Old Town · Chicago, IL
Old Town Ale House
Second City's unofficial clubhouse: portraits on the wall, no food, no nonsense.
IL
Chicago
239 bars in the catalog. This is not every room in town. It is a start.
Open in the directory · Chicago slashie bars · Chicago 4am dive bars · Cash-only dive bars · Year-round Christmas dive bars
Andersonville · Chicago, IL
Simon's Tavern
A Swedish fish neon, glogg in winter, and a neighborhood bar that never dressed up.
Uptown · Chicago, IL
Carol's Pub
Chicago's last honky-tonk, still two-stepping under a drop ceiling in Uptown.
Wrigleyville · Chicago, IL
Nisei Lounge
A post-war Japanese-American tavern holding the line against Wrigleyville sports bars.
River North · Chicago, IL
Rossi's Liquors
A cash-friendly River North holdout that still looks like last call in 1978.
River West · Chicago, IL
Richard's Bar
Italian-flag awning, Rat Pack jukebox, hard-boiled eggs, and a menu that froze in 1963.
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
Rainbo Club
Photo-booth portraits, a curved bar, and the official after-hours of Ukrainian Village.
Streeterville · Chicago, IL
Billy Goat Tavern
Cheezborger, no fries, no kidding: the subterranean newsroom tavern under Michigan Avenue.
Rogers Park · Chicago, IL
Cunneen's
Cash-only Rogers Park tavern with canned beer, a quiet pool table, and a wall of Chicago political ephemera.
Edgewater · Chicago, IL
Sovereign Liquors
Edgewater's Old Style slashie: cheap six-packs, a great jukebox, and no reason to dress up.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
L&L Tavern
A Prohibition-era Lakeview last-call tavern with Irish whiskey and no-frills Clark Street prices.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Whirlaway Lounge
A Logan Square beer-and-shot room named for a racehorse, still poured by the same neighborhood hands.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Bob Inn
An old-person's Logan Square bar with a jukebox, pool table, and a rare North Side Sox loyalty.
East Village · Chicago, IL
Inner Town Pub
Cash-only 1890 tavern with free pool, free darts, and a front sign that still refuses to explain itself.
Humboldt Park · Chicago, IL
Archie's Iowa & Rockwell Tavern
A longtime Humboldt Park industry hang with a deep cooler and a family that still works the room.
West Town · Chicago, IL
Chipp Inn
An 1897 West Town after-hours tavern: tin ceiling, undersized pool table, and beer that is just beer.
Pilsen · Chicago, IL
Skylark
Pilsen's unfancy neighborhood bar that employees bought to keep the tots and cheap drinks in place.
Bridgeport · Chicago, IL
Bernice's Tavern
A dark, buzz-in Bridgeport room with a jukebox and a bartender who still runs the door.
Bridgeport · Chicago, IL
Shinnick's Pub
Four generations of the same family behind the bar, a Sox-adjacent beer-and-shot time capsule.
Hyde Park · Chicago, IL
Falcon Inn
Hyde Park's cheap-pitcher tavern for locals who want a bar, not a campus cocktail program.
Hyde Park · Chicago, IL
Woodlawn Tap
Jimmy's since 1948: cash-only Hyde Park tavern where the university and the block still share a rail.
East Village · Chicago, IL
Gold Star Bar
A Division Street hang with a free pool table, a fearless jukebox, and no interest in your outfit.
Northalsted · Chicago, IL
The North End
A low-key Northalsted gay sports bar since 1983: pool, darts, cheap beer, and no scene to keep up with.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Reed's Local
Club Foot's Avondale heir: cash-only Hamm's-and-a-shot prices, kitsch, and a union-friendly cheap rail.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Delilah's
Lincoln Park's punk-and-whiskey dive: canned beer, a fearless jukebox, and $1 beer Mondays.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Rose's Lounge
Lincoln Park Christmas-in-July cottage: cash-only, wood paneling, and Rose's living-room dive.
Roscoe Village · Chicago, IL
Four Treys Tavern
An 1884 Roscoe Village corner tavern: dogs on the floor, cheap drafts, and Jeopardy with the sound on.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
GO Tavern
Logan Square slashie: liquor store in front, hometown bar in back, cheap beer either way.
Norwood Park · Chicago, IL
Newark Nook
A residential Norwood Park tavern with an Irish flair, a beer garden, and cash still king.
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
J&M Tap
The unmarked Ukrainian Village Secret Squirrel: PBR pitchers, a pool table, and no sign out front.
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
Ola's Liquors
A Ukrainian Village slashie that opens at dawn: liquor store, lottery, and a cheap rail in one room.
