Granville Anvil

Great little dive bar. It's cash only, but that being said, great relaxed atmosphere. It's easy to sit and mind your business, or engage in good conversations. The bartenders are friendly and fun to talk too, as well as the rest of the patrons.

Stopped in on a Monday night. Some of the strongest drinks I’ve had in a while. If you’re into that, this could be the place for you! They’ve got a great back patio area and had great prices too. It was fun to watch Monsters Inc while enjoying being on the back patio. Another patron stopped and complimented me on my jacket, which was nice. It seemed like everyone was really nice making for a fun atmosphere.

Great gay bar. No frills, great service, nice patio.

A great little gay dive bar. Good prices on drinks and great bartenders. My only complaint is the music. I feel like on Saturday nights someone hijacks the jukebox, and we are stuck listening to the same music over and over again. Also one suggestion, you have all these televisions. Play something fun on there other than the news or sports.

Good place to hangout, meet people and have a drink. Cash only.

This is a bar for gentlemen who like gentleman. I'm a lady so the service was a little stiff but I understand

As a small woman I never felt welcome here. First time I came her some guy but me on my neck and went and bit some one else. Had a great bonding experience not at this bar over that. Second time I was here there was so much drama and I was carrying the fem. Third time they refuse to serve me. It's two pm on my day off. I'm industry. Honey you are a cash bar and good luck.

Stopped in to check out this bar. The bartender Paul was so rude and nasty. Such a disappointment. Andersonville it is.

My partner and I happened upon the Granville Anvil after a burritos and margs at Flaco's and we're so happy we did. When we stepped in, it was clear that the Anvil is an institution. The vibe is solid and layout is old-school--essentially a huge wrap around bar taking up the center of the space with room to sit with juuust enough space to navigate around. It's definitely a place to sit and drink (not a dance bar, no pool tables, etc.). At first we felt out of place because we weren't (yet!) regulars to the bar, but everyone was super friendly and those feelings quickly went away. The drinks are strong, the bartenders are quick, and the music is * chef's kiss *. It's cash only but there is an ATM on site if you forget. I highly recommend Granville Anvil to my LGBTQIA2S+ pals looking for a chill sanctuary for a drink.

Nice neighborhood bar. Drinks are good. All cash which is fine. Don't waste your money on the TouchTunes, your song is never played, even with fast track. Otherwise it's fine.

Great, old-school spot. Strong and tasty drinks, friendly staff and patrons, good atmosphere.

The owner is very consistent. Consistent in forgetting our orders and talking to his friends while ignoring everyone else. He needs to stop drinking and being drunk while bartending. Sure its his bar so he can do what he wants but FFS its not good business practices. We rarely go there anymore but this recent time, we waited 18mins while he chatted with his buddy at the end of the bar. He clearly is a boystown wanna be who wants all the twinks to come.

Leaving a review simply bc these ppl in the comments are the worst. This place is what it is. That's the charm. If you need to have your drink served to you promptly in a golden glass go to Alinea. I'm here right now and this place is perfectly beautiful.

Went in for a drink during Edgewater Art Fest. Sign on the door stating masks are required (which they are required indoors during these times), Nobody was wearing a mask. They don't accept credit cards (who carries dirty germy cash these days?). Everybody smoking in the back patio area. The icing on the cake was the rude vampire-esque bartender. Take your money elsewhere.

After moving here 4 months ago, I stumbled across this establishment with my boyfriend. Anvil is a great place to sit back and have a low key drink. Gary was very friendly and funny. I'll definitely be back.

I have been coming to the Granville Anvil for years, enjoy the atmosphere, the crowd is mixed from LBGTQ to straight men & women. No hang up's, no one judges you, just good old fashion bar drinking fun. Love the juke box, great diverse music, I was there on a particular Wednesday when Mark, who I have seen in the past, a handsome friendly tall black brother was there, he had the jukebox & crowd jumping-singing with old Motown, Aretha, Donna Summers, 80's & 90's music. That old school fun you just do not see in gay bars anymore. OMG, the drinks, reason rates with a good punch if you get mixed cocktails/. The bartenders when I have visit are the best. Ron in the mornings, and on Wednesday it was Brandon, the best. Oh yes Steven M. Anvil cute sweet owner. Bars-crowd friendly like Anvil are disappearing in Chicago. If you want a good fun time, check this place out

This was an awesome bar with good jukebox music and nice little smoking and non smoking patio out in the back. People were nice and drinks were on point. Awsome experience!!!

