Cunneen's — Restaurant in Rogers Park Township

I went there for a quick drink after work by myself last night (04/08/22). Great whiskey and ginger ale, and not expensive either ($4 total for a shot of whiskey + side of ginger ale).

Getting there is kind of an adventure. If you rely on the CTA like I do, you take the red line until the Loyola stop, then you have to walk about a mile or a little less to get to the bar, which isn’t fun if it’s cold like it was last night (mid-30s).

The bartender was attentive and was on top of everything, which was especially impressive because he was by himself — there was no bar back or second bartender. The decorations were nice and added to the atmosphere of the establishment. The place was a little cramped, but that’s not the bar’s fault and lack of space doesn’t matter in the end. It’s a city after all. I also enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t loud. As a 26 year old man, I’m rapidly starting to lose my tolerance for loud social spaces, especially bars! I don’t mind music, but many bars play them at painfully loud levels. The bars that actually are quiet are usually very upscale and expensive, plus they don’t serve the kind of drinks I like. Cunneen’s was unique, at least for the far north side. It’s now my favorite bar in Rogers Park. I will definitely be...

The Low-Key Vibe: Cunneen’s is like that cozy sweater you’ve had since college—slightly worn, but oh-so-comfortable. It’s not a dive bar, but it’s not trying to be the next hipster hotspot either. Trendy cocktails? Nah. Micro-brews? Maybe if you squint. A wine list? Sure, if you count the grape juice in the corner. And table service? Darling, you’re at Cunneen’s—order at the bar and pay with cash. They don’t take Venmo, but they’ll gladly accept your Monopoly money. Origins: Cunneen’s was birthed by Steve Cunneen, a med school grad who decided that curing diseases was overrated. Instead, he opened this joint with his buddies. Ed Holstein & Bill Savage In Summary: Cunneen’s is more than a bar; it’s a neighborhood institution. So grab your pocket change, leave your pretensions at the door, and join the chorus of laughter. Because at Cunneen’s, everyone’s a regular—even the clock.

Disclaimer: The above review contains 100% more whimsy than your average Yelp post. Side effects may include spontaneous Scrabble tournaments and an inexplicable urge to...

I moved to Chicago in '76 from Batavia at the age of thirty. I was introduced to Cuneen's the following day by my room mates. I became a 'regular' until I moved to the near South side in '91 occasionally driving up to see the old bartenders and Steve Cuneen for pints and pool. I called this the best bar in Chicago. I loved it there and will always have find memories of the people, the good times, reading the Reader while having a pint or two, playing chess, watching the Bears and Cubs on tv, and managing always to get home safely. If I was a writer, I would write a book about the place: it had "Chicago" atmosphere. My hats off to everybody I met and THANKS from this...