This used to be the go-to local bar to blow off steam after a tough day at work. The clientele is comprised of a really cool mix of local south- siders (read: White Sox fans!) and UChicago staff/students. There is an epic wall mural that features different aspects of the city, including a huge Barack Obama head. As I said: epic. The bar is separated into two distinct parts, divided by a counter/tables in the center (you have to walk all the way around if you want to switch sides or move at the tables). On one side is the bar and a few TVs to watch the games, giving it a louder sports bar kind of vibe. On the other side there are a bunch of tables--almost like picnic tables. It feels very communal and laid-back. It's a place you can sip on drinks and easily spend time with a group of friends. The Cove is very group-friendly. My favorite part? My friend brings his dog there and it's no problem. Is this bar a dive? Yes. Do I care? No. Do I actually love it? Absolutely. Best bar on the area, hands down. read more

Owner Sonnie and DJ/Security Milton brutally beat up a customer outdise of the bar April 23, 2026 which started with the DJ/Security using excessive force on the customer inside of the bar. The young man was outside talking to associates about the situation and the owner came out and attacked him and the DJ joined in and beat him. Customer left in ambulance and is seeking medical care. The owner and DJ needs to be arrested! There were numerous witnesses to this incident read more

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The cove is a great little dive bar in the Hyde park neighborhood. A wide range of patrons from locals to UChicago students you will see in here. A laid back bar with friendly staff with great service. The drinks are mixed well and you can typically find a seat in the bar pretty easily. read more

The Cove is your friendly neighborhood dive bar. If you are looking for a place to meet new and interesting people, grab a drink after a long workday, or hang with friends on the weekend, then this is your place. I love it here because you can get a super-boozy Old Fashioned for only $10. You will also get friendly bartenders who actually enjoy meeting patrons and making conversation with them. I like grabbing a seat right at the bar (when there is a seat available because it is typically crowded) because that is where you can meet the most interesting characters. This is not the place to come if you are looking for drinks with frills. This also is not the place where you can get some nosh with your liquor, but I have seen folks order and bring in food. There's not live music (i.e.: a DJ), but there is a paid jukebox in the back. #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFoodAndDrink #YelpEliteSquad read more

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One of the best sports bars around. Tons of TVs, comfortable seating, great drink options, and surprisingly good food. Service was quick and friendly even when it was busy. Highly recommend read more

My place back in the early 2000s when I lived a block west. The Cove has a fun and really old nautical theme with ships wheels and anchors and stuff like that. They have a pretty good jukebox and a wider choice of beers than Jimmy's. There's no kitchen here, so food is limited to bags of chips or candy bars. But they used to let people order and bring their own food to eat, I should stop by sometime and see if that's still the case. They have two rooms, one with a long bar and a few tables and another one with large communal German style Octoberfest tables with benches. They have a few TV's for watching the Bears lose and the restrooms are pretty clean for a bar. Head east on 55th past Hyde Park Blvd and look for the art deco neon sign on your left after about a block. If you're in the lake you went too far. read more

We were running around the lakefront near 53rd and decided to drop in to get out of the sun with our dog (yes, they are dog friendly!) and have a cold beer. The bar is nothing fancy but it's spacious, good music (90s/2000s hip-hop) and chill vibe. The bartender was very friendly and was very accommodating. It's not much to look at, save the cool Chicago mural in the lounge area of the bar, but I don't need a lot of fancy to have a good time. Check it out! read more

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Went after reading reviews from Yelp. Bad mistake. If you're looking for a bar that smells like fart, booze & mildew/mold, look no further. Pew. Dirty used glasses on the bar, customer service was lousy & struggling. Much to take in & not served, we left and used hand sanitizer ASAP. read more

Always in the top 10 Dive beers in Chicag0 Chicago. Diverse friendly customers...the bar is located 1/2 a block from the lake.....you may order any food to be delivered in as well as bring your own. read more

We had ventured out to the University of Chicago to check out some free museums in the area and then Yelped to find somewhere to grab a round or two to get warm. Let the Sunday fun-day commence! The Good... -Cheap drinks, I'm talking $5 draft pints & $2.50 PBR tall boy cans and Old Style bottled beers -Entertainment, they got TVs, a foosball table, and two dartboards -Plenty of tables and seating and relatively empty when we stopped by on Sunday afternoon -Bartender was super friendly. Only one guy seemed to be working the entire place but there was only a handful of us there. -Fellow patrons we're pretty friendly and respectful as well The Bad... -Cash only! Bring those dollar dollar bills. Luckily ATM is on site and only a $2 service charge -Only a single wall stall in the men's restroom, if you have to go number two you're literally SOL Cheap drinks and mellow times. Bring that cash! 'Til next time, cheers! 16/365 read more

The Cove Lounge - Inside - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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And now they even have a tent! And hot drinks actually ON the menu, including cider with whiskey, and at least one additional fire stove. The tent is very long and has a wide entrance, for lots of ventilation. I hope they manage to make this work all winter, though it would be tricky. They are nothing if not resourceful. After all, if Londoners held Frost Fairs on the Thames when it froze over in the seventeenth century, we ought to be able to amuse ourselves outdoors in the winter in a socially distanced manner. read more

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A true dive bar! And cheap drinks! This was my 1st and only bar I've been to in Chicago so far.

