The Continental

Chicago, Illinois

Field Note

Chicago’s late night drinking laws are generous by American standards, a small selection of bars open until 3 AM, 4 AM and sometimes beyond. These nocturnal dive bars occupy a special place in the drinking fabric of Chicago, both as the ‘one more place’ bar as well as the ‘drinking is best only in pitch black’ bar. The Continental qualifies on all fronts, a two-floor dive bar in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood with a punk rock vibe and precious little lighting.

In a building that dates back over 100 years, The Continental took over what was once known as the Hiawatha Club, sometimes “Pizza Lounge.” The structure was undoubtedly used as a speakeasy during Prohibition, providing a level of drinking pedigree that can be felt in the sheer age of the building. What better tribute to that deep history is there than keeping The Continental open as much as possible, hours stretching until 4 AM on Fridays and even 5 AM on Saturdays. The Continental is a dive bar for the dedicated.

To match those hours, the space is kept dimly lit no matter the hour of day or night. Large curtains in the bar’s front window are often kept open but still manage to block a tremendous amount of light and add a bit of lounge-like ambiance as well. The sign above the front door plays into a kind of cocktail lounge meets dive bar vibe, a retro depiction of the name of the bar matched by images of twinkling stars. The space is sometimes referred as Continental Lounge, the logo and sign very much in line with that refined title.

Inside, the space is divided across a handful of spaces, the main room amplifying the cocktail lounge look thanks to plush, padded booths opposite The Continental’s main bar. Each table hosts a faux candle and much of the light in this front space is provided by string lights wrapped around the ventilation duct work over head. In true Chicago dive bar tradition, a photo booth can be found in this first room, an echo of spaces around the city like Rainbo Room keeping the tradition alive.

A second floor is dedicated largely to The Continental’s pool table, offering a bit of separation from what can be a bit more densely trafficked main room. A bit of bar neon peeks out from this second story perch in the form of a PBR sign that can be seen just above the front door. A back patio not immediately apparent is available at The Continental as well, giving drinkers a chance to escape the dimly-lit interior of the bar for the dimly-lit Chicago night.

All told, The Continental feels more like a retro-themed cocktail lounge than it does a true dive bar, but the sheer age of the space and its status as Prohibition-era speakeasy offer an authentic undercurrent that enhances the experience. Maybe more practically, for those looking to drink from sun up to also sun up, the extreme hours of The Continental weave well into a night’s worth of Chicago dive bar drinking options.