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Streeters
- Nearest Transit:
-
Chicago-Red (Red Line)
Grand-Red (Red Line)
Chicago-Brown (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun 11 am - 4 am
Sat 11 am - 5 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
103 reviews for Streeters
Review Highlights
"Friendly bartender, fun people, and giant Jenga."
(in 14 reviews)
"...have a pool table to keep skills sharp and a ping pong a."
(in 24 reviews)
"...and your pervert-style one-way mirror in the guys bathroom."
(in 7 reviews)
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103 reviews in English
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Review from Johanna G.
Long Beach, NY
11/15/2011
this place is a dump.
and i love it. LOVE IT.
we were in chicago for work, and one of the boys from S&P has a knack for finding a good time - we set him loose in chi-town and he texted us the location with the words "giant jenga"
didn't even need to tell me twice, i loaded up the cool clients and fun coworkers, we left the tools at the Westin and hit this joint up.
Now, I've said before I'm not really a bar game player - I like watching, yelling, etc. but I dont love playing. That ish goes out the window when giant Jenga's involved cause i LOVE jenga and i'm GOOD at it. In fact, TOB only beat me cause my dog knocked the table over (ask me, that ish doesn't count but whatev).
they had cheap beers here, surly staff, f*ckin giant jenga. Whenever someone tells me "I'm going to chitown" I say "then you better go to streeters"
clearly, they'd have more fun if I was with them, but that goes without saying. -
Review from Kristin M.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2011
Solid dive bar in River North. I don't often do my boozin' among tourists and Loyola kids, but was happy to stumble in here for a birthday gathering.
Giant Jenga, foosball, pool, a roving DJ taking song requests and beer pong (if you like that sort of thing), really how can you go wrong???
Yes, it's beyond crowded. Yes, it'll take you 20 minutes to order a drink. Welcome to drinking in the city. -
Review from Christina C.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2011
Awesome, Dive-y, so much fun.
Giant Jenga?! heck yes!
Beer Pong, Pool, Foosball- YES PLEASE
Nothing fancy, just a great place to go drink. -
Review from Joe F.
Tinley Park, IL
1/13/2012
Im torn about this place. i love the atmosphere and the tons of games to p[lay. they have Giant Jenga, Beer Pong, Pool, and Fooseball, all for free. The drinks are typically priced for a bar off of chicago and michigan. However, never have i had such rude, inept and altogether mean service. Example, on a crowded night i walked up to the bar to grab some drinks for me and my friends. A server came out of nowhere and pushed me aside, apparently i was standing in her spot. When i asked her why she thought it would be okay to push me instead of asking me to move she responded with "really?" and walked away. i dont know maybe she was having a bad day, maybe shes just a jerky person. Unfortunately this place seems to make it a habit of hiring rude, inept people, who forget orders or are too busy hitting on girls or being hit on themselves to do their job.
Sorry streeters, ill come back when O'Tooles shuts down, till then, Adieu -
Review from Damian C.
Pursuing my dream of being a public accountant has really taken a toll of my social life and mental stability.
Typical Damian schedule: Roll out of bed and into the shower at 7AM. 6 swipes of deodorant and hop into pre-ironed clothes by 7:15. Whip some Garnier Nutrisse Fiber Gum Putty into my hair, grab my pre-made lunch from the fridge, and run down my stairs by 7:30 to catch the bus to the train to work. Bust my booty for 9 hours before heading to 3 more hours of intense classroom learning (international financial reporting, anyone?!). Only after that do I finally get to hop the bus home at 9:00PM to do... guess what... HOMEWORK!??! AHHHH!!!! All I want is a social life. At a bar. Who needs a beer x 20?!
A schedule like this would drive any normal person to drink when they have free time. Sadly, free time is at a minimum so I usually go to places where I can get cheap-o drinks, listen to music that is not top 40s, and have a blast! Enter Streeters - at 9PM this all-around dive bar moonlights as a sanctuary for Chicago's hard-working and Loyola's finest to gulp their sorrows away with cheap pitchers, great specials, and oversized children's games. Seriously... nothing relieves the stress and pain of a hard day of no-fun like watching a group of adults struggle while playing giant Jenga and shriek bloody murder when their coordination fails and the blocks tumble. They also have a pool table to keep skills sharp and a ping pong a.k.a. beer pong table to add to all the fun n' games. I promise to win at each of these games should you want to challenge me!
