I feel at home here, and it's only partially due to the various kitchen table/chair sets and wicker-framed couches inside. Rose's is your standard-issue dive bar, and from my experience full of good people (staff included) just looking to have a good time. It's an extremely laid-back atmosphere. Right when we walked in, the smell of cat piss hit me right in the face. Not exactly a HUGE deal I guess, but this is good for 1/2 star off. It didn't make me want to run away at least. On the plus side, once you were in there for awhile you really don't even notice it anymore. The "door guy" checked my ID and said "Mark...get your A**over to the bar and get F****** drunk". Later the same door guy was on the dance floor gettin' down like crazy. I wonder if he was even an employee. Anyway, who am I to ignore a direct order? I got a pitcher of Old Style for $10 - not bad at all. The last time I was here (See Paul C's review below) pitchers of Old Style were $12, so I don't really know what happened there. Maybe Rose has had mercy on all of us due to the slumping economy....or maybe someone just screwed up. Either way, beer and old school mugs in hand, we all settled down at one of the few full kitchen table sets in the place, complete with cushioned and upolstered roller chairs, and one of the 3 couches in the place (none of which match each other). The couch we were at had some gross blanket thrown over it, probably in an attempt to hide some filth. At least they tried. I have 2 problems with the furnature situation in this place: 1.) Anything upholstered in a bar is a bad idea. I don't think I have to explain why. 2.) Anything but hard wooden stools and chairs in a bar is trouble. Sitting on an overstuffed, filthy, flower-patterened couch and getting drunk just makes me want to sleep at my ripe old age. I need chairs equivalent to some sort of torture device to keep me from nodding off. This is the reason for the other 1/2 star gone. Also, at some point my buddy went to get a pitcher and only had $7 left, which the bartender accepted. I thought this was really cool of them to do. In any event, if you like dive bars and side-stepping the normal, terrible bar scene that plagues the Lincoln Park/Depaul area, check out Rose's. Cheap beer and a great atmosphere. Despite the cat piss. read more

Rose, oh how I love Rose. There is something about this place that tugs at my heart strings. Maybe it's the $1 beers, or the strange old men that swoon over me, or maybe it is just Rose herself. I come here to play pool on the worst table in one of the most smoke filled bars in all of Lincoln Park just to listen to Rose tell great stories in her Ukrainian accent.This place is a classic. read more

Rose's was the first, true, Chicago dive bar I ever went to and I've only grown to appreciate it more with every beer! Round up a friend, experience a little drinking culture and make a memory or two- this place should be on the national registry of historical landmarks for its preservation of basement beer drinking chic- that's no lie! read more

Come Thursday or Saturday after 9pm and say hi to John. Tell him you're old friends. Don't back down. By the time he's done racking his brain to recall who you are, you will be old friends. That's how Rose's works. If you're not a complete dick, you'll be family. read more

Amazing. I am from a small town in Minnesota and this bar totally made me feel at home! It feels as if you are walking into someone's living room (floral sofas, nicknacks, and ridiculous framed paintings). Cheap pitchers of beer were a hit with the entire group. YES the rumors are true....Rose is definitely still bartending and well into her 80's! read more

It is hit or miss with Rose, in terms of her sanity. Some nights we catch her pouring old, half-finished pitchers into our pitcher and other nights she's stuffing you with butter pretzels, giving $2 tequila shots and telling you how cute you are. I actually have and old candy dispenser of hers in my living room. My friends complained about not getting candy for their quarters and she said to get rid of it, so they carried it home! AND I jimmied the quarter slot and made me self $45! And the Grandma's basement thing is just insane and a must see. Lots of regular characters walk in there too. read more

Rose offered me leftover baked ziti one night. This bar makes me feel like I am in an old lady's basement, which essentially I am. There is amazing people watching here, whom mostly are the older regular patrons. (I believe I saw a geriatric prostitute here picking up clients.) But for all that, Rose's is really pretty tame. The only downside is drunken Lincoln Park college students who come and essentially torment Rose right before the bar closes. "Remember me Rose? Remember me? Rose?" They figure if they drop her name enough she'll give them a free drink. I wonder how they figured out her name? Hmmm... I wonder. read more

