I though I'd discovered a hidden gem in Wrigleyville. Nope! Everyone knows about this place. Luckily, on my visit, it was busy but not packed. There seemed to be a mix of regulars and random people, but do you know who was conspicuously absent? Assy, loud-mouthed, obnoxious frat boy types! Considering that I arrived only a few short hours after a Cubs game ended, this was a welcome sight indeed. I really liked the bartenders. One of them chatted with me about Malort, and the other told me a little about the the decor. Oh, yes, the decor. It's as if they started with a nautical theme but then decided, "F*ck it!" and let some art school students go crazy on the place. Please, please look at the ceiling. I don't mean "sample each of the tasty craft beers on tap repeatedly until you pass out on your back." I mean really take a look at it. It's worth your attention. I enjoyed the random mix of old Motown hits that was playing during my visit, too. It wasn't stupid loud, but you could hear it over the background chatter. How do so many bars get this wrong? I love, love, love, love that they have shelf upon shelf of board games for patrons to enjoy. While I must declare shenanigans on the movie trivia game for having a bizarre Steven Seagal bias, it was a great way to finish off a date night with my husband. Oh, and if anybody takes Scrabble away from me when I'm sober, I'll cut a bitch. Fair warning. Ladies, please note that the bathroom is pretty damn clean for a bar. They also have a little crock of tampons in case of an unpleasant surprise. How considerate! read more

Guthries Tavern - Ceiling art includes paintings and doll faces. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The bouncer just chased after me and knocked a full cup of water out of my hand. These people are crazy!!!!!! So sad.....

There are a few things I love in life: 1.) Friends 2.) Board Games. Guthries is a great place to have a board game night with friends. Over 20+ board games and access to a full bar? Hell yes. Not only does Guthries have 1, but 2 excellent signature cocktails priced between $6-8: Rum Cup (loads of rum?) and Pimm's Cup (Pimm and Ginger Ale). For those who are adventurous, try downing a few cocktails and then testing your hand-eye coordination via Cranium. Everything we sculpted looked like a hot mess. read more

Guthries Tavern - Rum cup - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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How can you not like this spot? I've been here a few times before, but I have to admit that before my recent visit, I hadn't been here in years! I remembered why I liked it immediately upon entering. How can you not smile when you see the checked tablecloths and row after row of board games? Score! Seriously, this is one of the cutest bars in the city and it's full of surprises. In reading the yelp reviews, I realized that I hadn't ever looked at the ceiling before - but you should - it has many interesting and unique pieces of art. I would say not to look up while you're sitting at the table with someone, but sneak a peek - you'll be surprised. I enjoy that the space is dark, but not uninviting - it's quite homey actually. I think of this space as a cold weather bar, but I have to say that it has appeal for all times of the year if you're looking to get out of the madness that is Wrigleyville. The servers won't rush you if you're slowly drinking and chatting and they were quite friendly to us. Also, the menu has some surprises - a pretty good wine list being one of them. If you just look at the bar, you think that beer may be the only option, but take another look and I'm sure there is something for everyone on the menu. Great little spot - definitely worth a repeat trip! read more

Guthries is definitely divey, but it is also surprisingly intimate for a potentially loud, rambunctious setting. You can pretty much make the experience anything you want it to be -- even down to ordering food in. It definitely can get crowded, but I think it's a quintessential Chicago dive worth experiencing. Get there on the earlier side, if you must! read more

It has been a while but when I lived in the Hood it was a great place to meet with friends. Not a bad date night ether, way better than a Movie. Plenty of Games to keep you occupied and the conversation going. read more