The Loop · Chicago, IL
Sky Ride Tap
The Loop's last cash-only commuter dive under the L, still poured by the same owner since 1972.
Hyde Park · Chicago, IL
Cove Lounge
Hyde Park Art Deco neon and a cash-only rail, still a neighborhood bar next to the university.
West Lawn · Chicago, IL
Mr. C's Midway Bar
West Lawn wood paneling and cheap drinks close enough to Midway that a layover still counts.
Chatham · Chicago, IL
J & R's Lounge
A tiny red Chatham hang with generous pours, reasonable prices, and a jukebox that still plays Prince.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Liar's Club
A two-floor Fullerton hole in the wall: cheap drinks, a haunted upstairs, and punk that never asked to be discovered.
Hermosa · Chicago, IL
The Levee
A former bowling alley and burlesque house turned cash-friendly Hermosa hang: pool, darts, and popcorn at the rail.
Edgewater · Chicago, IL
Double Bubble
A family-owned Far North Side White Sox bar: cash, dogs, chips, and locals of every fandom at the same rail.
Back of the Yards · Chicago, IL
Stanley's
A cash-only Back of the Yards holdout from Whiskey Row days: homemade comfort food and a family still behind the bar.
East Side · Chicago, IL
Crow Bar
An East Side tavern on the Indiana line: politicians, homemade corned beef, and a weekly fish fry before you leave Illinois.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Alice's Lounge
Avondale's karaoke dive: ring the doorbell, grab a cheap drink, and stay until last call.
East Village · Chicago, IL
Happy Village
A West Town beer garden with a goldfish pond out back and whiskey, ping-pong, and a jukebox when the weather turns.
Wicker Park · Chicago, IL
Phyllis' Musical Inn
A 1954 Wicker Park polka hall that never dressed up: glass-block windows, a stamp-sized stage, and a beer garden out back.
Rogers Park · Chicago, IL
Oasis Tavern
Rogers Park's late-night neighborhood tavern: cheap drinks, a mixed crowd of regulars and students, and no interest in being curated.
Douglas Park · Chicago, IL
Water Hole Lounge
A bluesy Near West tavern by the film stages: casual pours, a patio, and a neighborhood room that never needed a scene.
Wicker Park · Chicago, IL
Zakopane
A wood-paneled Polish Broadway holdout: Zywiec, Zubrowka, a pool table, and a jukebox that still speaks Polish.
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
Rite Liquors
A 1920s Division Street slashie: liquor store on one side, cash-only rail and pool table on the other.
Gold Coast · Chicago, IL
Lodge Tavern
A 1957 ski-lodge tavern on Division: peanut shells on the wood floor, chandeliers, and Chicago's longest cocktail hour.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Joe's on Broadway
A postage-stamp Lakeview rail with a PBR Mona Lisa, photos of regulars, and Jeopardy at full volume.
Bridgeport · Chicago, IL
Bridgeport Inn
A brick-corner South Side tavern for locals: wood paneling, a pool table, and prices that never needed a rebrand.
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
Stella's Tap
An 1897 Western Avenue rail with a pool table, Polish beer, and Stella still working the room.
East Village · Chicago, IL
Nilda's Place
Cash-only living-room tavern: knock and hope Nilda is in, then drink under the Cerveza Fria Old Style.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Edelweiss Tavern
A shoebox Avondale karaoke dive with string lights, Zywiec in the window, and free pool on slow nights.
Beverly · Chicago, IL
End Zone Tap
A far-south Western Avenue tavern that still looks like last decade: cheap beer, sports photos, and neighborhood regulars.
Montclare · Chicago, IL
Question Mark Bar
A 1941 far-west tavern with a tin ceiling, cheap Miller bottles, and a pool table that never needed a scene.
Lincoln Square · Chicago, IL
Carola's Hansa Clipper
Lincoln Square's crumbling German holdout: wood paneling, taxidermy, and beer by the liter.
Uptown · Chicago, IL
Max's Place
Cash-only Uptown rail under a faded sign: a pay phone, a CD jukebox, and a handwritten Yes, we're open.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Friar Tuck
A 1970 Lakeview tavern you enter through a beer barrel: scuffed floors, bingo, karaoke, and photos of regulars.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Cole's Bar
A former pool hall with carved pews, a back-room pool table, and late-night tamales after the open mic.
River North · Chicago, IL
Snickers Bar & Grill
One of the last River North dives: a worn front room, mystery shots, and a red awning that still says neighborhood place.
Bowmanville · Chicago, IL
Big Joe's
A cash-only Bowmanville corner tavern: wood paneling, steel-tip darts, and Friday turtle races if you want them.
