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Southport (Brown)
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Fri. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
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Being a bit of a nerd who fondly remembers playing board games on rainy days as a child, I naturally love this bar. They have decent drink prices and a nice selection - plus they offer delivery menus from local restaurants if you get hungry.
It is so nice to find a bar where you can actually have a great conversation with friends and play one of the 50+ odd board games they have to offer. I've always been a sucker for word games like Scrabble, but they even offer rare games that I hadn't heard of like SmartAss, which was also a fun game.
Whether you are a nerd who loves to play risk or just a regular Joe looking for a place to have a great conversation over Sorry!, Guthries is the perfect place.
A board game bar with all the pieces! So many bars claim to be a "game bar" but they always fall short. We headed over to BlackRock the other night because they toted having board games and the only one that wasn't in shambles was Chess.
Gurthrie's games are super organized, including laminated score sheets, white board markers, and rules that are securely taped to the box. If the rules just happen to be missing, they also have copies in a binder at the bar.
It also has a very sophisticated beer list for being located in Wrigleyville. I had expected it to be a miller lite night but no! I enjoyed Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stouts and Beamishes.
You gotta get here early because this place fills up fast! At 7:30pm we grabbed the only table left!
I really like this place. On a grey, wintry afternoon, it's wonderfully-dimly-grey. And, comforting.
We used to live 1/2-block from Guthrie's, and we'd play hooky to share a dreary day with a beer, a solid bartender, and a game of whatever. Decent beer selection, and local crowd. The kind of place that makes Chicago winters bearable.
I always sleep better, after Guthries.
Any tavern that provides Scrabble and well-poured Belgians has my full support!
The Sierra Nevada Belgian Trippel was on special and the first glass still has me dreaming about it. (the next 2 were almost as good)
We were here @ 4pm on Friday. At that time, there one patron and one great bartender, maybe the owners duaghter? I'm not sure but she acted like it - she knew her stuff, very friendly. Great neighborhood vibe. We grabbed the Connect Four (from the piles of board games available to play with your friends) and made ourselves comfy. Dimly lit with christmas lights and so quaint. We played for almost three hours while the place packed 'em in tight. Can't wait to go back! SUPER CLEAN bathrooms!
Wow, LOVE! What a fun night! Huge array of board games (complete with pieces--I'm impressed!), good drink list, lively but not unbearably crowded, cozy atmosphere, friendly service.
There really isn't a food menu to speak of (just frozen pizza and a few munchies), so I s'pose it loses a star for that. And, if for some absurd reason you'd like to bring your leftover frozen pizza home from the bar, they don't have to-go boxes--just 1-gallon ziplock bags. We looked silly with our ziplock bag of pizza! :)
But overall: Yay!
really small but GREAT DATE PLACE :)...drinks and playing games to ease the tension and just relax.....couldn't ask for a better place!
This was the first bar I discovered when moving to Chicago 2 years ago. I still return when I'm in the neighborhood.
I love this bar. Friendly staff, cozy, fun boardgames, great drinks, and not pretentious!
I heart you Guthries.
Despite the fact that I suck at Trivial Pursuit, I had a great time here last night. We got in at about 730, so it wasn't too busy and we were able to easily get a table for 6 of us. Either they don't have servers that early or they just sucked. Went up to the bar for the first round, then magically we had a server. The place filled up pretty quickly and by the time we left around 10, it was packed. The drinks weren't too pricey and there are a TON of games. I had a lot of fun, and I live just down the street so I plan to come back again and again!
I love games. I love my friends. I love summer. Put these all together and you have a fun night at Guthries. They have a huge selection of games and a lot of good drinks. You can order food from other restaurants or bring it in which is nice.
The back porch is good for a big group (this place tends to be packed) but it gets really hot back there. The staff was nice enough to open up the big windows...but on a really hot day, try inside for the AC.
I cant wait to come back!!!
You can never fail with a combination of drinking and board games. That alone gets 5 stars. Seriously, Guthrie's is an awesome time. The bar was a little crowded up front, but we were able to find a table in the very back. We played Scattergories, Taboo, and Scruples, and had a ton of laughs the entire night. Things get pretty rowdy here, depending on the game that people play. Jenga really gets people riled up.
We had trouble finding a server at first, but she showed up eventually, and was back fairly often enough. I didn't order any food, but a man selling tamales came through at one point.
The ceiling is a great conversation starter. Make sure you look UP when sitting down. I also loved the array of games they had. Definitely will hit this place up during the week-- I think that's the key.
