This place is ok. The bathroom was disgusting. I would probably just hold it and use the 7-Eleven down the street. The tab somehow was really high, I think we were screwed by the bartender. Somehow two rounds of drinks tallied up to nearly $100 for four people.... that's in line with the high end steakhouses. Oh well, we had a show to catch, otherwise I am sure we would have further analyzed the bill and asked for an itemized receipt. Just ok, most likely won't go back. read more

LOVE this bar! Juke box is a total throw back to the 90's and the tunes I would listen to in high school! Incredible whiskey collection. Mari and Martin are the BEST for service and story telling. The only complaint I had was the stupid collage crowd. Head to the second floor to escape that, and maybe avoid weekends...I've heard that it's a bit "classier" weeknights. The line up of shows I saw on the posters looks awesome. Most definitely going to visit next time I'm in town. read more

Delilah's - Second floor bar - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There is little that I can say about this place that hasn't been said about the best bars in Chicago. It is run with a precise eye on a positive customer experience. The ambiance is awesome - trashy-chic but really relaxing. The selection of potent potables is perfect. The staff is stellar. From Ron the doorman - to Ashley the bartender to Pedro and Mike... You see; you go there one time and you know the staff and they really go out of their way to make you feel welcome. I can say nothing bad about this place. Great selection - great service! (Delicious Rye!) Now you know what Tom Jones was singing about when he sang, "My... My... My... Delilah! (Showing my age?) read more

So what constitutes this being a dive bar? The fact that one doesn't have to wear a boobie top to get in and get some decent treatment? It had everything that any other bar has, but with a genuninely swell crowd of people, an obscure film selection on the televisions and some great alcohol specials if you don't really care about the taste. Seating was pretty plentiful, there were a good number of attractive boys (including the one I was with - holy crap) and they had a fantastic soundtrack and vodka/Red Bull. What else does a girl need? I only give it four stars instead of five because I seriously don't know how my tab got as big as it did. I think we only had four drinks total, one of them beer and one of them the whiskey special and the tab seemed a bit large. Oh well. read more

The only way to review Delilah's is with a series of vignettes detailing my most memorable (or not) nights there: I) Two friends and I head to Delilah's after drinking 3 or 4 bottles of wine on a Sunday at Tango Sur. For some reason, Friend 1 decides to order straight whiskey and I decide to order whatever dark beer the bartender recommended. It was delicious and it's a shame I can't remember the name. We weren't drunk and rowdy--just drunk--and had a fantastic time thanks to a chill crowd that didn't judge our poor decisions. Because we all like Delilah's, we waited until we were home to rid our bodies of the booze. You're welcome, Delilah's. II) We hosted an epic going away/new job/birthday party in their upstairs room. It was incredibly cheap: Everyone just paid I believe $20 for all-you-can-drink, and we could bring in our own food AND plug in an iPod to play our own music! The owner was an incredible host who kept asking me if there was anything he could help us with and if we were having a good time. He genuinely cared that we were enjoying our party and he was doing everything he could to make that happen. Also, we brought a blow-up novelty sex sheep. Nothing to do with Delilah's, but I highly recommend this as a good way to liven up a party. III) This was the night I discovered Delilah's beer list. It is AWESOME and extensive. The only disappointing thing, and the reason I'm only giving Delilah's 4 stars, is that the bartender couldn't offer me a suggestion for a good red beer, just gave me a deer-in-the-headlights stare and then sheepishly admitted he couldn't help me. At least he was honest and nice about it. I still had good luck with the "pick what has a cool name" strategy. If you like John Barleycorn, then this bar is NOT for you. It's just a humble 'hood bar with a caring, nonpretentious staff, good beer list, and a punk rock flair. I HIGHLY recommend scheduling your next party here! read more