One downside: they have a traf, and apparently no lighting, in the men's bathroom. The bonus is that they have a two-way mirror above the traf so you can people-watch while you #1. It's like public urination, but not!
Streeters will be one of the best times you'll ever have in a basement, unless you were like moi, who had quite a bit of fun in my parent's basement in high school! That's a whole 'nother story, though ;)
Lastly, much love to those who worked full-time while going to school, undergraduate or graduate. I now have a complete understanding of your pain. -
Review from Brenda G.
Chicago, IL
11/1/2011
Best dive bar in chicago!!!!!!!
This place is amazing!
Giant Jenga, Foosball, nudie photo hunt, and beer pong?! What else could anyone want?!
Unfortunately, due to a Chicago Ordinance, you can no longer play beer pong with beer, but that's not Streeters fault.
You walk downstairs into this "dungeon," and it's like a las vegas casino, you have no idea what time it is. I love Streeters!! -
Review from D A.
Chicago, IL
1/21/2012
This place is awesome. 6 dolllar IPAs on tap, good. Ping pong, awesome. LOL at the 2 way bathroom mirror for the guys. That is freaking hilarious and awesome. And there was some cuties sitting right outside of it (granted I didn't talk to them afterwards). Bartenders were not mean at all, just bartenders. The 'bouncer' was nice, just doing his job. I think we got a pitcher of IPA, it was 14? Not great but not bad either for IPA. Jenga, super awesome. A good mix of people. People that give this place a bad review are just snobs imho.
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Review from KC O.
Sunset Beach, CA
KC schooled all you locals in Jenga. Step off bitches..step the fuck off.
#talkingshitListed in: This Place is Dead Anyway.
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Review from Lindsey F.
Scottsdale, AZ
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wish there was a category titled, "yes this place is divey and pretty crappy but the character and experience make it special in my book." Maybe I should work on the length of the category, but that's how I would describe Streeters. It smells, it's small, it's cramped and it's dirty, but there's something appealing to the little basement in the city.
Exactly one year ago, I was in town for my first week of work. While there, fellow yelper and a Chicago native, Danny W took us on a late night adventure through the streets of Chicago to find Streeters which was a 5:00 AM bar. I remember walking down the stairs into this small dive with my new coworkers and wondering what I was walking into. People were packed into the bar, there was beer pong with water to the left, pool tables straight ahead, giant jenga to the right and a long bar in the corner. Classic hits blasted over the loudspeakers and you couldn't tell if it was 2:30 AM or 10:00 PM.
Fast forward a year and I'm back in Chicago exactly a year to the day when I was last there last. I remembered quirky, divey little Streeters but I had no idea what the name was or where it was. Then one of the nights, my bf and I went to meet up with his friends and they mentioned they were at a Streeters. I immediately yelped it, saw Christina Y and Danny W's reviews and realized that yes, this is the one and only basement dive I remembered from the year before! So a year later, I entered Streeters. It was a time warp and hadn't changed one bit. I think the same people were even there, in the same spots.
So if you take anything from this review, know that Streeters is a classic dive. Go there for the love of a dive. Go there for the college party basement style games. Go there for the cheap drinks and try the "suggested cocktail" on the chalkboard above the bar. I had the effin cucumber and water. Delicious and delightfully refreshing. Don't go there if you want a fancy night out. Go there to forget about being a grown-up and channel your former college days instead.Listed in: Chicago!, Weekend Getaways
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Review from AMY D.
This oh so cool dive bar is below street level. Everything inside is slightly outdated, including the old miniature TVs playing sports that are just above the bar. The tables are mostly make shift, an old barrel, benches stacked on other furniture etc.
Games? They have games. Ping pong, pool, foosball, giant jenga...
They had some summer drink specials including a liquor that caught my eye, Effen cucumber vodka. I had it on the rocks with water and it dangerously tasted and went down like cucumber water.