River North · Chicago, IL
Shamrock Club
River North's neighborhood pub since 1989: green paneling, late kitchen, and happy-hour buckets across from the Mart.
Streeterville · Chicago, IL
Streeter's Tavern
The self-proclaimed greatest bar below earth: a cellar tavern off Michigan Avenue with cheap pitchers and a hard-to-spot door.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Galway Bay
A basement Irish pub under the Brewster: snugs, painted county tiles, pool, darts, and neon at sidewalk level.
Lincoln Square · Chicago, IL
Oakwood 83
A late-night Lincoln Square tavern: sleepy regulars early, then a service-industry crowd chasing the kitchen.
Lincoln Square · Chicago, IL
Ricochet's Tavern
A Lincoln Square corner tavern with Old Style on tap, a dart-league back room, and no interest in being a scene.
North Center · Chicago, IL
Liberty Lounge
A weathered Western Avenue standalone: free pool, pizza puffs, pot pies, and a gravel lot on the Roscoe Village edge.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Lange's Lounge
A 1963 Southport corner tavern: neon in the windows, a centered bar, and a pre-game stop that never needed a Wrigley cover.
Old Irving Park · Chicago, IL
The Cabin
An Old Irving Park log-cabin tavern: taxidermy, an Old Style sign, and a bartender-owner who still works the rail.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Bialystok
A long-standing Logan Square Polish karaoke room: tomato-red walls, a disco ball, and a mini stage that never needed a makeover.
Irving Park · Chicago, IL
Sidekicks
Irving Park's cash-only karaoke hang: pink-and-aqua neon, wood paneling, cheap drinks, and a dedicated dart room.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Parrots Bar & Grill
A wood-lined Lakeview tavern under a faded parrot sign: cheap happy hour, free pool, and a locals' room that still feels like a hull.
Bucktown · Chicago, IL
Gallery Cabaret
A Bucktown live-music dive since 1988: no cover, a skyline backdrop, and a different show almost every night.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Fireside Bowl
A 1941 Logan Square bowling alley with a trophy-lined dive bar off the lobby and a bowling-pin sign you can see from the street.
Clybourn Corridor · Chicago, IL
Weeds Tavern
A 1963 Clybourn corner tavern in an old bowling alley: Sergio's posters on the wall, dogs on the floor, and a hidden patio.
North Center · Chicago, IL
The Long Room
A slender North Side tavern that opens for day drinking: coffee, cheap pours, and a friendly rail that never needed a scene.
Jefferson Park · Chicago, IL
Jefferson Inn
A wood-paneled Jefferson Park room across from the Blue Line, with Johnny Cash on the juke and bartenders who will make you miss your bus.
Jefferson Park · Chicago, IL
Friendly Tavern
A 1953 Jefferson Park tavern still pouring $2.50 PBR cans and a $7 Chicago Handshake.
Rogers Park · Chicago, IL
Bruno's Lounge
A 1956 Rogers Park slashie: package goods on the left, bottled beer and a jukebox on the right.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Ten Cat Tavern
Lakeview's living-room dive: antique Brunswick tables up front, a back room like a house party, and a beer garden.
West Town · Chicago, IL
Loop Tavern & Liquors
A West Town slashie on Chicago Avenue: packaged goods in front and a no-frills taproom in back.
Roscoe Village · Chicago, IL
Miller's Tap & Liquor Store
A Roscoe Village slashie: packaged goods on one side and a neighborhood tap on the other.
Garfield Ridge · Chicago, IL
Pap's Tap
A Garfield Ridge corner tavern on Narragansett: a southwest-side beer-and-shot room for regulars.
Dunning · Chicago, IL
Club Belmont
A no-frills Dunning beer-and-conversation room just off the tollway, still running as a local dive.
Portage Park · Chicago, IL
The Booze Hound
A no-frills Grayland tavern under the Milwaukee Avenue Metra tracks.
Irving Park · Chicago, IL
Montrose Saloon
An Irving Park neighborhood dive with wood paneling, a tin ceiling, live music, and a giant patio.
Bridgeport · Chicago, IL
Mitchell's Tap
A Bridgeport neighborhood tap on Halsted Street, a south-side regulars' room near the Sox.
West Garfield Park · Chicago, IL
Ms Ann's Pad
A West Garfield Park lounge-dive on Harrison Street, a west-side regulars' room.
Portage Park · Chicago, IL
Di's Den
A two-room Portage Park darts bar: cheap PBR, Golden Tee, and Friday blind-draw tournaments.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Jacqueline's
A Lakeview East regulars' room on Broadway: cheap pours, dogs welcome, and bartenders who treat first-timers like they already have a stool.
Streeterville · Chicago, IL
Second Story Bar
A cash-only gay dive above Sayat Nova, still cheap and dim a block off Michigan Avenue.
