Chicago Dive Bar Guide
Unique, Neighborhood Dives Every Block
As endless as the city's neighborhoods, Chicago's dive bars unfold with a unique twist around every corner
Inner Town Pub
Cataloging the Chicago dive bar scene is a daunting task. Midwestern drinking is a time-honored tradition and when mixed with a few hundred years of history and lake effect snow, the dive bar conditions are favorable. As a result, the rolling expanse of Chicago brings with it a patchwork of neighborhood dive bars, each unique, each catering to a separate micro-community in a city full of them.
Uniquely loved in Chicago is the dive bar “slashie,” the term given to hybrid businesses with liquor licenses old enough to allow on-site and to-go sales. That means places like Rossi’s Liquors downtown and Rite Liquors in Ukrainian Village offer the chance to sit down for a shot of Malort and grab a six-pack of Old Style for the road. Because these licenses aren’t available anymore, slashies are a dying breed but offer some of the best divey drinking in the city.
In a city where so much has happened, inevitably the dive bar stories can be fairly unique, from the serial killer-tinged history of L&L Tavern to the nautically-inspired Simon’s Tavern complete with Viking fish neon sign. Rainbo Club can stake a claim to the independent music scene of early 1990s Chicago and Shinnick’s Pub can tout itself as an Irish institution and one of the oldest in the city at that.
On every corner there’s a new discovery, making a bar crawl around the city a good idea no matter where it starts. Nisei Lounge in Wrigleyville, The Cove Lounge in Hyde Park and this reviewer’s favorite, Inner Town Pub in Ukrainian Village, they and so many great dive bars like them offer perfect launching points to explore one of the world’s great (drinking) cities.
Dive Bar Map
Our Chicago Dive Bar Recommendations
While we’ve done our fair share of drinking, we haven’t yet hit every Chicago Dive Bar. The recommendations below are sorted into tiers to help guide your choices depending on how much time you have to explore Chicago. Where we’ve reviewed a location, a score is given.
SFG Reviews
We’ve been lucky enough to visit the locations below in Chicago. Each location includes a full review and SFG score to help you decide on how to prioritize your travels.
Inner Town Pub
SFG Rating: 10 out of 10
Possibly the perfect dive bar, Inner Town Pub mixes dim light, stained glass and a mysterious illuminated sign.
Rossi's Liquors
SFG Rating: 10 out of 10
Downtown Chicago's dive bar soul, another hybrid liquor store and dive bar under a pitched roof.
Bernice's Tavern
SFG Rating: 10 out of 10
Lithuanian beer and live Bingo may not be the most common dive bar combo, but it is potent.
Rose's Lounge
SFG Rating: 10 out of 10
It's Christmas outside, it's Christmas inside, it's open when they feel like and it's unlike anything else.
Simon's Tavern
SFG Rating: 10 out of 10
If you like dive bar neon that features Viking fish, this is our spot, modeled after a famous ocean liner.
L&L Tavern
SFG Rating: 10 out of 10
Perfect people gazing spot that is perhaps too perfect thanks to a faint link to serial killers, plural.
Rite Liquors
SFG Rating: 10 out of 10
A classic Chicago "slashie" part dive bar, part liquor store and maybe the city's best example of both.
Old Town Ale House
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
If you like nude pictures of politicians, this is your dive bar, part art gallery, part political statement.
Rainbo Club
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
The stage once hosted burlesque shows and the space thrived during the 1990s alt-music boom.
Sky Ride Tap
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
About as straightforward as it gets for a dive bar hidden under downtown Chicago's elevated train line.
Fireside Bowl
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
Amazingly the indie music epicenter of Chicago for a short period of time, now home to a sneaky good bar.
The Levee
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
Once a well-respected burlesque venue, The Levee is now an opaque glass block entryway to sports.
Nilda's Place
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
Pulling the door handle is always a gamble, the hours notoriously erratic and entirely up to Nilda.
Joe's on Broadway
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
There's a lot of Malort-fueled visual stimulation crammed into this tiny footprint.
Chipp Inn
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
The quintessential neighborhood dive bar so old that no one knows exactly how old it may be.
