The Peek Inn

Local neighborhood place with a cool vibe. Felt inviting when you walk through the door instead like other places I’ve been too.

Better than expected… Lol

Whoa. Our drinks were watery (I know my drinks, ok?!) and the people… yikes. Not the average, occasional ones… but the creepy, lingering, here-​all-​the-​time ones. I’ve heard some rumors come out of this place… and I am kind of believing them. Use the 3″ hover method when you use the washroom — otherwise you could end up with a parting gift. Sick.

Outstanding dive bar karaōke, free pool, and affordable drinks in a comfortable, laid-​back atmosphere full of «regulars.» Nothing fancy here, but the people are friendly and the you’ll have a great time.

what a pleasant surprise!
this is the kind of bar i am usually a little hesitant to go into, not because i don’t think i’ll like it, but because i know it will be full of regulars, and sometimes regulars don’t take too kindly to newcomers. our experience here was completely the opposite of that; it was possibly the warmest welcome i have had anywhere in quite some time. the bartender, dj, and many of the regulars were extremely friendly and accommodating. this place was oozing good vibes and we were lovin’ it.
it wasn’t too crowded and we scored a table by the door, which gave us some great photo ops w/​the electric «peek inn» sign in the window. it was 80’s night and the dj said we could make requests, which we took full advantage of. the friendliness of this bar even extended to tolerating us belting out just about every tune.
we had a blast and will definitely be back.

Cliff Notes Version:
This is a solid dive bar. With good-​natured staff and friendly locals. No frills. Karaōke Friday.
Noots’ Notes Version:
So, it’s a Friday night and I’m looking for a place close enough to home that I can walk to, maybe get a tad overserved and then slither back home on my lips. This place looked to fit the bill. To perfection.
This is a small bar with a single pool table. It’s Friday night at 8:30 and they already have their karaōke guy set up. The speakers are almost as big as the room the pool table is in. There’s a handful of locals in there consisting of me, a few over 60 folks and another group of people maybe in their 30s, who all look like they came there after a rough shift at work. The bartender knows everyone in the joint by name, and has mine memorized throughout the night.
The beer selection is very basic for this beer snob. I order something from the tap and before I drink it two things happen. Dude on the other side of the bar’s eyes get as big as saucers and mouths «He’s gonna drink it!» Bartender is kind enough to then ask me to see if it tastes ok. It tasted like warm flat beer mixed with cleaning solution. Was glad for the warning and amazed at the old dude two seats down from me polishing them off one after another (with a shot chaser). Those who know me know that I’m a bit of a beer snob, usually never having the same beer twice and delving into anything obscure that I’d never tried before. What was it about this place that had me play Russian Roulette with my beer drinking sensibilities? I went from Miller High Life to Schlitz Malt Liquor to PBR and then snapped out of it to chase it all down with a big old Hacker Pshorr Weiss. I can honestly say I had never had Schlitz or PBR before in my lifetime, apart from seeing them in my beer can collection as a kid in the 70s. So I guess I was still being explorative, albeit through the bottom-​end of the beer barrel.
I’m not the drinker I was in my 20s. Err… well, nor my 30s, either. Somewhere between the PBR and the Weiss I checked in with the karaōke dude. I was the only person to turn something in to him. I was concerned the hammer of that malt liquor pistol was about to slam down on my head before there’d be any singing. And it did feel like I was staring down the barrel of a .45. Wait… wrong beer. I wasn’t going to be the only one in there to sing; however malted my barley was feeling. It was quickly becoming time to leave and I was about to say good night to him and the rest of the place. At this point, he strong-​armed the bartender’s sister into singing a duet with him, as I had promised to go on next.
The next thing I knew, I had assumed the role of The Lizard King and proceeded to belt out People Are Strange (tongue in cheek selection?) and Whiskey Bar/​Alabama Song to a roaring crowd that settled my bar bill, hoisted me on their shoulders and carried me the three blocks back to my home. Uhm, yeah… and then I woke up. Well, it was good to break the seal on that karaōke, as the place started really hopping after we got a few songs in, and I felt I had done my civic duty in getting them jump — started.

Driven past this place a hundred times on the way to Cubs game or Northside dining and always said «I should stop in there one day.» We did just that yesterday. Left Wrigley early (super cold) and watched the remainder of the game here. Carla is a sweetheart and the obvious regulars made us feel welcome. Good beer prices! Ya it’s kind of a dive but if you like dive bar’s, peek in.

True Dive Bar.
Been here on a Friday night or two for Karaōke. The karaōke guy has an extensive song collection. The bartenders are friendly. The clientele sometimes not so much.
The place is pretty small.
There’s a pub size pool table.
Avoid the Bathroom.

