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Trying to get in whats left of summertime CHI and went here on Thursday after work for live music on the Riverwalk to hear Meagan McNeal;got real powerhouse Jennifer as a bonus singer. Couldn't really gauge the vibe because this spot is SUPER busy. Did eventually get a seat at the bar top. Did not get a chance to try food but that Frozen margarita definitely HIT!!
Great location right off the lake. All seats have a lake view. This place stays packed so come with patience. We tried the Chicago dog and fries with a cocktail. Good service and a nice vibe.
Been here a few times, most recently to check out a Noah Kahan/Zach Bryan cover band last week. I had a great time despite it being so busy and crowded. It's right on the riverwalk so lots of people walking through causes for a lot of foot traffic. The lines to get a drink seem pretty long at first glance but they do indeed move pretty quickly. They have a standard drink menu with some slushie drinks which were pretty tasty and necessary in the heat. They also have food but we did not get a chance to try it. They have a variety of seating if you're lucky enough to snag a table. There is a bathroom near by but also expect a line. Nice spot on the riverwalk for great people watching.
Cannot beat this spot for a morning coffee, a quick drink and exceptional people watching right on the river walk. Cannot wait to go back. Service was quick and effective!
This location is right in the middle of downtown Chicago, has amazing views of the water and beautiful buildings. Boats pass by as you eat your food. They have bar seating and regular table seating with umbrellas. The menu is on the table accessible through a QR code. They have a very simple food menu with about 6 items on each different category. We ordered the fried pickles, two Chicago dogs, and nachos as well. As far as drinks we had ordered to our table cider, uncle ordered a beer, and sodas that came in a can with a cup of ice as well. Everything was fresh and tasted amazing. We didn't wait longer than 16 minutes for our food. Service was good but nothing extraordinary. Definitely a good place to stop by while in Chicago.
Perfect view of the river from Tiny Tapp! I was visiting from out of town with a friend and it was a billion degrees outside (not used to that humidity!) so these drinks were perfect. Lots of seating but heads up because this is outdoor (if it is a hot day) and tends to get busy very quickly. Very friendly staff!
I walk by here a lot and of course the location cannot be beat. Absolutely gorgeous. The drinks here are good but it gets so crowded at this spot, I think it's worth walking a little further to another riverwalk restaurant for drinks. I got food here the other day and was pretty disappointed. The fries look amazing but tasted...off? Not sure if it's the oil they cook it in or what but my friend and I barely ate them bc of the taste. We also got the chicken Caesar salad which was just pretty bland. Would come for drinks, not food!
Best iced chai latte and fresh doughnuts! Amazing views and great people watching service was fast and the riverwalk is always a good time
I've been meaning to try out Tiny Tapp ever since I moved back to Chicago this year! What a cute, fun spot. I met a friend here on a weekday for after-work drinks. It's so conveniently located to my office in the Loop, with River Walk access right on Dearborn. My friend got there right before me and put us on the waitlist - they do NOT take reservations in advance! In the meantime, we were able to order our drinks at their takeout counter and sit on the benches while we waited. We got the text for our table about 15-20 minutes after putting our names on the list. I did find the menu to be a little pricey for what it is, but you're really paying a premium for the view and a place to sit. Our server really only came around to take out order and hand us our bill, maybe stopping once shortly after our food arrived (by runner) to ask if we'd like drink refills. I would've appreciated if they were more attentive about water, but it's not as big of a deal. The tables are really packed together, which we personally didn't mind too much but I know may be an issue for some. Food was quick and pretty good, but again, I think it would've been nice if fries/sides were included and the portions were a little bigger for that price point. Our biggest gripe is that you cannot split checks, it is one, isngular check for the whole table. You'll need to venmo each other afterwards. We'll always be back because it IS super cute and overall a decent experience. Can't beat the views when the weather is nice, and it's excellent for people watching
Great summer atmosphere with a fun, lively vibe. The drinks are the real highlight and definitely worth the visit. It gets very crowded, but counter seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you'd prefer a table, put your name on the waitlist as soon as you arrive.