The bathrooms have one way mirrors and to top that the ladies bathroom has a small bar top like ledge to place your drink while you spy on other customers.Listed in: Chi Town
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Review from Aliyah K.
San Antonio, TX
6/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Streeters had made an impression before I had even arrived. Having a few friends in Chicago and a Hubby that had visited plenty of times I was really looking forward to learning what Streeters was all about.
My last trip to Chicago granted that opportunity!
Get in the dive bar mood for cheap pitchers of beer and sticky table tops, and have a good time!
The DJ played Country song after Country song per my request; "God Bless Texas" probably annoyed many but was enjoyed by few.
Memories were made and some perhaps forgotten by the next morning, but overall, it was an outstanding experience. -
Review from Lauren D.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2011
I'm sort of depressed now that I gave up alcohol for Lent because I found my new favorite bar last night and I don't want to keep drinking soda and lime forever. After eating dinner across the street, my friend and I wandered over to Streeters - I had heard from tons of people that it's a good place. I don't know if it was this particular night or what, but I couldn't have imagined having a better time anywhere else!
With loads of games to be played (pool, Foosball, ping pong table, life-sized Jenga), a DJ who played everything from MJ to Mumford & Sons to hip hop, and a really nice group of bartenders, this is one of those place that makes Chicago so great. There was an ideal mix of lively and fun people, and it never got too crowded. I'm adding this to my list of best dive bars in Chicago.
I guess it'll be a while before I actually have a drink there, but it's not a bad place to go sober!Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Steve S.
Chicago, IL
10/5/2011
The top of my list of dive bars.. no dive bar could ever achieve a 5 star staus so the 4 stars I'm giving is this place's top honor. It's a great place to get hammered, listen to music, play some jenga and barf under a cocktail table!
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Review from Rachel G.
Chicago, IL
3/15/2011
I've been here for St. Patty's Day two years in a row, and I've stopped in on a number of Saturdays. So much fun, so close to the red line. I like bars where there is stuff to do other than stand around shouting over the music and this place has it in spades. ping pong (or they're also very amenable to beer pong), pool, foosball, two-way mirrors to putz around in front of, and my favorite: jumbo jenga! Also the music never disappoints, mostly because Brian will play anything you ask for. Without Brian, this place wouldn't be half as cool.
The crowd is usually very friendly, good mix of locals, and tourists who got lost trying to find Division St.
Finally, if you're hungry, ask the bartender to order you something from the hot dog stand nearby and they'll deliver it to the bar. :)
Coat Hooks: YESListed in: Places Where I Hang My Coat
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Review from Michael L.
Philadelphia, PA
5/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Granted, I came here on a Monday night at around 8:30, but I may have just not been in a dive bar mood.
Our server was nice (even though she laughed at me for ordering an "old man" beer. 'Twas all in jest) and the $5 jim beam drinks were good. I wish there was music playing though. -
Review from K T.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love this place, I wish I had found it way sooner and I wish I lived closer.
This is the perfect spot to relax and have a beer while you are downtown, especially if you don't know what to do next or are feeling like you need a rest from walking about.
It's sort of dive-y but not in a gross, dirty old man way. What I loved about this place was that it was totally NOT crowded on a Saturday night. There were definitely many patrons but it wasn't filled with yuppie jerks.
They have Fussball, pool and GIANT brick Jenga which was pretty cool. They played great music too.
To me, the perfect bar. Good music, good beer, not overly crowded and fun. Big plus is its extreme proximity to the Red Line Chicago. Makes visiting very convenient. Highly recommended if you are looking for a casual time at a bar. -
Review from Holly M.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2011
A group of friends and I decided to go here to get out of the cold after visiting the Soupbox. It's a dive, but that's ok. I kind of liked the shady aspect of this place, although, a group of business men just stared at all of us as if they had never seen a female before. There are signs all over the walls saying things like, "If you have a reservation, you're in the wrong place," and other somewhat grumpy phrases.
