By far my favorite bar in the city. Why, you might ask? It's super chill, they have a great beer selection, they have addicting popcorn that you can sprinkle with old bay, and its dog friendly! They recently converted back to being pup-friendly after a period of not allowing mans best friend, (during which time I boycotted the place entirely). Now that my dogs can saddle up to the bar with me, I come early and often. This is my favorite way to spend a weekend afternoon- throwing back a few cold ones, shoving my face with crack-infused popcorn and spending quality time with my fur babies. They love it, and so do I. Thank you, Bucktown Pub. read more

Bucktown Pub - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here for St. Patrick's Day last year and more recently after a KU game because Cortland's Garage was packed to the rim and cabs were scarce around there (and it was cold!) It has a decent selection of beers and spirits. Never had a problem getting what I wanted to drink in here. Jukebox was cool - even lost a $200 bet to a friend of mine over a song - but I digress. Popcorn has flavored salts and there's Golden Tee in the back. My only problem was this young, inexperienced bartender who when I asked to tab out, said "We have a problem." That problem was that he gave my debit card to someone "with a similar last name" and tabbed them out for the night. Never had that happen. Convo from there on out: Bartender "It's a good thing, you don't have to pay your tab!" Me "Yeah, but he has my DEBIT card." Bartender "He has a lot of money." Me "And how do you know that? And what does that mean anyway???" Bartender "Well he lives around here. I'm sure he won't charge anything to your card." Me "And, how do you know that? Okay.... Let's talk about how we're going to get my debit card back." Bartender "I'm sure he'll be in here tomorrow; he's a regular." Me "So I shouldn't cancel my card?" Bartender "I wouldn't until tomorrow." 15 minutes later... Bartender "I talked to his friend!!!" Me "Okay, and...?" Bartender "He left a message on his cell phone that the cards were switched." Me "Okay, well I guess we'll solve this tomorrow." Tomorrow came and went, I ended up getting a call from the bar telling me that my card had made it back to the bar and I could pick it up whenever. Then ended up crediting the $36 he had put on it, and didn't charge me for my tab. Not sure if the headache was worth the $60 tab I had, but hey, it was a free night out! read more

Simple formula that works - good music that isn't too loud - bonus points for popcorn machine - lack of incoherent drunks and meat heads - great atmosphere read more

I was unimpressed by the staff's contrived attempt at ironic glasses, jean shorts, odd hats, and tight vests. I found the staff's pretentious conversation (directed only at each other while they all stood in one corner of the bar) fit well with the overpriced mini Jameson I was given. 8$ for a half shot on ice! WTF! They seemed annoyed by the fact that there were customers in the bar, and they quickly dismissed anyone that came in asking about the regular Wednesday comedy show. The only thing that saved the Bucktown Fail (this place does not deserve the honor of "Pub" in its name) from a one star rating was their patio, which does not come with service. I have been to the Bucktown Fail at least three or four times and each experience has been the same. In short: Ironically overpriced, ironically rude staff, and ironically sucks. Go somewhere else. read more

The only reason this place gets three stars is because of John Kimler's excellent hosting of the Sunday night open mic. Other than that, there are some major problems with this joint: #1: One of the main bartenders--a dude--is a total jerk. He's rude to customers and he was rude to me. That dude needs to take a long walk off a short bridge. #2: This is the typical "charge you $7 for a whiskey coke" joint. Why pay this much money for mediocre liquor and soda out of a gun? If they want to charge more for drinks, they should invest in a decent cocktail menu. Honestly, this review is mostly based on a number of bad experiences at the place. You can tell when the culture of a business sucks. Shit rolls down hill. Updated review: John Kimler is no longer hosting open mics here and he has moved on. Now, this spot gets downgraded to a two star review. read more

Best bar in all of Bucktown. Has a beer garden open when the weather is nice. Trivia Night on Thursdays is fun however the same team seems to win all the time. read more

Man this place is a tough review... Wednesday nights have always been vintage motorcycle night here. Plenty of unused one-way street parking so everybody can meet and chat bikes- take your pint outside if you like. Inside is was a cartoonist hangout. Lot's of weird and supposedly rare cartoon art, plus original vintage 60s show posters. Like much of the city's cultural drinking spots, it got sold and gentrified a few years back, and me and my mcycle buddies stopped going. Now you'll find a much cleaner space. A couple of the left-over concert posters got framed. New paint everywhere, cleaner taps, fresher faces working there. And for lack any other spot a bunch of loosely connected motorcycle collectors might find, Wednesday nights have once again become some kind of biker hang out night. If the old place weren't so good, I'm certain this place wouldn't be judged so harshly by yours truly... I'm learning to like it again for the scene- no more pints on the corner and smell of motorcycle exhaust anymore, however. read more