I am exceptionally offended that the bartender Jimmie had smacked our drinks out of our hand after we paid him and disrespected us tonight. I have never experienced such disrespectful behavior in my life. Then on top of us trying to pay our tab, he told us to "fuck off". I've never had such a negative experience in my life.

Best bar in Chicago ! Need a drink? need to relax? need to see boys? need to be in your community ? need a fix ?? this is the place to be. Once (15 years ago known as a dive) now is THE PLACE TO BE -- -Great staff, drinks, music, boys, mens, and the owner (Stephen is hot AF) ---- uber your ass over there -- this is the place to be!

Ever since they posted a sign that disallows cigar smoking but still allows cigarettes, I will not be spending any of my money or bringing my friends here anymore. This new policy was brought to my attention today and before I could even sit down or order a drink. The bartender told me "before you get comfortable, we don't allow that anymore". I followed up and asked if cigarettes were still allowed and he replied a positive yes. This smug attitude was normal for this employee but sealed the deal for me. There are just too many instances where the customer service from a handful of the staff is non-existent. The offending bartenders are all white and my best friend who is black has told me he was uncomfortable on many occasions. In 2021 I cannot believe this is still an issue, especially inside an establishment owned, operated, and patronized by the LGBTQ community. This is quite shameful.

Here's the deal. We visit this place at least once a week and have never had an issue with anyone there--bartender or patron. That was until today. Walked in to a less than half full bar and sat down so the person I was with could grab a quick drink. The bartender asked us what we wanted and the person with me ordered. I decided against having anything. The bartender told me "no parking" twice and explained I wasn't allowed to sit down if I wasn't ordering. I could PERHAPS see this as something a bar would do when it busy and people are waiting for spots to open up, but it was 2:30 in the afternoon on a Sunday and there were plenty of open seats. It's pretty shitty that an establishment would not only kick someone out for not ordering anything, but also lose out on other revenue since the person I was with was leaving with me. We like going to his bar, but the bartender needs to ditch the attitude or the bar needs to ditch him.

So the Anvil has redeemed itself from my last review. The young lady that caused the ruckus has been put on a "time out" because allegedly she caused another ruckus with someone else there. The owner has apologized and all is right with the world. In fact, let me talk about the past two experiences I've had there. When people say that the Anvil pours a mean drink, they do. You don't need too many to feel the effects here! The crowd (for the most part) is very friendly and funny to watch - especially on a Saturday night. I absolutely love Gary the bartender - he will make you laugh. People think he's a douche, but he's really not. If I can give the Anvil a second chance and like it, you can too.

GROSS! Tried to go in the allegedly COVID safe back room that used to be a parking lot. People NOT social distancing, NOT wearing masks, and so much cigarette smoke it literally made me sick to my stomach. There are so many safer places within a block, I recommend you try them.

I like the Anvil! It comes across as a rather "Cheers"-like bar. People seem to all know each other and strike up conversations with strangers, too. It's definitely got an extroverted energy. But what I like in a gay bar is when it's not 100 guys, 95 of whom look literally the exact same. I like the multicultural, multi-generational mix of clientele at the Anvil. Also, if you get drunk, you can pretend the plastic dangly curtains near the back door are a car wash. Or scream answers at Wheel of Fortune. That's always fun. The gays seem to love Wheel. Serious bonus star for the fun Christmas decor. I live alone in a scroogey little apartment and it's lovely to go out and be under the mistletoe or cameltoe or whatever they call it in this bar, ha. Sometimes it takes a while to be served but as I've gone from stranger to regular I tend to get served more quickly. It felt like a bummer when I was the new guy in town and would wait 15+ minutes for a drink. It took all of me to not hijack the jukebox and spitefully play hours of the same Evanescence song on my own dime. Have I mentioned I'm chaotic evil? One thing though: Please, for the love of all that is holy, get rid of the chair near the stairs permanently! I have on multiple times been the one sober enough to pick up the lush that has fallen down the stairs because a corner of their chair was over a step and they couldn't tell. That's a serious hazard.

