Brehon Pub

Super cute Irish Pub! Christine was a great bartender. The Cobb salad was delicious, the chicken was fresh and grilled perfectly! I’ll definitely be back when I’m in the area!

Wanted an Irish pub & googled the closest one. 1:30 pm on a Friday, not busy at all. Some beer on the tap wasn’t working b/c the pipes were frozen. Not their fault. A Tito mule ran $15. Hummus with veg was good, but veggies are diced around hummus so it’s different than expected but still had great flavor. We split a Reuben, was good but not too filled, 5 bites & half was gone. 2 beers, 1 mule, hummus & Reuben was $65 w/ tip. Had to get up to ask bartender for refills & plates even though it was super slow but he was friendly and kind. Cold beer, good food, nice neighborhood stop.

I love Chicago Irish pubs! This one is great. I had a pretzel and cheese to start, it was delicious. Also I had the bacon cheeseburger and waffle fries. Also delicious. Our server was on it. I never had to ask for a refill. They have Coke products. Oh and their Cesar salad was awesome! They do charge 3% extra on your bill for using a credit card.

Been here a few times, Jennifer our bartender/server is very friendly and patient. The burger was absolutely incredible cooked to perfect medium rare. Draft beer selection is good! (I reccomend the green line)

Have been here multiple times both during the day and at night never had any issues until last week. A friend and I were walking up to the door where it wasn’t even 11PM, the bar had a decent crowd but WAS NOT packed. When we opened the door the bartender had walked from the bar to the door to say they’re closed, he shut the door in our faces and turned the lights off. Never asked for our IDs. We left because why give a business like that our money? While waiting for our Uber, the lights remained on with other guests being allowed in. No private party or event was going on. The bartender was rude for no reason but from other reviews not the first issue customers have had with him. Loved coming here but looks like I’m not welcomed here.

My daughter and I decided to try this bar/restaurant based on our view of the menu online. We were going to be in that part of Chicago for an event so we stopped in around 4pm. Upon arriving there were two people at the bar drinking and one table of four having food. The server did come over right away to get our drink order and food order but we were not ready yet, we had literally just sat down and started to look at the menu. My daughter went to wash her hands and the server came back during her absence and took my drink order. I ordered a half blue moon and half Guinness beer. The drink was cold and delivered quickly. The problem came when we did take a look at the menu and were ready to order. I tried twice to get the servers attention but she refilled the two people at the bars drinks, cashed out one of them and then began cleaning the table of the people who had finished their meal . She finally can over after some time and we ordered the eggs rolls and also the Irish nacho appetizer. The food was okay nothing note worthy not disappointing just satisfactory. The nacho chips were very good but there were way more toppings and not enough chips. The egg rolls were 4 small pieces and for the price it wasn't worth it. I think the cost should be cheaper, more items served or they could be made bigger. Overall, we were full when we left but our bill was $58 dollars for one beer, small egg rolls and a small dish of toppings w some chips. Please see photos. I guess if I lived in the neighborhood I would go here again but I would not plan to go here during a visit to the city. It's a nice place, old fashion decor for an Irish bar and overall good menu for a bar. The server was just okay not friendly but not attentive either. Okay, to sum this long review up give it a try if you are in the neighborhood and not in a hurry.

Great Pub, But One Bartender is Ruining the Experience I’ve been a loyal customer at this pub for a long time—it’s my favorite spot in town. The atmosphere is great, the drinks are solid, and most of the staff are fantastic. Unfortunately, there’s one bartender who consistently ruins the experience with his rude and unprofessional attitude. On multiple occasions, I’ve witnessed him yelling at customers for no good reason. The most recent incident? We accidentally broke a glass and immediately tried to clean it up, but instead of handling it professionally, he started screaming at us. Completely unnecessary. Another time, I asked about a beer on tap from my home state of Michigan, just out of curiosity, and his response was pure attitude—basically questioning why I even cared. A simple answer would have sufficed. I love this pub, but this bartender’s behavior is unacceptable. I hate to leave a negative review, but I hope management takes this seriously because loyal customers shouldn’t have to deal with unnecessary hostility.

Came here on a Monday in St Patrick’s day and I thought it was great. Maybe it was the abundant supply of Guinness but the service was great (bartenders attended to you quickly) and the drinks were fairly priced as well. The location is perfect too, just far enough for actual downtown that it’s not too crowded

5* drink selection 5* atmosphere 5* service This place has everything you need just wish I had an appetite I'd like to try their food. Shepards pie, wings and the burger all looked good!