LOVE this bar. Very very "grandma's basement" atmosphere. Lots of couches, a pool table, great service. I've been here twice with a group of friends and never had a bad time. Great jukebox too. read more

Only if you go to Rose's expecting to have the worst time of your life is there a chance you might discover you had a good time. It wasn't dirty as I expected, but Rose was a lot more ornery. For New Year's Eve, we paid for "all you could drink," but we got stuck with the "All Rose Can Drink" package. But I guess providing pitchers of warm Old Style to your paying customers is not economically viable for a ruthless capitalist entrepreneur like Rose. Don't underestimate her business acumen, fellas. Rose eats accounting majors for breakfast, and craps investment bankers out by lunch. read more

Talk about your diamond in the rough. The one time I went here with my friend Mitch, he promised me the diviest of dives, beyond my wildest imaginings. Frankly, I couldn't have been less prepared for how awesome this spot is. We went on a Wednesday night, around 9:30 or 10 or thereabouts, swaggered up to the bar like two thugs 'bout to start shit, and saddled up for a ride. Allow me to take you on a tour of the highlights: The bartender (Rose, I presume) is AT LEAST seventy-five years old but kept serving up the draft beers with the energy of one of those too-tanned-too-toned-too-tanktopped Lincoln Park bar hotties (without all the awkward social comparison). There's nary a sense of "Oh god how will i get a date with someone if the bartender looks like that?" Rather, one experiences a sense of "Oh god I hope I'm as fuckin' cool as Rose someday." (Alternatively, "Oh god I hope no one in here tries to hit on me.") Ever-flowing glass mugs of beer aside, the bar was replete with its own cast of characters: middle aged dudes in sweatshirts just takin' in (multiple) cold ones after a long day; vague hipsters celebrating a birthday party in various combinations of plaid, skinny jeans, and ironically oversized eyeglasses; a black labrador retriever pacing among the barstools, nuzzling up to any drinker willing to give it a pat on the head and some pretzel sticks from the bar; a funky lookin' old guy who fancied himself a magician, etc. (The Magician yelled at me to stop talking during his magic trick. His work is SERIOUS BUSINESS.) So with lighter hearts, heavier eyelids, and lighter wallets (but not by much), Mitch and I rode off into the proverbial sunset after our adventure to Rose's Lounge. It is a journey I'd take again in a fuckin' heartbeat. read more

Now, I have to start by stating that my three stars are an inaccurate rating. I honestly can not rate the service, or any other vital characteristics, being that I couldn't stand the smell of the establishment long enough to take my coat off. Immediately upon entering the bar my friends and I were hit with an overwhelming stench of, for lack of a better description, "rotten urine." We tried to battle through the smell and order a drink but the rancid aroma was too overpowering. Sorry, Rose...your place stinks. read more

I love flannel and 90's hair, therefore I love Rose's. I love being in charge of the music via the cheap jukebox. The night felt like a dysfunctional family holiday party , the kind where grandma decides to throw a shindig in her basement and invite all your closest friends and some random stragglers... the kind of family party you pretend to avoid but really look forward to all year. I'm not sure you would meet anyone here if you're single and ready to mingle but it could be one of those places where you get cozy, drunk and warm on a winter night and leave making a lot of bad mistakes with someone who might look like your uncle... or Zach Morris. I wouldn't know personally but you can imagine it, can't you? read more

I lived down the street from Rose's but knew of it for years before that. This is a very special bar. It's interior is one of a grandparent's rumpus room in the basement. There are old couches, random paintings and posters, a decent jukebox (she used to have a 7" machine but got rid of it!!), a pool table, and of course the bar where Rose hustles and makes move. She is a sweet, old woman who lives there and this is her spot. Respect. I love this bar. Came here often before I lived in the neighborhood. One of the best. read more

You have to like a divey dive dive, drunk old bastards, cheap beer, and grandma's basement furniture (not the good stuff she keeps upstairs). Good thing I love all of those things. Sometimes its empty, sometimes its not. Sometimes, I bring a deck of cards and some friends. It's the kind of place that I wouldn't take my in-laws, but I'll take my brother. Never a bad experience. Weird experiences, and some of my friends have turned up their noses, but f'em. I'll keep it. read more