*UPDATE ! I went in this Saturday (02.16.08) and had an AMAZING time! We got there early enough to snag a table and had a blast. The drinks were stiff and the bar staff was very cool. It's a completely unpretentious bar, which is nice with some any douchebag caves steps away. This may be my new regular bar!* Cute outdoor seating area! The door guy was very friendly and I liked that the crowd was laid-back. We got there around midnight on a Friday, so I think we would have better luck coming in a bit earlier - then we'd have a better chance at snagging a seat! read more

There is nothing special about this bar.It's a regular bar with moderately priced drinks.We went there to see off one of my GF's Yelp friend who was leaving Chicago.The staff is nice and outdoor patio arrangement is good.Patio seating is nice to strike a conversation on some common topic. read more

Your dive bar in the city! Regulars who are nice and staff is friendly. You can bring your dog which is great if you're coming off the 606 trail or walking around the neighborhood. They also have popcorn which is a plus on those late nights when you need food before going home! Solid spot. read more

This is a good bar to keep in mind if you ever want to avoid big crowded places on the weekend. The look of the bar is pretty standard 'old neighborhood tavern.' The have a good beer selection and free popcorn. The crowd seems pretty laid back, but definitely a lot more yuppified than this place was a few years back. I never made it here when I used to live in the neighborhood, but from what I gather, this place used to have a lot more atmosphere and personality, which seems evident. But I love quiet neighborhood bars, so I'm sure I'll be back before too long. read more

New Belgian Grand Cru on tap? That was all it took, really. My friends and I planned to check out trivia night last Thursday, and discovered a few things about this place: 1. Great location and a cozy corner pub - perfect spot for a few drinks. 2. Not so perfect when you show up 20 minutes before trivia starts. No open tables = no trivia. Lesson learned - arrive WAY earlier if you want to partake in game night. 3. Good brews on tap. I've only seen Grand Cru in one other bar in the city - while it's not as good as the Super Cru, it's pretty damn close. 4. Free popcorn. LOVE free. I've never been to this part of Bucktown, but what a great find! read more

cute, quaint little divey-ish pub thang. it's right in the middle of where my friend and i live - meeting there was a great idea. it was a random wednesday after a long weekend of crap. the bartender, autumn - supes cool! very nice, keeps it real, keeps the iPod on some great 80s tunes. we played the "guess who sings this song?" and "what's the name of the lead dude of digital underground?" without googling, of course. i had a cosmo, which was made perfectly, so i asked for another. some things to look forward to on our next venture: -karaoke tuesdays -free popcorn -gluten free wifi (see photo) -oh wait, that's gluten-free pizza. and autumn. read more

Bucktown Pub - gluten-free wifi - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

OK, I have officially given this place 3 tries and can finally say I like it! However, all 3 times have been for Sunday Fundays...so this review may be slightly skewed. The first time I was here was around Halloween last year. We were in costume and had a blast with some of the other patrons just drinking and talking the afternoon away. We made a mental note to venture back. Second time was around the holidays and it was like we walked into a completely different bar than the first time we were there. The patrons were all very tired looking...ummm...well, I'll just say it...actual drunks. There was NO vibe, no one was talking, and no one was smiling. We drank our only drink and left. Determined to find the fun of our first time here, we ventured back this past weekend for our 3rd attempt and low and behold, we found it!!! We must have somehow walked through the wrong door on the 2nd visit. We had so much fun again. The regulars and non regulars are so nice. The bartender with the blonde puff is also very nice and attentive. We hear that they have other fun nights with trivia and all sorts of things. We will have to venture out on a school night to investigate, but we will definitely be back on our Sunday Funday crawls. read more

I gotta say, I'm a fan of B-Town Pub! My friend and I end up here pretty much everytime I'm out in Chicago. I like that I live halfway across the country, and yet I always feel like one of the locals whenever I'm there. The digital juke keeps me pretty entertained, and the strong and abundant drinks make that even more so! It can be really crowded on weekends but I definitely do think it's still pretty much a local crowd. I'm a sucker for a simple bar so you won't hear me complaining about B-Town! read more