My group sat at the bar and I was the only one who ordered a drink. It took about 15 minutes for the bartender to even notice us sitting at the bar...or else she just chose to ignore us. My 312 was $6.00. A bit too pricey, but that's what I get for visiting a bar downtown. My friends and I sat and talked for about a half hour and the bartender meandered back to ask if we wanted anything else. When we said no (or for me, not yet) she hesitated and then stormed away. Several seconds later the bar's bouncer materialized next to our group and told us to get out since no one was ordering anything at the moment. It was pretty shocking. I've never been in a group that got kicked out so abruptly like that, especially since the bartender was hardly waiting on us at all. So, yeah...definitely won't be going back to this fine establishment. -
Review from Danny W.
6/15/2010
One of the little perks of being a dude is the ability to pee while standing up. It's much easier for us to relieve ourselves in public places. Often times newspaper or magazine articles are at eye level above urinals and at Steeters, we can take a wiz while scoping out bar babes through a one-way mirror. This may not sound appealing to some, but you haven't lived until you've emptied your bladder while spectating a dive bar meet market through a glass shield.
Besides the restroom entertainment, the place has billiards and jumbo-sized Jenga to play while booze is priced appropriately for a dive bar opened till 4 in the morning. It's a perfect recipe towards oversleeping on a school night, but if you've got the day off you can get your drank on till the break-a-dawn without remorse.
The crowd is a mix of every type of person from hipsters to "Chad's." (my friends' word for Midwestern bros) The commonality that brought everyone here? They're all thirsty so if you are too then you may enjoy the joint. Check it out!Listed in: Chi towns finest!
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Review from Justin B.
Chicago, IL
8/22/2011
If you are downtown and you need a bar to go after everything else closes, this is it. Yes, it is divey and the bartenders tend to be rude, but I don't expect much more from an after hours bar.
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Review from Brian P.
9/11/2010
Not much to say.
A decent grab a drink after-work-on-the-patio kind of place. There's a DJ, but I don't know why.
Inside, it's musty and very dive bar-y.. They definitely have that niche cornered. -
Review from molly w.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 8/15/2010
I returned expecting another evening of fun. Unfortunately the urine smell that hit me in the face as I entered immediately put a damper on that.
Next up were shots ordered by the boyfriend for the group. As is typical when ordering shots, you offer the bartender to take one with you. But the workers get theirs for free, right? Not at Streeters. Apparently the two bartenders ordered a shot each in addition to ours, and charged him for theirs! While we got lowly lemon drops, they ordered fancy (read: expensive) shots (as evidenced on the receipt).
Um, I don't think so.
And then, my other friend who was supposed to meet us there ditched out, so the end of the night at Streeters was just as disappointing as the beginning and middle. Yes, this event has nothing to do with the bar itself (or did it??), but whatever.
If you like breathing urine air and overpaying for drinks, then this is your place.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/2/2009
This place is awesome! Epitome of dive bar, but cleaned up much better and I didn't notice too many… Read more »
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Review from Omer I.
Philadelphia, PA
1/14/2011
Definitely on the dive end of things, a fun place to hang out for a little bit. Weird music choices -- played some stuff I hadn't heard for years, and some stuff I had never heard before. There is a tiny, tiny DJ booth, but it is crewed by nothing more than a laptop with iTunes. Service was decent and we were waited on quickly. $4 wells came out pretty strong -- I was pleased. Giant Jenga set is definitely a plus. There was ping-pong, but it was dominated by the same 3 people the whole time we were there.
Decent place, nothing too remarkable. -
Review from Suzie S.
Chicago, IL
11/5/2011
Best life size jenga game in Chicago, great dj's and it's a dive bar. Gotta love it!
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Review from Stacey W.
Chicago, IL
3/30/2010
I first went to Streeter's about a month ago after a day of window shipping on Michigan Ave. I sat at a table, had a few drinks, and watched a group of people play giant jenga while I chatted with a friend. I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
I went to Streeter's again this Saturday around 5pm with two friends and the place was pretty dead so we started playing jenga. Just as we got out drinks I spotted a HUGE COCKROACH scurrying out of the DJ booth and towards the bar. Five minutes later I saw another on my way to the bathroom.
I really enjoy the vibe and the games at Streeter's but I wont be back until the cockroach problem has been solved. -
Review from Amy H.
Updated - 11/2/2009
I came to Streeters to waste some time and meet up with some friends before heading to a Halloween pub crawl. Streeter's did not dissapoint! Friendly bartender, fun people, and giant Jenga!
