Dram Shop

Warm and lovely British pub with delicious pies and efficient service…read more My dining partner and I tried the mushroom and kale and the rocking vegan pies. The mushroom and kale pie was nice and cheesy and the rocking vegan pie was more savoury, with a variety of vegetables and chickpeas as stuffing. The crust was neither too soft nor too crunchy. The highlight of the meal was the curry chips: potato wedges lightly fried with masala and curry leaves. The dipping sauce that came with the chips reminded me of tikka masala sauce, and paired beautifully with the chips. Dessert was toffee pudding: the caramel sauce that came with the pudding was delectable - the pudding itself was excellent and not overly sweet. We tried a variety of NA beers, and I was pleased with how many options they had. Service was quick, and we were well looked after. The ambiance is warm, with dim-ish lighting and a lot of dark wood. The restrooms were gorgeous - special shoutout to the lovely floral wallpaper. Overall, I highly recommend Pleasant House - the vibe is chill and understated and the food is stellar.

Came here for an early dinner and went all in: bangers and mash, steak and ale pie, curry chips,…read moreand a scotch egg. A lot of these were my first time trying, and everything was good, though I'm realizing pub food might not be my favorite cuisine. That said, I can see why people love it, and the food was solid across the board. The vibes were the real highlight for me. Cozy, warm, and just a fun place to hang out. I was also pleasantly surprised by how affordable everything was. We were way too full for dessert, but I'd happily come back to try the sticky toffee pudding!

0.8 mi•Lincoln Park, DePaul

Timmccoyphoto

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Breakfast pie: spinach, egg, and cheese

The Red Lion Pub

4.3(290 reviews)

Husband and I stopped in on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Service was really friendly and attentive and…read moreatmosphere and vibes were exactly what we wanted. I ordered the fish and chips. The fish was crunchy and tasty, not at all soggy or oily. It was probably the best I've had in years. My husband ordered the Mac and cheese and it was great, too. We had a few drinks and finished with the toffee cake. Everything was just great and I'd definitely come back.

Beautiful room, absolutely mind blowing in the details creating a warm comfortable vibe. The three…read moremembers of the staff we interacted with were all...perfect. I drink heavily, drafts are $9 and up so I must the feeling that hit me minutes after sitting at the bar...I want to come here every night. I must stay strong.

4.5 mi•Printer's Row, South Loop

Half House salad with chicken

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The bar

Kasey's Tavern

4.1(294 reviews)

A staple in the SouthLoop with the best wait staff in the SL! I miss coming here! A Friday after…read morework watering hole--perfect!

We're back, because we love the craft beer at Kasey's Tavern…read more At first glance Kasey's presents a bit like a dive, but it's end-to-end craft beer and great people! It was nearly full mid-afternoon on a Saturday (Feb 2026) and we were lucky to find an open table! Service was quick and friendly. We had two frosty-cold craft beers: a Half Acre Daisy Cutter and a Deschutes Patagonia. The Daisy Cutter was dark orange, dry and hoppy, a "new" pale ale that is now a classic. The Patagonia was lightly golden, lightly carbonated, sightly sweet and citrusy. Of course we had another round, because we love the beer, the people, and the place :-)

Bar area

The draft craft menu, cut from my photos over the bar (Feb 2026)

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Kasey's storefront on the east side of Dearborn, halfway between Harrison and Polk.

Miller's Pub

3.8(1.7k reviews)

4.1 mi•The Loop

This spot has been around forever, and as I'm visiting Chicago for the first time, I try to hit all…read morethe staples and iconic locations, so we went to Millers for lunch. Dark, grungy, feeling like a German Octoberfest Pub with beer signs and signed pictures on the walls, I love it. At first we were seated in a small table next to a family who was letting their kids run wild in the restaurant, slamming plates and glasses, so that wasn't going to fly. Asked the host to move us, he said no problem, and we got a much better table away from said family, and it was great, totally changed the experience for the better. Our server was friendly, helpful, talkative, and was prompt with delivering food. I got the Chicken Pot Pie, which wasn't like any other I've had, super creamy, nicely filled with trimmings, light bread crust, and warm to the soul. My girl got a Chicken Sandwich and she liked it as well, a filling lunch and a cozy spot. Love it.