I left my glasses at Bucktown Pub and called frantically the next day. The girl on the phone assured me they would keep my glasses through the holiday weekend. I returned five days later and the glasses were still there, with a note with my name on it. I don't know why, but this really impressed me. Seemed honest and genuine... and I think that speaks for the BP too. I went on Karaoke Night (Tuesdays) and had a lot of fun! I was even convinced to sing when I HATE SINGING. The crowd was kind enough or the drinks were strong enough - either way, it was a good time. read more

We stumbled into this bar after attempting to to get into Cortland Garage. After realizing that CG was 3 deep to get a drink, we walked across the street. I got that instant cozy neighborhood bar feel. It wasn't very busy, and and we had no problem getting drinks and finding an empty table. The guys played Golden Tee and the rest of us hung out and ate free popcorn (which we drunkenly ate dropping 1/2 on the floor). A good mix of an older 20/30 something crowd. Not many hipsters, which was also a plus. The jukebox is one of the better ones I've seen. It's electronic so you've got a good chance of finding anything you want. A few of us are into the Wilco-Arcade Fire-Kings of Leon type music, which they had. One of my friends likes country rock and played some Nickleback and Kenny Chesney. You can really mix it up which is one of the great things about small pubs. Someone is likely to have the similar taste in music as you or play a track that makes you say "Wow, I love "Loser"! I haven't heard it since my days of underage high school drinking in the parking lot of McDonald's!!" The only downside is my roommate started a tab and at the end of the night the bartender accidentally gave her card to someone else. The silver lining was she got it back the next day and only had $30 charged on it (the tab was at least $50). Great place to chill out and listen to great music. read more

Not sure about this place yet. It has tons of potential. I really enjoyed my night here. I was looking for somewhere more subtle than my normal "drunk-fest" establishments case in point "Lotties" only 3-4 blocks west on Cortland ave. You walk in and everyone is sitting at tables or at the bar. the Jukebox is loud enough to here it but not too loud that you have to shout. Free popcorn. Good beer. Nice crowd. I really can't wait to see it this summer when the patio is open. read more

Ok, so this place is pretty cool. I've been here on more than one occasion (once for my birthday way back in 2009) and have had nothing but great times. It's very laid back and has a very chill crowd any night of the week. It also has a really nice outdoor area (especially being that most other places around here have no outdoor seating.) They've got some pretty solid specials throughout the week and their draft beer selection includes a lot of craft brews. Additionally, they pop popcorn and have karaoke a couple of nights a week so everybody wins. That being said they do have some minor issues with service. Even though this place is one of my local go-to's, they can be slow-to-go on getting your drink order. Bartenders are very friendly though. I would definitely recommend swinging by. read more

Another nice neighborhood bar that isn't pretentious. Plus also has a lot of the other things I prefer when it comes to neighborhood bars, including that it's friendly, free popcorn, smoker-friendly outdoor patio, tamale guy appearances at times, and has at least some craft beer selections available. Other reviewers seem to have mentioned all the necessary points about here, that I don't need to. Bonus fifth star, to the bartender who after I made a call to this bar to report that I'd accidentally left my umbrella behind here, immediately found it and kept it in storage here till I returned a week later to get it. Always appreciate places that go the extra mile, like that! read more

I love this place! What an awesome neighborhood bar. My friends and I have been coming in the past few weeks for Thursday Night Trivia ("Tequila Mockingbird" represent!). The trivia host guy is pretty fun, and the trivia is challenging but not ridiculous like some other places. We haven't won a round of trivia yet, but we're slowly working our way up the ladder. And the host got us a round of shots for our Flip-Flip-Flipadelphia Halloween shirts last week! The bar itself is nice and charming, and isn't covered in tv's up the wah-zoo like some other neighborhood bars that try hard to be sports bars -- which is nice and conducive to conversation. They have a pretty good selection of beers, and the bartenders are friendly / service is quick. Plus, the tamale guy stops by every so often! Parking can be kind of hard to find in the neighborhood on a busy night, and we haven't had a chance to sit on the patio yet. Oh, and the best part: FREE POPCORN!!! read more

Not friendly. Sat for 5 minutes while being ignored by the bartender as she stopped by other tables and chatted it up at the bar. if there is no table service you can tell me and not let me fume as you ignore me. served a house brand vodka when i asked for and paid for call. won't be back. Not a neighborhood place i want to visit again. read more

