Bar: Declan’s Irish Pub
Location: 1240 N. Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
Score: 8.4/10
As of today, we are about a month out from one of the most underrated holidays of the year, St. Patrick’s Day. While regionally this holiday is celebrated differently, it is a great excuse to get together with your friends, put on some green and drink a shit ton of beer. All of which I am in favor of. Over the next few weeks, I will be highlighting some of my favorite pubs and I thought what better way to kick this off than in my favorite city, Chicago, IL. So after you see the river dyed green, you will then have to decide what pub you will be visiting for the day. Here is one that I could not recommend more.
The pub that I am taking you all to today is Declan’s in Old Town Chicago. The area alone is a great reason to visit this bar. Old Town has some great food and restaurants nearby, you could stay in this area all day and have a hell of a time. From the outside of the bar, Declan’s fits the standard for a good Irish pub. The outside of the building is an older brick and when you walk inside the bar you immediately notice the dim lighting, wood walls, floors, tables, and green stools. Have I been to Ireland? No, but these are all things I’d imagine I’d see in an Irish Pub. Every Irish pub should have all these elements to be considered a great Irish pub. Another thing that I appreciate about Declan’s is the copper air ducts and ceiling tile that run through the main bar, lets you know this place is old, adding to the character. The main bar in Declan’s is my favorite part of this establishment. You once again see a ton of wood, more green bar chairs, and a good number of TVs to watch all games on. What more could you ask for? If you turn your head around you’ll even see a couple of Jameson whiskey barrels, which I have never come across, adding to the décor category for this review.
As mentioned, most Irish pubs have a lot of similar traits in terms of décor and food offerings, so what makes Declan’s stand apart from others? Two things I have noticed during my few visits to Declan’s, one would be the space that the bar has. A lot of Irish pubs that we have visited lack in this area. Declan’s has multiple bars and a ton of seating, so you know you will get a spot if you plan accordingly. Another trait of Declan’s that stands out is the atmosphere. Because it is in such a good location, Declan’s pulls in a great atmosphere, and the place is always buzzing. Go on a gameday for a beloved Chicago team or Notre Dame to see a great atmosphere.
So as you are sitting around right now, probably doing nothing, try to plan a visit to Declan’s if you are visiting Chicago for St. Patrick’s Day. You will be greeted with good service, cold beer, and an authentic Irish Pub.
Decor: Decent amount of Guinness, and Jameson signage throughout the bar. Bar shines in this category from the amount of wood and ambiance inside the bar.
Price: A little on the pricey side. A beer will run you $6, a pint of Guinness about $8. Is this expensive for the city? Not necessarily, but some cheaper bars out there. The location and atmosphere help to justify this price.
Service: This place gets packed and every time I have been, the service has been great.
Atmosphere: Declan’s shines in this category. Always a good time at this bar.
Cleanliness: No concerns here.
Bonus points: No Bonus Points.