Reviews

We made Lizzie's our nightly last stop on a recent long weekend in Chicago! Friendly staff was always welcoming regardless of the crowd size!

Lizzie McNeill's Irish Pub is the only Irish Pub currently located on the Chicago River. Don't be confused by its listed address, 400 North McClurg Court. It isn't there. Instead, it is tucked along Streeterville back streets on East River Street with the main branch of the Chicago River directly south and the Sheraton and Towers Hotel looming to the west. When you find the front door--around the corner from McClurg Court--you'll discover a mostly triangular one-room pub that neither dazzles nor disappoints. McNeill's is home to one of the most scenic patios in the city. The ceiling is exposed ductwork with a row of Tiffany-style fixtures hanging from chains. An elbow-shaped bar features two miniature street lamps jutting from the countertop. A low partition separates the bar from a mix of low and high-rise tables. The clientele is a mix of guests at the nearby Sheraton, tourists, local office workers and a few inquisitive residents from the area high-rises. You can get a proper pint of Guinness or microbrew or cocktail--Captain Morgan's spiced cider is highly recommended--with a satisfying menu of bar food, including pretzels, chili, BBQ pork nachos, a cheese plate, Caesar salad, Reuben sandwich, hot corned beef and cheese, Chicago-style hot dog, pulled BBQ pork, Italian beef, bangers and mash, shepherd's pie or lamb stew. Don't leave without sampling a slice of Bailey's Irish cream cheesecake. They bring in bagpipers for St. Patrick's Day, when the river is dyed green and everyone is Irish for a day, but it's most fun when the weather warms, the trees turn green and customers can sit on the patio and enjoy the splendors of downtown Chicago.

Sit at the side of the river near to the water canon. Great place to call in for drinks. Delicious food.

A nice Irish Pub along the river in Chicago. Prices are reasonable for the location. The waiters are professional enough. I was there on a Saturday night when it was very crowded so I can't really give a true review due to those circumstances. I'm sure the service and atmosphere is much better when less crowded. There is a seating area outside, along the river that has a good atmosphere. I would go back again during the weekday, I just wasn't impress that much during the busy Saturday night visit.

This place has a phenomenal location; perfect for a summer late afternoon. Beers are ok, popcorn always delicious, little food selection ( not great). This place can be busy on Friday or Saturday- better during week days.

Found this spot while I was visiting in Chicago. Good food, great price and great beers. A good list of beer was available. We were lucky enough to get a seat on the ''patio'' near the Chicago River. The ambiance was nice and it was fun to see people play Bean Bag toss in the street in front of the bar. We received good service from the staff. I would definitively go back if I am in Chicago

Prices seemed reasonable for what we ordered. Had the Italian beef sandwich and it was very salty. Pizzas were bigger than we thought they would be and consisted of eight slices. Others in our group had the Chicago hot dog and a Rueben with no complaints. Nice spot along the River Walk and next to the Sheraton. Loved that they had corn hole but we never got to the play.

Whether Murphy's, Guinness or Smithwicks your favorite, there you are with prompt and smily service. Ate twice, excellent reuben on one occasion, CubMed roll on the other. My only regret: Not enough gurken to go with it. Altogether a pleasant stop for a quick bite.

Great river spot! Nice place to sit and have drinks after a day of sights either indoors or on the river walk . Tucked away from the hustle of the main streets - perfect way to end the night.

We have been going, occasionally, to Libby McNeill's for years and since moving back to Chicago from Orange County two months ago have been here four or five times. Despite being across the river from the Riverwalk, the food and beverages here are so superior in price and quality to the crap on the Riverwalk, it's worth the "up and over" on Columbus Drive to eat and drink here. It has great river views and is right next to the Melas Fountain which sprays a jet of water across the river in season. Be aware, however, that if your sitting outside, which we love to do, and are on the east side of the patio on a breezy day, the fountain becomes a tactile experience! As I mentioned the food here is good, portions are large (my wife and I share almost everything) and the beer is cold. The only problem I have with Lizzie's is that they don't know how to make a Chicago Dog. It's on the menu, but if ordered arrives grilled, Chicago Dogs are always steamed to retain the familiar "snap" when eating them, and they are served on a plain bun, not poppyseed. It seems a small thing, but for an Irish restaurant IN Chicago, it's just not OK.

