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Riptide Lounge1745 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL | Directions 60622
41.917769 -87.671694View More
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“It's fun and upbeat, with a great jukebox.”
“Marie's is a great late night bar.”
“The best place in the city that no one knows about.”
“On my first visit, Marie herself did shots of Jaeger with me - talk about great service!”
A freewheeling tavern whose Eisenhower-era decor, jukebox, late-night hours and proprietress have earned icon status..
The Scene
Freeze-framed at 1961--the bar's founding year--the small, thick-aired interior with linoleum flooring and whirring fans reminds one of Grandma's house. And Marie (yes, she really exists; she's in her 70s and lives upstairs) decorates the place for every occasion. Be it Christmas, Easter or Fourth of July, the most festive cardboard-cut-out collection the Midwest has to offer dangles above the bar, its vinyl-covered stools and a row of tan, padded booths.
The Draw
The bar's matriarch/namesake and friendly bartenders keep patrons refreshed with bottled beer (no taps) like Miller, Budweiser and Amstel, standard cocktails and classic shooters such as Jagermeister. Marie regularly even tosses back shots with patrons. On the legendary jukebox, Elvis, Engelbert Humperdinck and Liza Minnelli share space with Poison; the vintage skeet-shooting game is a kitschy diversion. Finally, the bar's 4am liquor license keeps Gen X and Y'ers flocking here post-last call to sing, drink and be merry.
From Riches to Rags a Great Trip!. After dining at the venerable Ambria restaurant, my husband and I decided to hit Marie's. The wait staff at Ambria gave us an enthusiastic send off and said we would definitely enjoy ourselves. Upon arriving, My husband was busted by Marsha the waitress who said " I need to see your ID before the parchment crumbles and the whole ting turns to dust." Since my husband is considerably older than I, we both got a big kick out of that one. Marie told us a dirty joke and the whold experience was just you want from a dive bar. If anyone finds a pair of brown leather gloves, please let me know.
Go here and you won't be dissapointed!. The best place in the city that no one knows about. Frank, Patsy Cline and others on the jukebox. Ask Maire how she's doin' after she heads downstairs to the bar at about 1am. Open til 4am.
FUN PLACE. Marie's is an odd, odd place, but that's not a bad thing. It's fun and upbeat, with a great jukebox. On my first visit, Marie herself did shots of Jaeger with me - talk about great service!
Rip it. Marie's is a great late night bar. It always has a friendly crowd and the bartenders rock. The jukebox is cool and has all old school tunes like Johnny Cash and Frank. The skeet shooter is a fun toy to play with but it was broken the last time I was there.
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