My fiancé and I were walking around Edgewater scoping it out for our potential new home and just when we were about to head back to the train, we spotted the rainbow at the entrance! What a pleasant surprise! We had to check it out. At first glance the place may not give you life, but stick around. It's a wholesome neighborhood bar with a fabulous, friendly atmosphere. Frankie, our bartender, was a freakin' riot. So fun and charming! He made the experience. 4 out of 5 only because the decor is a bit dated aesthetically, but more importantly I have a strict peeve with cash-only establishments in 2017. That said, definitely check this place out and support it. This is a true gem and should be appreciated. All-in-all, a wonderful place to grab a no-frills drink, especially if you're LGBT!

Whether gay, lesbian or straight, all are welcome! Steven and his team are nothing but accommodating, professional and very inviting. The owner (Steven) and his bartenders are the best! Although it's mainly male, women who love women are equally invited. My wife and I have made lots of friends over the last year that we've gone. The guys really look out for you.

Classic. My new local bar is exactly the kind of place that I want to be a regular; lively, friendly, unpretentious, inexpensive, Old school Gay! It's nice to be welcomed in the cozy bosom of someone else's home.

I have never been so insulted as i was this evening. We are frequent visitors to the anvil as we like the owner and most of the bartenders. However, Chandler who is one of the bartenders would not serve my friends and I because he stated that we only left him a 3.00 tip so why should he serve us. This is untrue, as when we tip a bartender for a couple of drinks i would say our tips range from 15 00 to 25.00, if not more. It's unfortunate that this person has treated myself and my friends this way as we have been going to the anvil for years.

Great local spot. Pour hard and drink hard. 48 years and going. A north side staple. Glad I stumbled in here. Bartenders couldn't be friendlier. Robert, Steve, and my favorite Frankie! Check it out boys - when every other spot is empty, the Anvil has friendly people to drink with.

Grandville anvil it's a really nice place to go used to go there for years it was one of my first favorite bars to go to in the neighborhood are used to live in Grandville and ranch and walk over there ice cream in several years I haven't been there but I would love to plan to go back there again you're mean great people and I'm making friends it's nice to date somebody there if you meet them or you have a good connection and besides that I have specially Estar people that work there are the bartenders I specially like Frank and young Steven and they're always gray there was been nice to me and everyone would enjoy going there and make friends

Ohhhh, boy! All your leather dreams come true . . . go on in, if you dare. ;-)

Dive-y but in the best possible way. This is the way gay bars used to be. Eclectic but just because it is not because it aspires to be. Multi-cultural but in a way that suggests camaraderie rather than trying too hard. Skews older, but I see younger guys having fun. The point of gay bars used to be we were all in this together, so why not be at least cordial to one another? Now we are so segmented and judgmental. Stratification is boring! Muscle boys are fun and hot, but they are often so scared to let go and be themselves because they are in a role. I want my gay dive bars to be like a John Waters movie. It knows it's a little offbeat but it celebrates that fact by laughing at its edges and circling back to a place that has something genuine about it. The icing on the cake is the music. It's a jukebox so you are likely to come in some night and hear Motown or a night of girl pop. You never know. I like 135 bpm wall-of-sound dance tracks as much as anyone. When I go out to dance I want that energy. But there is a place for bars where you can walk in and hear The Shirelles. The Granville Anvil is that place. My new neighborhood bar. My only complaint: no debit or credit cards. This clearly indicates that someone in charge is just so out of touch -- and probably just stubborn. My younger friends almost never carry more than $20 on them. Debit, credit, the world is moving to a non-cash society. I went in with a friend in his 20s and he was just puzzled by this policy. It seemed so..foreign to him. You're going to get left behind Granville Anvil. And that would be a shame.

Stopped in for the first time the other night with the partner. Decent crowd but not overly packed, even on a World Series game day. Prices on drinks were extremely reasonable and the pours are the strongest I've gotten in Chicago.