The location is nice, along the river, but the drinks were just average and the food merely typical bar food. Other options would prove better choices for lunch or snacks.

Slow service, over priced.. We were charged $2 extra dollars for our drinks to be poured over ice, on top of the over priced drinks. So beware of that...

Visited the pub along the river walk and was pleasantly surprised to find the atmosphere to be inviting. We travel with a small service pet and were welcomed with a smile and greeting by the young bartender. No only did she take great care of us, but our small pet as well.

We had dinner here after we checked into our hotel. We chose to eat outside because the inside was too noisy and filled with people many, many years younger than we were. Definitely a younger, after work crowd. My husband had the lamb stew and said it was very good. My friends had the shepherd's pie and the salmon and both were pleased with their choices. I had the BLT with chips and it hit the spot. Enjoyed watching the people along the river while having a bite to eat.

Fancy a drink in the sunshine by the river then this is the place. If you want a snack go for the red pepper humus, it's tasty.

I actually came here three times during my recent stay in Chicago. It was just across the street from the Sheraton where I was staying. It's a small, unassuming place, but is nice and conveniently located to the hotel. The beer is cold and they serve free popcorn. One evening I had their Shepard's Pie, which was very good and plentiful. The one thing that I really enjoyed was the Lizzy's Irish Coffee. When it got a bit brisk outside, coming in for a nice hot drink of irish coffee was very nice. The place is a little on the rustic side, and is more like any other kind of bar rather than a more conventional Irish bar, but that was okay with me. This is right on the river, so it's got a great atmosphere. I would recommend this place if you're staying at the Sheraton or Lowes.

Portion sizes are great, and sitting outside on the patio across the street gave some quiet atmosphere with a great view. Service was not phenomenal, but we enjoyed everything tremendously nonetheless. Great value, and definitely on the cheaper side for Chicago!

Very nice pub, centrally located on the Chicago River walk. Pub was nice, staff was attentive. There are many areas to sit outside along the river. Pints weren't bad, they offered gluten free options. Though we did not eat, their food plates looked very inviting. We did take notice when one member of our party asked if for an Irish Coffee. She stated that they new how to make one in the traditional sense. When the coffee arrived, they used can whipped cream and there was no syrup or sugar. When we questioned the whipped can cream, the waitress stated that's they way it's made in Dublin. I think not, then a young kind young man who worked there cam over to the take and we questioned the drink, more especially about not having any sugar. He stated that they get many customers who complain about the coffee being to sweet or not sweet enough. We suggested to him that the staff at least alert the customers to that fact the coffee comes unsweetened. Trouble is once the coffee is made and the cream has been poured, it is really impossible to add sweetener without disturbing the resting cream. Short of that we would return to Lizzie's to try the food.

Just got into the room at the Sheraton and need a quick bite to eat. Brought the family over to eat, upon entering the radio was blasting a song that repeated the "F" word over and over again! My kids are teen agers but it makes for a awkward situation! Food was good, and the wait staff was friendly. If it was a couples trip it would be fine, no families tho.

We chose this restaurant because it was near our hotel and wanted to eat in an outdoor cafe by the river. It was a lovely evening in the fall. The Irish choices are pretty limited. I had the " Bangers and mashed". It was a ton of real mashed potatoes and 2 good sized sausages. My friends had wraps which they thought were ok. I would have given 5 dinner plates if the waitresses had been pleasant or had ever refilled out water glasses. It could have been a really nice time.

As the weather was warm on a Tuesday evening our team of 17 gathered for drinks and food after a conference in Chicago, we opted to sit outdoor for the riverview. The indoor seating looked very dark and less inviting. They had some trouble sitting a large group as we didnt have any prior reservations and we had to wait for about 30mins for the harassed staff to prepare our long table. The beer was not bad but the food was nothing outstanding.

