Whirlaway Lounge

Tonight was my first time here. The bar itself is super nice. It was really bright, which was really nice. But the bartender. I cannot say enough nice things about this bartender. She was a somewhat older lady that was so friendly, so polite, so accommodating. I’m mostly sure she was an angel that fell from heaven. Seriously, one of the sweetest, most personable bartenders I’ve dealt with.

The owner Maria is a special woman. She recommended trying the fantastic Mexican restaurant down the street. She put the Cleveland Cavaliers game on and turned off the Chicago Bulls. This is a great, quiet neighborhood bar. There are days I would give my world away to be in a dark and cozy bar like Whirlaway.

Went on a tinder date to whirlaway.
It was really great. We had a amazing time. She was really cute and funny.
So to sum it up I’m giving whirlaway 5 stars.

My favorite bar in Logan Square (and quite possibly in Chicago). This is a quintessential neighborhood bar with a rotating group of regulars. If you’re a Blackhawks fan, you can always count on fitting in wearing your sweater here alongside others every game night.
The owner — Maria — and her son — Sergio — are wonderful and loving people who work hard to please and make great conversation. Both have a fantastic memory and if you visit often enough you’ll likely find yourself getting a hug from Maria.
There’s always a good selection of beer (bottled or canned, no taps) and you can get mixed drinks and wine, too. Just bring cash.
When I left Logan Square two years ago, this was the bar I missed the most. It’s great to go with friends or by yourself. Now that I’m back in Logan Square, it’s become a weekly (if not more frequent) spot for me to pick a stool and grab a drink.

YOU LIKE BLACKHAWKS? This is the spot for it. Maria is super friendly, the place is packed with jerseys, Hawks on each TV in a Cheers-​type setting. Cash only but pretty cheap.

Very fun place, finally went for the first time last night. Had a great crowd, nothing too crazy. Love the game selection; my wife and I played some Connect 4. The prices are great and the bartender there is very sweet. I like the TV’s there too, could be a fun place to watch a game. Not very big, so don’t bring a crazy big group. But with several friends, great time no doubt.

I miss the old jukebox! Touch tunes made this place lose a star. Great neighborhood bar with friendly staff, cool mix of clientele, and great prices. Quiet enough for conversation unless a hawks game is on. Still my favorite bar in the neighborhood– the rest are too noisy, expensive, and crowded.

It feels like you’re in a friend’s basement bedroom in high school. There are photos of customers all over the walls and a mean jukebox. Plus Great beer selection and great prices (a lot of options for $ 3 – 4) cause we’re not 16 anymore.

I’ve lived in Logan Square for a while and was excited to bring my friends from England to watch a Blackhawks game there. The man at the door was very rude and told my friends that he didn’t know if «those UK things were real or not.» He refused to let my British friends come into the bar even though they had fully legal IDs. Seems like he had a problem with people with accents. Not going back

Cheap. Low key. Established. Lovely mix of Bears and Hawks fans. Maria is a swell gal. Tiny space, but it never bothered me. Love this place.
CASH only.

A make you feel at home type of bar. Maria is a sweetheart! And the beer prices can’t be beat. Great place to chill with friends without being overwhelmed by some of the ambiance driven places.

An ok dive-​y type bar with TVs, board games, an old school jukebox, and nice bartenders. Probably a great neighborhood watering hole, just didn’t quite make it to my list of top dives.

UPDATE: Revisit!
This place rules. Maria, the owner, runs a clean, friendly joint. The bar itself is dust-​free, despite a considerable amount of sports memorabilia and well — bottles. There are TVs, but they do not blare. You can watch a game if you want, but it’s also possible to ignore.
The jukebox is why this place is fantastic. It’s incredibly well curated. The requisite 70’s hits, plus Dead Kennedys, Rocket From The Crypt, Rage Against the Machine — to name just a few of my selections. At one point, the night I was there, everyone burst into singing «Bohemian Rhapsody». Cheesy, yes — but still really fun on a late summer evening.
The bathrooms are spotless. SPOTLESS.
Also: $ 3 Schlitz.

YES
lovely little bar with the nicest bartender! its a stark contrast to the slew of new ultra-​chic bars populating logan sq. no beers on tap, but they’ve recently started a menu of microbrews/​craft beers. this is a classic chicago low-​fi neighborhood bar. and its a great place to watch a blackhawks game — there’s even a hockey stick with 3 tandem shot glasses attached to it if you’re feeling adventurous!

Nice little spot that has cheep beer, pours a strong drink, and is ran by a nice lady. She provides a chill, relaxed atmosphere for you to drink in, while the tunes roll out of a decent jukebox. The crowd is your basic Logan Square hipster, mixed with some ruffians that haven’t been pushed out of the hood yet…
Enjoy Suckas’!!!