Walked into Brehon on a Monday night and it was not crowded at all. Typical Irish pub atmosphere and a decent amount of taps and bottles available. A dude's food two down from me looked pretty good and smelled amazing. Some TVs were on and folks were watching the Yankees game. Sat there for 15 minutes at the bar while the lady bartender was chit chatting at the other end.. She never came by us. No acknowledgement, no "hey sorry we're slammed just give me a few minutes"...nothing. Won't be back. Shame. We have a place right around the corner too.

First time stopping in and highly recommend! Went on a Saturday night - busy - but got good service sitting at the bar. Guinness was on point - poured correctly too! Pretzel was good and so were the beef sliders (I think that's what they were called). Great Irish bar atmosphere - recommend sitting at the bar.

I can't believe it took us this long to try this place. It's just down the block from our son's condo. The service was quick, the food was great, and the atmosphere can't be beat for watching games. It was perfect for our burger cravings. The fries were so good!! Already dreaming of my next burger.

Before dinner we passed by The Brehon and decided to pop in for a quick pre dinner drink. It's a large bar in the Irish style and layout but that's as far as it goes. I'd say it's a Chicago bar with an Irish influence... maybe.. The staff are not very friendly like you would expect from this type of establishment and they do not have Irish accents. A bit of a bummer. Our drinks were fine. We did not order food but plenty other people were eating and seemed to enjoy.

Walked in last night at 12am after our bartender at Godfrey Hotel told us that it was open till 2am. There were people at the bar, not crowded, but there were people there. As soon as we walked in, the guy said " We're closed". My friend and i looked at each other because Yelp confirmed what we were told at Godfrey, the bar was open till 2 am. We kindly left. We arent sure it was an issue of color, but needless to say, we wont be back.

Stumbled in on a beautiful Sunday, and there was a decent amount of people. We sat at the bar and started with some refreshing aperol spritzes. A look at the food menu tempted us right away too! The menu options all sounded delectable, especially for bar food, so we struggled only picking two items. The buffalo chicken salad and spinach artichoke Mac and cheese were both huge portions and absolutely divine. The spinach artichoke Mac and cheese was genius and deliciously rich. I must go back to try more of their different options! A surprising hidden gem for amazing, quality bar food.

Me and my cousins stumbled into Brehon Pub, and not the way you would expect. It was a late-night bite after rounds of ping pong and thankfully their kitchen was still open. We sat in the back area that at first we didn't even think you could enter (they even have a pool table on that side). Furthermore, the food was AMAZING! I feel like they took bar food to a whole different level. Everyone cleared their plates and the prices were reasonable. I would recommend the Nachos, guacamole bacon burger, or the Mac & bacon. The waiter was very nice but I forgot her nameeeee, will definitely be back. 10/10

Amazing fries. Could have crispier chicken strips. Expansive menu for whatever mood you're in. Good place for a chill hang with sports on TV.

Was pleasantly surprised with this place! Seems like a dark pub when enter but the food and service was excellent! Great burger! Good prices. Parking on street easy!

Great ambiance, good food, reasonable prices for the area. Great location. Friendly service

A great place, there is good food, a lot of different types of beer, you can watch sports events, you can play darts or other games with friends.

Love this pub! Great bar food and great atmosphere. We always have a great time! Highly recommend!

Stopped in because my friend lives up here for a job right now. It's freezing outside and our walk was long. Great ambiance. Nice and chill hole in the wall type bar that I love (even tho it's not...super clean and nice) Didn't get food. Just drinks. Yummy Magners Bartender was nice, friendly and prompt. Music was nice too. Good place to have a beer at 2 pm!

Taking advantage of the first gorgeous day of 2021 and walked around looking for food I could take back home to my husband so we could watch Episode 1 of Falcon and Winter Soldier. Anyway, Irish bars always have good burgers, so I took the chance! First off, this place had about 6 people in the bar, but about 40 covers out on their street patios. Only Naomi was working. She was hustling! What a star. Even with all the people (who let's be honest, were probably like me and hadn't left their house in 12 months) she was taking care of. Drink, food orders, sanitizing tables and enforcing social distancing. She was really doing it all! I sat at the bar and let her know I was there for takeout, but told her to take her time. Menu is substantial (irish nachos, fried ravioli, salads, wraps, mac and cheese...and of course burgers! I ordered the Bleu and the Guacamole Burgers with fries to go. Naomi was so sweet! She took my order and honestly within 12 minutes I had everything boxed up and ready to go. Let's talk about take out presentation. Honestly, this kind of presentation is what I've been waiting for this entire pandemic. Cold toppings (LOTP) were not on the burger but wrapped separately. Fries were cut thick enough to still be a little crispy (gotta remember, I'm coming back to South Shore). This was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Plus, it was really nice to sit on a bar stool again...even if it was by myself and just to order takeout.

