If you like a warm bar stools and maybe you are the original person warming it...this is the place for you. Considerate, knowledgeable, and a bunch of enigmas. Best place in the Pilsen neighborhood. 10/10 PS: portland Oregon read more

Meh. It's dirty and the staff and clientele all seem rude and stuck up despite it being a filthy dive. DO NOT USE THE BATHROOMS. Service was also meh. The only upside is that the prices are good. read more

The bartender Constantine was so accommodating and kind. Had great recs and drinks were amazing. 10/10 will definitely be back.

Great drinks and prices. This has become our local bar. Definitely try one of their unique cocktails. They also have mocktails for non drinkers read more

The Barrel - Blackberry cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is amazing. The espresso martinis and Paloma's are delicious here! The bartenders are incredible and care about making your drinks! TouchTunes is a major plus as well! Highly recommend this place, vibes are immaculate! read more

I LOVE THIS BAR!!!!! James is the BEST!! Been living in Pilsen over a year now.At first I didnt know exactly what to make of this place.Now they are my GO TO BAR in the neighborhood.HANDS DOWN 5 STARS.Might take a minute.lol read more

The Barrel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My partner and I came here for drinks after our dinner at Maribel. The bartender is friendly and checked on us several times throughout the evening which I appreciate. They serve pretty much anything you can imagine from mixed drinks to seltzers to beers. My partner ordered two handshakes (Malort shot + Old Style). I ended up trying one of their mixed drinks called Spring Fling which has vodka and other ingredients in it. I appreciate my drink being on the stronger side, where you can taste and feel the alcohol in it, but there's still a bit of flavor and fruitiness to it. There's ample seating at the bar and in the back. It's a fun time, they had the Soxs and the Cubs games on on their TVs. It can be a bit loud where you can hear each other's conversations. It was pretty busy on a Tuesday evening. They also take card and cash here which is convenient. I'd recommend this place to anyone in the area looking for a good time and affordable drinks. read more

The Barrel - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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sorry that we played rupaul on the touchtunes. as young people bars can be scary but we had fun and felt safe! and they played m3gan on the tv so that was lit. and yummy drinks #yummydrinks read more

Good vibes. Went around 11p-12a Saturday night. Wasn't too crowded for a place that's kinda small . Drinks were good and affordable. Low key spot I plan to go back to read more

I missed the Pace bus so I went in for a drink. Orders bourbon, 1792 on the rocks, bartender stated he could not serve me the bar was empty, he stated I had to wear a mask while I drank my drink. Well I left. How does one have a mask on and drink out of a glass. No wonder the don't have anyone in the bar. Recommend everyone go elsewhere. read more

The Barrel - Front sign - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was wary af about this joint after reading they allegedly made a stink about people playing Spanish music in here. But in my experience, the staff has been exceptional. George, the owner, is a life long south side guy (albeit Cubs fan) who seems to have an appreciation for the neighborhood & community, so I'm not going to trip. This bar is right up my alley in that it's the antithesis of fancy, but has good beer. They make it a point to only offer local craft brews. Even for someone like me who consumes a lot of it, there's always something on draft that I've never had. Things to note: 1. they don't offer food. But drinking a lot then going to get tacos is the Pilsen way. (Bringing your own food isn't frowned upon either) 2. used to be ca$h only, but now take credit/debit. Hallefuckinlujah. 3. they have a craft cocktail menu. I'm not about that life, but the lady approves. Also, full liquor bar of course. 4. They tend to have live music/DJ's, and have a jukebox 5. They have TV's. Skylark is still my #1 but next to that, The Barrel is my favorite Pilsen watering hole. read more

Good enough bar. Chill, nice cocktails and good drafts. A nice hang out spot. I've been meaning to get in there for a while. read more

The Barrel just keeps getting better. They have a great cocktail list for under 10 bucks. Authentic COCKTAILS. No skimping on the ingredients. I had an original Mai Tai that just blew me away!! read more

