Christina’s Place
3759 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618
Christina’s Place Menu
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Address :
3759 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL, 60618 - Phone (773) 463-1768
- Website https://christinasplacechicago.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :3:00 pm - 4:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Music : Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
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Kevin H.
So, I had to come back and repost my original post because apparently the yelp support team didn't like the naughty words in it, (several months later) so I've replaced the naughty words with symbol gibberish. Okay, so I've been coming here on near a decade since I moved in to the neighborhood, lots of things have changed, but the most important things are still the same. Lovely Guinness pints are now $3 instead of $2, but inflation is a %^&*$, you can walk a few blocks west to the Abbey Pub for a great show, but their Guinness pints are $6 and good luck trying to get the same kind of personable service there, and if you can find somewhere else that pours flawless pints of Guinness at that price point, you should be there drinking them, but since that place doesn't exist, come here. This is a fantastic neighborhood 4am bar where you are welcome whether you are white, black, asian, female, tranny, hispanic, gay, lesbian, etc, or just annoying but still tolerable as a human being (if you're from Schaumburg though, just $&*% off and die). The owner built this kitchen in the corner a few years ago that is literally no bigger than a broom closet, and I would give 3 stars for any human being that could put edible food out of there, but the $1 burgers are a great deal. Aubrey will definitely take really good care of you as long as you aren't a total $(@*#$()%*(!. Also, great deals on booze or pool or food most nights, and you will never have to deal with a gaggle of Lincoln Park &*$^# or anything as awful coming here. Jim and Silvana, you are sorely missed. Pure Love.
(5)Joe P.
A cheap Temperance, a $3 whiskey, and $1 for a legit burger AND fries?! "Value" says the deceptively non-surely bartender. "Value."
(5)Ryan S.
Great place to get a cheap pint! Does anyone know if they are having the free Irish breakfast this year for St. Patrick's day?
(4)Robert Y.
$2 guinness, let's make it a regular!
(4)Christian K.
Jammed at at 3 AM, closes at 5 AM... oh yes, this I can do. This place is pretty damn cool. It's got one of the top 10 ugliest/cheapest front doors I've ever seen, there's not enough chairs for the amount of people that pack in here, there was at least a 3 person wait every time I used the single occupancy men's room and we ordered our drinks by yelling across a distance of 5 feet hoping our voices carried over the voices of others closer to the bar. Wanna know what though? It all freakin' works out somehow. Even though it was standing room only at 3 AM there were plenty of lean-to spots along the walls and half wall (kind of a separator between the bar and tables), the lines for the restrooms moved quick and I don't know how... but somehow the bartenders heard and correctly fulfilled every drink order we put in. Here's a fun fact, every 20 oz Imperial Pint of Guinness ($3.00) helps support Firefighters Nationwide. I'm not a fan of Guinness, but I had to get one just for that. Nothin' beats drinkin' for a good cause Seriously... if there's a good charity "Drink your face off" thing going on let me know... I'm here to help. The crowd is great, seems like everyone was kinda expecting to get bumped or have a wee bit of beer on their shoes... my bad pink Nike's girl, I'm sure that'll dry right up. Staff is cool, even when they're jam packed the make it a point to get to you. I don't think I waited more than a minute or two before having them get us our drinks. Gotta give 'em props for that! I hope to come back here sooner than later, it was a really good time.
(4)Alexis K.
Christina's is the best old man bar in Chicago! $3 Guinness, drink specials all the time...and since the new owners took over, $1 burger specials that are actually amazing! The bartenders are pros, the ambiance is exactly what you want in a local dive.
(5)Trevor H.
Small, intimate shotgun bar. Diverse crowd, representative of Avondale. Most everyone is friendly and will be happy to shoot pool if you ask. $3 for a pint of guinness, slow poured, with a clover on top. Great bartenders. I don't want to call this a "dive" because nobody treats it like one, this place is loved.
(5)Christina R.
I really enjoy this bar. I am not saying that just because it happens to be my name, though. It's a dive bar with critical acclaim and charm. The staff is fantastic and friendly. Jim is my favorite bartender at Christina's Place. I also enjoy the owner quite a bit. So, I am not a Guinness fan but this bar pours the best Guinness in Chicago. I have had Guinness at other bars (EXIT, restaurants, etc) but this place knows how to pour a Guinness. The price for a glass of Guinness is also the lowest I have ever heard of in this city $3 for a pint of guinness, slow poured, with a clover on top. For the price and the pour itself, I would recommend anyone go here.
(4)Zipper G.
Best bar in Chicago. Friendly bartenders and good booze!
(5)Alan F.
A classic Chicago neighborhood corner bar, to which I was steered by a regular. At the initiative of one of the bartenders, Christina's has recently added a modest rotation of draft and bottled craft beers--probably not enough to make it a beer-geek destination bar, but worth a drop-in if you're in the Irving Park neighborhood (hey, it could happen!), with a thirst for something more interesting than the locally-ubiquitous PBR. I noted four Great Lakes lines, Anchor's new California Lager, Revolution's Rosa and Anti-Hero, and Founders Red Rye. The bartender tells me that they sell quite a bit of the Red Rye in connection with shots of rye whiskey, of which they also have a good selection. Draft Guinness is still a bargain at $3, but just recently raised from a really spectacular $2. Full bar. Pool tables. 4 AM license, 5AM Saturday nights. Public transit access is only fair by Chicago standards; there's no longer a CTA bus line on Kedzie. One-quarter mile from stops on the 80-Irving Park, 82-Kimball, and 152-Addison lines. Nearest "L" stations are Belmont or Addison on the Blue Line, both about one mile, which can be partly bridged by the 82 or 152 bus lines, respectively. For pub crawlers, about a mile and a half from Revolution, Kuma's Corner, Laschet's Inn, and Resi's Bierstube. (Unfortunately, not all in the same direction from Christina's.)
(3)Jessica J.
Love coming here, The old man can do a shamrock in your Guinness which I thought was very cool..The beer is cheap and well poured... They also have karaoke nights.. The ppl their are nice and friendly and their bar food is great.
(4)Erika G.
Home of the $2 Guinness! What a value! Guinness for the price of . . . Pabst! I strolled in here latenight, one night, to meet a four star person of interest. What fun! This place is great. From the giant bottles of cider, to the charming and friendly bartenders. It's not a dive bar (though it is divey) so much as it is a friendly neighborhood joint. With $2 Guinness. There's a back outdoor area that is hilarious. It has a tiny little room for smokers to huddle in during cold winter temps. With third world style wiring and giant paint chips peeling off the ceiling. And the neighborhood characters who inhabit this joint are endlessly amusing. Love this place.
(5)Dominick C.
If this is a dive bar, then I am going in head first. I'm drowning in liquor and beer-- it's that inexpensive. And the people here aren't shallow-- just normal people like you and me. I even got a salty surprise from the bathroom! Wait... what... this water metaphor has gone too far... off the deep end! Heyo!
(4)Oscar L.
Awesome local bar. 2 dollar Guiness and great burgers. Perfect for hanging out with friends, not to loud and great bartenders.
(5)Lauren F.
This place is one of my fav bars in Chicago now. $2 Guinness everyday, cool bartenders, great music, and a great owner have made this bar our new favorite! And on the Saturday before St. Patty's they had a huge free breakfast that was delicious, as a customer appreciation day. I was hesitant to write this review because I wanted to keep this find all to myself, but I couldn't help but tell everyone about this great find!
(5)Urban F.
One of my favorite haunts in all of Chicago. Hadn't been in in a while, but checked in recently, caught up with Jim, played some pool, and, as generally happens regardless of your plans, stayed until Last Call, and loved every minute of it. Last night I wandered in for "one beer" with a friend, and found Aubrey and Silvana in charge of the Friday Night festivities along with a DeeJay who reads a room far better than most I've run across in more than a decade. As always, it's a great crowd and a welcoming, efficient, funny and friendly staff. Christina's is sums up everything I like about a bar. It's not pretentious and will tear you up and spit you out if you are, but if you are looking for genuinely laid back fun people with stories to tell, songs to drunkenly sing, and heads full of completely random trivia and late night Philosophy, a place that a woman can feel safe walking into alone, and leaving alone (if she wants to), then check out Christina's.
(5)Valerie W.
Thank you, Yelp, for advertising free Irish breakfast on St. Patty's day at Christina's (while supplies last)! The BF was hell-bent on Kegs-n-eggs, and I was hell-bent on spending as little money as possible on St. Patty's day. Enter, Christina's. When we drove up, he asked me how I manage "to find the most ghetto places." He quickly changed his mind when he realized that a) it's a dive bar, not ghetto; b) there was ROCKSTAR street parking; c) I wasn't joking, breakfast was really going to be free; and d) Guinness is $2 a pint. ALWAYS. We walked in, grabbed a plate, and were served heaps of delicious traditional Irish fare: bangers, baked beans, scrambled eggs, potatoes, ham, and black & white pudding. We found a spot to set our plates and my man went up to the bar to get us a couple of pints. $6 out the door for a great St. Patty's day breakfast that kept us full well into the afternoon (even after miles and miles of walking.)
(3)Bex F.
This place is just not my thing. It's not a dive bar, I don't know why people keep calling it that. Clearly they haven't been to a real dive bar. Anyway, if you order anything other than their cheap Guinness, it's not that great of a deal. They measure practically everything -- measure all the liquor pours, scan the bottles of beer as they come out of the cooler, scan the bags of chips, a million cameras watching everything.... I know they do this is Ireland, but I've never seen it to such an extent here in the states. I understand trying to keep losses down to a minimum, but it's not a relaxing, welcoming environment. Rory, the owner, is pleasant enough though I do find it odd that an owner accepts tips. Other bartenders, eh, not the warmest bunch and they treat every customer like they've never been in a bar before but whatever. The crowd is very varied and inevitably a fight breaks out nearly every time we're there. Lots of darting glances and folks looking to start something. Inside the place looks like it's being held together by duct tape. The girl's potty is pretty disgusting, everything is falling apart and dirty, and it's always out of toilet paper. Amazingly, the guy's bathroom was nicer the one time I really had to go. Eh, not my thing and I won't miss it. I do wonder what bar these other reviewers were at. To each their own -- I've left more space for the others who do like it.
(2)Ericka A.
I love dive bars. I don't know why. Probably because they remind me of Cheers in that "everybody knows your name." Actually, most of the people don't know your name but they don't care and you make new friends anyway. Some people think they are seedy and dangerous, but I have yet to experience a dive bar bar fight, which is more than I can say for the fancy suburban bars. A large group of friends and I came here after an amazing dinner with copious amounts of alcohol. Why did we come here? Three reasons - more alcohol, karaoke and pool. These things go hand in hand. We also found out they had pints of Guinness and bottles of PBR for $2. The bartenders even went as far as to give us little shamrocks atop our foam. That's attention to detail! The place is quite cramped, but everyone is friendly and no one makes a big deal about a little bumping here and there. If you ask me, the guys especially didn't mind when I brushed past. One even asked me to repeat the sweeping motion. And I got plenty of high-five love after singing my songs. The KJ even complimented my shoes (again, attention to detail!) So keep a lookout for me and my crew. I'm sure "Haute Dish" or "E Diddy & The Meat" will make their sophomore appearance in the near future.
(4)Kelly F.
I like this place... a lot. I heard about this bar while at my other bar. "$2 Guinness and Karaoke on Saturdays." I looked them up and saw that not only did they have $2 Guinness, they were open until 4am, 5 am on Saturday. I decided to check them out. The bar was packed, but the bartender was attentive and helpful. Figuring that the kitchen was closed, I asked if he knew anywhere nearby that still served food, and he let me know that the cook happened to be there late night and was offering a limited menu. I got the quesadillas for $4 and that was a great compliment to my $2 beer at 3am. At Christina's... they go through Guinness so fast, it's likely to be the freshest you've ever tasted. They also know how to pour it, which seems to be a rarity these days. Try it for the Guinness, stay for the personable employees, decent eats, and late night hours. They also have the NFL package and broadcast other foreign sporting events.
(5)Michael G.
This place has officially gone from dangerous to deadly on Saturday nights by crossing out the little "4:00 a.m." on their door and putting "5:00 a.m." Now it is truly possible to sing the entire night away on a Saturday night - even though the karaoke machine shuts down at 3:00 a.m. (by orders of some obnoxiously shushing neighbors) and you have to live in the afterglow of past performances. But the karaoke crowd at this dive could keep it open all night with bad renditions of pop hits if allowed. Or maybe that's just me (singing the bad pop tunes I mean). Though once my version of "Punk Rock Girl" by Dead Milkmen brought down the house. Anyhow, back to the bar and not my lack of singing prowess. This is truly one of the friendliest (both bar staff and patrons, especially on karaoke night), cheapest (the $2.00 Guinness special is legendary throughout the city, though other beers are similarly modestly priced), and most interesting (how many other bars have a smoking shed that reminds many people of alien abductions?) on the north side of the city. If Christina's Place wasn't so isolated (read as driving or cabbing as opposed to walking or training - though it is near the Kimball or Addison buses) this bar might be perfect (and I guess it is if someone else drives).
(4)Anne M.
My recent first trip to Christina's Place made for an interesting, fun night. Friends were meeting there for a birthday gathering, so Mr. and I made our way over via the Addison bus. It's a few blocks north of Addison, and that was a desolate cold walk - there's not too much going on around there, but we did pass an intriguing grow & brew store I'd like to check out. The bar was smallish with a long bar, center divider/long/tall table, and tables against the opposite wall. Pool table and juke box in the back. Highlights of the night: $2 Guinness draughts (they were going down good) 2 dogs at different times, were in the bar 1 rabbit was sitting on a bar stool next to an older man (owner/employee/regular? - who knows, who cares.)
(4)Raven J.
