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Hüettenbar
- Nearest Transit:
-
Western-Brown (Brown Line)
Rockwell (Brown Line)
Damen-Brown (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 2 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Wed
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Sarah K. said: "This is my favorite karaoke place in the world. I am a late convert to private-room karaoke. I couldn't believe that it would be better than a bar full of strangers. Boy howdy was I wrong. There are a few drawbacks - there's only…" read more »
143 reviews for Hüettenbar
Review Highlights
"I love German beer and they have it."
(in 40 reviews)
"...better when the weather is nice and the windows are open."
(in 8 reviews)
"The bartenders are wonderful and the beer is delicious."
(in 30 reviews)
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143 reviews in English
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Review from Marc R.
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Back in the day Huettenbar and the Hansa Clipper were the two mellow alternatives to the party-time Brew house across the street. Huettenbar offered a refuge from the cold streets to many a drinker in winter, and an open window on Lincoln to summer people watchers. There was and is something festive about the Huettenbar that keeps people coming back for more. I had my first beer here in 1995 and boy... this place is the same even though not much around it is. I love the timelessness of the place.
Huettenbar has proudly become an institution in this neighborhood as so many places have come and gone. The inside is dark. The murals are still funny. The beer is still an amazing selection of German classics. They don't have real schnapps which is a drag, but otherwise this place does what it has done for a heck of a long time and does it well. And, of course, it has the windows open to Lincoln and the two tables for people watching!
Where there were men's big and tall shops for all the big and tall old timers there are condos, and where there were many deli's there are one or two. Where there were dogs on leashes, there are $500 strollers parked next to $1000 strollers. And long before the Asian beetle killed them all off, there were many more tall trees on every side street. Lincoln park is a fun tapestry of changing and evolving life in the city that has maintained its core culture and business center.
You can take it all in here at the Huettenbar. You can watch the world go by and change from a place that has not changed much in 20 years. Sure the prices have gone up, and that funny clock hand fun-o-meter (in German) is no longer behind the bar, but this place is a Chicago classic in a neighborhood that has changed radically since the first waves of X-generation couples started buying two flats from German grandmothers in the mid 90s.
Lift a glass of beer and just say Prost! Time keeps flowing like a river of beer at this classic Chicago beer hall. -
Review from Javier B.
1/1/2012
Awesome neighborhood bar. Especially great if you can score one of the tables by the front windows in the summer when they are open. I personally prefer getting a freshly brewed American beer to European beers, but great nonetheless.
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Review from andy m.
Elmhurst, IL
11/16/2011
The greatest of them German bars is overrated in my book and yelp. The picture painting behind the bar is cheesy and I really don't see why this is always listed as the best bars in Chicago.
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Review from Jennifer S.
Chicago, IL
11/15/2011
The bartenders are the worst I've ever encountered. I live in the neighborhood and would not take anyone there!
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Review from matty z.
4/8/2011
You'll hear lots of country music whilst sitting in the back, and that's just aces.
Some of the beers are pricier, but the Huettenbar remains a Lincoln Square staple that is worth the effort. -
Review from Justin B.
Chicago, IL
8/22/2011
Great selection of German beers on tap! It is generally pretty full, but it doesn't get too loud in there as to inhibit conversation.
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Review from Ericka A.
11/25/2010
Although I like to consider myself an amateur linguist, German is a language that has managed to slip past me. I know maybe a handful of useless phrases, so I'm sure "Hüettenbar" actually means something but I'd much rather stay ignorant for now and chuckle every time I hear it. Yes, I am that mature. *Cue gay German voice* "Das ist Hüettenbar, ja?"
Loving the atmosphere, location and employees. They were able to tell us to GTFO as politely as possible when it was closing time. A few unsavory customers managed to make it past the doorman, but they weren't any worse than the winos you'll find at any other bar. I just sipped my Spaten and minded my own business. OK, I take that back. I did have to pull out $2 and remedy the jukebox situation. They made it easier than I anticipated by providing a dozen Electric Six songs to drone out the goddamn golden oldies someone decided was a good idea.Listed in: Don't Be A Deutschebag™
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Review from Megan S.