Dunning · Chicago, IL
Paradise Club
A Dunning Polish tiki dive: fish tanks, house sausage, and a Banana Spider if you know to ask.
North Center · Chicago, IL
Cork Lounge
A shotgun Addison tap glued to the Brown Line: mahogany rail, Old Style, and a pool table at the back.
Uptown · Chicago, IL
Big Chicks
An Uptown saloon-dive with cheap specials, a Sunday buffet, and a patio that still feels like the neighborhood.
Irving Park · Chicago, IL
Fuller's Pub
A cash-only Irving Park room since 1976: no kitchen, live bands, and a free lot out back.
Hegewisch · Chicago, IL
Steve's Lounge
A Hegewisch tavern at 132nd and Baltimore: tin ceiling, ceramic figurines, and Old Style for the old-timers.
Archer Heights · Chicago, IL
Illinois Bar & Grill
An Archer Heights dive with a pool table and a 13-ounce Chicago burger that still fits the room.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Dram Shop
A tiny Lakeview dive that opens at 7 a.m.: cold beer, a CD jukebox, and regulars who already have their stools.
Jefferson Park · Chicago, IL
Gamblers
A Jefferson Park corner tap with $3.50 beers, dartboards, and a star window that looks like a bowling alley.
Roscoe Village · Chicago, IL
Four Moon Tavern
A Roscoe Village corner tavern: cheap beers, a jukebox of poor decisions, and no umbrella in your drink.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Jake's Pub
A Clark Street neighborhood dive on the Lakeview East crawl: cold beer, a patio, and a beer-of-the-month special.
Belmont Cragin · Chicago, IL
Whacky Shack
A Polish Belmont Cragin dive: a few Polish beers, odd figurines, and a room that looks slightly dilapidated on purpose.
Pilsen · Chicago, IL
El Trebol Liquors & Bar
A Pilsen slashie: liquor store in front, a bar in the way back, and maybe the oldest working cooler in town.
Hegewisch · Chicago, IL
Uncle Bobby's
A Hegewisch tavern you get buzzed into: a friendly crowd and an actual Uncle Bobby behind the bar.
Archer Heights · Chicago, IL
Kazimierzanka Lounge
An Archer Heights Polish lounge where Mama still runs the room and sometimes cooks for the bar.
Garfield Ridge · Chicago, IL
Rudy and Ann's
A Garfield Ridge tavern that keeps bottled beer in old wooden cabinet coolers.
Hegewisch · Chicago, IL
Old Time Tap
Chicago's southernmost tavern: a windowless 1906 brick room in Hegewisch with a pressed-tin ceiling.
Wrigleyville · Chicago, IL
Gman Tavern
A Wrigleyville dive over the left-field wall: vinyl jukebox, cold beer, and the official pre-Metro watering hole.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
The Native
A dark Logan Square room: cheap drinks, a patio, and no interest in being kitschy.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Frank & Mary's Tavern
An Avondale tavern since 1972: Old Style, German-American comfort food, and a refreshed dive-bar room.
The Loop · Chicago, IL
Stocks & Blondes
One of the Loop's last neighborhood dives: a Wells Street tavern under the el for after-work beers.
Bucktown · Chicago, IL
Lemming's Tavern
A Bucktown tavern that proudly calls itself a dive: Schlitz neon, board games, pinball, and a chill rail on Damen.
Bucktown · Chicago, IL
Bucktown Pub
A 1930s Bucktown corner pub: tin ceiling, cheap Old Style, and a chalkboard that still lists the BTP combo.
Bucktown · Chicago, IL
Web Pub Bucktown
A blue-collar Bucktown corner tap neighbors bought so nobody would turn Burke's into a Starbucks.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Green Eye Lounge
A no-frills Homer Street room west of Western: cheap Old Style, pinball, and a cash discount.
Jefferson Park · Chicago, IL
Rabbits Bar and Grill
A Jefferson Park bar-and-grill dive: a long red rail, pool, and a northwest-side regulars' room.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Burwood Tap
A 1933 Lincoln Park corner tap: striped awnings, a pool table, and one of the city's first post-Prohibition licenses.
Norwood Park · Chicago, IL
Tommy's on Higgins
Norwood Park's original dive, back from a 2022 fire: cheap Old Style, a new pool table, and a Higgins Avenue regulars' room.
Greektown · Chicago, IL
Dugan's on Halsted
A Greektown holdout with no kitchen, free popcorn, darts, and a long wooden rail that outlasted the West Loop boom.
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
Empty Bottle
Ukrainian Village's indie-rock dive: a cheap front-room rail, tin ceiling, and a stage that never asked to be fancy.