Fun times as usual, Streeter's.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/20/2007
I like this bar. It's laid back. The bartenders are nice. They have a good selection of beer.… Read more »
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Review from Kristin C.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2007
Definitely a non-pretentious place to grab a beer, especially during the day (day drinking somehow seems more acceptable underground). Also earns points for having Budweiser on tap. This makes my boyfriend happy. Recently I asked if he would graduate from Bud Light to Budweiser. I mean, I graduated from jug-o-wine to the $10 bottle range. Intrigued by my theory, he is now hooked on the full-bodied "manly" beer (and I officially watch too many commercials). Unfortunately, not too many places we frequent have straight up Bud on tap. Yahoo Streeter's!
The last time I was here, the aforementioned Budweiser draft tasted rotten. Rotten beer!?! Blech! Turned out to be the first pour of the day. Thankfully, the bartender swapped it out for a non-rotten Bud! Solid. -
Review from Carrie S.
4/1/2007
This is my favorite Chicago bar. I started going here not long after meeting my boyfriend because our friend lived down the street where we spent many a night after going to Streeters.
I love Streeters for the ping pong table, decent beer, and good music. It's a nice laid back bar in the middle of a huge retail area as in it's unexpected. I have so many great memories associated with this bar and the people that I've met while just hanging out and drinking beer. Our friend's fiancee wanted to go to Streeters and play ping pong on the night that they got engaged (she was dressed up and everything), so it's my favorite bar in Chicago.Listed in: My Favorites
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Review from Justin S.
7/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place is a hole-in-the-wall dive bar which seemed to be pretty lively for my Thursday night visit.
First thing I saw when we walked it were a bunch of business men playing beer pong haha! I thought that was pretty cool. There was also a pool table & foosball table. There was a nice pub/bar atmosphere to the place and the bartender was nice. The drink he made however was not, but I guess that's what I get for goin with the $4 wells special.
My favorite thing about this bar (and the reason I'm a fan) was the one-way mirror in the bathroom HAHA! Yeah I know, I'm simple. -
Review from Piyush S.
Chicago, IL
6/7/2010
I've passed by this bar multiple times and the sign 'Greatest Bar under the Earth' had always made me curious about the bar. So, I finally decided to check it out last Saturday.
Streeters is a dive bar and as soon as you enter, you will know that it is exactly that. The bar is kind of drab looking. But despite that, the bar is awesome. The drinks are cheap, they have a pool table, foosball, a ping pong table where you can also play beer pong and giant jenga.
The music was decent, not too loud that you are unable to have a conversation, but loud enough that you can enjoy a familiar song. They also have a DJ who plays from a DJ booth, which is so small, I barely even noticed it.
The mens washroom is strange, it's really dark and there is a one way mirror above the urinal and you can see what's going on in the bar while you do your business, but the people at the bar can't see inside. Kind of cool yet quite creepy.
The bar gets additional points for accepting orders for food, which is delivered from the nearby Downtown Dogs.
I am giving Streeters a 4 star rating because of the bar tenders behaviour. When I went, the bar was quite uncrowded. Just 4 people at the bar itself and a couple of other people at the tables. Despite that, the bar tender took forever to come over and take my order whenever I wanted to order another drink. -
Review from Pinaki S.
Chapel Hill, NC
4/19/2009
Although in this neighborhood, this would qualify as a dive bar, I think its more apt to be a Lincoln Park college bar.
The stale beer smell that permeates those bars and is apparent herebrings back memories (never mind the the fact that I moved to Chicago when I was 24) of those drunken days.
Its dark, its sort of dingy, but its the place where day drinking goes hand in hand with life (I came here as part of a two-person drinking tour).. when you run into old random buddies and you take shots at 4pm on a Friday.
Definitely good spot downtown. -
Review from Kiarash Z.
Lima, OH
8/19/2007
For a downtown joint, this one isnt' bad.
No overly pretty bartenders. No crazy expensive beers. No foofy door guy.
I'll argue that the beer selection isn't top-notch. The closest thing to a Belgian they had was Blue Moon. Guiness was poured a bit crappily, and the crowd was very, very hammered.
