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    Richard's Bar

    4.3 (346 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Richard's Bar Photos

    RICHARD'S BAR ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Richard's Bar

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    Heyyyy!
    Mancow M.

    Dive Bar? Well, call me Jacques Cousteau!!! DIVE! DIVE! DIVE! It's as Chicago as crooked politicians, thinly sliced Italian beef sandwiches, and carjacking. Great place 2 be before or after La Scarola.

    a bar with neon signs
    Karen N.

    What a blast from the past. We went here for a drink on a Saturday night and we felt as if were transported to decades ago. When you walk in be prepared for a whiff of smoke. Yes , smoking is allowed indoors ! Drinks are super cheap compared to most bars. The bartender looks as if he has been there for years. The place is filled with lots of memorabilia and a juke box. Good place to stop for a cheap drink, reminisce of the past, but be prepared for the smoke.

    Richard's Bourbon And Potato Chips
    Steve A.

    Ah yes, as old school as a dive bar can get. It's quite a throwback to the days before the smoking ban in fact, and if you thought it was illegal to smoke indoors, it is. Richard's Bar looks like it hasn't aged past the 1950s, save for the video slots, so it kind of makes sense. Bartenders also look like they've been there that long. The beer is cheap and so is everything else, including eggs, really. It doesn't look like much from the outside, just a crappy ass bar. Once inside, it's kind of like a time capsule. This place hasn't changed much over the years. Probably the biggest change was the name. This has been operating as a bar since 1926, and was for a long time known as Tisch's Tavern. If famous celebrities and mobsters haven't been here, at least their pictures are. The walls are cluttered with Al Capone, Rat Pack memorabilia and all that kind of stuff. Inside the biggest recent change was the installation of video slots, which are in the corner. The drinks are the main attraction, and they have plenty of bad and good. Among the good is the house liquor, especially the Richard's Bourbon. It's $5 a shot. That's a good deal for some good stuff. Also they have plenty of cheap beer. If getting mixed drinks keep it to two ingredients or less. They'll give you shit if they have to make something more complex than that. Also there's not much in the way of food. They do have potato chips, which are your best option. It's 2 for $1 so good deal. They also have hard boiled eggs. I've never seen anyone get any. That's just nasty. How old could they be? Try some if you want, but be sure the bathroom is available so you can quickly get a seat in case of an emergency. Bad place for those with sensitive lungs or if you just don't want to get around people smoking inside a bar even though there's a smoking ban. It has plenty of cheap drinks but there's some terrible food choices. Try eating something before coming here.

    Love this place! Great dive bar and super cute inside. Good music and great company. Stopped by for a drink before dinner- you should too!

    a slot machine in the foreground

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    So cool and old school! Cash only FYI, no pics, kind and funny staff. Frank Sinatra and Elvis fans would enjoy

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    11 months ago

    5 stars. Nothing less. Problem? You know why you're here. I know why you're here. Don't be a jerk. Be nice. BE NICE.

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    2 years ago

    Love this place and the bartenders! Cheap beer and the photos are very nostalgic! Great jukebox

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    3 years ago

    Essential dive bar. Cheap old style's, classic vibes inside, smoking inside. Would certainly come again.

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    3 years ago

    GREAT BAR AWESOME PEOPLE!! We came from south bend to explore Chicago, and this place just felt like we were right at home. Would recommend!

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great place , old school Italian atmosphere. Bartender was awesome, drinks were great price ! Will be my local spot

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    17 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I love this bar! Great music and nicely priced drinks. Can't wait until I can come back again.

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    Ask the Community - Richard's Bar

    Do they serve pickled eggs?

    Yes

    Will I be able to smoke in this bar even though Chicago passed the Chicago Clean Indoor Air Ordinance in 2005? And can I pay by credit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay?

    The 2005 Chicago Clean Indoor Air Ordinance does not apply to bars, including the bar areas of restaurants.

    Can I smoke weed inside?