Right on the river walk. Nice service. Free popcorn. Not a lot of beer choices which was surprising. A little loud for groups.

Not a very good setting , we were there for lunch and the service was slow. We were looking for fish and chips wich are not available and we did not liked the humus.

Stopped in to grab a drink with some friends on a Saturday afternoon. Server was attentive...until it was time to get the bill. Drinks were decent. Bonus...free popcorn.

The drinks were a decent price compared to other places I have been to in Chicago. Drink specials a plenty so you can't really go wrong. With a patio on the water it is a great spot for patio weather. I would visit again for sure.

I feel very badly now about my previous review. As I mentioned we have been going to Lizzie's for years,and found it to be as described. We went again this week and it was terrible! They still don't know how to make a Chicago dog and the hot dog itself was terrible. My wife ordered a pizza and it was the worst frozen pizza we have ever had (I tasted it, unfortunately). The worst crappy supermarket we have ever shopped would not have anything to do with this pizza. Service was inattentive. (We ate with empty beer glasses.) That's it for Lizzie's.

good range of beers and the bar staff were very approachable without being intrusive as can happen when the worker is reliant on their tip!

We passed this pub while on the river cruise. Good pub grub. We went for the Shepherd Pie and a pint of Kilkenny ale. Boy was I stuffed afterwards. Good job I had to walk to the Blues Fest to work it off. Nice girls and good service. Recommended if you are hungry.

We went here to see the river dying. Nice place, great staff, reasonable. Super crowded but they handled it well.

Food was great. Riverside was beautiful. We sat outside and servers were always running to keep us fed and happy. No complaints.

Nice spot on river... Good food & service... Reasonable prices!! Good find!!! And, Bonus!!! We had a waitress straight from Ireland!!

Salmon great salad and sandwich, Only Hotdog not so great, Pork nachos are awesome. Waiters are very helpful and friendly. Bartenders helps with beer menu.

The first time I stopped in at Lizzie's there was a lady singing Irish songs and playing the pan flute. This is a warm and welcoming pub in true Irish style.

Atmosphere was fun as they had games to play while you waited. It was nicely decorated. Waitress was very attentive and helpful. Food was ok. Not anything to write home about - but ok. Price was right. It was on our way to Navy Pier and we were starved.

This was a great bar/pub. It has character, historic and most important, cold beer and good pub food. I had the pulled boar sandwich and it was fantastic. The bartender suggested a local brew to accompany and was he ever on the money. When in Chigaco, definitely worth a visit

This was right next to our hotel and we sat outside on the river walk. The food was decent and really affordable.

The best part about this place was the company. The beer was cold. Free popcorn and a shuffleboard game. .Service was adequate. Food was average.

My girlfriend ordered take out for us while she was waiting for me to arrive at the hotel. I don't know the prices but the food was oddly packaged especially since they knew she was taking it to a hotel room. She ordered meatloaf which was wrapped in foil and looked terrible but she said the flavor was good and it came with a side of mashed potatoes. I got the shepherd's pie which had the meat in one container and the mashed potatoes in the other. The containers weren't large enough to mix the 2 and they didn't provide a plate so I had to eat a bite of one then take a bite of the other and mix in my mouth. The potatoes were pretty flavorless and the meat portion was over salted so I guess it kind of balanced out. I would try somewhere else next visit to Chicago.

We were staying at the Sheraton Grand and ordered take out twice from here. The Chicken Ceaser Wrap was excellent!!

Had nachoes and a rubin ,with had the cornbeef sandwich ....both out of this world Perfect meal for a perfect day,any visiting Chicago should stop by here for a bite to eat

After watching the Chicago Air and Water Show rehearsal, we met friends here for dinner before taking a 6pm boat cruise from Ogden Pier. We sat outdoors, adjacent to the Chicago River. Very relaxed atmosphere and scenic view. Our waitress was friendly. We ordered the hummus starter and pulled pork sandwich. The veggies and pita chips were fresh, but the hummus had no taste. The sauce on the pulled pork sandwich was too sweet for our liking. We did not care for the food we ordered. I let the waitress know that the hummus was not good. We had a nice evening regardless.