I usually love Brehon- which is why waiting a half hour to order a sandwich is BS. If you can't serve your patrons shut the doors. No reason to come back. Bad management!!!

This was our first time there, so wasn't sure what to expect. We only had drinks. Actually, we had beers and quite a few people showed up, for an afternoon. I was surprised. About half the people were eating, so maybe they have good food. Service was fine. The ambience is old-school from the 1980s which suited us just fine. Average in cost as any other place. If I was in the area, I may stop by again, but not a destination.

Stopped by here for a late-night dinner last minute because it's so close to my apartment. Since it was Wednesday, there was a $6 beer deal on a pint of Fat Tire -- tasty! And I've gotta say, I didn't expect much from the food walking into the pub, but I enjoyed the Guinness bratwurst and the green bean fries. Good price and sizable portions. And awesome Halloween decorations!! I'll be back here for sure.

An amazing hidden gem in the upscale River North neighborhood of Chicago. Disclaimer: I come here for after-work drinks. I have not tried the food yet so my review may be a bit biased. Brehon Pub is an Irish bar that beckons back to the days of "Old Chicago." Quiet, low-BS, and cheap AF. It's a short walk from the Chicago Purple/Brown or Red line CTA stations. It's away from all of the rowdiness of the Hubbard and Kinzie street bar scenes. Drink selection will contain the macros with a few local brews. Skewed more towards local for draft options. Whiskeys will contain the usuals but with emphasis on Irish and Americans. Price is $-$$. I got a Black & Tan (Guinness + Harp's) for $7 and a shot of Tullamore Dew for $10. There are few places in River North where you can find drinks that cheap. The bartenders were attentive and nice. They were quick and attentive. Clean restrooms were a big plus. 5/5. Amazing vibes, cheap, and everything you could want from a local Irish Pub. Favorited for the River North area.

Brehon Pub is truly a treasure in the heart of Chicago. Stepping inside, you're instantly embraced by a vibe that is both fun and comforting. It's not just a pub, it's a community hub that's perfected the art of making everyone feel at home. Their welcoming atmosphere pairs well with a pint and their delightful pub fare. A cozy spot where you can spend time with old friends or make new ones, Brehon Pub is the epitome of neighborhood warmth and conviviality. I can't recommend it enough, definitely five stars!

let me start by saying that we really wanted to like this place. we're relatively new to the neighborhood and still looking for a regular spot. this place is low key with a fair selection, after perusing the menu online we thought it had great potential. first time we came in was okay, but the service was pitiful considering the restaurant was nearly empty. empty drinks most of the meal, and our server had an attitude. that said, the food was decent and we brushed it off -- everyone has bad days, we didn't want to hold the waitress fully accountable. we let it go and decided to try for round 2 a few weeks later. we called ahead to check availability and already got red flags. we asked if they'd have room for 2 in about 20 minutes -- a normal question to ask a hostess. she was very condescending and said "well i didn't bring my crystal ball with me today so i don't know". against our better judgement, we went anyway. i went inside to put our name down for a patio table, the hostess stormed up, scribbled my name down, and literally ran off without a word. after about 20 minutes, a table left and we were sat. she told us she'd be back with a rag in a minute. a full 40 minutes went by, during which time this same hostess/server walked past us multiple times, as did the manager. finally we snagged the manager and explained that we've been waiting. his response was "well did you speak to anyone or did you just sit down out here?" he sighed and took our drink order, then came back with a dry rag and wiped a couple crumbs off the table. (see pic - clearly didn't attempt to disinfect or sanitize at all) we put in an appetizer as well. by the time it came out, we were ready for another round, but the manager (who now assumed the position of server) ran off without giving us a chance to do so. after about another 20 minutes, he came back and we ordered one more round of drinks and a plate of wings. we weren't half way through this round when they decided we were ready to wrap up, and dropped the check without a word. we left over 2 hours later without ever being given the chance to order entrees. like i said, we wanted this place to be our regular spot but i can say with certainty we will not waste our time and money here again.

Service is always above and beyond best Irish pub in Chicago ! Oh and also best mac and cheese in the city for sure !!!

This is what a pub should look like! Great food! I had the pulled pork which I will go back for. Service was right on. Thanks Nicole!

Nice local bar with friendly staff and good service. Good selection of Irish beers as well as others. I'd recommend if you're looking for a cheaper bar on the River North area.

