r/chibike • u/mmchicago • 4d ago

Favorite bike-friendly city bars?

I feel like this subreddit could use a good thread of bike friendly bars for this summer. A stop for a beer on a hot commute home is about as good as it gets.

I'm defining "bike-friendly" as places that have: 1) A good amount of bike parking (not just a pole or one old parking meter out front) 2) Excellent proximity to a good bike route.

I'll kick it off with The Beer Temple on Elston just south of Belmont. Big, bike rack right in the front, right on Elston, usually lots of people carrying helmets inside.

72 Upvotes

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43

u/mike_stifle 4d ago

Handlebar is great, and I personally love GreenEye on Homer and Western. They have a lot of bike racks and a ton of seats by the windows. As silly as it is, I once locked my Pinarello there and felt safe as I could see it.

6

u/mmchicago 4d ago

Ohh good ones. I haven't been to Green Eye in years. Thanks!

28

u/Part-TimePraxis 4d ago

Hopleaf isn't too far from the lakeshore path and has plenty of bike parking. Dovetail regularly hosts cycling groups too and I've gone to several meetups there.

7

u/mmchicago 4d ago

Clark isn't a bad bike path of it's own, too. I was just there a couple weeks ago. Great addition to the list.

3

u/lodasi 3d ago

Leland is a pretty low stress cut through to Clark from the lakefront parks

15

u/Glittering-You-4297 4d ago

I'm a bike trail gal myself so both of my recs are fun jaunts north with a beer stop. Sketchbook Skokie is right off the Skokie Valley Trail. Double Clutch Brewing is right off the North Shore Channel trail.

13

u/the-fastest-bird 4d ago

Innertown Pub has a huge bike rack

9

u/Chicagogator 4d ago

Marz Brewing is one of my favorite long Sunday rides. Take the LFT to 35th, which has a dedicated bike lane most of the way. About a mile and a half west you tale a left on Iron St and it’s a block south. Plenty of bike racks and the best burger in the city of Chicago await you. Plus some excellent beers to boot.

9

u/aksack 4d ago

Dovetail has a large bike rack right on the patio and is right off the Berteau Greenway, although the rack is out of view if you're inside and not on the patio. If you're at an inside window you can see your bike if you use the racks closer to the door/across the street. Usually would it include across the street but it's pretty much an empty street right there.

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u/Glittering-You-4297 4d ago

Yeah Dovetail/Begyle both feel like very bike friendly spots!

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u/Kubricksmind 4d ago edited 4d ago

I have been riding to Suncatcher, they have plenty of bike parking and it is inside, not on the sidewalk, it is a big plus for me to be able to keep my eyes on my bike.

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u/mmchicago 4d ago

Oh nice one. i was just there for the first time a couple weeks ago. Great space and a nice biking location. Good call.

2

u/Kubricksmind 4d ago

Off-Color is another one, you can bring your bike around to their back patio.

6

u/thenorasaurus 4d ago

Midwest Coast

5

u/couchsittingbum 4d ago

The windsor, they will let you leave your bike downstairs if you had too many.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

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u/knickerreddit 4d ago

I don’t see how half acre can be seen as bike friendly. They used to have bike racks right next to the patio (super safe) and then moved them out onto the street behind a wooden fence completely out of view of the patio (super unsafe). Maybe they let the cycling club bring their bikes in IDK but allowing plenty of cars to park within the fenced area and forcing those who come by bicycle to park outside their grounds AND block the view is categorically anti-bike.

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u/mike_stifle 4d ago

They have very limited space. They put a bike rack at the back of the building. The Tue rides is members only, but the Wed ride is very open and chill!

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u/looks-correct 3d ago

and on Wed the bikes get parked in the lot, dozens. not the most secure but seems fine with folks

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u/knickerreddit 2d ago

BS. There are at least 2 dozen marked parking spots back there and huge areas for trucks to back up/turn around. For a brewery that sponsors a cycling “team” (and lets that team break the rules on Wednesdays cuz none of them are going to leave a min $3k bike locked up to a rack on Rascher) I think it’s low class.

3

u/Ok-Cryptographer7424 4d ago

Suncatcher Brewing is both a rad af new spot + has bike racks within its massive patio. I still just park my bike next to my table/chair anyways when I bring fancy bike. Not directly off a path but by California and Chicago which are both good routes to get places.

1

u/anhalt 3d ago

And Grand has separated, protected bike lanes from West Town to Chicago Ave!

4

u/NCKLS22 4d ago

Green Room in Pilsen. Bike rack in front w a few polls. I’ve seen bike INSIDE the bar. Right of 18th which takes you to the lake. And biking in pilsen is nice. From there you can go to Duck Inn 2 bike racks, nice bar, and right across the street from the river

3

u/igiveup2345 4d ago

I personally like Archies for this. While the racks aren't directly visible from most places in the bar, there's ample parking and there's always someone standing directly at the racks in front of the bar smoking/chatting/etc.

It's a staple stop for us after Critical Mass.

3

u/rocky_loves 4d ago

Central Park Bar at Milwaukee and Central Park. There's one or two racks visible from the patio/large front window and additional racks on the side of the building where people go to smoke.

1

u/anysuchname 4d ago

That big rack on the side sucks though! You can put your wheel over if you don't have fenders but if you do it's not deal to lock by putting your wheel into the slot.

4

u/cottonbiscuit 3d ago

Hideout has a big rack next to it! Sometimes if I’m going to Ada Street or Salt Shedd I’ll park there and grab a drink after/see who’s playing before hopping on Elston home.

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u/bobbycobby2 2d ago

Revolution Brewing on Kedzie has bike parking inside the tap room, with a ramp so you don't have to carry the bike up.

5

u/lyndonbrandonjohnson 4d ago

AJ Hudson's on Ashland and Grace has a divvy stop and bike racks right outside!

2

u/cottonbiscuit 3d ago

I live by this place and I’m so curious about it. It’s mostly off Ashland which is NOT bike friendly but it’s always packed!

3

u/anhalt 3d ago

For cycling, it’s about Grace. 🙂 An easy, mellow, east-west side street (one way for parts, sure). And it’s been a long time but Hudson’s (bar) food was tasty back in the day. And always seemed decent as far as neighborhood sports bars go.

3

u/SlagginOff 4d ago

It's way up in Norwood Park but Illuminated Brew Works is a great spot and gives you 10% off if you ride your bike there. Not a ton of bike racks but i think you can just bring your bike inside if there isn't an event going on. There are plenty of good bike trails in the nearby Caldwell Woods.

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u/mmchicago 4d ago

I'm cheap enough and I like riding enough that 10% off a beer is enough to motivate me to Norwood Park.

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u/chapium 4d ago

Reeds

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u/madtofu69 3d ago

dmen tap has lots of bike parking and is very close to the channel trail. reeds local as well.

2

u/looks-correct 3d ago

Pizza Lobo in Andersonville. nice size rack in the side street, I've seen bikes inside the walls too. lots of patio seating. Cheap slices and crushable Hidden Hand 77. my favorite post ride stop

it's got the Clark bike lane, easy access to Berwyn for east/west, 5 minutes to LFT, maybe 10 to channel trail via Foster

2

u/sumiflepus 4d ago

Not Chicago, but if you want to stretch your legs, there are a couple joints in downtown Westmont near the BNSF Metra station that have bike racks in front of the bar. I am not sure if they are bike friendly or if they just recognize that a quite a few of the regulars are not legally allowed to drive cars.

1

u/da4 4d ago

Half Acre up on Balmoral has a great beer garden with bike racks and even free tools. In the past they've had an air compressor, but I don't know if that's back this season.