My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025!…read moreRestaurant: 59/50 Month tried: October Favorite dish: Fried Pickles We've heard so much about the legendary Carol's Pub and were happy to finally swing by for drinks and music. I can't really rate it as a full restaurant yet because we only had fried pickles, but the menu is small and simple and smelled delicious. The serving of pickles was HUGE! Fit for like six people, not just the two of us. And they were yummy. The artist playing when we went was great. I've heard the music lineup is always reliably good, as are the events. It's high on my 2026 goal list to come back for karaoke, bingo, and drag brunch.

Staple in the Andersonville area for the good old classic bar experience in Chicago. Great draft…read moreselection, good food options - though I will say their idea of tater tots is maybe a little unique (but still good!). Go if you want to catch the local game, go if you want somewhere low key and straightforward, go if you just want to experience local Chicago.

We went in for St Paddy's and had a really fun time, everyone was cool and the drinks were frosty…read more I will def be going back. Oh, also totally reasonably priced. Rad times.

Best local bar in Chicago! The people that work there are awesome and very friendly. It's nice to…read morebe able to go out and have a good time without having to spend a million dollars. If there is any sporting event you want to watch, it will be on the tv with a friendly atmosphere. They also have the best STARtenders.

It's easy to criticize a place for what it isn't - like faulting Whole Foods for being expensive or…read moreWalmart for not carrying Armani suits. That's just the nature of the establishment, and it's not a genuine negative. This makes writing a review for Sovereign Liquors extra challenging. It is, without a doubt, the most authentic and quintessential example of a dive bar one could ever imagine. In fact, I suspect if you opened a dictionary to the definition of "dive bar," you'd find a photograph of Sovereign right there. The space boasts hilariously mismatched chairs, one of which proudly displays more duct tape than actual seating. The drinks are ridiculously cheap. Don't expect a menu; there's a small beer list, some wines, though without a visible list, and basic spirits for simple cocktail. For example, the bartender said she could make a Manhattan, but not an Old Fashioned. Food? No. Credit card? Forget about it - there's ATM on site. They sometimes host community events! On the night I visited, a local indie band was playing. However, finding out what is going on in advance ranges from difficult to impossible, as they have no website, no Facebook page, nothing. The key to enjoying Sovereign Liquors is to manage your expectations. Go in knowing Sovereign is, as many others have noted, an "old man bar." It's a spot to simply sit, relax, maybe listen to some music, and enjoy a cheap beer. If you're seeking something even slightly more, then you might want to explore other options. However, if you're looking for a genuine, unpretentious, affordable dive, Sovereign Liquors just might be your new favorite spot.

This place has been calling my name for two years but life got in the way. Today that drought ended…read morewhen I entered its cloistered weathered door and went back in a tavern time machine. This place is a stripped down tavern with layers of images and signs. Beer list? All bottles with domestic and a few overseas beers. Food? No. Credit cards? No. Cash and they have an ATM to prove it. They play classic rock and the two ceiling fans keep the air flowing. Bathrooms? Did not try them but can visualize them in my imagination. A must go to if you want a local dive to forget your troubles.

Max's Place is a great local neighborhood bar with great drink specials that change each month…read more The bartenders all make you feel welcomed. A very eclectic crowd, which is refreshing. Nice outdoor space. Max's Place doesn't serve food, however, they do sell chips and Chips Ahoy! for $1! You have to definitely check out Max's Place the next time you are in the Uptown neighborhood area.

Back in the day, this was not a bar I would have gone into. It definitely had a "The Hills Have…read moreEyes" vibes to it, where I could hear the banjos from Deliverance strumming. It was very closed off and I don't like places I where I can't see what is going on in there and if there is an escape route. For me, the old Max's made the old Carol's look upscale and that is saying something. Fast-forward to now and there is a new look to the place, at least on the outside. I can't speak on the changes to the inside because I never went in there. But the new façade is very inviting and guess what, they have bubbles. Big win for me. Stopped in there while walking down Clark Street to just see what was going on. Met the bartender Nick, who was nice. One of the owners was there as well doing some touch up work and was also nice to speak to. Took a look at the outdoor patio area and it looked cute, definitely a good outdoor spot when the temperatures are warmer. The drink prices are pretty reasonable and they let you bring in food, so for me this is a place that not only serves the community but the businesses in them as you can order your favorite take out. I know that there are some folks who are not feeling the new look, but y'all best get to stepping because I for one am happy with the transformation. Welcome to Sheridan Park, Uptown, where friends really meet friends

