If your groom-to-be has a touch of the Irish, or can at least appreciate their drinking culture, consider a bachelor party with multiple stops at Chicago’s diverse selection of Irish bars.
Most of the following options represent a straight path from Lakeview to River North, with a few additional considerations if you have flexible transportation.
Fado
100 W Grand Ave
Fado is a chain pub, but you’ll enjoy how well they cater to the Chicago crowd. Authenticity seeps through each floor of this establishment, with bar staff whose accents come from across the pond. Depending on when you come in for your bachelor party, there’s likely to be something going on: a soccer game broadcast, special whiskey tasting, or live music. Draft and bottle options represent the best of Ireland, as well as Europe in general.
The Kerryman
661 N Clark St
If Fado is part of your bachelor bar crawl, you might as well stick around River North to check out The Kerryman. As far as Chicago Irish bars go, this one is one of the more upscale options, with gourmet Irish cuisine to match the Irish architectural firm-designed interior.
Emmit’s
495 N Milwaukee Ave
Recreate a scene from Uncle Buck at Emmit’s, which has served as a backdrop for a number of feature films. Indulge in your favorite Irish beers and dishes while celebrating your special occasion. Emmit’s used to be a favorite hangout for Chicago mobsters, so they can handle whatever shenanigans your crew gets up to.
Galway Arms
2442 N Clark St
Galway Arms bills themselves as the “Soul of Ireland, Heart of Chicago.” As such, it combines the best of both places, and is slightly off the beaten path of more traditional Chicago bar crawls. Walking in, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported directly to a dark but boisterous pub in Ireland. Sláinte!
Harrigan’s
2816 N Halsted
If you’re looking for a little more excitement than a perfectly poured pint of Guinness (as if anything could be more exciting), Harrington’s might just be the perfect spot for your bachelor party. After all, they’re famous for their karaoke, 3 nights each week. On nights without karaoke, you’ll more than likely find some authentically Irish live music.
If you buy a copy of our bookHistoric Bars of Chicago ($12), you can get a $45 coupon that is more than 10% off for most rentals, and can help you get around our selection of Chicago Irish bars in style.
If you have better ideas for a Irish-themed bachelor party, or want help planning an itinerary, email us. We can also help with booking private party rooms if you plan to stay in one location!