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    Old Town Ale House

    4.2 (331 reviews)
    InexpensivePubs, Dive Bars
    Open 3:00 pm - 4:00 am (Next day)

    Old Town Ale House Photos

    OLD TOWN ALE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Juke Box
    Divey
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Old Town Ale House

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    Chun P.

    Old Town Ale House was featured in a couple of Anthony Bourdain episodes, and also conveniently located right across from the Second City theaters, so we just had to check it out. It's not quite a dive bar, the owner's savvy and humorous paintings cover most of the walls, creating fun and relaxed atmosphere. At night, its warmly lit, almost as if it was a romantic restaurant. There seemed to be a lot of locals, maybe a few tourists. No cover charge. Beers ranged from $6-8, wells gin & tonics $8, making this a very affordable drinking hole. Doorman and bartenders were all friendly, as well as the regulars. Great place to chill before or after your Second City show, or just in general.

    Shawn C.

    This was a Chicago dive bar bucket list for me and my husband. We took my brother here who was visiting from Austin TX for drinks after spending the entire day downtown at Christmas time. We plannned on hopping a few bars in Old town , but my brother and hubby said " Lets just chill here ! Diggin the vibe". This place was featured by Bourdain and we love old town so we made it happen today. It is now our new favorite "dive" in Chitown. From the art work , the simple drinks, the people we met .... And just so you know ... cash only but an atm is offered . Just do it .

    Deanna S.

    Always a great option after comedy show! Many of the comedians also come here at night and can be good opportunity to chat! Cash only but so affordable it's worth it! Such good vibes and good people. Easy to have drink in hand any night of the week! One of my favorite bars in the city for sure!

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    Steve A.

    For sure this is what a dive bar should be. It may not have the cheapest drinks, but there's lots of other things about it that make it so. Old Town Ale House has been around for a long time. Gets so dark inside even during the day. The walls are covered with the most interesting artwork, and that alone is reason enough to check it out. Basically it's a classic. It's had a lot of visitors come through. There's evidence of this on the walls. Paintings of the celebrities who have been here fill one side of the bar. These include Anthony Bourdain, Jimmy Kimmel, and many others. Cool artwork above the bar. There's some funny nude paintings of politicians. Other than the art, the main thing is the drinks. There's cheap and expensive. Cheap beer comes in cans. It's about $8 for a Stiegl on tap. Good liquor choices. It's about $10 for most cocktails. This place isn't as cheap as it was but there's still a few specials. It's cash only. The only bad thing about this place it seems. Good place to check out artwork and get drinks. It's pretty crowded because space is limited. The bar is cash only so before coming out some money in the wallet.

    Kyle P.

    After nearly ten years of stopping in every few months, this remains one of my favorite bars in the city. Not necessarily for the beers or mixed drinks, you can get the same or better just about anywhere else. It's the vibe. It's the incredible jukebox with records ranging from Count Basie and Tony Bennett to Howlin' Wolf and Tom Waits. It's the crazy paintings on the wall, showcasing the heroes from across the street, and the criminals who permeate our government. It's the kind of place that's too few and far between, your classic watering hole filled with regulars, folks who know, and visitors from all over the country. The bartenders will happily strike up a conversation with you, and just as happily leave you alone. You'll see people who might as well have their name on the barstool, folks who have probably been kicked out more than once, and people just having a really good time over a couple of beers. It's always a pleasure to come in and feel like you've transported forty or fifty years back. This place isn't trying to be trendy, and it certainly isn't desperately trying to be cool or coax people in. But it doesn't need to, like the owner himself, it wears who it is proudly on its sleeve and demands a little bit of honesty, humility, and for you to leave your bs at the door. Come in, have a beer, and enjoy the best jukebox and wildest decor in the city.

    Cat N.

    One of my favorite neighborhood bars I've ever been to while traveling, and I can imagine would be a too-frequent haunt if I did live in town. I could tell why there were so many regulars popping in for a quick drink and hello and others staying to watch the game. I hate saying "the vibe," but the vibe indeed was warm and comforting, in a quirky but well-decorated space. The staff (Steve and Chris) were so friendly and helpful. I fully expected them to roll their eyes when I asked for a hazy IPA, but they patiently let me try what local drafts they had (I ended up really liking Half Acre). They knew I was a tourist, roasted me just the right amount, but fielded all of my questions about the best pizza and hot dog anyways. Most incredibly: Chris took the time to write down a TON of recommendations for me for not only pizza and hot dogs, but breweries, whiskey bars, and Italian beef joints he thought I would like. I immediately wanted to go back the next day, and would have if I didn't have such a short time to explore the city - and more cash, as they are cash only.

    Charley B.

    This is the neighborhoodiest of neighborhood bars and a dive among dives. Word says this is a popular hangout for Second City performers, and I can see why. Its walls are filled with wild art and the portraits of famous customers. It has a good taplist, too, a mix of macro and locally brewed beers. The locals are friendly and happy to discuss all things Chicago.

    Tracy M.