3/18/2012 This bar is very small, even though the outside makes it look to be about the size of an average Chicago Walgreens (which is bigger then most bars) and to also have two floors. If you were the only one is this bar, it would be hard to walk around except in the back, behind the pool table, where no one would "be" i.e. it's not in the area that is part of "places to stand". You might stand normally stand there voluntarily if you are waiting for someone, pissed off, or playing Game Boy for example. There are a total of two tables with three chairs each, but the tables are big enough for only one (maybe - if ONLY drinks are on it), and if you use the chairs no one can walk by. So you cannot sit down unless you sit at the bar. Karaoke is on Saturday. The karaoke is falsely advertised in that the bar is open 'til 5 a.m., but karaoke *ENDS AT 3* and doesn't even start 'til nearly midnight (though it's done by a guy with a laptop (real mike though) so it could be more "whenever he feels like it and therefore start earlier on some days), yet none of the websites talking about Christina's Place (which mention both karaoke and open hours) mention this at all! However, Christina's Place does not seem to have a website, so the misleading information is on external websites and therefore most likely posted by customers. Unfortunately the only way to leave on public transportation stops running around 12:30, so it's pretty bad if you come there without knowing in advance that they end the karaoke. The singers are half-ignored and half-payed attention to, which is good if you want to do songs you aren't good at yet. It also seems you might be able to sing more then twice a night if you can avoid being pissed off long enough to want to sing at that moment. However, the songs done SUCKS. The first guy actually did "Luck Be A Lady Tonight" (um, wtf???). The song selections available is rather large and includes enough "awesome" songs as well as some other songs to do, but the songs the customers actually pick are like you were 10 and at your uncle's wedding in a soccer-mom family in 1991. In other words the songs you'd do if you've never even heard of either Nirvana or 2Pac. Unfortunately, they also have Mexican songs available, and while I was there people used them. This is not a Mexican or Spanish-language bar. Guinness is $2 but it's served warm and at various levels of pour. They also do not use Guinness or Coke-luke glasses but use angled glasses instead. The first one I got was as disgusting as Trader Joe's $3 generic stout and the last one would have been great if it had been cold. The place is not very clean, perhaps "dingy". Most of the floor actually made out of an unfinished plank or sheet of wood, like a homeless guy might use to cover an oily spot on the floor of their trailer, or what you expect if you ask for wood sheets on FreeCycle. A very small portion of the floor is clean white ceramic tile, this is where I put my things. The walls are dusty. The bar countertop, and a weird home-kitchen "island" long-"countertop" thing they also have, is VERY clean (except for the whole not-cleaning-up-a-giant-spill-for-a-whole-hour thing). The female bathroom is clean, sort-of (at the beginning of the night anyway), like if you were in someone's shitty Chicago house or maybe trailer or something who had this bathroom, and cleaned like you do for a house, but the "style" of bathroom makes it seem dirty anyway; like you might expect to find in a tow truck shop. You could not put anything on the floor, fortunately there was elsewhere to put my bags (outside the bathroom) on the day I went. The male bathroom is smaller and smells like piss (piss not pee). There were two bartenders, a female and a male. The female was really nice. The male, who may be the owner, ignored me for about an hour and a half while I either signaled or attempted to say 'excuse me' as he walked by a total of about 30 times. I say "attempted" because in the millisecond that it took for the signal to get from my brain to my mouth to open it, he was already either in the back, at the opposite side of the bar, or getting something for someone else (usually someone who just walked up). After this hour and a half, the female asked "Is everything alright," not because I'd been crying and making annoyed gestures every time the male passed me without allowing me to say anything and/or ignored my signals, but because they saw what I'd written on Yelp, which was this only shorter, worded more strongly, and with 1 star. I was offered first given a free drink ($2), THEN asked to delete the review in exchange. However, I didn't actually even get a free drink because later a customer spilled my full glass, again. The female who talked to me is really nice while she's talking but I'm not gonna lie or think a place is better then I thought before just because employees are nice!
(2)James L.
Home of the $2 Guinness draft. This place is wholly a dive bar, if I ever knew one, but how can you resist a cheap beer of such quality. Since they sell so fast, the Guinness on tap is always uber-fresh. When I frequented, they only accepted cash, but that may have changed. They also do late night dozen pizzas that help to damper the possible morning hangover. Christina's could get cramped on the weekend, but the weekdays offered a much more relaxed scene. It's nice to kick back there, watch whatever game was on or even get down on the pool table (careful, pool sharks roam those waters). I also liked to get down on some karaoke when they'd have the machine running on Saturdays, though I'd always get out shined by some asian dude that rocked out ABBA like it was nobody's business. Good times.
(4)Krista S.
Total dive bar but such a fun place! Open till 4 or 5 am it's me and my hubby's fav spot to go when we have gone out and want just one more drink before going home! It helps that we live very close but the bartenders are very friendly and the owner is always there and is a super nice Irish man! Best bloody I have had and there Guinness is only 3 bucks. We love Christina's :)
(5)Cece P.
$2 Guiness, need I say more? I think not!
(5)Marcel S.
Cheap and fun! If you are in the area , try it! And open late , too! The owners are really nice, the Drinks good and the beers are cheap . A nice option for a rainy day( night).
(4)David R.
Still love this place. They've actually spruced it up slightly, with new vinyl stools at the tables and a narrow chalkboard running the length of the bar. Same friendly folks both behind and at the bar. This Saturday we had a great time watching this awesome lady-ninja obstacle-course game show. I lost count of how many times we howled with laughter to see one of the women do a faceplant and fall in the water. They were showing colllege basketball and gearing up for the NFL playoff games, so you can see "regular" sports there too. But don't expect any fancy HD experience--it's still three smallish tube TVs, and don't you dare complain! Two of my friends live nearby, and I really really need to start spending more time at Christina's. At this point, I would turn around my initial impression and say that it's an awesome bar with $2 Guinness as the icing, rather than the other way around.
(5)Scott H.
So the other night my buddy and I were hankering for an unassuming place to meet up and watch the Bulls over some inexpensive beers. Said buddy challenged me to find the best $2 beer deal on the North Side and I think I nailed it with Christina's! $2 proper pours of Guinness stout all day every day! SERIOUSLY?!? That's less than we paid for pints at the Irish pub I worked at in college LONG LONG ago! So I imagine this kind of deal keeps the place abuzz at all hours of the day and night. I forget the name of the first bartender who greeted us, but he was a hoot. I nicknamed him 'Schneider' due to a brief and very odd exchange regarding the comparative virtues of the cast members of 'One Day at a Time'. After 'Schneider' left, Rory (the owner of this fine establishment) worked the bar like a well-oiled machine. His Irish brogue seemed to make the Guinness taste even better. Lots of board games including an interesting and hilariously outdated Chicago trivia game line the wall at the end of the bar. There is a limited menu including a great (and unpublished) $5 quarter-pound burger and Guinness deal. My buddy happy drank his pint and took the sizable burger for the road. I think they have a few other sandwiches and inexpensive frozen pizzas they can whip up for you as well. Out back there's a small space for smoking (but don't take your beer glass outside) that Rory says may be transformed into a beer garden someday. That might be a nice add, indeed. Call this place a dive, if you will, but it's got tons more charm than your average corner tap. The locals keep the place hopping during the week and I imagine people come from all over the city on the weekends. A great first visit, yes indeedy! Heck, I found out my buddy ended up back there for a quick late afternoon tipple just two days later. He had company business in the neighborhood right before 5pm and another $2 pint apparently proved irresistible!
(4)Lauren B.
We took our kids there for the FREE, Irish breakfast 3/16 this year before watching the river dyed green. In addition to the fact that they simply offer a (free) breakfast, that included traditional bangers & mash, the owner greeted us personally on our way in. He later brought our son and daughter free kiddie cocktails. So sweet! When my husband thanked him on the way out, and said we didn't want to expose our kids to a "bar atmosphere" but wanted to celebrate my heritage with them in a new way and they'd been a part of that in a nice way, he said it's important and he wanted to support a family atmosphere. The nicest guy; so were the bouncers and other patrons - while it was early on ;-), everyone respected the presence of our little children!
(5)John H.
Christina's continues to be one of my favorite bars. By virtue of my esteemed taste and Chicago's fine drinking culture, this makes it one of the best bars in the world. And she was in rare form this past St. Patrick's Day, where we: - saw a hard-looking fellow with "IRA" tattooed on the side of his shaved head. - chatted with Rory, the owner, who'd been drinking without the crutch of sleep for the last twenty-four hours. Hour twenty-five saw him enjoying the contents of a miniature bottle of red wine, still steady as a rock. - had round after round of the freshest, best poured, and somehow most affordable Guinness in the city while taking in the first day of March Madness. You can come here if you want, but don't go telling everyone about it like me.
(5)Becky P.
Street parking can usually be found within a one block radius, $2 GUINNESS DRAFTS, and super friendly staff. Ummm....how can you go wrong? You can't. Which is why you need to go here and grab a beer.
(5)Jeff G.
went on a mon night. $2 Guinness is definitely a nice deal. staff was friendly. there was some mustache party going on where there were about 20 people standing around up front and they had their jackets on all of the stools but no one was sitting down so it was kind of annoying and awkward to drink our drinks standing up and no where to sit cause of these fake stashers. then there was the A-holes playing pool who when we walked in they shot me a look like "hey, what are you doing in our bar you first timer". and i had a stare down with this one guy who was a total prick. literally a 10 second stare down where neither of us said a word, during which time i thought to myself "you stupid f**k you think you are so cool because you happen to be a regular here at this bar. well, i too have been ten-year long regular at several chicago bars too, so what's the big deal" i haven't been in a fight in 20 years but that moment i was close to popping this prick in the face. anyway we'd go back for the cheap beer and the nice staff, but only if we happen to be driving by.
(3)Aloe A.
This place can definitely get rowdy, as most 4/5am bars do from time to time, but it's a very welcoming and warm place when compared to a majority of bars (especially late night establishments). Featuring affordable beer, respectable burgers, and frozen pizzas (woohoo), Christina's is good for starting the night, finishing the night off, and even just being the night. As a local, I find myself here rather frequently in small and large groups, and It's never been a bad choice.
(4)Kate D.
I was there late on a Saturday night, which is apparently karaoke night. Not good. I came in hopes of a solid dive bar (as promised by the neighborhood resident who brought me) and instead had to push and elbow my way through 1,000 people to find someplace to stand with my drink. I never did, by the way. Had to beg someone by the pool game to let me squeeze in a corner and set my drink on the edge of their table. Then I decided to go to the bathroom. I watched a girl go into the one ladies' room door. I watched 3 other girls line up. I looked 2 feet to the right and saw the door to an identical restroom (men's) wide open and no one even considering using it. I started to walk into that one after a go-ahead nod from a couple gals in the ladies' line... And some bar employee nearly tackled me to prevent me from going in. I couldn't believe the scolding I got. Really? This wasn't the Peninsula. The bathroom was one door for one toilet. There was no room to stand in a 4-person line. I wasn't going in with 3 of my girlfriends. Or to make out with some dude. CHILL OUT buddy. Not impressed with anything about this place. Maybe I'll give it another shot on a different night.
(2)Karen C.
If you don't like small semi-cramped bars then this place isn't for you. I'd almost go so far as to say that it's tiny. However, they serve $2 Guinness and the bottled beer is served nice and cold. They also have Karaoke and the whole bar sings along which is fantastic. It really makes for a party atmosphere and my face is a bit sore today from laughing so much. There is a pool table and I think it's free. The bathroom is small but kept very clean. Even as we were leaving around 3am it was still in good shape. That's impressive. Out back is a small patio for the smokers and I'm assuming during the warmer months anyone else that wants to be outside. The employees were friendly and engaging and I had lovely conversations with a few of them. I would definitely go back another night for a sing-along and some beer.
(4)steve c.
Christinas is my goto upscale dive bar that delivers $2 Guinness straight to my liver. They have a expanding decent beer selection but the deal is really with the Guinness. If your hungry there's frozen pizzas they'll cook for ya. If your bored you got a pool table and/or karaoke. You have to love the diverse people that wander in throughout the night. I do enjoy Christinas smoking section in the "garage" behind the place. DOMESTIC High Life,Lite,Pabst Blue Ribbon,Schlitz IMPORT/PREMIUM Amstel Light,Becks,Burning River Pale Ale,Corona,Dortmunder Gold,Edmund Fitzgerald Porter,Eliot Ness Amber Lager,Fat Tire Amber Ale,Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse,Heineken,Kaliber (n.a.),Magners Irish Cider,Sam Adams Seasonal,Smithwick's ON DRAUGHT Guinness,Lite,Mad Hatter IPA
(4)Sarah R.
Christina's now takes credit/debit cards! WOOOOO!
(5)Elisa E.
After dinner, we went to the original Smallbar in Avondale. It was packed--even more so after the trolley from the Division location disgorged about a dozen tipsy folk. Gah! Smallbar is the size of a living room, and it was already over capacity. Clearly, we needed to find a so-called old man bar. Metrics for determining old man baritude: Extremely well-lit. No mercy for wrinkles, blemishes or prison tattoos. Christina's Place: Yes. You can read a romance novel or remove a splinter while sitting at the bar. Maximum of three beers on tap, one of which is Guinness. Christina's Place: Yes. Other two not clearly identifiable to this reviewer. Attitude-free, almost guileless bartender. Christina's Place: Yes. It took some time to convince the adorable bartender that one of our party did not actually drink alcohol. She kept saying "this doesn't have hardly any alcohol!" CP doesn't have gingerale, btw. Low-low prices. Christina's Place: Yes...at least I think so. I had a straight bourbon shot, which was poured with generosity, and I got a bunch of singles back. Was too tired and happy about getting a seat to care. Lovely place, as long as you get it.
(4)Robert S.
Christina's recently had some remodeling done- the ceilings are now high and there's more room to move around. It's also not so loud anymore. In addition, they offer a few good beers like Mad Hatter and Franziskaner. The staff is chatty and it's now even more fun! Now if they fix the horrible bathroom, it would be a 5 star joint!
(4)Greg D.
If you know what a good Guinness pour looks and tastes like, then Christina's Place is your northside stop for a meal in a glass. Why does a pour matter? Anyone can pour beer, right? Hell no! Guinness needs special attention. I've had Guinness at Fado and other 'supposed' Irish bars and they pour the glass all at once. Then the Guinness loses the malty sweet flavor with which it wants to delight your mouth. The folks who tend bar at Christina's are masters of the pour, complete with shamrock upon the final of their three stage pour. To make the experience even sweeter, a pint of Guinness is $2 at Christina's. All day. Every day. Oh...and it's a 4 am. Oh...and they have in house pizza. Oh...and there's a pool table and an enclosed smoking area out back. Oh...and the bartenders are f'ing hot. Slainte!
(5)Shelden E.
Ok. This place is great on Sunday afternoons. I practically love it there at that time. $2 Guinnesses, not very crowded, the bartender is awesome and really social, and the people there are pretty cool. I've enjoyed it every single time I was there in the Sunday afternoon. Saturday on karaoke night though is soooooooooooo different. It was packed with barely enough room to walk around, except by the pool table. The people were COMPLETELY different. I had never seen these people anywhere and I live in the neighborhood. I'm not complaining, just mentioning. For example, this one fairly attractive, normal looking girl was playing pool. Next thing you know, she turns around and starts making out with her boyfriend, who looks like he's from the movie Road Warrior. The dude is like 6' 3", tan, has a bad misfits haircut, and is rippppppppppppped. Then he has a tight black shirt on and tight neck collar and bracelets. What the hell was it? If these people are reading this, I apologize, but they're not what I'm used to seeing. Anyway, I'm still going back on a Sunday afternoon. It's awesome there. Saturday night, forget it.