Guthries is the best place to visit on a the nights when you want to be social but not have to venture too far into Wrigleyville. This place caters to people that love to drink and play board games. They have a whole bookcase that is packed with the common popular games. I do have to mention that the games are very worn due to the overuse and sometimes are missing parts. This is a great place to gather with a group of friends. I would recommend getting there a little early if you planned on getting a table so you can play the games. The drinks are all reasonably priced and delicious. They offer bar food but they allow you to bring your own food or have it delivered. I've seen people get pizza delivered to a man walking through the bar selling tacos. I loved my visit and can't wait to go back! I can see this place quickly becoming one of my go too places on the nights I don't want to dance the night away. read more

I tell everyone this is my favorite place in Chicago because it's just that amazing. The bar has character and is a great neighborhood bar with a lil something special. They have a whole bookshelf full of board games, are open late, and have a good selection of alcohol. You can't go wrong here whether you're wanting to catch up with old friends or getting know new ones. Note to those who are driving that parking on the Addison is permitted so best to find parking on Southport! read more

Awesome - my friend and I went here on a Saturday night after an improv show near Belmont and we wanted a low key place to hang out for a few hours. She had been there a bunch of times, but it was my first and I really liked it! Here's why: 1) Saturday night at 9am wasn't too crowded - we got a table easily. 2) They have a GREAT beer selection - we tried a couple, and I was especially excited that they had Murphy's Stout on special! 3) BOARD GAMES of course!!! What an awesome way to spend an evening. 4) We didn't do this, but they let you order in food! 5) The waitress was great - we were there for about 3 hours and only had two drinks each, but she didn't make us feel like we were taking up space or anything. In sum, I'll definitely be going here again - it's pretty far from me, but I wish I lived closer to it and I'd be there very often! As it is, I'll definitely make a point to go back soon. Would be especially great for a date/double date. read more

Since I don't drink alcohol, I really appreciate a place that has a delicious non-alcoholic option for someone who just needs a place to hang out and play games. I feel a little guilty that I don't spend more while here, but I try to give a really nice tip to make up for it. Their game library is a bit limited, especially because I consider myself a game fanatic, but it is still an excellent option for a small, casual group of friends to hang out, play games and, in ordinary circumstances, drink. The prices are reasonable, ranging from $5-7 and it seems they have a rather extensive selection, which is nice even though I don't partake. They have a very limited food selection, just simple bar appetizers, but they encourage bringing in food from nearby eateries. All in all, I appreciate this place and think it is an interesting destination, especially if you're already in the neighborhood. But heaven forbid you try to find parking when they have a game or any event at Wrigley! read more

Guthrie's is great. Board games and beer. Great for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a Friday night with friends. Very casual, laid back atmosphere with board games for free. Given they're free, probably expect a couple missing pieces but nothing you can't figure out on your own. The board game selection is pretty good I think, plenty of your typical social games - yahtzee, sorry, life, apples to apples, etc. The beer menu is pretty good as well. I was definitely expecting plenty of light beers and plain old pilsners, but there's more. Got a couple good German beers there in the past. I would not recommend the food. I haven't eaten there, but friends have an none report it as anything worth eating. But you're probably not there to eat anyway. Guthrie's a a good time by all. read more

For a small neighborhood tavern that doesn't sell food this is as good as it gets. Been in Lakeview forever and isn't going anywhere soon.

If you love board games, this is the bar for you! This corner bar was real neat, it was packed on a Saturday night and all the tables were filled with people playing all different types of board games, card games, etc. We had to wait at the bar for a table to open up to play a game but nonetheless a great place to be. The board game options were endless, although some of the games were missing pieces or cards (one of the Sorry board game didn't have the cards and the game Clue didn't have the paper that was needed to play the game) so that was a bummer. Also the tables has a little lamp so it was kind of hard to see while playing a game. read more

I left within the same minute I walked in. There was no "bouncer" upon entering, I had never been there so I didn't think twice. In the middle of the bar, he rudely stopped me and hissed that I should have had my ID already out and ready to go? When I said I didn't know there was even a bouncer, he proceeded to harshly tell me that everyone else had figured it out and he can go wherever he wants, whenever he wants. Maybe if he was doing his job by tending to the front door and checking IDs before entry, I would have had my ID ready to go. Needless to say, the bouncer was a complete jerk, totally disrespectful, and rude! read more