I say Irish pub, but it was pop music playing in the background when we were there. We really liked this place- it has alfresco or indoor seating, and is on the River Walk, so the setting is heaven. It is decorated as if it were an old Irish tavern. We had seen it from our river tour of the city (see my review Chicago First Lady Architecture Tour) and walked back to look at the menu, knowing that there were other restaurants if we didnt like the menu, but we did. I had a starter of bacon and parsley pub cheese. I had no idea what it would be, but it was really interesting, a mix of cream, swiss and cheddar cheeses almonds and onion all rolled into a pate with bacon pieces and parsley. Tasty. He had a HUGE bowl of Chilli. Not too raw chilli taste rice just right. Now I know I just said we went to an Irish pub. But I wanted a Chicago Dog - every time Ive tried one its the same as one I can buy in Scotland. Except this place. Poppyseeded bun, tasty beef dog, onions and a chutney made of parsley and celery. No mustard on a Chicago Dog. The dog was brilliant, the bun just right. Just another reason never to forget our visit to Chicago. But so was his shepherds pie.Loaded with mince and cheese, the mince dense, in a really good stock, the mash just melting in the mouth. I could have been jealous! Service was good and quite quick, and the whole meal with fizzy water and coffee cost just 43 dollars. Beat that!

Stopped for dinner right on the Chicago River. Pints and wine available. Food is okay not great but okay. Service is good and prices okay.

Outside is the place to sit here, so that you can see the river. Inside smells like a grease pit. My friend had the Shepherd's pie and I had a Salmon wrap. Food was just average and service was not so great!!

We had a drink outside on their patio , the staff was helpful and friendly and the view of the river with the boats and tourists was amazing

The best part about this restaurant was the company that I was with! Free popcorn and a shuffleboard game.The service was satisfactory. The beer was cold. Food was average. The crowd was a bit rowdy.

It's an Irish bar...good drinks, fair food selection. But the location is primo and the ambience is not ostentatious so we have a winner. Also one of the safest places to have a drink in Chitown. The hummus was very tasty. As was my Bloody Mary. Enjoy the views.

Had lunch here sitting at one of the outside tables by the river. What an awesome afternoon. Lunch turned into afternoon drinks , which then turned into dinner andmore drinks. A great experience at a great bar positioned away from the hustle & bustle. AAA+++

Quick stop off here for us after the river cruise. Friendly service, outside seating by the river and great photo spot for the water arch on the hour,

Ate lunch here - it's right on the river and the food was wonderful. If you are craving an authentic Irish corned beef sandwich this is the place to go to!

The place was homey and lively. Seemed like a local group of regulars were attending that Saturday night. The service was extremely slow to get a drink and we had to walk up to bar, there were no servers available.

Food pretty good if you like Irish/American "pub grub" Somewhat raucous atmosphere. Within convenient walking distance of Sheraton Grand Hotel.

Stayed in Chicago a few weeks ago and found this lovely little pub - great atmosphere - great service - great all round

This place is a family owned pub, the food was excellent...nice stop on the south side of the Riverwalk...

Very relaxing place to visit to escape the busy hustle and bustle of the city. Laid back seating in a "real feel" Irish pub. The food was spot on and included many Irish favorites and a few other options. The staff was very friendly and treated us like friends. Prices were very reasonable and refreshing. A must VISIT!

I stopped in for lunch and had a beer and an Italian Beef. The food was good and it was a comfortable bar to hang out in. Probably hopping at night, but pretty quiet during the day. The beef was tender and plentiful.

Great customer service, but their beer selection is predictable. Would rather see more "Chicago-exclusive" beers. Goose Island has moved national which is good but seems like the selection could be better. They were great people, though. Fun. Conversational. Worth stopping.

One of very few places that allowed us to bring a puppy with us. Good food, good rocknroll music 5 star experience

My wife and had lunch at Lizzie McNeill's on a beautiful June day on our first trip to Chicago. The restaurant was not crowded and has two outdoor seating areas. We chose the one nearest the river walk with a lovely shaded dinning area. Our waitress Katie was was very kind and did an excellent job. I had the Ruben while my wife settled for the chicken salad. Our meals were both very good and the over all experience was excellent.