The Lodge Tavern
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
Peanut shells crunch under foot amid almost entirely wooden surroundings and an epic sign.
Richard's Bar
SFG Rating: 9 out of 10
Smoking-friendly, photos banned, the massive Irish flag mural outside hints at a potential 'family' connection.
Sovereign Liquors
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Another of Chicago's classic dive bar vibes, this one king of Edgewater since the 1940s.
Ola's Liquors
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Ola's features a few rows of liquor bottles, a counter to drink on and that's about it.
Archie's Iowa Rockwell Tavern
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
On the edge of Ukrainian Village, the perfect corner dive to start a crawl.
Phyllis Musical Inn
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Chicago's polk roots run deep, embodied by this 1954, persistently original Wicker Park staple.
Cunneen's
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Founded by beloved namesake Steve Cunneen, this is a dive bar purposefully built for conversation.
Galway Bay
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Drinking underground is always advisable, here with Irish-style snugs.
J&M Tap
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Notoriously difficult to find and pleasantly unchanged since 1974.
Empty Bottle
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Empty Bottle is two dive bars, one with a live show and one in the serenity before one kicks off.
Zakopane
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Named after a town in Poland with Polish beer and Polish liquor inside.
Big Joe's
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Turtle races, live Jeopardy and about a dozen other reasons to grab a beer.
Gallery Cabaret
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Home to a fresh live event every night, the slate includes music, poetry, blues and more.
Shinnick's Pub
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
In the running for oldest dive bar in the city, a South Side White Sox Irish hub.
Stella's Tap
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Low on amenities, Stella's Tap is long on classic, Polish-friendly dive bar vibes.
Woodlawn Tap
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
University of Chicago-area institution once home to a students-only third room.
Reed's Local
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Rare is the place that mixes VHS tapes and open mic nights in the same space.
Nisei Lounge
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Built for second-generation Asian-Americans, today the last dive in Wrigleyville.
GO Tavern & Liquors
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
The coolers and beer selection are modern and fresh but be sure to look at the ceiling tiles that aren't.
Delilah's
SFG Rating: 8 out of 10
Ground zero for the bourbon boom in America, with an epic sign too.
Friar Tuck
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
If you've ever wanted to walk into the top of a giant beer barrel, here is your chance.
Skylark
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
The tiny sign contrasts the cavernous, bank lobby-style space inside.
Max's Place
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
It looks closed, in a good way, about as bare bones as a Chicago dive bar gets.
Bob Inn
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Comfortable, neighborhood corner spot that does the simple things perfectly.
Carola's Hansa Clipper
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
The tiles may be crumbling but the beer is cold, imported and served by the liter.
Liberty Lounge
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
On the edge of Roscoe Village, Liberty Lounge offers two great amenities: free parking & pot pie.
Four Treys
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Dog-friendly and about as classic as a Chicago corner bar gets under a bright, casino-grade green sign.
Streeter's Tavern
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Subterranean and home to one of the city's great dive bar amenities, a two-way mirror in both the men's & women's restrooms.
The Corner Bar
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Truth in advertising, to be sure, this corner spot mixes new surfaces and vintage elements.
The Cove Lounge
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Vaguely nautical, today featuring a massive Obama mural hovering over the proceedings.
Shamrock Club
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
In a part of town where authentic neighborhood bars are hard to find, Shamrock Club fills the niche.
Oakwood 83
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
As the hours tick by, the crowd swells thanks to a service industry crowd & late night kitchen.
Cole's Bar
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Cole's Bar mixes a timeless building with a one-two dive bar bunch of open mic comedy & live music.
Burwood Tap
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Home to one of the first 20 post-Prohibition Chicago liquor licenses.
Falcon Inn
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Hyde Park's pizza portal-hosting, low frills dive bar that (gasp) doesn't stock Old Style.
Parrots Bar & Grill
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Surprisingly sparwling bar with a strong commitment to the theme and a seasonal food menu.
Cork Lounge
SFG Rating: 7 out of 10
Literally attached to a Brown Line CTA station, grab a post-train beer as fast as possible.
Whirlaway Lounge
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
Whirlaway Lounge was founded with the winnings on Triple Crown longshot Whirlaway.
