Ollie’s Lounge

Ms. Ollie is one of the sweetest bar owners that I have ever met. She has tons of regulars and really cares about her guests and bar.

If someone ever asks you about your favorite, most diviest of dive bars in Chicago, Ollie’s should jump to the tip of your tongue!
Ollie is the most precious and sweetest lil’old lady and she owns this spot. A warm greeting and welcome is what one can expect followed by a sweet smile when stopping by. If you’re there when the DJ is, you’ll groove and jive to the beats of your favorite R&B & hip hop jams of old. Depending on the night and the crowd, the DJ may spin newer joints as well. But nary should you approach and tell the DJ what you’d like, unless you’ve got cash for that tip jar, ya dig. (I’m sure if the request were nice enough, he’d oblige, but have respect for the DJ)
The place is so «divey» y’all needn’t worry about anyone watching you on the dance floor. All kinds of people come through here and at any time, there could be a few getting their jam on.
As many others have stated, it is still cash only. During the holidays, it’s possible to come across event nights; such as singles games night, Christmas gatherings or NYE’s & other events with dinner included.
One night recently I stopped in with a group of friends and it happened to be the occasion of someone’s birfday in the bar. After our group had been there some amount of time, Ollie emerged from the back room with prepared foods. She had offered our entire group a plate of fried chicken, field greens and potato salad. I’ll tell you, all that was missing was the hot sauce! You know. as obvious as it might seem, after devouring that plate I was ready to hit the dance floor! Fried chicken and R&B jams, who knew.
Boozewise, there was an ample/​decent beer selection. So, whomever was griping about that (per reviews) it would seem the bar has replied with a better offering. Liquors and spirits are all the regular stuff, although like most dive bars one wouldn’t know how fresh without sampling. But I’ll tell you the last shot of Jameson’s I imbibed, was less than tasty.
And to think. I’d passed on holding my last birfday party here. I will fo’sho host something here in the near future. «Hip hop and burritos» coming soon.

Miss Ollie is great! I love this place and always look forward to being able to go back. If you are looking for a chill bar with a chill crowd and nice people, go to Ollie’s!

I don’t want to say too many nice things or else it may become packed!

Quintessential Chicago.
Cash only.
Dim lighting.
Cheap drinks.
Oozes character.
Neighborhood vibe.
Friendy AF patrons & staff.
A junk food vending machine.
COMPLIMENTARY PRETZELS.
Every R&B song you forgot you couldn’t live without on the juke.
A great place to wear a halter top with no bra or a three piece bright yellow suit like you’re some sort of back up coach for the Lakers.
Ollie is a gem and this whole establishment should be UNESCO protected to preserve a slice of old school Chicago for future generations.
Did I mention the complimentary pretzels?
Thanks, Miss Ollie!

Ms. Ollie is the sweetest little lady. She greets you with a bowl of pretzels that actually feel safe to eat. The drinks are cheap and whatever entertainment you choose (people-​watching, dancing, listening to music, pool) is top-​notch. The bathroom is beautiful. I love Ollie’s.

Still a BPS hangout, but the moes never bothered me so I decided to check it out one night on my way back from another bar.
1. The beer list is weak. They need to step that sh*t up.
2. The drinks are not cheap, I don’t care what any other reviewer says. However, I got a bad vibe from the young black female bartender as soon as I walked in, so maybe she upped the prices. She was definitely rude, made me withdraw cash from the ATM and gave my white girlfriend dirty looks. Not sure what all that was about, but we left pretty quick.
Come to think of it, let me go back and take a couple more stars off. I’ve been to some real hood bars (Marquis Room on Madison), and have been treated way better.
It also wouldn’t hurt to put some money into the joint.
p.s…I heard Ms. Ollie is a really nice lady, so I have no doubt that had I met her, my experience would’ve been better.

Came here to celebrate my birthday and so glad I did!
Ms. Ollie was not only welcoming and sweet but sang happy birthday to me with a bottle of champagne. Her bartender was sweet as well. Its a neighborhood lounge with a pool table, juke box, decent drink prices and with friendly people. Cash Only
I was told Wednesday is ladies night with DJ, can’t wait to go back. Thanks again for helping me enjoy my birthday:))

Drive bar with SUPER friendly owner. Simple place for simple people to enjoy a stress free cold beer.

OMG, I literally love this place. It might be the best dive bar I’ve ever been to. Brought my sister here for her bachelorette party seeking out dancing and we tore that dance floor up. We inadvertently came on 90’s night (which is the last Saturday of the month) so it was all 90’s rap music, none of that Goo Goo Dolls type of stuff. I’m talking Crucial Conflict, Trick Daddy, Juvenile, Akinyele… I believe at some point I screamed to my friend, «this bar is my spirit animal.» It’s not a fancy place but it’s got character for days and took me right back to middle school dances without the awkwardness and gender separation. The only downside? They closed at 1:30 and we could have stayed until 3!