Ahhh... The Grannie Annie, classy, as always! :-) Somewhere between a local gay Cheers and a long Kafka short story, she's a not-so-grande ole dame who has recently had a facelift. Beloved & lovely as always. I hear that before the smoking ban, the place was a fog of tar and nicotine, pretty much all the way from the 9 A.M. opening 'til closing. They say you couldn't see the mirror, and if you could see through the smoke, the greasy cigarette grime was too thick to make it useful. While the chicken wire on the INSIDE of the front "windows" remains, as does the black-out covering which both protects the vampire patrons from the sun and preserves the aesthetic sensibilities of the passersby on Granville, several important things were changed or updated just as M. Henrietta's was opening next door where Standee's used to be. Gone are the two huge mounted dildos and their wrappings, but there's: - A new sub-floor and -- GASP! -- CARPETING!! (For the first time?) You're Dancin' with the Stars now, Annie. - New suspended ceiling, black and textured that actually looks cool - A few de-rigeur track lights carefully re-aimed - Most of the old photos & 'art' removed from the walls (CARPETED walls! They maybe got a deal on carpet and had remnants -- frugal!) - A new coat of paint where not carpeted (odd, dark mauve-ish purple) - A new literature rack (actually a stainless kitchen shelf set, but it's shiny and silver, so it's an improvement over the dark painted wood shop class thing it replaced. "Literature" is important here: WCT, Gay Chicago, Nightspots, and of course the groundbreaking Just Us Boys. And -- old-time regulars, you may not believe it, I know, but it's true -- - a nearly completely NEW men's BATHROOM!!! Walls, floor (yes, the soft spot which became a hole is now gone), a new toilet. I think they even RAISED the lower of the two urinals so BOTH of them are now near balls-level. (Is this done maybe in the hopes that the less distance to the fixture, the less chance patrons will miss and pee on the floor? Dunno.) But, in the inimitable style of The Anvil, the P.T. holder is a $.98 special, and the spindle is already long gone, so the paper is STILL piled on the tank and on the sink, soaking wet. No upgrade to the "Ladies" room. But, the rear patio/beer garden has gotten a new, professionally-installed roof, which uses U.V.-blocking clear plastic corrugated panels, and it has even been extended to cover the back door way. And the Labatt's Blue Light is gone. Awwwww..... Schlitz is its replacement, bringing with it all those jokes and stories about... Well, ask someone if you don't know. What hasn't changed? - The crowd, except you do see a few more young Loyola kids (str8 & gay, often with at least one or two fruit flies) every semester, slumming or camping it up when they tire of The Sovereign or all those 'Irish' pubs on northern Broadway. The regulars, while sometimes if not always more than a little lit, are friendly and can be crusty but are usually benign. Frankie has an eye for spotting potential trouble and keeps it out. - The staff: You know them all, along with their personalities and peccadilloes, and if not, you WILL soon be informed. Not a shy, lilting bunch, prompt with service (except when just finishing a 'smoke break') yet not servile, sassy when they need to be, always funny/witty/sharp. - The prices: $8 pitchers, $4.75 call, $3.75 well, $2.75 pints, $2.00 mug. - The jukebox: the one or two singles they offer on each album are a very strange eclectic collection, I guess to match the patrons. Most songs you really want will cost you extra credits, at least $1 per track. You can jump the queue if someone plays "Alejandro" right after "Poker Face." Or too many songs by dead people, which happens a lot. You can even recognize regulars by their jukebox repertoire. If you ever need to have a drink at 9 a.m., catch up on your soaps when the cable's out, need some coffee and conversation, or just want to get the full Featherization, The Anvil and Feathers are there, except Sundays (Noon opneing -- The Lord's Day, you know!) My personal favorite is Wade, who's there Tuesday 8 to close and Wednesday 2 to 8, but I appreciate them all: Frankie's memory (musical and otherwise) and cutting wit, Gary's sarcasm and ever-present (feigned?) annoyance at actually having to SERVE people (ha!), Steven's friendly if sometimes distracted way and his porno DVDs, Rob's camp impersonations and (disingenuous?) smiles while presiding over the weekend madness, and Steve's (the owner's mate) professional, friendly ways. Someone and/or something for everyone. Enjoy.

