50 Best Dive Bars in Chicago

“I feel bad taking off a star bc i don't know if i can say this is the establishment's fault, but, it's got great drinks, amazing prices, and great music...

But for a place with such affordable drinks and funky music, the vibe is VERY snooty hipster. NOBODY dances or even nods along to the music. I know it's not exactly a nightclub, but there's extremely danceable music and plenty of floorspace, and any time me or my friends would get up to dance a bit, the completely immobile crowd would drain all of the joy. In this sense it's honestly one of the more depressing spots in Chicago.

But if you want to get great drinks at a great price and want to stand still in a too-cool-for-school hipster crowd while listening to good music, it's the place for you.“

“2nd time in. I love everything about this place and I really don't like many things. If I got specific, it would be philosophic and embarrassing. Just come get energized, refreshed, and regain your trust in humanity. Love you guys down 💖“

“Met a cool girl named Katie here. She kept saying slay. Hope she’s doing well. Nice place. Awesome pool table, so clean! Jukebox was lovely and esoteric. Maybe in the future think about getting some music like “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson or perhaps some Korn. Maybe even a entire selection of Nu Metal. Drinks so yum! I drank them all. Thanks!P.S.“

“The vibe here is incredible. If you’re lucky you’ll catch Tony behind the bar. A friend told me about this place when I was coming to town, and I’m so glad I stopped in because I had one of the best nights out. This bar feels like it carries so much character and culture. A great mix of locals and folks passing through. Incredible music and patrons who appreciate good music. The bartender Tony is outstanding at his job, it was a treat to meet him and watch him interact with people throughout the night. He introduced me to folks & made me feel so welcome & is just an interesting dude in general. Plus the smoking part is a huge sell for me and something you don’t experience often. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in town!“

“if there was ever a better Watering Hole In chicago. This Is It, hands down. Chris and his staff are superior at every aspect of being a classy drinking establishment. I recommend it highly, and Shop local all you lovely Neighbors.“

“My hangout place in Hyde Park. Tanya, my dear friend from many years ago, pours drinks and manages the Falcon with an extra helping of great personality.
Plus, you can order great food through the window that looks onto the eatery next door. Great chicken wings and Lasagna!“

“Nice bar & open late! Had a bad day with a missed connecting flight. Hotel bars charge out the wazoo so went here instead. Felt welcome and cared for by the bar tender (Emily?) great deal and good ambiance. Would return if I’m ever back!“

“Honestly, I love it here. I had an issue with some dude being weird and the whole bar took care of me. I feel safe here as a femme presenting person and this place is getting all of my money. It's definitely a regulars bar, but Jeff is cool! And so is Viv! They made me feel very safe and welcome! I'm super thrilled with the Archie's crew!“

“Edging Amazing show had a blast tonight“

“Great Bar! Fun Owner is Friendly... Reminds me of Temple Bar in Dublin.. College Town“

“Liar’s Club has some of my favorite bands on the regular, so I find myself there a lot. My band has played there too, and it’s a great experience - the room sounds good, with a solid PA system. Gary and the rest of the staff are awesome - the polar opposite of the snooty, hipper-than-thou attitude you get at some rock & roll joints. Drink prices are cheap, and parking is always pretty easy. The clientele is consistently asshole-free. Can’t think of anything bad to say about Liar’s.“

“It’s the Vibe. Great place to chill and Have a great time.“

“Cool little place in the middle of a nieghborhood . Great food. My husband and I love to go there.“

“Bernice's is the best of Real Chicago! Love this place in Bridgeport!“

“Sky Ride Tap is a classic no-frills Chicago dive bar in the best way possible. Stopped in for a couple of beers and a shot, spent about $20 total, which is a steal for the Loop. The bartender was old-school and friendly, pouring drinks with a heavy hand. The vibe is laid-back, unpretentious, and full of regulars who’ve probably been coming here for decades. If you’re looking for fancy cocktails, this ain’t your spot—but if you want a cold beer, cheap drinks, and a real Chicago bar experience, this is it. Definitely coming back next time I’m in the area!“

“Go for the lowkey vibe and experience. Love the art and the back story.“

“I can't recommend this pub enough for any locals or tourists. It has a cozy vibe with a hint of dive and a great outdoor space that compliments what makes Chicago great. Not to mention the patio is dog friendly z you are sure to have a blast and make new friends!“

“Great food, drinks, and staff.“

“Cynthia is such a vibe!! This is definitely a fun place to come if you enjoy dive bars. Even the patrons are awesome! 10/10 reccommend!“

“White Sox Bar!!!!!!!!😂!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! N n n n n n“

“I love this place! You won’t be disappointed & Lily is an absolute QUEEN!! 🤍“

“Total local joint. Love stopping in when I’m in town“

“Unique neighborhood locale with its own distinct character. 2/5 for the price of the espresso martini — it’s a below-average serving portion and a lackluster flavor profile. Each room had its own vibe, decor, and ambiance. Attentive and great service from a gentleman bartender.“

“This is the safest place to have a great time any day of the week. I highly recommend attending their Karaoke night on Saturday's. It’s always a blast and you can sing songs in any language (Spanish & English)“

“Sunday Funday watching NFL“

“If I could rate this place a hundred stars, I would. The owners are incredible people and I feel so welcome everytime I walk in! They also allow dogs, so it is my dog's favorite place, especially since they keep dog treats behind the bar :)“

“Sovereign is the best type of Chicago dive. Cheap beer, good people, best jukebox you'll find. Much love to them for letting my band do a fundraiser for my buddy's medical bills. The crowd, the staff, and the regulars dug deep and we've covered medication costs for the next couple month“

“Alex is a great karaoke host! Olga is the best inviting and the sweetest bartender! ? this is a great place with great atmosphere. My boyfriend recommended this place when we started dating and now we are regulars and friends with the staff. They have a little back porch area for smoking or just getting some fresh air if it's too packed inside! I love this place!“

“Fun event but understaffed for the crowd

Came to see a friend’s band perform and had a great time overall. The event itself was fun and the crowd brought great energy. However, it felt like the staff wasn’t fully prepared for the size of the crowd, even though the event seemed planned in advance.

