What a fun little spot. A friend of mine knew the band playing there and invited me to go see them. Filled with fun, filled neighbors and great music. Basic beers so don't go looking for an IPA like I did, although they did find me a couple. Saw a guy totally fall off his barstool drunk, that was great entertainment! Cute little neighborhood spot. Cute bathroom as well ! Can't wait to go back. read more

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Spectacular Dive Bar!!! Fits Rogers Park like a glove. If you're on the far northeast side it's a must!

My love took me to have a cold one at the Lighthouse Tavern in Rogers Park recently. You may need a lighthouse to find the place (I've not heard of this establishment until she mentioned it to me) but it is a quaint watering hole along Sheridan and near the Super 8 (no, we were not staying there). There seemed to be a couple of regulars at the bar that afternoon, but we were treated nicely as we enjoyed our adult beverages. Since this place is named after a lighthouse, I ordered a Lighthouse Hazy Ale on tap. It was good, though what we thought was a novelty in the beer glass (miniature lighthouse? spark plug?) turned out to be some sort of nozzle stopper that accidentally fell into the drink. Well hey that was fun, right? Enjoy the random sports and lighthouse trinkets displayed in the joint, including the men's room. read more

This bar is cash only they do have an ATM if needed. It was pretty quiet on a Friday at 6pm read more

Lighthouse Tavern - Inside - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nice people lots of fun. There was a blues group performing and they were awesome! Really ticked the place!

This place is fantastic. Part of what I call my "secret lakefront" a little known group of incredible joints, usually known only to people who live in the neighborhood. We rolled up on bikes yesterday, and joined in impromptu September birthday party! Perfect! A fun bunch of regulars and a generous bartender made for a really amusing afternoon. This place is wonderful. read more

I frequented this spot quite a bit when I lived in Rogers Park and it is a bit off of the beaten path. Having said that if one wants to get to know the local citizens and denizens of Rogers Park there are worse places that you could start. There isn't any need to enter this place looking for syrup infused, overpriced cocktails or 124 beers on tap. This place is a paragon of what that ubiquitous phrase "dive bar" means. I will say that the primary reason that I'll give this place four stars instead of two is because of a bartender there named Phil. He knows how to handle the establishment and treats the customers there with respect. read more

Enter a stranger but leave knowing everyone in the place. A delightful neighborhood anchor that I pray survives the pandemic.

A true "local" in the Brit meaning of the term. Cozy and friendly with a varied selection of craft and imported beers, plus Schlitz for the terminally hip. Live music most Saturdays. Now pouring their own house beer, brewed by local craft breweries. 6/26/20 update: The Lighthouse has reopened! With proper social distancing, of course. read more

Bizarre little spot for cheap drinking and good entertainment. ATMOSPHERE: Everyone here seems to know each other, and everyone is very welcoming and friendly. I sat down at the bar and was immediately welcomed and engaged in conversation by the guy sitting next to me. Everyone dances and everyone sings. There are disco lights at the corners illuminating the walls and ceiling. You can hang your jacket up and not worry about anyone going through your pockets. Also, it's dog friendly, which is awesome, because there was an adorable dog there who was very friendly. ENTERTAINMENT: When I went, there was an elvis impersonator performing some hit songs. At one point, a conga line started. There is a JukeBox here, not an old school one-- one of the digital ones that connects to your phone. DRINKS: Drinks were relatively cheap. I ordered a Jack Daniels and orange juice because they didn't have sour mix. It was a little disappointing that they didn't have a basic mixer, but I wasn't there for a 5-star cocktail menu, so I kept it moving and enjoyed my drink anyways. ALL in ALL: This is the kind of place I imagine when someone says neighborhood bar, but it feels like it belongs in a much smaller town. I'll definitely be back. read more

Great little neighborhood bar. Stumbled upon it on a Saturday afternoon and decided to check it out. Super friendly bartender. One by one people came in that all seemed to know each other, buying drinks for each other, wishing happy birthdays and showing pictures of their kids. Dog friendly - bartender greeted dogs by name and gave them dog biscuits. Definitely divey, but surprisingly bright with windows and door open. Nothing fancy, and it doesn't have to be. Will definitely be back. read more

Lighthouse Tavern - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lighthouse Tavern, where have you been all my life? I just recently stumbled into this Rogers Park dive with a friend of mine who lives a mere two blocks away. Why we had never discovered this place before, I do not know. The Lighthouse has been under its current management for 20 years, and it shows. Every poster, banner, or piece of art that has ever hung on the walls is still there, though some have been covered over by other pieces over the years. And all of it has a yellow patina, courtesy of 20 years of Marlboros. There's a lot of old "nautical" stuff -- maps of Lake Michigan, photos of guys in seafaring garb, some carved pieces. More recent additions to the decor include a shitload of sports memorabilia, much of it Sox-based. That's right Southsiders, here's your Rogers Park hangout! On top of that, add a bunch of standard bar kitsch from the 70s and 80s side-by-side with photos of regulars over the years, and you have an idea of the decor. There are two beers on tap, Old Style and Miller Lite. But they're $2.25 a pint, so how can you lose? Frozen pizza are available for 8 bucks, served piping hot from the pizza warmer. The urinal in the men's room doesn't flush, but it is regularly restocked with ice. And the proceedings are overseen by barmaid Eileen and her crusty old husband (?), whose name I didn't get. The Lighthouse is the kind of place that if you didn't know where it was, you wouldn't know it was there. There's no name out front (that I saw), just a lighthouse on a red/maroon awning. But now that you know where it's at, you owe it to yourself to go there. read more

