Guinness Open Gate Brewery – West Loop

"Guinness’ second U.S. pub is a monument to the historic Irish beer maker’s global brand. This isn’t a quaint corner pub, but it’s beautifully designed by Studio K, one of the city’s top firms, and it somehow magically combines tradition with modern comfort. (Check out the giant wooden harp hung over the bar in the main dining room.) There’s a full menu with international flavors from Guinness breweries in Africa and Europe. They do not serve cocktails, but there are non-alcoholic options in this full-sized restaurant. Reservations are highly recommended for the afternoons and evenings. Families can sneak in the mornings for coffee and pastries from the in-house bakery." - Sam Nelson

"The Verdict: Unless you’re the Guinness equivalent of a Disney World adult, just grab a pint at one of the many Irish pubs in the city. If you show up to Guinness Brewery, chances are you'll be greeted with a line of people waiting to get in and try the famous Irish stout. Sure, the head-to-beer ratio of the pours meets Official Guinness Handbook standards. But the large space full of out-of-towners and feels like a chain restaurant for tourists. The branding is inescapable, from the wall with the founder’s giant signature to a massive harp floating above the bar. There’s even a gift shop and bakery with Guinness-infused bread. The food menu is eclectic, with average burgers, stews, and udon (how’d that get on there?)—and they’re mainly beer buffers. " - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen

"If you’re a die-hard Guinness fan and very patient (It can take an hour to get in on weekends and reservations are usually booked) then this huge West Loop spot can be fun. Just know that it's basically a tourist trap moonlighting as a brewery. Out-of-towners blurting out “It’s just like Dublin!” clog up the gift shop by the entrance. Servers zip around a busy dining room with a giant Arthur Guinness signature and a massive floating harp. Unsurprisingly, the well-poured pints are great. and what you should focus on—the dishes from their eclectic menu, like burgers, stew, or duck udon, are pretty average." - John Ringor

"Chicagoans are calling it “St. Patrick’s Day in September” with Guinness officially opening the doors to its brewery on Thursday morning with coffee and pastries. Diageo, the deep-pocked parent of the Irish-born stout, has poured considerable money into renovating the 123-year-old railroad building just north of Randolph Restaurant Row in West Loop. The project, announced in September 2021, is part brewery, morning cafe, restaurant, and merchandise store, a destination for fans for the beer and those with familiar ties to Guinness’ breweries in Dublin and all across the world. The cavernous space has the potential to find a niche with laptoppers during the morning hours. They serve Intelligentsia coffees and baked goods from Aya Pastry. Guinness is also baking its own brown bread both to sell and to donate to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This is the super stout’s second U.S. brewery, debuting eight years after the Baltimore facility opened. While the restaurant will serve Maryland crab cakes, the space is tailored for the Chicago crowd with menu items like “caviar” made with the city’s preferred spicy pickled condiment, giardiniera. Beer-battered halibut and pot pie made with Guinness are other options. There’s also nods to Guinness breweries in other parts of the world with Carribbean fried rice and Nigerian chicken skewers (known as suya). This menu is for lunch and dinner. Weekend brunch is also part of the deal with crab Benedict, a traditional Irish breakfast, and a shakshuka pot pie. Why would Guinness open such a large facility in an area with some of the most expensive real estate in Chicago? The brewery has the potential to become a tourist attraction, not just for out-of-state vistiors, but for locals journeying from the suburbs. The space also features a private event space for 94 which will be a draw, as will a 136-seat patio. Diageo has a net worth of $84.5 billion, so it has the resources to take chances on branding. That includes installing a 7,700-pound wooden harp above the bar. The state of craft beer is a fragile one. Last week two local brewerires, 3 Floyds and Revolution Brewing announced new plans. But the West Loop has been a tough nut to crack for breweries, even though a few, including Goose Island to On Tour to Great Central, exist a short trip west in West Town. While Cruz Blanca and Haymarket continue to brew, Ballast Point’s experiment failed. While Guinness’ bartenders won’t have access to spirits and a full bar, they will mix beer cocktails and offer a vareiety of suds exclusively available onsite. There are 171 days until St. Patrick’s Day, so there’s also plenty of time for Guinness to make sure service runs smoothie and for Chicagoans to prepare. It’s going to be crowded inside the 15,000-square-foot brewery." - Ashok Selvam

"It takes a bartender a long time to properly pour a pint of Guinness. Apparently, it also takes patience to wait for Guinness to open its new Chicago brewpub. The Fulton Market project is coming along and pegged for a September 28 opening. The pub — which was originally slated to open in time for St. Patrick’s Day 2023 — should open by the end of September. Look for a full menu of pub food from Irish favorites, some with North African influences, and more. They’ll sell fresh-baked bread, and a rep now says the majority of beer served will be brewed on-site and that includes a few special selections for Chicago visitors. The coffee will be from Intelligentsia and there will be baked goods from Aya Pastry." - Ashok Selvam