Top 5 Dive Bars in Illinois

2771 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

“Very chill bar to sit down with friends to have drinks, play card games, or play pool! Ideal to end the night if you are someone who likes to chill or start the night because of cheap drinks!”

1354 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, United States

“The Hideout is an iconic Chicago bar that opened in the 30s . Located in a 100 year old house,you feel you are in your grandparents basement . Many musicians started their careers here and is well known within the Chicago music scene. The venue is small with limited seating . Drinks are reasonably priced with a huge selection of Chicago beers..PBR,Old Style and Hamms just to name a few. My nephew flew in from Charlotte to play the night I went. A small intimate gathering of friends and family enjoying the music of Low Groves. Absolutely fantastic! Plenty of street parking available. For a true music experience ,you have to visit Tte Hideout and experience the vibe and the music.”

3420 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

“Came to Rosa's Lounge to see a friend of mine play the blues, Stefan Hillesheim. This was the first time that I've been to this establishment due to work requirements. I had been invited many times before but I couldn't make it due to my work hours. This time I was able to go! It was everything that I expected. I ordered my tickets on line and was at the door when it opened at 8:00PM. The atmosphere was that of an old blues club, where you'd come and see Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy. The staff was very polite and friendly. There is no kitchen but you can have your food delivered or bring it in with you. The show started on time and was every bit as good as you would expect from going to see a show at some of the bigger blues venues in Chicago. I would definitely recommend Rosa's Lounge for a night out on the town, this is a must see! Put it on your bucket list! I'll be coming back soon!”

219 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60610, United States

“Cool old dive bar. Cash only. Funny political pictures. Not conservative if that would offend you and risky. Cash only. Definitely a stop. Antony Bourdain filmed a clip there.”

2149 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States

“Possibly the best dive in the world. Don’t try to order a cocktail here though. It’s def a beer and shot bar. They have a really amazing kitchen open pretty late! They even have vegan options. They also have an amazing Photo Booth in the back. It’s great because there is no tv here so you don’t have to deal with that annoyance. The biggest thing to remember is the place is cash only. They do have an atm inside but still kinda lame they don’t take any other payments.”

4659 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

“We met up with friends and family members on Thanksgiving weekend, and had a blast! The band was awesome and made the night- Patrick Bale and the Pale Ales- hope to see them play again soon! The atmosphere is so unique, with character and charm, also artsy and styled- fun for all ages. We didn’t eat but drinks (and shots!) were flowing. We’ll be back for sure.”

12 W Elm St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States

“Super cozy place and greet drinks. Perfect for a night out with a couple friends. I don’t recommend it for dates though if you don’t like being in extremely close quarters with other couples and don’t have the best hearing.”

466 N Main St, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, United States

“I've been here a few times and have generally been pretty happy. The menu has a pretty decent range of burgers, so I always try something new. They have a good selection of beers too, so it's a nice place to come for a casual drink and dinner. I came around 3pm on a Saturday and it was packed! I got the Buffalo burger, and it's the first time my food here was just alright. The burger was supposed to be medium rare, but there wasn't even a hint of pink in it, it was on the well side of medium well, plus the fries weren't cooked all the way in the middle. It still tasted alright, just not what I expected. Still, usually the food is good, so I'm sure I'll be back.”

2801 W Farmington Rd, West Peoria, IL 61604, United States

“Great Beer Great Poors...great irish pub old school local sports gem!!! Outdoor area looks real fun in warmer temperatures.”

601 E Edwardsville Rd, Wood River, IL 62095, United States

“It's very difficult to beat their $5 pizzas. I enjoy going there Monday evenings. However, the wait could be 30-45 minutes all because of their unbelievable $5 Monday pizza deal. Wednesday 70 cent wings are too good to be true. This place is a gem. Good to average food at phenomenal price. I always struggle to spend more than $10 on food each time I visit this place!”

2521 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

“Chill, decent drinks, and open late. I'd go again if I'm i the area for some nice lowlight atmosphere.”

