I came here in February with 4 other friends for a fundraiser. I like the fact it looks like it has not been updated in years. The dark wood bar is huge and long, the bartenders were all seemingly older men. I LOVE the tin ceiling! The good thing about that is they know how to make Ginger Presses and other drinks I'd assume are not commonly requested. If I lived in this neighborhood I could definitely see myself showing up here, alone or with friends, and just bs'ing with whoever happened to sit next to me. I may never go out of my way to come here, but I will definitely 'end up' here in the future. read more

Believe me, I hate Illinois Nazis. And I really hate pool Nazis. Gold Star has nonesuch players. The pool table is FREE - always! And is frequently re-felted. They use the most fair, efficient system in any bar around - highly visible, obvious chalkboard - no quiveling over misplaced, anonymous quarters. This bar has awesome drink specials ($2 taps on Mondays), friendly dedicated regulars, and enough space not to have to stand most nights. Four Gold Stars! read more

A real Chicago Bar, period... Out of everything I left behind after my move I miss places like this the most. It's simple, a lot cleaner than it used to be (for real) and a great place to play pool, catch up with people, etc. Awesome jukebox! If you don't get it fine but you probably suck so who cares... read more

I am incredibly biased, but I love The Gold Star. My husband & I refer to our favourite bartender, Mark, as 'The Doctor', & this establishment as 'The Winchester' (after the bar in Shaun of the Dead.) In a new majority of overpriced, trendy joints that Division Street has recently became over-populated by, Gold Star remains true to it's roots. With that said, The Gold Star did not receive 5 stars because you cannot step foot in this place after 10:00 pm on weekends without being surrounded by Miller-Lite swilling douche-bags who think it's funny to invade "dive-bars". This is definitely a 4:30 in the afternoon type of establishment. read more

Me and friends pass this place a lot and finally stopped in last month. It has a cool vibe and guys talked to us without just trying to pick us up! The bartenders are friendly enough on a busy night. We'll go back next time we are on Division. read more

The closest thing I've ever had to a Cheers. This place has changed very little in the 14 years I've known it, which is more than I can say for the surrounding neigborhood. And that's what I love about it. It also has one of the best jukeboxes in the city. How many places have Patsy Cline AND Black Flag?! read more

I go to the ukranian village all the time. I love to hit up the juke and play a game of pool late night when I dont feel like getting my groove on so much as just chilling out with some friends. good conversation and good beer. read more

GOLD STAR BAR SHOULD GET NO STARs! This place was okay at first i was greeted kindly by someone at the door when i came with my friend. we sat down it was not too crowded people were enjoying themselves during new years day and all we wanted to do is sit in the back play pool and drink a few beers and enjoy the coming new year- everything hit south as soon as i went from my table to the bar to get drinks for my friend. I went to the bar table and the bar tender was facing away from everyone- i thought she was looking at her payments or what ever so i stood their for 2 minutes until i noticed she was on her phone- when i asked for her help by saying excuse me- she doesnt bother turning around to acknowledge me she still has her back turned texting somone. and she yells one minute hold iT!-that was strike one- the strike two was when she finally turned to take my order witch was about 3 to 4 minutes waiting for her to serve me she says "i was busy texting my boss what can i get you" i ask her for a blue mofo and a G&T she says i dont know what a blue mofo is/ and while im thinking of what else my friend would want she quickly replys you was so admit about the drinks and you dont know what you want anymore- when i tell her fine just could you give me two g&Ts she walks off with a frown on her face- thats when i couldnt take anymore rudeness so i decided to go back to my friends table and tell her we are leaving on my way out she yells hey arent you going to pay for the drinks you ordered! and i yell back no! your a terrible host and a terrible bar tender you only recognize me know when i have to pay- you keep your damn drinks!- basically IM NEVER COMING BACK HERE AGAIN AND I WILL CALL TO ASK TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER ABOUT THIS EMPLOYEE SHE LITERALLY ALMOST RUINED MY NEW YEARS WITH MY FRIEND BECAUSE SHE DIDNT WANT TO BE BOTHERED TEXTING HER "BOSS" read more

really nice people. free pool. i will say that the guys i have seen playing are really good, so if your skills are lackluster you might be intimidated, but they are also really nice if you just write your name on the chalk board and play along with them. read more

Ugh. Went here last night based on reviews. It does indeed smell terrible. They had two little TVs playing some B-horror movies on top of a dingy old fridge they keep the beer in. No credit cards. Apparently, I'm an idiot for asking, or at least that's how the bartender treated me. He was nice enough to skip giving me a coaster or opening my beer as well, since I asked such a silly question. At least they have $2 Hamm cans I guess. There's way better bars down the street... read more

