Non-ridiculous bars downtown

Apologies in advance if my post is in the wrong forum, or if I've strayed from proper protocol. I've been reading this forum for about a week, and I think I have this right, but I've been wrong before.

So anyway, I'm ridiculously new to Chicago, and this website has already been more helpful in finding new places to eat than other consumer review sites that shall remain unnamed. Now hopefully I can find some place to drink. Is there anything downtown that resembles a neighborhood bar? The tragedy of downtowns everywhere is that their bars/restaurants are filled with tourists, after-work happy hourers, business travelers, and other miscellaneous patrons that don't actually live or drink there, imbibing away for only, oh, about $12/drink. That is the curse of downtown.

And I'm okay with paying a downtown convenience tax. I live on planet Earth and get how these things work, but I am only willing to pay the tax if the place doesn't suck. Typically city residents have learned to avoid soulless tourist traps, but unfortunately, I still don't know where the hell I am, and would be the happiest little camper around if someone could direct me to a bar downtown that is a) low-keyish, b) has a half-way decent whiskey collection, and c) has something resembling a regular clientele. I'm not looking for Cheers, just some place to hang around that is relaxed and with friendly bartenders.

My green is showing, and I'm okay with that.

Many thanks, and all the best.

Welcome sriracha!

A bit more info might be helpful here--"downtown" is a pretty big area--for you to truly find the right "local", it might be helpful to know approximately what neighborhood (Loop, West Loop, Gold Coast, River North, etc.) you'd ideally like to be in.

Define "downtown". The loop? There's a couple of places like Stocks and Blonds, Cardozo's and Wabash Tap that I doubt get many tourists.
They have a kind of local bar feel, but that being said they get a lot of traffic so I wouldn't expect then to remember you like your corner bar would unless you spend a LOT of time there.

Thanks!

I'm looking in the Loop, and would prefer that, and as a second choice, River North. Still, I am open to other areas of downtown, but those two would be my highest preference.

Give Stocks and Blonds or Cardozo's a try. They're both bars as in not much to look at but fairly reasonable drink prices. These are joints locals hang out in, not hotel coctail lounges. You're not gonna find either of these on anybodies "must go" lists, but that's sometimes a good thing.

as a second choice, River North

My personal favorite there is The Pepper Canister on Wells (500 N, iirc). Irish pub, nice selection of beers on tap, decent wine if you prefer (I do, but all my friends are beer drinkers & stick to stuff on tap), good bar food, more of a neighborhood feel during the week (I live around the corner, so this is when I'm most likely to be there), I tend to avoid on weekends as it can be SRO on game days.

Excellent. I have a shitload of free time and nothing better to spend my money on, and so to these places I shall go. I don't need a pretty place, just a place.

Monk's at Lake & Wells is generally chill. I'm not sure about their whiskey selection, but their beer selection is good, the free peanuts are fun, and it's definitely not a touristy place.

If River North is an option (albeit as a second choice), you could do a lot worse than Clark Street Ale House. Very good tap list and very good whiskey selection as well. Surprisingly low key and "neighborhoody" vibe, particularly considering its proximity to the Mag Mile; it was our neighborhood place when we first moved to Chicago and lived 3 or 4 blocks north.

742 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 642-9253

I don't know how this place exists like it does -- it is always calm, quiet, and enjoyable. Given the location and tap list, it should be packed constantly. The only possible fault is they don't have food.

Matt wrote:If River North is an option (albeit as a second choice), you could do a lot worse than Clark Street Ale House. Very good tap list and very good whiskey selection as well. Surprisingly low key and "neighborhoody" vibe, particularly considering its proximity to the Mag Mile; it was our neighborhood place when we first moved to Chicago and lived 3 or 4 blocks north.

742 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 642-9253

The bar at Ceres restaurant in the Board of Trade building sells very strong drinks for good value. Its filled with traders and locals and no tourists. None of the downtown bars will have the ambience of those that are in the neighborhoods though.

I meet friends after work at a few bars in and around the Loop - I wouldn't really consider any of them to be neighborhood bars, but they're not touristy places, and are mostly full of people hanging out after work. Some of the typical places we go to are Jefferson Tap (325 N. Jefferson), Coogan's (180 N Wacker), and Cavanaugh's (53 W. Jackson). There's nothing really exceptional about any of them, but they're good normal places to stop in and get a drink. As previous posters mentioned - Monk's and Clark Street Ale House are worth checking out. I've had some really interesting late nights at The Boss Bar as well.

Depending on how late you want to go, the Gage has usually calmed down significantly around 11 P.M. (on weekends, much earlier during the week). We've gotten to know a lot of bartenders just by hanging out there that late at night. They have a drink that has been off the menu for years now that they still make for my wife every time we go and have even run next door to Henri for the requisite ingredients.

Despite the high amount of tourists, these two factors have definitely given it the neighborhood bar vibe for us.

Attrill wrote:I meet friends after work at a few bars in and around the Loop - I wouldn't really consider any of them to be neighborhood bars, but they're not touristy places, and are mostly full of people hanging out after work. Some of the typical places we go to are Jefferson Tap (325 N. Jefferson), Coogan's (180 N Wacker)...

Every time I have been there during the week, Coogan's seemed to completely empty out around 7-7:30 when the last regular rush hour trains depart from the Metra stations.

toria wrote:The bar at Ceres restaurant in the Board of Trade building sells very strong drinks for good value. Its filled with traders and locals and no tourists. None of the downtown bars will have the ambience of those that are in the neighborhoods though.