The Anvil is one of the best neighborhood bars in the city. The staff is fun is and attentive. Also, I must add that I was in last night and I couldn't help but notice that my ice cubes were perfectly crushed and portioned. I've never been served such a perfect arrangement of ice in my drink in my entire life. Keep up the great work!

The Granville Anvil made me sick! Quite literally. I stopped in with some friends, and the next day I had a fever. And not the good kind. It's not necessarily the Anvil's fault, but I'm holding them responsible. Warning: you will walk right by the Anvil and not know it's there. It is on Granville -- duh -- just west of the El stop, and is the little storefront with the green wood paneling. Yes, you heard me -- wood paneling. See the stenciled "Anvil" in the window? Told you. Walking in the door is like stepping back in time to 1978. Except for the flat screen TVs. I hadn't been into the Anvil for more than 20 years, and literally nothing had changed. Or at least, not that I could tell, considering the lighting, or lack thereof. The good thing is that the prices haven't changed much either. The bad thing is that your tap beer choices are Berghoff and Labatt. Served without irony. Or much in the way of service. Our bartender was a nice enough guy, but one of the worst bartenders I had ever had. Don't have any questions, because he will not be able to answer them. Including their beers in bottles. He did not have the ability to hold three drink orders in his head at the same time. And such tasks as making change were nearly beyond him. As Gertrude Stein said of Oakland -- there's no there there. That said... The Granville Anvil is a little piece of history. Or several little pieces of history, as the decor is a pastiche of everything that was cool for a day between 1965 and 1985. It's considered a leather bar, though there wasn't much in evidence the night we were there. And if you are male and have a pulse, someone will make a pass at you. If that's a good thing, stop in.

I've been to this dive bar before with friends its ok for cheap drinks. But today I was there with and out of town friend, for a quick drink and there was a dog walking up and down on top of the bar. I was quite disturbed by this and one point it was licking on one of the open juice cans it walked over by us and the bartender thought it was cute I didn't. (gross)we left after one drink . It's not that I don't like pets,but if its not a service dog ,leave it home. It should not be in a bar and on top the bar counter at that. Be respectful of others

I'm going to respectfully disagree about Having a positive experience when Stephen is there. In all my years of going to neighborhood bars, I've never been so blatantly ignored by someone. Yes, he is friendly...to his regulars and gives them free shots constantly while he downs them as well and shows everyone pics and vids from his camera while my drink needs were ignored. I literally had to tap him to get attention while he catered to his regulars and ignored me. I'm not in bars alone often but had some time to kill and I've never felt so uncomfortable in my life.... I still give it 3 stars because I've had much better experiences with Gary and whoever else was there in the past. Both alone and with friends. If Stephen is nice to you, more power to you. Maybe he just didn't like my shirt or something.... Now that I know he works Friday early evenings, I'll make sure to go other times to increase my odds he won't be there. By the way, I made my way over to Scot's and had a much much better experience ... And the bartender checked on me often ...-:)

It's a gay dive bar. If you think that's an insult, then you have absolutely no imagination. Cheap beer, saucy bartenders, a patio out back full of smokers, a bathroom that looks straight out of the Amityville Horror, internet jukebox ... wtf more could you ask for? Well, I'll tell you. Right off the red line Granville stop, so you can get there and back easily without driving. Friendly people just looking to relax after a long day. Great little eateries nearby so you can chow down (these poor places must be used to all the drunk gay men stumbling in for food). I would start to hate myself if I went there too often, but I'm SO glad the Anvil is there when I need it. Plus, you will probably have a vaguely recollected story to tell when you wake up the next day, hungover from too much cheap beer and ABBA.

The place is ok, but if it's crowded the lone bartender is too distracted to even glance at your direction. I stop by on occasion partly because I live close by and feel guilty about not supporting a local bar, but I usually leave about half the time without getting a drink. It's best to go with someone you know, the clientele are regulars that stick to themselves, and sometimes the bartender is part of these cliques and will only pay attention to them.