Popular dive bar in Hyde Park, has a famous mural of Obama in the main seating area. Basically checks off all the boxes for a dive, cheap drinks, cash bar, no frills. If you're driving, it's not too far from all the Promontory Point parking lots so you can park there if need be, or on 55th with a meter. Good amount of space, there's the main bar side, then another with a good amount of tables. Likely won't make any special trip back, but if I'm invited back or find myself in the area I wouldn't be opposed to going back. read more

The absolute zenith of Hyde Park bars, frequented by folks from all different backgrounds and walks of life. There is simply nothing like getting a pitcher here with your friends, perhaps bringing some of your own food, and sitting down at one of the long picnic tables for a night of drinks and conversation. Prices are extremely reasonable. There are usually some U of C students, but they do not predominate the clientele. It is always a pleasure to go back to "the Cove"! read more

Cool place. Enjoyed it. We were visiting the area from out of state and found this bar via Google. Nice find.

A nice chill spot.... open mic on Thursdays nice atmosphere reasonably priced drinks friendly people

This is truly what I like in a bar. Interesting people from all economic, social, ethnicities and did I mention the drinks are cheap and you can bring in your own food. Great bartenders read more

I'm not a fan of dive bars. I consider this place divey but the cut of the jib of the bar is nice. They have craft beer bottles, let you bring in outside food;even have plates and napkins. They have most mainstream liquor. It's in Hyde Park so you get a good mix of people that live in area, U of C students, work around. Not sure when they open but was certainly here after a haircut at like 3 pm. I don't want to romanticize drinking but it's noteworthy to me how this little stretch of Hyde Park seems immune to gentrification. It's a bar with no pretense. Lack of tourists too. read more

The Cove Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best dive bar in Hyde Park. They have darts, juke box and an awesome selection of craft bottles. Cocktails are simple and inexpensive. Always good people, and good conversation. True to the Hyde Park culture huge painting of Obama on the wall. Open late, and even through they don't have a kitchen, you can always bring something with you or order in. read more

The Cove Lounge - a mural of barack obama - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Cove is the perfect place to have a chili competition, like we did today. It's also a great place to have a going away or birthday party. I know because I've been to both here fairly recently. You might ask why it's a great place to have a party. Well that's because they let you bring in outside food, since they do not sell any food. So you could order pizza for a group, and then each person is responsible for their own drinks. This was an absolute perfect place to hold a chili contest. The long tables make it easy to spread out food. The back room is large, and easily accommodated a large group of us. The drinks are cheap, the people are friendly, and the bathroom is clean. What more could you want? read more

A dive that comfortably attracts both locals and college students. There are picnic tables which make this place great if you have a large group of people. There are often groups of chess players that set up shop and throw down at these spacious tables. Darts and a juke box keep the other people occupied. The other half of the bar has retro lounge chairs to sink in to. The beer is cheap as you'd expect in a dive. Recently, The Cove was shut down for a bit for selling beer to an underage nark. Stupid! But alas, it's back up for business. Don't go away, again, Cove, you're the best bar in Hyde park! read more

The Cove Lounge - step inside!! - Dive Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Discovered a fly in my drink a few sips in on a Friday night. I approached the bar tender and told her there was a bug in my drink and showed it to her. She looked at it and looked at me in a very monotone voice "so do you want another?" I'm not sure if it was poured into my drink or fell into my drink when I approached the arcade games. Regardless, service was extremely nonchalant and seems like a regular thing. Four bucks for a small drink seems cheap until you find the free insect and rude service. read more

One of the last hole-in-the-wall bars in Hyde Park. While everything west of Hyde Park Blvd. is starting to look like Lincoln Park, this side of HP has kept it's ok roots feel, and this bar hasn't changed, which is great for those who remember what Hyde Park once looked like. Decent prices and your average drink selections. read more

This place screams dive bar in the best of ways. Grungy, a surprisingly clean bathroom, darts, and picnic tables. I mean come on. The only thing better were $2.50 cheap tall boys and $5 draft pints. Word to the wise though: cash only. There's an ATM that does charge a $2 fee, which truthfully isn't terrible. But BRING YO CASH. read more