There was only one main person serving drinks, with a few others helping, but they clearly seemed overwhelmed. It took quite a while to get the bartender’s attention, and my order was forgotten at one point due to the rush.

Still, despite the long wait for drinks, the performance and atmosphere made it a good night. Hopefully they’ll be better staffed for future events.“

“Best bar in the neighborhood.“

“I hope this Polish dive bar stays around for many more years. Cash Only. Pool Table available - $1 a game (coins) the jukebox is holding on by a thread but it's only a $1 for 3 songs which is great. The day I was there we had the entire bar to ourselves the whole night.“

“This is our go-to place to stay when we ski at Granite Peak. The staff is professional, responsive and caring. When my daughter was sick they brought the medicine to our room and made sure we didn’t need anything else. The location is also perfect near some incredibly good restaurants!! I highly recommend.“

“Don't go looking for frills because they ain't there! Cash only, excellent neighborhood bar!! Cheap beer, great service, and friendly people. Get a parking pass to boot then walk up to the game! I've been going for 20 years and it never fails to disappoint me.!! LOVE IT!!!!!“

“The hidden gem of all dive bars, full of history and character. Highly recommended. Cheap beer and great company.

It's okay to bring in your own food, pizza or other take out options. Come one and come all... Chipp Inn is your spot.“

“First visit there tonight and it was a lot of fun. Everybody there was really chill, was having a good time, and the bartenders were absolutely amazing. Can't believe I didn't come here sooner but I'll definitely be here more often!“

“Came in here around 11 or so on a Thursday night and had a great time. I tried the peppermint Malört shot they made which was the best shot of Malört I've ever had but still terrible, which I think is the idea. Being able to play darts was a lot of fun and the general atmosphere in the bar was friendly and open.“

“We love it and we highly recommend it and the family there is the best. Enjoy ever min there😀😍🤩🥰“

“Stumbled in here by chance and had a great time on a somewhat busy night. Cheap drinks, cold beer, and Nilda is an absolute angel. Her pup Frijolito is a lil cutie too. I hope Nilda is able to keep this place in business for years to come as they don’t make ‘em like this anymore!“

“Great Chicago Tavern. Old Style on tap. Malort behind the counter(ant your own risk, lol). Owner is awesome. Went here because growing up as a kid in Chicago I’ve been to taverns with the old man but never been to one as an adult. Would definitely go back here again.“

“Agnes makes this bar a 5 stars bar she's an awesome bartender“

“Love coming here but mostly for the patio. Inside always smells like raw sewage or intense bleach lmao. The patio is incredible tho you get to see washed up punks and hipsters who still cling so hard to their youth, yuppies with dogs that don't understand why we're all laughing at them, and some old heads who just wanna enjoy the sun. Prices are great, bartenders are the best, just uh the smell inside can be a problem.“

“Great place to chill with friends. Free darts and pool can't beat that. Bartenders are super friendly and attentive. They also have a parking lot in back. They have some snacks and frozen pizzas(surprisingly delicious)

Parking: Back of the building. About 12 spots.“

“Decent bar. It was pretty cozy. Came here a while ago and tossed back a couple of drinks with a buddy. It's a neighborhood bar where everyone there knows everyone. You can tell there are a lot of regulars. We had to park about a block away due to lack of parking close to the bar. Decor was interesting“

“I love all the people here! ?????? I came here to celebrate ? Cinco De Mayo. And they all were so sweet. If you do decide to go just make sure you take cash....they don't accept credit/ debit cards. They're drinks are reasonable and cozy vibes. (Updated 2024: AND STILL GOOD VIBES)“

“I miss this place. It was my regular spot in 2007 & 2008 before I moved back to California. Very diverse crowd of regulars from different walks of life, but everyone knew each other. Jim is awesome. If I could still give him my money for alcohol, I would.“

“Great neighborhood bar. Small town feel in a big city. Clean, great prices, free pool and a huge dart side with steel tip play.
The owners and bar tenders are amazing, I have been coming here for years now after moving from a little town in the UP of Michigan. Great place and good people!
They have peanuts, pretzels and pizza.
They have food on Sundays during football season for bears games and during baseball you will never miss a cubs game here.
They will host parties.
If you like to play the slots the have machines with on site pay out.“

“One of my favorite Chicago Venues to play. I live in the burbs so it’s a little hard to go out for other shows as much as I would like. But when I do, it’s always home. ❤️“

“Visiting from another State, and needed a night cap to help me sleep. Great Atmosphere and friendly staff. Nobody bothered me either. Beer was $4.00, and I thought that was cheap despite it being Chicago and I only pay $3.25 at home. Would definitely recommend 👌“

“I make sure i come to this bar EVERY time I fly out of Chicago (5-6x/yr). The bartenders are awesome. It's also right off the blue line.

Tonight is the only bad experience I've had here: I convinced a friend from Chicago to meet me here and we waited for three hours to sing and nothing. Completely ruined the excellent reviews i was giving her about the place. The normal KJ is excellent. He's a little older and is really funny but the young guy with the glasses and long black hair sucks. I won't be back if he's here, which is so unfortunate. I tell EVERYONE about this place.“

“Good spot to watch a game or ufc fight“