I just moved to the neighborhood in October, and in trying to get the lay of the land, I heard about this bar. None of my friends who lived in the neighborhood had been here, and only half had heard of it, so I decided to scout it out since its only 2 blocks from me. I instantly saw why so few of my friends knew/heard about this place. It's hidden almost down an alley at the back of a building that appears to have no business containing a bar. Shaking off the feeling I may soon be stabbed, I went in....and I'm glad I did. The space is small, but didn't feel crowded. Heavy, HEAVY, nautical theme that's aging, but not so in your face as to detract from the experience. Its obviously a place that caters to regulars, but hey, what RO-PA bar doesn't? Half the place was 40-50 yr old gents watching football while the rest was the local hipster set, who actually seemed to mix ok. The bar is small, but well stocked. A nice mix of mostly German imports and mid level locals were on draft. Bottle beer selection looked ok, and mixed drink options looked respectable. The highlights for me were that the bar tender could actually pull a Guinness pour the way its supposed to be pulled, something that I hadn't found yet since the move. The bartender also randomly ordered a pizza for the whole bar on him, and random patrons actually asked me to have some. How many places have you been of late that do that? Not trying to oversell the place. Its shabby, and super hole in the wall, but in a good way. Like your favorite uncle's basement den you hung out in on holiday's while the adults had there time upstairs....except now there's beer. read more

I like this place. It has the right feel of cozy and welcoming, spacious even though it is small (the giant bar might contribute to that feel) and very friendly bartenders. I discovered this place because they have a piano night every so often with Barrel House Chuck and Robert Harvey playing boogie woogie and blues on keys and they are both excellent. Anytime I'm up here I try to stop in for a drink as they always take care of me and I feel welcome. Big ocean/nautical theme going on if you are into that sort of thing. Almost gave it an East Coast feel. They are kind of tucked away -- you need to know they are at the corner of *that* building in *that* spot. They recently put a sign out to help and I hope that doesn't jar the cozy cheers feel of the place. read more

There really aren't any taverns left on the north side that can beat the Lighthouse. It's cheap, friendly and the bartenders remember you and what you drink after your first visit. It's nothing fancy, but it sure is a comfy little dive. I love it! read more

I'm giving it 4 stars only because drink selection is limited. My wife and I got what we wanted but I would overhear other patrons being unable to get what they had their hearts set on. There's a decent variety of bottled beers and a couple drafts that I would imagine are rotating. All this being said, if beer or basic cocktails are what you're after, and you like a small dive bar atmosphere, you're going to love it. We were there for a wedding rehearsal get-together of about 25-30 people so it was jam packed. Our bartender, Sarah was fantastic and a pleasure to chat with throughout the night. If you're hungry and there before 10 or so definitely inquire about the sandwiches from Picnic Wine and Provisions because quite often they bring their leftover grab-and-go sandwiches over to the bar for like $5 and they blew my mind. One of the best bar experiences I've ever had. read more

It's a pretty bizarre little place. We went twice and the bartender was playing great songs, nice very divey crowd of regulars, cheap drinks, to me very fun. One time we went and there was a band playing, really sleepy jazz music and everyone was super serious and quiet, so we left. It's close by, and weird enough that I'll definitely go there more often. read more

Very nice little divey bar in Rogers Park just off Sheridan Rd. and Chase. Seriously, you wouldn't know this place is there unless you were looking for it. Cash only, but there's an ATM inside. Super cheap drinks and a cozy, welcoming vibe. Be sure to go here when the jazz trio is playing: they're the best part! read more

Ah... the lighthouse. This place is the most neighborhoody old man dive bar ever. That's a good thing. How do I love thee? I'll count em: 1. Cheap drinks- not the greatest beer selection, but you can't have everything. 2. Employees- the bartenders are great. They'll remember your drink after your first visit. 3. Patrons- Fun mix of people who live in the neighborhood, people who used to live in the 'hood and people who somehow stumbled upon this little Eden of drunkenness. The last group usually has this delighted little smile on their face as they walk in the door. 4. Location- it's great having a bar nearby that you can crawl home from. Or walk barefoot if you lose a shoe. Bonus- now that I quit smoking it helps that it no longer has that stale smoke mixed with stale beer aroma. Just stale beer. One caveat- I have noticed the occasional brazen little critter walking on the bar. Hopefully you're not squeamish. read more

Great place! Small, cozy feel. Good crowd, and we had a pitcher bought for us on the first visit. Bar tender is a really nice guy.