(4)Chelsa P.
I love this place. I have only been there a hand full of times, but I plan on coming back more and more, even if it is out of the way for me. The staff is extremely friendly and awesome. I have never been there when it is super crowded which is great because I like to move around and I like to have a place to sit, at the bar specifically because the bartenders are awesome. They now have a limited menu which I heard the steak sandwich was delicious and I personally had the grilled pb&j with bacon, yes bacon, it was very tasty. It is not on the menu but they are more than happy to grill one up for ya :)
(5)Kiarash Z.
OK, the smoking shed in the back should be used in a campaign to help people quit smoking. I haven't felt like that much of a disgusting junkie since being forced to leave my high school's campus and hiding in the front yard of the seminary building to catch a quick puff. Plus, when you're shoved in a little room like that, with crap ventilation, you're inviting all the weirdos in there to talk to you. I hate it. I tried smoking outside the shelter and was told by the bouncer I couldn't just wander the yard. I'd rather smoke in the street.
(3)Amanda D.
When you see a place that advertises "Home of the $2 Guinness," you just don't pass that up. So for a random Sunday, we stop in. Sundays also boast $3 Bloody Mary's and free pool as well. We were enjoying our Guinness and I really appreciated that the bartender knew how to pour them. I have had the unfortunate luck of walking into a bar and having to wait about 5 minutes or longer for my Guinness to settle and for it to get a little warmer. I admitted, out loud, that I loved Guinness so much, I would try it in an ice cream float. What I didn't realize was that a nice Irish man, Rory, who also happened to be the owner, was listening. He asked the bartender to make us an "Oatmeal Cookie." It's a bit of a sweet drink, but it was delicious. It was like having your dessert in a glass over ice. What I also really liked about Rory was that he gave us a run-down of the bar's history and all the specials that were coming up in the month, such as the Irish Breakfast on March 13th. So to sum it up, cheap Guinness and other awesome specials. Great, attentive owner and nice bartender. Easy access from Addison or Irving Park on Kedzie. The only issue I had was that they didn't take credit cards. Cash only, People. Despite that, this will definitely be added to my "stomping ground" list.
(4)VICTOR L.
4 Stars for the $2 Guinness, barkeep and Peeps! In that order. You have to be unemployed to NOT afford this place! Minus 1 star for the bathroom...it's really bad *whisper* and smelly.
(4)Jennie M.
LOVE IT. A late night bar in my hood that has cheap drinks and various characters...I'm there. Throw in some karaoke and the occasional random free pizza and I'm hooked. Word to the Douchehbags: the regulars aren't going to like you if you're a dick, so don't be and we'll all have a nice night, ok?
(5)Russ T.
They serve $2 Guinness and the owner's are awesome. What the hell else could you possibly want?
(5)Sean R.
Looks like inflation finally caught up with this place, as it is now home of the $3 Guinness. Whether for two bucks or three... I just can't stomach this joint. The clientele here just isn't want I'd call a high-quality crowd. Clannish, a bit surly, and occasionally trying to sell me drugs. No thanks, I'm good with my beer.
(2)Babs H.
Yeah yeah yeah, $2 Guinness, everyone's said it so I'll skip that seconded emotion. I *would* like to give big ups to the bartenders because the handful of times that I've been in here they were outstanding. Also, I've had a few conversations with some regulars that have gone in several directions. True that a few were left with an unsettled feeling, but more were left with laughs for days, and or with warm hearts (and that was not just from all the whiskey shots, I swear).
(4)An P.
Tis A Tale of Two Christina's. Back in the day, before the extensive remodeling job Christina's was full of neighborhood folk, ranging from the missing tooth class and blue collar northwest side stock. Some folks in here were of the middle-aged alcoholic stock and shady characters of the like. When debating the state of 4am bars, Christina's may be the best of 'em. Some things have changed with the remodeling job. There are track lights installed over the bar, there is a new middle wooden island type of thing so people can lean on it and put their drinks down and the outside is completely re-done. Also changed was the texture of the bar as lots of the oldies weren't there, and the one remaining hid in the corner. The yuppies have not found Christina's, but there is a growing hipster element. Some things in Christina's never change: $2 Guinness, $6 pitchers of Bud Light, pool table, inoperable dartboard, and you can still buy chips as a snack if you are starving. Last call is at 3:15 on any given night and 4:15 on Saturdays. The best bartender in the world works on Friday and Saturday and I will remind myself to head there more often.
(4)Stephanie O.
I LOVE going to this place. They have an awesome atmosphere, cheap drinks, great hospitality & amazing food! I love that they also play music on a jukebox & have a pool table & dart boards. If you like laid back dive bars, this is the place for you.
(5)Adrian W.
I came here on a random Thursday (I believe) and they had ran out of Guinness. Now, I understand that supply and demand thing, but shit, that left a foul taste in my mouth. Until I came back. See, another friend of mine had fallen off of the bar stool somewhere else and I had wanted to continue on my buzz so we came here. The bartender gave me a quick lesson on 'snake bites' which encompasses anything with Guinness- not only apple cider (no Strongbow, get Magner's) to mixing it with a Miller Lite (I'd rather not). The place was solid, small, yet large enough to have a conversation and not have it bleed over others'. There's a pool table located near the water closets (if you call em bathROOMS then I live in a mansion) that featured a few regulars playing 9 ball. I would come back. In a heartbeat. 2 bucks for a Guinness, and a bartender that is willing to talk kindly to non-regulars? Fuck yes.
(4)Vivian Y.
Hands down the best bloody mary money can buy. After a night of trying to reinvent a BBQ sauce Jim had once tried at a restaurant, he ended up with a 2 liter jug of sauce that tasted nothing like he had hoped. HOWEVER, he did discover that this would be an amazing addition to tomato juices and man, for $4 - this is the best bloody mary you can find in the city. For me, I'm a savory person. I enjoy Mr & Mrs. T's BM mix, but often find myself in hypertension after having just one as it is SUPER salty. However at Christina's Place, Jim's BM blend has a wonderful taste, made from scratch using plain canned tomato juice and then building the flavors layer by layer. Ambiance on a Monday afternoon on President's Day was great - free pool for an hour after the pool table jammed up on us and topped off with $2 guiness is a great way to spend a holiday. I worry about coming here in the evening as Yelp reviewers have commented oh-so-many times about how packed this place gets - so many I will keep this as an afternoon secret to myself! (oh wait, I just shared this with you...) A limited food license is on the way.
(4)Zach T.
It's not my first stop, second or third in a night but it's definitely my last. The Juke box has a pretty wide range but it's placement is awful considering it's cramped up next to the pool table. I'm not a Guinness guy but i do love a good car-bomb and their prices won't knock your wallet out of commission. This place is a true dive bar and it's not pretending. So get drunk in public and spill some beer!
(4)I B.
This is the kind of place that makes me wish I drank more. A little bit of a dive without being creepy, nice folks on either side of the counter, etc. Not a lot of space for the pool table would be the only downside. A cheap well-poured Guinness more than makes up for it.
(4)Aaron R.
I'm a big fan of this place. They had me at "$2 Guinness." If I wasn't married, I'd probably be a regular here; as it is I've been here several times (including throwing a birthday party for myself) and have never had a negative experience.
(5)Andy M.
About the only thing to go to for blocks on this stretch of kedzie. Any bar that has Guiness for two blocks can't be too bad. The place is kinda small and cramped and I can't imagine how uncormfortable this place must be on a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)Jillian S.
For the bang you get for your buck, the atmosphere, and the service, Christina's Place is 5 stars all the way. I can't understate how much I love this bar. The bartenders were awesome, and everyone here seems to be having a great time just doing what they do. I loved the mix of people here - everyone from a few youngun's sporting fake ID's to neighborhood couples over 60 years old. Hubs and I came here on a Saturday night when we wanted to go out and enjoy a few drinks, but wanted to keep it low key. Christina's Place offered us free entertainment with watching terrible karaoke, and just great people watching in general. Need I even mention the $2 Guinness? Didn't think so. Also worth mentioning are $6 20 oz. Fat Tires. Awesome!
(5)Stephanie J.
Christina's Place now serves food by Scott's Kitchen. He's open everyday except Saturdays and temporarily open on Sundays for football. I highly recommend the Reuben, Chili and Waffle Burger.
(5)Richard J.
Always friendly, great food and choice alcohol make this place an excellent neighborhood getaway. To the guy, Donald, if you order an Irish Car Bomb, you need to drink it immediately or it will curdle! That's just how it works, man. ;-)
(5)Omar G.
Three stars just for serving Guinness for two bucks, an extra star for staying open til 4am. Missing the fifth star for having a limited latenight menu and for being a Troll cave. But if you are into Trolls, well sir this is a six star stop for you. Me? I like my women to not be eight hundred pounds, not smell like a turd and not be older than Ireland.
(4)Jorge J.
The king of all dive bars! I love this place specially on Saturdays for Karaoke! Home of $2 Guinness EVERYDAY, you can't go wrong! This is the bar you would go back to and 'everyone will know your name,' well maybe not really but it makes no difference. You have a handful of regulars here who are not shy to strike up a convo with ya! The bar staff and karaoke dj are GREAT! If you are looking for a good time at a chill dive bar, this is your bar.
(4)Geoff H.
A pleasant surprise. Space was WAY smaller than I expected, but it wasn't crowded (Wednesday night, a lil after midnight) and the drink-median peninsula thing works in some places, but seemed a bit much in this narrow space. But I digress, the rest of the place is really cute, bordering on kitschy, even the odd '80s diagonal woodwork (left over from Sidekick's?). High ceilings with additonal windows help it feel not cluastrophobic. Great things are of course $2 Guiness and that they're open til 4, if you're into that. But really, I was most impressed with the bartender (40-ish guy, longer hair, definitely Irish): probably the friendliest I've ever met in Chicago, and that's saying a lot (not only am I a big soak, but I bartend as well). He was really pleasant, without being over-the-top. Even invited me back the next night. They also have $7 frozen pizzas if you don't feel like White Castle down the street. I'll be back.
(4)Kerry M.
Another Dive-Bar classic. Dark, dingy and smells of stale smoke. Since its a 4am bar you can always expect to have a very mixed and quite interesting group of people. You can feel comfortable in your gym clothes, tshirt/jeans or the current gangster garb. Nobody is there to prance around in their $500 jeans and fake-tans looking for a hook-up. Its for cheap Guinness, whiskey shots (Jameson please), pool or karaoke. I must be getting old because getting fancy to go to a bar is way too much effort anymore. Why do people get dressed up for clubs/bars if they will most likely have beer goggles at the end of the night and not care about appearances.
(3)Justin M.
If this place had a little bit more excitement to it, it would easily be a 5-star bar. I loved this place last summer! Conveniently located down the street from a White Castle, Christina's is a nice little dive bar that serves A++ pints of Guinness. Did they go up a buck? Hmmm, they were 2 dollars a pint last summer, and they were damn good. My first time there I came in and ordered a pint. I threw down my credit card, but the bartender said they only accepted cash. I walked across the street to the 7-11 and ripped out some cash, came back, and the bartender bought me that first round because he felt bad that I had to take a walk. OK, thanks dude...very cool of you. The second pint I paid for. The third pint was on him again. Fourth pint I paid for...and I'm sure you know how the rest of the n night went. I took care of him when I left, but he must have bought me at least 6 pints...I was hammered! GREAT BAR!!!
(4)John B.
A pint of Guinness for 2 dollars.... this is the best deal in the city!!! Plus.... they have Paddyrock.com stickers in the bathrooms.... and I didn't put them there... some fans of the show did! I take some of the bands I interview or am going to see perform in the city here for a good time. Cool neighboorhood bar....totally dig it... and Tony Duggins sings about in The Tossers song "Whiskey Makes Me Crazy".
(4)Phil S.
Well, hello there you little dive bar you. How you doin'? There are so many great things going for this place. If I didn't have a full time job and have to be up every morning - I would be here everyday. The regulars though, it appears, do not share my concern. They don't serve food, which is probably a good thing. They do, however, have an eternal $2 Guinness special. So, if you want a Guinnie at noon on Tuesday or want 5 of them on Saturday night, this is the place to be. Also, if food is a necessity for you, you can bring in whatever you like or just have it delivered to you. Yes, it is that divey. They also have a great Karaoke night on Saturdays. Well, at least they did. I do apologize in advance though - TOOL is now permanently banned. My bad.
(4)Scott A.
$2 Guinness. There aren't enough stars to rate a bar with $2 Guinness.
(5)Nicollette W.
Finally I made my way over to this place last night. I have lived in the area for over a year but never got over to it. The place is pretty small. But, there were sooo many people packed in there last night. I think it was a couple different people's birthdays AND it was karaoke night. The songs sung karaoke style were awesome; alot of 80's hits. We had a few pitchers of Miller Lite, at $6 a pitcher. Not bad for Chi-town. Their staple is their $2 Guinness pints, which they have a wooden sign above the bar 'Home of the $2 Guinness.' Their is 1 pool table, which I think is free because I never saw any of the sharks add any money. I was a bit scared of the bathroom due to previous review, but it was not that bad. The door locked, so that was good. The toliet got cloged at one point, but then when I visited the throne later, someone had plunged it. There is no paper towels, just that cloth machine that you pull on to get more cloth to dry your hands on. The last place I saw one of those was over 10 years ago in a pizza place in Elizabeth, NJ. The smoke shack around back was a little creepy, but not as bad as other reviews had made it seem. The gross part was that it smelled like Jagermeister; you know, that nasty licorice smell? Yucky. There were also some outside tables to sit at to smoke. Overall this place is a winner. Tons of people my age (late 20's) which made it all the funner. Cheap beer, low-budget karaoke, who can ask for more??
(4)Joseluis A.
christinas place is tiny, dirty, a little busted, full of weirdos, the restroom doors dont even lock and theres lots and lots of drunks trying sing karaoke... the crappiest songs too. excellent! the pint of guinness sells for 2$ beautifully poured. this place is raw... thats pretty much it.
(5)laura heather h.
$3 Guinness. Need I say more. You say I do, ok: On the weekends they have free, thats right free, hotdogs during the day. They also put out all the toppings you would want including squeezy cheese and, although a sin in Chicago, ketchup. I like to call it my favorite weekend brunch place. $3 guinness and hotdogs oh my! Also one time I came here and it was their chili cook off. Holy crap was it good.
