Old Town Ale House

Chicago, United States

3.9

Open now

29 reviews

Does not accept credit cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 312-944-7020
Website:
www.theoldtownalehouse.com
Address:
219 W North Ave, Chicago, IL, 60610
b/t Wieland St & Wells St
Near North Side, Old Town
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
200 ftNorth & Wells EB
340 ftNorth & Wells WB
350 ftNorth & North Park
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
No
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Divey
Noise Level
Average
Music
Juke Box
Good For Dancing
No
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
No
Best Nights
Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check
No
Smoking
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Has TV
Yes
Has Pool Table
No
Takes Reservations
No
Accepts Apple Pay
No

Today

Today 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Open now
Local time (Chicago) 23:16 Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Tuesday 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Wednesday 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Thursday 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Friday 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Saturday 12:00 pm – 5:30 am
Sunday 12:00 pm – 4:00 am

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29 reviews of Old Town Ale House

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Denver, CO
Great establishment with its regulars. Had some crock pot carnitas because it was May 5th. Love the art and neighborhood
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Old Town Ale House is as a decent place as any to sell your soul after you’ve had two too many, buy another if you wish, or to work out a few problems alone and develop other bad habits with friends on your way to the place you call home.
Well, maybe it actually is kind of a bad place to be.
The alcoholics’ portraits on the walls are infamous, or so I’ve been told.
The Ale House is like a weathered old penny, stubborn to it’s own spirit, all copper, but solid legal tender, yet still probably a good idea…
Give them a shot!
Place rating: 1
Richmond, VA
The owner, Bruce Elliot is a tactless asshole who thought it was cool to celebrate Prince’s death online. What a tool.
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
The bar smells like piss and the owner is a has-​been. The bartender looks like he teleported straight from the 90’s. I’m pretty certain that most of the patrons here are homeless.
Go to Richards Pub in the West Loop if you are in to dive bars that play good music.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Wicked good brews and no drama, psychological reductionists, whiny little bitches or entitled Republicans. The art on the wall is amazing.
Place rating: 4
Toronto, Canada
Was visiting from Toronto and my relatives living in Chi-​town brought me here. I really dig the low key vibe of this place. Especially the old school jukebox they have filled with blues and jazz tunes. They don’t charge you to select songs, so you can play with this all night. lol.
Staff are friendly and they have some funny artwork. I died when I saw the Kim Jong Un and Dennis Rodman picture! Favourite thing in the bar and a great conversation starter. lol. The only funk is the washrooms. Luckily, one of my girl friends was with me because she had to pull the handle from the outside washroom door so it would stay closed. lol. Other then that, I would definitely come back here.
Place rating: 5
Lansing, MI
This is my perfect place. I feel like it’s the set for film noir. It’s dark, brooding, pornographically artsy, the bartenders are delightfully hipster, and prices are not Chicagoan.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
This place is laiden w/​character & chock full o’fun. Come for jazzy, artsy, good times w/​a host of fun and adventurous souls. I’ve literally had some of the most unexplainable nights of my life here. Cash only. Best dive bar in the solar system. No, really.
Place rating: 5
Sandy, UT
Great bar, awesome people. I met the owner and what a great man. All the unique paintings thought the bar are his. Make sure to say HI to Bill for me, the bouncer! In case Second Street comedy sucks… GO HERE!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Classic spot in Old Town. Cash only. It can be busy so you may have to stand/​wait for a table but that isn’t a bad thing. It’s easier to check out all the artwork that way. P. s. may not be the best place to bring Mom ;)
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
Mostly beer is sold here. A legit dive bar for all the actors from Second City. I had a few drinks here while visiting. The places was really crowded when I arrived and then died down a bit then started to get packed again, kind of weird.
Place rating: 4
San Antonio, TX
We stopped in here before a show at Second City and were welcomed by a guest at the bar screaming «HIPSTERS» at us. His girlfriend that looked like his daughter told him to stop because he was embarrassing her. Weird. ok. keep walking…
Sat down and looked around. I think we were the least hipster in the place! Oh well. The bar is cash only, and there are pictures of naked people everywhere. Entertaining and a good place to go before the show since I’m not sure there is anywhere else around there.
Place rating: 5
Buffalo Grove, IL