Typical dive bar in the Hyde Park neighborhood. It's what you would call "no frills." However, I really enjoyed it! Came here with my cousin and a friend. We stayed for a long time. It's cash only, but the drinks are cheap. I forgot her name, but the bartender was really nice. We chatted with her, when she wasn't swamped. Came on a Saturday night and it was pretty crowded. Great for a casual, chill night out. :-) read more

I had my first ever Croatian beer here so this place will always have a place in my heart. I've been here twice now where we've dranken them out of Karlovacko ... okay, they don't stock that much of it so it's a pretty easy feat but that's besides the point that I'm trying to make here... which is that I know how to have a good time. There's no food but you're welcome to bring in your own pizza or whatever to eat while you drink. The bartender is awesome and totally digs Croatian folk... okay, I'm not Croatian but most of my friends are sooo by association, I am Croatian... or at the very least, a lover of all things Croatia and the Cove. Chances are, if you invite me to hang with you at the Cove, I will show up... speaking of which, I'm counting down the days to the great Cove chili cook off of 2010. read more

Very cool hole in the wall bar. An older crowd and definitely has a dive bar type of feel. Nothing special about it but, sometimes that's all you want in a bar. Only downside is they are cash only like lots of dive bars. read more

Bars in the southern hemisphere seem to retain their character at a higher rate than their brethren on the other side of Madison. The Cove Lounge is a fine example of this. Both the Cove and the Woodlawn Tap are places where I can imagine Nelson Algren and Studs Terkel polishing off their third martini under the warm glow of a small, old television showing the White Sox. On our early Wednesday afternoon visit, there were about four other patrons at the bar. They may have been doing PHD research on how heavy drinking makes you smarter (it's true: it does) or they could have been unemployed and adapting to their new office. Either way, the great part is that you can't tell. Everyone seems a little smarter around here. The friendly bartender, the cheap drink prices and the overall atmosphere make this one of the best bars in the city, not only Hyde Park. read more

Walking into the Cove Lounge is like walking back into time. The place looks like it hasn't changed in 50 years. The interior is impressive. The Dark Oak Bar and old hardwood floors give the joint a cozy vibe. It's one of the few genuine, Neighborhood Bars left in Chicago. It seemed like everybody at the Bar knew each other. The Patron's were laughing, slinging insults at one another and having fun. The Cove almost makes me wish that I lived in Hyde Park. If I lived in the area, there would be a Bar Stool at the Cove with my Ass-Print on it. The bottom line is, if you are looking to hang out in a friendly bar, with good people having fun, head on down to the Cove. There is sports on the tube, lot's of hootch, and good people enjoying a laugh or two at the bar. The Cove is a glimpse at what Chicago used to be. A hard working, hard drinking town. read more

A step above your average dive bar. How does one go a step above, you ask? Well, the clientele at Cove Lounge couldn't have been nicer. I walk in and suddenly I'm one of the locals. Wait, wait... what is that I hear? Faint strains of "Where everybody knows your name! And they're always glad you came!". Well, Cheers to you, Cove! The special today was $1.50 drafts. You can't beat that. Seriously, you can't. I know these things. Other ways in which Cove is Better-than-your-Average-Dive-Bar: - The bartender was friendly, attentive, and a total cutie. - The bathrooms were exceptionally clean! Sometimes bar bathrooms make me want to just die of a kidney infection on the spot, but Cove is, yet again, a step above. - The back (side?) room is the perfect place for a party or other informal gathering. Sadly, I'm not a true local, so trips to Cove will not be as regular as I'd like, but I will always keep it in mind when I'm in the area. read more

I have mixed feelings about Cove Lounge. It's an old man bar, which I like, and the drinks were CHEEAAAP!! They were gracious enough to let us host the Yelp chili cook-off and the owner and bartender were very nice. The side room where we had our chili was pretty big with large tables and benches...picnic table style! There were also a couple of flat screens to watch the Bengals lose their playoff game (*snicker*). I had to take a star off for something that is out of the bar's control and that is the clientele. While some of them were very nice, others were just not. Some were downright scary! I'm looking at you crazy lady throwing darts! Also, why did some old guy want to fight with me and Maria at the bar about the proper way to make chili? It was like a Jersey Shore locals vs. new kids smack-talk throw-down! Make your ground beef "the only way to make chili" chili next time there is a competition and leave us alone, man! At the end of the night, the crowd turned a little more young and a little less crazy and I can see that Cove Lounge has some potential so I'll have to go back on another night. *fingers crossed* read more

Yay! I'm a fan! If you are looking for some fancy pants bar to swirl your wine or sip your martini....The Cove is not for you. If you are looking for a laid back divey bar with cheap drinks & friendly patrons to chat it up with...then you've hit the jackpot. A group of us infiltrated The Cove for our chili cook-off. I thought this establishment was the perfect setting for this. There is a room adjacent to the bar which had everything one needs for a cook off - plenty of picnic tables & benches, outlets and easy access to the bar & restrooms. The restooms were surprisingly clean...although I'm still wondering what was up with the extension cord that was running out of the ladies room. I guess it just adds to the charm of this place. Plenty of close free parking add to the allure of The Cove...which ensures I'll be back sometime in the near future. read more