8/7/26: Great riverside vibe. Drinks are just strong enough but definitely pricey since it's on the river. Super lively
What a cute cafe along the river walk! John provided excellent and friendly service and was very patient and gave me time because I was very indecisive and didn't know I wanted. There were so many good things to choose from, from yummy food like sandwiches, to delicious ice cream, and lots of beverages. I was tempted by the idea of an affogato but I got an iced lavender latte and it was delicious. Plenty of outdoor seating by the river. Beautiful views. Next time I'll order food and more things to try.
I saw this place for the first time from the architecture boat tour and knew I had to go there. Stretching across the river walk, there's seats galore for some nice water views. It looked like they have waiter service if you're sitting for a full meal, but we just went to the cafe for a quick late night treat around 9 pm. Their cafe is even open that late on a Sunday evening! I just got the warm chocolate chip cookie. It's a decent size and super yummy. It was ~$5.50. Worth it! I'd definitely come back here again if I'm in the area again.
3 years ago
What an amazing bar with even better service and ambience. We love claire and she deserves a huge raise. read more
5 years ago
Only had a few drinks here, but you can't beat the location and the service. We had lunch at Tiny Tavern on the Navy Pier for lunch that day, and Mark the owner suggested we check out his other place since we were going to be heading down Riverwalk. He told us to ask for Eleanor, the manager there, and she takes care of us. Take care of us she did! Our first two drinks were on the house! So we settled in and dangled our feet in the river, and Eleanor brought us a Sav Blanc and a Prosecco to start. We enjoyed our drinks with beautiful ambience and great service. I will definitely make this place part of my rotation when visiting Chicago in the future. Next time I'll have to save room for some food. read more
Tiny tapp is a great spot for a casual drink on the River walk! I was in town for labors day weekend and wasn't expecting to get any tables available at any of the River walk restaurants. I walked in here and got a great table overlooking the River. My husband had the beer and I went for the cider. We also ordered a polish hot dog to go with the drinks. The sausage was paired well with caramelized onions and mustard and I liked it quite a lot. They also came with a bag of chips which tasted good too. I would definitely recommend tiny tapp for a late night casual drink with your friends! read more
Oh Summer please don't go... any day or night along the Riverwalk is a Chicago MUST stop and Tiny Tapp has weekend Yoga, mid-week after work live Entertainment, boats passing by or docking along and overall a steady flow of friendly thirsty patrons. The food is truly limited so my recommendation is to go before or after a meal and plan to enjoy drinks at The Tapp for the lively vibe and incredible City view that is quite tough to contend with. Yelp tip: people watching galore if that happens to be your thing! Go, the scene will not disappoint. read more
3 years ago
One of my favorite summer spots on the Riverwalk! This place is perfect for a work happy hour, pit stop on your walk, or a light bite. All the food I've tried there has been surprisingly great - the nachos, fried pickles, fries, and chicken Caesar pizza. My favorite drink is the Henry's holiday mixed with margarita. The service is okay which is why I only gave 4 stars. Some tables are further away and can be forgotten about. It's always lively and filled with mostly locals. The views of the river are awesome and it's dog friendly! One of my favorite summer spots for sure. read more
Right on the river and the drinks were flowing. With COVID out door seating is a must, 6 to a table and the tables were very spaced out. You order your drinks / food at the bar and they bring it out when it's ready. The strawberry frozen drink has a stomp to it, had to slow down after two. I tries the fish tacos, they were ok needed more sauce on the coleslaw. Overall had a great tome I'll definitely be back! read more
3 years ago
My favorite place in the river walk, you can have a beer in front of the river especially in a sunny day read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
4 years ago
