“A peek inside some of Chicago’s classic dive bars across the city, including Sovereign Liquors in Edgewater, a part-bar/part-liquor store that has been open for nearly ninety years; Simon’s with its iconic neon sign in Andersonville; and Chipp Inn in Noble Square, one of the city’s oldest bars.
“Good dive bars are neighborhood institutions. They can be reliable places to find familiar faces or just great spots to hide out and take it easy.
“Block Club took a very deep dive into 14 classic Chicago dive bars across the city. It is by no means an exhaustive list. We know your favorite spot might not be on it, but there could be many more stories to come.
“Newark Nook, Norwood Park
“Cunneen’s Bar, Rogers Park
“Sovereign Liquors, Edgewater
“Simon’s Tavern, Andersonville
“L & L Tavern, Lakeview East
“Rose’s Lounge, Lincoln Park
“GO Tavern, Logan Square
“Rainbo Club. Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village
“Archie’s Iowa Rockwell, Ukrainian Village
“Chipp Inn, Noble Square
“Bernice’s Tavern, Bridgeport
“Woodlawn Tap/Jimmy’s, Hyde Park
“Cove Lounge, Hyde Park
“Mr. C’s Midway Bar, West Lawn” (Rice and Boyle, Block Club Chicago, 11/25/24)
Read the full story at Block Club Chicago
- Inside Chicago’s Essential Dive Bars: Photos From 14 Iconic Watering Holes, Linze Rice and Colin Boyle, Block Club Chicago, 11/25/24
- The History Of Chicago’s Dive Bars, Once Called ‘The Vilest Holes In The City’, In 1881, the Chicago Tribune reported “there are over 500 saloons in Chicago which do not deserve to be called respectable, and the closing of which would give satisfaction to every” respectable citizen and saloonkeeper, by Linze Rice, Block Club Chicago, 11/26/24
- Simon’s Tavern Celebrates 90 Years As Andersonville’s Bar; Scott Martin, the third owner of the neighborhood tavern, credits employees and patrons for maintaining the history and charm of Simon’s in the changing neighborhood, Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago, 5/22/24