The bartender was hooking me up, so I can't complain. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the attractive clientele and the non-douchebag guys in there (save a few).
Gay friendly.
Tucked away, as if trying to disassociate itself from all of the surrounding sleazy sports bars, Guthrie's offers a relaxing, sportless alternative to the Wrigleyville scene.
The back patio, the metal cans with local delivery menu options, the CIDER ON TAP (we always get excited about this), PIMM'S CUP (they do a fantastic pimm's cup in a fancy glass with cucumber) and lots of games, from pre-school to raunchy-raunchy, I love coming here mid week for an after work drink, after a cubs game to celebrate, with a slightly smaller percentage of bros around, or just to go out on a random Saturday and eavesdrop on a big group playing "Would you rather...".
Guthrie's also offers lots of good opportunities to prove how awesome you are. For example, while ordering my 127th pint of cider, two guys playing trivial pursuit asked me if I knew where the trans-siberian railroad began and ended. The looks on their faces when I nonchalantly replied that it's in Vladivostok and Moscow basically made my night. As if that was even a hard one.
Affordable beer, lots of fun board-games, cozy atmosphere.
If you can get past the screaming/squealing 21 year olds spilling drinks as their Jenga towers collapse, then Guthries is a great place to grab a out-of-the-norm beer & play games with your friends.
Mama like Guthrie's. This is one of my favorite places to hit up, especially in the winter when you want to feel all warm and fuzzy, and/or on a date when you want to have a little fun.
It's so unassuming and relaxed, I feel like a lot of people don't even know it exists. You can spend hours here playing all your favorite games from childhood, trying out the new ones, and getting tipsy during the process...this has been known to actually help some people's gaming skills (moi for example).
The only time I avoid this place is when there's a Cubs home game because the entire place goes from being a fun-filled game bar to just another Wrigleyville drunk-fest.
The most relaxed bar I've been to in Chicago. I love the atmosphere of the place. The beer selection is nice and fluid. No food (except for frozen pizzas they make in a microwave) but they've got take-out menus from all the local joints. Plus, lots of board games and a sun room area with windows that open onto a garden next door. Sure the service can be a little slow or absent at times, but thats how these types of places work. Make an effort and you'll be fine.
This is my favorite place in Chicago (period). Its the perfect spot for post dinner date. I brought my now fiance here after our first date...he loved it..definitely upped my date "cred."
Little known fact: they will let you order for delivery from anywhere. It will be brought right to your table. awesome.
Board games galore. Competitive spirits coupled with alcohol can be a recipe for disaster. This is a good place to go if you want to forgo the typical sleazy bar scene and enjoy a few drinks and rounds of Trivial Pursuit or Taboo with friends. I can see myself going here often if I had a place like this back home.
I love the idea of this bar. Board games, awesome beer selection, and cozy tables? Sweet.
Sadly, the reality didn't live up to the hype. There were tons of games, but a lot of them were missing pieces and were un-playable. The beer was good - if you could get one. (I'm guessing the surly waitress mentioned below was on the job again.) And yeah, cozy neighborhood joint with douchey, entitled just-out-college kids? Not my idea of a fun night.
Please pick up this bar and move it to a more chill neighborhood and you'll have a customer for life.
Had Rita Skeeter and Professor Umbridge not been tending bar, this place would have been splendid!
(If you don't understand that reference, it means they were huge bitches.)
I have been going here for many years and have loved the laid back vibe. Though the last time I went there was with an ex-boyfriend and his friends, about 6 months ago, from out of town on a Wednesday evening I believe. We got there about 8pm and sat at the bar, and had to beg to get even our first of many rounds of drinks. Mind you, we weren't drinking miller light, we were drinking Chimay and Lindman's just to name a few. And the bar was barely busy, when we arrived. One would think that one wouldn't have any issues getting more $12 bottles of beer when you are sitting right there at the bar.
When my exes friends arrived we moved to a table, and even after the first asian bartender left and the older guy with the ponytail showed up, the poor service continued. Whenever my ex would GO UP TO THE BAR and attempt to get another round of beer, now for the 4 of us, he would be purposely ignored. He finally gave up, and had me go up to the bar with him in the hopes of getting another round or two. Even after I went up to the bar, the bartender guy wouldn't even acknowledge me until I started to lean over the bar and wave my hands in his face.
Both my ex, and myself were fit to be tied at the end of the evening, and made a point of leaving a ZERO tip on a tab that was over $80. The guy with the ponytail had the nerve to call my ex back into the bar and demand why he wasn't receiving a tip. My ex then told him it was because of the shitty service that we had received the entire evening. The bartender then made some excuse about the place being busy.