The Barrel - 6 6 17 tap beer list... - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A while ago there was a DJ group who would be in the Barrel busting beats and then they went MIA. I found them not too long ago and turns out that they were fired/ kicked out from their weekly set due to having played "Latino music" They were told that the people who go to the Barrel do not want to listen to that and that they needed to stop. Aside from that little racist incident. I had gone a few months back and had a seat in the back of the bar. 1. it was cold AF back there. 2. They moved us to put in a horrible jazz band. 3. the jazz band was real bad. 4. The band was extremely loud. 5. It takes too long to get the ONE bartenders attention to order a drink. Not good experiences the few times I have gone. I believe that there's great bars you can go to with drink specials and signature drinks when in Pilsen. Do not waste time and money at this dirty, racist, inconvenient spot. read more

The Barrel - Stay classy. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

$5 local craft beers in Chicago! I really don't think I need to say any more, but I will. I have driven by The Barrel several times not knowing what lays inside. All I saw was the Export Ale sign out front. Then one time I noticed a particular local brewer's sign in the window. That peaked my interest, but it still took about two months for me to stop in... I kept forgetting where The Barrel was located. One day, my ladyfriend and I were looking for a place to get a beer and she said "what about that place under the Damen Pink Line stop. I said "Oh Yeah! Let's go." And we did. When we arrived (around 4pm), it looked pretty dark inside, and the local brewery's sign was not turned on. I stuck my head in the door and asked if the bar was opened. The guy behind the counter said yes. We made our way inside to find a few things... First, there was a bar with several whiskies lined-up behind it (this is a great start). Second, there was a giant chalk board with 10 or 11 local craft beers listed on it [all but one was listed at $5 (the other was $6)]. Finally, there was a funky smell in the air, but nothing that stayed long enough to make me want to leave. Oh, at this point, I should mention, The Barrel is cash only. There is a Chase ATM a block and a half south though. The beer was cheap, but awesome. How can you go wrong with pints of local craft beer for $5 a piece. I haven't seen prices like that since I lived in Washington! The owner who was behind the bar was super friendly. He chatted us up and informed us about all the things that the bar does throughout the month (live music and the like), how he got into the business, etc. All-in-all, this was a delightful experience. I will definitely be back again. read more

The Barrel - The tap list at The Barrel. $5 local craft beers! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in here Saturday night with a group of 4 to check it out because I may be moving into the neighborhood. What a great fun place! Good mixed drinks (but upgrade from well) and draft beer selection. The preztel sticks and suckers at the bar is a fun touch. If I do move to the neighborhood this will be my go to bar. read more

I lovingly refer to The Barrel as "Little Delilah's", mostly because of the whisky and punk vibe. I love this place, because even though we go a few months without popping in, whenever we do, they welcome us with open arms. George and Patrick are awesome and they're friendly (as is everyone), but they care about their bar. They want you to feel welcome and George takes pride in the neighborhood and Chicago in general (hello, it's all Chicago/Chicagoland craft beer.) We checked out Lo Rez opening week and noticed they were already on tap at The Barrel and we had a nice little convo with one of the owners about this place and how they carry breweries you won't find elsewhere (aka, not just the well known ones), and it's nice. The place isn't huge, but it's big enough. The bar itself is surprisingly long and the seats make it way too easy to settle in for awhile. Cash only, which is the only thing that stops us from going more often (not having cash and the bank not being close), but the beers are affordable. They also make some delicious cocktails. The Barrel brings in a diverse crowd and I love it. That's my kind of bar. read more

Finding this bar was a great move! It's a Neighborhood dive BUT the owner and bartenders were extremely personable and fun. It gives off a Cheers vibe. This bar specializes in serving only local brews- so if you want to try something new or get your beer game up- I'd definitely recommend this bar. The drinks aren't expensive and they're really creative and really tasty. This is a anytime drink kind of place. Perfect for happy hour read more

Rude patrons acted like they owned the bar, created an unwelcoming atmosphere. Kicked us out of seats as if they owned the joint, bartender just laughed. Very disappointing for a first visit. read more

My yuppie bf and I have been coming here lately. The bartenders are super helpful and welcoming. There's diverse regulars: old grizzled guys and overly friendly sloshed regulars taking it upon themselves to play host. I like it here. Nice mix of music, they got a different genre every night. And last time we were in they were playing Beetlejuice. We're gonna keep coming. Written on my iPhone at this bar. read more