I've been coming here for years, but after Monday night, I feel I owe Bucktown Pub a review. This has been my go-to trivia spot on Thursdays since 2010. It's a fun crowd, and I like that they have different categories (for example, a picture round and a music round). There's also an awesome beer garden, which we've hung out in after trivia. And who doesn't love a late night visit from the a guy who sells tamales out of a cooler? All of this, however, was not enough to entice me to go to Bucktown Pub for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. I've never pegged this place as a "sports bar" and, as a die hard fan, I NEED to see the game, and hear it. So our large group chose Cortland's Garage...only to be told they were at capacity. With the game an hour away, we walked across the street to Bucktown Pub, and I am so glad we did. What a great experience! It did fill up, and was quite crowded, but we were able to easily secure two tables. We could see all the TVs and hear perfectly. Despite being so completely slammed, there was ONE waitress/bartender until about 8 and she did a PHENOMENAL job. Seriously. Every drink order was quickly filled, and our food orders. At one point, she had a stack of about eight glasses in hand. Our group kept talking about how awesome she was. Additionally, Bucktown Pub's only food option is a frozen pizza (and the aforementioned Tamale Guy). We did order two pizzas, but then others in our group decided to order out. I was impressed that this was allowed! Many people had food ordered in through the game. It was awesome that this place accepted they have very limited food options and thus allowed people to order for themselves. Unless you live under a rock, you know how this night ended. It was an amazing night for Blackhawks fans everywhere, and I am so glad that I got to witness it at Bucktown Pub, even if it was not your stereotypical "Blackhawks Bar." Above all, the people here care about customers and that was so apparent on Monday! read more

Stellas are usually on special. They have good service and a sometimes specials on pizzas. There is a fun beer list that isn't too much for a neighborhood crowd. The patio out back is fun just watch out for the furry friends that appear to live back there...especially if you are seated near the stairway. Bike parking on the street. read more

I came here for a beer event and I was pleasantly surprised that they have a decent porch. This is definitely a neighborhood spot where all the locals knew each other. They have a wide selection of beers on draft ranging from $5-$10. The bartenders were friendly and I didn't go 15 seconds until my glass was removed and replaced. I suggest going to dinner across the street and then going to Bucktown Pub for a drink afterwards. This is Bucktown's version of River North's Clark Street Ale House. read more

Great beer selection. Totally unpretentious local bar that's byof and allows dogs both inside and outside. The patio is a great place to gather with friends, meet some of your neighbors, and enjoy the beautiful weather. read more

The Bucktown is a laid back kind of place, perfect for an after work beer or three. There's a decent beer selection, but the "specials" never include the good beer. Still, it's not terribly expensive. There is a neat beer garden out back. I'd say this place was almost a sports bar if it weren't for the old concert posters on the walls. Just a regular kind of place- clean, free popcorn, nice people, etc... read more

Movieoke, need I say more? It's a serious good time. Do you remember when you were little and all you wanted to do was act out your favorite movies, well now is your chance! After dragging my roommate up to the mic, I finally had my 15 minutes of fame. I should be expecting my oscar any day now. All joking aside Bucktown pub is a pretty cute place, there is a decent amount of tables and bar space. It's a good place to meet some friends and have a relaxing night. They have free popcorn and pretty good specials. On movieoke night they have $1 shots, that may have made work a little rough the next morning. The bartenders are friendly, but they have a credit card charge minimum which seems to change from bartender. From $10-$20 read more

Piper, the sweetheart behind the bar, is excellent AND easy on the eyes. Had a fun time talking books with her. Solid taps to explore, including Bell's, Goose Island and more. Don't come here for food, there isn't any, except the free popcorn, which rocks. Fun, friendly crowd. Got myself invited to play scrabble, had a nice time there, too. Just the right mixture of friendly folks. Really a good time. I've been here two or three times and this place has a really friendly neighborhood atmosphere. They have a beer garden in the back that I didn't get to check out because a big thunderstorm started. I'll have to get back there soon and update this review. read more

Earlier in the day someone on the bus had gotten off at this stop and walked right into this location, and it made me wonder why I myself had not stopped in. So after the Yelp Elite event on a weeknight, I decided that it would be a good idea to check the place out. It's a small bar that has a cozy neighborhood feel to it. They have the regulars on tap, the staff there is nice, and they actually have pretty fresh popcorn that I was addicted to. The prices are average. I had a great time, and wouldn't mind coming back here again. read more

