50 Best Dive Bars near Skokie

“Stopped in to meet up with a young friend that I've known for many years it was a nice place to have a visit. Local bar. It was 9am on Saturday so it wasn't very busy. Would recommend. The bartender was attentive and interacting with all the customers.“

“Edging Amazing show had a blast tonight“

“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. ❤️“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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 💖“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“Great food, drinks, and staff.“

“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“

“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.“

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

“Love this place! Very cool local bar with great staff. They are also not just dog friendly, but dog enthusiastic. Good NA beer available (room for improvement on options) and they have Ruffles and a few other crisp options. Not a place to take the Queen on a date, but certainly a nice place to meet new people if you’re new to the area.“

“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.“

“Great classic Chicago Tavern with a pool table, live music and a fun blues jam on Tuesday nights!“

“I purchased the 40$ turtle race ticket for Friday. It’s a nice place for getting a bit tipsy while having some fun before the night starts. Staffs are super friendly. But personally the takeout pizza buffet and the well drinks didn’t worth the price for me. They leave like four pizzas on one of the tables thus it can get cold and stiff really quick. I can get much better food and drinks for ten more bucks somewhere non-buffet style. This one is certainly dependent on personal preference.“

“Such a great place! Had so much fun. Highly recommend.“

“perfect place, friendly, easy on the pocket and the friendliest bartenders and customers. Makes a new customer feel at ease and welcomed.“

“I've been knows the number of times and I've always liked it. They've done a lot building out the rear space and that's nice to have expanded area because it was a little bit tight before. They have a stage in the main area which allows them to have entertainment.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“Food ok. Lots of beer options. We got the bait and switch on Sunday. We can in and asked where we could see the Giants game. They said anywhere. AFTER we ordered drinks and food they can over and said they don’t have Sunday ticket. That’s terrible. Will never come back“

“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 :)“

“Awesome people and cool bartenders“

“Lovely place! Great bar service too.“

“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)“

“walked by randomly on a Wednesday and went to the bar where I heard some music. the band was excellent, a really unique style, but brilliant. but the best part was meeting Thomas, the bar manager. as soon as I walked in he greeted me warmly and upon hearing it's my first time in Chicago, a shot was poured and I got the lowdown on local beers. I had a good chat with Thomas and could see how he was well liked by everyone there. would love to go back“

“Great, friendly, neighborhood bar. Jimmy will make you feel like you've been friends forever. Not usually open on Sundays, but Jimmy will open specially for Bears games, and you might also get to sample his homemade chili, sloppy joes, or maybe even some Little Caesar's pizza! ?“

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

“This is one of my favorite neighborhood bars. We love the atmosphere here; there’s always good music, good company, and popcorn! My husband and I love this place so much that we actually booked the bar for our wedding after party. Our guests absolutely loved the space and the service was fantastic! Special shoutout to Sean - he’s always a ray of sunshine and makes sure you’re taken care of.“

“Friendly bartenders that has always welcomed me and treated me with friendly demeanor that made me feel amongst friends. Always love being there and the atmosphere“

“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 staff and outstanding event to raise funds for fighting Cancer.“

“Music atmosphere people and drinks!“

“My band just played there. Great place for music food and drinks. Super friendly staff. 💯 recommended, add it to your list of watering holes 🍻“

“Keenan O'Reilly's is described as "a classic example of a Chicago dive bar." So what is a dive bar? According to one definition, it typically is a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style bar with inexpensive drinks and may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash only service and a local clientele. By that definition, I suppose Keenan O'Reilly's fits the description. Located at 3916 North Ashland Avenue, south of Irving Park Road, at Byron, in the Lakeview neighborhood, this pub opened in 2007 in a space formerly occupied by a Polish bar and is noted for its bright white and green Special Export sign above the door. It features a good-sized room with hardwood floors, a white drop ceiling and a worn wooden bar that arcs well out into the room. It also is noted for cheap beers, relaxed atmosphere and lack of crowds. Come for drinks and friendly conversation, not food. There is no kitchen. Open from 5:30 to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 1 a.m. on Sunday, O'Reilly's has a large beer list and manages to keep patrons entertained with pool, darts, ping-pong, electronic shuffleboard and other board games. There's also a couple of flatscreen TVs and a jukebox. There are beers on draft. Also craft brews, imports, ciders and domestics. And Trivia Night is a popular attraction every Monday. What's a dive bar? Now you know.“

“Great place to spend a night out with friends. Small intimate joint with music jams Monday nights & Thursdays.

Dennis Melzer runs a jam on Friday once a month. Great people. Wonderful times I have loved hanging out while I have been in Chicago while I was a guest in Dennis's apartment and he took me to this place.“

“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.“

“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.“

“matt..the bartender was awesome per usual. fun regulars“

“buena actitud no y bien cervicio“