I think I speak for most Chicagoans when I say we value our summer, and by that I mean that anytime we can be outside when its nice, we are! And what better place to spend an afternoon after a long day cooped up inside an office than right on the water by the river. (and with some Rosé) Tiny Tapp is that place! Located right on the Riverwalk, between Dearborn and Clark, this places offers a place to relax and unwind outside in a casual environment. They have table and chair seating, but I always opt for the opening seating on the concrete benches right along the river. It's a great place to people watch and see the boats go by. I've only ever visited Tiny Tapp on Fridays, and warning this place gets crowded! But I have usually been able to find a spot to sit, and if not, only standing momentarily waiting for something to open up. My only critique is that this place can get pretty pricey after a few rounds. (average 8$ a beer, 50$ bottles of wine) But I guess your paying for the experience and the view, not so much the beverages. Overall each time I've gone, I've had a great time and will continue to come back (until it gets too cold again) read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
Made a quick beverage stop while walking from the riverfront. Lots of room to spread out and lots of tables with "reserved" placards. After waiting for folks to show up on the hour - no one showed - we sat at a reserved table and enjoyed a couple of drinks. Service was fast and friendly. Great stop for a warm afternoon in Chicago. They have a well staffed coffee bar as well; it was too hot for coffee while I was there. Great views of the river traffic. And lots of places to sit if you don't want to sit a reserved table without a reservation! read more
4 years ago
Come here during the summer months when the Riverwalk is truly an impeccable vibe! I came here with some friends for a weekday afternoon and it was bustling with so many beautiful people who were clearly just trying to relax and take in summer time Chi. The views from this restaurant are unmatched. You're able to see the river and take in all of the people who are walking alongside, as well as the boats that are driving alongside. The food and drink options here are very reasonably priced and there is something for everyone. This is a great spot to just hang and take in the sights and sounds or you can stay a while if you prefer. I will definitely be back! read more
I was walking the Chicago river walk and stumbled upon this place. It is right on the river with tables you can reserve online, which I recommend doing. They have other seats along the river that are most first come first served. They have a full service bar, eatery, and cafe. The pretzel bites were good! read more
A fun little place on the riverwalk! We stopped by for drinks and a light dinner. I love the ambiance of the place, bustling and fun for a night! The drinks were good, service was great, and the food was nice! I got the lamb flatbread which tasted great! I think the menu is a little on the smaller side so definitely take a look before getting there in case there's nothing that really sticks out to you. Overall, a fun place with great location in Chicago! Definitely will be back with friends again :) read more
4 years ago
I'll give the Tiny Tapp & Cafe two tiny thumbs up! We loved sitting right on the waterway watching people come and go.. families, friends, dates, kids, etc. This place is must visit in Chicago, especially during the summer. Lots of drink options and the food looked good too. Service is excellent and we easily found a place to sit. Definitely try it, especially as the sun goes down. The lights on the river are beautiful. read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
I love the vibes of this place especially during the summer during happy hour. The salad was pretty good and filling. My go to drink is the Christinarita. It barely taste like it has any alcohol but is strong! read more
4 years ago
Overall worth the visit. Cute location, and one of my favorite spots on the river. I will say however, overly expensive for what you're actually getting. My one beer ending up being $10.50 (including tip). Make sure to do reservations if you want a table. Otherwise you'll get no space or sitting on the steps - which is equally fun but no continued service. read more
3 years ago
Great location and music. Pretty standard appetizers. Hummus was refreshing& service was a little slow. read more
Love Tiny Tapp!!! Views are amazing.Vibe is soooo CHILL.Drinks are not ridiculously expensive.They ats just a hop,skip and away from soooooo many amazing restaurants as well as clubs.I LOVE hangingout at the Riverwalk.Its so LIVELY!!! So happy here.Glad and proud to call Chicago HOME!! Staff is very nice,attentive and helpful as well.I come here often.I work 2 blocks away. read more
2 years ago
8 years ago
