This is one of my favorite hangouts to get lubricated before a show at the Metro, or decompress afterwards and drool over the some of the most attractive bartenders in the city (although the hottest one left several months ago). Plenty of seats, pool tables, and decent variety of beer makes this the default hangout for the area rockers. read more

Gman Tavern - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Gingerman and I had a brief, if not incredibly torrid, love affair during winter '05-'06. We still see each other sometimes, but it's not the same. During this winter in question, we learned a lot about one another. I learned the Gingerman keeps it's soda in pitchers and diet is not a word in their vocabulary. They learned I like(d) Captain Morgan... and a lot of him! They gave me free pool on Mondays. I gave them my (sort of) hard earned dollars. We had a good thing going, but I knew I couldn't make it last. Why? Well, first of all, parking is a bitch 75% of the time. Anyone who knows that area of Chicago (esp. in the winter) knows what I'm saying. And while I loved their plastic cups, because I knew I couldn't break them, sometimes it was just TOO crowded in there. And sometimes the bathrooms can be super gross. It's a really fun time, and there are boys in tight jeans a-plenty. And if I moved within walking distance, we might strike things back up where we left off... But I've changed, I love vodka, and the Gingerman will have to learn to accept that. read more

This place just felt good - I liked it. Yes, I am always this articulate. Ecclectic crowd, good beer selection, great rustic interior, non-pretentious, staff seemed cool... read more

A refuge in an area full of Cubs fan holding pens. Mix-matched chairs and tables abound. Two pool tables with scratched felt and chipped cue balls. Solid Jukebox. Good people. This place shares an alleyway with The Metro so there's always a chance you'll share the bar with a band (yeah!) or some of The Metro staff (meh). read more

Spent a couple hours here during my last chitown jaunt. If I ever live in the windy, I'll be spending many more hours here. Highly recommended. read more

I've been here a couple more times after my first review. And I find that it all depends which bartender is working when you're there. If the John Cusack body double is working, you're in good hands. Some of the female bartenders are extremely nice, you'll know if they aren't. But I gave it one more star because, the pool is e-ffing free on Sunday, and they have Lonestar. And the Jukebox selection is pretty good for Wrigleyville. read more

An eclectic, laid-back stop next to the craziness of Wrigleyville. Most nights you can find a nice mix of people in the bar: improvisers stopping by after a late-night show, neighborhood regulars, and whatever fan-base has just been to (or is just about to go to) the Metro for a concert. The front can get a little cramped on the weekends, but there's a roomier back room with several pool tables and a couple pinball machines. Unless there's a Cubs game in town, the drinks are usually reasonably priced. read more

Gman Tavern - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This low key pub has a very friendly staff and offers a great selection of tap and bottle beers. It has been here for many years and I hope it sticks around for many more. read more

Gman Tavern - the Gingerman Tavern - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I dont find myself in Wrigleyville too often, but when I do I love to drop in at the Gingerman for at least a couple drinks. I'm absolutely infatuated with the jukebox there and am a big fan of the pool tables in the back, even if all the pool sticks are warped and there are certain balls missing. Whatever, it just adds to the comfortable dive-y feel of the place. It has its quirks, and I like it. Just remember that they are cash-only. Bring those dollar bills!! read more

Whenever I've told people about The Gingerman Tavern, they look at me with a bit of confusion, as Andy and Wrigleyville don't usually go too well together. Once I explain that it's next to the Metro, and no, not a "Wrigleyville Bar" then I can get them to go. Once there they'll find themselves in a great neighborhood bar. The front can get loud & crowded, with a slightly divey atmosphere (not a bad thing). Then they will turn the corner, and surprise! be in a whole other area, complete with a 2nd bar, a more 'open' feel, with pool tables, and plenty of room to stand & sit, all while conversing with friends at a reasonable volume. The clientele is always a good blend of people, preventing the Gingerman from being labeled strictly by it's people, which is always nice to see in a city where seemingly every neighborhood, let alone ever bar has its own stereotype. read more

I feel like paul newman when I'm in this bar.....and I like that feeling a lot! Yea the color of money was shot there...and yea this bar is a good place to day drink! I want to go more often, and I think this summer I'll have to! read more

When it's not overrun by hipsters, this place is the best!! Great bottle and draft beers; I love the feel of the front bar!! Pool tables are great (when it's not overrun by hipsters). Not a lot of spots in Chicago have Lone Star bottles, so this place kinda wins for me! Relatively inexpensive, too....when it's not overrun by hipsters. :-) read more

I love this place! A great indie bar with a mostly chill indie crowd! Different in a good way from a lot of the bars in Wrigleyville!

