Last Updated: April 13, 2008
Once filled with hookers and shot & beer joints, the strip of Division Street between Dearborn & State is crammed with more bars than any other block in the city, making it an irresistable force for bachelor parties. Moving from east to west:
|
Watering Hole
|
Address
|
The Hook
|
| Leg Room | 7 W. Division | Funky lounge, the likes of which are more commonly found further south in the Triangle of State, Rush and Chestnut | BAR Chicago | 9 W. Division | Upstairs den filled with cheesy retro tunes; be sure to spend some time in the bathroom perusing the attendant’s photo gallery, which would make Larry Flint blush |
| Bootlegger’s | 13 W. Division | Daily "Mardi Gras" attracts chicks and bachelorette parties who dance on the bar, threatening to knock over the midget pouring a shot down your throat |
| Finn McCool’s | 15 W. Division | One of Chicago’s largest mock-Irish "pubs"; gets really crazy upstairs, much to the benefit of those looking on from the street, if you know what I mean… |
| She-nanigan’s / House of Beer | 16 W. Division | Bare-bones den of flesh, throbbing since the 1980s |
| Butch McGuire’s | 20 W. Division | “The standard by which all other Division Street bars are judged,” this former speakeasy claims to have led to 10,000 marriages and once frequented by Hugh Hefner and John Wayne |
| Lodge | 21 W. Division | Another dive classic and favorite of a somewhat older set |
| Mother’s | 26 W. Division | Classic dive featured prominently in About Last Night with Rob Lowe and Demi Moore; er… cleverly named sequel, Mother’s Too, located next door |
| Hangge Uppe | 14 W. Elm (one block south of Division) |
Former speakeasy is now a classic Chicago meat-market with retro 80s in the basement (jungle upstairs), and is allegedly haunted by more than just former patrons; experience your own "Nightmare on Elm Street" |
- All of the above are open late-night: until 4:00am on Fridays and 5:00am on Saturdays.