Probably one of my favorite East Lakeview pubs (which is saying a lot). Realized after moving out of Boystown neighborhood, I was spending way too much time here. Fun, but no Andersonville (neighborhood tavern) read more

I love the vibe of this place! Not too crazy, but not too low-key, it has a great energy. The owners are ok with BYOF, so we ordered our own pizza from Pequod's Pizzeria and enjoyed it while I tried a stout from their menu. There are stacks of board games on a book shelf in the corner for anyone to play, and what was really fun the fact that people were actually playing! It genuinely seemed like everyone felt comfortable doing whatever they wanted, whether that was reminiscing with friends around a table, playing board games in a corner, or standing at the bar and yakking it up with each other. I'm usually not a bar person. Crowded, dark spaces where you have to yell at each other to be heard are not my pint of beer, but if I lived in Chicago, I would certainly make it a point to frequent Guthrie's with my friends. read more

A neighborhood bar two blocks from Wrigley Field. An interesting establishment with a low key vibe. Three of us Funksters stopped in for a nightcap after a late meal on a Friday evening. 11pm and the joint is full. Bar Gods countenance shines upon us as three patrons leave their bar stools just as we walk in. Bartend is johnny on the spot with a more than adequate beer & drink list. No kitchen to speak of but you can carry in or order out. The conversations are boisterous and many. Board games are available, selected and put in play. Background music is eclectic if barely audible over the patron din. Friday becomes Saturday which means time for a comfortable stroll back home. Life is good! read more

I love playing board games, so I'm quite the Guthrie's fan. They have all sorts of board games you can play while you drink. It's a little divey and definitely a very cozy place. Not many food options, they're simple frozen pizzas. Instead, you could opt to dig through their bucket of local menus and order delivery from some place nearby read more

Came here on a date. Was listed as a good place for a first date on some website. I was impressed with their beer list...it was pretty decent. However, they do not serve any real food here...but you can have food delivered there. The price for drinks was reasonable. I did notice they had a wall of games available there to play and my date did mention he had been there before for a nerd night which did sound somewhat fun. The place was quiet when we got there but it quickly got busy. I would probably come back except it is kinda far away from where I live and the date did not go as well as expected...wouldn't want to bump into him again would we. But maybe this place will work out for someone else who just wants drinks and games for their date. read more

Guthries Tavern - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great location, eclectic decor, great ambience and chill setting off the beaten path. Nice selection of both beers and board games. I've always liked this place, but last night my boyfriend forgot his phone at the bar. We realized when we got back to our car and drove back to retrieve it, but not before Kelly behind the bar had used my closed credit card to find me on Facebook and send me a message about the phone. To me, that is above and beyond when it comes to customer service. Kelly is a great asset to your bar!! Thanks so much! read more

Going for a nice stroll in Wrigleyville taking in the sights with your newborn? Don't come here. They unfortunately will make you leave straight up pre-Civil Rights era. I have been coming here off and on for years for the beer and board games. Life happens and sometimes you make babies. Sometimes those babies sleep in their car seat so mom and dad can cope with parenthood and have a few drinks. Not here. If the CUBBY BEAR will take your baby indoors, you know the snobbery runs deep in Guthrie's Tavern doors. PS Tavern means no kids. Look, we get it. We will take our money elsewhere. read more