Great dive bar with live music, a chill vibe and affordable drinks. The bartender, Eric made sure we were taken care of even after a drunk and rude customer took sips of our drinks that were sitting on the counter waiting to be delivered to us. ( we watched the whole thing from across the bar!) I drank a delicious St Germain and blueberry mix I think it's called " You're my boy, Blue" but check the menu just in case. Cash only but a great time in Pilsen read more

I was enjoying myself with my delicious craft beer until a loud-mouth spoke up about some vulgar text he received. He then proceeded to get up from the bar and go behind the bar. I then learned that he was a part owner. There's a sign in the bar that reads "No Douchebags"...I was amused even more by this after the part-owner-buffoon asked if anyone cared if he lit up a cigarette in the bar and went on about laws/smoking/small businesses. He kept talking about politics, drugs, more politics about healthcare, gay marriage, war, how Obama ruined Syria, etc. It's like he found a list of everything NOT to talk about with complete strangers. I guess the bar-goers that he was in the face of enjoyed his conversation but no one else in the bar did. He wasn't even working; he just got behind the bar to talk politics with these men. Jeez. I'm grateful the bartender turned up some AC/DC Thunderstruck to muffle this nonsense. read more

This place is a dive from the smell of stale beer down to the two old timers arguing about Chicago politics at the bar. I love it! The owner is beyond friendly and drinks are good. I like that they serve local brews and carry a huge selection of whiskeys. I feel like this place truly represents a cross section of Pilsen and its people... something for everyone without being pretentious. Also the Friday night Jazz salon, definitely worth checking out. I'm really surprised it doesn't get more packed. read more

My new favorite Local Bar. All Craft beers from the Chicagoland area. George the owner aka host with the most is a riot. Your damn right i'll keep coming back good drinks great people even better time. I used to live in Logan square where dive bar are all around but this shall be my new watering hole. Wasn't excited about moving out south but The Barrel softens the blow. Establishments need to be more like this place read more

Right off the Damen Pink line is this gem of a dive bar. Upon entering, there's stools along the bar and to the right are a few tables for some larger parties. For Friday happy hour, my coworkers and I will seat ourselves at the large table which can squeeze 10-12 people. There are many things to like about this spot, mainly that they serve local craft brews that are never more than six dollars. The selection is neatly written in different colored chalks. Also, compared to other bars in the area, it's definitely cleaner and better maintained with a friendly and accommodating bartender. Solid spot to grab a drink. My only knock is that they don't serve food, but luckily Taqueria Los Alamos is only a few blocks away. There's nothing like some steak tacos and beer. read more

Can't be mad about a cool neighborhood bar. I'm a fairly new addition to the Pilsen neighborhood and I noticed this place on the way to run a quick errand. Later in the week, I scooped up a few friends and we made our way over. Walking in, the vibe was already pretty cool with a bar full of people and chalkboards full of some great craft brews. We each ordered a draft and then noticed there was more space to sit in back. We made our way back there and found a table to sit at. We didn't partake this time, but there is also an option to grab beer to go. I am excited to go back to get to know this place and the staff to give a better review. First quick stop - was a very nice one. Looking forward to revisiting this neighborhood spot. read more

-A strong Chicago-centric beer list -Weekly live music/DJ's -Friendly patrons -Very reasonable prices -Public transportation across the street (Damen Pink Line station) -Chicago bartending legend, George, of previous 'George's Dark Bar' infamy I love this place and my 2015 new years resolution is to spend more time here in my ongoing battle with my liver. read more

Finally got a chance to make it here, this place is always showing up on my yelp ... I came in here in the afternoon , mostly regulars in here. The bar was moderately clean , I was glad it didn't smell like stale beer or piss soaked floors ... There were cocktail choices to drink, but the bartender informed me the mix was already made , yuck, I like fresh summer drinks ... But for $7 , I guess you can't go wrong ... That's why I'm knocking off a star. Anyways , I had him make me a margarita with the recipe I like and 5 stars for following directions . The bartender Patrick was super friendly and welcoming which was refreshing because there are many pretentious bartenders out there. I liked that he was versatile and able to adapt with new customers and the regulars that were there... I would def come back to have a few beers or another drink . ****This is a cash only bar **** read more

The Bloody Mary cocktails by prepare by Eric,Tom,Abel the barrel Brew their own beer read more