    No. However, cigars and cigarettes (including e-cigarettes) are allowed.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Richard's Bar

    The juke box was also pumping out some amazing Sinatra and old school tunes.

    Mentioned in 33 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Mom's Place

    Mom's Place

    (167 reviews)

    $$

    Near North Side

    Quiet enough to talk but rowdy enough to have fun! The music and atmosphere hit that sweet spot…read morewhere it feels energetic without being overwhelming. Just make sure you know what you signed up for with the karaoke room :) It definitely gets crowded on weekends and usually charges a cover. Regardless, no other bar quite does it like Mom's Place! - AD

    Nice big spot to get your drink on and have a great time!…read more A group of us ventured out to Mom's Place after a few in the group had been before and wanted to go back. This was about 3 weeks before Christmas in 2025 on a Saturday night. As soon as you walk in and up the stairs, you are greeted by a ceiling hung Christmas lights display like you've never seen. It has to have been a nightmare to put these all up or, God forbid, have to chase down a bad bulb! I'd have to assume that these are up year-round. But look closely at the ceiling for all the additional bits-and-bobs hanging about. Several saxophones and other instruments along with statues and other "things". You could spend all night just walking around looking at the ceiling. There are several TV's, tuned to sporting events during my visit, to choose from. When we arrived, it was moderately busy. Throughout the two hours we were there, it probably tripled in capacity. But still comfortable. A band had been setting up and you never know what you're going to get with a cover band. I wish I knew the name of the band because they were great. Guitar, Bass, Fiddle, 3 Female Singers and I believe the Guitar player was singing periodically. I've seen and played in a lot of bands over the years. It's sometimes hard to pull off the multiple singer thing, especially when applying vocal harmonies. Again, I hate that I don't recall the name of this band because they absolutely crushed it. Their vocals and sound were tight and on point. Great band. It was Dec 08, 2025, if that's any help. There's also a downstairs but I didn't go down there. Some in my group did and they said it was more of the same, so I didn't give up my real estate that I was comfortable in and stuck where I was at. Would I go back? Yes. Great spot with good drinks and great people working the bar. A plus, for me, was that they had the real Strongbow Dry Cider, in the black cans, which is difficult to find in the US anymore.

    Marquee Lounge

    Marquee Lounge

    (123 reviews)

    $$

    Lincoln Park

    Bad vibes and rude staff? They're proving you can do it all!…read moreCame in for one drink and went to close out. I wanted to pad the tab so tried to order a green tea shot. I realize it's not the simplest shot to make. The gray-haired bartender refused as it was too much work for one shot. Fair enough, I said I'd get two. He said making fewer than four was "a pain in the ass" and he wouldn't do it. Never mind then! Paid, tipped, and started to leave. Didn't want to interrupt the guys impersonation of a bartender for too long. I did mention it to the door staff as I was leaving and they had a problem too. Told me "yeah he's 100% right". Whatever! If the rude service isn't enough, maybe you'll like the copaganda around the bar. I recommend pretty much anywhere else.

    Awful experience. My fiancé and I stopped by for a cocktail before checking out tuxedo shops for…read moreour wedding, and I wish we hadn't. The bartender was rude and unpleasant from the start. While we were waiting for our drinks, he was arguing with two Hispanic men right next to us--for quite a while. When he finally served our drinks, he only brought one, forgetting my fiancé's order. We tried to be patient, but we had an appointment to get to. My fiancé politely said, "Excuse me, I didn't get my drink," and the bartender snapped back, "You didn't order a drink." When my fiancé clarified, the bartender doubled down and said, "No, you didn't, and if you have a problem, you can leave too." At that point, the two men walked out, and we should have, too. Needless to say, this place is a hard pass. Cringe vibes, rude staff, and no sense of customer service. If I could give 0 stars, I would. Surprised this place is still in business given the similar reviews I've seen. Old man needs therapy.

    Richard's Bar - divebars - Updated May 2026

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