It was a week night, and even with us WALKING up to the bar to get more rounds, we still weren't getting served. There is no excuse for that. Had he even ONCE acknowledged us and said to us that he would be with us in a minute that he was "busy" we would have left a tip. But the blatant rude service got him a big fat zero!
I believe in tipping, and I will tip up to 50% for great service, but I have no problem with NOT leaving a tip for bad or rude service. A tip should be for service rendered, not just because you felt like maybe getting more beer.
Couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars.
Here's why: it's a great concept and there are a lot of game choices, but the staff is either absent or less than friendly. Also, if you boast having take out menus to order from you would think there would be more than one set of menus for the entire place. We waited over a half hour for them to track down the coffee can full of take out menus...that's right-they apparently only have one can. And there isn't a huge variety of menus available...a little disappointing!
But, the beers are reasonably priced and they play decent music. I think it's the people I'm with that make it fantastic-so in the end I went with only 3 stars-which makes me sad because Guthries has the potential to be 5 stars all the time...
If you are the type of person that sometimes is short on conversation, like myself at times, then Guthrie's might be the place for you. At times, I get a little bored at the same ol' bar conversation...yawn! Why not play some board games? They have a whole shelf of board games to play while you wet your whistle all night long.
The drunken debauchery that occurs in other bars has been replaced with drinking and Trivial Pursuit, Connect Four, Scrabble, etc... board games. It makes a comfortable atmosphere that you won't find too many other places. You don't have (as many) people acting stupid around you and you can actually here the other person talking to you. Definitely worth going to.
It has tons of games, it has Beamish (instead of Guiness) AND they allow BYOP (Bring your own pizza - or get it delivered ?!?)... this place is pretty great in my book.
The service can be a bit touch and go and its obviously based upon the size of the crowds.
Ultimately, its cozy, dark and filled with board games and that is why this is a 5 star kinda joint.
OK, well I am about to join the huge slew of folks that think that Guthries rocks in every way except the staff.
Great beer. Great room. Great games. Great. Great. Great.
And in her defense, the cute, short-haired bartender was very nice.
But... who are these bitches that they hire as servers?!?!?!? With the economy being rough right now and so many people looking for jobs, can't they find anyone to at least smile, bring a beer, make eye contact, not walk away in the middle of your order, OR say thank you? Just ONE of those things would have been an improvement.
(I was there on 3/6/09 so check your schedules ladies, yep, I'm talking about you.)
It was really sad because I was there with great people, playing a great game, and drinking great beers. It was a big bummer to have to deal with 2 complete bitches for waitresses.
Let's just say, its been a LONG time since I've tipped under 25% and I really felt that I was being generous with 15% at Guthries.
I love this place EXCEPT for the service. The staff was really unfriendly. yuck.
I loooooove the ceiling. Look up when you're there.
They have TONS of games! We played jenga. so fun.
The space is a little tight.
I like this place.
I'm not the biggest fan of the neighborhood, but Guthrie's is by far the best place in the area. It's the perfect winter bar- cozy, kitschy... and with board games! Drink prices are pretty standard. It's great on a weeknight when it's not terribly crowded. I love the decor- my favorite touch the doll faces on the ceiling ;) Be sure to go around the holidays- aside from it giving off a simply cozy/warm ambiance, they offer a holiday drink menu, with some tasty whiskey, hot cocoa, and cider drinks. Crowd is usually pretty good- the bulk of the Wrigleyville crowd must stay around the corner at the myriad sports bars.
All in all, a cute, good bar if you're in the neighborhood!
How clever! Board games while drinking - even better Jenga while drinking. I love this game even when sober - so adding booze to the picture just makes it that much better. Our group of four which quickly grew into a group of five had a wonderful night taking shots, drinking beers and stacking the wooden blocks until they tumbled.
One of my favorite winter bars!
Warm, cozy, beer, whiskey, lots of facial hair, funky painted ceiling tiles, tampons in the bathroom, board games, checkered table clothes, cheap pizza, mustard and pretzels, boys, beer, whiskey... You get the pictures.
Plus, it's a good spot to go to if you are on a date or with someone you don't feel like awkwardly staring at for a few hours while getting buzzed. You can play some board games instead.
Be prepared to sub out different items for missing game pieces. Things that work well are: lipsticks, the tampons from said bathroom, rings, pretzels, earrings or you can get creative and use clothing.
Came across this Tavern last night completely random. This is going to defiantly be one of my favorite bars going forward!!