Word on the street is this it the oldest gay bar in the city. I had to give it a look. Word on the street is porn is normally on the monitors, but Bears games apparently trump porn. The entry looks like you are going into a cave and there are no windows to the outside, a throwback to a different era for gay bars. Bathroom is a little sketchy and 70s and wood paneled. This place must have stories. Tasteful naked guy posted on the wall. The bartenders get 5 stars. Friendly, quick, polite, comping me and my group shots, and STRONG mixed drinks. Crowd mostly in their 50s. So two weird things. There was this woman, whose name I will not state but it sounds like something sweet and is spelled in a non-traditional way, who was drunk, and apparently a regular. She went up and down the bar grinding on and handling gay guys. We wanted her to go away after she spilled not once on us but twice. I'm aware this sort of thing can happen in a gay bar. Second weird thing. This is both a pro and a con. Some dude brought in his dog, dressed in a cubs outfit. This small dog looked over groomed. Clearly a happy dog. He put it on the curvey long 60s style bar, which envelops the whole place, and let it run around up and down the bar. Now this dog was well behaved and didn't knock anything over. This made it cute and charming. However, this was very surreal to see a dog running around on the bar! Music was way too loud to hear or talk near the front. We asked for it to be turned down only to have it turned back up later.

I live in the neighborhood and enjoy the local watering hole. Steven could not be more friendly and accommodating. An unfortunate feature of this bar is that one of the bartenders who everyone knows has a tendency to be moody and frequently gossips about patrons making the experience unpredictable and often unpleasant. I was there earlier this week and immediately after I departed this bartender which I will call (lanky) began bad mouthing me. Friends of mine texted me alerting me to his comments. It made them feel awkward and left them wondering why this unprofessional behavior would be allowed by a conscientious bar owner who works so hard to build good will only to have it undermined by petty immature gossip.

The only things I agree with the other reviewers about are that the place is cheap and Gary (old bald guy working Friday and Saturday evenings) is a rotten bartender. The bar is foul with roaches scrambling on must surfaces and fruit flies swarming at the prep areas. I've returned several drinks because of critters floating in them. The crowd is made largely up of older drunks who use the back patio and parking area for marijuana and gay sex. A few professional people and Loyola students wander in from time to time but quickly leave. Head bartender Frank tries hard to be entertaining and welcoming. However, he can't make up for the conduct of patrons and ill will created by trolls like Gary. My friends and I keep giving this place chances because it is local and convenient. No more. We're cabbing it to nicer bars from now on.

Based on previous positive reviews by women, I dropped in to see how the Anvil was (I'm aware it is a gay bar and not geared to lesbians, but one hopes all are welcome). I got the cold shoulder from an unsmiling, impatient bartender and the male clientele. Wasn't checked on or asked if I wanted another beer. I left quickly. Still five stars, because I can see the appeal for older male locals...they seemed comfortable with each other, but not so much with the dyke who came in from the cold.

Regardless of where I've lived, neighborhood bars have always been some of my favorite places. Add the Anvil to this list. It's been cleaned up a little over the past couple of years. There's no longer holes in the floor, the bar has been resurfaced, and there is new lighting. The exterior hasn't changed a bit and like others have said, you're likely to walk right past it. There's a regular cast of characters here, most of whom have lived in the neighborhood for the past 20 or 30 years and the Anvil has been the neighborhood hang out just as long, if not longer. The crowd is friendly and cool. This isn't a cruise bar - it's a place to grab something to drink and relax. Students from Loyola frequent the place as well, so on any given night, there's a mix of ages saddled up to the bar. This mix is reflected in the music you'll hear on the juke box - always something playing there that you'll enjoy. There's a decent patio out back for smokers. Be prepared to engage in some sort of conversation here regardless of where you sit. The bartenders are attentive and friendly. Drinks are cheap! Probably the lowest price anywhere in Edgewater/Andersonville. Guys might buy you a drink every now and then and the bartenders comp you one from time to time as well - it pays to be a regular. The surrounding area is safe and well lit and the Granville L stop just a few feet away. If you live in Edgewater you aught to swing in to the Anvil from time to time. Frankly, the demographics in Edgewater are changing and there are a lot of new guys moving in to the area to take advantage of the low priced housing. Stop in in meet your neighbors at the Anvil.