Colonial Heights, VA
12/27/2010
I love this bar!
I have only been here twice, but have had great experiences both times. The beer selection was pretty good for a smaller, not-as-commercialized establishment. The bartender, Adam, is very friendly and efficient. He also was competant enough to answer beer questions my friend and I had.
Granted, one of the times I was here was Christmas night, but the crowd was small and intimate (which I enjoy). The other time I was here was a Friday evening and it was not packed either.
My only complaint of the entire evening was that they had TouchTunes, which gave middle-aged females free reign on playing Lenny Kravitz and Kid Rock, much to my disgust. Otherwise...ZERO COMPLAINTS. :-) -
Review from chris c.
Chicago, IL
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
the place is sort of dumpy, there is little service to speak of, the crowd is like a less washed version of the logan square hipster crowd.
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Review from Mark G.
Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL
11/16/2010 6 Check-ins Here
This is one of my favorite bars in the neighborhood. I like the beer selection at The Atlantic more, as well as the super friendly bartenders there, but I digress.
However, Huettenbar has what the french call "a certain I don't know what". It's cozy. The bartenders are friendly enough, just not as likely to strike up an in-depth conversation as the folks at Atlantic, which is just as fine. Sometimes you just want to sit and drink, other times you want to chat it up.
I wouldn't recommend coming here to watch a game, as the few TV's they have aren't very large. I would however recommend it as a place to meet up with a group of friends for a few drinks. They have booths that you can pull chairs around, to easily accomodate a group of 6,7, or 8 people. Especially on a weeknight, when it doesn't get too crowded.
The open air windows in front are great in the summertime.
This is just a great, comfy, neighborhood spot. -
Review from Andrea D.
Chicago, IL
7/3/2010
This place is German. Really German. And since this is yelp, and I can't justify why I can make this claim by telling you my last name, I'll just remind you that it starts with "R", inform you that it is also is a word in German, and give the hint that there were three of them in German history (the last one didn't work out so well...)
If you come here, you should probably like German beer.Listed in: Lincoln Ave
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Review from Josh Y.
Denver, CO
1/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is alive on any day. I like it much better than the German bar across the way. They should go all out and offer a wider selection of German beers, but the atmosphere of this place makes up for it.
This place has a hard working staff and even harder working jukebox.
I go here whenever I'm in town. You should too. -
Review from KT S.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2010
I love the Huettenbar. This is why:
* it looks like a German bar out of a cartoon. Or out of Germany. I wouldn't know because I've never actually been.
* however my husband has spent a bunch of time in Germany, and he really likes it
* they only have German beer on tap here
* and chips
* the beer is good
* I'm not sure about the chips
* the people are very chill
I dig itListed in: Lincoln Square, Alkamahol
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Review from Jelena Z.
Updated - 2/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Contrary to my last review, they don't have a food menu here. Because they don't have a kitchen. So, if you want to prep your stomach for some serious drinking, your best bet is to go to Potbelly's next door and import a sandwich as I did on a recent Friday evening.
I really love this bar-- words can't even explain it, I just do. The jukebox is awesome. The beers are cold and served in their proper mugs/glasses. It's cozy, and the front window along the bar provides the perfect view of the snow falling over Lincoln Square. Yep, it's all postcard out there.
Oh, and the beer is cheap-- most are $5. Just remember that it gets really crowded in here after 9pm on the weekends. That's when I pass my holy bar stool to the next lucky patron. Long live Hüettenbar! (with the umlaut of course, 'cause I inexplicably love those too).Listed in: 5 super sexy stars!, It's all Euro to me!, The Bar Exam, On Lincoln Ave., The Square: Lincoln Edition.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/5/2009
Can we talk about German beer for a minute? Best bang for the buck ever. At only $5 a pop, two of… Read more »
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Review from Dave S.
7/24/2008
I really liked the feel of this place. It is a little Bavarianesque type place that transports you to the other side of the planet to little German town somewhere.