Great place to start or end your night. Or even just to grab a drink after work. The staff is always great and even though it may sound weird, the woman's bathroom is always clean! (just how every place should be) You gotta love that. A decent size crowd on the weekdays. Nothing crazy. It does tend to get a little crowded on the weekends especially in the summer, but it's still worth my time to stop in and have a drink and listen to some awesome tunes. The jukebox is a keeper. You can find stuff from the Misfits, Megadeth, Queen, Slayer, etc. Drinks are very reasonably priced compared to some other places on Division and they do have a pretty good selection of beer. Lots of bar seating and tables with mismatched lawn chairs and such. They also have a pool table which I've only played on once, but if you're interested just jot your name down on the chalk board and wait your turn. Itching for a snack? Ask the bartender for some free popcorn from behind the bar. read more

There always seems to be a bit of electricity in the air at Gold Star. Sometimes it's good; sometimes...eh notsomuch. My lady and I went here on a Monday night. There seemed to be a bit of sticky tension in the air when we walked in. A group of DePaulers sat down next to us and started chattin- harmless. About three minutes later, a barrel chested, old and purposely bald man charged through the door with his knuckles dancing in the air. He caught one of the DePaulers in the head. A quiet chaos ensued. My part time job being "freelance hero", I ushered my lady to safety. Everything was in slow motion. Baldie was swinging for the fences and he took a slip and wound up with his head in one of the DePauler's laps (he was still sitting). The DP kid nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and kneed the baldie in his waxy dome. Anyway, they chucked him, and we drank some more with a lady and her dog before the place started filling up. read more

i still like it even though my bike was stolen in front of the place. i love that every third drink i get a free one. but don't forget, it is a flop bar on division street from the days of algren. read more

apparently this is one of the most haunted places in chicago, and used to be a brothel. that's awesome, but i mostly go there to geek on the bikes outside and the bikers inside. its smokey and loud on weekends, but i rather enjoy it. also is fun to peek in the guys bathroom and read what's written on the walls. read more

this is a week night only bar. on the weekends its too crowded and too much of a scene most of the time, to be worth walking into for pretty typical beer and drinks. on the week nights, it seems to mostly be a neighborhood place for those of us in wicker not living in condos. read more

Now don't get me wrong, I've been able to legally drink for years, but every time I go to this place it makes me feel like I just finished elementary school. If you're over 30, and like to talk about how you used to be cool, this is your place. Seriously. Last time I was here I was blatantly and awkwardly hit on by a woman who was easily twice my age. I should have let her buy my whiskey though, because they made it wrong, and over charged. read more

It's quick and dirty, has a sordid history and isn't overrun with Lincoln Park-ians. They have a jukebox. The door guy(s) are nice. There you have it. read more

This place reminds me of Phyllis', but more hip (if that even makes any sense). There's a pool table in the back, and the bar itself is pretty nice. I don't really have anything special to say about this place, although the tall boy Daisy Cutter is kind of cool (but I don't like Daisy Cutter, so eh). The jukebox here is pretty excellent. It is really laid back here and a good place to relax. It's not really a late-night bar for me, but it's someplace I'd go before going out elsewhere. read more

Awesome dive bar. Cheap, relaxed and a great selection on the juke box.

favorite chicago bar. the owners couldn't be nicer. the door guy never forgets me. a great bar to spend hours in.

Five stars for Gold Star. Its a comfortable dive bar with reasonably priced drinks and good music.

good guiness pour. i've only been here on "off" nights, but the space is great and the jukebox is pretty well loaded with my kind of tunes as well. its the kind of place where you don't have to interrupt the bar tender from talking to her friends at the other end of the bar to get another beer even when its slow, the priority seems to be on good service. and 'another round?' seems to grace your ears at the precise time you're thinking about asking for it. the space is cool for a dive with some old school detail and history (apparently 2 people were shot in the bar throughout its history) i hear the pooltable is free, which is a gigantic plus. popcorn is a nice oldschool touch. i plan on going back and bringing friends. read more

This place is perfedt for the type that doesn't want pretention, wants to experience Old Chciago, and likes cheep booze. Seriously, it could be argued that Gold Star is truly one of the best bars in all Chicago. If you are not a bit of a drunk and a poet, walk on, this place isn't for you. Otherwise, come in and be prepared to see the ghost of Algren or Ryoko walk through the front door and straight to the pool table in back. read more

This is a cool place to go to on a Saturday night if you have nothing else to planned. If you havent ever been here before, I think you'll like the place. But after going to it many times, I'm kind of sick of it. Th drinks are pretty reasonable and music is not bad either. read more

Always a great place. One of the best juke box in the city! Gotta love it!!!!!