Food was very good, I wish the mushrooms were fresh. Fries were hot and flavorful just how I prefer. Beer was cold and nice selection of tap beers. Service was above average. Great pub atmosphere!

Every time I've been here the waiters and waitresses have been incredibly rude. I'm not sure what is going on in the water over there, but they all look extremely unhappy and it feels like you are an inconvenience to them. I wanted to like this place because I live so close, but it's just not pleasant because of the staff. However, the patio seating is nice. The food is verryyyy average.

Your regular Irish pub with bar food and cheap beers. My friends got Swiss mushroom burger and chili fries. All of us agreed that burger was exceptionally good. Honestly, you do not expect much from bar food but that burger was a bomb. Unfortunately, chili fries did not leave a lasting impression and we left half of the portion on the plate. I also do not believe that glasses were entirely clean, but I rinsed them with my beer anyway haha

Pros: large menu. Open late. Large portions. Clean business. Food is put out quick. Cons: The worst service I can ever remember having...for real. After the waitress finished her convo she graced us with her presence maybe 20 min after sitting...this is the last time we saw her unless we went to the bar to ask for something. Before you ask... they were definitely NOT busy. She never brought waters and when I asked we got 1 for 2 people. Someone from the kitchen came out multiple times to get our food, plates, asked if we need anything. If I saw her working I would just sit at the bar or go somewhere else...it was a joke especially since we were seated in her chat view from the bar. I ordered a bacon cheddar burger...it was good. Also ordered a Reuben to go and that was large sized and had a lot of flavor. 2 sandwiches and 2 beers was like $42.

Great food and drinks and vibe at Brehon. AMAZING mac n cheese which I will be coming back for

Clearly a part of Chicago history. Involved in a shaky story that entrapped Chicago politicians, Brehon pub is a quintessential river north bar. Around since the 80s but dressed up to look like Carl F*** Sandburg wrote about massive shoulders in this pub alone. Come here to drink in old Chicago atmosphere surrounded by young Chicago money. Play a Tom petty song for Naomi and tip her well.

One of my favorite dive bars/pubs in Chicago and the River North area! The foods stands a step above similar restaurants, and there are food and drink deals throughout the week. I suggest going for a beer and watching your fantasy team lose.

Great neighborhood pub! We frequent this spot for drinks and bar food. The bartenders are always very friendly and service is quick. They have a pool table as well as TVs to watch sports. They have a daily special for about $7-$9 for a complete meal. Our favorites include - -tots - fried green beans -$3 PBR - Black bean veggie burger topped with guacamole We are excited to try the giant pretzel, various Mac and cheese options, and the loaded waffle fries.

I'll start with the positive- the food was delicious! I got the blt which had a nice smoky flavor to it. My friend was super happy to find out they had the impossible burger! Sadly, the service was so bad that I will not be coming back. I try to keep in mind that sometimes people have bad days, I'm hoping this was the case but immediately the waitress came to get our order, my friend asked what amber beers they had. Her response was to open my friends menu, point to the beer list and said you can look right here. Not a good first impression. When she came back she had her mask off and was way to close for Pandemic comfort... she took our food orders came back a few minutes later said she completely forgot our order and asked again- this time wrote it down on paper but at least she was nice this time? Our food came out pretty quick and like I said was the best part of the experience. She never came back again so we had to ask someone else for our check. COVID- waitress sometimes did not wear mask and they are still using regular menus.

Happy hour specials are amazing...but if the serving sucks then what's the point? I literally sat outside for an hour and only had 1 beer, the server NEVER came back to our table. Horrible. She was serving other tables but before we could get her attention she would dart back into the bar. Maybe she thought 1 beer during happy hour was enough?

Nice and cozy. Close to home. Large awnings provide ample shade during these hot summer days. Cons: Drinks were quite watered down. The cheese curds were overly fried [couldn't even poke my fork through them] Will come back because 1) close 2) support local :)

Love the atmosphere, food and service! Long time favorite of my husband's and I! Great place to hang out with friends or for a casual night out.

Still the best bar ever! Happy it's back and Jen the bartender is amazing, hardworking, and is such a caring person! Love this spot forever! Best food too!

Solid place, one side is a busy bar and the other is more low key with a pool table. We were hungry after a comedy show and most other places were full so we stumbled upon this place and really enjoyed it! The quesadilla is exactly what it sounds like, and the bacon Mac was a good portion and had a smoky flavor. Would come back again!