Did I ever tell you the story of the time we won a «Twist-​Off»? And no, I’m not talking about removing bottle caps from screw-​off beers. I’m talking about the good ol’ fashioned 1950’s TWIST. That’s right.
We stumbled into the Peek Inn on a whim, wondering what this strange little place was all about. I swear the music stopped and the crowd of graying men swiveled on their bar stools to stare at the strange urbanites who’d wandered in. I totally would have believed you if you’d told me we’d been somehow transported to Northern Michigan. (And, I mean that as a compliment, being from MI myself). We promptly made ourselves at home and made new friends with everyone in the place, as they were all rather friendly and welcoming (and in a non-​creepy way, bonus). Being a crew of 30yo girls probably helped.
Chilled (!!) beer glasses and $ 4.50 jack daniel’s made us a receptive team when we were advised that it was «50’s night» and the winner of the twist-​off would win a $ 50 credit to the bar. Pass the Hula Hoop, we got this one in the BAG! Done and done!
One twist-​off later, we were drinking on our much-​deserved credit. (Fine, I admit, there really wasn’t much competition in this place). The owner showed up and was yet another friendly character. It’s a total neighborhood place, so don’t be judge-​y and don’t expect anything Chicago chic or fancy. They try to have fun with different events (80’s night, luau night, potluck night, etc.). We’ve hit up a couple events and have a ball every time (bringing our own crowd of friends helps). Every Friday is karaōke, which of COURSE we had to check out another week. The DJ had a great selection and there weren’t too many people vying to sing, meaning we got ample opportunities to sing our lil’ hearts out.
BOTTOM LINE: It’s a neighborhood place. Don’t go here if you want to be in a swanky lounge. Go here if you’re feeling friendly, ready to chit-​chat with the regulars and be good-​natured about it. And if you drink too many cheap cocktails and need to get a ride home, you’re in luck — this is also one of the few places left that actually still has a pay phone.

YUCK!!! I would never go back. Nasty bathrooms. Nasty customers!!! Unless you are trash, you should avoid this place!!!

Fabulously awesome dive bar! nice neighborhood setting. dont expect too much, you got real live people in here, no sad swank from the yuppety bars. cheap drinks, awesome service and some fantastic karaōke. this was my bar of choice until i moved an hour and a half away :(

Yet another stellar place my ex brought me to. Scarry is how I would sum it up. I was afraid to use the restroom and refused to stay for more than one drink although all his «buddies» were there. A good reason he is my ex!

Yeah, it’s a dive bar. Yeah, the regulars here consist of old men who have nothing else to do but drink and hit on the young women that come in. Yeah, you get the occasional crazy woman wearing too much make-​up and not enough clothes trying to pick up a guy and take her home… but if you over look all of that, I wouldn’t go anywhere else.
I’ve come here a countless number of times with friends for birthdays, New Year’s celebrations, and best of all, karaōke on Friday nights. The DJ knows us, the bartenders keep the drinks coming, and even the regulars (like 1800) have a great time with us. The pool table takes up half the space in this little bar, but really, no one seems to notice. The drinks are cheap, and their karaōke boasts thousands of songs that is updated on a monthly basis. It really beats the Downtown/​Lincoln Park karaōke bars filled with pretentious yuppies who can’t sing and overpriced cocktails.
Yeah, the bar could use a make-​over, but that’s what is so awesome and charming about this place… you really don’t want it to change. And best of all, there’s a late-​night taco place next door for all your munchie needs, so you can grab a quick bite and then sing your heart out!

Been here a few times due to my girlfriend’s dad being a regular and it being a block from our place. Anyway, it’s cheap, oddly plays a fair amount of hip hop on the jukebox, given the clientele. Huge horseshoe bar, dart boards and pool table. I don’t think I’d call this a dive, more of a neighborhood place. Not the worst place in the world, but not my cup of tea.

Yes, one of the few real Dive bars out there. You know the kind where half the clientle are missing teeth. The good’o people that just don’t have the good’o looks to back it up. The bartender was a sweet young girl who made us laugh and always had our drinks filled. Someone set fire in the bathroom and we had a nice entertainment of hot, young firemen running in trying to do their job. The men that talked to us had no chance in hell of taking us home, but they were sweet as pie, fun to talk to and so damn polite! I would definitely come back here again.

No other way to describe this place other than as a dive… not saying that is a bad thing. This particular dive offers lots of drunken regulars, a punching machine and an angry lady bartender… fun times.

Bar goers beware: the Peek Inn is not for the faint of heart.
DIVE BAR lovers here only! The Peek Inn might be one of the only legitimate dive bars left on the northside of the city– not yet overrun with hipsters, or worse, trixies dressing up like hipsters for the weekend.
Plus Factors:
I’ve only been to the Peek Inn on Friday nights, and I only go for karaōke and drinks. It starts at 9PM. The karaōke master has one of the most comprehensive collections of songs I have ever seen, and his stuff is really well organized. He sings himself several times a night and takes his karaōke very seriously. Most of the other singers at the bar do not take it so seriously… this is a strictly singing for fun crowd. Plus, it’s not super crowded, so you can usually sing a bunch if you are so inclined.
Best thing is, the drinks are SUPER cheap. Pitchers of beer are especially economical… and tend to happen one after another, after another, after another. The bartender is younger and really nice. Every time I’ve come here (several times after a Friday Happy Hour– best to show up happy!) I’ve had an excellent, rowdy time.
It is what it is factors:
The crowd is strictly a neighborhood one, heavy on the drunk old men and drunker forty something ladies arguing over the pool table. Girls get a lot of (shady) attention here, so keep that in mind… and, it’s pretty smoky and dirty. It is what it is: your classic dive bar.
Parking can be annoying later at night. Cabs in this neighborhood can be scarce too.