Printers Row · Chicago, IL
Kasey's Tavern
A 1974 Printers Row tavern: gold window lettering, a long wooden rail, and neighborhood prices under the L.
Bucktown · Chicago, IL
Lottie's Pub
A 1934 Bucktown corner tap: Old Style neon, a sidewalk patio, and a basement that once took bets.
Greater Grand Crossing · Chicago, IL
Lee's Unleaded Blues
A Greater Grand Crossing blues lounge back from a long dark stretch: the old cocktail sign and South Side bands.
Roscoe Village · Chicago, IL
Hungry Brain
A Roscoe Village jazz dive on Belmont: cheap beer, a triangular door, and a room that still feels like a neighborhood bar.
Humboldt Park · Chicago, IL
The California Clipper
Humboldt Park's 1937 neighborhood lounge: clipper-plane neon, red vinyl booths, and a late-night tavern on California.
Roscoe Village · Chicago, IL
Village Tap
A Roscoe Village neighborhood tap: a long draft wall, a beer garden, and Chicago-flag stars on the sign.
Goose Island · Chicago, IL
The Hideout
A converted worker's cottage north of Goose Island: Old Style out front, picnic tables, and a living-room stage.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Guthrie's Tavern
A Lakeview corner tap since 1986: painted ceiling tiles, a wall of board games, and cheap beer on Addison.
Bridgeport · Chicago, IL
Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar
A Bridgeport slashie since 1986: packaged goods in the window and a neighborhood bar pouring $3 beers.
Beverly · Chicago, IL
Cork & Kerry
A far-south Beverly Irish neighborhood pub on Western Avenue, still a regulars' room off 111th Street.
North Center · Chicago, IL
Gannon's Pub
A North Center corner pub at Lincoln and Cullom since 2003: Guinness in the window and a neighborhood rail.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Kelly's Pub
Same family, same Lincoln Park corner since 1933: a shamrock mural and a no-frills neighborhood pub.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Glascott's Groggery
Family-owned Lincoln Park groggery since 1937: a Halsted sidewalk patio and a neighborhood tap.
River North · Chicago, IL
Green Door Tavern
Chicago's oldest tavern in a leaning 1872 building: 1921 neon and a cluttered River North regulars' room.
Hegewisch · Chicago, IL
Club 81 Too
Hegewisch neighborhood tavern since the 1940s: chalkboard specials, cheap buckets, and a no-frills Avenue M regulars' room.
Wicker Park · Chicago, IL
Estelle's
Wicker Park's 4 a.m. neighborhood bar since 1999: a long wooden rail and half-price happy hour on North Avenue.
Mount Greenwood · Chicago, IL
Lanigan's Irish Pub
Mount Greenwood Irish neighborhood pub on 111th: a stone-and-brick storefront and last call for South Side regulars.
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
EZ Inn
Ukrainian Village tavern you can walk past: Old Style neon, $2 High Life Mondays, a CD jukebox, and Chicago Handshakes.
Edison Park · Chicago, IL
Emerald Isle
Edison Park neighborhood pub for four decades: exposed brick, cheap beer, and a Northwest Highway regulars' room.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
The Double
Logan Square tavern on Fullerton: a three-arch back bar, CASH IS KING on the mirror, and neighborhood pours.
Rogers Park · Chicago, IL
Jackhammer
Rogers Park leather neighborhood bar: cheap tallboys, a pool table, darts, and a no-frills Clark Street regulars' room.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
The Welcome Back Lounge
Logan Square beer-garden dive on Milwaukee: picnic tables, an L-train mural, and a converted-bus tap on the patio.
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
Tuman's Tap and Grill
Ukrainian Village tavern on Chicago Avenue: a long wood rail, storefront windows, and a late-night neighborhood room.
River West · Chicago, IL
The Matchbox
A shoebox River West tavern: a red-lit rail, crystal chandeliers, and a room so narrow it became a Chicago landmark.
River North · Chicago, IL
Mother Hubbard's
A River North neighborhood tavern: pool tables, Hamm's neon, and chalkboard specials that never needed a chain.
The Loop · Chicago, IL
Monk's Pub
A Tudor Loop tavern: peanuts on the floor, a red door on Lake Street, and a medieval dive that outlasted the office towers.
Uptown · Chicago, IL
Uptown Lounge
Uptown's 4 a.m. neighborhood lounge: karaoke, late-night regulars, and Lawrence Avenue neon that still says TIL 4 AM.
North Center · Chicago, IL
Laschet's Inn
A North Center German tavern: Tiffany lamps, a wood rail, and a neighborhood room that still pours like a local inn.