We stopped here because we were thirsty, wanted some snacks and wanted to go to an Irish pub. Setting was cool, but could have had a little more Irish flare. Good selection on tap including my wife's favorite cider (which is very hard to find on tap) and the soft pretzel sticks and chili were very tasty. We will come back on our next visit to the Windy City!

Saturday afternoon in the sun. Awesome spot. Hotdog was a little lacking. But beer was cold and refreshing. Service was ok. I never had to wait, but others near me did.

Although a bit expensive, their drinks rocked and their variety on tap was pretty good. I had a mule, and it was delicious. I also tried the new Guiness and it was very good as well. Fun meeting place for friends or colleagues.

I have been here multiple time over many seasons as my daughter lived in the area. Of all the options east of Michigan avenue on the riverwalk-Lizzie's is the best. Traditional bar and Irish food. Free popcorn inside--there is an outside area in the summer. As with many Chicago bar's there are regular customers-known by the staff and others although I never felt like an interloper. Most of the other bars in the area have transient customers-which makes Lizzie's atmosphere unique. Their food is typical bar food and quality.

My husband and I wanted to find a nice place to eat that wasn't fussy. We couldn't have chosen a better place. The atmosphere is what you would expect from a pub and the server was friendly and attentive. We ordered an appetizer, which we shared but we should have brought a larger appetite because the entree we ordered was large enough that we could have skipped the appetizer altogether. He had the lamb stew while I had the bangers and mash. We were both disappointed we couldn't finish the meal. It was good, simple fair, what we expected. I recommend ordering the cider on tap--just as good as cider I had at Chimes (now closed) in London.

Nice small average pub. Several tv's with various sports on. Friendly service with reasonable prices. Location ideal

If you come to Chicago stop by! Might say pub, but they make a great lemon drop also. The cheese tray is more than enough for two people. It was yummy too. Employees are friendly.

We went for the $3 Carlsberg beer. The Guiness is good too. The place has a dive bar feel, but is a great meeting place or rest stop when walking along the river.

This is a neighborhood restaurant serving generous size wraps and sandwiches as well as main courses. It is very loud inside and attracts a young crowd from neighboring apartment buildings. If you prefer to dine outside along the river it is considerably quieter. Of course it's seasonal. The corn beef sandwich and Reuben are signature dishes since it's an Irish pub. The tuna wrap was excellent. Highly recommended if you're in the "hood".

We were looking for a good spot to outside on the river and stumbled upon this place. Our server was nice, though we suspected he was fairly new or had to many tables. It took a little while to get our drinks and order in, but sitting outside near the river people watching and having conversations was enjoyable so we weren't in a hurry. The inside of the restaurant is like a typical bar and they had cornhole setup in the street between the bar and outside seating area. It was a little loud with people having a good time, so if you are looking for a quiet, romantic spot this isn't it. Food is good (we had salads, chili, and a California wrap and enjoyed everything. The pico de gallo and chips were good also. You can sort of see the fireworks at Navy Pier from here and had we got up from our table and walked down by the river it would have been a better view. Overall glad we tried this place and would return!

Lizzie McNeill's was one of my stops on a recent trip to Chicago. They have tables outside and across the river. The interior has a nice dark bar ambience. Our server was very pleasant and helpful. There when we needed her and absent otherwise. We did not eat anything but the food we saw seemed to come out quickly, looked nice and smelled good. Stop here on your walk up the river in Chicago.

This is a great Irish Pub in the heart of Chicago. The Lamb Stew was divine and hearty and very reasonably price. This place is a hidden gem on the river! A great spot in front of the fire on a winter night!

Nice cozy Irish pub feel. Bartenders are nice and hospitable. Knows how to make a Black and Tan which is better than most Irish Pubs. Small menu for food but decently editable.

