I've frequented the forest park bars on Madison since my early twenties haha, I honestly had never been to Duffy's until this past weekend when my boyfriend and I were visiting my hometown of Chicago. He absolutely loved this bar, the bartender was super friendly and it was not packed at all. Granted - we went during the day around 2-3pm. We both had some beers and I made him try Malort, let's just say that was his first and last malort shot haha. If you're in the Forest Park area please stop by Duffy's! read more

Duffy's is hands-down one of my absolute FAVOURITE bars on the Madison bar strip. The staff is awesome, and the patrons are always cool, even if keeping to themselves. And the spirit selection is great -- better than most dive bars, in my opinion. Duffy's is probably as close to 'Cheers' as you'd ever find in the area, and definitely worth visiting. read more

By the time I got to Duffy's Tavern, I was already half-gone. It was a long day of celebrations so this is what I remember. There was the most friendly three-legged dog just hanging out with her owners for the entire time we were there. She was so freaking cute and well behaved. The bar doesn't have a kitchen. I think it did at one point of time, but not any more. But believe me, you probably don't want to eat here even if they did. The bartender, although friendly, didn't know anything about whiskey and she poured my whiskey like she was rationing it with the rest of the world. The customers look like hard core regulars where everyone knew each other on a first name basis. Seriously, the dog was so cute! Five stars for "tri-pod." That's what the owner nicknamed her. read more

Duffy's Tavern - Chi-rish - ha! Im digging it - Dive Bars Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

This is one of my favorite spots on the Madison strip of bars. The staff are always friendly, and they have a solid beer list. Once, I was wearing a shirt from a brewery I had visited, and the owner asked me about it, stating that he is always trying to mix it up with his beer offerings. Would recommend! read more

Went on a Friday night and it was pretty dead Place was well kept and staff seemed nice read more

I wanted a beer. I got a beer. At Duffy's. It was an afternoon where work seemed secondary and "playing hooky" seemed paramount. Where time was short and convenience was at the top of the list. As I turned down Madison- my eyes spied Duffy's and so we parked- for free- in the street. Got to love that! We walked in and our nostrils were immediately assaulted by the smell of smoke from long gone smokers but you could only imagine how smokey this place once was! We pulled up a couple of stools to the bar and ordered a couple of beers. Obviously afternoon drinking at Duffy's is limited to those "old timers" who had no where to go as we were the youngest in the place. The owner sat down the bar from us doing paperwork and thanked us for coming on our way out. Nice homey touch for what is essentially a "dive bar". And I'm glad he was there as when it came time to use the restroom- I swear I needed clear direction. For the ladies room is in this darkened alcove just steps aways from the bar with a tiny sign and a "jury rigged" latch to hold the door shut. Bet there is a lot of confusion when this place is hopping! Beer was cheap- the people were friendly, my feet didn't stick to the floor and I was not at work. Now what more can a girl ask for? read more

Came into this place on a whim and met the nicest people!! Joe runs the bar and is a sweet heart, he also owns the place. Drinks are good and at a fair price. Place is clean and while there is music playing not too loud to talk to your guest. Would defiantly recommend to anyone looking for a good drink and conversation!!! read more

The bartender with the awful permed wig on Tuesday's needs to get it together. I was in there Sunday with my boyfriend and had a great time talking to the owner and another lovely lady that worked there about stuff , they were amazing and made us feel at home . We came back in today ( Tuesday ) and the bartender wouldn't except our ID's (mind you my boyfriend is 45 and I'm 35 ) . She wanted to see another form of ID because our ID is a New York State License Completely legal document. My boyfriend is originally from here and grew up here . I think it may be because I'm trans and my boyfriend is black and she's either transphobic or racist . If I could leave a half star for her I would . It was completely humiliating especially after having a great time on Sunday . read more

This place holds a special place in my pickled heart for years and people gone by. Reading the reviews below I see it in a different light, one without the haze of affection and nostalgia. A small bar, dark, with teeny tiny bathrooms and limited seating up front. As someone mentioned the back is kind of low-budget but it's a good place to sit if you don't want to be bumped into by everyone going by. The space out back is hardly what I'd call a beer garden (compare to the Beacon or Horan's...erm, Duckfat) but it's nice to be able to take your drink out with you when you go smoke. No food but McDonald's is around the corner and Sub T is two blocks north. A decent place to hang out, straddling the line between dive bar and local respectable watering hole. When it starts to get overly crowded, head out because that's when the amateurs come in drunk and stupid to douse your good times. read more

This place has a really good mix of folks: college kids, neighborhood peeps, a little something for everyone. There's a few dart boards in back, a juke box, and a nice little beer garden in back with a large screen TV. They have too many nights of karaoke, Tues and Thurs I believe. And they get ridiculously crowded on the weekends. They're fairly small and not very notable. It's a nice place to watch the game or just have a drink. A friend of mine always finds money on the floor here so we usually stop by and do a walk through just in case. A word of warning to those with small bladders: there's only two single bathrooms and they are badly situated too close to the bar. read more