I went back to this place and after 6 years Frankie and his beautiful partner still are there when you walk in, full of smiles and good cheer. I've always loved this place and I always will..... Edgewater will always have a place in my heart and the Anvil is a huge reason why.

Have been to this bar a few times I've the year and each time I remember why I don't go there. The service is horrible, bartenders are rude and try to rip you off. They won't serve doubles so they can charge you more per drink. I would avoid this place when there are many other bars in Andersonville worth you time.

Tucked away on Granville but always find a fun group of guys to spend the night flirting with. Drink, play, get weird ha! Always end up with a funny story to tell after spending a Friday night here.

When I first moved to Rogers Park, I considered the Granville Anvil to be a joke. I wouldn't be caught dead in a place like that. Its dark, mishmashed decor, its too often questionable patrons, its disgusting petri-dishesque bathrooms suggested that this is not a place for the boy into boys whose tolerance for anything less than Sidetracks-style entertainment is trash. Well Anvil I have done you wrong. While nothing has changed from the above, it is still dark as all hell in there, the seating is still ripped up, mismatched, and possibly disease spreading and the bathrooms are reminiscent of an unkempt long forgotten gas station's facilities. Nope. All of those tacky unclean elements remains true to this day. What has changed is me, my attitude, my perceptions, my tolerances, and my pocket book. You don't need polished steel accent walls, postmodern sleek decor, $15.00 martinis, undulating mood lighting, and HD screens flashing Cher classics or show tunes to have a good time. No sir. What I have found at the Anvil is something akin to a neighborhood bar ( a slightly depressed neighborbood perhaps and a decidedly down to earth clientele). Only locals seem to dare come here. Others that outright avoid it here may have had the same diversion that once prevented me from stepping through their front doors. Nope. And here my dear Anvil, I tip my hat to you. The people I have met here are usually locals. Mostly men, pretty much all gay save the occasional phag hag or rarer still, lesbian couple. The occasional gaggle of twinks may wander in, but for them, its just a place to start then flit off to some better location where they can be noticed. But overall, most patrons are friendly, and who doesn't enjoy a friendly random encounter?. I have had a blast meeting complete strangers as we drank the night away. Hook ups are more than probable on any given night. Play it safe boys. The bar has a pretty decent license. Lemme recall now, til 2AM on Sun-Fri with 3AM on Sat ( don't quote me despite closing the place several times more then I want to admit ). The bartenders are real sweethearts. Through my happenings I have met Robert, Franky, and my favorite Steve. All very professional, all very courteous and friendly. For you smokers, they allow you kill yourselves ( sorry but as an ex-smoker I find the habit vile ) on the back porch. Not too sure how convenient the new ban will be for you folks once winter starts but I don't smoke and that is not an issue I will need to face. Cost wise, I totally recommend their $2.00 domestic bottle special. I think it's on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Great for the budget conscious functional abuser like myself. Their jukebox is web enabled and can pull up songs as varied as their network playlist. Make no mistake, this place is a dive. Don't come here expecting any more than I have already described. This is just a watering hole. A place to park for an hour or two and leave drunk for under $20.00.

Awesome place!!! Super strong drinks for a ridiculously cheap price, and not because they serve cheap alcohol. Great environment, super welcoming and you get to meet all different kinds of people even though it's technically a gay dive bar. A great pregaming place or a good time for the whole night!

