I get how people can love this place. But when I wandered in I think I was too buzzed from other bars to appreciate the vibe. I will go back again under different circumstances and give it a second shot. The homely, laid back vibe is why I set out for it. I'm hoping I see that next time I swing by. read more

Love this place! Good music, cheap drinks, and pool. I love their unique vintage style with mishmash chairs. I can't wait to go back! read more

I have nothing but great things to say about this place. The back patio is cozy and romantic if you're looking for a good date spot. It's also great for larger groups (I came here for my birthday with a bunch of friends). It also has pool tables and comfy chairs inside. The bartenders are fantastic. I wanted a Lunchbox, and the bartender didn't know how to make it. When I looked it up, he was more than happy to make it. He even made me a lemon shandy. read more

The most anonymous bar in the city. This is the bar you go to for a few pool games with your buddies when you don't want to be bothered with seeing anyone else you know. Lots of beers. No pretentious attitude. Also a great Sunday afternoon spot. They have a great beer garden in the back too. read more

Ten Cat Tavern is hands down the friendliest bar in Chicago. Connie is the sweetest(!), she always has a smile on her face and will spark conversation about any and everything. I've met Richard once and he's an honorable man. Larry, Jordan and Lucy are attentive bartenders who can also cook up a cocktail storm. The regulars are some of the best pool players you'll find in the city. While the pool tables are free (one 9-foot table and one 8-foot table), good luck trying to get a game...there's usually 10-12 players ready to go. Luckily they go by quickly, the players are that good! It's truly a hidden gem. Bonus points: very chill vibe, great drinks, smaller detached room from the pool scene with fireplace AND a modest beer garden It doesn't get better than this folks read more

I would have never known how interesting and enjoyable this bar would be just by how it looked from the outside. I always see it and just never thought to go inside. I'm so glad that I did. Before you walk into this place there is a window display of contemporary art paintings and the inside almost seems like a living room rather than a bar. The decor is a mishmash of themes furnished with all sorts of interesting styles of tables and chairs. Great beers on tap, with a few local craft brews like Half Acre. The service and the people drinking there is what I would consider to be good bar people. The kind that know how to enjoy and appreciate a good bar without being annoyingly hip. A great place. read more

I read the reviews from fellow Yelpers and it sounded like a great little neighborhood spot. Yes, that was happily confirmed. Also as noted in some reviews, the crowd is a little older which I enjoy and cool...laid back. Really liked the changing rooms as you progressed back through the space. It was only my first time there and I'm really looking forward to going back again soon. read more

I've been here about 5 times. Most of them because my APA pool league played some teams here. Here are the pros and cons: PROS: Good beer selection. Everyone is cool. The dude behind the bar is super cool/nice. The place is quiet, charming, has outdoor patio and cozy fireplace. There are two really nice pool tables (8 & 9 foot). Great pool shooters. CONS: The music sucks so bad. The jukebox is awful. Patsy Cline and crap like that. If the dude isn't working the bar and the girl is, bring a flare gun to get her attention. She just sits at the far side of the bar playing super crappy/boring music on her laptop. The service sucks when she's working. We were so bored there and wanted to leave so badly. So, music blows all the time... makes you wanna sleep. Go here to play chess or have a quiet conversation with someone. Go somewhere else to party and get your music on. read more

Pleasantly unique decor is the first thing that comes to mind with Ten Cat. The second thing is two awesome, old-timey pool tables. Both are very nice (I believe one is 8 ft., the other 9 ft.). The third thing that comes to mind is that the whole ticket/rack/dollar for pool thing makes very little sense, and can become an ordeal (if you're neurotic like me). But go on a Sunday and it's free and ticketless, so you can avoid my biggest gripe about this joint (since you care so much about not doing things I dislike). On any day, it seems you can run into good pool players. I like that. I'm surprised they don't try to gouge you on booze prices at this place, using all the obscure, vintage junk and furnishing as an excuse. Everything costs about right. The sign is cool. Love the cat stuff. Lots of jazz is played. Cool place. A friend of mine swears that we once went to Popeye's, ate fried chicken, then played pool here a few years back, but it never happened. That was before I had ever been to Ten Cat, and I've also never eaten fried chicken with that friend (oddly). read more

Been to Ten Cat a few years back and I liked it but hadn't been back for some time. Met up with a "Friend" there last week on her reco and it is definitely a place I have been missing! Great Bar Room, 2 "Real" nine foot pool tables, great patrons on hand...and they make great drinks! Pretty decent beer list as well-- this is a great place to shoot some pool or just HIDE!! PS--Watch For Hustlers! GTFJD read more