Around 1 a.m., a freaking bus pulled up and dumped an entire wedding party into the place -- some in kilts.
Anyway, I was surprised to find an actual DJ in a little nook of the place. He could easily have been replaced by an iTunes playllist. However, I did like what he was playing: Depeche Mode, George Michael, New Order, Timberlake.
Honestly, I wouldn't go out of my way to visit Streeter's, but it's great for the neighborhood it's in. For someone who hates the Rush Street nightlife as much as I do, finding a tolerable place is a godsend.
Oh, and I hear they're open until 5 a.m. on Saturdays.Listed in: 4 a.m. bars
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Review from Steven Z.
Chicago, IL
10/26/2010
Ok, If I could do multiple ratings, I would rank the atmosphere a 4, but the female bartender who worked the evening of October 23rd - I would give her a negative rating if there existed a category. Immediately upon approaching the bar, she was rude. A quick, "what do you want" with no genuine inflection caught me off guard. No smile, just impatience. I ordered a bud light for $3.50 and tipped her 50 cents. I normally tip 50 percent on the first drink to get the bartender's attention for the rest of the night. The reason why I tipped hardly anything is because she clearly did not care about the term "excellent customer service." It seemed like the only thing she cared about was running out to get a cigarette break. People, there were clearly about 6 customers in the bar at the time, so she was not overwhelmed with business.
10 minutes later, I approached the bar to ask for billiard balls. I figured an exchange of my license would be the common practice. Nope. $8 bucks to play for an hour. I said no thanks and walked back to the table. This woman then preceded to come over to our table and flip her shit. "I guess if you're too cheap to tip me you're too cheap to play pool. What am I suppose to do with your 50 cents? Shove them up my ass?"
First you need to take the stick out of there lady. She was clearly pissed about being in her late 30's and working at a dive bar. That's why I didn't start on her. But still, you're upholding the reputation of a business. Have some class.
I will never go back to this bar. -
Review from Erica S.
Chicago, IL
12/2/2009
If you had came to me two years ago and asked me how I felt about Streeter's, I would have turned my nose up and looked at you like "Hooker, are you crazy?" However, back then my name was Lafayette and I was from the south (just kidding.)
Today, after our last class, our professor wanted to go out for a beer with us, and this is the place our class chose. I had been here twice before this evening-once, for my 21st birthday and the other, one of those wonderfully warm October nights last year. However, both times, I did not enjoy my experience at all.
But tonight. Tonight was good. There was a great special considering the area (8 dollar pitchers) and since we went at like, oh 6:30pm, there was barely anyone in the bar to be annoyed at about 25 people from the same graduate class in the bar. So we had a couple of pitchers, hung out, some people had food? which I knew nothing about before I ordered, or else I would have tried some. People played the life-size jenga and some ping pong and a good time was had by all. The bartenders were a lot nicer than they had been previously, but again, it was earlier.
I've gotta say, I'll probably be back if right after class. I'm not sure if I would make it a destination spot, but it's a pretty solid place and has definitely ranked up in my books. -
Review from B K.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2010
There isn't much to say about this place except for how mediocre it is. We went on a weekday for happy hour and it was practically empty except for one other table and some dudes playing beer pong (which is actually kind of funny/cool to see in Streeterville, so one star for that). The place itself is just dumpy, but not in a cool dive bar kind of way. General vibe is a bit depressing. The drinks were reasonably priced, so one more star for that.
Boring review for a boring place.
The End -
Review from Megan T.
Chicago, IL
7/27/2010
I work in a bar. That means that I have to deal with drunk people until late at night (or early in the morning for you 9 to 5'ers), and I leave tired, sore, and DESPERATELY craving something to drink.
Enter Streeter's. Open 'til 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM on Saturdays. Not only is the owner, Matt, a blast to sit and talk to, but since it's open late my co-workers and I can rush over after work in time to knock back a brew at this joint when most places have kicked people out hours ago.
The setting is great. Basement bars are always fun (you feel as if you're going into some secret entrance to the magical land of pitchers and taps) and this one comes equipped with a beer-pong and foozeball table as well as an oversized jenga set (which just gets more fun with each tequila and lime).