This place is extremely friendly. This is a gay bar, but they don't care if you come in and you're female. It is very nice for the majority of gay men, who can come into this gay bar and not be exposed to all that crazy shit that Chicago apparently thinks is some kind of requirement or majority for all gay males, but actually is not. In other words this bar is for NORMAL people, who don't think that being gay requires any particular type of interest other then having boyfriends and/or sex with men. I came in here one day because the human who's apartment I was sleeping in was not home to let me in, Edgewater is an absolutely horrible neighborhood regarding businesses, and Internet, and I had absolutely no money whatsoever to get on a bus and go somewhere. The owner or bartender had absolutely no problem with me being there and even welcomed me, and gave me water because "I looked uncomfortable without anything to drink." This is a place where if you are alone and don't know how to talk to people, the bartender will talk to you in an ACTUALLY FRIENDLY way, which is very unusual. I mean he will start the conversation. I am sure I will be back and buy something on another day when McDonald's closed too early for me to get my work done and I don't feel like getting on a bus. I don't know what the prices are since I didn't have any money, but this is a "neighborhood bar" not a "rich people hangout" so I am sure there is something affordable. Of course if It does turn out to be expensive I will lower the stars. This place is ACTUALLY CLEAN, as in, "it actually looks like a restaurant" and is not horrifically dirty like what Chicago people might still consider "clean". There is just one problem big enough to remove this 5th star: The music is absolutely TERRIBLE!!! And it is loud enough to act like people might come there to listen to the music (which they obviously won't!!!), which means it is impossible to ignore. When I came in they were playing black noisemaking, even though there were no black people in the bar due to the bar being in Edgewater and not shitty. I mean very severely black music, where they were literally saying a word that makes you want to kill yourself every other word. After that they played WOODY GUTHERIE, yes literally Woody Gutherie!!, a shitty tune from a musical (not the good ones), and then they started playing coffeehouse music, like thinking you're in the worst musical example of that, Starbucks. There are two other major problems, but they don't prevent me from returning with money. One is no Internet access, but this doesn't matter because there is an Internet signal from next door. Since this is such a nice bar (excepting the HORRIBLE music!!), let's give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they know that and that's why they didn't waste currency getting their own Internet. The second problem is they card you when you come in, rather then doing the sensible thing and only carding you if you buy an alcoholic drink. They don't card you to come in or have someone standing at the door, but I was carded after being there for about 15 minutes because I look either 16 or 19, depending on who you ask. It's MOSTLY forgivable because most people don't get carded at all, including on the way in the door, and I'll CHOOSE not to get pissed about it because it's a nice bar. So even though there are two things that would make absolutely certain you don't give a bar your money no matter what, I will give them currency anyway :).

I just can't help myself. Maybe its the $7 pitchers or dark danky feel, either way the atmosphere is relaxed - don't worry about sucking in your stomach here. People are friendly and the juke-box is well stocked. The bartenders are funny and sarcasim is welcome. Its a mix of old and young and girls, you are welcome, but brace yourselves, the bathroom is dirty and the toliet seat is sometimes "optional".

First visit to The Anvil tonight, and I'll definitely be back! No pretense here; it's a bar. Plain and simple. Our bartender, Gary, was an absolute HOOT. Funny, engaging, and attentive to everyone in the bar. Inexpensive drink prices by Chicago standards. Clientele was friendly and not the least bit pretentious. GREAT time.

Shit.....you get what you get or give. It's a HOLE, fo sho...but nice staff, cheap prices, funky ol' crowd, and so damn dark you can hide away from earth....but if you park in back, DO NOT forget to get the paper-thingy from the bartender (QUICKLY!) that says you're there, and put it in yer windshield (learned that the hard way, $115). What the fuck did you expect, Roscoe's? And, Feathers, dammit.

Living so close, probably helps my appreciation for The Anvil. I've always found the bartenders friendly. (cause no trouble, get no trouble) The clientele is a broad range, although you will quickly identify the regulars. Best of all the drinks are cheap! They also have a patio out back, so you can enjoy our fine Chicago weather. It isn't the most chic bar, but if I want cookie cutter it's only a train ride away. A true neighborhood bar at it's finest!

The Anvil is THE place to go if you want the opposite of the Boy's Town Bitchy-stuck-up-you are wearing-yesterday's color shirt- crowd. You can walk in and sit down. No need to stand. It usually isn't SO loud that you cant have a good conversation. Most people I have met here are friendly and will talk with you. The bar tenders all do a good job and you never have an empty glass in front of you for long. The prices are cheap. The music on the juke box is great - Johnny Cash style music. The place is a dive bar, a good place to go, sit, drink, talk, relax and enjoy being alive.

Back in the 1960's Joanne Bishop and Mike Costello turned this into a Gay bar. It is probably the oldest Gay bar on the North Side. Not continually owned by same people but still the same concept a Dive Bar and a comfortable place to drink. I will have to go in soon, did not know they had remodeled the place. Hope it has not changed too much.

A total neighborhood dive bar. Cheap, classless and not pretending to be anything else. And the place has carpet on the walls.