WE FOUND THE PARTY. 11 o'clock New Year's Eve, and we had nowhere to go cuz we didn't want to dress up and pay to go hang out w' Les Douches...and the Cove was all lit up. The place was hopping! As the other reviewers have said, great jukebox + great crowd. Both represent a democratic mix of race and class. Best crowd story: We all ring in the New Year, a table full of U of C students merrily belt out all the words they know to "Auld Lang Syne", a dude who looks like he may occasionally do a little time in the joint toasts them from across the room and then crosses over to ask "I've always wondered. What does that song actually mean?" The U of C kids demur, embarrassed that they sure don't know either, and we all go on merrily partying. No cover, no ID's, no bouncer, no bullshit. Try Hoochie Mamma's Beef Jerky! Very good. read more

You haven't had a beer in Hyde Park until you've drank at The Cove. It's the perfect place for any occasion. Breaking up with your girlfriend? Try the Cove. Just graduated? Try The Cove. Perhaps you're twelve and you've just had your First Communion. I hope your uncles missed it because they were drinking at The Cove. The Cove is more a testament to the great accomplishments of mankind than anything else. It is a place where war criminal and UN Peacekeeper can unite for a moment to share a pitcher of beer before one has to run from the other. The Cove is a place where poetic muses line up against the wall just waiting for you to tap them. The Cove is a place where you will never meet the love of your life, but you're okay with it, because you're fucked up and past the point of no return, and if you've met the love of your life by this point, you wouldn't want her here anyways. The Cove. A place for evenings better spent nowhere else. read more

I've lived across the street from this place for almost 6 years and never stopped in. Well, when a group of 5 of us girls sat in Bar Louie for about 15 minutes and nobody came over to serve us- we hit the bricks and headed to The Cove. THANK GAWD! It was pretty full, and with such FRIENDLY people. We were obviously out-of-place, as everyone seemed to be regulars, but after about 10 minutes, they treated US like regulars too- so I can see why people hang here. We ordered shots, and they are about 6ounces each. Huge! They have TVs, a jukebox, free chips, and even a microwave tucked in the back. Ha! This place is not much to look at, but they serve up the spirits, in GOOD spirit. I will be back again with the girls. I have a new soft spot in my heart for this place! read more

Oh man I love this bar. While it can get a little college-y, there's also a good mix of locals and students, and I love that there's a bar down the street from me where I can get cheap beer and watch a game - they have a few TVs and are usually showing different games, and I can't imagine given how nice the bartenders are that it would be a problem to switch channels if I wanted. The older Asian bartender is really nice, but he kept forgetting I had already ordered drinks (and that my friend had a tab) and kept asking for our IDs. More endearing than anything else. Also, last time I was there he overpoured my shot of Malibu and gave it to me on the house. Which was cool. Also, they have Green Line on tape, which is even cooler. This place rocks. Oh, and I'm a pretty big fan of the 5 minute outdoor time limit, cause when I'm keeping my smoker friends company outside in the cold I can use the time limit as an excuse to get them to go back inside where its warm. read more

Hard to not like the Cove. It's a local dive bar that allows you to bring in food from the outside. Cost wise it's probably one of the cheapest options in Hyde Park. And it's pure no thrills, no frills which is cool if you just want to grab some beers and shoot some darts. Bartenders are always cool. CASH ONLY though but it's ATM on site. read more

The Cove was once a very special place when Dick [forgot last name] owned it: the juke box only played 1940s jazz, a guy named Speedy played piano in the back, and the poker machine paid off, if the bartender knew you. Also, the nautical-themed decoration was much more consistent and unmarred by beer company logos. New owners have not retained any of the above features, it's more like any other bar, except for two things: it's fairly quiet, much more so since the smoking ban chased away their core business, and the layout of the rooms, with long benches, makes for a convivial gathering spot. It's definitely still a dive, and there's no food. read more

This is my favorite neighborhood bar in any city I've lived in. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. There is great conversation to be had any night of the week here with a mix of university grad students and locals. The drinks are inexpensive, and they have darts and a fun bowling video game. They show both sports games and quirky movies or tv shows (the bartenders have a great taste in film, but they'll often play whatever you ask for.) On the jukebox, patrons play an eclectic mix of rock, jazz, R&B, hip hop, and pop. I also love that the people who hang out here are as diverse as you can possibly imagine. The Cove is like Cheers with a quirky, intellectual twist, but you'll never find a more genuine place to call home. read more

Good dive bar. Drinks are simple and good. Cash only though and the music was on point.