Happy Village
Happy Village could have just as easily won a spot for best dive bar, but its two busy ping-pong tables spin it into a different class all together. Only the relic beer brands here pre-date this fun neighborhood spot, which opened in 1964. Weekly beer specials—Hamm’s ($2 on Fridays and Saturdays); Pabst ($2 on Sundays and Thursdays); and Old Style ($2.50 on Tuesdays)—are as close to 1960s prices as anywhere in Chicago. That’s enough to make any villager happy.
Happy Village, 1059 North Wolcott, (773)486-1512, happyvillagebar.com
Best of Chicago 2012