A great bar, but for interesting reasons. It's definitely not super high class and the owner of the place has done some pretty, ummm, eclectic(?) maintenance accompanied by tacky decorating, but the bar has charm for one reason: the people there. Even though Wrigleyville is a pretty lame part of town, this place is a haven for the neighborhood rocker-types and artists. Throw in a few old-timers and some otherwise interesting personalities and you're in a great drinking/social environment. Great bartenders that are both proficient and welcoming. The jukebox is fantastic. There's some crappy old hippie jams in there from Joplin and shit, but otherwise it is tasteful stuff like early punk, Smiths, enlightened hip-hop, Specials, etc. Lastly, I've seen the cute dog in there that everyone talks about. He's really something else. Just one more of the likable characters you'll find at the Gingerman. read more

This place is the antithesis to your standard Wrigleyville bars, thankfully. They still have an actual Jukebox, not the annoying digital ones. And it's stocked with a great selection. (Thought the bar staff has the right to override your choice, as my bf's Massive Attack selection got killed mid-song; it's no longer on there . . ) They carry Rogue on tap as well as tons of other great beers. Staff is great and the size is just right. read more

So okay, normally I try to avoid wrigleyville like the plague....nothing against the neighborhood or the cubs, its just that being here makes me feel like i'm at a big Ten school for homecoming or something...lots of frat types, which isn't my scene i guesss. in any case, i was visiting a friend and went over to uncommon ground in this area not too long ago, and stopped in here afterwards. i have to say i was pleasantly surprised, it's kind of a low key, semi-hole in the wall bar. they have pretty awesome drinks, the service is good, and it's not very expensive either..the only downside is that it's cash only, but i guess thats a problem easily resolved by the ATM inside. overall definitely worth a try. read more

I've been to The Gingerman Tavern twice. Both experiences were pleasant. The first time I went to Gingerman, I had just moved into the city about 2 weeks prior and was exploring the neighborhood with a good friend. We decided to start at Gingerman and work our way down south on Clark. After getting past the door, I was greeted by a very charming, divey atmosphere. It's the kind of place where a lot of the clientele probably know each other on a first name basis. It's also noteworthy to mention that there were all kinds of folk at Gingerman, which I can really appreciate. I love walking into a place and seeing a diverse crowd. If I recall correctly, I was out on a weeknight, and there still seemed to be a warm amount of traffic - Not crowded by any means. Anyway, my friend and I only stayed for a beer, as we were looking to see a good chunk of the neighborhood bars that night. We both got $3 PBRs. I'm not exactly crazy about PBR, but hey, I couldn't really argue with a $3 introductory beer to sample the atmosphere at The Gingerman Tavern. As I mentioned earlier, it was my first stop of the night. As my friend and I later came to realize, the crowd at Gingerman definitely deviated from the other "douche" crowds you'd come across as you go further south on Clark. read more

GREAT SOUND! As an up and coming sound engineer myself, I pride myself on finding excellent audio. I went in there for a DJ event and man! The sound guy had it so clear and pumping! I asked him how he does it, and he explained to me that it's faith in Mr. Jesus that does the work. He told me that Mr. Jesus was all I needed - boy is he right! Awesome! read more

Will definitely return for their amateur Monday nite comedy acts. Found a posting on Facebook for this event. Boyfriend and I had a wonderful time, nice place to go read more