I will preface this review with he fact that I've never actually been inside. The darn place is never open when I've tried to go. We go to church down the street at st Mary's and always try to stop here after. This year we tried the 5pm Christmas eve mass but no luck at the pub. I don't know of they aren't open afternoons or were closed for the holidays. Thankfully several other bars in the area were open. I will change my review once I actually get a chance to enjoy the place. read more

So I popped into Bucktown Pub on a Tuesday, which happened to be karaoke night. I'm not sure if this is a regular occurrence on Tuesdays, but whatever. If it is a regular event, I have to say - there weren't a lot of people on hand to take part. The place was nice - not crowded, and once the karaoke shut down, the music was pretty good. The bartenders were pretty laid back, but also seemed more interested in talking to each other than taking care of customers (to be fair, there weren't a lot of customers, and they probably were bored out of their mind). Anyway, a decent neighborhood place to get a drink, and if I find myself back in that area, I'd probably pop back in. read more

Went here with some friends on Saturday night. It is a great neighborhood bar with really friendly staff. Their patio is fantastic! It was a perfect night to sit outside and we found a table large enough for 7 people, no problem. They pipe the music outside and while it was a great selection of music, it was a little loud. We were pretty close to the speakers though, so maybe if we would have been towards the back, it wouldn't have been so bad. The drinks were good and the bartenders were really great. I saw they had a St. Germaine and I wanted a drink with it, so I asked if they had anything on their drink menu with it. They didn't but the bartender made something for me that was really great. He was busy, but he did not act annoyed or too busy to honor my request. I only wish the tamale guy would have come around while we were there... Next time, hopefully! read more

I really like to hang out at the Bucktown Pub on a weekday night. It's just a local hangout, not fancy but not a dive. The space has a bit of character and the crowd is usually pretty laid back and cool. I don't typically go there to socialize, but sometimes it just happens. Decent beer selection, karaoke night, adorable little patio... what's not to like? I haven't dared to drop by on a Friday or Saturday - I think it's probably a different, younger crowd on the weekends. read more

Went on a Thursday (I think??) night for Trivia and a Friday evening for a happy hour. Trivia was a good challenge, and the place was packed. Friday was calmer, with most people out on the patio. I like a calm vibe where I can talk to people, so I enjoy this bar. They also have a good beer selection. No food, but there is free popcorn. On the Friday trip, I got carded before coming in, which was weird, because there was a baby and a toddler on the patio area. On Trivia night, the crowd was 20s and 30 somethings. On Friday evening, it was mostly 30 somethings and the babies. So 1/2 star off for the awkwardness with getting carded. Another 1/2 star off for not having substantial food, which makes it a tough sell to take friends when they're hungry. Other than those points, its relaxed atmosphere, good beer list, and nice patio will keep me coming back. read more

Pretty crowded on Fridays when I usually go. Music is good, bartenders are friendly and the crowd is a mixed bag. The biggest complaint I have is the ventilation is bad in this place and you REEK of smoke afterwords. I know that any bar can make your close smell, but this place makes you feel like you were "ash tray wrestling" before you left. The free popcorn is addictive, so watch out. read more

I ordered a Manhattan with two cherries: $8. Drank it. Went back up to the bar and ordered another Manhattan with two cherries: $6. Beats me. It's a cute little place to hang out in Bucktown though that's not overly crowded and thankfully lacks the frat crowd. read more

Had been to BTP a few times but didn't understand the amazing-ness of this place! Definitely an older mature crowd which I'm all about -- no loud raging obnoxious music. A great jukebox and well priced beer and good selection. A cute garden in the back for a nice sunny day or cool summer nights. The best part, they don't serve food so you can bring in whatever you want. Was here for a world cup game and we ordered Piece delivered pizza and the owners were so accomodating for it! Apparently there's a tamale guy who comes around. Love this place. read more

Too noisy and too smoky on weekends, but the rest of the time it is a nice friendly 'hood joint. A good place to go when you want a drink, maybe meet someone new, and feel connected to a city or 'hood. But easy on the popcorn, Ace. That stuff'll kill ya. read more

Finally went to Movieoke last week. There's nothing in the city like it and this is the place to see it! Understandably the menu is growing but the scenes available were sufficient enough for me to really make a scene! I'll be back for this and so much more. Love this place, Love the bol' of Schlitz !! And the Sunday nite open mic's are amazing. Once I get a little better I'm gonna step up to the stage here! Meanwhile I prefer to perform on Tuesday for Karaoke... read more