OK not great but nice staff a little overpriced for avg.food river seat Nice view, drinks avg kinda touristy

Stopped in to watch the Euro's. Good clean pub. Food is okay, not great. Serious soccer fans but it's small so it's not a crazy atmosphere. They allow kids as well so it's good for a family who wants to watch sports together.

This bar is located near my daughter's condo. So I hit it for a nightcap or after an evening meal at one of the many great restaurants on the North side of Chicago. While on the North Riverwalk-it is NOT a chain or associated with one of the hotels. It is a very much a neighborhood bar!! There are many locals plus a few visiting tourists. There is also a free popcorn popper, the usual many TV's with the Chicago professional sports teams blaring. A limited bar food menu as well. It is reasonably priced given its location near Michigan Avenue and Streeterville.

I ate/drank here two nights in a row when I was in Chicago last month. Food was great, servers were friendly.

Attended a conference at Sheraton Grand and needed a quick lunch between meetings. Went out the river level exit and across the street to Lizzie McNeill's Irish Pub. Had a nice salad and 3 pretzels delivered quickly with good service. Not fancy dining but really was exactly what I needed. A colleague had the Chicago dog, which she enjoyed. The cheese sauce for the pretzels was the best I have ever had.

Stopped in for a drink while out walking. Lovely location, good drink but they could spend a few minutes each day cleaning the chairs and table. They were very sticky :-(

Good meal (Italian Beef) spoilt by plates with holes which let the jus drop through onto your lap! Waitress apologetic...

The location is great, right on the riverwalk, and there are tables outside. But the menu is limited.

Stumbled upon this while on the river walk. Sat outside on a sunny day in April. A few beers and some wonderful guacamole and chips. Speedy helpful staff. Love to go back for more.

This restaurant is a very good casual place to eat. Call it a Pub, a Bistro, a Deli, etc. It serves very good food for this style of restaurant. Menu items are served in large quantities (so you can consider splitting a plate,a sandwich, etc.) and at reasonable prices with friendly and prompt service. And it's very conveniently located about one block behind both the Chicago Sheraton hotel and the Chicago Loews hotel. It's open from 11am throughout the day so when the hotel restaurants close after 2pm for lunch, you can still get a very good lunch at Lizzie McNeill's. And it overlooks the water.

After the excellent Architectural boat tour, we came here for a late lunch (7 adults). Very nice location just off the riverfront. Plenty of good beers on tap and in bottles/cans (we only ordered drafts). The pulled pork was very good, tasty, shredded and very little fat. The beef sandwich was kind of bland, though I think that is what beef is. Nice atmosphere, nice view. Good deal on food and drinks. The pretzel appetizer is a good one if you aren't hungry but want to soak up a brew.

This pub is located just east of the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. It is easily located beside the river walk. There were plenty of tables available outside with a river view, but we were looking for air conditioning and a quick drink after spending all afternoon outdoors. We did not order any food but enjoyed the free popcorn while we cooled off with our beverages. Not everyone ordered alcohol since some of us were trying to hydrate, yet they didn't hurry us at all.

Day outside and the ambience was very nice. Beer selection is good. Ordered a Reuben sandwich and the salmon sandwich. The Reuben was good. We were disappointed in the salmon. Very small piece, maybe four ounces on a large bun. Would recommend but stay away from the salmon sandwich

Beautiful view of the river from the outside sitting area. Good Pub type food. Friendly staff and good service.

Visited many times and always made to feel welcome. Shane, John and the team will always take good care of you. Choice of draft beers excellent and food on menu also very good. California wrap excellent!! Would have no hesitation recommending Lizzie McNeills. Enjoy 🍀🍀

This hidden gem was a great find on a recent trip to Chicago. It's hidden in a little neighborhood behind the Sheraton hotel downtown. The staff is very friendly and great about recommending a local beer. The free popcorn is a nice perk check it out of you get the chance. Be sure to try the Green Line beer if you want something different.

I went to a reception here and was not overwhelmed by the decor. The drinks were fine and several colleagues complimented the food buffet.

Nice outside seating area for a drink and light fare along the Chicago River. Casual setting and good service.