What a disappointment this place was to me. I guess i believed the hype. The only redeeming quality of this place was that I was with some good company (which the bar really couldn't take credit for) and all of the fun board games. The place was like a meat locker, especially the back room. A few more drop in degrees and you would be able to see your breath. My hands were so cold that I was almost unable to shuffle the cards. The bartender was really out there in left field. I went up there on two separate occasions and I was ignored twice. Both times I was the only one waiting. The first time he just stood there talking to a chick while I held my $20 out there. I know the dick saw me because he looked at me twice. I am sorry I was born with a penis buddy but I am trying to spend some money in your freaking bar! The second time he just stood there staring into space. I had to get his attention twice. I am a generous tipper and I tipped him nicely the first round. The second time I gave a marginal tip because of the shit service and the dickhead give me a look. Maybe if he got his head out of his ass he would have received more. Because of the sub zero temperatures, crappy service, and sticky floors way too early in the night, I will not be returning here again. read more

This place is board game heaven, they have a pretty darned good collection of beers on tap, and the place has a nice homey feel to it. Unfortunately, a lot of the above was ruined for me last night. I can understand that you are not expecting a large crowd on a Tuesday night, and I can understand that the service may be slow because of it. What I cannot understand is why the bartenders have to cop an attitude because of it. There are times when I am not happy at my job, but I sure as shit don't snarl at my customers... 'nuff said on that point. I really want to like this place, so seeing as Mike D. S. and I are Trivial Pursuit gods, I am sure I will try Guthrie's again, I just hope the service is better next time. P.S. Please burn all of the Connect Four games... the game designed by Satan himself. read more

You can play here with two but coming with more gives you more options. You can get creative while on your back here. A great place when in the mood for some fermented yeast. ______________________________________________________ I came here with 3 friends (2 new ones, and Kristin R.) and wound up playing the board game, "Dirty Minds" and drinking some super classy beers. The clues above were inspired by "Dirty Minds". The first for it's vast amount of games, the second for the super fun painted ceilings and the last for it's extensive and well selected beer list. So get your mind out of the gutters people! They have all sorts of great games, Scrabble, Chutes and Ladders, Chess, Operation, Catch Phrase, etc. etc. etc. You'll be hard pressed to find a game they don't carry here. Whether you come here for the beer and stay for the games or come for the games and stay for the beers, Guthrie's Tavern is a must! read more

Guthrie's is a pretty solid place all around. Problem is, everyone in the neighborhood realizes this so it tends to get crowded pretty quickly. The front of the bar is really narrow which makes it a bit of a chore to elbow your way to the back patio. Oddly enough, the back patio seems to always have the most room which is bizarre as this is where one should head to experience what really sets Guthrie's apart. What is that you ask? Why nothing less then a bookshelf of board games open to your drunken disposal. This is a good place to go if... getting wasted and playing Scrabble at home is starting to loose its appeal. read more

One of my favorite winter bars! Warm, cozy, beer, whiskey, lots of facial hair, funky painted ceiling tiles, tampons in the bathroom, board games, checkered table clothes, cheap pizza, mustard and pretzels, boys, beer, whiskey... You get the pictures. Plus, it's a good spot to go to if you are on a date or with someone you don't feel like awkwardly staring at for a few hours while getting buzzed. You can play some board games instead. Be prepared to sub out different items for missing game pieces. Things that work well are: lipsticks, the tampons from said bathroom, rings, pretzels, earrings or you can get creative and use clothing. read more

Epic Jenga games go down at Guthries... Be ready to play on a slightly slanted table, which makes the game a lot more fun and more unpredictable Guthries has a wonderful atmosphere, and is quite a pleasant surprise to have in Lakeview. I have to admit that yesterday was my first experience, and I could easily see how this place becomes packed most nights of the week. I don't really like bars, but I have to say the atmosphere was really outgoing and fun here. Everyone was out with a friend or two, and they were casually drinking and having a great time. I will definitely be back to Guthries, and I'm glad to know that it is here in the neighborhood. read more