When a restaurant is 90 + years old, you know they are doing something right. Turns out they do…read moreeverything right. The decor looks historic with dark wood walls, beautiful molding, and of course antique sports memorabilia. It is in Chicago after all!! The menu items that were highlighted was the prime rib, while supplies last and the ribs. I tried to go with the prime rib but at 7:30 it was sold out. The bartenders suggested the French dip sandwich with shaved prime rib but went with the ribs instead. Smoked daily the ribs were tender and moist with a very sweet homemade BBQ sauce. I prefer my sauce on the spicy side but it was delicious, the shrimp were fried and crispy, served with fresh cocktail sauce. I opted for the fries and side salad but were good. The Greek vinaigrette dressing was delicious. The bartender was super engaging and knowledgeable. I hat his signature Ole Fashion and a glass of cab from their list. Both were great You need to eat here!!

I love the holiday decor

Extra crispy flavorful fish and chips!

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Virtue mitten fennville, mil, burbon barrel aged apple cider

Industry Ales

4.3(91 reviews)

4.2 mi•The Loop

Checked out this hip looking brewery. It certainly is one of the many places to go to in The Loop…read more Industry Ales is a place that has a lot more than just beers, which is a good choice, because there's all kinds of people who crowd in and want to have fun times. Amazing that fun isn't always beers and chugging. The food is actually good and can be talked about in reviews because some people actually come here to eat, which tells you how they actually have a kitchen. Believe everything is good here but we came for the beers of course. It's certainly the main product made here so why wouldn't it be important. They make more than you can believe which is impressive because there's all kinds of crowds who pass through. For sure everyone wants beer. It's $6 a pint at happy hour. Pretty great for craft beers compared to lots of places it seems. Best one we got was the Bucket Hat. This is a Belgian style witbier. Has notes of bubble gum, coriander, and orange. The food isn't an afterthought so get some of that. It's about $18 for a burger. Vegans have options. Certainly one of these is the Veggie Burger. This is an amazing thing with a spinach patty topped with chipotle tomato marmalade, cremini mushrooms, mixed greens, pickled red onions, and sweet potatoes. All on a fluffy ciabatta bun. The rest of the menu contains meaty stuff. For sure it feels like a place for the hipsters but it's pretty great for anyone. It's located at the intersection of Jackson and Wabash close to lots of fun. The brewery has food that's better than expected but many other things about this kind of stuff are typical.

My husband and I came with our daughter here and we were blown away. The atmosphere is really cool…read more We really loved the vibes and the decor. We both got flight flights and then I had a avocado Caesar salad salad with chicken and my husband had a Smashburger. We ordered my daughter chicken burgers and fries of course lol. Everything was delicious and we would 100% go back.

1.9 mi•Old Town, Near North Side

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Old Town Ale House

4.2(332 reviews)

Moved in the area recently and got to check out Old Town Ale House, and so glad I stopped in! I was…read moreactually given a tip to check it out by some other local bartenders in the area... which is always a good sign. Cash only, great beers and a cool dark wooden vibe. They even have a CD player with the album flipper from back in the 90's/00's. I kept saying the only thing this place is missing is a self service popcorn machine :) Overall if you're looking for a cool classic old school bar, stop in for a beer and don't be surprised if this becomes your new weekly spot

I met someone here before an event. Cash only establishment, which is no big deal, especially with…read morean ATM on site. Bartender was surly and the folks (who I assume were regulars) were all surly too. It was like walking in to a grumpy-puss meeting. The energy was super negative. If not for the great company I had (and the fact that we were already there) I might have suggested that we move. It was fine. Beer was cold.