It's nice to go to a place where there isn't a popped collar, sunglasses at night, or people just looking to get laid. Rose is a beautiful person who yes will give you the wrong drink from time to time, but at her age she does a great job. Sometimes you'll get a homeless man carding you. That's because Rose lets them work for beer. If you know Rose well enough you might have to change a keg for her or even hop in a truck and go pick up a keg. I've done so on a few occasions on which I received free drinks for the rest of the night. There's nothing better than hanging out in your grandmothers basement, drinking, playing pool, listening to good music, and having great company. read more

Reminds me of the Alibi in Shameless but with a young crowd. Great rates. Nice pool table. Free pretzels. I'll be back to Rose's.

This place has the cheapest beer and the best or most ridiculous juke box ever.Big mugs of miller lite and old style are only a dollar.The seating is mostly couches so it's a great place to go hang out with your friends.Plus there are always lots of pretzels floating around! read more

Ermahgerd! Dive bar heaven! Totally low-key, couches and kitchen tables for total relaxation, holiday decor that I'm pretty sure is permanent, an old school jukebox with some great hits, and pretzels on the bar! The quintessential, perfect dive bar. If you enjoy hanging out at a bar that looks eerily similar to your grandparent's basement then look no farther-Rose's Lounge is it! read more

It's OK, an average dive overall. I don't know how some dives get cooed about on Yelp and some ignored. It's cheap, and if you come with fun people you too will have fun (which is sorta the rule for every bar I guess). If ya want cheap beer and all the standard old tavern type stuff, this delivers just fine. read more

Ha, this place makes me chuckle. The service was great, the beer cheap and cold. The type of person this place attracts though, can be tough unless you're in that type of mood. Very college bro-ey. Like a place where you'd bring your frat, or kickball team after a game. That can be cool and all if you want to compare flannel fashion tips, lather each other in beard oil, and watch the guys oogle at the girls, but if you're just looking for a low key place to grab a beer it can grind on your nerves. read more

"amazing" on all accounts. friendly-ish bartender who continually gave away free shots AND gave us money to put in the juke box. awesome set-up.. definitely felt like i was chillin in my grandparent's basement... but drunk. i'll become a regular for sure. read more

Another great Chicago dive bar. Step off of Lincoln Avenue and take in the smell of layers of history. Let your eyes adjust to the dark and you'll find a sweet old Polish woman named Rose behind the bar, a regular that 's been there just about every night for years and the younger folks playing pool and dancing around a jukebox. This place has a great carefree vibe. Rose is an amazing woman who has withstood some hard times running a bar with her husband in a once bad neighborhood. Drafts are cheap and served in frosty mugs. Bottle beer comes from a full size refrigerator. The jukebox is 7 plays for a $1 and has one of the best collections. A memorable night for anyone if you open yourself up. On the way out don't be surprised if Rose says "love you!', and don't be surprised if you find your saying "love you back". read more

I haven't been to rose's in a very long time, but there are somethings that are just always good, and dollar beers, a dollar juke box, and rose's sweet face are some of them. Just be nice, or she'll charge you more, or just close the bar on you read more

Rose's is O.K. no annoying shit on the jukebox. comfortable setup and decorations. Nothing is retarded. Rose herself is the bartender and beer is a buck, HOWEVER... you're getting your pint straight from a pitcher, how long has that pitcher been out? who knows? You get what you pay for I guess, Rose is sweet enough but the WORST part of the bar is the regulars who practically run the bar for her, it's pretty annoying and entirely overbearing. read more

I've never had a horrible time at Rose's except when that one Birthday Party lot was in there; and even then I managed to have a bit of fun for finding solidarity with a couple of other guys against the crowd. Cheap booze, interesting people, a fantastic jukebox and tons of kitsch are what make this place awesome. read more

This place is like a trip in a time machine back to when Lincoln Park wasn't just drunk frat boys, trixies and crazy jogging moms with overpriced strollers. To me it's more than a dive bar, it's how it was before bars had 30 tv's and 3 levels. I love it. read more

Love this little bar! It feels like you are at your Aunts house back in the late 70's! We had the best time! I can't wait to visit again! We will be back in town this weekend for the WS!! read more