River North · Chicago, IL
Brehon Pub
A River North Irish neighborhood pub: gold window lettering, a sidewalk patio, and a Wells Street regulars' room.
North Center · Chicago, IL
O'Donovan's
A North Center hangout in the old Schulien's room: a weathered hanging sign and a neighborhood patio on Irving Park.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Ravens
Lincoln Park late-night cheap beer: a wood rail, a CASH sign, and a beer garden that still pours like a neighborhood dive.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Sheffield's
A Lakeview corner tavern at Sheffield and School: beer-garden nights and a hanging sign that never needed a velvet rope.
Andersonville · Chicago, IL
The SoFo Tap
Andersonville's no-cover bear tavern: an L-shaped rail, patio-bar neon, and cheap specials without a dress code.
Andersonville · Chicago, IL
Meeting House Tavern
An Andersonville neighborhood tavern: cheap Old Style, a pool table, shuffleboard, and a PLAY marquee over a no-frills room.
Ravenswood · Chicago, IL
O'Shaughnessy's Public House
A Ravenswood Irish hangout at Wilson and Ravenswood: a wood rail, back-bar mirrors, and a neighborhood patio.
Uptown · Chicago, IL
2Bears Tavern Uptown
Uptown's no-cover LGBTQ tavern: pinball, darts, late-night regulars, and a gold two-hound back bar on Wilson.
Uptown · Chicago, IL
Fat Cat
An Uptown neighborhood room by the Aragon: Fat Cat neon, a sidewalk patio, and a wood-rail hangout with pool in the back.
Wicker Park · Chicago, IL
Nick's Beer Garden
A Wicker Park beer garden since 1977: late-night cheap drinks, a circular Nick's sign, and a no-frills Milwaukee Avenue room.
Albany Park · Chicago, IL
Lizard's Liquid Lounge
Albany Park's dog-friendly neighborhood bar: no-cover live music, darts, local art, and a TouchTunes room on Irving Park.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
The Owl
Logan Square 4 a.m. hangout: a hanging owl sign on Milwaukee, cheap beer, and a late-night room from the Estelle's folks.
West Town · Chicago, IL
Damen Tavern
West Town corner tavern: $2 Malört, cheap High Life, a DAMEN street sign over the rail, and no kitchen.
West Loop · Chicago, IL
Broken Hearts
West Loop's reborn dive on Lake Street: a long wood rail, Schlitz neon, pool in the back, and late last call.
Irving Park · Chicago, IL
Paddy Mac's
Irving Park corner public house on Pulaski: a green hanging sign, a wood rail, and a neighborhood Irish room.
Norwood Park · Chicago, IL
Jet's Public House
Norwood Park tavern on Milwaukee: gold letters on a red facade, beer neon in the windows, and a sidewalk patio.
Pilsen · Chicago, IL
The Green Room Tap
Pilsen tavern on Allport: green neon over glass-block windows, Beer and Cocktails in the bays, and a corner-tap storefront.
Portage Park · Chicago, IL
The Windsor Tavern
Portage Park corner tavern at Milwaukee and Windsor: a hanging green sign, a sidewalk patio, and a neighborhood meeting room.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Belmont Tavern
Reborn Avondale tavern on Belmont: a glass-block rail, mustard stools, pressed-tin ceiling, and Old Style on the bar.
Portage Park · Chicago, IL
Babe's on Milwaukee
Portage Park neighborhood tavern on Milwaukee: a Babe's Bar awning, Modelo on tap, and beer neon in the window.
Pilsen · Chicago, IL
Martin's Corner
Pilsen family tavern since 1951: a long wood rail, Hamm's and High Life specials, and a classic corner-tap room.
Canaryville · Chicago, IL
The Village Inn
Canaryville south-side Irish tavern on Wallace: a long wood rail, Old Style in the cooler, and Tuesday-night darts.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Teddy Bear Lounge
Avondale neighborhood lounge on Pulaski: a neon teddy-bear martini sign on the brick and a small late-night room.
Humboldt Park · Chicago, IL
Sportsman's Club
Humboldt Park slashie on Western: a Fine Packaged Goods cabinet, taxidermy, and the old art-deco rail still pouring.
Edison Park · Chicago, IL
Firewater Saloon
Edison Park country saloon: $3 beers on the chalkboard, high-tops, and live bands in a northwest corner room.
River West · Chicago, IL
The Aberdeen Tap
River West corner tap on Aberdeen: a hanging sign, garage-door windows, and a sidewalk patio under the trees.
Uptown · Chicago, IL
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge
Uptown's cash-only jazz tavern since 1907: green neon over black tile and a door that still looks like last call.