The staff has an eye for the regulars and isn't afraid to shoot the shit with you while you sip on your drink. There are multiple television monitors (some of which are, admittedly, quite miniature) which typically either show a sports game, some obscure movie, or a combination of the two. I particularly enjoyed watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the real one with good 'ol Gene) with a couple buddies not too long ago.
Go there. You'll have fun. -
Review from Sarah P.
Chicago, IL
3/17/2009
Had a great time at this bar - not that many d-bags despite the beirut (congrats on that feat, Streeters!). Had a bit of a problem with the bathrooms - they are not clearly marked "men" and "women" so I thought that the boys bathroom was unisex... Got plenty of yells from the guys at the trough as I came out of the one stall haha. Plus - one way mirrors? Creepy.
Good times- will probably come by again! -
Review from Nick A.
Malden, MA
3/24/2008
I have to keep reminding myself that I am rating this bar in the dive bar category so the fact that it is a dump is expected and not penalized.
As previously mentioned (see older reviews), but I must repeat, the true gem in this place is the one way mirror in the men's restroom. (Don't get excited ladies, it looks out, not in). Thank God you don't have to miss a minute of the action in the bar as you relieve yourself at the trough. And it is a trough.
Of course, the downside of this place is that it is dark, subterranean, dirty and smelly. While I don't exactly find that charming, given the choice between Streeters and shopping at the American Girl Store with grandma and cousins, I'll take Streeters. In fact, my only trip to Streeters was because of that very scenario.
On the upside, I can say that this place is truly an escape from the reckless commercialism that is the magnificent mile. Pints of Guinness were (only?) $5; they can one decent sized flat screen and the bartender and bouncer were really cool about accommodating our TV requests. (btw, you know you're in Chicago when a Cubs preseason game gets precedence over NCAA March Madness). From what I could tell they don't serve food, but when I was there, they were allowing patrons to bring in food from one of the nearby eateries.
So all in all, I probably wouldn't chose to spend a Saturday night here, but if you need to seek refuge from Michigan Ave, and take the edge off, this place will suffice. (But I would take Grandpa, not Grandma). -
Review from Otis D.
Issaquah, WA
6/21/2010
Ever since my first trip to Chicago where I stumbled on "the best bar underground" I make time for at least a pint at Streeters. In my younger days, a bar that was open 'til 5am seemed like the coolest thing ever.
I still love Streeter's for it's dive atmosphere, easy location (walkable if you're staying in many hotels, right of the red line if not) and especially for the interesting feature of the men's room. Wonder if it's the same for the ladies?
The addition of mega-jenga since I was last here is super cool. I was rooting for the really pretty blonde, but she and her date lost.
That being said. Please, Streeters. Clean your beer lines. Your taps are nasty. Especially the Sprecher. That was a spoiled/infected beer. The others were just line gunk flavored. -
Review from Jo W.
6/29/2008
Oh, Streeters. You will always hold a special place in my heart.
I used to come here with coworkers nearly every night after work. The nights when we closed Streeters are memories, foggy memories, but still memories I will always look back on fondly. So many drinks have been consumed here, so many ping pong games played, so much drunken dancing, and so many other firsts and lasts... if those walls could talk, I would be in a lot of trouble.
I haven't been there in a long time, but the last time I went the bartenders still remembered me. It was a good and scary feeling all at the same time... -
Review from Melissa R.
Chicago, IL
6/20/2009
This place was a plan B for a work happy hour in case it rained...which of course it did. Thankfully it ended up being a great choice because it was a total blast.
Streeters is very unassuming, in fact I've walked by it dozens of times without realizing that it even exists. You walk down this short stair case into a cellar-style pub. There are a few high-boy tables (where people were playing all different size Jenga sets), good size bar, pool table, Foosball, jukebox, and a ping pong table.
This bar was a hit with my group, we ended up turning the ping pong table into a beer pong tournament. Between that, the $10 pitchers, a few local lushes, a very eccentric patron that had a solo dance party, and the random (yet enjoyable) music selections we were entertained for hours.
I will definitely be back here, probably more in the colder months than summer due to my thirst for outdoor seating when it's in the 70s or warmer. Good alternative to all the over-the-top bars in the River North area.