Back side of the bar . Great original Art!

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The Duke Of Perth

4.1(685 reviews)

0.3 mi•Lakeview

A great Scottish Pub in Chicago. Had the Fish & Chips (of course) with a side of Stovies. The fish…read more& chips comes with green peas and chips. We were there on Friday, so the fish and chips were all-you-can-eat. So crispy on the outside and flakey on the inside. So yummy. The chips were crispy and paired perfectly with the fish splashed with the malt vinegar. The green peas were good, but my favorite was the Stovies. If you've never had proper Stovies, this is your chance to try them. Potatoes and onions with bits of roast kind of like mashed potatoes or a very thick stew. So yummy. They also have an extensive drink menu.

Now we're talking. DoP is as close an authentic Scottish pub as anything I've been in, in this…read morecountry. The atmosphere alone is worth the trip. Whiskey fans, you'll love the huge selection along with the impressive beer selection. Yelp should really hype this as a whiskey bar, too. It more than qualifies. The cuisine is phenomenal. Definitely a place to bring a large party on your first visit, so you can sample a multitude of wonderful creations. Pro Tip: if you can tolerate a large quantity of fish, visit on a Wednesday for their AYCE Fish & Chips. I've had many hum drum AYCE dinners that are drab and only fill you up. Not this one. It's a great meal and a great deal. The Shepherd's Pie was fabulous, as was the Bangers and Mash. They've created a Haggis Burger that has to appease Americans, yet, still be haggis. A tall order since most would hate "true" haggis. Fear not, it's not your grandfather's haggis, it is a tasty burger. The fries were great but I'd recommend the Tattie Skins. We tasted so many different malts it was hard to pick a favourite. No foolin' they had island malts, highland malts, speyside and even a couple from the lowlands. Easy to spend over two hours in this public house. We did. Can't wait to get back to this town. This is a must! 02/26

3.0 mi•River North, Near North Side

Duke of Perth

AYCE Pollack Fish n' Chips

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Bar and dining area

The Green Door Tavern

3.9(555 reviews)

Was high in my must do list in Chicago Went to a disappoint…read moregame at Wrigley and left after a few bad fan moments . Glad I did !! Now I have completed my quest of seeing the oldest tavern and speakeasy in Chicago.

The Green Door Tavern is right up the block from Mr. Beef, so if you're going there for a sandwich,…read morethis is a good spot for a drink after. That's exactly what we did this past Saturday. The Green Door is the oldest bar in Chicago. It was built one year after the Chicago fire and was one of the last structures built with wood. This was a very cool place to spend a Saturday afternoon. College football on TV and excellent food and drinks. My wife and I split the calamari appetizer which was very good. My Old Fashioned's were well made. Bartender and server were both very friendly. One other cool thing is that there's a speakeasy downstairs. I went down and found the bookcase which is the door, but it didn't open until the evening. If you're in town looking for a nice place for a drink, this is a fun stop!

Bar inside

Patty melt with Brussels side and buffalo wings

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The Gage

4.2(3.7k reviews)

4.0 mi•The Loop

Wedge salad was really good but the steak au poi-whatever was really, really mid. It was so dry and…read moreall that for $72 was not worth, do not recommend that one. But the appetizers (not pictured) sweet corn cake dip was so good and truffle fries were also very good. It was a good one-time experience

So enGAGEing…read more.. After walking around Chicago Loop area and all the selfies at The Cloud Gate in Millennium Park taking a break would be nice as that was a great highlight of my time in Chicago which wasn't close to being over yet and having it right across from the park it was very convenient and a great spot that gave it the tavern/gastropub vibe. With the timing they were also celebrating Oktoberfest as well with Bratwurst and Bavarian Pretzel I opted for a Half Sandwich and Soup of the Day which was Pumpkin and what an absolute comforting bite even with the hotdog I had earlier and my Salmon BLT sandwich was a winner for sure. Everyone's dish looks absolutely amazing along with the service. It was great and I am so glad that we made this stop as it seems to have something for everyone to enjoy at a great price. Highly recommended especially with a lot of walking to give this place a try that's right across from Millennium Park. Thank you!