(4)Eric R.
This place is one of the old school dives that I love in Chicago. Cheap drinks, a nicely appointed juke, and now that the no-smoking laws are in effect it no longer makes me smell like a pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray. The 3 dollar Guinness is a winner. Karaoke night on Saturday can get damn wild, but it's a pretty good time. I would say if you are in Avondale (perhaps after checking out a show at the Factory Theater, say) and you haven't had the Christina's experience...well, then ch-ch-check it out!
(5)Andrew L.
Well, now Christina's is the home of the $3 Guiness, still a great deal by any stretch. I like Christina's just about any day of the week, but what got me going there, besides it's convenient location, (6 blocks away) and hours, (I like being up late and drinking), is the karaoke. Whether it's Chad or Joe running the system, this is the best place to get drunk and sing your heart out. A younger crowd seems to be discovering this place of late and especially the karaoke nights. Thus you can find the occasional hipster belting out their irony-laden interpretations of Styx, Pat Benatar, Patrick Swayze et al. The bar itself is full of character and characters, the juke box is passable and the staff extra friendly. Perhaps with the extra buck for the beer they can finally afford a lock for the men's room.
(4)Zipper G.
Friendly staff, nice regulars, cheap Guinness, Johnny Cash photos on the wall, lovely jukebox, and football on Sundays. It's not a hook up type of bar, just a lovely little place to have a Guinness. Tip the bartenders well!
(5)Dave C.
this is the closest to a Cheers-like neighborhood bar i'll ever get. it's right around the corner from my house and yet, for some reason i'm not there as much as i should. they've got $2 Guinness pints, $2 PBR bottles and a few Great Lakes beers for $4, karaoke (i sang Pixies and it sucked!), and a cozy and intimate feel. there's a wooden table thingy smack dab in the middle which makes the place feel even smaller than it actually is but it provides more space to put down drinks so it's not all bad. also, there's a pool table wedged into the back, awkwardly placed right next to the restroom providing a hilarious possibility to get hit in the junk with a pool cue whilst leaving the can. yay! the crowd is an eclectic mix of older folks, hipster-ish kids, and yuppie-ish kids. it's cash only and this is indicated by flyers saying 'CASH ONLY' with a picture of Mr. Johnny Cash giving the camera the finger. it don't get classier than that folks!
(4)Tara P.
Awesome dive. We went for karaoke night, and arrived a bit early to find the place filled 99% with men who did NOT look like karaoke types. And I'm sure some of them weren't, but when the karaoke started going, the crowd was a lot of fun. You've got your constant pool players, professional drinkers and the odd karaoke-fly feller who sings his heart out and seems to have been adopted by the bar. Also, the beers are cheap - it's a wonderful thing. Helps you forget how tight the space is.
(3)ken q.
After passing by this corner bar countless times, I gave it an impromptu chance one evening. I was expecting nothing much but I was pleasantly surprised and loved the decor. The big draw, $2 Guinness, wasn't served in some 6 oz cup...it was a full, delicious pint. I found my friend and I were getting comfortable REALLY quick in this low key establishment. Service was kind and welcoming...even caught a glimpse of an outdoor patio to enjoy my cheap drinks outdoors....My friend and I promised to return again soon.
(4)Jackie O.
Ok, so I can't say I frequent karaoke bars. In fact, I avoid them like the plague. Between Hidden Cove and Christina's for 4 a.m. bar choices though, there is no contest. This place whips Hidden Cove's dirty dive behind. It isn't a dive bar, it's a neighborhood bar. Better than that, the booze is still cheap. The karaoke volume isn't offensive if you just want to sneak in some drinks, and the staff is always friendly (at least to the sober-ish tippers like me). I've gone with dates, coworkers and friends alike. Mostly I covet the adult photohunt game, but thats another story for another time. This place is alright in my book for a neighborhood joint, but there isn't anything special about it that would keep me coming back if I moved out of the neighborhood.
(3)Jerry B.
$2 Guinness & PBR's daily: Yes please... Rory is a cool laid back owner, Scott can cook up a storm in his 8X8 kitchen, I recommend the Italian beef & it's dirt cheap! I have only gone on weekdays & it's a good place to watch a Cubs game or shoot pool.
(4)JR L.
As most reviews would say, this is your classic dive bar. However, the price on Guinness cannot be beat (at $3.00 a pint). The beer selection was okay, but what really makes this place is the service that our group received when visiting. Joe the bartender was very attentive and talkative, which is something I enjoy when going to a bar. I'll definitely be going back when I get the chance.
(5)Jeffrey V.
$2 Guinness Pints thats a screamin' deal. I live in the neighborhood and i go there quite often. The owner is a cool dude and usually the people there aren't that lame. It's not my favorite bar, but i have a good time every time im there. Oh yeah and its a 5am on saturdays and that rules.
(4)Todd H.
They have raised the price to 2.50 per pint. Still the cheapest in the city as far as I know. For my drinking buddies, that is the only thing I have to say to warrant a 5 star rating. The atmosphere is appropriately divey, the music selection on the jukebox is fair, and the patrons are as average and normal as you would find in any neighborhood bar. But, HOLY COW, 2.50 pints of Guinness! If you need a reason beyond 2 dollar pints of Guinness, this might not be the best bar for you. However, if like me, you think that Guinness is like the very life force of the universe, then by God, this is the only bar you will ever need to know about in Chicago.
(5)Anand L.
$2 guinness + waffle burger = happiness
(4)Kelsey P.
One extremely cold February evening, a good friend of mine in town fro the night wanted to go out and sing karaoke. Being broke college students, we didn't want to break the bank, but realized that we would probably have to drink a lot before we did our rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart," and we looked up this place on Metromix (sorry, Yelpers!) Ok. 2 buck Guinness pints and karaoke until 3 am. Done. Sold. Let's go. Thus began one of the most fun evenings I've had since I moved to Chicago. This places is great. The bartenders are attentive (no leaning on the bar for 20 minutes to get them to open a damn beer bottle like at some places that shall remain unnamed), good atmosphere with people who have probably been going there since the 70s, and a general overall feeling of friendliness. I've been back a couple times since then, and have enjoyed it every time. Gotta love that karaoke!
(4)Kathy P.
I went to Christina's Place last night to celebrate a friend's birthday with some karaoke magic. It is a tiny bar, but the two bartenders were wonderful. Quick to refill a drink and very pleasant to banter with. The $2 guinnesses can't be beat, not to mention the $2 PBRs. The crowd was mellow, but the karaoke so-so. The song selection was great and the KJ was friendly, but the set-up was weird. The lyrics screen faces out toward the audience, so you have to sing with your back to them. I wanna be a rock star, not someone who's afraid to face the music (or in this case, is FORCED to face the music)!
(3)Timothy M.
Stopped in here after work one day. I had heard certain things about it, which may make it one of the coolest places in Chicago. I'm not going to say what makes it so cool, but let's just say it's the local secret around these parts. I shot the shit with Joe, the friendly bartender. We chatted about baseball, even though I like the Cubs and he's a Sox fan. That's how this place is: just conducive to nice and friendly conversation. He was nice enough to give me a couple of drinks on the house. Good guy. I've seen it since get packed to the gills though. Not surprising since this bar's cool and not much is around, besides the Abbey Pub a few blocks down. Plus its open until 4am. So if you want to find out why I like this bar so much, you'll have to visit it yourself.
(5)scott f.
Honest crowd (except for the peak hours). Fine sense of diversity; you, no matter who you are, will likely find someone to strike up a conversation with. I've had some really bizarre unexpected-type nights there. Generally good. Some crazy dude puts his own mix CD's in the juke box, which is good for some (like me), and very very very bad for others.
(5)Jess S.
Great neighborhood 4am bar. Not much more to say. I'll leave it to someone else to devulge Christina's little secret - I will not be held responsible.
(3)Jennifer G.
the only downside is that the crowd isn't nearly as exciting as it could be for such a coo bar and bartenders. it's like usually a bunch of sad blue collar drunks. they have 1.50 miller lite pints on fridays they have free pizza or hot dogs on fridays around 8pm. they are always giving free shots or "this one is on me" 2nd or third drinks. friends and tenants upstairs bring in dogs and one guy even has a bunny. there's no cute guys AT ALL though.
(4)Andrew G.
After trying unsuccessfully to drag friends to check out this off-our-beaten-path-corner-bar, I finally dropped in solo one afternoon a few months back while stuck outside in rush hour traffic to take a break and to check out their $2 Guinness. I assumed the worst in a "You get what you pay for" cynical sort of way but was pleasantly surprised. Although the beers seemed a little warmer than I prefer, the Guinness pour is top notch. The bartenders are hit or miss and not incredibly warm to outsiders. After seeing a friend's play at the nearby Prop Theater on Elston, a couple sober, thirsty friends and I stopped in as I wanted them to try this great find of mine. One of my partners in crime that night, who owns another corner bar not too far away could not believe they served a $2 Guinness everyday and I wanted to prove it to him. The crowd is a mix of generally friendly NW side neighborhood guys and gals, a couple rummies, a few randoms and a gaggle of 20 somethings trying very hard to be hipsters--I think most of the fixed-gear-skinny-jeans-wearing-cyclists-who-blow-Âthrough-six-corner-intersections-without-looking hang out here sharing a PBR with their sense of entitlement. This past Saturday, despite there being plenty of stools available at the bar, the woman behind the bar was frazzled and not at all friendly. It seemed her motto was "Warm Beer, Cold Service." Amazing how a crabby bartender can be a buzzkill for the night. We left after our first beer. My friends swore never to return. Hoping she was just having an off night and taking it out on the only non-regulars in the place, I'll be back for that Guiness. This place has a lot of potential. Just make sure the beer is cold and the service is not.
(3)Scott C.
Friendly and attentive bartenders, fun vibe, friendly people. Like the feel of the place in general.
(4)Dann B.
Everyone there seemed really friendly. You can't beat the prices. $2 Guinness. How is that possible. The place was crowded but the bar tenders never kept you waiting, which I was the most impressed with. And it's open until 4am. Who could ask for anything more.
(4)T M.
Christina's has the most fun karaoke I've ever participated in or witnessed (I suppose this statement isn't that impressive...). No one gives a damn that you can't sing, they'll clap for you anyway, and if you are good, it'll get louder. I don't know when they do this, but it's definitely worth it, especially if you've always wanted to try karaoke and have been too nervous to try at other places- you'll definitely feel welcome and comfortable enough to sing off-key. The $2 Guinness is also a bonus, and seems to taste better than all the other Guinness I've tasted elsewhere (seriously- I usually don't like it at all, but here find it tasty). There are some nice people here, but if you're staying late it's probably good to go with someone else to stave off some of the psychopaths who might show up.
(3)Chris W.
It's a crappy bar, and usually that's a plus for the type of places I like to go. And there IS a plus to the place, it's for the broke. It's a bit sticky, a LOT freezing cold (during the summer months at least, bring a hoodie) and not a very big place at all, but it does have intense beer specials (pitchers especially) which are great if you're on the broke kick. Their vodka lemonades are really refreshing, however, even for 2 dollars (on special) it's really disappointing that there's so little vodka in them if you're looking to catch a buzz you need to drink about 5 of them. They won't give you doubles or anything on them, if you want double the alcohol you need to buy 2 of them. EVEN if you offer them the 4 dollars you'd pay for 2 anyways. They use the cut off knobs they use in big clubs and crap to make sure they measure out exactly a shot or whatever into your drink. Really not a bad place at all, just not my favorite. I love that it's really chill though. Not a lot of action on a week night.
(3)John B.
we walked in for the 2 dollar guinness, we stayed for the karaoke. i will always cherish my experience at christina's due to the incredible performance of "karma chameleon" by some tiny, magical, middle aged man. this guy had the entire place cheering and begging for more. i suggest going on a saturday night because he might be there again. he seemed like he might be a regular. there is more about this place to recommend other than the possibility of a bizarre shared experience over a Culture Club song. cheap drinks, friendly staff blah blah blah.
(4)Phillip L.
I recently moved to the neighborhood and spotted this place. We gave it a try and we're happy we did. The bartenders and patrons are always friendly. "Frugal Friday" rocks with drink specials and every time I've been to Christina's they are always offering free pizza. Well done!
(4)jason t.
the guinness is back to two dollars again! a new era has dawned!
(4)Oona B.
excellent dive bar with $2 guinness! . . .maybe, due to inflation, the guinness is $3, now. nonetheless, it is sitll cheap; woo hoo!!
(5)Brad T.
I have a long standing love affair with this divey joint. Being a barman leaves me often with precious few hours to inbibe liquor in public. Christina's has always been my post-shift stop. Can't argue with $2 Guinness or maybe $3.50 shots. Jeanie, one of their lovely barmaids, is full of just the kind of piss and vinegar I need after a long shift. It may have the filthiest toilet in Chicago, but I adore the joint and the people watching potential it allows. another great 4am haunt if you can make the trip.
(5)Chas V.
Great Prices and a nice mix of people make this place a stand out. I'm not huge on the kareoke night, but that's just me. They're always friendly here and it won't break the bank. This is also one of the preferred watering holes of the Factory Theater, and as it's just a few blocks north of the theater, it's a great after-show destination.
(4)Colonel T.
$2 Guinness should be enough for most of us. ( if you can't drink the stuff, I'm very sorry. also there's other good beer on tap). but add free pizza every now and again, friendly bartenders--even the first time we walked in, and definitely every time after that, a nice smoking room in the back which is heated in winter, a good jukebox, reasonable pool, an interesting, at least mellow crowd (when there is one--i've been in here friday nights for a few hours and seen maybe three other people) and we have a real gem. yeah, it's not the cirque de soleil or a curated museum like some busier, fancier joints; but every neighborhood bar should strive to be half as good at doing the job as christina's is. I half want to give a bad rating to keep the place quiet--but I'll trust that whatever is keeping it quiet (if not a secret), maybe just the location, continues to do so.
(5)Anne Marie W.
I showed up with a friend for karaoke night - it was our second choice, after the first place we stopped at had a private party. I'm so glad we ended up here instead! The crowd was mellow and super-friendly - we knew half of the folks by name by the end of the night, and we were all cheering each other on after every song. The cheap Guinness was great, and the song list was extensive, making for a nice mix of performances (not the usual Journey/"Love Shack"/"Sweet Caroline" that seem to come up every time I go out). It's a bit out of the way if you don't have a car (and someone willing to forgo the Guinness deal), and it would be nice to have a screen in front of the performer, but the vibe more than makes up for it.
