save

Hopleaf Bar

5148 N Clark St, Chicago, IL | Map it  

60640 41.975601 -87.668500

(773) 334-9851

Sign in to Write a Review

My Rating

Features

Neighborhoods:
Uptown, Far North Side
Categories:
Neighborhood Bars, Taverns, Bars & Pubs

View More

Payment Methods:
MasterCard, Discover, Visa, Diners Club
Bar & Club Special Features:
After Work, 21 & Over, Smoking Permitted
Bar & Pub Special Features:
Notable Beer List

View Less

Review Highlights

dessert
100%
“The frites were awesome though as was the chocolate tart.”
drinks
89%
“went to a bar in LA that is supposed to have the best tap AND bottle selection in the city.”
food quality
92%
“The Hopleaf has a great beer selection but I actually go for the food- they serve delicious little fried fish (smelts), and their ham sandwich is quite simply the best I've ever tasted.”
menu variety
79%
“went to a bar in LA that is supposed to have the best tap AND bottle selection in the city.”
View More
overall
83%
“But if you want to have some of the best beer ever, with a friend you haven't met, then the Hopleaf is the place for you.”
service
55%
“Pretentious staff and patrons”
value
100%
“have to admit, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but what I got was delicious (if not a little surprising) -- the portions were huge and I had the second half of the sandwich for breakfast the next day, and it was still crunchy!”
wait time
0%
“The service is slow, the doorman has a napolian complex, and it is overall UNPLEASANT and uncomfortable.” View Less

Reviews for Hopleaf Bar

Andrea B

Member since Mar, 2010 View Profile
6Reviews
0Photos
Joined 2 years ago
5.0
March 15, 2010

Beer Paradise. I give this place all 5-stars because their beer selection is so great. The staff, however, isn't particularly friendly or attentive.

0

chitownbill

Member since Jul, 2009 View Profile
2Reviews
0Photos
Joined 3 years ago
3.0
July 29, 2009

good food and beer. have been going to hop leaf for a number of years - their menu is really good and you can't beat their beer selection. as it's become more popular and crowded, seems the staff and bartenders aren't as helpful and friendly anymore though. maybe i just got them on a bad day last week. still recommend though!

View More View Less
0

katrina2s

Member since Nov, 2008 View Profile
1Review
0Photos
Joined 4 years ago
5.0
November 21, 2008

Favorite Bar in Chicago. I was first introduced to the Hopleaf in 2006 and it has been my favorite Chicago bar ever since. The beer selection is perhaps the best in the city and you wont find a single television in the entire place. The focus here is the beer, but the staff is not snobby in the least. They are happy to recommend beers and will even give you samples of the draft beers if you ask nicely. I especially like the Kwak (and not just because of the fancy glass it comes in).

Additionally, this bar holds some great events. For example, the Drinking and Writing Festival. Two drink minimum writing contests, poetry readings, what could be better!

Just get their early if you want a seat. It gets crowded quickly, even upstairs. Also, the restaurant doesn't take reservations, but that's not the end of the world because you can always grab a drink or two while you wait.

View More View Less
0

MaxPower11

Member since Oct, 2008 View Profile
2Reviews
0Photos
Joined 4 years ago
5.0
October 02, 2008

The Most Terrible Bar Ever. This place is horrible. Don't go here. Don't finish this review, just listen to me and don't go here. ......... . . . . . . . . . .Good. I'm hoping this review keeps the flakes and loser hipsters away. But for those who love everything about beer, I'll let you in on a little secret. GO HERE. This place is by far the most awesome beer bar in the good ol' US of A. They have stuff on tap that most bars don't even know exists.

A testament to this place:

I went to a bar in LA that is supposed to have the best tap AND bottle selection in the city. Granted, LA is trendy, but beer is coming back in fashion; especially imported beer. Looking over the list of product, I saw one of my favorites: Tripel Karmeliet. So I asked the bartender, "Do you have this beer on tap?" Her response was no less that comical: "On tap? There's no such thing as 'on tap' Karmeliet. It's only sold in the bottle."

"I'm sorry, but I believe you are mistaken", I said " I've had it on tap at another bar." "That's not possible", was her reply, "It says on the label, 'Bottle Conditioned'. That means it ONLY comes in bottles."

Needles to state, if THAT counts for a top beer bar in LA, the most up-to-date and trend-conscious city on Earth, then the Hopleaf is so far above top, it's lapping those on the bottom. Seriously, this place rocks. Every time I go there, I meet interesting people. It's not the best place to meet "beautiful" people, so if you want that, I can recommend other places. But if you want to have some of the best beer ever, with a friend you haven't met, then the Hopleaf is the place for you.

View More View Less
0

Maureen826

Member since Sep, 2008 View Profile
2Reviews
0Photos
Joined 4 years ago
5.0
September 26, 2008

Wonderful Atmosphere, Exquisiste Food and Incredible Alcohol Selection. Don't be turned off by the loud and crowded bar atmosphere in front, because the upstairs & rear area are perfect. Every meal I have had there has been supurb. The mussells for one in a spicey cocoanut are $10 and enough to feed two, and they are only an appetizer. The York Creek Cabernet mix is wonderful but my the wide array of obscure beers are also great. Service is also good. They are often stressed because it is constantly busy but we were seated fairly soon after were told there would be a wait. Must try @ least once.

View More View Less
0

See more reviews for Hopleaf Bar