Friendly and lively dive bar (4/5 Green Stars) Waiting for…read moretake-out from nearby Lou Malnati's, we wandered into Rossi's for a quick drink. It's a reasonably-priced busy dive bar in the heart of Chicago. I asked the bartender if she had a beer + shot deal and she said "no, but you can order a beer and shot." And so we did! Noise level is fairly high, thanks to a lively crowd plus a jukebox. They don't normally serve food but I think are fine with customers bringing in your own food, and you can also place an order from a nearby restaurant (I don't recall which one). And yes, it's cash only so bring some money if you don't want to pay ATM fees! 4 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. I like bars that allow customers to bring (or order) their own food - it allows for all diets! The one thing I'd like to see is more beer on tap - even just one good rotating local beer (e.g., Goose Island). Draft beer has smaller environmental footprints compared to bottled or canned.

Rossi's a great time for dive bar lovers, almost like a hidden gem amidst the hustle and bustle of…read moredowntown / River North Chicago. You walk up to the fridges, pick your hoppy and bottled (or canned) poison, and check out at the counter. Do note it's cash only. There's no food options but I read you can bring outside food in.

Classic. And I probably shouldn't be reviewing this place…read morecuz they are happily stuck in the past and don't give any importance to anything new. The jukebox is heavy on crooners. This is a smoking forward space. It's amazing.

This is a small bar and it smells intense (they allow smoking indoors). But it's worth a visit -…read moreit's historic and the prices are really good for Chicago.

This place is awesome. Incredible beer and drink selection with some hard to beat deals. It has a…read morepunk-metal atmosphere that's super unique, bartenders are all very friendly and attentive, and the pool table upstairs is always a great time. Sometimes they play some pretty weird movies on the TV and I'm here for it. Also Bills games here go hard. I'm not even a Bills fan and I was having a great time.

Came here on a saturday with a large group of friends and had to leave after 30 minutes because the…read morespace was so small and packed you couldn't really move. Id recommend coming with one or two other people if you'd like to stay a while. My only complaint was standing at the bar for over 10 minutes waiting to get a drink and kept being overlooked or ignored. The drinks were okay, I got a high noon so can't really go wrong with that but I heard their mojitos are good.

We came here for a celebration, visiting from out of state and realized how busy this place can…read moreget. It is a very diverse crowd, ranging from ages 21-60s. It was so interesting to people watch and also participate in karaoke. It felt like a judgement-free zone, which gave me the courage to go up and sing. I like that the place is crowded, but not crazy. We secured our spots by coming in early. The bartenders were nice and the drinks were reasonably priced. It is not a fancy bar, it is a "mom & pop's" hence the name Mom's Place. We didn't get a chance to check out the live music on the other side, but it seems people were having fun in every room.

Quiet enough to talk but rowdy enough to have fun! The music and atmosphere hit that sweet spot…read morewhere it feels energetic without being overwhelming. Just make sure you know what you signed up for with the karaoke room :) It definitely gets crowded on weekends and usually charges a cover. Regardless, no other bar quite does it like Mom's Place! - AD

Such a fun vibe and a great crowd! I went in on a Sunday evening and it was decently packed. The…read morebar itself is dimly lit and moody. There's plenty of booth seating, as well as tall chairs at the bar. Once it was karaoke hour, I put myself on the list and started singing. Everybody is fun about it, whether the performer is conventionally a great singer or not, and I absolutely love it! There was even a group of 4+ girls who sang together on stage, and the energy was so infectious, it got the whole bar yelling the lyrics along with them. Would highly recommend!

Brando's was a good time. Drinks were solid. There's two main areas split by the bathrooms -- one…read morefocused on karaoke and the other for conversation (with bartenders available in both areas). When we arrived karaoke seemed pretty paired down but an hour or two in, it was lively with a long queue for singing.

