Though Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood technically takes its western border from the Chicago River, Western Avenue is the area’s spiritual final frontier. And though the corridor is well-trafficked, even frequent visitors to the area would be forgiven for missing Liberty Lounge in plain sight, a standalone structure across the street from what amounts to a Chicago-style strip mall (complete with a Petco and a Chipotle).

Perhaps because of its location on the fringes of Roscoe Village, Liberty Lounge feels more divey than the area’s other drinking options. The tall building is of course well-weathered thanks to the Chicago climate and counts only a gravel parking lot (free to Liberty Lounge customers) as a neighbor. At one time, Liberty Lounge sat underneath a highway overpass, since removed, adding a divey tinge to even the bar’s historical pedigree.

Outside, a wooden sign depicts the name of the bar in gold lettering over a mixed wood panel & stone façade. The Liberty Lounge exterior includes a single, small window that hosts a tiny bit of themed neon in the form of a ship’s anchor underneath the name ‘Liberty.’ Prominently displayed at the time of this reviewer’s last visit was a For Sale sign above the front door and a commercial real estate listing confirms the building’s availability for the paltry sum of $1.2 million.

Impending sale or not, the Liberty Lounge interior delivers on the divey promise of its external appearance thanks to a small, centered bar that commands the front portion of what is essentially a single-room layout. Vintage Star Wars toys can be found here suspended from the ceiling just above an L-shaped bar that leaves just enough room for a small set of fixed tables and chairs along the bar’s opposite wall.

While dive bar-friendly can and bottle beer varieties are of course available here, so too are a handful of less common local draft beers at reasonable prices by Chicago standards. Icicle lights hang from the ceiling, illuminating a small food menu that includes ‘pizza puffs’ and a handful of full-size pizza varieties that even includes a cauliflower crust option. True to the bar’s divey roots, the menu is complemented by the availability of Marie Callender pot pies.

The rear of Liberty Lounge revolves around a centered pool table that plays host to rotating pool leagues. Social media posts from the bar occasionally recruit new players of all skill levels and the plaques depicting winning teams and individuals line the walls that surround the pool table. For those working their way up to the big leagues, pool here is available free every day.

As is hopefully made clear by the bar’s description, this is a very chill, very laid back Chicago dive bar that may run a bit frayed around the edges but maintains the signature welcoming attitude common to most of the city’s drinking establishments. Seasonal events accentuate the communal attitude here, ranging from holiday celebrations to the occasional pig roast.