Good PubGrub and well-made drinks. FOOD: I've only had the fries and the macaroni and cheese but the Mac was awesome. Very cheesy, and the shrimp are seasoned well. For the difference in price, I didn't think the number of shrimp was quite worth it. I'll get the regular Mac next time and ask for a little old bay seasoning on it. PRICING/ SPECIALS: Their food is reasonably priced, but I definitely think the specials are much more worth the money. Either way, You get decent portions, so the regular prices are still justifiable. DRINKS: Drinks are pretty normal here, the bartender (the lady who is usually there with the blondeish bob) makes the drinks strong, and if you watch her, she adds a little "bloop!" Splash more of liquor when she's done pouring it. ATMOSPHERE: I usually go on Thursdays, and the atmosphere ranges from pretty tame/quiet to a bit louder with local students from chicago portfolio school. Dimly lit bar with dark wood and brass accents.

This is my "go to" spot for amazing Mac 'n Cheese. They have the largest selection and big portions and it's fresh, creamy and delicious. So far I've tried the Bacon Mac 'n Cheese and the Mac 'n Cheese with a side of chili and both were outstanding. This is a local tavern and I've only been here during lunch time so not very busy - that means you get served, in and out in quick fashion. The bartender/server is always fast and efficient. I think the prices are reasonable for what you get - especially for a River North location like this.

This is our home bar for pool league on Tuesday nights. Everyone that has gone in to play pool with us loves it. They have a backroom with a pool table, a jukebox, and decent prices for the area. Their salads are pretty large and definitely filling. Happy Hour specials can be pretty good as well. The place does not get overly packed (unless there is a private party) which is a plus if you want to chat and they have enough tv's to watch the game if you that is what you are into.

Great spot with a great vibe! Classic pub food and good selection of drinks. Sweet potato tots are always a good side to add on to a burger or sandwich.

I love this place. Walking past you wouldn't know that this place has: 1. Amazing Staff - each person I interacted with was smiling and nice. Not something you can overlook at a dive-ish bar in River North. 2. A great beer selection - options for days and some stand-bys too. 3. Decent food - I ordered the mussels and they were awesome (more on that below). 4. TVs aplenty - Pick a corner, any corner, they have a TV set-up for you to enjoy. The main reason I will go back to Brehon, early and often, is that I ordered the mussels, which again, were very very good. When I got to the bottom I noticed that a number of them were not open...and hence not smart to eat. I was bordering on full anyway and threw in the towel. 2 minutes later a manager (or owner perhaps?) came over and noticed that there were a number of unopened shells and she ordered an entire new plate to be sent out to me. Completely unnecessary, completely out of the blue and completely respected and enjoyed. Class Act by this place. You've earned a customer for life. Cant say enough about how positive I feel after this move. Great little pub (even without the mussel-gate incident). Thank you!!

Solid neighborhood bar, an Oasis of sorts among the clubs and high end restaurants of the area. Pool table, (plastic) darts, and golden tee make for plenty of diversions while enjoying your libations and mingling with the generally outgoing denizens that darken the doors of this old school Chicago establishment. The food is the biggest pleasant surprise here, great burgers that go above and beyond standard pub fare.

Buffalo mac and cheese is so creamy! So good! Bacon cheddar buffalo was a bit greasy.

Amazing pub with some of the best bar food downtown at a reasonable price. The stuff is great too. Fantastic weekly specials too.

Awesome wings,tots, and French dip. Our server was great. Fast delicious lunch at a neighborhood pub founded in 1980.

Do not! get the Caesar Salad: terribly underwhelming and frankly inedible I kept adding salt and pepper but to no avail. There is a weird addition to a Caesar Salad: some type of spongy white tofu cheese? No flavor to the dressing at all... Do! Get the fried pretzel that is delicious and perfect appetizer! Dips are perfect Do! Get the wings, crispy and flavorful, tasty and with the tots is a great combination. Do! Get the sliders I think they are perfect for an app or a meal, love the classic pub slider. Great place to drink... (avoid that Salad tho) and smash on some of the hot foods.

I'm torn on this one. It has the appearance on the outside of being a quaint place. The inside let me down a bit. Plastic tip darts in an Irish bar? The neon beers signs on the inside give the place a bad look and then the music. I was there last weekend and it was like I walked into a hip hop club. In an Irish bar? Ugh! Tried some appetizers which were just awful. I'm pretty sure that the Irish nachos use bacon bits instead of real bacon and the cheese couldn't be anymore bland. The Cajun shrimp tasted like frozen shrimp tossed in buffalo sauce. The Tex-Mex egg rolls were really doughy. On the upside, the bacon and egg burger was pretty tasty. All in all, I really wanted to like this place a lot more, but they just fall short in too many ways.