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George is a riot and James is one of my favorite bartenders in the whole city. Their drinks are fairly priced, the staff seems to love their jobs, and overall I've yet to have a bad time there (have been going since they opened). It has great neighborhood bar vibes. Would recommend! read more

This my happy place when I just want to be in a dark room with tasty drinks. Although I *think* their cocktail prices have been raised a dollar or two in the last year, it's still cheap for what you're getting, which is the best local beers and delicious cocktails that go down so easy - "you're my boy, blue" is a blueberry boozy goodness, and the CGBG, omg. I could really drink 10 of them, so tasty and refreshing. Looks divey and almost unwelcoming from the outside, but it is seriously a pleasant surprise inside. The space is small but cozy, the patrons are diverse and pleasant, and the touchtunes is a nice modern addition. The live music has been just ok in my opinion, but doesn't detract from the experience. I prefer to sit at the bar - the bartenders are so friendly and prompt. Otherwise there is a room adjacent to the bar with a few tables which is fine. The owner is often behind the bar helping out and is friendly and chatty. Packaged goods available for purchase. Never gets crazy or boisterous, but can get packed late at night. Great atmosphere, and tv's for sports when you need it. Everything I want in a neighborhood bar, and happy I live close. read more

I love going to this bar! Primarily because of two cocktails that George/owner came up with which are his Soulful Ginger and CBGB!!! And they have a nice craft beer selection. There's also TVs for watching your Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox games or UFC! And when it really gets fun is when the Rockabilly Scene shows up once a month around the 2nd or 3rd Saturday for their Killer Diller Record Hop! Awesome!!!Great live Dj's playing killer music, tasty cocktails, good beer, good dance floor for jiving or doing the stroll, and best of all Great Company! Everybody is welcoming and friendly! Can't wait to go again next month! read more

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I have no idea why this bar has no reviews after a year of service, but this place is awesome! Such great owners! They're so down to earth and prices are on point! Hands down best bar in Chicago! read more

The Barrel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

GeForce know how to take care of his customers...this man all he does is listen listen and listen and sometimes when he has to serve you a drink... read more

The Barrel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The beer and drink selection is on the variety and the bartenders are friendly. BUT be weary IF you play HIP HOP, COUNTRY, EMI on junk box! Owner will cut you off. No warning, no heads up. You will lose your money. read more

One of the best dive bars I've ever been to in the city! A couple weeks ago some friends of mine hosted a gathering at The Barrel. They said it was their favorite bar so I was excited to check it out. I arrived a little before 9pm and found parking easily down by the park. I met one of my friends and she introduced me to one of the bartenders. I'm pretty sure his name was Joe but don't quote me on that! He was charming, funny and definitely made a great first impression. I ordered a margarita ($6) that was delicious. I only had one and my buzz lasted most of the evening. We sat in the room adjacent to the bar which was quiet and spacious. We darn near had the entire room to ourselves with the exception of the band (who were setting up) and a few other people. We talked and laughed for hours before the jazz band started to play. Normally I enjoy live jazz in a bar setting but that night the band felt out of place. They weren't very good either. I actually left shortly after the band started because the chill vibe had disappeared. The only other thing I didn't care for was the fact that some people either smoked weed inside the bar or just outside. The smell of it permeated the air and I could smell the stench in my hair and clothes after I left. I have no problem with weed and could care less if people smoke it but personally I don't care to be around it. I find the smell grotesque so it was off putting to be exposed to it in the bar. Even still I'd definitely return. The atmosphere, reasonable prices and friendly service were all too fantastic not to go back! read more

Met some cool people here, everyone is friendly from staff to customers. Great local brews and delicious cocktails, I think I've tried just about all of them. Eric and Camilo are always a pleasure. very attentive and great vibes. read more

After a long day of work I like to come here and have a few drinks, on occasions of coarse. 5 bucks for lagunitas "censored" aka the Kronic can't tbeat that, it's like going to the brewery for those prices read more

I've been here a few times. Definetly a cool atmosphere. It's not like the spots on 18th that are full of the younger/hipster crowd. Its a laid back place to grab a drink read more

First of all, they have dogs. Bam Bam and Stella -they are very cute. Also ladies, they have the good TP in the bathroom which is major. Lastly, they put on the Red Sox game for my Boston boyfriend. In short, this bar is awesome. read more