(4)Raven J.
3/18/2012 This bar is very small, even though the outside makes it look to be about the size of an average Chicago Walgreens (which is bigger then most bars) and to also have two floors. If you were the only one is this bar, it would be hard to walk around except in the back, behind the pool table, where no one would "be" i.e. it's not in the area that is part of "places to stand". You might stand normally stand there voluntarily if you are waiting for someone, pissed off, or playing Game Boy for example. There are a total of two tables with three chairs each, but the tables are big enough for only one (maybe - if ONLY drinks are on it), and if you use the chairs no one can walk by. So you cannot sit down unless you sit at the bar. Karaoke is on Saturday. The karaoke is falsely advertised in that the bar is open 'til 5 a.m., but karaoke *ENDS AT 3* and doesn't even start 'til nearly midnight (though it's done by a guy with a laptop (real mike though) so it could be more "whenever he feels like it and therefore start earlier on some days), yet none of the websites talking about Christina's Place (which mention both karaoke and open hours) mention this at all! However, Christina's Place does not seem to have a website, so the misleading information is on external websites and therefore most likely posted by customers. Unfortunately the only way to leave on public transportation stops running around 12:30, so it's pretty bad if you come there without knowing in advance that they end the karaoke. The singers are half-ignored and half-payed attention to, which is good if you want to do songs you aren't good at yet. It also seems you might be able to sing more then twice a night if you can avoid being pissed off long enough to want to sing at that moment. However, the songs done SUCKS. The first guy actually did "Luck Be A Lady Tonight" (um, wtf???). The song selections available is rather large and includes enough "awesome" songs as well as some other songs to do, but the songs the customers actually pick are like you were 10 and at your uncle's wedding in a soccer-mom family in 1991. In other words the songs you'd do if you've never even heard of either Nirvana or 2Pac. Unfortunately, they also have Mexican songs available, and while I was there people used them. This is not a Mexican or Spanish-language bar. Guinness is $2 but it's served warm and at various levels of pour. They also do not use Guinness or Coke-luke glasses but use angled glasses instead. The first one I got was as disgusting as Trader Joe's $3 generic stout and the last one would have been great if it had been cold. The place is not very clean, perhaps "dingy". Most of the floor actually made out of an unfinished plank or sheet of wood, like a homeless guy might use to cover an oily spot on the floor of their trailer, or what you expect if you ask for wood sheets on FreeCycle. A very small portion of the floor is clean white ceramic tile, this is where I put my things. The walls are dusty. The bar countertop, and a weird home-kitchen "island" long-"countertop" thing they also have, is VERY clean (except for the whole not-cleaning-up-a-giant-spill-for-a-whole-hour thing). The female bathroom is clean, sort-of (at the beginning of the night anyway), like if you were in someone's shitty Chicago house or maybe trailer or something who had this bathroom, and cleaned like you do for a house, but the "style" of bathroom makes it seem dirty anyway; like you might expect to find in a tow truck shop. You could not put anything on the floor, fortunately there was elsewhere to put my bags (outside the bathroom) on the day I went. The male bathroom is smaller and smells like piss (piss not pee). There were two bartenders, a female and a male. The female was really nice. The male, who may be the owner, ignored me for about an hour and a half while I either signaled or attempted to say 'excuse me' as he walked by a total of about 30 times. I say "attempted" because in the millisecond that it took for the signal to get from my brain to my mouth to open it, he was already either in the back, at the opposite side of the bar, or getting something for someone else (usually someone who just walked up). After this hour and a half, the female asked "Is everything alright," not because I'd been crying and making annoyed gestures every time the male passed me without allowing me to say anything and/or ignored my signals, but because they saw what I'd written on Yelp, which was this only shorter, worded more strongly, and with 1 star. I was offered first given a free drink ($2), THEN asked to delete the review in exchange. However, I didn't actually even get a free drink because later a customer spilled my full glass, again. The female who talked to me is really nice while she's talking but I'm not gonna lie or think a place is better then I thought before just because employees are nice!
(2)Ryan S.
Great place to get a cheap pint! Does anyone know if they are having the free Irish breakfast this year for St. Patrick's day?
(4)Robert Y.
$2 guinness, let's make it a regular!
(4)Anne M.
My recent first trip to Christina's Place made for an interesting, fun night. Friends were meeting there for a birthday gathering, so Mr. and I made our way over via the Addison bus. It's a few blocks north of Addison, and that was a desolate cold walk - there's not too much going on around there, but we did pass an intriguing grow & brew store I'd like to check out. The bar was smallish with a long bar, center divider/long/tall table, and tables against the opposite wall. Pool table and juke box in the back. Highlights of the night: $2 Guinness draughts (they were going down good) 2 dogs at different times, were in the bar 1 rabbit was sitting on a bar stool next to an older man (owner/employee/regular? - who knows, who cares.)
(4)Trevor H.
Small, intimate shotgun bar. Diverse crowd, representative of Avondale. Most everyone is friendly and will be happy to shoot pool if you ask. $3 for a pint of guinness, slow poured, with a clover on top. Great bartenders. I don't want to call this a "dive" because nobody treats it like one, this place is loved.
(5)Christina R.
I really enjoy this bar. I am not saying that just because it happens to be my name, though. It's a dive bar with critical acclaim and charm. The staff is fantastic and friendly. Jim is my favorite bartender at Christina's Place. I also enjoy the owner quite a bit. So, I am not a Guinness fan but this bar pours the best Guinness in Chicago. I have had Guinness at other bars (EXIT, restaurants, etc) but this place knows how to pour a Guinness. The price for a glass of Guinness is also the lowest I have ever heard of in this city $3 for a pint of guinness, slow poured, with a clover on top. For the price and the pour itself, I would recommend anyone go here.
(4)Zipper G.
Best bar in Chicago. Friendly bartenders and good booze!
(5)Kevin H.
So, I had to come back and repost my original post because apparently the yelp support team didn't like the naughty words in it, (several months later) so I've replaced the naughty words with symbol gibberish. Okay, so I've been coming here on near a decade since I moved in to the neighborhood, lots of things have changed, but the most important things are still the same. Lovely Guinness pints are now $3 instead of $2, but inflation is a %^&*$, you can walk a few blocks west to the Abbey Pub for a great show, but their Guinness pints are $6 and good luck trying to get the same kind of personable service there, and if you can find somewhere else that pours flawless pints of Guinness at that price point, you should be there drinking them, but since that place doesn't exist, come here. This is a fantastic neighborhood 4am bar where you are welcome whether you are white, black, asian, female, tranny, hispanic, gay, lesbian, etc, or just annoying but still tolerable as a human being (if you're from Schaumburg though, just $&*% off and die). The owner built this kitchen in the corner a few years ago that is literally no bigger than a broom closet, and I would give 3 stars for any human being that could put edible food out of there, but the $1 burgers are a great deal. Aubrey will definitely take really good care of you as long as you aren't a total $(@*#$()%*(!. Also, great deals on booze or pool or food most nights, and you will never have to deal with a gaggle of Lincoln Park &*$^# or anything as awful coming here. Jim and Silvana, you are sorely missed. Pure Love.
(5)Joe P.
A cheap Temperance, a $3 whiskey, and $1 for a legit burger AND fries?! "Value" says the deceptively non-surely bartender. "Value."
(5)Christian K.
Jammed at at 3 AM, closes at 5 AM... oh yes, this I can do. This place is pretty damn cool. It's got one of the top 10 ugliest/cheapest front doors I've ever seen, there's not enough chairs for the amount of people that pack in here, there was at least a 3 person wait every time I used the single occupancy men's room and we ordered our drinks by yelling across a distance of 5 feet hoping our voices carried over the voices of others closer to the bar. Wanna know what though? It all freakin' works out somehow. Even though it was standing room only at 3 AM there were plenty of lean-to spots along the walls and half wall (kind of a separator between the bar and tables), the lines for the restrooms moved quick and I don't know how... but somehow the bartenders heard and correctly fulfilled every drink order we put in. Here's a fun fact, every 20 oz Imperial Pint of Guinness ($3.00) helps support Firefighters Nationwide. I'm not a fan of Guinness, but I had to get one just for that. Nothin' beats drinkin' for a good cause Seriously... if there's a good charity "Drink your face off" thing going on let me know... I'm here to help. The crowd is great, seems like everyone was kinda expecting to get bumped or have a wee bit of beer on their shoes... my bad pink Nike's girl, I'm sure that'll dry right up. Staff is cool, even when they're jam packed the make it a point to get to you. I don't think I waited more than a minute or two before having them get us our drinks. Gotta give 'em props for that! I hope to come back here sooner than later, it was a really good time.
(4)Alexis K.
Christina's is the best old man bar in Chicago! $3 Guinness, drink specials all the time...and since the new owners took over, $1 burger specials that are actually amazing! The bartenders are pros, the ambiance is exactly what you want in a local dive.
(5)Alan F.
A classic Chicago neighborhood corner bar, to which I was steered by a regular. At the initiative of one of the bartenders, Christina's has recently added a modest rotation of draft and bottled craft beers--probably not enough to make it a beer-geek destination bar, but worth a drop-in if you're in the Irving Park neighborhood (hey, it could happen!), with a thirst for something more interesting than the locally-ubiquitous PBR. I noted four Great Lakes lines, Anchor's new California Lager, Revolution's Rosa and Anti-Hero, and Founders Red Rye. The bartender tells me that they sell quite a bit of the Red Rye in connection with shots of rye whiskey, of which they also have a good selection. Draft Guinness is still a bargain at $3, but just recently raised from a really spectacular $2. Full bar. Pool tables. 4 AM license, 5AM Saturday nights. Public transit access is only fair by Chicago standards; there's no longer a CTA bus line on Kedzie. One-quarter mile from stops on the 80-Irving Park, 82-Kimball, and 152-Addison lines. Nearest "L" stations are Belmont or Addison on the Blue Line, both about one mile, which can be partly bridged by the 82 or 152 bus lines, respectively. For pub crawlers, about a mile and a half from Revolution, Kuma's Corner, Laschet's Inn, and Resi's Bierstube. (Unfortunately, not all in the same direction from Christina's.)
(3)Jessica J.
Love coming here, The old man can do a shamrock in your Guinness which I thought was very cool..The beer is cheap and well poured... They also have karaoke nights.. The ppl their are nice and friendly and their bar food is great.
(4)Erika G.
Home of the $2 Guinness! What a value! Guinness for the price of . . . Pabst! I strolled in here latenight, one night, to meet a four star person of interest. What fun! This place is great. From the giant bottles of cider, to the charming and friendly bartenders. It's not a dive bar (though it is divey) so much as it is a friendly neighborhood joint. With $2 Guinness. There's a back outdoor area that is hilarious. It has a tiny little room for smokers to huddle in during cold winter temps. With third world style wiring and giant paint chips peeling off the ceiling. And the neighborhood characters who inhabit this joint are endlessly amusing. Love this place.
(5)Dominick C.
If this is a dive bar, then I am going in head first. I'm drowning in liquor and beer-- it's that inexpensive. And the people here aren't shallow-- just normal people like you and me. I even got a salty surprise from the bathroom! Wait... what... this water metaphor has gone too far... off the deep end! Heyo!
(4)Aaron R.
I'm a big fan of this place. They had me at "$2 Guinness." If I wasn't married, I'd probably be a regular here; as it is I've been here several times (including throwing a birthday party for myself) and have never had a negative experience.
(5)Andy M.
About the only thing to go to for blocks on this stretch of kedzie. Any bar that has Guiness for two blocks can't be too bad. The place is kinda small and cramped and I can't imagine how uncormfortable this place must be on a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)Urban F.
One of my favorite haunts in all of Chicago. Hadn't been in in a while, but checked in recently, caught up with Jim, played some pool, and, as generally happens regardless of your plans, stayed until Last Call, and loved every minute of it. Last night I wandered in for "one beer" with a friend, and found Aubrey and Silvana in charge of the Friday Night festivities along with a DeeJay who reads a room far better than most I've run across in more than a decade. As always, it's a great crowd and a welcoming, efficient, funny and friendly staff. Christina's is sums up everything I like about a bar. It's not pretentious and will tear you up and spit you out if you are, but if you are looking for genuinely laid back fun people with stories to tell, songs to drunkenly sing, and heads full of completely random trivia and late night Philosophy, a place that a woman can feel safe walking into alone, and leaving alone (if she wants to), then check out Christina's.
(5)Valerie W.
Thank you, Yelp, for advertising free Irish breakfast on St. Patty's day at Christina's (while supplies last)! The BF was hell-bent on Kegs-n-eggs, and I was hell-bent on spending as little money as possible on St. Patty's day. Enter, Christina's. When we drove up, he asked me how I manage "to find the most ghetto places." He quickly changed his mind when he realized that a) it's a dive bar, not ghetto; b) there was ROCKSTAR street parking; c) I wasn't joking, breakfast was really going to be free; and d) Guinness is $2 a pint. ALWAYS. We walked in, grabbed a plate, and were served heaps of delicious traditional Irish fare: bangers, baked beans, scrambled eggs, potatoes, ham, and black & white pudding. We found a spot to set our plates and my man went up to the bar to get us a couple of pints. $6 out the door for a great St. Patty's day breakfast that kept us full well into the afternoon (even after miles and miles of walking.)
(3)Bex F.
This place is just not my thing. It's not a dive bar, I don't know why people keep calling it that. Clearly they haven't been to a real dive bar. Anyway, if you order anything other than their cheap Guinness, it's not that great of a deal. They measure practically everything -- measure all the liquor pours, scan the bottles of beer as they come out of the cooler, scan the bags of chips, a million cameras watching everything.... I know they do this is Ireland, but I've never seen it to such an extent here in the states. I understand trying to keep losses down to a minimum, but it's not a relaxing, welcoming environment. Rory, the owner, is pleasant enough though I do find it odd that an owner accepts tips. Other bartenders, eh, not the warmest bunch and they treat every customer like they've never been in a bar before but whatever. The crowd is very varied and inevitably a fight breaks out nearly every time we're there. Lots of darting glances and folks looking to start something. Inside the place looks like it's being held together by duct tape. The girl's potty is pretty disgusting, everything is falling apart and dirty, and it's always out of toilet paper. Amazingly, the guy's bathroom was nicer the one time I really had to go. Eh, not my thing and I won't miss it. I do wonder what bar these other reviewers were at. To each their own -- I've left more space for the others who do like it.
(2)Ericka A.