I guess I like the Gingerman Tavern. I've been here before a number of years ago, and just went back last night. It was one of those deja-vu things where you remember the wood floors and the pinball machines. You remember the pool tables and the cues. Unfortunately, they haven't changed the cues since the last time I visited. Or so it would seem. And now I've tipped my hand as a mediocre pool player and an overbearing pool snob. The cues seemed like the gnarled roots of a long dead tree, skittering and bouncing across the weathered felt of the table. Luckily, I found a cue and waxed my friend all across that semi-sketchy back room. It's not crowded, which is more than I can say for other douchetastic bars in that area. Expect to pay $6 for the call it drinks (jack and coke). Boo. I would definitely go here before a cubs game instead of The Cubby Bear. read more

Overall, has gotta be one of my favorite (if not absolute favorite) bars in the city - its just a shame I don't live near it anymore! Best jukebox in the city, pool is only 1 dollar, lighting and vibe is awesome, and its right next to the Metro - so I'd suggest a pre-show beer or two over here before you drop 6 bucks for an mgd during the show next door. ANYWAY, I haven't been in about a year or so, but miss this place like an old friend. Hopefully, we'll meet again in the near future, old buddy. read more

A very low-key bar in the north end of Wrigleyville. Doesn't attract the normal crowd of frat stars or tourists that you normally see in the area. Also has a larger area with billiards that you can play. Some nice beers available. Restrooms are very tiny. No frills but I wouldn't call it divey either. It's just casual and sometimes that is what you need. read more

God, I really, really, really like this bar. Truly the most un-Wrigleyville bar in Wrigleyville. Maybe it's because it shares wall space with the Metro. My friend and I walked in before a show at the Metro and told the bartender, "We need something that will get us drunk as quickly as possible." The bartender goes, "Got it." and proceeds to grab two pint glasses, fill them almost full with a brown liquor (which I later found out is tea infused vodka), top it with a splash of lemonade and told us to drink up. I'm told that tea infused vodka is the next big thing, so if you want to be on the cutting edge of vodka consumption, order one up. A wonderful juke box and an abundance of pool tables make the Gingerman Tavern one of my top destinations in Wrigleyville. read more

I probably haven't been in this bar since the late 80s. I recently ended up here with a group of friends. I think the only thing that has changed is the TVs. That's a good thing. Wrigleyville gets a lot of flak -- when it really should be the recent imports who have ruined this neighborhood who should be getting the flak -- and even Bernie's has updated to attract the new crowd. But the Gingerman is still a great hangout. read more

I think it's great that they have such a vibrant performance space in this bar, and that the bar and the performance venue are able to fully operate simultaneously without interrupting each other! A great vibe, a great selection, a great time. read more

Your bar is terrible. I should not be told to "go fuck myself" because I asked your bartender, Melissa, to tell me what kind of scotch the bar has on shelf. I shouldn't be told to "go walk ten feet and read it yourself" when, in fact, I can't because the labels are up high and I'm fifteen feet away from them. Get better servers, get better service, and clean up your act. read more

I love the man named ginger. For all the same reasons everyone else states, this is one of my favorite bars. There's always a friendly face, from Blue at the door to whoever is working behind the bar. Even during Cubs games it's still tops. They do not serve food, but alas, Wrigleyville Dogs is across the street. So grab you some cheese fries and pull up a stool. You're going to be here for awhile. read more

The Gingerman Tavern is a relaxed place in Wrigleyville to have a few drinks without having to deal with the typical frat-boy choads.

This bar is located within steps of Wrigley Field, although, if I were to blindfold you and take you there you never would be able to guess. This is not a sports bar, in fact far from it. The bar is dark and dingy in a good way. The bar itself isn't the cleanest, but if that keeps out the yuppies, I'm all for it. The staff are in their own world and don't take sh!t from bar patrons. Don't count on getting a drink quickly, as the staff work at their own speed. However, when you get your drink, it'll be well worth it as the bartenders know their stuff. read more

super chill and friendly staff. deliciously strong doubles. nice jukebox selections. by far the best option in the neighborhood for a cubs pregame (or any other time, really)! read more

