O'Leary's Public House
3.8
- Neighborhood: River North
- 541 N. Wells St.
- Chicago, IL 60610
- 312-661-1306
The main gist of O'Leary's Public House seems to the be public itself. O'Leary's seems to attract all walks of city life, from passing businessmen on early leave to residents, lawyers and construction workers. "It's an extended family," said the bartender, who was on a first-name basis with her customers. O'Leary's draws a good cocktail hour crowd, and, equipped with a solid food menu, a busy lunch. O'Leary's is ostensibly an Irish pub--the usual Irish flag and Guinness, Harp and Killian's mirrors. Draught beers include Honey Brown Ale, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island Blonde, Bass, Guinness, Harp, Murphy's Amber and Miller; Hacker Pschorr Weiss is available in bottle. Currently the only distraction from the barroom patter are three televisions and a passable CD jukebox selection. O'Leary's layout is somewhat unique: In addition to an outdoor cafe, there are two levels of seating and a weird little stairway just inside the entrance that leads to a narrow, storefront balcony. But first dibs on the banter comes at the bar.
Getting There
- Cross Streets:
- Wells and Ohio.
- Parking:
- Street Parking Difficult
- Public Transportation:
- CTA Bus: 37 Sedgwick. Red Line Train: Grand Stop. Brown Line Train: Merchandise Mart. Purple Line Train: Merchandise Mart.
- Wheelchair Access:
- Yes. Including restrooms; tables elevated, some at higher level.
The Basics
- Hours:
-
11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m, Sunday
(kitchen open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. each day)
- Cuisine:
- Bar Food
- Meals Served:
- Dinner and Lunch
- Price Range:
- $ (Under $9)
- Reservations:
- Not Accepted
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Bar Style:
- Brewpub, Irish, and Neighborhood
- Audience:
- Adults / 18+
Features
- Carryout:
- Yes
- Live Music:
- No
- Food:
- Good bar menu of sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, pastas, pizza.
- Features:
- Free Admission and On-site Merchandise. Cigars, cigarettes. Private parties for between 50-100 people.
- Facilities:
- Private Party and Banquet Facilities
- Worth Noting:
- Top Irish bars.
- Specialties:
- Blackened chicken Caesar salad; buttery nipple shots (butterscotch schnapps and Bailey's Irish Cream); beer-of-the-month.
- Payment Methods:
- American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard, and Visa
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes. Sidewalk cafe for between 16-20 people.
- Delivery:
- No
- Seating :
- Along with a 15-seat bar, tables for 4 to 6 people jut out from walls and drink ledges; stairway leads to catwalk/balcony with some chairs above the storefront entrance.
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"Delightful venue after work or on a weekend"
By Tokyo Joe from Old Town & ASIA PACIFIC, September 7, 2008
As a Chicagoan living overseas (Tokyo & Hong Kong), I love all the neighborhood taps, pubs, bars, diners, joints, gin mills, and restaurants.. A...
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"Great Place to Hang out with after work crowd."
By lililyn from West Loop, August 7, 2008
This is a great place...when we were in the neighborhood, after work, holidays and even on the weekends, we would have a great time with Jim Bo and...
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"The little bar that couldn't"
By Frosty from The Burbs, April 29, 2008
The opening description from Metromix about this place seems a bit outdated. Last time I was there, there were at least 12 tv's and the bartenders...
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