The place is somewhat dark with low lighting and dark wood everywhere. his appealed to me right off the bat as I am quite often attracted to this kind of atmosphere. I also liked the open front end of the bar to get a clear view and made an excellent spot for people watching.
The drinks were NOT cheap but the bartender was very attentive and was readily available to help us out. This is not going to be a final destination for me but if I am in the area, I know this is a solid place to unwind and have a fine crafted German brew -
Review from Robert F.
Chicago, IL
4/14/2008
Fair warning, most people will either love or hate the Huettenbar. I guess its because Huettenbar is a bar, and doesn't try to be anything else... like a restaraunt, or a pub, or a nightclub.
The formula is simple: One big long bar, a bunch of stools, a jukebox, and beer. They up the beer variable nicely by serving a good amount of decent German brews. Everything else is basically what you'd expect if you had precisely 15 seconds to describe "a bar".
So why 4 stars? Well, Huettenbar isn't trying to be anything fancy. Just a friendly neighbourhood watering hole. Its ace-in-the-hole is their relationship with The Brauhaus. Since Brauhaus gets so damned packed, you can actually go to Heuttenbar, and they'll call you when your table is ready.Listed in: Lincoln Square Reviewed, Lincoln Square - Where to eat
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Review from Sarah B.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2009
You have to go to this bar just to watch the redhead bartendress. This chick is hilarious. She moves like she is acting in some 60's dance scene: http://www.youtube.com...
She has the Playboy dip down to an art and she shuffles and grapevines back and forth behind the bar, always bending at the waist, arching her back so the booty is angled just right. It is absolutely weird. Maybe it gets her extra tips but my girlfriend and I were just mesmerized by the strangeness of it.
Good beer and a bizarre waitress=entertaining evening. -
Review from Scott H.
9/1/2010
My kid sister once ordered a margarita from here. Silly girl. And it turns out she loved it!
That's what you get from a great old German bar with lots of good help! I love coming here with friends and sitting by the open front windows with giant German beers and a full night ahead. The vibe is Bavarian kitsch and hits all the right notes when you're there for an easy-going time. -
Review from Alan W.
Chicago, IL
11/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Bartenders are nice, the beer is german, the place is INSANELY german.... so why 4 stars? No food & an internet jukebox. This would be fine if places around stayed open late but they don't. Really easy going laid back atmosphere.
Eat BEFORE you go or pace yourself. -
Review from Helena B.
5/2/2009
This bar was... OK. Meh. I was wavering between 2 and 3 stars, but went with 2 as it's unlikely I'll be back.
My overwhelming impression of this place was that it was just sooooo narrow. Packed to the gills with people and no where for them to all go. I had to fight my way back to the bathroom (one stall, by the way. Grr). As I forcibly parted a sea of people to return to the front I had flashbacks to the one time I misguidedly went to watch the "3rd of July" fireworks along the lakefront. [[Shudder]]
It was warm enough last night for the front windows to be opened, and thank goodness - I can't imagine how cramped and claustrophobic this place would feel otherwise.
All in all, the place is cute and the beer is good... but it's not cute or good enough to deal with the crowd.Listed in: Hip to be Square
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Review from Kristen W.
Chicago, IL
4/20/2006
I prefer to call it the "Cuckoo Clock Bar". Once you see the exterior, you'll get what I mean.
I love the Huettenbar! Excellent selection of German beer on tap. Quaint, friendly decor and super nice bartenders. I don't think there is anything better in life than enjoying an ice cold Weiss beer on a hot summer's day in the open window at the Huetten!Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Michael E.
Charlotte, NC
4/29/2009
In keeping with its German name, the façade of this establishment screams German as well as the beer selection, though you don't have to jump on a plane to experience it.
Located in the heart of Lincoln Square, this nice little neighborhood bar is laid back and quite cozy during the winter months. But the summers are also a treat when they open up the windows.
Practically off the Brown line stop at Western, there is no excuse for not trying out this little gem of a bar. -
Review from Kevin A.
4/15/2008
ICH LIEBE BIER UND TOTO!