You know you're in Chicago when you see the classic Old Style on tap sign. This dive bar rocks! I stopped by on their busier of nights, Thursday at 11:30, a total of 5 people. How great is that. read more

This place is the king of dive bars. My friend and myself were the only customers in the bar and they were very accommodating. To begin with, beer was dirt cheap. Always a plus. When my friend ordered a screwdriver, the bartender made it with this odd orange mix. She wasn't a big fan of it, so the guy told her to run to the local 7-11 and pick up orange juice for him to remake it for her and he would pay her back! Then, when she left, he gave me some money to put into the jukebox. Had a few drinks, played a few games of pool, and had a blast. I could definitely see Rose being a bit of a problem when it comes to manning the bar, since she seems hard of hearing when I was there. But, I would return for a relaxing night. read more

Oh where to begin. Well, the stench. It stinks, bad. However, the music was good and the woman who served our drinks was very nice. A little slow, but very nice. There were a few characters in there, one of which happened to enjoy talking to us which made it an interesting experience. The drinks are reasonably priced, but not sure if I could endure the stench for more than one, maybe two... read more

Bartenders are all super friendly and fun to interact with. Lit entirely by Christmas lights. It's a cozy, relaxed environment. Mostly regulars on any given night. Great place to chill, play pool, and feed the juke box. read more

This was our second and last stop on a night out to celebrate a friend's 21st. We started at Wrightwood Tap because someone had won a free party. I can't stand college bars like Wrightwood. My head always hurts from the overly loud music, I can barely here my friends talking, and the 98% of the kids have no manners. After our free beer time we moved on down the road to Rose's. What an amazing time we had. The place was almost completely empty and it felt like a private party for all of us. The guy tending bar (I guess it was Rose's night off) was friendly, gave our birthday girl a complimentary drink, the group a free pitcher, and a few bucks for the juke box, and he poured on the heavy side. The price was right, the atmosphere was great, and I had such an amazing time with all of my friends. Go here! read more

Smells and looks like grandma's basement. But very reasonable prices and a jukebox, which plays seven songs for a dollar makes a visit definitely worth it. read more

I like this spot, when googling Dive bars nearby Rose's comes up as #1. Unpretentious, warm, and comfortable, décor is kitschy, staff is friendly, enjoyed an old style while chatting with the barkeep. If I were local I can see spending lots of time here. Will return on my next visit to Chi-Town. read more

Came in here on Friday (3/13/15) with a buddy from Springfield for a couple drinks on our way up Lincoln Ave. I'd never been here before and had been meaning to stop in since I moved to Lincoln Park in August. Rose's was as advertised: It reminded me of drinking beers in someone's basement (and I mean that as high praise). The beers were cold and the bartender was friendly; that's more than you can expect at most bars in LP. read more

This place is actually what you expect. Cheap beer, no thrills, and feels like you walked into your family members outdated basement. There is a pool table and a lot of character if you're looking for a cheap pitcher or two especially as a neighborhood night cap. read more

The best dive bar in the city. Cheap beer, classic jukebox (Cat Stevens, Beatles, Johnny Cash, etc), pool table, board games, and all of the laid-backness you can handle. You'll feel like you're stepping back in time with this place. Rose's has a bunch of characters. Try to find the guy who does the quarter trick. read more

Rose made sure I had a sober New Years Eve this year. I paid $40 for all you can drink special thinking it would be a great deal. Rose decided to stop serving me after two beers, and gave me no explanation. I was one of many at the bar who had to get creative in order to get served. One friend even offered to help her behind the bar it was that painful. She was cranky, rude, and frustrating for all of the guests at the party. I think by 2am I managed to get about 5 beers in 5 hours after begging the few lucky ones who were able to get served or willing to wait 30 minutes for each drink request. It was too difficult to appreciate the character of the place when the owner had none of her own. read more

I always have a good time at Rose's. I think the only time she is "cranky, rude and frustrating" is when the annoying Lincoln Park/yuppie types are in her bar. I don't blame her. read more

This is the worst bar around they charged 15 for a Jameson on the rocks. Plus they charged us for the shot the owner took. This place is a scam and smells like someone died in read more