The Loop · Chicago, IL
Miller's Pub
Loop tavern on Wabash since 1935: a green Miller's Pub neon, ribs in the window, and a downtown last-call room.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
AJ Hudson's Public House
Lakeview soccer pub on Ashland: a tin ceiling, a long wood rail, and match-day banners over the booths.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Sleeping Village
Avondale tavern and venue on Belmont: glass-block windows, a 3734 overhang, and a neighborhood beer-and-show room.
Wicker Park · Chicago, IL
Standard Bar and Grill
Wicker Park sports bar on Milwaukee: a corner storefront, sidewalk tables, and a watch-party room behind the glass.
West Ridge · Chicago, IL
Casey's Corner
West Ridge cash-only corner tavern on Devon: terracotta, a Casey's Corner sign, and Old Style still in the window.
Irving Park · Chicago, IL
Live Wire Lounge
Irving Park live-music dive on Milwaukee: a dark rail, string lights, and a small stage under a LOUNGE sign.
Rogers Park · Chicago, IL
Jarvis Square Tavern
Rogers Park neighborhood tavern on Jarvis: a turquoise pool table, green lamps, and a beer-and-shot rail.
Wicker Park · Chicago, IL
Easy Bar
Wicker Park neighborhood tavern on Division: a tin ceiling, dinosaur toys on the back bar, and half-price hours.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Central Park Bar
Avondale neighborhood tavern on Central Park: a hanging sign, a garage-door patio, and a classic rail inside.
Edgewater · Chicago, IL
The Anvil
Edgewater cheap-pour gay dive on Granville: a serpentine rail, purple light, and a glowing Anvil sign in back.
Clearing · Chicago, IL
Twisted Shamrock Pub
Southwest Side Irish neighborhood room for pints, game days, and zero-fuss conversation
Bucktown · Chicago, IL
The Charleston
Eccentric Hoyne corner tavern with taxidermy chaos, pool, and a true neighborhood-weird vibe
Bucktown · Chicago, IL
Map Room
Travelers’ tavern with maps on the walls, early coffee, and a no-frills beer-forward room
Humboldt Park · Chicago, IL
Rosa's Lounge
West Side blues room that still feels like a working neighborhood club, not a downtown spectacle
Pilsen · Chicago, IL
Simone's
Pilsen regulars’ room built from reclaimed bowling lanes and lab tables
Lincoln Square · Chicago, IL
Lincoln Square Taproom
Hyper-local beer room in the old Huettenbar shell — darts, board games, community-first
Lincoln Square · Chicago, IL
The Getaway
Neighborhood bar in the former Grafton space — cocktails and beer without downtown polish
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Cafe Mustache
Daytime cafe that flips into a Logan Square night bar with karaoke
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Chief O'Neill's
Northwest Side Irish pub/beer garden with sessions energy more than River North polish
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Schubas Tavern
Schlitz-tied corner tavern up front, legendary small music room in back
Jefferson Park · Chicago, IL
Rex Tavern
Blue Line-adjacent neighborhood tavern with friendly regulars and a glowing old-school sign
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
Cleo's Pub
Late-night soccer bar with cheap tallboys, a back patio, and neighborhood-bar hours
Near West Side · Chicago, IL
Cobra Lounge
Unpretentious rock bar and intimate underground-music room beside Union Park
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Toons Bar & Grill
Friendly Southport neighborhood bar for wings, beer, and Cubs-day patio hangs
Wrigleyville · Chicago, IL
Bernie's Tap & Grill
Family-run since 1954, with cold beer, shuffleboard, and a relaxed pub feel off game days
Wrigleyville · Chicago, IL
Murphy's Bleachers
Family-owned corner tavern across from Wrigley with roots reaching back to Prohibition
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Cody's Public House
No-frills neighborhood room with pool, a jukebox, free popcorn, and a big back patio
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Finley Dunne's Tavern
Straightforward neighborhood sports tavern with cheap beer, burgers, and regulars
Near South Side · Chicago, IL
Reggies Music Joint
Laid-back brick-walled music bar with nightly shows, a long beer list, and a front patio
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
The Beetle Bar & Grill
Late-night neighborhood bar with a pool table, jukebox, photo booth, and food until 1
Avondale · Chicago, IL
DMen Tap
Cozy fantasy-themed neighborhood bar with pinball, old consoles, and no sports screens
Ukrainian Village · Chicago, IL
Dante's Tavern
Predictably unpretentious pizza tavern with pool, horror movies, and a punk-metal soundtrack
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Will's Northwoods Inn
Wisconsin-style neighborhood sports bar with fried food, tavern games, and a beer garden
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Kibbitznest Books, Brews & Blarney
Wi-Fi-free book bar built for face-to-face neighborhood conversation over beer and games
Old Town · Chicago, IL
Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern
1932 Old Town rib joint with a Schlitz-era bar, green awnings, and the kind of martini that still means business.
Lakeview · Chicago, IL
Kirkwood Bar
Sheffield Avenue sports dive with a beer garden big enough for the whole kickball team and nobody checking for bottle service.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
The Burlington
Back-room music dive on Fullerton where the calendar is the point and the lights stay low on purpose.