Was with a group of people from out of town and after a boat tour they wanted to grab a drink and something to eat. So although being one of the few non-tourist in the group I followed the pack along the river walk and let them select a spot. Unfortunately it was exactly what I was hoping to avoid and worse yet probably the worst option along the riverwalk. What they do have going for them is prime real-estate along the riverwalk. Well that's where the perks end. Let's start with the negative the menu has 5 menu items on it. I don't think they actually even have a kitchen on site. I assumed when I ordered chips they were freshly made but no it came out as a small bag of chips. All other items are servered in Togo paper boxed. So everything seems premade and likely offsite and pulled from a cooler. They do say a larger menu is to come but I wouldn't be surprised if they close before that happens. The service wasn't any better. Typical inexperienced summer help with no idea what they are doing. I had to ask to wipe down the dirty table which they kinda of did but basically smearing it and pushing the debris onto the chairs we were going to sit it. And the orders came out with items forgotten every time we asked for anything. The drinks are cold so I guess that was there only other perk. I won't be back and if ur ever following the crowd in your group don't stop here it's a joke (and not a funny one). read more
Atmosphere: Causal 'let's grab a beer and catch up' kind of spot. Right on the river walk, and honestly their location is why they are in business! Service: The service here quite frankly sucked... I had to go to the bar to order since I didnt have a server approach me for the first 7 minutes after I had set down my menu to the side. My drink was made wrong, not a big deal. When I ordered a second (I didn't even ask her to comp my first drink that I didnt drink more than 2 sips of) I had to go pick it up at the bar AFTER I closed out and had been waiting for 15 minutes. I was really upset I waited that long (luckily I had brought a bottle of water with me). Food/drinks: Their Chicago dog was great and I'm not much of a hot dog person but when in Chicago, you order a chicago dog! No options for sides, just a bag of chips. BUT this place isn't known for their food and I wouldnt go here for the food. This place is in business because it's location, which is AWESOME! Overall: I'll return if we are looking just for beers. Coffee here wasn't work the money or waiting that long for a second coffee because the first was made incorrectly. The river walk is super busy so check out Tiny Tapp if your first option is too packed. read more
10 years ago
The views are incredible as expected. The vibe is chill and relaxing, as it should be by the water anywhere. Tiny Hatt is part of the now very well developed Chicago Riverwalk and markets itself as the river walk's first and only craft cocktails and Memphis BBQ spot. There is plenty of seating by the food and bar counter which is first come and tables a couple of steps below, that you need to check in with a hostess with. The menu does have craft beer, wines and craft cocktails. Prices are reflective of location and the views with cocktails ranging from $12-$14 and beers $7. Food is appetizer style and shareable and range fro $8-$16. We got the tri tip sliders which came served on a pretzel bun with pickled onions. The trip tip itself was smoked and flavorful. I'd totally get it again! Our server, also the owners daughter was friendly and later apologetic when we couldn't order a side ($3) of their homemade chips because even though it's on the menu they are only serving it appetizer style ($7.50). Strange! read more
3 years ago
Good customer service is the exception rather than the norm these days but not at Tiny Tapp & Cafe. On a recent visit their computer system on one of their terminals stopped sending orders to the kitchen leaving several customers, including myself without food as the kitchen was closing. The manager and the kitchen staff went out of their way to make the situation right as could be. Everyone I encountered was also pleasant and kind. A day or so later I contacted them to bring something else to their attention and once again they went beyond my expectations in responding. The food that we did get was good and the views from their seating are completely enjoyable. It is the customer service that I received that will make me a repeat customer. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
I had a great time with Matt, our server. He was funny, engaging and personable. I would go back to hang out with him anytime!!!! The view was amazing! I had a Moscow Mule there. It was pretty good! Cant wait to go back on my next visit! read more
More info about Tiny Tapp & Cafe
55 W Riverwalk S
Chicago, IL 60601
The Loop
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(773) 967-0102
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http://www.tinytapp.com
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Ask the Community - Tiny Tapp & Cafe
Do I need a reservation?
Yes. Sometimes there are island or barstool chairs available which do not need any reservations.
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