"My, my, my delilah Why, why, why delilah So before they come to break down the door Forgive me delilah I just couldnt take any more" Oh, Delilah's, how you love to tempt, tease, and torture me! Years ago, Mike Miller met a young girl named Spunkypants. He thought, "Man, for a kid, this girl sure knows her whiskey, punk bands, and obscure exploitation films! I should theme a bar around her!" He finally walked away from her when he could no longer tolerate her endlessly singing Tom Jones songs to herself, and started planning his new bar. Delilah's was finally born. "I keed; I keed!" But seriously, if I suddenly turned into a bar, it would be Delilah's. It's as if the place was designed to make Spunkypants happy. It has that wonderful sleazy kinda atmosphere that I love, a KILLER jukebox, strong and cheap drinks, an amazing whiskey selection, great obscure films - many from Something Weird, and just about the friendliest staff that I've ever come across. sigh.....now for the bad......Delilah's as a bar is perfect. Unfortunately, it gets way too crowded - so crowded, that it becomes too difficult for me to tolerate. I will no longer go there on weekends unless I can get there early enough to get my fill in before I get attacked by lost horny frat boys. Even during the week it's a crapshoot, but not nearly as bad as on the weekends. All things considered, if I were told that from now on, I could only set foot in Delilah's after 10pm on a Saturday night, you can bet your ass I'd happily fight the crowds. read more

Delilah's is awesome! I spent midnight to last call here for my 21st birthday and had a great, great time. Even though some glasses were broken from overzealous toasting and many things were spilled, the staff was great and the doorman is a badass. Even on a Sunday, Delilah's gets 5 stars. read more

Amazing whiskey selection, friendly atmosphere, helpful bartenders!! Upstairs was cooler than expected! Will go here more often for sure

I used to go all the time on Monday's but it just got too "punk" for it's own good. Jukebox is always pretty good (one night I went in and heard everything I could have ever wanted to hear...ever). Morrissey nights were fun for a while...then I got tired of standing around and getting nudged with pool cues. Overall, its not bad but there are a lot of other bars I would rather support. read more

Delilah's is one of the most stocked whisk(e)y bars in Chicago. Don't be intimidated by the black background. Whether its Erik, among others, the bar has something to please any palate. This is not the Clark St. Ale House; this is whiskey heaven! Delilah's serves beer, has well informed bartenders, but caters to the whiskey crowd. If you want to make absolutely sure that you are taken care of, then make sure you are around when Erik or Mike are in. There may be others, but this is ground zero for whisky in Chicago, even if there are others with arguably more inviting surroundings. Again, if you don't want to pay for the freight, then enjoy the selection. read more

The crowd is usually weird here. I'm not a huge fan, but I don't hate it either. It's a neutral feeling I have towards this place

Delilah's is one of the coolest bars in the city. Excellent beer selection, many on tap, and quite possibly the best dive bar whisky selection ever- they have their own label! Also home to American, the kool-aid of cheap beers. $1 on Mondays. The bartenders are quick to suggest new drinks based on what your are ordering. Very cool. There's always good music here, if not a DJ. Black and white horror movies seem to always be playing as well. It's a little loud, but not too loud for conversation. I've made friends with a few patrons at Delilah's. The only thing that I don't like here is that it's crowded. Very few seats on the first floor (I just found out there was an upstairs after my 12th visit.) Come early, even on weeknights. read more

I dig this place. I'm brand new in town, and know no one here, so I've been taking the advice of different message boards and such as to places that I should check out. The atmosphere here is fantastic. The gritty movies playing all the time, and the Elvis paintings. It gives a good vibe. Not to mention, their beer selection here is phenomenal! I always find myself winding up here when I have no idea where else to go. read more

I've always passed this place on the way home, never gone in for years, but recently went there to celebrate a friend's b-day. First off, let me be clear - I love these kinds of bars. I feel more at home in a dive bar. This place made me feel at home pretty much from the get-go. Whiskeys? Yeah, they got whiskeys. I asked for a Laphroaig, expecting them to not have it (no, not trying to stump the barman, just hoping to have some nice peaty scotch whiskey). To my surprise, the guy just looked at me and asked "10, 15, or 25 year old?" Major props to this place, I'll be back, and I may end up adding another star to this review. read more