Ricochet's Tavern
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
Corner spot with a devotion to darts and a dose of on-tap Old Style.
Bridgeport Inn
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
South Side's straightforward neighborhood bar, a nondescript corner spot focused on locals and carved into brick.
Snickers Bar & Grill
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
A rare downtown Chicago dive, one half restaurant, another half dive bar.
Alice's Lounge
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
Karaoke is the clear drawing card here, a center island immersing the singer in the crowd.
Lange's Lounge
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
Far enough away from Wrigley to avoid the crowd but close enough to stop by to pre-game.
The Cabin
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
Keep an eye on the annual Beach Day party when real sand is trucked into the bar.
Edelweiss Tavern
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
Oksana hosts a mean karaoke night pretty much every night at this Logan Square dive.
Lemming's Tavern
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
Grab a board game, a beer and a deceptively chill evening in Bucktown.
The Continental
SFG Rating: 6 out of 10
There are dimly-lit dive bars and then there's The Continental where light ceases to be.
Carol's Pub
SFG Rating: 5 out of 10
Gentrified ex-dive with a deep history amid needed, business-saving renovations.
Celtic Corner
SFG Rating: 5 out of 10
A few gaming machines, some beer taps and a prime corner spot in Elmwood Park.
Gold Star Bar
SFG Rating: 4 out of 10
Once an East Village dive bar icon and now a gentrified echo of what used to be.
SFG Recommendations
We have not yet been lucky enough to visit the Chicago options below, but research, word of mouth and reader submissions have led us to recommend these must-visit options.
Bullseye Lounge
One of the last remaining holdout bars in Calumet City, Bullseye is worth the trek south of Chicago.
Google Map
Double Bubble
Few things are as alluring as a dive bar crossed with a Chicago laundromat.
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End Zone
No shocker thanks to its name, End Zone is a south side bar catering to, you guessed it, sports fans.
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Mr C's Midway Bar
Before or after a trip to Midway, why not stop at a bar with a sign depicting a bulldog drinking a cocktail.
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Newark Nook
Norwood Park's mid-residential block neighborhood dive bar that dates back to 1929.
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Question Mark Bar
Opened in 1941 in Montclare, the sight of the bar is impressive even without its signature checkboard floor.
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The Hideout
Once a speakeasy, now a mainstay of Chicago's live music scene, the building is over 100 years old.
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Other Options
Below you’ll find the truly deep cuts, gems in waiting that we have not yet been able to visit. Let us know if you find a particularly potent destination.
Big Chicks
5024 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640
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Bruno's Lounge
6562 N Sheridan Rd, , 606226
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Caminos de Michoacan
1659 W Cullerton St, Chicago, IL 60608
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Club Belmont
7844 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634
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Di's Den
5100 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641
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Dug Out
7463 W Diversey Ave, Elmwood Park, IL 60707
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Esquire Lounge
106 N Walnut St, Chicago, IL 61820
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Fifty Yard Line
69 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619
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Friendly Tavern
6124 W Gunnison St, Chicago, IL 60630
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Hangovers Bar & Liquor Store
3532 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60641
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Jaqueline's Lakeview East
3420 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
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Jefferson Park Inn
4874 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
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Liar's Club
1665 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
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Loop Tavern
1610 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
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Miller's Tap & Liquor Store
2204 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
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Mitchell's Tap
3356 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
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Ms Ann's Pad
4701 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60644
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Murphy's Bleachers
3655 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
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Oasis Tavern
6809 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
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Pap's Tap
5532 S Narragansett Ave, Chicago, IL 60638
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Paradise Club
7068 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634
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Podlasie Pool Club
2918 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
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Rabbits
4945 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
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Reggies
2105 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616
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Rosa's Lounge
3420 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
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Second Story Bar
157 E Ohio St #2, Chicago, IL 60611
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Sidekicks
4424 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
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The Booze Hound
3734 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
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The Burlington
3425 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
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The North End
3733 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60613
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Turtle's Bar & Grill
238 W 33rd St, Chicago, IL 60616
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Weeds Tavern
1555 N Dayton St, Chicago, IL 60642
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Ziggy's Side Door Pub
6158 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60638
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