There are so many, shiny new toy-​bars under the Logan Square Christmas Tree, that their openings have produced a new industry of glossy twee «magazines» were 22 year old star-​struck columbia college graduates dress up as journalists” to cover their «arrivals» with enough sugary commentary, to cause diabetes of the brain.
And I’m talking generally, not specially about Billy Sunday, that has a bouncer at the door who seems to think he’s auditioning for the tough repo guy of cars in a reality TV show.
But one day when the real story of Logan Square gets written, The Whirlaway Lounge will get it’s own chapter. And yes, like all great legends I reckon, things will get written based upon the lore of fact and stories retold again and again over the years that may or may not be completely factual. Like some old timers at Weegee’s Lounge
swear on a bible stored in the photo booth, that back in the old days when Fullerton was the dividing line between Hell and the blazing Red Badlands,(and the gangs had even infiltrated the local police) Maria her self wore the same ammunition belt attached to buntline drop loop quick draw double holsters (adjustable for a Colt Single Action Peace Maker and a Winchester) worn by Wyatt Earp, himself.
But what we do know, is while other businesses closed their doors and fled for the highlands and investors fretted, hemmed, and hawed, Maria got off the side lines rolled up her sleeves and determined, which way the neighborhood was gonna go, deciding on community over chaos. And like a the legendary black smith John Henry who built the railroad, Maria wielded the Whirlaway Lounge like a great cast iron mallet, forging, molding and shaping a new Logan Square on the steel anvil of Chicago.
In fact for years before all the trendy «man bars» arrived following on the long strings of Maria’s well worn bar apron, Whirlaway Lounge was not just the multi culture flag of all Logan Square, but a light house beacon in the night of the middle of a rough sea of urban destituteness for many a broke college student who once a week, could put away their cracked bowl (continuously repaired by crazy glue) and instead eating off– brand ramen noodles, could go to Whirlaway for a full home cooked meal, for free.
I should have written this review years ago. But I don’t think that it was simply fortuitous that I chose Women’s History Month to write about True Logan Square Institution not lead by white boy beards/​mustachioed mustached flannel hordes
lost in following the «In» thing.
But a Logan Square Original, a Caribbean women named Maria with a ready smile and an infectious laugh of a forever young endless summer who deserves her own statue in Logan Square right beside the statue of General John A. Logan who is soon to be relocated back to Logan Square from Grant Park.

I am a 30 year old guy.
I like to drink my beer in the vicinity of well mannered adults, situated within a lively atmosphere, comprised of mutually respectful townspeople.
I like board games and a good jukebox.
I like Maria… because she is nice enough to remember my drink, every time. (I only make it by once a week.)
If this is your neighborhood… This is your bar. No less, no more.

If your looking for a small friendly bar this is the place! We decided to grab a drink before the Musical Of The Living Dead started and a member of our group suggested here. When we walked in there was only 2 other people in there so we could sit pretty much where ever we wanted. We sat at the bar (although the couch looked comfy) and ordered our drinks. I ordered Original Sin hard cider, it was very good and perfect for the fall! Everyone else got the Margarita, they said they were pretty strong, I mean the bartender did take them back to add more booze! The prices are reasonable, just a friendly tip: cash only!
We ended coming back after the musical as well. I ordered Little Sumpin Sumpin… I love this beer and not a lot if places have it so that was exciting for me!!!
If your in the area stop by and grab a beer, I know I will be stopping in there again!

My S.O. and I were in the mood for a low-​key evening. The only requirement I had was that I wanted it to have a decent jukebox. As much as I love Richard’s, I just wasn’t in the mood to hear Lionel Richie or Neil Diamond played ad nauseum.
Whirlaway fit the bill: it was close, had a jukebox, and a decidedly subdued atmosphere. Bonus that the beer menu was extensive and the drinks were cheap.
I was bummed that the only cider on the menu was a Wyder’s raspberry, but I ordered it anyway, but they may want to re-​think their cider choices. If you’re only going to serve one, at least make it something a little more mainstream. It kind of tasted like a wine cooler, and not in a good way.
Moving on to the jukebox. Sure you’ve got your White Album, your London Calling, your Aja, but I was just, you know, hoping for something more.
We stayed long enough to have a few drinks and listen to some tunes while seated on the comfy loveseat.
I liked Whirlaway just fine. I’m not sure I would go out of my way to go here, but it’s good enough for a spot in the neighborhood when you’re keeping it toned-​down.

Even though Logan Square is gentifying all around it with the accompanying loss of community, this is a place where Logan Square really feels like a neighborhood. It’s wonderfully divey just blocks away from the new, shiny bars on Logan Boulevard. Maria, the bartender, still doesn’t know my name so that’s sort of a myth but she does know most people who I’ve gone there with by name so it’s probably my fault.
The best time to go there is during a political event. My friends and I went there yesterday for the Barack Obama acceptance speech and, just like for Super Tuesday, Maria lays out quite a free food spread (including themed cupcakes). And the crowd, being a local neighborhood crowd, is actually quiet during the speeches and results.
I will definitely be there on November 4 hoping that the local flavor of the election continues into 2016.
It does get pretty crowded on the weekends (which is why it took a bit to grow on me) but that’s to be expected due to its size. Still it never feels like a room full of strangers and is well lit (especially for a dive bar). If you get there early, there is plenty of seating even on the most crowded of days.