy, bass :) Pros: Staff more

Funky Buddha is so fun. I have the best time there. The music is awesome. Reasonable priced drinks, awesome service, and friendly patrons. Love It!! You have to give credit to a club that?s been in business since 1996 and still bringing in people, famous djs, and artists. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great time! Pros: *Rock Star Staff*, *unpretentious crowd* Cons: Not going to find one here! more

I was there on a Friday for a birthday party. I am a smoker (I know, currently socially unacceptable, but I am). I and part of the party went out for a cigarette. First the door man yelled at us, he even waved his finger in my face like I was a disciplined child. Then he told us that it would be the last time he let us out for the rest of the night. He said if we went out again we would have to pay to get back into the club (which I found to be ridiculous). On our way back in, he stepped into me pushing me into the girl taking money. I found this to be quite disturbing as I had done and said nothing to warrant this physical aggression. When I left one of the people in the group left at the same time. We had a cigarette together and a group of people came out for a cigarette. They had been outside at the same time as we were earlier and I asked them if they would have to pay to get back in. They told me the door man told them it wasn't a problem and they could come and go as they wanted. My problem with this is that they were of the same race as the door man. If they have a policy on allowing people in and out of the club, first it should be advertised, second it should be enforced equally. As you have probably guessed, I am not of the same race as the door man, and this seemed to be blatant discrimination. I've never been to a place where this type of behavior was accepted. Aside from the horrible treatment I received from the door man it was also clear that he wasn't enforcing the dress code equally. While we were in line he turned away a man (not of his own race, and not of my race either) for wearing gym shoes; although there were other people in the club wearing gym shoes. Keep in mind, the drinks are overpriced and the dance floor is so packed you can't even move let alone dance. What happened to fire codes? It's great when a club is bumpin, but packed to the edges isn't for me. If you decide to try this club, look at the door man, and drink ahead of time. GL Pros: diverse crowd Cons: horrible bar service, unequal enforcement of policies more

We had planned to go to The Funky Buddha ahead of time. We read quite a few adds stating that there was no cover charge before 11pm. Well, we got there at 10:15pm where we were 3rd in line. We stood in the cold watching the doorman take bribes and phone numbers and letting others in ahead of us. Finally he asked to see our ID's and said "that will be $20 each." Yea, it was 11:05. He was extremely rude. It was obvious that his "doorman" status made him feel like he was so much better than the costomers waiting in line. I would not recomend this place to anyone. Pros: Good atmosphere and organic drinks if you like that kind of thing Cons: Rude staff, I hated the weird drinks and they are all over-priced more

I went there with my friends on a Saturday night for my birthday and tried to call before hand to confirm the free cover before 11pm but there is no information on the message, so I printed out the citysearch coupons and brought them along just in case. We got there at 10:15 and the bouncer was extremely rude and told us it was $20 each, even though citysearch says it is $10 for women. I told the bouncer about citysearch and he said "a lot of websites advertise us without permission." I told him that I was going to post negative feedback about his comments on citysearch and he said he didn't like my attitude and didn't appreciate me threatening him (I'm a 5 foot tall woman mind you) but finally let us in with no cover. The dance floor was dead early on and the DJ gave my friend a major attitude when she tried to make a request. On the plus side the crowd did pick up later in the night and the dance floor got full. The music started out bad with slow hip hop songs but the DJ did start playing better hits later in the night. If do decide to go to this place call ahead to get on the guest list for free cover, but I think there are better places you can go on a Saturday night. Pros: Good crowd, decent music Cons: Rude staff more

Despite the crowd & musical variety...I admit when I think of a good time in a club theres nothing like a good night at the Buddha. Pros: A twenty gets you in the door. Cons: Some who come late don't wanna pay $20. more

Not a bad place, however, sometimes it is super fun, and other times it's just not. I found that Saturday nights are the best time to go, however, I've been on Saturdays when it was just dead. The drinks are good and normally priced for a Chicago night club (I'm from Indianapolis-so everything in the Chi is expensive to me). The bartenders are friendly, but the people at the door can be rude at times--but, hey, you're not there to party with them--hand them your money and be about your way. The DJ is cool, and the dance floor is average. It does get crowded at times, so if you don't like the cowd stay out of the club!!! The lines can get really long if there is a special event going on, so arrive early, and there are a nice amount of couches around the place, but, once again, get there early because they can fill up on a busy night. Pros: nice atmosphere; diverse; good music (usually); desent parking Cons: cover can be high if you get there after 11pm more

So rude! The staff was absolutely terrible. Snotty attitudes galore, and the people at the door were the worst-- their little bit of power has completely gone to their heads. To top it off, there was a $20 cover charge and expensive drinks. STAY AWAY! Cons: Atmosphere, Staff, Price more

We went to FBL for My roomate's 21st. We heard great things about it and, being a head conceirge at a very prestigious hotel, I was sending a lot of guests there. We got the cover charge waived, and when we got in the place was crowded, there was no seating, the dance floor was small and it was overall just awkward. The worst part was the price of the drinks. I had one vodka tonic and 4 shots and my tab was $63.00!! NOT WORTH IT!! It didn't help the bartendar was a total crab. I will say she never made us wait long for a drink. We will not be going back and I will no longer be sending my guests there!! Pros: diverse crowd, ok music, cool decor Cons: overpriced drinks, crabby bartenders, small dance floor more

I had a birthday party here and the staff were very accomodating, from getting us a table to comping cover for all the people in my party (nearly 40). The dance floor is kinda small.. but the music is great. They usually play hip hop and the DJs actually know what they're doing, which is hard to say for a lot of places in the area. more

I am usually sketched-out by $20 covers and "trendy" dress codes. Funky Buddha is actually a great club. By all means, come before 10PM when they waive cover and there is no line!! The incense is at just the right level, and the Therevada Buddhist decoration is superb. (Men who know Buddhist iconography will appreciate the giant lotus wall-paintings.) The acoustics are excellent, such that one can actually have a conversation when not on the dance floor (imagine that!) The doormen and barmaids are very friendly and unpretentious. Bar charges are a buck or two more per drink than average, but if you don't pay cover, you can afford a few more-expensive drinks. Pros: no cover by 10, decor, ample seating Cons: , random location more

DO not book this place for a party. We were so excited to come here for a birthday party, until we got there. NOt only was the bartender wasted by 10,( I personally witnessed him do 7 shots) he was a complete jerk. Our cover was 35 for U call its, which wouldnt have been bad, except they were out of anything we asked for. Management was not helpful and tried to cut our time 1 hr short, because of their mess up. This place is horrible, the staff is rude and not helpful, and completly unprofessional. Dont waste your time!!!!!! more

The music was awesome. I felt very comfortable there and had a great time. Every staff member there was very friendly. The only downsides are the expensive cover and drink prices. more