Haven't you always wondered where in the city you can go to experience the trifecta of authentic German beer, a mellow diverse non-obnoxious crowd, AND Toto on the jukebox? Ok, perhaps not. But if by chance that mood should strike, you'll know where to look.
"It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you..
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do...
I bless the rains down in Africa...
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had..."
[Cue the electric flute solo...] -
Review from Dominic R.
Chicago, IL
5/13/2008
Not a bad little place, it's in the hood..........good little Lincoln Square bar. Nice in the summer when you can have the front window's open and people watch!
Actually my friend's and I love to sit in " The Stampstich", the large booth by the front door!!!
This place really gets PACKED for May Fest or German Fest, AVOID THEN!
AVOID! AVOID! -
Review from Colleen R.
Chicago, IL
2/21/2010
I love the neighborhood vibe of Lincoln Square, and it's carried directly into Huettenbar.
Great beer, cozy atmosphere, a place where the bar tender takes the time to learn your name.
It can be loud at times, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a first date or an intimate occassion. -
Review from Stacey A.
10/22/2007
I live just far enough south of Lincoln Square that I rarely venture up that way to go boozing. Especially when I can just hop over to Redmond's where I know everyone and all my drinks are a dollar.
But I digress...
I met up with my favorite ex of all time at this bar after a show on Saturday. We drank beers out of these giant mugs that kind of reminded me a soup mugs. And even though there were a ton of supposedly awesome German beers on tap, I got a Stella because I'm too damn short to see and read all the damn tappers. Oh well.
Cute bar, nice atmosphere. Very unpretentious crowd and really polite bartenders. -
Review from Ryan C.
11/15/2008
Not a bad place to go to and somewhat quaint inside. Located in Lincoln Square, it's filled mostly with your local hipsters of the neighborhood. They do have a decent amount of German beer on tap. If you are not a German beer aficionado, like myself, and not wanting to sound like a fool, like myself, by mispronouncing the German beer names, just ask for a BBK...it's simple to say and it's a good beer.
The juke box is filled with 80s-90s pop music, which grinds my nerves after so much of it. I had to endure some teeny bop sitting next to me screaming in her valley girl accent "Like, oh my God, I love this song!!!!" on each and every song that was played.
All in all, it's a decent place to go to. Get's a little packed on weekends, but you should still have a good time there. -
Review from Tita P.
3/8/2009
This was my first time in Lincoln Square and this bar was an excellent introduction. It is cozy. The staff is friendly. The Kettle One and tonics are da bomb!! :-)
I even thought the cute little teeny tiny bathroom was cute. I can't wait to go again. -
Review from Sara B.
Tempe, AZ
7/9/2008
Weissbier ist mein Lieblingsbier.
Oder genauer: dunkeles Weissbier ist mein Lieblingsbier. Schmeckt immer gut -- aber besonders gut, wenn es draussen ein bisschen warm und sonnig ist.
Oh, sorry, you don't speak crappy German? Well, you can still go to Huettenbar and get loaded like I did.
They don't have a wide beer selection, as others have noted, because THEY FOCUS ON GERMAN BEERS. There are only so many German brews you can get on tap in the US, after all.
With my Muenchener roots, I appreciate the Bavarian focus -- particularly the fact that there was dunkelweiss on tap. That's Deutsch for dark hefeweisen, Amerikaner.
Ich bin total blau geworden, aber das ist eigentlich kein Problem in Deutschland...und es ist auch kein Problem beim Huettenbar. Daher verdient es sich fuenf Sterne.
Translation: My Kidneys fucking hate me.Listed in: I went to Chicago and all I…
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Review from Amanda Z.
10/28/2008
Alright, I loved this bar before I ever set foot in here...just say it..."HOOOT-enbar"...ah, I just can't get enough. So when it comes time to celebrate my birthday with my favorite work peeps, and we decide to go to my neck of the woods, where do we go? "HOOOOOT-enbar" (or as my coworker called it, the "Flootentoogen", which is also super fun to say).
All fun words aside, this bar is fantastic...German beers, no pretension, and lots of dudes, which makes for short ladies room lines (gotta love that one, gals!)