The guys a jerk. Clicky bar with undeserved attitude. Bad beer selection and no food or snacks of…read moreany kind

Still great. If you're in the hood and a quality local, you can't do better. Cool regilats, Jimmy…read moreis the man, live music, and very comfortable.

Stopped in to this place that had the Arsenal game on and was just praying it wasn't a Cubs day--…read moreno offense to anybody! This bar was awesome-- bartender was a guy called Scott who said he'd newly started but actually knew his stuff and converted my "just the one" plan into "I've got to be done at four lagers". Ask him for the Irish jokes-- he beat me at them, had me impressed-- and that's saying something, my Irish joke repertoire is, frankly, formidable. If your an Arsenal or EPL fan or not, do yourself a favor and check this place out.

Hit up this bar soon after we went to another. It's in an area on Ashland where there's lots of…read moredive bars with cheap drinks and interesting characters. Ten Cat Tavern is pretty divey while being pretty nice at the same time. Kind of has a quiet coolness to it. Lots of cheap drinks and some more expensive stuff as well. As for the drinks it's mostly basic. It's about $6 for a cocktail. The cheapest ones include some pretty cheap whiskey. Also they have cheap cans of PBR. Seems like most people here are drinking beer, and these mostly are in bottles and cans like how a dive bar should. Also has a couple pool tables that somehow fit. The bar is pretty small but the coziness makes it charming though. Pretty clean. The place is dim so it's hard to know for sure. Got to mention for those who couldn't tell by the name that it's also pet friendly. It's usually dogs in here ironically. There's also a jukebox with a good collection of songs, and a few TVs for watching games or things.

Nice little dive in Rogers Park. Historic building and I'm glad the owner held out and didn't let…read moreanyone buy him out. Decent beer selection, couple of TV's. Clean place. Liquor store is adjacent.

Used to buy 6 packs of Old Milwaukee for $.99 there circa 1975. So did all the other Loyola…read morestudents. Bruno really didn't want the student crowd. George Ireland would drink there.

Awesome bar and bartender on Thursdays. Will 100% be back!!! Such a fun karaoke night and the…read morebartender cares about his patrons.

This is one my favorite late night bars, right on the corner with a lit up Old Style marquee; what…read moremore could you ask for? Every person I've ever sat next to was super cool, and the bartenders always know the score. Schlitz, PBR, Hamms, and Old style stock the cooler top shelf, and plenty of craft beers in there as well. If you swing in and forget your tab open, I have it on good authority that they will take good care of your card until you get back

Chris was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!foood was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! Ambiance…read moreoutstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice place to go for just a relax chill evening. Friendly Staff & Good service Loved the decor &…read moreCoquito Martini was delish

If I lived in Chicago, at least in the North Side, you'd probably find me here a lot. That's…read morebecause it felt less like a bar and more like a gathering place. Or I guess I should say a "gay-thering" spot. Spreading over two floors, it manages to be spacious and cozy at the same time. There are bars on both floors which makes hanging around super-convenient. As expected, there are pool tables as well as skeeball and darts. Watch out for the latter as they fly right in front of the stairwell. Jamie W. and I settled down on the main floor and had their special $5 Margaritas (photo: https://yelp.to/dK4BE5czs3). What made them special? Hey, they're $5. Needless to say, we had a couple each and were feeling no pain with the friendly staff and customers to be found here. DRINKS - 4.5 stars...did I mention the $5 margaritas? AMBIANCE - 5 stars...fun and chill SERVICE - 5 stars...doubly chill TOTAL - 5 stars...gay-ther together RELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO

Love playing bingo here on Wednesdays! Cheap drinks and good vibes. Nice neighborhood spotread more