I have always wondered why it is that so, so many people rave about this bar. I remember being twenty years old and so many people telling me, "Oh, when you turn twenty-one, you totally have to check out Delilah's!" Sure, it's a neighborhood institution. Sure, it's generally a cool crowd. Everyone seems to come here for the beer..."Oh, what a great selection, reasonable prices," etc. I hate to break it to you folks, but the selection, while showcasing a few good ones, is a bit scattershot. It's not comprehensive or representative or impressive. And the prices aren't the best either. Now, one guy told me that he goes for the scotch. While not a whiskey person, that I can understand. I enjoyed reading their list of scotches. I was scandalized by the beer though. That's why I have rated it with a rare under-4-star rating. Edit: I have been back once now since I wrote this review. I am tentatively bringing it up to a 4-star rating. My bartender was awesome, and the beer selection has improved massively. read more

I wound up here on the Sunday night after the World Cup Soccer Final {from Chipmunks [c.v.]}. It was relatively calm. I expected more people. I wonder if others had expended all their money that afternoon. As breweries adjust their distribution, some of the beers which were here are no longer here. I wound up having the Arcadia I.P.A. which, for one, is *not* overtly hopped. On Sundays, it's on special for $3. In the stairway upstairs is a vintage 'Donkey Kong' arcade machine (50¢ | game). I played that a few times because the movie being shown on the TVs wasn't doing it for me. I still enjoy this place. I'd like to meet someone here. Because it's a venue where I can discuss a clutch of topics intelligently. I can't do that at a lot of other venues. read more

Saw this place on Americas best bars! They said it was ranked one of the best whiskey bars in the country, and I believe it. They literally have a big binder full of whiskeys, scotches, rums you name it. The place is dark and kinda small but it has its own style. The bartenders know thier stuff! I like how they give u a glass of ice if you order on the rocks so you can decide how much ice to put. Wish it was a little classier and appealing but I think the dive rustic image is what it's going for. This is not a place I would not l spend a whole night at or go with large groups but if you and a couple of buddies are big whiskey n bourbon drinkers this is a must stop! read more

Delilah's - Binder of drinks! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place really surprised me. Why? The location. I would never expect a bar like this to be in Lincoln Park. The first time I went I don't really recall any detail. The second time I was a bit more coherent and I really dug the place. There's cool stuff all over the walls, including the bathroom. If you like whiskey (which I have been known to get down on pretty regularly) this place is a gem. It's a refreshing change from the bars in the area and they usually play pretty decent music. I would stay stop in, but don't because it's getting a little too crowded. ;) read more

Dollar American beer and Jim Beam Monday nights (that's the brand of beer, people, not meaning "domestic"), awesome music and a good, friendly atmosphere. 'course I've only ever been here Monday nights, but who's counting? I like my punk rock nights. It can get SUPER crowded, but if you're early or you hang out enough you can still get a table. Fun place to hang out with friends and random other good people. The best night they had in recent history was Elvis's birthday when they kept playing Elvis music and movies. I was in my little Elvis heaven. Huge selection of alcohol, good bartenders, a sign that displays the number of bottles of Maker's Mark they've sold to date and good prices, nice local artwork on display, pool table and second bar upstairs. I enjoy my time spent here. read more

I love Delilah's. I've been coming here pretty consistently the last year or so with my girlfriends, and we always have a good time. It's not pretentious at all as some people assume. I've seen all manner of people in here, and everyone gets along well. They have great specials, attractive, nice bartenders, servers and doormen, and are always showing something 'interesting' on the tvs. It gets really crowded downstairs on weekends, but when upstairs opens at 11 it helps clear it out. I hear rumor that they are starting to do wrist band parties. This makes me very sad. Don't ruin this bar by turning it into some Lincoln Park kitchy locale. Please. read more

Steely dan playing and a whiskey selection 14 pages (filled from front to back) long not including the seasonal whiskeys on the front of the binder. Not a bad way to spend a couple hrs on friday waiting for a play to start. I dont like rock and roll but the whiskey, beer and great service will bring me back. read more

Anybody who gives this place less than five stars needs to be reexamined. You want some kind of obscure booze? They've got it; more liquors of every kind than anywhere in Chicago, beer included. The place is always filled on the weekend, but people aren't jerks; everyone's there to have a good time. The bartenders are friendly, even when busy, and if you catch them with some spare time, they'll talk to you about all the liquors on offer. Awesome drink specials. Superb theme nights. Great music on permanent rotation. Movies playing nearly constantly-I've seen the Star Wars Holiday Special, the Suicide Girls DVD, and assorted grindhouse flicks on different nights. Don't come here for cocktails; come here looking to try as many new and different things as possible. read more