Friendly bartenders, prompt service, jukebox, and a good crowd. Even better when the weather is nice and the windows are open.
Wanna meet for a drink? You can bet yer rootin'-tootin', we can meet at the Hoootin' (bar).Listed in: The Square
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Review from Emily Y.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2009 1 Check-in Here
I'm wavering on 3.5 here.
I stormed this bar with four girlfriends (well, three gals and one gay) last weekend and felt a bit like everyone in the bar was giving us the stink eye as soon as we walked in. I'd been here once before with the fiance and didn't get that vibe, so maybe it was just that particular evening -- or the fact that four hot chicks and one hot gay guy were taking over their turf. :)
The clientele on this particular evening was dude-heavy, hipster-heavy -- a pretty lame scene if you want to know the truth -- but our group didn't care! We just wanted to drink and have a good time with each other, and that we did! We quickly took over one end of the back bar, and the great lady bartender kept the drinks coming as well as the entertainment - she had some MOVES.
This bar looks kind of like a German tavern/ski chalet/dive all in one. It's pretty hilarious, really. The drinks are a decent price, and if you can get a seat, it's a lot of fun. Weekends tend to be pretty packed.
A decent place to drink in Lincoln Square, but I could deal with less 'tudes from the hipsters.Listed in: Das Lincoln Square, Ja Gern!
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Review from Meredith C.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2009
My fellow Lincoln Squarians:
I think the time has come wherein we all take a deep breath in...then out, and just admit to ourselves and others that Huettenbar is overrated. It's okay. This is a safe place. No one will hurt you.
Yes, there are some great, rare(ish) beers on tap (I remember a delicious dark blond beer; I'm forgetting the name...but to be fair, I forget the names of so many dark blonds). And yes, in the summer, the open windows with the flowers in the window sill is quite the charming sight to behold. And during Apple Fest, I vaguely recall them supplying $2 shots of some flipping awesome apple schnapps.
However, there is a BUT here (a big, juicy, smackable one at that)...
On weekends, it's way too crowded. And even a crowd would be tolerable, but it's a crowd of pretentious d bags who seem to think that they're in Wicker Park. Go sip your PBR cans, opine about how no one at the bar is as smart as you, and compulsively readjust your painted on jeans elsewhere. We don't take kindly to your type...well we do, but I wish we didn't.
Furthermore, I don't know if anyone else has noticed this (and this, by the by, is a fact, not an opinion) but...the jukebox sucks and hairy, hairy, hairy fat one. Only one song by Queen? And it's "We Will Rock You"? C'mon now.
I've seen people say that they like this place because it's cozy. If you want cozy...go to the Grafton. There's much more room, a better selection and, coziest of all, a fireplace. Huettenbar is not what I'd call cozy. When it's busy, it's cramped and when it's not, it's just okay.
But at the same time, come Apple Fest, you bet your sweet apple cinnamon muffins I'll be there to sample and judge the merits of the schnapps. Yeah, it's going to be tough, but someone's got to do it. -
Review from cory c.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2010
I think the Huttenbar is a great neighborhood bar and an essential part to Lincoln Square. The decor is outdated and awesome, the beer is fantastic, and the bartenders are cool. One of the other reviewers stated that one of the bartenders, Adam, is unpleasant, but I disagree. He has been super cool everytime I've visited. One thing to note is that this bar has a HUGE base of regulars, and they aren't going to kiss your butt to make you come back, but if you are pleasant and there to have a good time, you will always find it to be a welcome place drink.
The beer is a little pricey for a dive-esque bar, but perfectly normal for the neighborhood. The place gets a little too crowded on Fridays and Saturdays, but otherwise finding a seat is never a problem. Every trip to the Square should include at least one drink at the Hoot. -
Review from Emily B.
Chicago, IL
6/21/2008
This place has about 12 German beers and one Dutch on tap. They serve said beers in hefty mugs and tall glasses for about 5 bucks a pop. It's got a nice, non-pretentious crowd, a jukebox, and an open-window front in the summer.