The GMan Tavern was our groups saving grace on a strangely deserted Friday night in Wrigleyville. After walking for a bit we heard music playing from the Tavern and decided to stop in. The entrance appeared to be cane shaped bar which had a decent crowd. The music came from the second/back room. There was a 4 piece band and a long bar. Throughout our visit we had 3 bartenders that served us and they were all excellent and conversational. Before I knew it was dancing and laughing. The Tavern had several beers on draft, many bottles/cans and a nice selection of liquor. A large party came into the room and the band played to the now larger audience. I would certainly recommend making a stop here if you're in the neighborhood! read more

Loud guys will love this Wrigleyville yuppie hole. Accountants and the like, in their blue shirts and khaki pants work uniforms, sports on the tvs and a pool table, wow, hardly any places have that set up. After reading the other reviews of this place, I can't believe my other esteemed reviewers and I are even talking about the same place, but I'm from Chicago (unlike most or all of these reviewers) and know this joint all too well not to call bullshit on it. Christ, these people need to get out and see a little bit of the world. P.S. Should any of the women who love this place soooooo much visit Los Angeles, look me up, if all it takes are a few PBRs and Van Morrison on the juke box for a fun time, we should go out, I have not had a twenty dollar date since high school. read more

This is my favorite bar in Chicago, too bad it's no where near my place. When I do find myself in Wrigleyville I make sure to grab a beer, some whisky or both, a lot of both at this bar. Prices are comparable to any Chicago bar, not cheap, but with its large down and dirty space, great beers on tap and eclectic clientele it's always worth it. read more

Guinness poured in one swoop here, so don't expect the two pour special treatment, which really is and should always be the standard treatment for this fine beer. But, the prices are cheap and it's a cool atmosphere, so you just have to pick your battles. We ordered some vodka shots as well, to make up the bar tab to hit $10 for the card minimum. Shots were the way to go because there was a creeper at the bar and we needed to escape as soon as possible. Would definitely come back though if I was ever early for a show at The Metro next door. read more

This review is for the live music section of the bar. The place is obviously does a great job of being a bar -- four stars for sure for all the reasons others have given -- but as a music venue, it's awful. The sound is terrible, the layout really odd and not user-friendly, and if you don't shove your way into the three-deep crunch directly in front of the stage (if there is one, no way to know), you can't see a thing from anywhere else in the room. The triangular shape of the room compresses all the action to the tip of the triangle and if you are anywhere else, it sucks to be you. Won't be back. read more

Not a big place. No dancing. It is indeed way more chill/less douchey than the rest of Wrigley. Isn't it funny how that sounds good ahead of time, and then post-game you kinda like the douchey, top-40-blastin' college type spots? .We didn't even finish our round of beers. Oh, except for that shot of Malört.... Yeeeeah. read more

big fan of this bar as a non-sports bar in Wrigleyville, good bar during the day because windows both front and back let in lots of light. Great jukebox, good beer, and a non-boorish (ie not all suburban cub fans) crowd. fyi-no food served here read more

Surely a great place to in Lakeview that makes you forget the frat boys puking in the alley after getting in to a fight with their Bebe-wearing blond sup-par, sub-class girlfriends crying while having a seat on the fire hydrant in front of Moe's Cantina. I used to only go to the Ginger Man before and after shows at the Metro, but, some years ago, I decided that it is a great bar anytime. I love going to play pool there on an off night. I love the Cubs and avoid the hoopla on Clark, so I make sure to meet friends there before and after Cubs games. Great juke box. The bar is large enough to never feel extremely crowed, though it can get to be after a show next door. Order 2 Big Tires at a time on nights like that. Great bartenders and nice crowd of regulars. Even on a show/game day, I can always expect to see someone that I know there. read more

The Gingerman is my bar of choice to pre-game before a Cub's game. It is never crowded, like the other Wrigley bars, before or after a game. Prices are decent, and the clientele is usually pretty chill. They have a few pool tables in the back room, and an additional bar for when they do get super busy. The jukebox is pretty sweet, and the bartenders have always been accommodating and nice. Oh, and they are super puppy friendly, so don't be afraid to bring your furry son or daughter. read more

Great place to walk in to from out of town and feel welcome. Tom was awesome and the the beer list was great!