2959 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, United States

“How can you rate something any less when they come out randomly and serve everyone at the bar free fries while they’re drinking. The fries also had a nice spice to them and were thin and very crispy. Came here with some friends for drinks and the vibe was eclectic and cool. We had a lot of fun and I’ll definitely be back to check out the massive patio in the summer.”

205 N Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

“My friend and I brought our doggies here for a doggy date (Dog friendly bar). We order wings for us and PB sandwiches for the doggies. As I'm eating my wings, I spotted a piece of curly hair in my food. Told our waitress, I can't remember her name, but she was so sweet and helpful. She informed us that she would notify the manager. The manager (Forgot her name) came by our table and was very stand-offish. Her first words were "I'm not sure how hair got in your food, but I will check the cooks in the back to insure they are wearing nets." Not even 5 minutes later she came back "No one back there has curly hair, maybe it's from you? or your dogs?" I instantly rebutted, "The dogs are on the floor and as you can see both the dogs and I have straight hair. How dare you try criticizing me and these dogs?" She replied, "Well I'm not sure how the food got there but will discount your wings." The manager was a Hispanic woman, my friend and I are Black. I'm sure if we were Hispanic, she would not have no problem assisting us in a friendlier manner. I will never support that bar again. There are more dog friendly spots here in Chicago that will treat Blacks better.”

75 E 16th St, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

“I went on a Friday night and there was plenty of space for my group of 10 to split between a table and the bar. There was a food vendor that had great food, though its not part of the regular menu. The drinks were excellent. It got busy after the second bartender left, but otherwise the service was also good with friendly and quick staff.”

491 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

“Great bar , reminds me of the bars in the 1950's . Prices are much lower than other bars but top shelf liquors, juke box full of classic tunes, bartender was very friendly, like I remembered from my early days of visiting bars . Plus the hours of business are outstanding. You must visit it to appreciate how a true drinking establishment should be run. No food served its just a true example of a real bar.”

2115 Plainfield Rd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, United States

“I loved talking to Char (one of the workers) when I did go there. Also I used to love their burgers. They do have good fries and onion rings. However, my last time going there the manager made my burger. He wasn't friendly, I waited a long time to get it and I wasn't satisfied at all. In addition to that I didn't even receive any condiments. When I went back inside and went to the bar area no one approached me. I had to walk to the back to talk to Char again while the manager was just staring at me. On top of that, my burger wasn't even hot, it was just warm. Due to their poor service, I won't be back.”

2051 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

“The happy hour is a great deal ($5 paddy shots and half price drinks and apps) and the food is is actually tasty. Get the Korean wings. They're great! The staff is also really nice and service is speedy. I world give this place 5 stars instead of 4 but we were kinda tricked into coming here. We thought we were coming here for a whisky tasting. The tickets were supposedly "VIP" to include drinks and even a cigar. But there were 2 bottles of whisky to sample and 1 cocktail so it really wasn't as advertised lol nonetheless, we had a great time at this bar.”

105 W Van Buren St, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

“Of the numerous times I've been to Sky Ride, I have never been disappointed. From seeing Carl (the owner) as I walk in, to the friendly greeting by Anna behind the bar, this is easily one of my favorite Chicago spots.”

9858 S Artesian Ave, Evergreen Park, IL 60805, United States

“Harte's is a bit shabby inside and out, but they have reasonable prices and some of the best live music ever. The staff is very friendly too! Harte's hasn't changed a bit. It's still a friendly bar with great music and reasonably priced drinks.”

203 W 3rd St, Alton, IL 62002, United States

“We were driving around downtown Alton with our moms and stopped in for a drink—what a spot! The inside of the bar has all the things—huge and beautiful wood bar, tables aplenty, TVs playing all the sports all games, slots, and the best part of all: Ricky the bartender, who welcomes everyone regardless of who they are with a warm smile and story after story to make you feel like you are at home. This chance encounter ended up being a highlight of our weekend trip to Grafton. Definitely check this bar out; you’ll be glad you did!”