John Barleycorn Lincoln Park

(773) 348-8899

658 West Belden Avenue (Lincoln Avenue)
Chicago, IL 60614 41.923645 -87.645214

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Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, North Side

johnbarleycorn.com/index.htm

Hours:

Sun 9am-2am

Mon-Fri 5pm-2am

Sat 11am-3am

Closed Mondays from: January 1st - March 1st

Last updated 1.24.11

Category:

Restaurants, Beer Gardens, Bars & Pubs, Bars & Clubs, Singles Bars

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Cuisine:

Traditional American

Bar & Club Special Features:

Smoking Permitted, 21 & Over

Minimum Age:

21

Smoking Permitted:

Yes

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About John Barleycorn Lincoln Park

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Everyone from DePaul students to graying grownups come for the casual brunch, lunch or dinner in two spacious dining rooms, both decorated with scores of model frigates, galleons and schooners left behind by a Belgian owner from the '60s. Entertaining family? Consider it safe to bring parents for a casual drink or meal--at least until 10pm on weekends. That's when hordes of students and young professionals line up around the block waiting to get in, banging elbows once inside and in the beer garden.

Editor's Tips

Who's There:
Mostly DePaul students and recent grads, especially on weekends.
What to Wear:
There's an overwhelming amount of J. Crew flannels here; baseball caps are not only allowed, but suggested.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The atmosphere is terrific with a nice outdoor area and an old-world bar feel to it.”
  2. “It was a good atmosphere to see old pals and I had a great time.”
  3. “The bar is usually fun, but I've been witness to a few fights and scuffles in and outside of the bar which makes it less an enjoyable place.”
  4. “love the atmosphere.”
  5. “Lots of fun people here, cool music and they love sports!”
  6. “the food is good, the atmosphere is nice (a little too dark) and the service is usually great- not to mention some hot servers!”
drinks
80.0% positive
  1. “They are always crowded, the music is terrible, the other customers are obnoxious and the drink prices are outrageous.”
  2. “Spacious bar with many places to sit and gather makes it a great place to meet up with people you know or just meet new ones.”
  3. “Good bar for a reunion”
  4. “The worst bar in Chicago”
  5. “The bar is usually fun, but I've been witness to a few fights and scuffles in and outside of the bar which makes it less an enjoyable place.”
  6. “Price is decent, but you can easily go to most other bars down the block for a cheaper beer.”
  7. “They have god drink specials for big groups of people, plus you can rent out the upstairs if you have a large enough group.”
  8. “This is a good bar.”
  9. “Good old fashion bar”
  10. “The atmosphere is terrific with a nice outdoor area and an old-world bar feel to it.”
food quality
87.5% positive
  1. “the food is good, the atmosphere is nice (a little too dark) and the service is usually great- not to mention some hot servers!”
  2. “It's fresh USDA ground beef with a seasoning (I can't place it) that's delicious.”
  3. “This is the best burger in the city”
  4. “For years, this has been the place for a great burger -- well seasoned and served with great cottage fries.”
  5. “Great food, "brah”
  6. “The food here is amazing though, so getting there a little eary can be recommended to get a seat.”
  7. “But the thrill is gone mere years later, and now John Barleycorn seems to me a sad meat market full of desperate kids, many of which will be full-fledged alcoholics in 5 years.”
  8. “Food is suprisingly yummy.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Spacious bar with many places to sit and gather makes it a great place to meet up with people you know or just meet new ones.”
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Its dirty, smell and filled with annoying drunk people.”
  2. “Lots of fun people here, cool music and they love sports!”
  3. “the food is good, the atmosphere is nice (a little too dark) and the service is usually great- not to mention some hot servers!”
  4. “Spacious bar with many places to sit and gather makes it a great place to meet up with people you know or just meet new ones.”
  5. “They have god drink specials for big groups of people, plus you can rent out the upstairs if you have a large enough group.”
  6. “the bartenders aren't bad either- a little slow.”
value
0.0% positive
  1. “They are always crowded, the music is terrible, the other customers are obnoxious and the drink prices are outrageous.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “the bartenders aren't bad either- a little slow.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/11/10

Great Sports Bar

by davidjohnson at Citysearch

This is a great sports bar. Definitely an Iowa bar. My son goes to the University of Iowa so I've come to this bar a few times with him to watch the game. The food isn't bad, a little better than regular bar food and the drinks are good. This place is always a great time.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/19/10

Good bar for a reunion

by divinediva at Citysearch

Back in town for a high school reunion. We got wrist bands, and open bar for three hours. It was a good atmosphere to see old pals and I had a great time. I had never been here before but I liked it. Food is suprisingly yummy. Check out the beergarden its cool.

  • Pros: Good bar, good atmosphere, great beergarden
4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/14/09

Good old fashion bar

by GorgeousGirl at Citysearch

I first started hanging out at Barleycorn in college. I usually goto the Wrigleyville location, but they are all good. Lots of fun people here, cool music and they love sports! This is a good bar.

  • Pros: lots of fun people
  • Cons: kinda crowded
3 Star Rating: Average

07/09/09

Fun Bar

by NatalieL at Citysearch

This is a fun bar to have a party. They have god drink specials for big groups of people, plus you can rent out the upstairs if you have a large enough group.

1 Star Rating: Poor

06/11/09

Not a fan of this bar at all

by DrinksCoffee at Citysearch

I dont like John Barleycorn at all. This bar is a good example of what happens when frat boys run wild. They are always crowded, the music is terrible, the other customers are obnoxious and the drink prices are outrageous. I dont recommend you go here.

  • Pros: They distract stupid people
  • Cons: They exist

The Details on John Barleycorn Lincoln Park

Place Categories:

  • terrific atmosphere
  • great food
  • good bar
  • great place
  • great burger
  • cool music
  • decent price
  • fresh usda ground beef
  • delicious seasoning
  • overwhelming stench
  • usually great service
  • terrible music
  • nice outdoor patio
  • good old fashion
  • annoying people
  • great brah
  • full sad meat market
  • obnoxious other customers
  • big groups
  • great cottage fries
  • not bad bartenders
  • not like john barleycorn
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