Avondale · Chicago, IL
Podlasie Club
Polish social-club bones, pool tables, and a dance floor that still books weird late sets on Central Park.
Andersonville · Chicago, IL
Hopleaf Bar
Belgian-leaning Clark Street beer temple with mussels, no TVs, and a patio that argues for another round.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Local Option
Metal on the stereo, serious beer on the taps, and a Lincoln Park corner that never got the memo about brunch.
Gold Coast · Chicago, IL
Butch McGuire's
Division Street's original singles saloon since 1961—patio Christmas lights, late kitchen, and no interest in being cool.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
River Shannon
Dog-friendly Irish corner pub since 1946—darts, patio, and regulars who treat the place like a second living room.
Streeterville · Chicago, IL
Pippin's Tavern
Old Rush Street dive energy relocated to Chicago Avenue—dark wood, circular bar DNA, now with a proper kitchen.
Near West Side · Chicago, IL
Bottom Lounge
West Loop rock room with a working bar attached—show nights, sticky floors optional, last call after the encore.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Galway Arms
Fireplace Irish on Clark with live sessions most nights and a patio that fills up the second the river freezes.
Bucktown · Chicago, IL
Club Lucky
1940s supper-club glow in Bucktown—martinis, red sauce, and a cocktail lounge that still feels like a night out.
Northalsted · Chicago, IL
Roscoe's Tavern
Halsted institution with drag brunch, late nights, and enough neon to light the whole block.
Streeterville · Chicago, IL
Lizzie McNeill's Irish Pub
River-edge Irish pub with patio Guinness pours and the tourist boats as free entertainment.
Edison Park · Chicago, IL
Tavern on the Point
Far-northwest corner tavern with a rooftop deck, live music nights, and the Edison Park crowd that never left the neighborhood.
Wicker Park · Chicago, IL
Handlebar
Bike-messenger DNA, vegetarian comfort food, a stickered bar, and a patio that still feels like a neighborhood hang since 2003.
River North · Chicago, IL
Clark Street Ale House
Stop & Drink neon, a hundred-plus craft taps, and a dog-friendly beer garden that runs until last call.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Heavy Feather
Upstairs fern-bar cocktails above Slippery Slope—gold mirrors, Tiffany lamps, and late nights only when the stairs are open.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Scofflaw
Gin-soaked Victorian parlor on Armitage with fireplaces, a cocktail garden, and no interest in becoming a sports bar.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Longman & Eagle
Kedzie inn-bar hybrid with a jukebox, rooms upstairs, and a whiskey wall that still feels like a neighborhood joint after the awards.
The Loop · Chicago, IL
Exchequer Restaurant & Pub
Downtown tavern-style pizza, a long wood bar, and Loop last-call energy that outlasted the office towers upstairs.
The Loop · Chicago, IL
The Berghoff
Adams Street neon since 1898—German beer-hall bones, a downtown bar that still looks like Chicago history.
River North · Chicago, IL
Andy's Jazz Club
Hubbard Street jazz room with a Wall of Fame neon, white-tablecloth sets, and a proper late-night bar attached.
South Loop · Chicago, IL
Buddy Guy's Legends
South Loop blues institution—stage, sticky floors optional, and a bar that still books the real thing after midnight.
Wrigleyville · Chicago, IL
Cubby Bear
Across from Wrigley since forever—sports on the TVs, live bands upstairs, and a bar that fills before first pitch.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Replay Lincoln Park
Sheffield Avenue arcade dive—Ms. Pac-Man, Frogger, poster-covered walls, and cheap beer between quarters.
Logan Square · Chicago, IL
Logan Arcade
Fullerton pinball warehouse with rows of lit machines, cheap cans, and the kind of darkness that hides high scores.
Lincoln Park · Chicago, IL
Kincade's
Armitage under the L for forty years—long wood bar, tin ceiling, sports on every screen, and a new Wrigleyville twin in 2026.
Pilsen · Chicago, IL
Punch House
Basement punch lounge under Dusek's—tufted stools, a glowing aquarium, and late rounds that feel underwater on purpose.
South Loop · Chicago, IL
Jazz Showcase
South Loop jazz temple with a proper stage, late sets, and a bar that still treats the music like the main course.