This place does not have food, no food menu!…read more Came here on a Wednesday night around5:30pm, sat at the bar, and there was one other person in the bar and the bartender was being trained and said "welcome to the black hole have you been here before" when I sat down. The staff were friendly but it felt ominous. I had to ask for a menu, and I got a beer, an IPA. They do not have an extensive menu and did not have their liquor on the menu. It was a weird place, it looks like a dive but it acts like a sports bar. Not a fan.

Best bar in the city! And Im from the SouthSide. Been coming…read morehere since 2023. You can bring in your own food.

Hidden Gem of a Dive Bar. If you're looking for an alternative to Maria's in Bridgeport, just to…read moremix it up, this place is perfect. Also a fantastic place to bar hop. Cash only. Mildly sticky floors (But in the good dive bar sort of way), overpopulated wall decorations, and friendly looking bar people who've been curating the classic rock playlist since before George Bush ran for president.

Upon initial arrival, I'm not gonna lie - I was a little hesitant. Dive bars are my thing, but this…read moreone reminded me of one of those hillbilly country bars with sparse options in liquor and potentially boring vibes. One other bar patron was in. No music was playing. However...within five minutes, I could already tell I was going to like it here. Steve, who I later found out was the owner, was very hospitable & friendly, turning on music, catering to my silly request to see the stop light colors change, etc. Eventually, more people started arriving at the bar, including live music. Everything fell into place. It became a really great experience, where people were all friendly and welcoming. Bathroom was clean. Bar was clean. ATM works perfectly (it's a cash only bar). I love good bars and "good vibes" (and hate the phrase good vibes but whatever it works here ) and if the shoe fits, hey, enjoy it while you can! Oh and disclaimer - nothing wrong with a hillbilly bar, I tend to meet the best people at these hole in the wall establishments who've, ya know, actually lived their lives and have rich stories to share If I'm back in Chicago, this'll be a place I'll try to visit again. If you're local, better check it out. I'm an expert, trust me

Fun dive basement bar with great cheap drinks. Bartendar was super cool and even met his dad..great…read moreconversation. If make it back to Chicago, I will stop.

Great beers on tap, and great selection of games to occupy your time with. They have a water pong…read moretable set up and ready to go! The low lights and overall vibe fit the basement aesthetic, I was defiantly thrown off by the one way mirror in the men's bathroom (which does protect the privacy of the occupant!). Great spot for a quick pint and to catch a game.

Love Old Town Ale House. Definitely a Chicago staple. Featured on Anthony Bourdain's show way back…read morewhen....it's got the divey, Chicago-y, gritty vibe I love. Cash only. Owner is a hoot. He's an artist and his art is wonderful political commentary. Bartenders are cool, drinks not too expensive, and good location in Old Town.

I met someone here before an event. Cash only establishment, which is no big deal, especially with…read morean ATM on site. Bartender was surly and the folks (who I assume were regulars) were all surly too. It was like walking in to a grumpy-puss meeting. The energy was super negative. If not for the great company I had (and the fact that we were already there) I might have suggested that we move. It was fine. Beer was cold.

We're back, because we love the craft beer at Kasey's Tavern…read more At first glance Kasey's presents a bit like a dive, but it's end-to-end craft beer and great people! It was nearly full mid-afternoon on a Saturday (Feb 2026) and we were lucky to find an open table! Service was quick and friendly. We had two frosty-cold craft beers: a Half Acre Daisy Cutter and a Deschutes Patagonia. The Daisy Cutter was dark orange, dry and hoppy, a "new" pale ale that is now a classic. The Patagonia was lightly golden, lightly carbonated, sightly sweet and citrusy. Of course we had another round, because we love the beer, the people, and the place :-)

This bar offers a lot of different types of brews and has been around for a long time. I find…read moremyself frequently coming back because they're usually the first place open when I'm looking for an afternoon after work drink. You'll run into regular people here from the neighborhood and depending what's going on close by you'll run into people visiting from wherever for whatever here. Great bar, they serve frozen pizzas too. Service is always good, older feeling bar with plenty of TVs to catch some sports.