Cool interior, nice collection of chairs, decent beer selection at decent prices. Unique music, for a bar. Free pool tables with decent cues. Enough space to relax plus an outdoor area. I have nothing to complain about. read more

Went here to celebrate a friend's birthday last week, and had a blast. They have Half Acre brews on tap, and it's reasonably priced. I was let down went I ordered my 3rd beer it changed from glass cups to plastic cups. Big bummer. They have a couple of pool tables which was cool, and a back private room for our party. Awesome jukebox, and tons of tables and seating area. We had a good vibe throughout the night there. Overall cool spot, just don't do the halfway switch from glass to plastic with good beer. read more

I love ten cat. This place is so chill, and it makes you feel strangely at home instantaneously. nice music, usually jazz or blues. the patio is awesome and the little backroom with a fireplace is equally great. perfect little spot to unwind after work, or a good spot to take a date and talk. read more

It was a cool experience and i'd probably go back if someone invited me, but lacking in the beer selection...which has become more and more important now that i know what's possible in Chicago.... a fine place to shoot some pool and hang out. this is the type of place i could see a group of friends taking over to claim it as there own...kinda cool. read more

I haven't been here in a while, but I seem to remember thikning it was a cool place to have a relaxing drink or two, but that the tv situation was terrible. I did like it when I lived over by there, especially on days when I didn't fee like walking another block or two to Ginger's. The staff and patrons were always nice I thought. read more

Okay, while this may be kind of a random place for a book club to meet, I really liked it!! We got a nice section in the back, by the fireplace (it is sad when you need a fire place at the end of April!! but it was nice that they had it going) It was quiet and kind of felt like someone's living room rather than a bar. No one bothered us or gave us dirty looks for not ordering a ton of food or drinks (ahem, Julius Meinel) Also dogs are allowed here! Nice! I'll have to bring the pooch around sometime. They have pool in the front, good music all around. I really liked it. I came on a Wednesday at like 9pm so I have no idea how this place is on the weekends, but I really liked it. Really close to the 80 and the 9 bus. read more

Relaxing dive, great atmosphere, all around nice place to hang out. Good change of pace since the music is low and you can actually have conversation. Would highly recommend for a low key night. Small beer garden in the back is a hidden gem for sure! read more

I hate this place, just hate! My husband their regular client and he choose this place rather than his kids. He spends more time here than his family. He spends more time and money here than with his family. He always comes home drunk and sometimes he smokes the drug. I wish this place can be burn or close forever! I hate you guys! read more

love this place!!!!! lot's of space to chill, including couches and a pretty outdoor patio (where you're allowed to smoke). 10/10.

Pretty cool low key place. The location is filled with a lot of good art, plenty of interesting people and cheap drinks. It was pretty empty for a Friday night, however it was still nice to hang out. read more

A great place! Features cold beers on tap and drink specials. Like the featured Art display. Ironic as my Dad had a opening in Joliet this week! read more

This place is cool because no one cares- in a good way. I mean they care about cleaning the glasses and all that but there is not a drop of pretension in here- plus it is totally invisible to the rest of the neighborhood. Mello Juke box -weird furniture and a super low key patio. I am only giving it one star because I don't want you to tell anyone about this place. read more

I lived a block from this place, and never went in. Years after I left the hood, I went with a group of friends. It smelled like skunk weed and vomit, and it felt like we walked in on a private party. On the plus side, it was really cheap. read more

I just moved to the area, and I'm grateful to have such a good bar around. Great beers on tap, laid-back atmosphere, nice back patio, friendly faces, and dogs allowed. What else could you want in a place? read more

Great owners and great art and they sell booze.The building inside and out is a hoot. Pool tables, main window gallery with monthly changing shows by Chicago artists, and an eclectic interior design by insane people. The outside has an enormous bird and peculiar human made of colored mortar stuck on it. The front has the ten cat cats and pool balls made of mosaic tile. Wow what a joint! read more

Cool local spot! Its hard to find and it really doesnt look like a bar.. looks more like an art gallery! The inside is basilly the layout of a house which gives it a cozy feeling. There are 2 pool tables for anyone to use and a nice outdoor patio. The drinks were cheap (compared to other bars in the area). Everyone at the bar seemed cool and laid back! read more