After that first time going, D's has become my go-to, Thursday night spot. I used to be all fancy beer, but heck, $3 beer/$3 shot special? I'm in. Music kicks ass, too, and (...I have have sensitive ears ...) the quality of the sound system is great. Go there. read more

Great place to spent Saturday night with friends! Great whiskey and beer manus. I m not a big whiskey fan so I went by waitress recommendation. Good but super loud music. There's is nice second floor area where you can find booths to sit when the group is larger. Upper and lower bar is great when you don't feel like walking up and down the stairs just to grab beer. Highly recommend. read more

I don't know why this bar is classified as a dive bar. Its got like 80 different whiskey's and a good (not ironic good) jukebox. Overall, I really love this place although it is definitely not as punk as it would have you believe (except on Mondays). They have specials on a different type of whiskey everynight (usually $2 a shot). One time I was getting sloshed here during a Jim Beam Black special night and spilled my drink on the bar. The bartender said nothing, and just made me another drink. Gotta like that! Can get kinda hairy on Monday as somethimes alot of Skinheads show up. Other times, the crowd is a mix of yuppies and older tattooed bikers/garage rockers. Neat trivia: Apparently the Makers neon in the front window was custom made for the bar since they sold so much of the stuff. read more

I don't need a long review for this. -The biggest whiskey selection you'll ever see -Friendly bartenders -Loud rock music -Loud rock decor -The occasional game of pool upstairs -Mostly neighborhood crowd, some of them can tell amazing stories about the area. It's iconic and a must-visit. read more

Superior whisk(e)y selections. Great bartender in Rick. Highly knowledgeable and even a better guy. Great folks at the bar. Fantastic conversation in this super cool bar. read more

A personal favorite. This place is filled to the brim with rock'n'rollers, punk rockers, and everyone else. Their whiskey selection is the best I've ever seen. One of my first nights living Chicago I stopped in (it was just down the street). From that first time I walked in here on a recommendation from my friend, I knew I'd found a good place. Three years later and this is still quite possibly my favorite bar in Chicago. Great people, great prices, great selection, great music, Galaga, girls, etc. Mike Miller, the owner, is a super awesome guy, say hi to him if you see him. They have had an event of some kind, even if it's just a DJ spinning, every night of the year since they opened. No wonder Billy Corgan introduced Courtney Love to Kurt Cobain upstairs by the pool table, or so the legend goes. Not enough good things to say about this place. Do yourself a favor and go, even if you don't have a pompadour, you'll still enjoy yourself. read more

This isn't a dive bar, but for the north side I guess it fits. Killer beer/whisky selection, great beer/whisky sampling if that's your thing too. Renovated second floor with more space, great music, pool table. Basically Cheers if the cast of Cheers were lecherous boozefighters. Mixed crowd all the time. Dollar beer mondays. Don't pick fights with anyone who uses pomade regardless of how dumb their haircut is. read more

I used to be a Monday night (punk rock night) regular. I love the place still. It's great to people watch there, Monday nights were always great (free pool, $1 beer, and $2 Jim Beam!) It was always REALLY smoky-so I'm very interested in what it will be like after the Jan. 1st smoking ban goes into effect. The staff is usually great, the place is decently clean, and they have one of the best selections of whiskey in the city! read more

To be fair, I probably shouldn't review this bar because every time I've been there I've been drunk off my gourd (yes, off) and might as well have been drinking on the moon. Delilah's has amazing staff, great beers and generally a good vibe. Occasionally it becomes overrun with douchebaggery, but the lovely bartenders make up for it. read more

Delilahs is one of my favorite bars in Chicago. I just love the atmosphere and music. Check out the calendar to see what's going on for the month. They play some pretty good flicks every now and then too. They have a great beer selection, but whiskey lovers will be happy here. Make sure to check their specials too. It can get pretty crowded on weekends so be prepared to stand around for a bit with your drinks. I do prefer going on a weekday when the crowd is a little thinner. I usually tend to hang out downstairs, but if you like to play pool head on up and get in a few games. Definitely the best bar in the area! read more