I love dive bars. I don't know why. Probably because they remind me of Cheers in that "everybody knows your name." Actually, most of the people don't know your name but they don't care and you make new friends anyway. Some people think they are seedy and dangerous, but I have yet to experience a dive bar bar fight, which is more than I can say for the fancy suburban bars. A large group of friends and I came here after an amazing dinner with copious amounts of alcohol. Why did we come here? Three reasons - more alcohol, karaoke and pool. These things go hand in hand. We also found out they had pints of Guinness and bottles of PBR for $2. The bartenders even went as far as to give us little shamrocks atop our foam. That's attention to detail! The place is quite cramped, but everyone is friendly and no one makes a big deal about a little bumping here and there. If you ask me, the guys especially didn't mind when I brushed past. One even asked me to repeat the sweeping motion. And I got plenty of high-five love after singing my songs. The KJ even complimented my shoes (again, attention to detail!) So keep a lookout for me and my crew. I'm sure "Haute Dish" or "E Diddy & The Meat" will make their sophomore appearance in the near future.
(4)Kelly F.
I like this place... a lot. I heard about this bar while at my other bar. "$2 Guinness and Karaoke on Saturdays." I looked them up and saw that not only did they have $2 Guinness, they were open until 4am, 5 am on Saturday. I decided to check them out. The bar was packed, but the bartender was attentive and helpful. Figuring that the kitchen was closed, I asked if he knew anywhere nearby that still served food, and he let me know that the cook happened to be there late night and was offering a limited menu. I got the quesadillas for $4 and that was a great compliment to my $2 beer at 3am. At Christina's... they go through Guinness so fast, it's likely to be the freshest you've ever tasted. They also know how to pour it, which seems to be a rarity these days. Try it for the Guinness, stay for the personable employees, decent eats, and late night hours. They also have the NFL package and broadcast other foreign sporting events.
(5)Michael G.
This place has officially gone from dangerous to deadly on Saturday nights by crossing out the little "4:00 a.m." on their door and putting "5:00 a.m." Now it is truly possible to sing the entire night away on a Saturday night - even though the karaoke machine shuts down at 3:00 a.m. (by orders of some obnoxiously shushing neighbors) and you have to live in the afterglow of past performances. But the karaoke crowd at this dive could keep it open all night with bad renditions of pop hits if allowed. Or maybe that's just me (singing the bad pop tunes I mean). Though once my version of "Punk Rock Girl" by Dead Milkmen brought down the house. Anyhow, back to the bar and not my lack of singing prowess. This is truly one of the friendliest (both bar staff and patrons, especially on karaoke night), cheapest (the $2.00 Guinness special is legendary throughout the city, though other beers are similarly modestly priced), and most interesting (how many other bars have a smoking shed that reminds many people of alien abductions?) on the north side of the city. If Christina's Place wasn't so isolated (read as driving or cabbing as opposed to walking or training - though it is near the Kimball or Addison buses) this bar might be perfect (and I guess it is if someone else drives).
(4)James L.
Home of the $2 Guinness draft. This place is wholly a dive bar, if I ever knew one, but how can you resist a cheap beer of such quality. Since they sell so fast, the Guinness on tap is always uber-fresh. When I frequented, they only accepted cash, but that may have changed. They also do late night dozen pizzas that help to damper the possible morning hangover. Christina's could get cramped on the weekend, but the weekdays offered a much more relaxed scene. It's nice to kick back there, watch whatever game was on or even get down on the pool table (careful, pool sharks roam those waters). I also liked to get down on some karaoke when they'd have the machine running on Saturdays, though I'd always get out shined by some asian dude that rocked out ABBA like it was nobody's business. Good times.
(4)Krista S.
Total dive bar but such a fun place! Open till 4 or 5 am it's me and my hubby's fav spot to go when we have gone out and want just one more drink before going home! It helps that we live very close but the bartenders are very friendly and the owner is always there and is a super nice Irish man! Best bloody I have had and there Guinness is only 3 bucks. We love Christina's :)
(5)Cece P.
$2 Guiness, need I say more? I think not!
(5)Marcel S.
Cheap and fun! If you are in the area , try it! And open late , too! The owners are really nice, the Drinks good and the beers are cheap . A nice option for a rainy day( night).
(4)David R.
Still love this place. They've actually spruced it up slightly, with new vinyl stools at the tables and a narrow chalkboard running the length of the bar. Same friendly folks both behind and at the bar. This Saturday we had a great time watching this awesome lady-ninja obstacle-course game show. I lost count of how many times we howled with laughter to see one of the women do a faceplant and fall in the water. They were showing colllege basketball and gearing up for the NFL playoff games, so you can see "regular" sports there too. But don't expect any fancy HD experience--it's still three smallish tube TVs, and don't you dare complain! Two of my friends live nearby, and I really really need to start spending more time at Christina's. At this point, I would turn around my initial impression and say that it's an awesome bar with $2 Guinness as the icing, rather than the other way around.
(5)Oscar L.
Awesome local bar. 2 dollar Guiness and great burgers. Perfect for hanging out with friends, not to loud and great bartenders.
(5)Lauren F.
This place is one of my fav bars in Chicago now. $2 Guinness everyday, cool bartenders, great music, and a great owner have made this bar our new favorite! And on the Saturday before St. Patty's they had a huge free breakfast that was delicious, as a customer appreciation day. I was hesitant to write this review because I wanted to keep this find all to myself, but I couldn't help but tell everyone about this great find!
(5)Becky P.
Street parking can usually be found within a one block radius, $2 GUINNESS DRAFTS, and super friendly staff. Ummm....how can you go wrong? You can't. Which is why you need to go here and grab a beer.
(5)Scott H.
So the other night my buddy and I were hankering for an unassuming place to meet up and watch the Bulls over some inexpensive beers. Said buddy challenged me to find the best $2 beer deal on the North Side and I think I nailed it with Christina's! $2 proper pours of Guinness stout all day every day! SERIOUSLY?!? That's less than we paid for pints at the Irish pub I worked at in college LONG LONG ago! So I imagine this kind of deal keeps the place abuzz at all hours of the day and night. I forget the name of the first bartender who greeted us, but he was a hoot. I nicknamed him 'Schneider' due to a brief and very odd exchange regarding the comparative virtues of the cast members of 'One Day at a Time'. After 'Schneider' left, Rory (the owner of this fine establishment) worked the bar like a well-oiled machine. His Irish brogue seemed to make the Guinness taste even better. Lots of board games including an interesting and hilariously outdated Chicago trivia game line the wall at the end of the bar. There is a limited menu including a great (and unpublished) $5 quarter-pound burger and Guinness deal. My buddy happy drank his pint and took the sizable burger for the road. I think they have a few other sandwiches and inexpensive frozen pizzas they can whip up for you as well. Out back there's a small space for smoking (but don't take your beer glass outside) that Rory says may be transformed into a beer garden someday. That might be a nice add, indeed. Call this place a dive, if you will, but it's got tons more charm than your average corner tap. The locals keep the place hopping during the week and I imagine people come from all over the city on the weekends. A great first visit, yes indeedy! Heck, I found out my buddy ended up back there for a quick late afternoon tipple just two days later. He had company business in the neighborhood right before 5pm and another $2 pint apparently proved irresistible!
(4)Lauren B.
We took our kids there for the FREE, Irish breakfast 3/16 this year before watching the river dyed green. In addition to the fact that they simply offer a (free) breakfast, that included traditional bangers & mash, the owner greeted us personally on our way in. He later brought our son and daughter free kiddie cocktails. So sweet! When my husband thanked him on the way out, and said we didn't want to expose our kids to a "bar atmosphere" but wanted to celebrate my heritage with them in a new way and they'd been a part of that in a nice way, he said it's important and he wanted to support a family atmosphere. The nicest guy; so were the bouncers and other patrons - while it was early on ;-), everyone respected the presence of our little children!
(5)John H.
Christina's continues to be one of my favorite bars. By virtue of my esteemed taste and Chicago's fine drinking culture, this makes it one of the best bars in the world. And she was in rare form this past St. Patrick's Day, where we: - saw a hard-looking fellow with "IRA" tattooed on the side of his shaved head. - chatted with Rory, the owner, who'd been drinking without the crutch of sleep for the last twenty-four hours. Hour twenty-five saw him enjoying the contents of a miniature bottle of red wine, still steady as a rock. - had round after round of the freshest, best poured, and somehow most affordable Guinness in the city while taking in the first day of March Madness. You can come here if you want, but don't go telling everyone about it like me.
(5)Jeff G.
went on a mon night. $2 Guinness is definitely a nice deal. staff was friendly. there was some mustache party going on where there were about 20 people standing around up front and they had their jackets on all of the stools but no one was sitting down so it was kind of annoying and awkward to drink our drinks standing up and no where to sit cause of these fake stashers. then there was the A-holes playing pool who when we walked in they shot me a look like "hey, what are you doing in our bar you first timer". and i had a stare down with this one guy who was a total prick. literally a 10 second stare down where neither of us said a word, during which time i thought to myself "you stupid f**k you think you are so cool because you happen to be a regular here at this bar. well, i too have been ten-year long regular at several chicago bars too, so what's the big deal" i haven't been in a fight in 20 years but that moment i was close to popping this prick in the face. anyway we'd go back for the cheap beer and the nice staff, but only if we happen to be driving by.
(3)Aloe A.
This place can definitely get rowdy, as most 4/5am bars do from time to time, but it's a very welcoming and warm place when compared to a majority of bars (especially late night establishments). Featuring affordable beer, respectable burgers, and frozen pizzas (woohoo), Christina's is good for starting the night, finishing the night off, and even just being the night. As a local, I find myself here rather frequently in small and large groups, and It's never been a bad choice.
(4)Kate D.
I was there late on a Saturday night, which is apparently karaoke night. Not good. I came in hopes of a solid dive bar (as promised by the neighborhood resident who brought me) and instead had to push and elbow my way through 1,000 people to find someplace to stand with my drink. I never did, by the way. Had to beg someone by the pool game to let me squeeze in a corner and set my drink on the edge of their table. Then I decided to go to the bathroom. I watched a girl go into the one ladies' room door. I watched 3 other girls line up. I looked 2 feet to the right and saw the door to an identical restroom (men's) wide open and no one even considering using it. I started to walk into that one after a go-ahead nod from a couple gals in the ladies' line... And some bar employee nearly tackled me to prevent me from going in. I couldn't believe the scolding I got. Really? This wasn't the Peninsula. The bathroom was one door for one toilet. There was no room to stand in a 4-person line. I wasn't going in with 3 of my girlfriends. Or to make out with some dude. CHILL OUT buddy. Not impressed with anything about this place. Maybe I'll give it another shot on a different night.
(2)Zach T.
It's not my first stop, second or third in a night but it's definitely my last. The Juke box has a pretty wide range but it's placement is awful considering it's cramped up next to the pool table. I'm not a Guinness guy but i do love a good car-bomb and their prices won't knock your wallet out of commission. This place is a true dive bar and it's not pretending. So get drunk in public and spill some beer!
(4)I B.
This is the kind of place that makes me wish I drank more. A little bit of a dive without being creepy, nice folks on either side of the counter, etc. Not a lot of space for the pool table would be the only downside. A cheap well-poured Guinness more than makes up for it.
(4)Karen C.
If you don't like small semi-cramped bars then this place isn't for you. I'd almost go so far as to say that it's tiny. However, they serve $2 Guinness and the bottled beer is served nice and cold. They also have Karaoke and the whole bar sings along which is fantastic. It really makes for a party atmosphere and my face is a bit sore today from laughing so much. There is a pool table and I think it's free. The bathroom is small but kept very clean. Even as we were leaving around 3am it was still in good shape. That's impressive. Out back is a small patio for the smokers and I'm assuming during the warmer months anyone else that wants to be outside. The employees were friendly and engaging and I had lovely conversations with a few of them. I would definitely go back another night for a sing-along and some beer.
(4)steve c.
Christinas is my goto upscale dive bar that delivers $2 Guinness straight to my liver. They have a expanding decent beer selection but the deal is really with the Guinness. If your hungry there's frozen pizzas they'll cook for ya. If your bored you got a pool table and/or karaoke. You have to love the diverse people that wander in throughout the night. I do enjoy Christinas smoking section in the "garage" behind the place. DOMESTIC High Life,Lite,Pabst Blue Ribbon,Schlitz IMPORT/PREMIUM Amstel Light,Becks,Burning River Pale Ale,Corona,Dortmunder Gold,Edmund Fitzgerald Porter,Eliot Ness Amber Lager,Fat Tire Amber Ale,Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse,Heineken,Kaliber (n.a.),Magners Irish Cider,Sam Adams Seasonal,Smithwick's ON DRAUGHT Guinness,Lite,Mad Hatter IPA
(4)Sarah R.
Christina's now takes credit/debit cards! WOOOOO!
(5)Elisa E.
After dinner, we went to the original Smallbar in Avondale. It was packed--even more so after the trolley from the Division location disgorged about a dozen tipsy folk. Gah! Smallbar is the size of a living room, and it was already over capacity. Clearly, we needed to find a so-called old man bar. Metrics for determining old man baritude: Extremely well-lit. No mercy for wrinkles, blemishes or prison tattoos. Christina's Place: Yes. You can read a romance novel or remove a splinter while sitting at the bar. Maximum of three beers on tap, one of which is Guinness. Christina's Place: Yes. Other two not clearly identifiable to this reviewer. Attitude-free, almost guileless bartender. Christina's Place: Yes. It took some time to convince the adorable bartender that one of our party did not actually drink alcohol. She kept saying "this doesn't have hardly any alcohol!" CP doesn't have gingerale, btw. Low-low prices. Christina's Place: Yes...at least I think so. I had a straight bourbon shot, which was poured with generosity, and I got a bunch of singles back. Was too tired and happy about getting a seat to care. Lovely place, as long as you get it.
(4)Robert S.
Christina's recently had some remodeling done- the ceilings are now high and there's more room to move around. It's also not so loud anymore. In addition, they offer a few good beers like Mad Hatter and Franziskaner. The staff is chatty and it's now even more fun! Now if they fix the horrible bathroom, it would be a 5 star joint!
(4)Greg D.
If you know what a good Guinness pour looks and tastes like, then Christina's Place is your northside stop for a meal in a glass. Why does a pour matter? Anyone can pour beer, right? Hell no! Guinness needs special attention. I've had Guinness at Fado and other 'supposed' Irish bars and they pour the glass all at once. Then the Guinness loses the malty sweet flavor with which it wants to delight your mouth. The folks who tend bar at Christina's are masters of the pour, complete with shamrock upon the final of their three stage pour. To make the experience even sweeter, a pint of Guinness is $2 at Christina's. All day. Every day. Oh...and it's a 4 am. Oh...and they have in house pizza. Oh...and there's a pool table and an enclosed smoking area out back. Oh...and the bartenders are f'ing hot. Slainte!