I have had friends in FP for a very long time, and now my best friend and her husband moved there. They have been searching and searching for "Their Bar". Finally, I think they found it. Casual, CHEAP, awesome daily specials. Totally walking distance from their house, great bartenders, I love how the bathroom is JUST LIKE the one at Happy Village. Great place, super comfortable, zero attitude, its a perfect little bar. read more

This place seemd small and just a typical bar in Forest park. Inside seemed older than some of th other bars on this strip as their decor was newer than what this place seemed. The bartender was more attntive and the drinks abetter price than some other placs. The back part of the bar seemed dumpy compard to th front of the bar so don't go back there if that offnds your bar hopping experience. It is dark back there. One note. The bathroom was perhaps the smallest sorreyist excuse for a bathroom I have ever seen in a bar. This place and the silvr dollar in Highwood have bathrooms where you can killa person using it whil opening the door. Knock first. read more

My new go-to bar in forest park. Yummy Bloody Mary's and cheap drink specials, especially dollar pints on Wednesdays and Thursdays (I think it's draft miller). They even have a groupon. They don't serve food but u can bring stuff there or get something delivered read more

Duffy's Tavern - Bae - Dive Bars Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

Okay, it is really dark and it still sort of smells of smoke from years of cigarette smoking. But I loved this place. The bartenders were really nice and funny. Overall it was dive bar you could sit at for hours. They have beer specials everyday and they are a really cheap. Nice people, cheap beer, laid back atmosphere, what else could you want? read more

A fine neighborhood pub. Stopped by while running errands. Ice old beer, good selection on tap. Friendly staff. God prices. What more could one ask for? read more

I like Duffy's. Haven't been there in awhile, but it's always a nice, casual time. Friendly staff, good prices. They used to have karaoke on Tues/Thurs, but not sure if they still do? read more

Was here last weekend and had a good time. There was booze, moderate service and the smallest bathroom you have ever used in your life. I would say there was nothing extra special about this place but seems like a decent joint to just have a beer at. I would go here again, but I'm not waiting to go back. read more

$2 dollar miller lite taps all day every day? Easy 5 star choice.

Would be an easy 5 stars had it not been for the owner kindly asking me to leave before i finished my last beer of the night, on account of another customer, who he described as "a regular who spends a lot of money here" that, for whatever reason, did not like me. I had done nothing at all to provoke the gentleman, who appeared to be of middle eastern descent, to simply stare at me to the point where i was uncomfortable, and could feel his angry eyes cutting through me like a sharp dagger, again, for no reason at all. I had enjoyed myself there all day for the Cubs game, and was getting ready to leave. I had tipped well, and been a friend to all of the regulars at the place, enjoying their company, as well as the bartender Mary, who is excellent at her job, to say the least. After this man got out of his seat and hovered over me as i sat in mine, because i had asked him to stop staring at me and if he had a problem with me (apparently he did), and began to threaten me in attempt to create a violent situation (i have never thrown a punch in my life), i asked the guy to leave me alone, to not talk to me, or look at me anymore. The owner came over and asked me to leave, which was embarrassing and humiliating, though he was kind and reasonable about it, and even gave me $5 to compensate for my last beer that he would not let me finish. He said, well "you've been here a long time and it is time to go." Having recognized this on my own, as i was on my last beer, and had taken up all my money from the bar and tipped out, i told the owner that i thought he was making a mistake by asking me to leave, since i did nothing at all wrong, and was the victim of this guy's "hating me without cause" (Psalm 35:19, John 15:25). Just because i can drink beer like Harry Caray doesn't mean I am automatically in the wrong. As i was leaving, i was trying to save face and preserve some sort of dignity, and i said, "you're really gonna throw a Catholic league guy out for no reason"..and the gentleman who i never met or spoke to in my life, who walked in to this place and had a problem with me, began mocking me with a degrading tone for saying i played for Fenwick hockey, and was the captain of their hockey team. I corrected him, informed him i never played for Fenwick, only against them in High School, and that i thought they were and still are, as all Chicago Catholic Hockey League programs are - excellent, and i did not see any reason to be made fun of for being proud of where you come from and the area you are in and from. As it is, i am going out right now to watch the Cubs game again today, and will likely spend another $60-80, but not here, since, i don't feel welcome. Plenty of choices if you are on Madison St in Forest Park, and in Oak Park and River Forest. Especially if your from the South Side Irish-Catholic descent and an alumni of one of our many great Catholic High Schools - you may get kicked out and humiliated because some guy hates you "without cause", and the owner values his business more than your heritage, and potential for future business. www.celticshockey.org read more

Stopped in here for a little while, was very pleased with the $1 drafts on mondays. shots were a little pricey for what i'm used to, but the atmosphere was nice. it seemed pretty old, and wasn't too packed. read more

We went in on Friday. The bartender Kelly made the BEST Black and Tans. They were delicious! It's within walking distance to our house...bonus! read more