Is this the place that has the crazy mixed drinks?
Like if you order a vodka/7 they basically fill a glass with vodka and hand you can of 7-up?

Yes that's the place. They apparently pour a very strong drink. Also Cavenaugh's is good too. That's in the Monadnock Building. It does have kind of the flavor of a neighborhood pub type place. No tourists. I ordered a Tom Collins there and they did a good job.

Rossi's is an excellent dive bar. You'll get a diverse crowd and have some interesting conversation. Probably my favorite.... or at least top 5 downtown

Rossi's Liquors
412 N State St
Chicago, IL 60654

You kids are great.

I've tried Monk's, and now on to try the others. This Ceres place opens at 6am and serves obscenely strong drinks? I'm almost sold. Thanks again to all.

When I need a drink at 8AM, I go to one of the Billy Goat Taverns in the Loop. Steak and eggs too!

Ha! I've actually been to Billy Goat's, but just to eat. My gods, I was thirsty, but I decided against temptation, as I had to be back at the office in an hour. Stupid work.

River North? Sable. One of the top bars in the entire city. If I weren't on my phone I'd look up the addy and link to the thread.

=R=

teatpuller wrote:When I need a drink at 8AM, I go to one of the Billy Goat Taverns in the Loop. Steak and eggs too!

Man I need to start gettin' to work earlier

ronnie_suburban wrote:River North? Sable. One of the top bars in the entire city. If I weren't on my phone I'd look up the addy and link to the thread.

=R=

There are many questions to which I believe Sable (505 North State Street at Illinois, in the Hotel Palomar) is the correct answer, however here I was more than a bit hesitant to suggest it.

The tragedy of downtowns everywhere is that their bars/restaurants are filled with tourists, after-work happy hourers, business travelers, and other miscellaneous patrons that don't actually live or drink there, imbibing away for only, oh, about $12/drink. That is the curse of downtown.

Sable is generally full of hotel patrons (tourists/business travels), after-work happy hourers, a few cocktail geeks, and the occasional industry folk...there are some golden hours (Saturday late afternoon, perhaps) during which that isn't entirely the case, but that's the norm. And, the drinks generally run $12 or more...

And I'm okay with paying a downtown convenience tax. I live on planet Earth and get how these things work, but I am only willing to pay the tax if the place doesn't suck. Typically city residents have learned to avoid soulless tourist traps, but unfortunately, I still don't know where the hell I am, and would be the happiest little camper around if someone could direct me to a bar downtown that is a) low-keyish, b) has a half-way decent whiskey collection, and c) has something resembling a regular clientele. I'm not looking for Cheers, just some place to hang around that is relaxed and with friendly bartenders.

That said, it certainly doesn't suck. It is one of my favorite bars in the city. The whiskey collection is out of this world, and the bartenders are fantastic hosts. However, it is rarely low-key and I can count on one hand the number of times I've run into anyone I know sitting at the bar...

rmtraut wrote:Rossi's is an excellent dive bar. You'll get a diverse crowd and have some interesting conversation. Probably my favorite.... or at least top 5 downtown

Rossi's Liquors
412 N State St
Chicago, IL 60654

+1 on Rossi's being one of the best dive bars in the city.

My rotation consists of, among others:

Paramount Room (typically Tuesdays)
415 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60654

Villains (Doesn't open until 5)
649 S. Clark
Chicago, IL 60605
+1 312 356-9992

Cavanaugh's, as mentioned upthread

Binny's Beverage Tasting Room (typically Friday's, closed Mondays)
16 beers on tap and excellent spirits selection + great tasting plates from gourmet deli
1132 S. Jefferson Street
Chicago, IL 60607
312-768-4400

Have to get over to Ceres - sounds great and right across the street from my new office.

Out of curiosity, why the necessity to be within the downtown area? I'll echo Villains as a very good option.

Re: Cavanaugh's. I've been there precisely once, and that was a long time ago, when I was still a vistor with no intention of moving here. It was well within what I was looking for in terms of not being some awful stereotype of downtown with no regular customers, and corporate-mandated pours of precisely 1.5 jigger servings, complete with those little machines on the bottles like you see at the airport, but it was during the summer and they apparently had malfunctioning/non-existent a/c. It was so gross that my friend and I just left. Of course, I shouldn't write the place off entirely because of that, so I'll go back. It wasn't all bad. If it turns out they just plain don't have a/c, I'll make sure to avoid it during summer.

NobleSquirrel wrote:Out of curiosity, why the necessity to be within the downtown area? I'll echo Villains as a very good option.

Need an easy walk or train ride.

Sriracha wrote:Need an easy walk or train ride.

Oh, if you are willing to hop on a quick bus or train, your options grow immensely. There just aren't many people in the Loop after work hours, so no one really caters to them.

Bar at Su Casa on Ontario is always a chill place...strong margaritas and really nice bartenders. Yes, there ARE tourists...but also a healthy group of regulars (us included)...small space, never too crowded.....old classic....

Food? Don't ask.....

Cavanaughs has air conditioning it must have been broken.

If we're including Villains, I'll throw in a tip of the cap for Kasey's Tavern as well.

I believe they used to have bottled beers only, but they have a decent selection of drafts now.

701 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60605-1837
(312) 427-7992