Whoever the bartender is with pink hair is excellent too; she'll give you a sip of the beer before you commit to it, which helps loads for anyone not totally familiar with German beers.
Bar none, it's a great place to hang and drink some different beers.
Try the dark lager. Ich liebe.Listed in: My Lincoln Square/Ravens-hood, Crunk
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Review from angela h.
Chicago, IL
12/20/2009
Last night solidified it for me- Huettenbar is a great bar staffed by great people. 1st- the decor is funky and fun. 2nd- the clientele are diverse and pretty chill. 3rd- fab beer. 4th- good tunes (from the jukebox, so it all depends on the crowd but I've always enjoyed the picks). 5th- Last but not least the staff is fantastic. They're constantly keeping people in line, wiping down surfaces and keeping the place tidy. Also, they're more than happy to help you choose a beer that fits your taste profile.
The only bad thing- Can you say "hangover?"Listed in: Lincoln Square's not for…
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Review from Danielle C.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2008
You can never go home again- so the saying goes. I am not sure if I believe it but...
You can never relive fun, debaucherous vacations abroad- but you can always try! If you are looking to resurrect your German roots, or bring back memories of the Haubrahaus and running wildly through various fountains in Munich (no, not me!!), try the Huettenbar.
It is not designed in the beer hall style of many of the famous bars in Germany, however, it DOES remind me of some of the smaller local pubs found in Berlin and Frankfort (umm culture, no, I do admit, I did a bar crawl through Germany- after all, it is known for BEER).
This was one of my first hangouts when I moved to Chicago. Lincoln Square was not as gentrified then, Louie still ran the bar, and Erma was around often. I loved the place. Cheap, strong German beer, cozy intimate settings, and a rockin juke box. It does sport one of the smallest bathrooms I have ever seen (no need to worry about people multipurposing it- it would give the mile high clubbers a run for their money), and it was a stumble home to my apartment- with a stop at Jerry's Dinner on the way.
I have returned since I left the neighborhood. Huettenbar has changed some with the times, but still retains a glow. Louie has retired, Erma's picture remains, but I have not seen her, and it has become somewhat hipsterfied. However, none of these factors are total detractors from the glory it beholds- GREAT BEER!
ENJOY!
(And if you can resist, stay away from the fountains- it looks like fun, and it is, until you are completely soaked and slogging your way home!) -
Review from Wes T.
9/16/2009
I came here during the German Day festival and it was amazing. Fantastic space, with a cool decor. On a hot summer day the big window opening out onto the street was awesome.
Friendly bartenders, and a lot of great German beer on tap. I also recommend the apple schnapps if you're feeling plucky. -
Review from Christine S.
Chicago, IL
6/9/2010
I'm German, and I don't like German beer? Yup... True Story.
Hüettenbar is a hole in the wall, German Bar. I love hole in the wall bars because they have cheap beer. Hüettenbar didn't. I think it was like $6, a beer. The bathrooms are TINY, so if you're above average weight, good luck in there! -
Review from Brandon W.
Chicago, IL
8/20/2008
Aside from the creepy snaggle toothed woman that sat with us at our table, this place was great. It had a lot of people in it, and the drinks were flowing. Like most have said, it has a small amount of beer choices, but many German beer choices.
If you are in the area, check it out. It' has a nice rustic feeling... -
Review from David G.
Chicago, IL
7/29/2009 1 Check-in Here
When you go to Huettenbar, don't ask for a Guiness or Murphys or they will politely request that you order something else. The German beer selection is decent and it's one of the only places in the city where I can get a Kutcher Alt, which is by far my favorite German brew, good between rounds of Spaten. The atmosphere is rustic and cozy, but it gets very crowded on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, especially since Lincoln Square has become trendier than it was a few years ago. The crowd is usually pretty diverse and friendly. I always end up chatting with random people. I hope Huettenbar doesn't become pretentious like many neighborhood bars have become, because I would absolutely hate to take this one off my list.
The only negative I can find about this place is the size. For it's popularity on weekends it's always completely packed. This has never stopped me from going, however.
