HopLeaf, Long Room, Skylark, Matchbox, Bar DeVille, Ten Cat (I think), I know there's more...

stewed coot wrote:HopLeaf, Long Room, Skylark, Matchbox, Bar DeVille, Ten Cat (I think), I know there's more...

Bar DeVille has televisions.

I'd add California Clipper and The Violet Hour.

Let's throw Charleston into the mix.

stewed coot wrote:HopLeaf, Long Room, Skylark, Matchbox, Bar DeVille, Ten Cat (I think), I know there's more...

Matchbox has a TV above the door.

Rose's over on Lincoln has a small black and white on a table behind the bar for the owner to watch, but that doesn't really count.
Great neighborhood bar.

Thank you for the great recommendations.

I went to The Long Room last night to have a few pints and do some reading. It's a couple minute walk from the Irving Park brown line stop. It has a beautiful old Chicago bar feel to it, a superb beer selection, and is television-free. They don't serve food, but just as I was getting hungry, in came the Tamale [sic] Man. Everybody was friendly and the bartender shook my hand on the way out. I don't know what else you could ask for in a neighborhood pub.

I'll go with: Reggie's Music Joint, Cigars and Stripes, The Hopleaf, Fitzgerald's The Clark Street Ale House, Delilah's and Harlem Ave. Lounge.

The answer to the original question is Jak's Tap.
All of the bars mentioned are great but not a lot fit the original description (from what 2 years ago)
Also I found that Sweetwater (on a weekend night) is a viable choice, if by neighborhood feel, you mean the locals who live in the high rises in Lakeshore East (that's a neighborhood now right?)

How about further north in the Roger's Park/Edgewater area? That's where I'll be moving soon, and I'll be looking for some good local hangouts...

Kid Charlemagne wrote:How about further north in the Roger's Park/Edgewater area? That's where I'll be moving soon, and I'll be looking for some good local hangouts...

Here are some nearby. I can't speak to some of the original requirements such as sports/TVs. For me, they are part of the background unless I'm someplace by myself and need the extra entertainment.

Hop Leaf
5148 N Clark

Fireside Restaurant And Lounge
5739 N Ravenswood

Heartland Cafe
7000 N Glenwood Ave

A relatively new brewpub in the area is Hamburger Mary's (5400 N Clark). I haven't been in though and online reviews are mixed. I believe most say the food is decent pub grub but the beers could be hit-or-miss. I believe they have a pub area with several TVs though.

Some a little southwest (Lincoln Square) I've either been to or heard good things about are:

Fountainhead
1970 W Montrose

The Bad Apple
4300 N Lincoln

I don't think Fountainhead has TVs but they do have a great beer and spirits lineup. The food menu looked good too when I visited.

Kid Charlemagne wrote:How about further north in the Roger's Park/Edgewater area? That's where I'll be moving soon, and I'll be looking for some good local hangouts...

The Edgewater Lounge is mentioned above and in other places on LTH. Surprisingly good bar food, good beer selection.

Before moving from Rogers Park to Edgewater, I finally discovered Duke's Hideaway on Glenwood. Wished I had found it earlier. Friendly, neighborhood vibe, eclectic music programming, good beers, regular shot and a beer specials.

This topic addresses al fresco drinks in Rogers Park.

Dukes Hideaway
6920 N. Glenwood Ave.
(773) 764-2826‎

Edgewater Lounge
5600 N. Ashland Ave.
(773) 878-3343‎

jpreiser wrote:

Kid Charlemagne wrote:How about further north in the Roger's Park/Edgewater area? That's where I'll be moving soon, and I'll be looking for some good local hangouts...

Here are some nearby. I can't speak to some of the original requirements such as sports/TVs. For me, they are part of the background unless I'm someplace by myself and need the extra entertainment.

Hop Leaf
5148 N Clark

Fireside Restaurant And Lounge
5739 N Ravenswood

Heartland Cafe
7000 N Glenwood Ave

A relatively new brewpub in the area is Hamburger Mary's (5400 N Clark). I haven't been in though and online reviews are mixed. I believe most say the food is decent pub grub but the beers could be hit-or-miss. I believe they have a pub area with several TVs though.

Some a little southwest (Lincoln Square) I've either been to or heard good things about are:

Fountainhead
1970 W Montrose

The Bad Apple
4300 N Lincoln

I don't think Fountainhead has TVs but they do have a great beer and spirits lineup. The food menu looked good too when I visited.

Fountainhead has one TV at the bar. When I was there on Saturday, it was on but the sound was off.

perhaps I missed it, but Simon's is one of my favorite in that area:

Simon's
5210 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640-2102

The Local Option is our favorite place to drink good beer. Check out beermenus.com for a tap list, this is a great resource to find out whats on tap before you head out to any bar. Good bar food and they do have tvs for sports, I think maybe 4 or 5 strategically placed. They are at 1102 W Webster.

geno55 wrote:

parnellsf wrote:Here's our two cents on the best bars in Chicago for the year ended 2009:

http://www.chibarproject.com/Features/Best/Best2009.htm

Let us know what we missed!

No Bar DeVille, no Whistler, no Tiny Lounge tells me all I need to know about this list.

North Center Fancy Drink Hideaway Tiny Lounge to Close After 19 Years

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/12/6/181 ... ar-closing

Santander wrote:

really cool, well-balanced bars

a good number of TVs

On the flipside, finding a sports bar ("good number of TVs") with an engaging, food, and quality brews and wines is tough. Other than the McPubs (Rock Bottom, Dave and Buster's, Seven Ten, Lucky Strike, dare I say one or more of the Goose Island / Cubby Bear locations), I think your best bet might be an independent like Gamekeeper's http://www.gamekeeperschicago.com/).

After 35 years of college sports, bar food, and drinks until 4 a.m., Gamekeepers Tavern & Grill has closed at the corner of Lincoln, Sedgwick, and Armitage.

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/4/29/185 ... eal-estate

My current favorite is Christina's at Kedzie and Grace, partly because it's two blocks from my house, but mainly because this Google description:

snug neighborhood bar offering snacks & beer specials in informal surrounds with a convivial vibe

is exactly right. Convivial is the perfect word. Worth a stop if you're nearby.

Christina's Place
3759 N Kedzie
(773) 463-1768

My Bride and I had a very satisfying post dinner visit to the LTH favorite and GNB...

Weegee's Lounge
3659 W Armitage Ave, Chicago

Not much has changed, dimly lit, nicely mixed cocktails, nice drink menu, no TV's.


Didn't see the owner (Alex?) there (midweek visit) but the bartender did a fine job. Modest crowd.

Still worthy!

If you ever venture out to Riverside, IL try Mollie's Public House. Its very British/Irish pub in appeal in every way and they have good bar food, excellent burgers. Quincy Street Distillery is a quirky cocktail type bar too, worth a visit. The James Joyce in Berwyn also has its adherents, I've never been there because they don't serve food.

toria wrote:If you ever venture out to Riverside, IL try Mollie's Public House. Its very British/Irish pub in appeal in every way and they have good bar food, excellent burgers. ...

Mollie's Public House
31 Forest Ave, Riverside

We went with hopes of authentic Irish food but the offerings were weak in both space on the menu and quality. Bar food and burgers dominated the menu.

I might stop by and give their burgers a whirl.

For better food (and maybe atmosphere) give...

Irish Times
8869 Burlington Ave, Brookfield

... a whirl. They have a strong selection of authentic Irish items on menu.

At any given time the bar will be busy with patrons tossing back Guinness.