    Cash only but there is an ATM available. If you're a Trump fan, you probably wouldn't appreciate the paintings hung of him in a straight jacket. There was some interesting artwork through the whole place. Our group didn't have any cocktails so you can't really mess up drafts, bottles, and cans. I wish the windows opened bc it was a little stuffy. Typical old dive bar that met that expectation.

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great, dark dive bar. Great place to escape the heat, or cold in Chicago. Cash only, cold beer, well mixed drinks

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    9 months ago

    Beautiful paintings on the walls, great service, chill vibes. I just came for one drink at 3:30am on a Sunday. Great late night spot

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    1 year ago

    The vibe is fantastic! The jute box, the paintings, the wood - I was so happy to be there!

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    2 years ago

    Incredible art inside, Anthony bourdain approved and an overall fun vibe, good beer selection, no food.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Old Town Ale House

    Review Highlights - Old Town Ale House

    My husband and I stopped in for a beer after a show at Second City - we love a good dive bar, and so we had to check it out.

    Mentioned in 33 reviews

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    Pleasant House Pub

    Pleasant House Pub

    4.4
    (1k reviews)
    4.0 mi
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    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.

    Everything I could ask for in a English pub. Great beer…read moremenu, enough different options but a clear focus on bitters, ales, pub ales, etc. Started with a scotch edge and it was delicious. The sausage was very tasty, the breading on the outside was incredibly crisp, light, and the egg inside was cooked well. Both the steak pie and the chicken pie were very good. The chicken pie I think really needed the chutney that you can get separately. But that made it so much better and made it my preferred pie. The steak and ale pie was better than the chicken pie as a standalone, but needed a bit more gravy I think to elevate it. Sticky toffee pudding again was delicious. Surprisingly light, not overly dense so I was glad it came with the custard which was very flavorful. Overall, will definitely return!

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    The Red Lion Pub

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    This is in the top tier of English Pubs in Chicago. First, the decor has all the traditions of…read moreEngland - a unique set of wartime posters and fun quotes. I love the overall feel with its high ceilings and a fireplace that makes it feel comfy. The food doesn't disappoint either. Lots of usual pub selections but elevated. Our typical go-tos are the curry chips, Mac and cheese and Shepards Pie. All are exceptional. The drink menu is great as well. No surprise, they have a long list of beers on draft and bottles. What I enjoy most is the long list of great ciders and fruit flavored beers. I nice way to mix it up. Finally, always great service. Waiters and bartenders are never shy to share their recommendations and are super friendly about it.

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    Industry Ales Brewpub

    Industry Ales Brewpub

    4.3
    (90 reviews)
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    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.

    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.

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    Bar area
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    The Duke Of Perth

    The Duke Of Perth

    4.1
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    1.6 mi
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    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

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    Duke of Perth
    Duke of Perth
    AYCE Pollack Fish n' Chips
    AYCE Pollack Fish n' Chips
    Bar and dining area

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    Bar and dining area
    The Gage

    The Gage

    4.2
    (3.7k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Had lunch here and were seated right away. Our server greeted us promptly and took our drink order…read moreimmediately. We ordered the venison burger and, honestly, I was hesitant at first because I was worried it might be too gamey. However, our server did a great job explaining what to expect, and she was absolutely right. The venison patty was juicy, flavorful, and exceeded my expectations. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. Service was attentive and efficient throughout our meal. They also have an impressive selection of signature cocktails. I didn't end up trying one because the drink I was interested in sounded a bit too strong for lunch, but it's definitely given me a reason to come back later for drinks. Overall, I left as a very happy customer and would gladly return.

    To be fair, we've been here before and absolutely LOVED it. However, this past visit on 6/19 was…read morerather problematic. After we sat down, our server took her sweet time getting to us and was largely absent the entire visit while the servers for the others tables were attentive and present as I've come to expect. We started with the Crispy Brussels and Burrata Toast which was an amazing and fun combination of flavors textures with the sherry glaze and pickled onions providing a perfect counter to the richness of the cheese. Our second course was the Gage Caesar which we've had before and have enjoyed sharing multiple times, but this time the lettuce was full of grit as if the prep chef did not even bother washing the lettuce. The server never came by to check on us so I had to wave the manager to complain about the salad. The server also never checked to see if we wanted refills on our cocktails so we placed our orders with the manager. The final dish was the venison burger which was perfectly cooked and seasoned if you like venison, which I do so we enjoyed that greatly. The condiments that came with it were perfectly matched to balance the game of the meat and the fries were perfect as usual! The server then FINALLY got more involved with our dinner and was predictably perky and present at the end, something that always irks me when they have been otherwise absent for the meal. The ONLY reason they are getting 3 stars instead of less for this visit was the flavor of the food and the response of the manager in dealing with the lack of service (and the gritty salad). I would give the initial server a zero if I could.

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    The Gage Bar
    The Gage Bar
    Blueberry French toast
    Blueberry French toast
    The Gage Bar Area

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    The Gage Bar Area

    Old Town Ale House - pubs - Updated August 2026

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