Maybe it was too much hype. So many people have told me to check this place out so when I found myself in the neighborhood I had to stop in and try it. Sadly, I was really disappointed. The bartenders knew NOTHING about the beers. I asked for a list and the bartender just pointed to the tappers (which I couldn't see from my seat). I started to ask about what some of the taps I could see where and she didn't know! She didn't know what kind of beers they were or who brewed them. She asked the other bartender and she didn't know either. I ordered an ipa and she told me it was really high alcohol and then I looked it up on my phone (the only reliable source I could find) and it said the beer was 5%. Sadly, I had to call back a few days later because they also charged my card twice. Ugh. Very annoying. I am giving it the 3 stars because the beer list is good and you will really enjoy it if you can recognize the tappers from memory. Also I liked the looks of the place. It is really comfortable and well worn. The bouncer was nice too. read more

If I lived in Chicago, this would be a regular stop. This place is great. Bartenders are without attitude and happy to actually serve you a drink - who knew? Music is somewhat rockabilly, but more punk, with some 80's metal thrown in now and then. Plenty of beers to choose from in addition to a dozen flavors of Absinthe. That's right - they have Absinthe. Go crazy like Van Gogh. read more

So...you know how there are those places that are "super cool" and "totally punk! Rawr!" and have a little history under their belt? And eventually they're taken over by kids who have just turned 21, carting around messenger bags overflowing with liquid eyeliner and black nailpolish from Hot Topic? And suddenly the bartenders are replaced with identical blondes wearing graphic tees with the bar's logo (available for purchase by the restrooms...pay the attendant if you use the hairspray!) who have totally cool attitude problems because they don't give a fuck and their bosses said so? I will LOSE IT if that ever happens to Delilah's. Drinks are reasonable, selection of liquor is unreal, and importantly the staff is extremely laid back and cool with everyone, whether you're a yupster or someone who looks like they fit in. The bathroom doors dont shut, which makes things interesting. But it adds to the charm, I guess ;) read more

If you like seedy dive bars, then Delilah's is a winner. They've got great drink specials and it's hard rock enough to keep the hipsters at bay. There are, of course, equally self-esteem deprived individuals acting out their punk rock and metal aggression, but they're far easier to get along with (not to mention more genuine) than over-sized head phone wearers with ironic mustaches. I've been really curious to check their SKA nights. Sounds totally boss. read more

I visited this bar on a Sunday night with a few friends. I tend to like dive-y bars where you can have good drinks and the music isn't so loud you can't have a conversation. Unfortunately, in places like I've described I've noticed that they're usually filled with pretentious employees and customers. Not here. The bartenders are friendly and helpful. I asked for a recommendation for a rye whiskey and the barman brought over 4 different bottles, let me smell them and proceeded to tell me a bit about each one. I was surprised. Even the doorman was very friendly. Delilahs is cozy, fun, and reasonably priced. Their huge drink selection is one step above almost every other bar I've visited. Don't let the dark interior intimidate you. This is a great bar. read more

This is truly a gem of Chicago and thank god it is too far away from the loop to get corrupted *evil grin*. This is the kind of place you can go and each night you'll get a different set of folks in there.....latex one night....leather another....hipsters another....and that was just the first night I ever went there *wink*. Seriously, what I consider it's "claim to fame" is the selection of whiskey! More than you can ever imagine and during certain nights of the week beer and shots of whiskey specials that fits anyone's budget!!!! Getting smashed on less than $15 is what I call VALUE! Jukebox provides a great selection of music and bartenders are on the ball. What class and style with a VERY sharp edge then go here..............GO NOW! read more

Delilah's came recommended by an old friend, It's a cool dive bar, with a punk sound track and 80's video on the screens. Place is dark and on our first visit very crowded, staff was very busy and took a minute to get served, but understandable, checked out the upstairs as well, equally crowded smaller bar upstairs along with pool table. Our second visit (Sunday) bar was less crowded but more relaxed, staff was friendly, but we were rushed because we had to get on the road. I like the place, it reminds me of my favorite dive hangouts, past and present. You should go see! read more

Plethora of whiskeys. Got a punk vibe going. They have rotating specials of beer and whiskey each night. I'll return at some point but don't see myself becoming a regular. read more