4.8 mi•University Village

The Gage Bar

Coconut Curry with shrimp

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The Gage Bar Area

Taylor Street Tap

4.8(32 reviews)

If you are looking for a mainstream place STOP reading and do another search. This place is very…read morecool. By cool I mean the bartender is the DJ on a record player. This is a Chicago local bar tended by what you should expect by Chicago attitude. While there was not a band there on the night I went I am sure it would only up the ante on how much fun one can have there. I am from Cleveland and this place immediately made me feel at home by decor and vintage bar style. Next time I am back in town I will definitely stop by for one more.

Good bar with nice vibes! Bartender was really nice and gave good recs. Atmosphere was full of…read moreregulars and newbies, good mix. Live music on Fridays and Sundays. Love that it's bring your own food in! They should add a happy hour! They don't currently have one.

Campari spritz

Beautiful Bar

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Drinks

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9 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Chicago R.

14 years ago

Although 'dive' bars are in right now and PBR is the swill of choice, a warning to those unsuspecting sorts who may stumble into this place. On a Friday night, the bartender spent more time talking to this friends and trying to get a date than he did making the rounds and working the 'crowd'. Several people stood, waiting for refills and first orders, for five and ten minutes as the 'bartender' took care of his friends and girlfriends, most at no charge. Went to another bar down the street and talked to some locals who told us about the Dram and the fights, the drugs, and the people on the sidewalk puking their guts out at 9 o'clock in the morning (yes, they open at 7 am and keep over-serving until 2am). Seems the bartenders at the dram like to serve their customers until they can't spend any more money and fall out the door. Enter at your own risk and check the sidewalk before stepping outside. disclaimer - this is only an opinion. check out all drinking establishments yourself and don't believe anything you read on the internet. read more

Liudvika L.

13 years ago

A bar where everybody is welcome! I remember when I first walked into that bar... It was snowing heavily and I just wanted to hide from that weather. I was the only female, probably younger than everybody else by at least 20 years... But it was in the middle of a day, so no wonder. Bartender was extremely nice to me so I decided to go back there another time and another... and almost every other day :) It's always fun to meet the regulars, the bartenders, the owner. Drinks are same as everywhere else, so what else do you need. Can't wait to get there again! read more

Dominique E.

14 years ago

Went here after a show at the Laugh Factory and this is a dive bar to beat all dives. No one gave a shit what time we arrived, they served us cheap drinks in a fast manor and the juke box rocks. Odd freaks here and there but at least we were able to get over the shitty attitude at the comedy club box office. The bartender validated the staff is nice but the LA freaks and door nazis are cut from the same cloth. So I rocked some clash and decided to not give a flying fuck about the sa5 bucd pathetic girl who neede our 5 bucks to put twords her crazy meds.l read more

Antonio A.

2 years ago

I'm surprised why this place still open........ Everything is under the table. Liquor license is definitely a huge ? The owner brings In alocoh from are there sausage which are illegal in fraud. read more

Andy P.

4 years ago

Had a blast visiting the city and stopping here after a show across the street. Would definitely stop by again.

Rumya R.

11 years ago

Went in based on good reviews, but crowd and bartender were very unwelcoming. Very disappointed in this bar.

Sean F.

Elite 12

13 years ago

Wouldn't come back here if my mouth was on fire and they had the only liquid in town.

Lauren B.

14 years ago

Great, cheap dive bar. Very friendly bartender. A great casual bar!

Theodore M.

Elite 25

14 years ago

The only bar in the city that I frequent on a regular basis ..

Dram Shop - pubs - Updated October 2026

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Yustyna is an exceptional bartender in one of the greatest dive bars. Thanks for the unique and fun…read morebirthday experience! We will be back!

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