Parrots Bar & Grill

Chicago, Illinois

Field Note

While Parrots Bar & Grill on the east end of Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood isn’t necessarily nautically-themed, drinking here feels like sitting in the wood-lined hull of a ship. There isn’t a large logical leap to make from a tropical bird to an ocean-themed dive bar, but nevertheless the vibe is unexpectedly warm and inviting, often in direct contradiction to the Chicago weather perilously close to Lake Michigan.

The almost universally praised atmosphere inside Parrots Bar & Grill is no doubt a product of owner Grant Ohori’s leadership, a constant presence inside the bar and the start of countless stories, memories and online reviews related to a great night inside. Though Ohori sadly passed away in 2022, the tone he set is kept alive by a friendly and engaging staff that ensures that what could very easily be a locals-focused clubhouse is instead a dive bar open to all who stumble inside.

Outside, the marquee attraction is of course the faded, plastic shell sign illuminated with the image of, you guessed it, a parrot. The bar exterior feels like more an extension of the apartment building above rather than something distinct, making the tiny sign on the corner of the bar crucial to spotting its location on a first visit. The Parrots Bar & Grill footprint is deceptively large, spanning two slightly subterranean rooms, one devoted to the main bar area and another to the bar’s pool table.

A long, winding wooden bar twists through the bar’s primary space, everything under string lights and parrot-themed decorations. A carved wooden parrot perched near the bar’s vintage cash register is probably the most notable parrot-themed piece, but references are numerous and pervasive here, making for an enjoyable wander through Parrots Bar & Grill. Improbably, Parrots Bar & Grill is a University of Dayton backers bar, which may be one of the more random dive bar associations in the city.

Another Parrots Bar & Grill surprise is its rotating and extensive menu by dive bar standards, seasonal selections mingling with Mexican basics (nachos & tacos), fried shareables (fries & cheese curds) and pizza. A daily weekday happy hour from 2 PM to 5 PM complements a rotating full-day food & drink special, everything designed to keep Parrots Bar & Grill prices as affordable as really any comparable option in Lakeview. Particularly well-loved is the massive soft pretzel available year-round.

Very much in keeping with the neighborhood feel of Parrots Bar & Grill, the usual dive bar theme nights populate a typical monthly calendar including Bingo and trivia nights. Steel tip dart boards are available and pool is typically free. Because of the bar’s sprawling layout across two rooms, ample seating is available, though the best seats are likely those that look out onto the street outside, the best of which sit inside the bar’s main room and the wood-lined alcove that caps the bar.