I have been going here for many years and have loved the laid back vibe. Though the last time I went there was with an ex-boyfriend and his friends, about 6 months ago, from out of town on a Wednesday evening I believe. We got there about 8pm and sat at the bar, and had to beg to get even our first of many rounds of drinks. Mind you, we weren't drinking miller light, we were drinking Chimay and Lindman's just to name a few. And the bar was barely busy, when we arrived. One would think that one wouldn't have any issues getting more $12 bottles of beer when you are sitting right there at the bar. When my exes friends arrived we moved to a table, and even after the first asian bartender left and the older guy with the ponytail showed up, the poor service continued. Whenever my ex would GO UP TO THE BAR and attempt to get another round of beer, now for the 4 of us, he would be purposely ignored. He finally gave up, and had me go up to the bar with him in the hopes of getting another round or two. Even after I went up to the bar, the bartender guy wouldn't even acknowledge me until I started to lean over the bar and wave my hands in his face. Both my ex, and myself were fit to be tied at the end of the evening, and made a point of leaving a ZERO tip on a tab that was over $80. The guy with the ponytail had the nerve to call my ex back into the bar and demand why he wasn't receiving a tip. My ex then told him it was because of the shitty service that we had received the entire evening. The bartender then made some excuse about the place being busy. It was a week night, and even with us WALKING up to the bar to get more rounds, we still weren't getting served. There is no excuse for that. Had he even ONCE acknowledged us and said to us that he would be with us in a minute that he was "busy" we would have left a tip. But the blatant rude service got him a big fat zero! I believe in tipping, and I will tip up to 50% for great service, but I have no problem with NOT leaving a tip for bad or rude service. A tip should be for service rendered, not just because you felt like maybe getting more beer. read more

possibly THE most fabulous bar in THE city of Chicago . . . but only possibly . . . I love scrabble . . . and trivial pursuit . . . okay really anything that allows me to showcase my fabulous wit, infamous talent, and amazing ability to string together incomprehensible words and make you believe them to mean something (see balderdash) . . . mix that up with a lot of people in one place doing the same thing and i'm totally a fan. Sure you could make a fool of yourself in the privacy of your own home, but board games at home? Loser. In a bar on a Friday night? That's Out. And that, my friends, is status. Plust they were incredibly helpful with my parent's surprise anniversary party - and for that alone they'd get 5 stars. The rest is seriously an amazingly cool bonus. read more

Board games and booze! Never were there such a heavenly combo since PB met J. For real. It gets crowded, and they have no food...but allow you to order in from nearby establishments (many). Get there early for a good table. It's been so crowded lately...so um, I just booze at my house and play board games with my friends. Much cheaper...but this is a stellar place in the 'hood. Great concept. Excellent cameraderie. It makes people happy. Parking bad at night. read more

Guthrie's is always a good time--a bar where I can show up in a hoodie and feel totally at home. Plenty of board games and a good beer selection. And you gotta love the tamale man! It's a great place to go for a change of pace from the rest of the establishments in the area, particularly on a weeknight. And it doesn't even get crowded during Cubs games, so you can easily watch the game. So why 3 stars? We pretty much always sit at the same table and as a result, usually get the same server. And man, is she a bitch. Typically when you are a waitress, the expectation is that you will, in fact, have to wait on people. It's not just a clever name, honey. So stop acting so annoyed when we order another round, and then freak out when we go to the bar for a beer instead because you seem so bothered by us. Make up your mind! Maybe we should just pick a new table, that seems like the simple solution...ha. read more

It's kind of, almost, lame to sit at home and drink and play Scrabble. It's kind of, totally, lame to sit at home and play Connect Four unless it's been raining for a week and the roads are flooded. It is not lame to go to Guthrie's and play board games and drink and dare hot guys that they can't beat your Scrabble score. This place needs to move closer to Pilsen so I can go here every night and meet people who are just as awesome as me ;) read more

Arrive a bit early, stake out a table and grab a board game. This place is perfect for two or four. I went with a group of six and we had trouble finding a good comfy spot. They have a great selection of beers and offer menus from neighborhood menus, encouraging you to order in for food. Quite unique--and necessary considering their offering of food/appetizers wasn't impressive. It's cozy and quaint and you'll feel pretty damn special sitting in Guthrie's atmosphere. read more