Lighthouse Tavern, you harbor some of the creepiest old people ever. Maybe it's just me, but every time I have set foot in this bar, I have had to watch a very old man make out with a middle aged woman. Drunk old people making out is not cool. Not cool at all. This bar is mega-divey. It really looks like someone's livingroom that they just so happened to put a bar in the middle of it. The drinks are cheap, but the beer is limited. Also, make sure to bring cash because they don't take credit cards. I think the bartenders there are great though. They do make you feel at home. So if you are looking for a small bar where you can find a relatively strange mix of people that may or may not have mullets and make out with old people, this is your bar! read more

A nice little place to chill with locals. I have lived in RP for more than 5 years and have seen this place change. Intially (still kinda is) the old regulars but most recently your seeing a younger crowd both working and from a customer angle. Perfect example how this place has changed., When I first started going there they had an beat up Jukebox playing CD's that for the song description, you'd see someone's handwriting describing the song. Now, they have a digital jukebox. Yeah, it's Divey but if you want a place to drink for less, you can order food to be eaten there and they have "packaged goods", check this place out! read more

I first discovered this hidden gem when living just down the street. Get joint for a ballgame, as they play both Sox and Cubs here. The taps say it all, Old Style and Miller, with the team flair to denote the division within this glorious little dive. Cheap and hospitable, this is a nice place to spend a rainy afternoon or happy hour. Juke is solid, mostly due to compilations by the owners and regulars. I mean how often do you put on The Who's "My Wife" and share a drink with a chap who it may really be his theme song that day? This place should be protected as a landmark. It's the last safe haven to the north. read more

Need sage advice? Meatballs of wisdom? This is the place. A sampling from last night: "Self pity. That's a room with no doors," attributed, with permission, to Ulysses Scott, one of my favorite regulars at the neighborhood gin mill, The Lighthouse, Chicago. Need guidance? Talk to Scotty. read more

Not impressed at all. The Gin and Tonic was weak and the tonic was flat. My wife's beer was good until the mold spore from the tapper ended up in her mouth. It's too bad. They have a great location and the night we were there they had a great little jazz band playing. We stayed for two songs then cut. Based on this experience I will not be trying them again. read more

This is located in the same building as Quest Network Services, so I stop in there every once in a while. I've hosted meetup groups of 15 - 30 people and brought them in twice a month from 2008 - 2012, and a good time was had by all! read more

The Lighthouse is a great neighborhood bar. Joe and all the others are always friendly and quick to point out new IPA's. A great place to unwind and engage in interesting conversation. Best bar in Rogers Park!! read more

I love this place, scratch that - I love the people that work and play here. It isn't fancy, they don't have the best selection of beers but they do have great regulars, a pretty good jukebox and it's cheap. read more

I had been curious about this place since jogging by it in the summertime. Contending with a severe case of cabin fever one winter evening, I finally decided to 'enter the void' and found it to be pleasantly relaxing. The regulars were colorful, friendly and most curious to know what brought me into their universe. Donald was the most skilled bartender, and I not referring to mixology of course, but at being what all great dive bars require: an unlicensed therapist. read more

I love this bar! It feels like the Cheers bar. Everyone is really great and super nice. It's easy to miss though. The first time I found this wonderful little gem, I thought it may have been someone's basement bar. Turn towards the lake, this place is amazing! read more

Divey-est dive bar. I am sort of sure that there isn't even a sign on the awning... Anyways, it's great and a big mix of ages and friendly people. Just remember to close the door behind you as there is no hydraulic door closure thingamajiggy. :) read more

Decent beer selection. Very small. If you don't live in the area, you would miss it. They don't have a big sign at all, so I guess it only caters to local neighbors. read more

My favourite bar in the area. I bypass a place across my alley and walk 2 blocks to the Lighthouse. The staff is awesome, the juke box is gnarly, the patrons are such a great mix of everything you can imagine and the prices are kick ass. It's aged, weathered, smells a little funny but so do I, and I wouldn't have it any other way. After all nobody is perfect and neither is the Lighthouse. Cheers! read more

Great reasonably-priced drinks (does that exist anymore?) and excellent live music on many wknds. Fun, relaxing vibe!

Yeah, this place is pretty cool. I swear we didn't hear a song recorded any later than 1976 the whole time we were there. Also the staff was super friendly and the place is cheap. I like this joint. read more

New management. Better than it used to be. Still a little freaky tho.

If you go here once in your life, make sure it's the day of the Kentucky Derby. But don't bother unless you're dressed to the nines.

Awesome nautical themed dive! Bartenders are always welcoming, BBQ outside when weather permits. There's not a lot of good bars in Rogers Park, but this IS definitely one of them. $10 PBR pitchers.....mmmmm read more

I'm from downstate. Sometimes I crave a really solid neighborhood bar. The glitz of chicago has it's place, but so does the Lighthouse. This is not a dive. They have craft beers. They have knowledgeable staff. They are nautical and reasonable with prices. There is no food, but you can order in. I reserve a 5th star for lack of parking and only taking cash. Otherwise, this is a laid back, nautical, neighborhood, homerun. read more

Great little place to stop in for drinks,right off the lakefront,people friendly.