1. Great jukebox 2. Open until 4 or 5am 3. Great artwork … Just don’t forget cash only. Totally recommend it as best dive bar in Chicago.
Place rating: 3
Oakland, CA
Perfect place to duck in before or after something. You know… work, a show, a party, dinner, a movie, etc. Friendly, old school, order simple. Paintings are awesome. More than just Guiness as a stout would be good, though.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
They have great art. Cash only, and good cheap beer. My friend got a Schiltz and she seemed happy with it. We were about to pick up our race packets.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
Old school bar with just great people serving … good place to enjoy talk and drink and just chill..
Place rating: 3
Long Beach, CA
I’ll preface this review with saying, i came in on a Monday early evening. There was a few people there having drinks but no music, just a tv with the news on. I came in alone from out of town. Looking for a cool place to have a beer and maybe some decent tunes, nope. Also the bartender did not seem very friendly, or eager to help me get a drink, even though there was virtually no demand of her. I had one drink and left. Meh. No what i was expecting, not even for a dive.
Place rating: 4
Royal Oak, MI
Awesome bar! We went here after a Second City show on a Friday night. The space is small and the crowd is thick, but squeeze in and the fun begins. The walls are essentially an art gallery of interesting modern portraits. There’s a fun, urban energy in here — a few old-​timers on the stools and with-​it bartenders. I hope to visit again someday.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Nude paintings. Tamales. Michael Shannon.
This bar across the street from The Second City is the coziest hole-​in-​the-​wall you will ever frequent. The smell of Old Town Ale House will stir college memories and the prices will make you forget that you live in a city that taxes you to breathe.
This spot is super divey with wall to wall nude paintings and a juke box filled with smooth jazz. Hungry at 1AM and not ready to leave? Not a problem– there is a very high chance that your favorite tamale guy is around offering patrons a handful of warm tamales for a buck or two.
The only semi-​inconveniece of Old Town Ale House is that it is a cash only bar. The low prices are worth it, though.
Lastly, I have been here a handful of times and have seen Michael Shannon chilling in his socks and mandals more than once. So, that’s something.
Definitely recommend.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Old Town Ale House is one of the best dive bars in Chicago. Everyone should go to this bar at least once. There’s so much history here.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
The nicotine patina behind the outstanding artwork make this place the neighborhood staple that it is. The prices are a bit higher than one might expect for a «dive,» though are still the cheapest on the street – I guess that’s Chicago for you!
Place rating: 4
Grand Rapids, MI
Definitely a low key place! The nude pictures on the wall are fun to try & guess who the celebrity is! The owner made her own dip & pulled pork that she offered to everyone as complimentary. We didn’t try any, but I thought it was pretty cool she did that.
Place rating: 4
Maywood, IL
I was here a few days ago with s friend. It was a hot day and public transit was screwed up and we were each unpleasantly delayed for lunch. So we came here for a couple beers. What a great place! Decent selection of draft beers that were nicely cold and really interesting paintings.
I think the beer made our lunch better than it had any right to be.
Place rating: 4
University City, Saint Louis, MO
Old Town Ale house would normally get 3 stars due to being an extremely average neighborhood bar with nothing foodie or cocktail oriented beyond the normal tap beers and rail liquors but since they have the most amazing cozy neighborhood atmosphere full of lude/​naked political caricatures this place gets a bump for its entertaining décor. You also can’t beat the price, most beers and house drinks are right around $ 5.
Place rating: 4
Miami, FL
Small dive bar right across the street from the Second City Theatre. Music is played from a Jukebox. Local beers on tap for reasonable prices ($ 11 for 2 pints). Also have canned and bottled beer selection as well as a full liquor bar. Worth a try for a quick drink while in the area. Walking distance from Lincoln Park and North Avenue Beach. Cash only!
Place rating: 4
Alexandria, LA
This is a first class dive bar, if there is such a think. They have unique artwork on the walls, a jukebox full of blues and jazz, Guinness on tap, friendly folks and it is right across the street from the Second City Comedy Club. It is a fine place to be able to have a conversation with a friend.
Place rating: 4
Hoboken, NJ
Small bar close to Chicago downtown, run down. Lot of locals and regulars here. Bartender gives you a «what are you doing here» kind of look for first timers i guess. But good crowd, and divey ambience.
Place rating: 5
Midland, MI
If you are looking for a quiet bar, hangout for artists and intellectuals– this is it. No loud music. No hipsters. No bankers or business types. Cash only.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
Shabby. Slightly smelly. Run down.
FULL OF HISTORY.
What more needs to be said? It’s a Chicago institution. Great bar, lots of booze, and friendly bartenders.