Came here for the first time recently and fell in love. The front appears a little divey, but what you realize very quickly as you move towards the back is that this place has a little style and a very unique vibe. Pool tables up front are always crowded with people waiting to play and if you don't know what you're doing you should consider playing elsewhere. These guys don't mess around. Juke box towards the back lets you control your music and the volume is just right. Great place to hang out, have a drink and a good chat with friends. I'll be coming back over and over. It's nice to be someplace away from the pretentiousness of River North and the frat culture of Wrigleyville. read more

i always get stared at when i walk in here. but it's not the bad, sizing-up deservant of a smackdown kinda stare. it's the hey, i notice things kinda stare. after which, the whomnevers of the bar promptly return to the innocuity of noticing something else. i tend to think i also notice things. like the subtle, warming chill of a ne'er-too-loud, all jazz and blues juke. the backroom what looks like a funeral home, but's comfortable like a living room. two regulation-sized pool tables hosting occasional league play. coupla video games, plus pinball. a cozy little beer garden out back. not to mention barkeeps who notice their patrons; let us never under-notice them. cheers. read more

fantasmo (that's michelle s. to you) and i hit up ten cat last thursday. i like it. i am not a pool shark, but the drinks were cheap and the crowd was interesting and diverse. it's a little out of the way, but i'll be back for sure! next time, diner grill is the night cap!! read more

What a great dive bar! Super chill atmosphere, charming character, good beer selection. I have never seen this place too crowded. The space is broken up into rooms as if the space was originally something besides a dive bar, like a house. If you go all the way to the back you will find a wonderful beer garden. No food served at this bar but the "tamale guy" walks through about every other hour or so if you get hungry. Don't forget to bring your jukebox money! (No sports games blaring from TVs so if you want to watch the game please go somewhere else.) read more

What a weird little wonderful joint! It seems like this place used to be a boutique or a home, and was half-converted into a bar. The empty space is filled with a few pool tables, a jumbo oldies jukebox, and video games (a Tales From the Crypt pinball machine, seriously?). We grabbed some drinks at the bar and kept walking to the back of the bar, into the tiny back room with a fireplace. There are a few comfy lounge chairs around card tables, and this is the perfect place to have a game of poker or spades. Hell, I'd challenge someone to a Scrabble game or two here. The music was great, but I still felt the need to throw a buck in the jukebox for 4 plays. The drinks were cheap, and I could easily spend too much time here and need to cab it home. I will make this a regular destination for sure! read more

i like to think of this place as a wicker park bar without the teen angst attitude.... laid back, great pool tables (respect them...they have a following), and just an overall comfy bar. no food here, but feel free to bring in food from nearby joints (one nite someone brought in thai while another table was chowin on popeye's. i had weird cravings for spicy fried chicken mixed dunked in pad thai...it was probably the booze that had this effect on me) read more

Thank you Yelpers for helping me find this hidden gem near my house. I wanted to walk to a bar with cheap drinks and a quiet atmosphere so I could catch up with an old friend who was visiting from Detroit. This place delivered. We ordered 2 cocktails and a beer and it was only $13. We didn't have to yell to speak to one another because the noise was at a minimum. I'll be back to day drink on the patio! read more

Eat before you come. No food. :-/ An order-in system would be nice. They could have an iPad for customers to use GrubHub. :0)

I have long been on the proverbial fence about writing this review. You see, Ten Cat is one of those cool, relatively unknown bars where you can drink, hang out and not deal with any kind of bullshitty scene. It's dark. The drinks are cheap. The bartenders are cool, especially the woman with dark hair. Next time you see her, ask her if she has any kids. It's not really a hip place. It's not really a happening place. It IS a great place to have a relaxing night of drinking and pool. Please don't fuck it up. read more

This is my favorite bar in town! Cozy, low key, friendly bartenders and nice crowd. I was there on Monday night and it was pretty busy. Really crowded by pool tables. Back room with a fireplace. Warm and dark i love it. The beer garden is romantic! The service was amazing. She even made a birthday shot for my friend. Love this place! Can't wait to go back! read more

One of the coolest bars I've ever been to in the city. It's like drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette in your grandma's house. Only if your grandma was a 20-something hipster. read more

As a bar I would give this place four stars but their billiards set up is the best I have seen in chicago for a non pool hall. Their tables are large and level and their sticks aren't belt and missing crucial components. It really makes a big difference even if you're just shooting around with friends. The bar has a pretty good beer selection and they aren't overly priced. I would recommend coming on a week night when you can hang out and drink a beer while playing lots of pool without having to fight over a table. read more

My new go-to dive bar, hands-down! I hesitate to even call this place a "dive bar" because it has so much character. We were there on a Friday night and it was a great mix of different ages. The tamale guys came through a few times to sell snacks, some folks had their dogs with them, the drinks were cheap, and the back room is adorable and cozy. read more

I randomly came here to meet for a low-key Sunday Funday date. I was impressed by the craft beer draft selection and they had some great deals, even on the weekend. There are 2 good looking pool tables, however, I did not play on this visit. I will be sure to keep this place in mind of shooting pool. I really enjoyed the cozy outdoor patio. I felt like I was sitting in someone's backyard. I really like this place and plan to keep it in my deck of solid places to visit. read more