Guthrie's might be the perfect bar. They have a wide selection of craft beers, a bookshelf full of board games you can play for free, and there's a Taco Bell just down the street for when you find yourself still playing Blokus at 1:30am. It gets busy, so brush up on your table-stalking skills or get there early. All of this sounds great, but you know why Guthrie's really gets 5 stars? Free tampons in the women's bathroom. Ladies, you know this is worth an extra star. Thanks for looking out for us, Guthrie's. read more

Greatest. Bar. Ever. Holy shit, it is so fantastic, I can't even tell you. The booze is priced like any other booze in the city, but you don't go here for the amazing drink specials. This bar is alllllllllll about ambiance. It's dimly lit, but perfectly bright - if that makes any sense at all. The ceiling is AWESOME, as is the rest of the decor. And there are BOARD GAMES. LOTS OF THEM. Beer + Candy Land + Chutes & Ladders = Fucking Awesome. read more

B-6....HIT!...YOU SUNK MY LIVER! This is one of my favorite bars of all time. First of all they have tons of board games from Connect Four to Jenga to Scrabble to Cat-opoly (that one doesn't seem to get much play). If you haven't played board games while inebriated you are seriously missing out on a good time. The bar is definitely unique (was that a ceiling tile covered in creepy doll heads?), the bottled beer selection is good (try the Three Floyds or the Left Hand Milk Stout), the bartenders kick ass (I'm a sucker for free birthday shots), and the crowd is mellow and surprisingly d-bag free despite being a few blocks from Wrigley. What more can you ask for? read more

I liked coming here when I lived in the 'hood. It was cozy, has the regulars, and has tons and tons of board games! What's not to love!? You always feel like you can come on and and hang out! Sometimes service is on the slower side, however, if you're playing games, who cares!? Only con is that I hope it doesn't get crowded after being featured in the new TBS show "My Boys." The show has changed the name to protect the innocent, however, PJ (the main character) wears a Guthrie's T-shirt to bed sometimes! read more

'Twas a Friday night and there was snow thick on the ground. I was out with some friends and there were no cheap drinks to be found... Okay done with that. My good (and like-minded) friend and I allowed our other friends to pick the first two bars. Drinks were expensive and the music was...questionable. So like-minded friend led us on a minor and slightly chilly trek to Guthries. Admittedly the night got a little fuzzy after this. Like-minded and I sat at the bar, played Guess Who, got hit on by a few regulars, and had a generally fabulous time. Other friends...did other things. It was due to Guthrie's that we had such a fabulous time. And I left that night, promising myself that I'd be back. And I shall. Mark my words. I shall. read more

If you are the type of person that sometimes is short on conversation, like myself at times, then Guthrie's might be the place for you. At times, I get a little bored at the same ol' bar conversation...yawn! Why not play some board games? They have a whole shelf of board games to play while you wet your whistle all night long. The drunken debauchery that occurs in other bars has been replaced with drinking and Trivial Pursuit, Connect Four, Scrabble, etc... board games. It makes a comfortable atmosphere that you won't find too many other places. You don't have (as many) people acting stupid around you and you can actually here the other person talking to you. Definitely worth going to. read more

Probably my favorite bar in Lakeview or anywhere in Chicago for that matter. It has a neighborhood feel, a great selection of beer (~10 on tap and ~40 bottled), BOARD GAMES, an outdoor patio (summer months), and a ton of character (look at the ceiling when you get there). This is the default place I'll go with a small group of friends for a great time. It gets really crowded after Cubs games and after 11 PM, so get there early to grab a table and a couple of your favorite games. Pro Tips: - This place is in Tamale Guy's regular rotation - You can have food delivered from anywhere (they have menus) - Balderdash + Booze = Hilarious - No waiters until around 9 PM (go to the bar for drinks) read more