Just stopped in for the first time this evening after going to Steep Theater. Miss Ollie is a sweetie. She has been operating this bar for 38 years. Aretha and Smokey are playing on the juke box. DJ can summon up Big Daddy Kane on request. Pool table, juke box, dance floor, and very friendly people. Lady’s night is Wednesday. I’ll be back.

Worst group of regulars ever. Rude. Loud. They just stand around screaming at each other over a terrible sound system. Not worth the effort or assault on your ear drums.

This place is magical. Just magical. I believe my beer was $ 2.60.

This is such a refreshing spot amid all the sceney bars in Chicago. Pick your poison: hipster, divey, high-​end, trendy, modern, retro… Ollie’s is a bar, period. Cheap drinks, great tunes, chill crowd, a pool table and a lovely proprietor, Ollie, who has run the place for 38 years. It’s a neighborhood establishment. A DJ every Friday and Saturday night plays great dancing music: soul, funk R&B, Motown. We love this place; please support it. Ollie will welcome you with open arms.

Hey, what’s this? A SCHLITZ sign? Ever since the original formula of the beer that made Milwaukee famous was bestowed upon us, I’ve sought it out like a goddamn animal. Which animal might that be? Well, if an anteater drank beer, that might be about right. I can suck that juice down like an anteater. Hm. Weird.
Okay, back to the narrative here. Stalking into Ollie’s is like a step back in time — a good time. A time when Chicago had neighborhood bars on every corner with local regulars sipping on short glasses, chomping on pretzels and shootin’ some stick. The first thing I noticed was that the bar was front and center — you walk in, and PRESTO! — Bar! With a glass six pack fridge down at the end, a pool table on the other side and a smiling bartender askin’, «What kin I getchoo, honey?». Love it. On the other side, a roomy area with… wait, what? A DJ and dance floor? Hold on… mind is computing here — crashy hip hop, disco lights, Schlitz… are you SURE I can’t smoke in here?
Settling in for a tasty beverage with my companion, we’re beset with wide grins as the atmosphere soaks in. The dank. I love the dank. My favorite bars have this intangible aspect to them, and this place has it goin’ on! Glasses hung upside down on rails, overstock liquor above the bar — tidy tidy. And then we meet Ollie herself — such a sweetheart. After a while (or a few), it’s time to move on, but the mental note is made: «Come back to Ollie’s and git more gusto». Prost!

This place is true dive, which I truly love. Bartenders here take no bull-​shit, or credit cards, and know everyone’s name ’cause you’re the only one that doesn’t regularly drink there. It’s a place where you may want a side-​kick if you’re female, good humor if you don’t, and the ability to drink shitty beer.

Ms. Ollie is the best. Great gin and tonics (I had three). My friend and I walked into a birthday party and were offered yummy food, although I don’t think that’s an everyday thing.
Definitely stop by this neighborhood bar.

After living a few blocks from this neighborhood staple for over 6 years, I finally gathered a group of my closest friends and said we are going to Ollie’s for my birthday… and it did not dissappoint! Music was great… the DJ was playing a lot of early 90s R&B. Great little dance floor. The people were a mix of locals and very friendly. Ollie was so cute and gracious! She reminded me of a mother hosting her kid’s birthday party. She provided us with a complimentary bottle of champagne towards the end of the night. The whole bar staff were great. I read about this bar in a book about Chicago’s best dive bars… but I would not label this place as just a «dive bar» as it is truly a unique hidden gem that has withstood the test of time.

I’ve lived in this neighborhood for years, but somehow never knew about this place until recently. Admittedly, I’m generally not a lover of dive bars, but this place is an exception to the rule.
I came here with a group of friends for a bachelorette party on a recent Saturday night after having been to a gay bar that was sorely lacking in danceable music. Ollie’s has a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays, and as soon as we entered, we knew we were all set in the dance department. The music was great and everyone seemed to be having a good time.
The drinks here are not exactly top shelf, but that’s not why you go. The people here were really friendly and Ollie herself was very sweet. She found out we were celebrating a special occasion and got us a free bottle of champagne.
I’ll definitely be coming back here. It’s the kind of place that would be really fun for a birthday get-​together or something of that nature. I live within walking distance, but it’s also really convenient for people who don’t live close since it’s practically next to the Berwyn red line stop. What a great hidden gem!

Hot Damn! Dive. Dive. Dive! Ollie’s IS the place you can go when you feel like letting it all hang out and not having to dress up. Here you can get a drink, listen to music, and not be bothered by the BS of the rest of the celebrity wanna be world.
The patrons are diverse. Whether you’ve got $ 5 or $ 500 in your pocket everyone can sit down and relax. Gotz to love that. Ollie’s has a DJ on Friday and Saturday, an actual dance floor (imagine that), a pool table and a Juke box. The DJ actually takes requests and plays them (howz about that?)
They have this kool azz vending machine that has cheez-​its, candy, and cigarettes! LOL The drinks are cheap, but not watered down. So, don’t get it twisted.
I’ve saved the BEST for last. Ms. Ollie has owned this establishment for 30+ years, she still pours drinks and is the ultimate hostess. She is soooooo sweet and warm its amazing! It’s a hidden gem… so don’t go there, I want it all to myself ;-)