(5)Shelden E.
Ok. This place is great on Sunday afternoons. I practically love it there at that time. $2 Guinnesses, not very crowded, the bartender is awesome and really social, and the people there are pretty cool. I've enjoyed it every single time I was there in the Sunday afternoon. Saturday on karaoke night though is soooooooooooo different. It was packed with barely enough room to walk around, except by the pool table. The people were COMPLETELY different. I had never seen these people anywhere and I live in the neighborhood. I'm not complaining, just mentioning. For example, this one fairly attractive, normal looking girl was playing pool. Next thing you know, she turns around and starts making out with her boyfriend, who looks like he's from the movie Road Warrior. The dude is like 6' 3", tan, has a bad misfits haircut, and is rippppppppppppped. Then he has a tight black shirt on and tight neck collar and bracelets. What the hell was it? If these people are reading this, I apologize, but they're not what I'm used to seeing. Anyway, I'm still going back on a Sunday afternoon. It's awesome there. Saturday night, forget it.
(4)Chelsa P.
I love this place. I have only been there a hand full of times, but I plan on coming back more and more, even if it is out of the way for me. The staff is extremely friendly and awesome. I have never been there when it is super crowded which is great because I like to move around and I like to have a place to sit, at the bar specifically because the bartenders are awesome. They now have a limited menu which I heard the steak sandwich was delicious and I personally had the grilled pb&j with bacon, yes bacon, it was very tasty. It is not on the menu but they are more than happy to grill one up for ya :)
(5)Kiarash Z.
OK, the smoking shed in the back should be used in a campaign to help people quit smoking. I haven't felt like that much of a disgusting junkie since being forced to leave my high school's campus and hiding in the front yard of the seminary building to catch a quick puff. Plus, when you're shoved in a little room like that, with crap ventilation, you're inviting all the weirdos in there to talk to you. I hate it. I tried smoking outside the shelter and was told by the bouncer I couldn't just wander the yard. I'd rather smoke in the street.
(3)Amanda D.
When you see a place that advertises "Home of the $2 Guinness," you just don't pass that up. So for a random Sunday, we stop in. Sundays also boast $3 Bloody Mary's and free pool as well. We were enjoying our Guinness and I really appreciated that the bartender knew how to pour them. I have had the unfortunate luck of walking into a bar and having to wait about 5 minutes or longer for my Guinness to settle and for it to get a little warmer. I admitted, out loud, that I loved Guinness so much, I would try it in an ice cream float. What I didn't realize was that a nice Irish man, Rory, who also happened to be the owner, was listening. He asked the bartender to make us an "Oatmeal Cookie." It's a bit of a sweet drink, but it was delicious. It was like having your dessert in a glass over ice. What I also really liked about Rory was that he gave us a run-down of the bar's history and all the specials that were coming up in the month, such as the Irish Breakfast on March 13th. So to sum it up, cheap Guinness and other awesome specials. Great, attentive owner and nice bartender. Easy access from Addison or Irving Park on Kedzie. The only issue I had was that they didn't take credit cards. Cash only, People. Despite that, this will definitely be added to my "stomping ground" list.
(4)VICTOR L.
4 Stars for the $2 Guinness, barkeep and Peeps! In that order. You have to be unemployed to NOT afford this place! Minus 1 star for the bathroom...it's really bad *whisper* and smelly.
(4)Jennie M.
LOVE IT. A late night bar in my hood that has cheap drinks and various characters...I'm there. Throw in some karaoke and the occasional random free pizza and I'm hooked. Word to the Douchehbags: the regulars aren't going to like you if you're a dick, so don't be and we'll all have a nice night, ok?
(5)Russ T.
They serve $2 Guinness and the owner's are awesome. What the hell else could you possibly want?
(5)Sean R.
Looks like inflation finally caught up with this place, as it is now home of the $3 Guinness. Whether for two bucks or three... I just can't stomach this joint. The clientele here just isn't want I'd call a high-quality crowd. Clannish, a bit surly, and occasionally trying to sell me drugs. No thanks, I'm good with my beer.
(2)Babs H.
Yeah yeah yeah, $2 Guinness, everyone's said it so I'll skip that seconded emotion. I *would* like to give big ups to the bartenders because the handful of times that I've been in here they were outstanding. Also, I've had a few conversations with some regulars that have gone in several directions. True that a few were left with an unsettled feeling, but more were left with laughs for days, and or with warm hearts (and that was not just from all the whiskey shots, I swear).
(4)An P.
Tis A Tale of Two Christina's. Back in the day, before the extensive remodeling job Christina's was full of neighborhood folk, ranging from the missing tooth class and blue collar northwest side stock. Some folks in here were of the middle-aged alcoholic stock and shady characters of the like. When debating the state of 4am bars, Christina's may be the best of 'em. Some things have changed with the remodeling job. There are track lights installed over the bar, there is a new middle wooden island type of thing so people can lean on it and put their drinks down and the outside is completely re-done. Also changed was the texture of the bar as lots of the oldies weren't there, and the one remaining hid in the corner. The yuppies have not found Christina's, but there is a growing hipster element. Some things in Christina's never change: $2 Guinness, $6 pitchers of Bud Light, pool table, inoperable dartboard, and you can still buy chips as a snack if you are starving. Last call is at 3:15 on any given night and 4:15 on Saturdays. The best bartender in the world works on Friday and Saturday and I will remind myself to head there more often.
(4)Stephanie O.
I LOVE going to this place. They have an awesome atmosphere, cheap drinks, great hospitality & amazing food! I love that they also play music on a jukebox & have a pool table & dart boards. If you like laid back dive bars, this is the place for you.
(5)Adrian W.
I came here on a random Thursday (I believe) and they had ran out of Guinness. Now, I understand that supply and demand thing, but shit, that left a foul taste in my mouth. Until I came back. See, another friend of mine had fallen off of the bar stool somewhere else and I had wanted to continue on my buzz so we came here. The bartender gave me a quick lesson on 'snake bites' which encompasses anything with Guinness- not only apple cider (no Strongbow, get Magner's) to mixing it with a Miller Lite (I'd rather not). The place was solid, small, yet large enough to have a conversation and not have it bleed over others'. There's a pool table located near the water closets (if you call em bathROOMS then I live in a mansion) that featured a few regulars playing 9 ball. I would come back. In a heartbeat. 2 bucks for a Guinness, and a bartender that is willing to talk kindly to non-regulars? Fuck yes.
(4)Vivian Y.
Hands down the best bloody mary money can buy. After a night of trying to reinvent a BBQ sauce Jim had once tried at a restaurant, he ended up with a 2 liter jug of sauce that tasted nothing like he had hoped. HOWEVER, he did discover that this would be an amazing addition to tomato juices and man, for $4 - this is the best bloody mary you can find in the city. For me, I'm a savory person. I enjoy Mr & Mrs. T's BM mix, but often find myself in hypertension after having just one as it is SUPER salty. However at Christina's Place, Jim's BM blend has a wonderful taste, made from scratch using plain canned tomato juice and then building the flavors layer by layer. Ambiance on a Monday afternoon on President's Day was great - free pool for an hour after the pool table jammed up on us and topped off with $2 guiness is a great way to spend a holiday. I worry about coming here in the evening as Yelp reviewers have commented oh-so-many times about how packed this place gets - so many I will keep this as an afternoon secret to myself! (oh wait, I just shared this with you...) A limited food license is on the way.
(4)Jillian S.
For the bang you get for your buck, the atmosphere, and the service, Christina's Place is 5 stars all the way. I can't understate how much I love this bar. The bartenders were awesome, and everyone here seems to be having a great time just doing what they do. I loved the mix of people here - everyone from a few youngun's sporting fake ID's to neighborhood couples over 60 years old. Hubs and I came here on a Saturday night when we wanted to go out and enjoy a few drinks, but wanted to keep it low key. Christina's Place offered us free entertainment with watching terrible karaoke, and just great people watching in general. Need I even mention the $2 Guinness? Didn't think so. Also worth mentioning are $6 20 oz. Fat Tires. Awesome!
(5)Stephanie J.
Christina's Place now serves food by Scott's Kitchen. He's open everyday except Saturdays and temporarily open on Sundays for football. I highly recommend the Reuben, Chili and Waffle Burger.
(5)Richard J.
Always friendly, great food and choice alcohol make this place an excellent neighborhood getaway. To the guy, Donald, if you order an Irish Car Bomb, you need to drink it immediately or it will curdle! That's just how it works, man. ;-)
(5)Omar G.
Three stars just for serving Guinness for two bucks, an extra star for staying open til 4am. Missing the fifth star for having a limited latenight menu and for being a Troll cave. But if you are into Trolls, well sir this is a six star stop for you. Me? I like my women to not be eight hundred pounds, not smell like a turd and not be older than Ireland.
(4)Jorge J.
The king of all dive bars! I love this place specially on Saturdays for Karaoke! Home of $2 Guinness EVERYDAY, you can't go wrong! This is the bar you would go back to and 'everyone will know your name,' well maybe not really but it makes no difference. You have a handful of regulars here who are not shy to strike up a convo with ya! The bar staff and karaoke dj are GREAT! If you are looking for a good time at a chill dive bar, this is your bar.
(4)Geoff H.
A pleasant surprise. Space was WAY smaller than I expected, but it wasn't crowded (Wednesday night, a lil after midnight) and the drink-median peninsula thing works in some places, but seemed a bit much in this narrow space. But I digress, the rest of the place is really cute, bordering on kitschy, even the odd '80s diagonal woodwork (left over from Sidekick's?). High ceilings with additonal windows help it feel not cluastrophobic. Great things are of course $2 Guiness and that they're open til 4, if you're into that. But really, I was most impressed with the bartender (40-ish guy, longer hair, definitely Irish): probably the friendliest I've ever met in Chicago, and that's saying a lot (not only am I a big soak, but I bartend as well). He was really pleasant, without being over-the-top. Even invited me back the next night. They also have $7 frozen pizzas if you don't feel like White Castle down the street. I'll be back.
(4)Kerry M.
Another Dive-Bar classic. Dark, dingy and smells of stale smoke. Since its a 4am bar you can always expect to have a very mixed and quite interesting group of people. You can feel comfortable in your gym clothes, tshirt/jeans or the current gangster garb. Nobody is there to prance around in their $500 jeans and fake-tans looking for a hook-up. Its for cheap Guinness, whiskey shots (Jameson please), pool or karaoke. I must be getting old because getting fancy to go to a bar is way too much effort anymore. Why do people get dressed up for clubs/bars if they will most likely have beer goggles at the end of the night and not care about appearances.
(3)Justin M.
If this place had a little bit more excitement to it, it would easily be a 5-star bar. I loved this place last summer! Conveniently located down the street from a White Castle, Christina's is a nice little dive bar that serves A++ pints of Guinness. Did they go up a buck? Hmmm, they were 2 dollars a pint last summer, and they were damn good. My first time there I came in and ordered a pint. I threw down my credit card, but the bartender said they only accepted cash. I walked across the street to the 7-11 and ripped out some cash, came back, and the bartender bought me that first round because he felt bad that I had to take a walk. OK, thanks dude...very cool of you. The second pint I paid for. The third pint was on him again. Fourth pint I paid for...and I'm sure you know how the rest of the n night went. I took care of him when I left, but he must have bought me at least 6 pints...I was hammered! GREAT BAR!!!
(4)John B.
A pint of Guinness for 2 dollars.... this is the best deal in the city!!! Plus.... they have Paddyrock.com stickers in the bathrooms.... and I didn't put them there... some fans of the show did! I take some of the bands I interview or am going to see perform in the city here for a good time. Cool neighboorhood bar....totally dig it... and Tony Duggins sings about in The Tossers song "Whiskey Makes Me Crazy".
(4)Phil S.
Well, hello there you little dive bar you. How you doin'? There are so many great things going for this place. If I didn't have a full time job and have to be up every morning - I would be here everyday. The regulars though, it appears, do not share my concern. They don't serve food, which is probably a good thing. They do, however, have an eternal $2 Guinness special. So, if you want a Guinnie at noon on Tuesday or want 5 of them on Saturday night, this is the place to be. Also, if food is a necessity for you, you can bring in whatever you like or just have it delivered to you. Yes, it is that divey. They also have a great Karaoke night on Saturdays. Well, at least they did. I do apologize in advance though - TOOL is now permanently banned. My bad.
(4)Scott A.
$2 Guinness. There aren't enough stars to rate a bar with $2 Guinness.
(5)Nicollette W.
Finally I made my way over to this place last night. I have lived in the area for over a year but never got over to it. The place is pretty small. But, there were sooo many people packed in there last night. I think it was a couple different people's birthdays AND it was karaoke night. The songs sung karaoke style were awesome; alot of 80's hits. We had a few pitchers of Miller Lite, at $6 a pitcher. Not bad for Chi-town. Their staple is their $2 Guinness pints, which they have a wooden sign above the bar 'Home of the $2 Guinness.' Their is 1 pool table, which I think is free because I never saw any of the sharks add any money. I was a bit scared of the bathroom due to previous review, but it was not that bad. The door locked, so that was good. The toliet got cloged at one point, but then when I visited the throne later, someone had plunged it. There is no paper towels, just that cloth machine that you pull on to get more cloth to dry your hands on. The last place I saw one of those was over 10 years ago in a pizza place in Elizabeth, NJ. The smoke shack around back was a little creepy, but not as bad as other reviews had made it seem. The gross part was that it smelled like Jagermeister; you know, that nasty licorice smell? Yucky. There were also some outside tables to sit at to smoke. Overall this place is a winner. Tons of people my age (late 20's) which made it all the funner. Cheap beer, low-budget karaoke, who can ask for more??
(4)Joseluis A.
christinas place is tiny, dirty, a little busted, full of weirdos, the restroom doors dont even lock and theres lots and lots of drunks trying sing karaoke... the crappiest songs too. excellent! the pint of guinness sells for 2$ beautifully poured. this place is raw... thats pretty much it.
(5)laura heather h.
$3 Guinness. Need I say more. You say I do, ok: On the weekends they have free, thats right free, hotdogs during the day. They also put out all the toppings you would want including squeezy cheese and, although a sin in Chicago, ketchup. I like to call it my favorite weekend brunch place. $3 guinness and hotdogs oh my! Also one time I came here and it was their chili cook off. Holy crap was it good.
