Bar: Old Town Ale House
Address: 219 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60610
Score: 8.3/10
On the corner of W North Ave and N Wells lies one of the most well respected bars in Chicago. Old Town Ale House has been in Chicago since 1958. The bar has some rich history as it has changed themes and ownership many times to get to the state that it is in today. I think that is what gives it character though, a true testament of continuing to try when you previously fail. How would I describe the atmosphere at the Old Town Ale House? Well, unique is one word, quirky is another. It does not have your typical dive bar decor that you’d be accustomed to seeing. No Neon signs, minimal beer advertisements, no sports themed signage, none of that. Instead, the walls are lined by portraits of customers that frequent the bar and celebrities that have visited the bar from time to time. At first I was not sure about this theme, but it slowly grew on me. It was refreshing to see something different after going to multiple bars that day that felt relatively the same. I found the Sarah Palin photo behind the bar to be one of the most interesting pieces. Not everyday can you find a photo of Sarah Palin nude, holding a rifle, wearing heels, but you sure as shit can at the Old Town Ale House.
I absolutely loved the textured ceilings, the dark ambiance, old wood floors, and the brass beer taps. All of which scream nostalgia. Best part was the bar was clearly maintained and did not have the grim that so many dives have.
Another great feature of the bar was the jukebox. I went during odd hours so there was not much action on the jukebox, but I scrolled through the music options and it looked like a decent selection. Just something about a jukebox, speaks volumes to a good dive.
Just like every bar, there are a few things that we need to criticize, while there is not much from a decor/theme perspective, I found the beer to be on the pricier side. A bottle of Miller ran me $6.50, by far the most expensive beer I drank that day. I was truly shocked given it was cash-only and how divey the bar was. It can be a flip of a coin sometimes in big cities, sometimes you find yourself paying $2.50 a bottle, sometimes it can be upwards of $8 for the same beverage.
I understand the costs to maintain a bar are expensive and Chicago rent is no joke, nonetheless I’d be happy paying that price for the experience that the bar gives you. Could I sit there and drink all day? No I could not, but I will frequent this bar moving forward every time I am in the Windy City.
Decor: Old paintings on the walls of frequent customers and celebrities. 1 of 1 in terms of themes.
Price: Expensive, worst category by far.
Service: Nice bartender, knowledgeable on the bar’s history.
Atmosphere: Lively for it being 4pm on a Thursday. Good mixed age crowd.
High Life Bottle?: I did not see any.
Bonus Points: Cash Only