This is Chicago at it's tiniest. The atmosphere has an antique charm to all, among other things. This is the little town bar you've been looking for. Five stars for Connect Four.
I used to sleep above this tavern every now and then. This is forever engraved in my memory as a location that is a real original.
This is a great place to bring your friends. Jenga when drunk = hilarious fun times. I don't know about my competitive side is assisted with the amounts of alcohol consumed especially when its just a board game one is playing, though I hate to lose. That is more me than this place though. Its still a great way to end the night and close it down.
Beer and boardgames. It was a lot of fun, if only certain people weren't there. Yeah I understand it… Read more »
Great ambiance! Cool friendly neighborhood bar.
Oh, and it has boardgames.. And Jenga!
Prices were great as well. Pizza wasn't bad.
B-6....HIT!...YOU SUNK MY LIVER!
This is one of my favorite bars of all time. First of all they have tons of board games from Connect Four to Jenga to Scrabble to Cat-opoly (that one doesn't seem to get much play). If you haven't played board games while inebriated you are seriously missing out on a good time.
The bar is definitely unique (was that a ceiling tile covered in creepy doll heads?), the bottled beer selection is good (try the Three Floyds or the Left Hand Milk Stout), the bartenders kick ass (I'm a sucker for free birthday shots), and the crowd is mellow and surprisingly d-bag free despite being a few blocks from Wrigley.
What more can you ask for?
Guthrie's is a pretty solid place all around. Problem is, everyone in the neighborhood realizes this so it tends to get crowded pretty quickly. The front of the bar is really narrow which makes it a bit of a chore to elbow your way to the back patio. Oddly enough, the back patio seems to always have the most room which is bizarre as this is where one should head to experience what really sets Guthrie's apart. What is that you ask? Why nothing less then a bookshelf of board games open to your drunken disposal.
This is a good place to go if... getting wasted and playing Scrabble at home is starting to loose its appeal.
F you Guthrie's! I felt like I was at adult day care with your condescending staff and doorman. It was my friend's birthday, and you said we could push two tables together then you said we couldn't and made us move them, then you said we could again. A waitress tried to steal a tip from my other friend. You don't serve food, so some of us went to McDonald's, and you wouldn't let me bring in a milkshake. None of us were out of line or drunk. I wasn't even drinking, because I couldn't stomach dealing with your attitude. I will never go back as long as I live.
My buddy Pat used to be the bouncer here. I thought it was a pretty cool place whenever I went there.
Best part was they let you order takeout/delivery from anywhere and bring it in to eat while you drink
Plus board games everywhere
Plus they actually carry rye. And I mean real rye not Canadian rye which is just another name for Canadian whiskey. American rye must have a mash of a minimum 51% rye. Canadian rye has no minimum requirement
Any place that serves Newcastle and offers Battleship will fast become a favorite of mine.
Guthrie's is one of the only reasons I'd ever move back to Wrigleyville. Great bartenders. Amazing music selection. A great selection of board games (my favorite thing ever). Mini pretzels (!). People watching galore.
I'll warn that this spot is uber popular & fills up quickly on a given night (especially on winter weekends) so plan ahead.
Guthrie's is always a good time--a bar where I can show up in a hoodie and feel totally at home. Plenty of board games and a good beer selection. And you gotta love the tamale man! It's a great place to go for a change of pace from the rest of the establishments in the area, particularly on a weeknight. And it doesn't even get crowded during Cubs games, so you can easily watch the game.
So why 3 stars? We pretty much always sit at the same table and as a result, usually get the same server. And man, is she a bitch. Typically when you are a waitress, the expectation is that you will, in fact, have to wait on people. It's not just a clever name, honey. So stop acting so annoyed when we order another round, and then freak out when we go to the bar for a beer instead because you seem so bothered by us. Make up your mind!
Maybe we should just pick a new table, that seems like the simple solution...ha.
I am a Boggle champion....and if it wasn't for Guthries, how would I know it?
Friday night, around 11, we found a table...i know this unusual, but it happened...come to think of it, ive found a table here every time
The music was lovely, and just loud enough to be able to hear it, but still hear yourself think and, miracle of miracles, even have a conversation!
Best of all, 1 block to home and warm bedding! Makes me wish this place wasn't so popular, so I could become a regular and they would totally know me and I'd meet cute with some other gameboard playing regular, and we'd make gameboard champion babies.
As it is, i can handle being another face in the crowd here.
Food Specials
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
$4 x $4 Every Day
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Nightlife
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