(4)Eric R.
This place is one of the old school dives that I love in Chicago. Cheap drinks, a nicely appointed juke, and now that the no-smoking laws are in effect it no longer makes me smell like a pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray. The 3 dollar Guinness is a winner. Karaoke night on Saturday can get damn wild, but it's a pretty good time. I would say if you are in Avondale (perhaps after checking out a show at the Factory Theater, say) and you haven't had the Christina's experience...well, then ch-ch-check it out!
(5)Andrew L.
Well, now Christina's is the home of the $3 Guiness, still a great deal by any stretch. I like Christina's just about any day of the week, but what got me going there, besides it's convenient location, (6 blocks away) and hours, (I like being up late and drinking), is the karaoke. Whether it's Chad or Joe running the system, this is the best place to get drunk and sing your heart out. A younger crowd seems to be discovering this place of late and especially the karaoke nights. Thus you can find the occasional hipster belting out their irony-laden interpretations of Styx, Pat Benatar, Patrick Swayze et al. The bar itself is full of character and characters, the juke box is passable and the staff extra friendly. Perhaps with the extra buck for the beer they can finally afford a lock for the men's room.
(4)Zipper G.
Friendly staff, nice regulars, cheap Guinness, Johnny Cash photos on the wall, lovely jukebox, and football on Sundays. It's not a hook up type of bar, just a lovely little place to have a Guinness. Tip the bartenders well!
(5)Dave C.
this is the closest to a Cheers-like neighborhood bar i'll ever get. it's right around the corner from my house and yet, for some reason i'm not there as much as i should. they've got $2 Guinness pints, $2 PBR bottles and a few Great Lakes beers for $4, karaoke (i sang Pixies and it sucked!), and a cozy and intimate feel. there's a wooden table thingy smack dab in the middle which makes the place feel even smaller than it actually is but it provides more space to put down drinks so it's not all bad. also, there's a pool table wedged into the back, awkwardly placed right next to the restroom providing a hilarious possibility to get hit in the junk with a pool cue whilst leaving the can. yay! the crowd is an eclectic mix of older folks, hipster-ish kids, and yuppie-ish kids. it's cash only and this is indicated by flyers saying 'CASH ONLY' with a picture of Mr. Johnny Cash giving the camera the finger. it don't get classier than that folks!
(4)Tara P.
Awesome dive. We went for karaoke night, and arrived a bit early to find the place filled 99% with men who did NOT look like karaoke types. And I'm sure some of them weren't, but when the karaoke started going, the crowd was a lot of fun. You've got your constant pool players, professional drinkers and the odd karaoke-fly feller who sings his heart out and seems to have been adopted by the bar. Also, the beers are cheap - it's a wonderful thing. Helps you forget how tight the space is.
(3)ken q.
After passing by this corner bar countless times, I gave it an impromptu chance one evening. I was expecting nothing much but I was pleasantly surprised and loved the decor. The big draw, $2 Guinness, wasn't served in some 6 oz cup...it was a full, delicious pint. I found my friend and I were getting comfortable REALLY quick in this low key establishment. Service was kind and welcoming...even caught a glimpse of an outdoor patio to enjoy my cheap drinks outdoors....My friend and I promised to return again soon.
(4)Jackie O.
Ok, so I can't say I frequent karaoke bars. In fact, I avoid them like the plague. Between Hidden Cove and Christina's for 4 a.m. bar choices though, there is no contest. This place whips Hidden Cove's dirty dive behind. It isn't a dive bar, it's a neighborhood bar. Better than that, the booze is still cheap. The karaoke volume isn't offensive if you just want to sneak in some drinks, and the staff is always friendly (at least to the sober-ish tippers like me). I've gone with dates, coworkers and friends alike. Mostly I covet the adult photohunt game, but thats another story for another time. This place is alright in my book for a neighborhood joint, but there isn't anything special about it that would keep me coming back if I moved out of the neighborhood.
(3)Jerry B.
$2 Guinness & PBR's daily: Yes please... Rory is a cool laid back owner, Scott can cook up a storm in his 8X8 kitchen, I recommend the Italian beef & it's dirt cheap! I have only gone on weekdays & it's a good place to watch a Cubs game or shoot pool.
(4)JR L.
As most reviews would say, this is your classic dive bar. However, the price on Guinness cannot be beat (at $3.00 a pint). The beer selection was okay, but what really makes this place is the service that our group received when visiting. Joe the bartender was very attentive and talkative, which is something I enjoy when going to a bar. I'll definitely be going back when I get the chance.
(5)Jeffrey V.
$2 Guinness Pints thats a screamin' deal. I live in the neighborhood and i go there quite often. The owner is a cool dude and usually the people there aren't that lame. It's not my favorite bar, but i have a good time every time im there. Oh yeah and its a 5am on saturdays and that rules.
(4)Todd H.
They have raised the price to 2.50 per pint. Still the cheapest in the city as far as I know. For my drinking buddies, that is the only thing I have to say to warrant a 5 star rating. The atmosphere is appropriately divey, the music selection on the jukebox is fair, and the patrons are as average and normal as you would find in any neighborhood bar. But, HOLY COW, 2.50 pints of Guinness! If you need a reason beyond 2 dollar pints of Guinness, this might not be the best bar for you. However, if like me, you think that Guinness is like the very life force of the universe, then by God, this is the only bar you will ever need to know about in Chicago.
(5)Anand L.
$2 guinness + waffle burger = happiness
(4)scott f.
Honest crowd (except for the peak hours). Fine sense of diversity; you, no matter who you are, will likely find someone to strike up a conversation with. I've had some really bizarre unexpected-type nights there. Generally good. Some crazy dude puts his own mix CD's in the juke box, which is good for some (like me), and very very very bad for others.
(5)Jess S.
Great neighborhood 4am bar. Not much more to say. I'll leave it to someone else to devulge Christina's little secret - I will not be held responsible.
(3)Kelsey P.
One extremely cold February evening, a good friend of mine in town fro the night wanted to go out and sing karaoke. Being broke college students, we didn't want to break the bank, but realized that we would probably have to drink a lot before we did our rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart," and we looked up this place on Metromix (sorry, Yelpers!) Ok. 2 buck Guinness pints and karaoke until 3 am. Done. Sold. Let's go. Thus began one of the most fun evenings I've had since I moved to Chicago. This places is great. The bartenders are attentive (no leaning on the bar for 20 minutes to get them to open a damn beer bottle like at some places that shall remain unnamed), good atmosphere with people who have probably been going there since the 70s, and a general overall feeling of friendliness. I've been back a couple times since then, and have enjoyed it every time. Gotta love that karaoke!
(4)Kathy P.
I went to Christina's Place last night to celebrate a friend's birthday with some karaoke magic. It is a tiny bar, but the two bartenders were wonderful. Quick to refill a drink and very pleasant to banter with. The $2 guinnesses can't be beat, not to mention the $2 PBRs. The crowd was mellow, but the karaoke so-so. The song selection was great and the KJ was friendly, but the set-up was weird. The lyrics screen faces out toward the audience, so you have to sing with your back to them. I wanna be a rock star, not someone who's afraid to face the music (or in this case, is FORCED to face the music)!
(3)Timothy M.
Stopped in here after work one day. I had heard certain things about it, which may make it one of the coolest places in Chicago. I'm not going to say what makes it so cool, but let's just say it's the local secret around these parts. I shot the shit with Joe, the friendly bartender. We chatted about baseball, even though I like the Cubs and he's a Sox fan. That's how this place is: just conducive to nice and friendly conversation. He was nice enough to give me a couple of drinks on the house. Good guy. I've seen it since get packed to the gills though. Not surprising since this bar's cool and not much is around, besides the Abbey Pub a few blocks down. Plus its open until 4am. So if you want to find out why I like this bar so much, you'll have to visit it yourself.
(5)Jennifer G.
the only downside is that the crowd isn't nearly as exciting as it could be for such a coo bar and bartenders. it's like usually a bunch of sad blue collar drunks. they have 1.50 miller lite pints on fridays they have free pizza or hot dogs on fridays around 8pm. they are always giving free shots or "this one is on me" 2nd or third drinks. friends and tenants upstairs bring in dogs and one guy even has a bunny. there's no cute guys AT ALL though.
(4)Andrew G.
After trying unsuccessfully to drag friends to check out this off-our-beaten-path-corner-bar, I finally dropped in solo one afternoon a few months back while stuck outside in rush hour traffic to take a break and to check out their $2 Guinness. I assumed the worst in a "You get what you pay for" cynical sort of way but was pleasantly surprised. Although the beers seemed a little warmer than I prefer, the Guinness pour is top notch. The bartenders are hit or miss and not incredibly warm to outsiders. After seeing a friend's play at the nearby Prop Theater on Elston, a couple sober, thirsty friends and I stopped in as I wanted them to try this great find of mine. One of my partners in crime that night, who owns another corner bar not too far away could not believe they served a $2 Guinness everyday and I wanted to prove it to him. The crowd is a mix of generally friendly NW side neighborhood guys and gals, a couple rummies, a few randoms and a gaggle of 20 somethings trying very hard to be hipsters--I think most of the fixed-gear-skinny-jeans-wearing-cyclists-who-blow-Âthrough-six-corner-intersections-without-looking hang out here sharing a PBR with their sense of entitlement. This past Saturday, despite there being plenty of stools available at the bar, the woman behind the bar was frazzled and not at all friendly. It seemed her motto was "Warm Beer, Cold Service." Amazing how a crabby bartender can be a buzzkill for the night. We left after our first beer. My friends swore never to return. Hoping she was just having an off night and taking it out on the only non-regulars in the place, I'll be back for that Guiness. This place has a lot of potential. Just make sure the beer is cold and the service is not.
(3)Scott C.
Friendly and attentive bartenders, fun vibe, friendly people. Like the feel of the place in general.
(4)Dann B.
Everyone there seemed really friendly. You can't beat the prices. $2 Guinness. How is that possible. The place was crowded but the bar tenders never kept you waiting, which I was the most impressed with. And it's open until 4am. Who could ask for anything more.
(4)T M.
Christina's has the most fun karaoke I've ever participated in or witnessed (I suppose this statement isn't that impressive...). No one gives a damn that you can't sing, they'll clap for you anyway, and if you are good, it'll get louder. I don't know when they do this, but it's definitely worth it, especially if you've always wanted to try karaoke and have been too nervous to try at other places- you'll definitely feel welcome and comfortable enough to sing off-key. The $2 Guinness is also a bonus, and seems to taste better than all the other Guinness I've tasted elsewhere (seriously- I usually don't like it at all, but here find it tasty). There are some nice people here, but if you're staying late it's probably good to go with someone else to stave off some of the psychopaths who might show up.
(3)Chris W.
It's a crappy bar, and usually that's a plus for the type of places I like to go. And there IS a plus to the place, it's for the broke. It's a bit sticky, a LOT freezing cold (during the summer months at least, bring a hoodie) and not a very big place at all, but it does have intense beer specials (pitchers especially) which are great if you're on the broke kick. Their vodka lemonades are really refreshing, however, even for 2 dollars (on special) it's really disappointing that there's so little vodka in them if you're looking to catch a buzz you need to drink about 5 of them. They won't give you doubles or anything on them, if you want double the alcohol you need to buy 2 of them. EVEN if you offer them the 4 dollars you'd pay for 2 anyways. They use the cut off knobs they use in big clubs and crap to make sure they measure out exactly a shot or whatever into your drink. Really not a bad place at all, just not my favorite. I love that it's really chill though. Not a lot of action on a week night.
(3)John B.
we walked in for the 2 dollar guinness, we stayed for the karaoke. i will always cherish my experience at christina's due to the incredible performance of "karma chameleon" by some tiny, magical, middle aged man. this guy had the entire place cheering and begging for more. i suggest going on a saturday night because he might be there again. he seemed like he might be a regular. there is more about this place to recommend other than the possibility of a bizarre shared experience over a Culture Club song. cheap drinks, friendly staff blah blah blah.
(4)Phillip L.
I recently moved to the neighborhood and spotted this place. We gave it a try and we're happy we did. The bartenders and patrons are always friendly. "Frugal Friday" rocks with drink specials and every time I've been to Christina's they are always offering free pizza. Well done!
(4)jason t.
the guinness is back to two dollars again! a new era has dawned!
(4)Oona B.
excellent dive bar with $2 guinness! . . .maybe, due to inflation, the guinness is $3, now. nonetheless, it is sitll cheap; woo hoo!!
(5)Brad T.
I have a long standing love affair with this divey joint. Being a barman leaves me often with precious few hours to inbibe liquor in public. Christina's has always been my post-shift stop. Can't argue with $2 Guinness or maybe $3.50 shots. Jeanie, one of their lovely barmaids, is full of just the kind of piss and vinegar I need after a long shift. It may have the filthiest toilet in Chicago, but I adore the joint and the people watching potential it allows. another great 4am haunt if you can make the trip.
(5)Chas V.
Great Prices and a nice mix of people make this place a stand out. I'm not huge on the kareoke night, but that's just me. They're always friendly here and it won't break the bank. This is also one of the preferred watering holes of the Factory Theater, and as it's just a few blocks north of the theater, it's a great after-show destination.
(4)Colonel T.
$2 Guinness should be enough for most of us. ( if you can't drink the stuff, I'm very sorry. also there's other good beer on tap). but add free pizza every now and again, friendly bartenders--even the first time we walked in, and definitely every time after that, a nice smoking room in the back which is heated in winter, a good jukebox, reasonable pool, an interesting, at least mellow crowd (when there is one--i've been in here friday nights for a few hours and seen maybe three other people) and we have a real gem. yeah, it's not the cirque de soleil or a curated museum like some busier, fancier joints; but every neighborhood bar should strive to be half as good at doing the job as christina's is. I half want to give a bad rating to keep the place quiet--but I'll trust that whatever is keeping it quiet (if not a secret), maybe just the location, continues to do so.
(5)Anne Marie W.
I showed up with a friend for karaoke night - it was our second choice, after the first place we stopped at had a private party. I'm so glad we ended up here instead! The crowd was mellow and super-friendly - we knew half of the folks by name by the end of the night, and we were all cheering each other on after every song. The cheap Guinness was great, and the song list was extensive, making for a nice mix of performances (not the usual Journey/"Love Shack"/"Sweet Caroline" that seem to come up every time I go out). It's a bit out of the way if you don't have a car (and someone willing to forgo the Guinness deal), and it would be nice to have a screen in front of the performer, but the vibe more than makes up for it.
(4)